Cyberpunkanimeoften takes viewers to neon-lit dystopian futures where technology and humanity collide in exciting and often unsettling ways. These anime explore metropolises, rogue AI, and societies that blur the lines between people and machines. Cyberpunk is known for being gritty, stylish, and highly thought-provoking with increasingly relevant themes.
With characters trying to navigate broken systems, the genre often serves as a window into fractured futures that don’t seem too distant. The stories challenge viewers to consider the consequences of unchecked technology, social decay, and loss of identity in a digitalized world, making them not only entertaining but also a call to reflect on where society might be headed.
8Blame!
Produced by Polygon Pictures, Based on the Manga by Tsutomu Nihei
Blame!centers on Killy, a stoic loner who wanders an enormous megastructure known as The City. Set in the distant future, when humanity is on the brink of extinction after being hunted by rogue machines and losing their connection to the technology they created, the City’s defense system becomes infected. The technology that once protected humanity has turned against it.
Killy aims to find the Net Terminal Gene, a lost piece of code that could restore order to the world by regaining humanity’s control over the infected systems. Along his journey he comes across isolated human tribes and deadly threats within The City. The story explores themes of isolation and the dangers of unchecked technology.
Blame!is based on the manga series by Tsutomu Niheiand is best known for its bleak, yet visually stunning, architectural backgrounds and minimalist storytelling. The high-stakes action is intense, making the fight for survival feel much more desperate and urgent.
7Paprika
Produced by Madhouse, Based on the Novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui
InPaprika, a groundbreaking device called the DC Mini is invented to allow therapists to dive directly into their patients’ dreams and explore their unconscious minds. When a prototype is stolen, Dr. Atsuko Chiba quickly jumps into action as her alter-ego, Paprika, before lasting damage can be done.
She then races against time to recover the DC Mini, which could, in the wrong hands, destroy people’s minds and invade the waking world itself. As logic disintegrates into chaos, Paprika must find a way to restore order before the world loses its grip on reality entirely.
The film explores the ethics and dangers of manipulating the subconscious. Known for its eye-catching visuals and complex exploration of identity and escapism,Paprikais a visually stunning and philosophical whirlwind. It blends cyberpunk themes with surrealism to create an uncanny yet thrilling narrative that anime fans can’t afford to miss out on.
6Psycho-Pass
Produced by Production I.G, an Anime Original Co-Directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani and Katsuyuki Motohiro and Written by Gen Urobuchi
Psycho-Passis set in a near future where the Sibyl System governs society. The Sibyl System is an all-seeing AI network that monitors citizens' mental states to predict and prevent crimes before they happen.Psycho-Passfollows Akane Tsunemori, a novice inspector in the Public Safety Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division, who is assigned to solve crimes involving latent criminals.
Latent criminals are those with dangerous tendencies who have not yet committed a crime. When these latent criminals evade capture, it’s Akane’s team that employs Enforcers, who are former criminals turned government agents, to hunt them down. Through tense investigations and confrontations, the series slowly peels back the dark side of this seemingly peaceful society.
While the Sibyl System may prevent crime, it does so at the expense of privacy and sacrifices morality to maintain order and control. The series raises questions about free will, justice, and the ethics of letting technology judge right from wrong. More than that,Psycho-Passchallenges the idea of what a crime-free world would truly look like.
The show’s moral ambiguity and psychological tension make it a complex, thrilling anime that fans won’t want to miss. With unsettling scenes and immensely well-crafted characters, the series is thought-provoking and keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next.
5Ergo Proxy
Produced by Manglobe, an Anime Original Directed by Shūkō Murase and Written by Dai Satō
Ergo Proxyis a 2006 anime original that follows Inspector Re-L Mayer in Romdo, a doomed city that protects what’s left of humanity from a toxic wasteland. The android servants known as AutoReivs begin to gain self-awareness through a virus called Cogito, and the balance between humanity and technology starts to crumble.
