September 12th is “Space Day.” It is named after the day in 1992 when astronaut Mamoru Mouri took off into space for the first time on a space shuttle.
When it comes to space, many anime fans probably think of science fiction. Many SF anime have been produced, including the TV “Astro Boy,” which began broadcasting in 1963. Various works come to mind, such as epic stories that span the entire galaxy, highly developed robots and artificial intelligence, and time travel to the past and future. Among them, what titles are most popular with Anime? Anime! Readers? So Anime! Anime! Conducted a reader survey titled “What is your favorite SF anime?”. During the survey period from September 2nd to September 6th, we received responses from 105 people.
The gender ratio was approximately 40 percent male, 55 percent female, and 5 percent did not answer, with more females. In terms of age, the majority were young people, with approximately 30 percent under 19 and 25 percent in their 20s.
The top three were all original works from “Shonen Jump”! Coming in at number one was “Gintama.” With a support rate of approximately 19 percent, it was at the top for the fourth consecutive year. “Gintama” is a sci-fi period drama serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump”. Set in Edo, which opened its doors to the world after an invasion by aliens known as Amanto, the story centers on Sakata Gintoki, who runs a jack-of-all-trades shop called “Yorozuya Gin-chan.” “It’s a sci-fi comedy with a human interest. I don’t think there’s a better word to describe Gintama. I can’t think of a story that starts with aliens descending on the Edo period…” “The sci-fi and period drama are well mixed, and I looked forward to it every week because it has a variety of gags, from parodies to current events. It’s also interesting that the characters are modeled after historical figures,” “At first glance, I thought it was a comedy anime. Still, the story is well-crafted, and each character’s past is impressive.
The battle scenes contrast their usual scenes, and they’re so cool!” Comments were received that it is full of charm as a sci-fi depicting a fictional history. 2nd place is “World Trigger.” With a support rate of about 10 percent, it has been in second place for three consecutive years. “World Trigger” started serialization in “Weekly Shonen Jump.” It is a battle action that was later transferred to “Jump Square,” where the boys and girls of the Border Defense Organization struggle to stop the invasion of monsters called Neighbors. “Everyone uses the same weapons, but everyone fights differently. Each character’s personality is reflected, and it’s amazing how there is a reason for their way of thinking,” “The cooperation and tactics that overturn unfortunate abilities are interesting! The character settings and relationships are also well-developed. The disadvantages of super senses, which are useful in battles and are called side effects, are also considered, and the more you chew on it, the more flavorful it becomes.”
The well-crafted worldview is attracting fans. 3rd place 3rd place is “Dr. STONE”. With a support rate of about 7%, it has risen from last year’s 5th-place tie. “Dr. STONE” is an adventure series in which the main character, Senku Ishigami, and his friends try to revive the stone world (Stone World), where civilization has been destroyed with the power of science. “At first, I thought it was a science-based adventure anime, but actually… As the story progresses, the worldview scales up and becomes more and more like science fiction. I can’t wait for the sequel,” said one person, surprised by the unexpected development.
The final season, “Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE,” will be broadcast in three seasons starting in 2025. Here are some other comments! For “Urusei Yatsura,” “It’s a sci-fi slapstick comedy with lots of beautiful aliens, including Lum! You can’t help but laugh.” For “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,” “Aliens, people from the future, and psychics are all gathered in the same place by the heroine, and the main character, an ordinary guy, gets caught up in this school story. He gets taken to another dimension, fights a giant cockroach, and is almost killed by another alien… If you’re new to sci-fi anime, I recommend “Haruhi.”
“Deserted Planet Survive,” “Is a sci-fi survival story about seven boys and girls and one cat-shaped robot who end up on an unknown planet after being caught in a space storm and struggling to return to the colony where they were born and raised. Although they clash at first, little by little, a bond between them grows.” “Zegapain” was also voted for, with one commenting, “It’s a sci-fi robot anime set in the summer, and I’ve loved it for the 18 years since it was aired.
“Zegapain STA” was screened this summer, and I was so happy that I cried in the theater.” The title, the first new work in about eight years, was also voted for. In the 2024 edition, titles based on “Weekly Shonen Jump” dominated the top three. The result was a diverse range of sci-fi titles, including period dramas, battles, and survival.
Top 5 Rankings [What is your favorite “sci-fi” anime? 2024 Edition] 1st place “Gintama” 2nd place “World Trigger” 3rd place “Dr. STONE” 4th place “Doraemon” 5th place “Mobile Suit Gundam” 5th place “Legend of the Galactic Heroes” 5th place “Summertime Render” (Response period: September 2nd to September 6th, 2024)
Overall rankings [What is your favorite “sci-fi” anime? 2024 Edition] 1st place “Gintama” 2nd place “World Trigger” 3rd place “Dr.STONE” 4th place “Doraemon” 5th place “Mobile Suit Gundam” 5th place “Legend of the Galactic Heroes” 5th place “Summertime Render” 8th place “Space Battleship Yamato” 8th place “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” 10th place “Sergeant Keroro” 10th place “STEINS; GATE” 12th place “PSYCHO-PASS” 12th place “Astra Lost in Space” 12th place “Uninhabited Planet Survive” (Response period: September 2nd to September 6th, 2024)
This survey is part of a survey of readers’ “interest and attention to current anime works and characters.” The results are not intended to determine the superiority or inferiority of any character or work. This article will help you learn about the series and its characters for the first time and help you gain a deeper understanding of and interest in them.