So, Love, Death + Robots dropped a fresh season last week—another beautifully deranged set of shorts that make you wonder why more animation isn’t this bold, smart, or flat-out unhinged. If that show left you hungry for more animated sci-fi that isn’t afraid to get existential, dystopian or delightfully weird, you’re not alone.
We’ve combed through time loops, mecha mayhem, and multiverse tantrums to bring you the best animated sci-fi series that actually justify their runtime. Some are cult classics, others are quiet masterpieces, and a few are just gloriously chaotic. All of them are worth a binge.
The Best Animated Sci-Fi Series to Stream Right Now On Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar And More
Pantheon
Where to watch: Netflix
A rare animated show that asks big questions about consciousness and humanity without dumbing it down. Think: Black Mirror, but with more emotional trauma and less self-satisfaction.
Arcane
Where to watch: Netflix
The best adaptation of a video game universe, full stop. Stunning visuals, great characters, and a story about power, class, and tech that hits way harder than it should.
Cowboy Bebop
Where to watch: Netflix
The gold standard. Space western meets jazz meets philosophical dread. If you haven’t watched it, fix that. If you have, watch it again.
Invincible
Where to watch: Prime Video
It looks like your average superhero cartoon until the blood starts flying and your jaw hits the floor. Ultraviolent, smartly written, and unafraid to go full nihilist.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Where to watch: Prime Video/Anime Times
Cyberpunk before cyberpunk became a fashion aesthetic. Still feels scarily relevant—surveillance, AI ethics, and identity all packed into a gritty, philosophical ride.
Love, Death + Robots
Where to watch: Netflix
Anthology storytelling at its peak. Some episodes miss, but the ones that hit? They haunt you. And with the new season just out, now’s the time to dive back in.
Secret Level
Where to watch: Prime Video
An underrated gem. It’s got cybernetic conspiracies, rogue AIs, and enough pixelated chaos to make your motherboard sweat.
Rick & Morty
Where to watch: Netflix
Don’t let the fanbase scare you off—at its best, this show is savage sci-fi satire hiding under a layer of dick jokes and interdimensional nihilism.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Where to watch: Netflix
A neon-drenched descent into body horror and broken dreams. Set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, but better than the game. Yeah, I said it.
Tron: Uprising
Where to watch: JioHotstar
One of the most visually slick animated shows Disney ever buried. A sleek digital rebellion that deserved better. Justice for Tron.
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Where to watch: Netflix
Old-school but still charming. If you want classic Trek weirdness with giant alien cats and trippy plots, this is low-stakes sci-fi comfort food.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Where to watch: Netflix
Come for the giant robots, stay for the mental breakdowns. A headtrip in the best and worst ways. Be warned: this show will not emotionally validate you.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Where to watch: JioHotstar
The only thing that made the Star Wars prequel era make sense. Surprisingly complex, surprisingly dark, and yes—better than most live-action spin-offs.
Terminator Zero
Where to watch: Netflix
The franchise needed a reset, and this animated take actually delivers. Slick action, time-travel drama, and a new take that doesn’t feel like reheated leftovers.
Futurama
Where to watch: JioHotstar
The rare comedy that’s equal parts brainy and heartbreaking. Sci-fi that jokes about sentient robots but occasionally punches you in the feelings.
Kaiju No. 8
Where to watch: Crunchyroll/Prime Video
Monsters, mechas, and midlife crises. A newer entry in the anime scene, but already has cult-favourite energy with killer pacing and clean animation.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Where to watch: Crunchyroll/Prime Video
Not strictly sci-fi, but the alchemy-as-tech angle earns it a spot. Philosophical, emotional, and narratively airtight. A benchmark in modern animation.