When a series of murders linked back to the AutoReivs occurs, Re-L is assigned to investigate the threat. She soon discovers something far larger than she could have ever anticipated through the existence of godlike entities called Proxies. Her life is completely turned upside down after meeting Vincent Law, an amnesiac who isn’t who he appears to be.
Ergo Proxyexplores philosophical and psychological themes, including artificial intelligence, purpose, and identity. Its slow-paced storyline never provides straightforward answers to its existential questions, instead encouraging introspection among viewers. With its heavy atmosphere and symbolism,Ergo Proxyis an anime that leaves a powerful and lasting impression.
4Serial Experiments Lain
Produced by Triangle Staff, an Anime Original Created and Co-Produced by Yasuyuki Ueda
Serial Experiments Laincenters on Lain Iwakura, a quiet and introverted young girl whose life is upended after one of her classmates commits suicide but seemingly contacts her from beyond the grave through an email. She then begins to explore the Wired, a virtual network similar to the internet, and gradually her perception of reality starts to blur and collapse.
What starts off as an eerie mystery turns into an identity crisis as she finds herself watched by surveillance systems and organizations that somehow know more about her than she knows herself. As her friends grow distant and her family starts to feel artificial, her sense of self begins to fracture.
The series is a character-driven story with a heavy atmosphere and haunting imagery. As Lain’s life begins to crumble as she gets pulled deeper into the Wired,Serial Experiments Laindives into topics of identity and the psychological impacts of virtual reality.
3Akira
Produced by TMS Entertainment, Based on the Manga by Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Akirais set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo rebuilt after a nuclear disaster. The story focuses on two friends, Kaneda and Tetsuo, who are caught in the aftermath of dangerous government experiments gone wrong. Tetsuo begins to develop psychic powers that quickly spiral out of control, threatening the safety of the entire city.
As Kaneda tries to save him, he must take on a corrupt government and military forces attempting to contain the growing threat.Akirabecame a groundbreaking anime that played a major role in popularizing anime in the West and is known for its exceptional animation. The film explores themes of corruption and power in ways that still feel relevant today.
With its dystopian premise and complex themes,Akirastands among the best classic anime films. With a strong soundtrack and a high-stakes story, it redefined what anime could achieve and inspired countless fans and creators with its unforgettable storyline.
2Ghost in the Shell
Produced by Production I.G., Based on the Manga by Masamune Shirow
Ghost in the Shellis set in a near-future world where cybernetic enhancements are common and the rise of AI has blurred the line between humanity and technology. The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg with extensive cybernetic enhancements who leads Section 9, an elite government unit investigating cyberterrorism and technological crimes.
When a hacker known as the Puppet Master begins to manipulate the minds of cyborgs, rewriting their memories and identities, Motoko begins a high-stakes pursuit that challenges everything she once believed about consciousness and her own identity. The case raises many questions about the nature of humanity in a world where minds can be hacked, copied, and altered at will.
Ghost in the Shellexplores compelling themes of existentialism and identity, raising important questions about the ethics of cybernetic enhancements, as well as the increasingly relevant advancements in artificial intelligence technology in today’s society.Ghost in the Shellhas inspired countless other works and creators, leading to multiple sequels, spin-offs, and video games.
1Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Produced by Trigger, Created by Mike Pondsmith
Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersfollows David Martinez in Night City in the former state of California. Set in 2076, the series takes place in a poverty-stricken district of the sprawling city filled with crime and social decay. After a tragic loss, David turns to a life as an edgerunner who are mercenaries that live on the edge of society.
David’s descent into the mercenary underworld is both thrilling and heartbreaking at the same time. The series follows his evolution from a reckless outsider to a heavily augmented fighter who undertakes risky missions and faces the harsh realities of Night City. Soon, David begins seeking power and undergoes numerous cybernetic upgrades at a steep cost.
Beyond its intense and high-stakes action,Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersdives into universal themes and raises thought-provoking issues like the illusion of choice and the sometimes destructive allure of technology.Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersannounced a second season, titledEdgerunner 2, in July 2025 at Anime Expo.
