Summary
Some anime series remain with their feet firmly planted on the ground, delivering stories rooted in reality, or at least on the surface of a planet that may or may not be Earth as people know it. Slice of life, mystery, fantasy — multiple genres encompass these anime, but there are some that brave the stars to bring new and exciting sci-fi adventures.
Exploring space has been a lifelong ambition of humanity, to venture through the stars and reach further planets or even solar systems to see what kind of life may or may not exist. While reality still seems far from realizing this dream, space fanatics can at least live this fantasy through the followingspace anime.
Updated Jun 12, 2025, by C.M. Edwards:Reaching the distant stars and galaxies of the universe has been a long desire of humankind. Interstellar stories of discovering new planets and taking on the unknown are among some of the best fiction ever made. The setting of space exploration is not vacant in the anime community.
Space is an endless bag of possibilities that can hold anything from alien species, planet-sized colonies, or alternate dimensional wormholes. With the endless possibilities of space, anime is the perfect medium to take advantage of the stories that could come from the void and create exceptional entertainment. Many times, some of the best stories are set in the unknown frontier of space where a rag-tag crew explores the void or attempts to discover a new world after the earth becomes uninhabitable. Whether it be in a great beyond, past the event horizon or just above a vacant Earth, stories in space carry a large amount of magic with them. These stories explore the stars and take fans on journeys with stunning views of intergalactic scenery. There are dozens of anime for space lovers that make exploring the unknown the priority. Here are a few more of the bestspace animefor interested viewers.
1Galaxy Express 999
An Epic Story Of Advancement
In an age where humanity has discovered the key to immortality and where technology has advanced to allow spacial travel, Tetsurou Hoshino seeks to kill two birds with one stone. The Galaxy Express is an expensive train that can travel through space, providing passengers with sites never before seen and a chance at immortality via android bodies. After a tragic loss, Tetsurou hopes to board the Galaxy Express and receive a mechanical body to become immortal, with the help of a mysterious woman who grants him a pass on the train.
2Planetes
Slice Of Life In Space
In the far future, humans now travel throughout the stars with ease on a daily basis, as technological advancement has finally ushered in a new era. Cities now reside on the moon, shipping goes galaxy to galaxy, and humankind interacts in space like any other home.
Planetesis a somber series that follows multiple characters belonging to an AI crew of workers in charge of clearing debris from the moon and Earth’s orbit. Dreams and motivations are explored as the story ramps up to an unforeseen climax, putting a large amount of weight on the characters' fates.Planetesis a slower-burn story that focuses on the everyday aspects of space exploration rather than interdimensional dilemmas.
3Memories
A Stunning Interstellar Anthology
Memoriesis a stunning combination of art and imagination that explores multiple stories residing in space’s far reaches. Helmed by directors Koji Morimoto, Tensai Okamura, and Katsuhiro Otomo, each delivers a phenomenal episode in an anthology format that encapsulates fantasy, science fiction, and storytelling.
Each story follows its own idea, from two engineers trapped in a haunted space station to a young boy on a distant homeworld who seeks to fight for his people. While each story is an incredible work, the animation alongside it makesMemoriesa masterpiece.
4Vandread
Mecha Harem In Space
In the world of Vandread the sides are split down the middle by gender, Men vs. Women. Two neighboring planets have been at constant war due to their differing ideals. Hibiki finds himself captured after sneaking onto an enemy ship where things take an unforeseen turn.
With a portion of the crew taking a liking to him, Hibiki is forced into servitude on the female-dominated battleship and what starts out as a simple escape mission turns into an intergalactic race to save the universe. Hibiki learns about the power within himself and how the differences between men and women aren’t that large as they voyage across the stars.
5Tale Of The Galactic Heroes
Intersteller Politics With Real Consequences
Tale of the Galactic Heroes is large-scale story-telling at it’s finest. Characters have deeply driven motivations, and the political maneuvering resembles that of the moving of the pawns of Game of Thrones. There are numerous factions, biding for territory and control and two main characters plot together to outwit entire governments. After nearly a century of war, two individuals take it upon themselves to create a secret alliance while fighting for opposite sides and finally bring peace to the galaxy. Tale of the Galactic Heroes is an excellent story with all the bells and whistles, including an extensive observation of the intersteller territories that hang in the balance.
6Voices Of A Distant Star
Universal Heartache
Love is the most powerful force in the galaxy and is put to the test when two childhood friends are ripped from each other’s grasp when one moment they are enjoying each other’s company, and the next they are light years apart.
When a sudden alien attack puts the world in danger, the world government begins choosing individuals to fill the ranks for a space expedition that is to be the first step in retaliation against the alien threat. Mikako and Noboru’s relationship is strained as the distance between them grows when Mikako is chosen for the expedition and Noboru is left behind. Voices of A Distant Star does a beautiful job of expressing how a need can cross boundaries between worlds.
7Space Pirate Captian Harlock
An Excellent Story Driven Universe
Harlock is a staple name in the sci-fi anime community and has appeared in numerous classic anime, including his own feature animated film. TheSpace Pirate Captain Harlockseries is a phenomenal anime that focuses on the series namesake and his crew, who pilot the ship Arcadia.
Harlock and his allies go on several adventures across multiple galaxies in an attempt to prevent the extinction of the human race from a mysterious alien threat that could cause catastrophic danger throughout the universe. Harlock’s character goes through a series of changes as he explores the void, and his stoic confidence has made him a highly favored character throughout anime history.
8Tenchi Universe
A Whimsical Tale That Journeys Across Multiple Universes
TheTenchifranchise is a fun-loving, whimsical, yet action-packed series of shows that focus on Tenchi Muyo, a young boy who becomes caught in the middle of intergalactic politics. One part harem, one part comedy, and one part science fiction adventure,Tenchi Universetakes to the stars with his family and the several women who love him.
While racing across the universe and getting into all sorts of trouble, Tenchi and his friends and family make enemies of almost everyone and nearly destroy the universe twice, all in one day. Tenchi must even learn about his alien roots and how he may be a lost member of a royal intergalactic family while trying not to be killed by Space Pirates. It’s fair to say thatTenchi Universehas it all wrapped in one pleasant series.
Edens Zerois an anime that has a dedicated following of manga readers who were overjoyed when the series gained an anime adaptation. The story of the show follows Shiki, a socially awkward one-hundred-year-old boy who finds himself sailing on a spaceship after a coincidental meeting with Rebecca, a B-cuber who makes videos for the interwebs.
The two bond quickly and set off into the unknown, which leads them into a slew of adventures, and eventually as members of the Eden Zero’s crew. The plot thickens as Shiki’s heritage is revealed, and he’s in line to become the next demon king. While going wherever the solar winds take them, Shiki and his new friends get into all types of trouble while on adventures and grow as a crew, learning to trust each other.
10Classroom Crisis
A Galactic Field Trip Filled With Hijinks
For fans who enjoy theutilization of a school setting in anime, look no further thanClassroom Crisis. This anime blends the aspects of sci-fi and space with an anime revolving around a classroom of school girls who find themselves tasked with being the engineers for humanity’s spacecraft on their academy on Mars. Among the actual construction and work is the red tape of bureaucracy, which gives a somewhat realistic look into the space industry.
As such,Classroom Crisisgoes above and beyond what most school anime does, introducing a futuristic setting in space, and foregoing the usual light-hearted or cutesy school settings for a story with a touch more realism, and even some ephemeral glances into the darker sides of any industry where a profit is to be made.
