10 best anime about aliens that you need to watch

Science fiction anime about aliens has seen a recent surge in popularity. Series with alien characters allow creators to explore philosophical questions about existence while delivering pure entertainment.

They imagine wildly inventive worlds and scenarios involving visitors from distant planets and galaxies. Alien-themed anime spans a range of genres and tones. Some titles focus on ominous invasions and epic space battles.

Others take a more lighthearted approach, using alien characters for comedy and parody. For any viewer wanting to launch into entertaining and thought-provoking anime worlds involving aliens, these anime about aliens make ideal starting points for the journey.

Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, and 8 must-watch anime about aliens

1. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Image via Gainax)

This profoundly influential 1995 series examines enigmatic beings and their devastating fallout in an apocalyptic sci-fi setting. When colossal beings dubbed “Angels” begin attacking futuristic Tokyo-3, only selected youths can pilot Evangelion biomecha to repel these invaders.

The story follows reluctant hero Shinji, who must face combat and existential crises in a genre-redefining drama. With its unconventional mecha battles and psychologically complex characters, Neon Genesis Evangelion reinvented and deconstructed anime tropes when it arrived.

Behind intense action scenes, the series analyzes the human condition, triggering fans' self-reflection. Its avant-garde visuals also delivered a benchmark for animation quality on television, making it a key anime about aliens.

2. Gurren Lagann

This over-the-top action anime directed by the legendary Hiroyuki Imaishi follows young digger Simon and his bro Kamina, who live underground before making their way to the surface world. There they join the fight against the ruthless Spiral King Lordgenome and his Beastmen army, piloting powerful mecha known as Gunmen.

What starts as a battle for liberation from Beastmen's oppression soon evolves into a cosmic fight to save the universe from destruction. With its explosive fight scenes and even crazier villains, Gurren Lagann exemplifies hot-blooded mecha action blended with aliens, making it a must-see anime about aliens.

3. Space Dandy

Switching to a more comedic focus, Space Dandy centers on the misadventures of an absent-minded and lazy bounty hunter named Dandy traveling space searching for undiscovered and unregistered alien species.

Alongside his district robot assistant QT and a cat-like alien named Meow, Dandy finds himself in plenty of bizarre, and humorous escapades across the galaxy.

With its episodic structure and top-notch animation quality, Space Dandy offers a fun, laidback, and colorful sci-fi romp perfect for those looking for a lighter anime about aliens.

4. Parasyte: The Maxim

Parasyte: The Maxim (Image via Madhouse)

Parasyte presents one of the most unique takes on alien storylines, following protagonist Shinichi Izumi, who finds his right hand replaced with a parasitic alien creature named Migi.

Together they form a symbiotic relationship to battle other Parasytes that have infiltrated Earth and taken over human hosts while feeding on people.

As Shinichi struggles to retain his humanity working together with Migi, they discover the Parasytes may be more than just invading parasites threatening humanity's existence. With its thought-provoking themes blended with body horror elements, Parasyte stands out as a compelling, twisted anime about aliens.

5. Cowboy Bebop

Sunrise's seminal sci-fi anime has bounty hunter crew, Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Ed and Ein scouring the solar system to apprehend wanted fugitives and make ends meet.

While not focused specifically on aliens, the wide variety of eccentric characters and locales display the rich cultural melting pot and frontier spirit found throughout Cowboy Bebop's vision of humanity's expansion into space.

Despite this, its impact on the genre makes it a noteworthy entry in discussions about anime about aliens. With one of anime's most iconic soundtracks behind its settings inspired by Golden Age American cinema blended with sci-fi and Western motifs, Bebop remains required viewing for all fans of the genre.

6. Gintama

In an era where aliens have integrated into and transformed feudal Japan, Gintama focuses on eccentric samurai Gintoki Sakata undertaking various Odd Jobs (Yorozuya) to pay the bills.

Assisted by the four-eyed Shinpachi Shimura and alien girl Kagura with monstrous strength, no job is too small or strange for the Yorozuya team. While the plot involves historical figures and events, Gintoki and company regularly break the fourth wall with plenty of slapstick meta-humor mocking typical anime tropes.

For those seeking a chaotic comedy driven by hilarious characters with aliens as a backdrop, look no further than Gintama, a standout anime about aliens.

7. Outlaw Star

Gene Starwind and Jim Hawking go on a quest across the galaxy after coming into possession of a highly advanced starship named the Outlaw Star.

Together with the mysteriously bio-engineered Melfina and lethal Ctarl-Ctarl woman named Aisha Clanclan, the crew gets caught between numerous factions all seeking to unlock the secrets behind the Outlaw Star's hidden powers.

With Gene's quest for the Galactic Leyline, Outlaw Star offers an entertaining space western with gunslinger heroes, outlaws, and bounty hunters meeting various aliens and cultures. It's a prime example of anime about aliens that mixes genres effectively.

8. Rosario + Vampire

Ordinary high school student Tsukune Aono finds himself accidentally enrolled at Yokai Academy, where monsters and creatures learn to coexist with each other. There he meets the beautiful Moka Akashiya, a vampire girl who takes a liking to the nervous Tsukune.

As Tsukune adjusts to life at Yokai and keeps Moka's true nature secret, he encounters other monster girls also attracted to his blood like the succubus Kurumu Kurono and yuki-onna Mizore Shirayuki.

With its harem comedy styled around Tsukune and his paranormal admirers, Rosario + Vampire offers a lighter take on supernatural beings compared to more menacing portrayals of aliens and monsters, making it a fun anime about aliens.

9. Knights of Sidonia

Knights of Sidonia (Image via Polygon Pictures)

Directed by Polygon Pictures using 3DCG animation, Knights of Sidonia is set one thousand years after aliens called Gauna obliterated Earth, forcing humanity to escape on large spaceships like the Sidonia.

Protagonist Nagate Tanikaze emerges from the underground layers of Sidonia to pilot massive mecha Guardians to counter endless waves of Gauna seeking to devour the remnants of human civilization.

With its unique animation and hard sci-fi elements, Knights of Sidonia delivers intense action against the backdrop of humanity's fight against a powerful alien threat. It's a gripping anime about aliens that combines intense action with deep storytelling.

10. Dragon Ball

One of the most iconic anime franchises ever wouldn't be complete without its alien and intergalactic characters. Originally focused on Goku's quest for the Dragon Balls, later Dragon Ball Z arcs involve Goku and friends in the Galactic Patrol and conflict with Planet Trade Organization warlords.

Key characters like Saiyans Goku and Vegeta, Namekian Piccolo and Destroyer Beerus display some of anime's most powerful and engaging alien personalities, establishing Dragon Ball forever into pop culture history. It's a cornerstone series in the realm of anime about aliens.

With continuous new arcs and movies released to this day, there's no better time to revisit (or discover) the adventures of Goku and his allies across the universe.

Conclusion

Whether viewers prefer gritty, philosophical works or lighthearted space comedies, anime has no shortage of engaging series showcasing humankind's first contact and future encounters with aliens.

From the global phenomenon that is Neon Genesis Evangelion to hidden gems like Outlaw Star, anime about aliens explores various creative and entertaining takes on extraterrestrial tales worth immersing into.