Anime like Pale Cocoon

TEXHNOLYZE

Also known as Texhnolyze.

Studio: MADHOUSE , Group TAC , Funimation , Rondo Robe , Fuji TV , Pioneer LDC
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Psychological , Sci-Fi

In a man-made underground society, descendants of a banished generation vie for control of the crumbling city of Lux. Ichise, an orphan turned prize fighter, loses a leg and an arm to satisfy an enraged fight promoter. On the brink of death he is taken in by a young woman doctor and used as a guinea pig for the next evolution of Texhnolyze. With his new limbs, Ichise is taken under the wing of Oonishi, a powerful leader of Organ, an organization with some hold on Lux. As Ichise is drawn deeper into a war for territorial control of the city, he learns of his possible future from the young girl prophet Ran, who guides him from the shadows in his darkest times. With the explosion of the warfare, Ichise must uncover the truth about Lux and fight for his survival as he realizes his destiny.



Tags: Dystopian , Cyberpunk , Philosophy , Noir , Tragedy , Primarily Adult Cast , Urban , Survival , Mafia , Post-Apocalyptic , Denpa , Gangs , Disability , Crime , Male Protagonist , Guns , Cyborg , Terrorism , Amputation , Primarily Male Cast , Gore , Lost Civilization , Female Protagonist , War , Conspiracy , Cult , Suicide , Afterlife , Heterosexual , Drugs , Boxing

Sakasama no Patema

Also known as Patema Inverted.

Studio: Asmik Ace , Purple Cow Studio Japan , Studio Rikka
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Romance , Sci-Fi

In an underground world where tunnels extend everywhere, even though they live in dark and confined spaces, people wear protective clothes and lead quiet and enjoyable lives. Patema, a princess in her underground village, loves to explore the tunnels. Her favorite place is a "danger zone" that her village prohibits people from entering. Even though she's scolded, Patema's curiosity can't be held back. No one ever explained what the supposed danger was. On her usual trip to the "danger zone," Patema faces unexpected events. When hidden secrets come to light, the story begins to unfold.



Tags: Lost Civilization , Post-Apocalyptic , Dystopian , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Unrequited Love , Primarily Male Cast , Environmental , Steampunk , Tragedy , Survival , Aviation , School , Guns , Philosophy

BLAME!

Also known as BLAME!.

Studio: POLYGON PICTURES , Glovision
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Psychological , Sci-Fi

In the distant technological future, civilization has reached its ultimate Net-based form. An "infection" in the past caused the automated systems to spiral out of order, resulting in a multi-leveled city structure that replicates itself infinitely in all directions. Now humanity has lost access to the city's controls, and is hunted down and purged by the defense system known as the Safeguard. In a tiny corner of the city, a little enclave known as the Electro-Fishers is facing eventual extinction, trapped between the threat of the Safeguard and dwindling food supplies. A girl named Zuru goes on a journey to find food for her village, only to inadvertently cause doom when an observation tower senses her and summons a Safeguard pack to eliminate the threat. With her companions dead and all escape routes blocked, the only thing that can save her now is the sudden arrival of Killy the Wanderer, on his quest for the Net Terminal Genes, the key to restoring order to the world.



Tags: Full CGI , Post-Apocalyptic , Cyborg , Seinen , Survival , Gore , Cyberpunk , Cosmic Horror , Male Protagonist , Robots , Artificial Intelligence , Guns

Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou

Also known as Girls' Last Tour.

Studio: WHITE FOX , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Sci-Fi , Slice of Life

Civilization is dead, but Chito and Yuuri are still alive. So they hop aboard their beloved Kettenkrad motorbike and aimlessly wander the ruins of the world they once knew. Day after hopeless day, they look for their next meal and fuel for their ride. But as long as the two are together, even an existence as bleak as theirs has a ray or two of sunshine in it, whether they're sucking down their fill of soup or hunting for machine parts to tinker with. For two girls in a world full of nothing, the experiences and feelings the two share give them something to live for…



Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Lost Civilization , Philosophy , Episodic , Tragedy , Iyashikei , Travel , Female Protagonist , Environmental , Urban , Survival , Denpa , Primarily Female Cast , Chibi , Military , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Seinen , Robots , Tanks , Kuudere , Snowscape , Artificial Intelligence , Aliens , CGI , Guns , Photography , Nudity

Ergo Proxy

Also known as Ergo Proxy.

Studio: NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan , Manglobe , WOWOW , Funimation , Sakura Create , Selecta Visión
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi

Something is wrong in the perfect domed city of Romdo. Between the sudden rash of murders and a virus affecting all AutoReivs-cyborg companions and workers who assist the people of Romdo - all is not right in their dome home. Detective Re-l Meyer begins to investigate, seeking answers to the weird occurrences that are happening more and more around her. But when she begins to uncover the truth, her world is turned upside down.

