Top 10 Must-Watch Post-Apocalyptic Anime Of All Time!

Post-apocalypse in anime describes a world where humanity is struggling to survive after a major catastrophe.

The catastrophe can be a plague, an alien invasion, World War, global warming or something that is beyond humanity’s control.

Numerous post-apocalyptic fictions entangle you, but some outshine those and stand above the rest with their spellbinding narrative and stunning illustration.

So, let’s begin with the top 10 list of post-apocalypse anime.

10. Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet illustrates an Earth where stars twinkle in the sea.

While fighting with the strange creatures called Hideauze to prevent humanity’s extinction, the 16-year-old lieutenant Ledo of the Galactic Alliance crash lands on a waterlogged Earth after losing control of his Chamber, an autonomous robot.

"Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet" Trailer 3 (English Subbed) 翠星のガルガンティア 3

A large fleet of scavenger ships known as Gargantia retrieves the chamber from the ocean. Mistaking the inhabitants to be hostile, he takes hostage of a girl named Amy and sneaks away. Soon he learns about his misconception and begins his new life while an imminent danger awaits.

9. Humanity Has Declined

Humanity Has Declined displays the humorous side of a post-apocalyptic world.

Humanity is near extinction due to declining birth rates. It is now a world where the remaining humans co-exist with fairies, tiny creatures with advanced technology and a disregard for human safety.

A young girl has been designated the official United Nations arbitrator to keep the peace between humans and fairies. But controlling the disasters created by fairies for their obsession with candies is not easy as it sounds.

8. Ergo Proxy

Mysteries are there to be solved, Ergo Proxy displays that idiom with perfection.

Life outside the domed city of Romdo is impossible as the last human civilization lies there, after being hit by a global ecological catastrophe on Earth.

Re-l Mayer, the granddaughter of Romdo’s ruler, along with her AutoReiv partner Iggy, is assigned to investigate the “Cogito Virus,” which grants self-awareness to the humanoid-like robots, AutoReiv.

While investigating, they come across a conspiracy fueled by humanity’s darkest sins. Along with Vincent Law, an Autoreiv Specialist, she struggles to uncover the mysteries and the real purpose of mythical beings called “Proxies.”

7. Eureka Seven

Grab the chances that come your way, Eureka Seven reminds us that through an adventurous fiction.

Renton Thurston is a mechanic entangled by his deceased father’s legacy. The only thing that excites him is to surf the Trapar wave particles dispersed throughout air.

Wanting to join the mercenary group of Gekkostate to enjoy an adventurous life, he was soon presented a chance as he meets Eureka, a member of Gekkostate, who crash lands in his garage.

Eureka Seven - Coming Soon to Blu-ray & DVD - Trailer

Eureka asks him to join her as co-pilot of the Nirvash typeZERO, a robot able to surf on Trapar wave particles after tuning it up.

6. Girls’ Last Tour

Girls’ Last Tour beautifully portrays two girls’ quest to find hope in a lonely and doomed world.

Chito and Yuuri are the lone survivors in a city destroyed in the war. They scavenge around the military sites on a motorbike in search of food and things needed to survive.

Girls' Last Tour Official English Cast Reveal

Struggling with the imminent solitude, they support each other to share the burden of being the only ones. They spend their time shooting practice, reading books, and snowball fights.

5. Trigun

Trigun skillfully deals with a victim of fake news through a compelling story.

Vash the Stampede was given the title “The Humanoid Typhoon” for mercilessly killing people and flattening cities for fun. Thanks to his antics he has a whopping bounty of $$60,000,000,000.

But in actuality, Vash is softhearted and claims to have never taken a life. To minimize his impact on the public, he is followed by two insurance agents, Meryl and Milly, while traveling across the wasteland of the planet Gunsmoke.

But soon, he is targeted by a group of legendary assassins bringing misfortunes evolving life-or-death situations.

4. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion powerfully depicts the conscience of human emotions amidst the survival of humanity.

Standing on the brink of extinction, Nerv, a specialized agency under the United Nations, is the last hope to save humanity against the Angels using their giant machines called Evangelions.

Gendou Ikari, head of the organization along with her comrades, is finding compatible pilots to sync in with Evangelion.

Shinji Ikari’s average life is drastically changed when he has whisked away into the depths of Nerv after meeting with his father. He has been destined to pilot Evangelion Unit-01 to save humanity once and for all.

3. Dr. STONE

Dr. STONE will rekindle the latent spirit of science within you, while on a ride to the prehistoric times.

Just when Taiju was going to confess his love to Yuzuriha after five years of harboring his feelings, he was interrupted by a blinding green light that petrified the whole of mankind into stones.

After waking up several millennia later, he witnesses a world surrounded by lush green forests devoid of the modern world.

Dr. Stone Official Anime Trailer (English Sub)

Suddenly he comes across his science-loving friend Senku who has been active for quite a few months and has devised a plan to revive the entire mankind. But soon, his ideologies are challenged by the revived ones.

2. Gurren Lagann

Gurren Lagann deals with much more than the emotions and survival of humankind through an exhilarating mecha adventure.

Simon is a young man with no real aspirations while Kamina is free-spirited, both of them born and raised in an underground village stumbles upon an ignition key to an ancient war artifact which they name Lagann.

Gurren Lagann Official Trailer

With the help of Lagann, they set off on a journey under the bright sky with Yoko, to fight against “Beastmen,” humanoid creatures terrorizing humanity in robots called “Gunmen.”

1. Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan exquisitely depicts the survival of humanity against the Titans.

Centuries ago, mankind was forced to live within defensive barriers in fear of Titans, human-eating monsters.

After centuries of peace, a colossal titan manages to breach the defensive wall and begins the survival against man-eating abominations where Eren Yeager lost his mother and joined the Survey Corps to dedicate his life for his revenge against titans by eradicating each of them.

Attack on Titan - Official Trailer w/ Intro from Voice of Eren

In this brutal journey, he is accompanied by his adopted sister, Mikasa Ackerman, and childhood friend Armin Arlert.

Honorable Mentions

Some other series in this genre which is worth your time is:

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign, Sound of the Sky, Darling in the FranXX, Knights of Sidonia.