First, the strange immigrant Vincent Law goes missing and then a monster appears before her, shaking her to her core. But this monster is something more, something dangerous and sinister. With each question and mystery, she is led back to the creature. But what is it really? What purpose does it serve? A sign of the end or a sign of a new beginning? Whatever it is, it repeatedly brings her back to Vincent and soon, alongside his journey back to another dome world called, Mosk. As they make their way across scarred and deserted Earth, Re-l and Vincent will learn more about the monster and the "awakening"-which could be more of an ending than a beginning.



Note: Episode 1 received an advanced broadcast on channel WOWOW on February 5, 2006. The start date reflects the start of the regular series broadcasting.

Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Philosophy , Clone , Dissociative Identities , Dystopian , Cyberpunk , Robots , Primarily Adult Cast , Amnesia , Conspiracy , Artificial Intelligence , Noir , Lost Civilization , Fugitive , Female Protagonist , Memory Manipulation , Travel , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Found Family , Denpa , Kuudere , Anti-Hero , Detective , Revenge , Pandemic , Angels , Heterosexual , Gods , Aviation , Survival , Police , Unrequited Love , Guns , Coming of Age , Meta

Houseki no Kuni

Also known as Land of the Lustrous.

Studio: Orange , Sentai Filmworks , Kodansha , Mainichi Broadcasting System , Movic , AT-X , Toho , Q-Tec
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological

In the mysterious future, crystalline organisms called Gems inhabit a world that has been destroyed by six meteors. Each Gem is assigned a role in order to fight against the Lunarians, a species who attacks them in order to shatter their bodies and use them as decorations.

Phosphophyllite, also known as Phos, is a young and fragile Gem who dreams of helping their friends in the war effort. Instead, they are told to compile an encyclopedia because of their delicate condition. After begrudgingly embarking on this task, Phos meets Cinnabar, an intelligent gem who has been relegated to patrolling the isolated island at night because of the corrosive poison their body creates. After seeing how unhappy Cinnabar is, Phos decides to find a role that both of the rejected Gems can enjoy. Houseki no Kuni follows Phos' efforts to be useful and protect their fellow Gems.

Tags: Coming of Age , Full CGI , Philosophy , Agender , Tragedy , Anthropomorphism , Post-Apocalyptic , Seinen , CGI , Coastal , Memory Manipulation , Survival , Body Horror , Amnesia , Conspiracy , Time Skip , Swordplay , War , Shapeshifting , Tsundere , Language Barrier , Astronomy , Twins , Work , Slapstick , Mixed Media , LGBTQ+ Themes

FREEDOM

Also known as Freedom.

Studio: Sunrise , Bandai Visual , NYAV Post , Discotek
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Sci-Fi

In the year 2041, mankind created their first space colony on the moon. But after a freak cataclysm devastated human civilisation on Earth, the republic of the moon built a domed megalopolis known as Eden. Now in the year 2267, a boy called Takeru spends his time engaging in hover-craft races against rival street gangs, unaware that he is about to embark in the journey of unearthing Eden's origin.



Note: Episode 7 has a runtime of 48 minutes.

Tags: Space , Post-Apocalyptic , Foreign , Male Protagonist , Travel , Tanned Skin , Primarily Teen Cast , Full CGI , Robots , Motorcycles

Sky Crawlers

Also known as The Sky Crawlers.

Studio: Production I.G
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological

The Sky Crawlers is based on a Japanese novel series by Hiroshi Mori. First published by Chuōkōron-shinsha in June 2001 and spanning five books, it follows the journeys and tribulations of a group of young fighter pilots involved in dogfight warfare, and is set during an alternate historical period.

Tags: Military , Philosophy , War , Tragedy , Dystopian , Clone , Male Protagonist , Aviation , Foreign , Reincarnation , Heterosexual , Amnesia , Kuudere , CGI

Mizu no Kotoba

Also known as Aquatic Language.

Studio: Studio Rikka
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Sci-Fi

Several people are spending their evening in a cafe. Two gossiping girls, two debating men, a bookworm and a boy, who just broke up with his girlfriend. The cafe's waitress starts a chat with him, persuading him to take a look at certain easel, while other customers begin to notice unusual things.



Tags: Robots , CGI , Ensemble Cast , Work , Artificial Intelligence

Kurau Phantom Memory

Also known as Kurau Phantom Memory.

Studio: bones , ADV Films , Funimation , Media Factory
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Sci-Fi

In a world of mercenary agents, Kurau is a martial arts master and elite thief—but she has a secret. Her body has been fused with a binary alien life form called the Rynax. Every moment Kurau lives is lived twice, one alien sharing her consciousness, the other still waiting to be born. The truth about Kurau has begun to spread, and now the ultimate agent is the ultimate target.



Tags: Fugitive , Space , Super Power , Philosophy , Aliens , Crime , Foreign , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Coming of Age , Episodic , Shapeshifting , Dissociative Identities , Kuudere , Nudity