Copyright Screen Rant
You should check out these animated sci-fi series at least once. The combination of beautiful and impressive animation with sci-fi world-building is a special one. While there are a lot of sci-fi shows to choose from, including Apple TV's already popular Pluribus, sometimes an animated story can be even more intriguing than a live-action one. While the special effects on a live-action sci-fi show can look cheesy, and there are so many things that can go wrong, these animated sci-fi series are amazing. Whether you're looking for a story that blends scientific inventions with a family saga or a quirky show that takes on the future, these are perfect choices. Solar Opposites (2020-2025) The Hulu series features aliens who are now living on Earth and might remind you of the 1990s sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, which has a similar premise. But since that live-action show's aliens look like humans, besides a memorable Floating Head character, Solar Opposites is more fun. Episodes dive into the aliens' experiences in Geenadavisville and how confused they are by humans. They cause trouble everywhere, which results in some humorous storylines. Some of the best episodes focus on holidays like Valentine's Day or find the aliens behaving like humans and going on a trip. You won't want to miss out on the crisp and colorful animation style of Solar Opposites, which helps it stand out. While the aliens look the way we would expect them to, their green and blue hues and huge mouths are memorable. The series does a great job blending a regular small town setting with sci-fi elements, like when the aliens make Super Gooblers. These adorable creatures depict the aliens' feelings, and they're a lot of fun to watch. Solar Opposites also has an amazing voice cast, including Sterling K. Brown, Kieran Culkin, Jimmy Simpson, Ken Marino, Wendy McLendon-Covey, and Tiffany Haddish. Adventure Time (2010-2018) With an amazing run of 10 seasons, it would be too bad to miss out on Adventure Time, an award-winning animated sci-fi series with a fantastic premise. The story is a dream for any child viewer: Jake (John DiMaggio) is a dog capable of becoming any size, and every episode explores his connection with a young boy, Finn (Jeremy Shada). But adults can enjoy it too since it's both artistic and charming. The series is incredibly creative and beautiful to look at, thanks to the imaginative characters throughout. Season 1 features fun settings like Lumpy Space and unique characters such as the Never-Ending Pie-Throwing Robot. Whimsical plotlines, like the spirit of a fly coming after Jake or a pair of spiders who are having relationship trouble, keep you interested. You'll also love watching the friendship between Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch), Jake, and Finn. Pantheon (2022-2023) Pantheon has a terrifying premise of technology becoming so amazing that it essentially takes over, and since this is such a compelling idea, it's too bad that the show only has two seasons. Still, it's worth watching thanks to the layered characters and beautiful animation. The series explores sci-fi technology through two adolescent characters, Caspian Keyes (Paul Dano) and Maddie Kim (Katie Chang). While they both have great arcs, Maddie's is more interesting. In the first episode, someone messages her and says that it's David (Daniel Dae Kim), her dad who passed away from cancer. Everyone should see Pantheon at least once in order to learn the truth about David, and to experience the thrilling ride. The series finale is also fantastic, although it definitely makes you wish there was another season. Love, Death & Robots (2019-Present) The Netflix anthology series Love, Death & Robots has a unique look, and since each episode is different, you won't want to miss any of them. Besides wanting to see what interesting sci-fi stories are told, you'll want to see the creative way they're depicted. There are definitely some great-looking robots on the show, as the title would suggest. But plenty of other creatures are also depicted. From Volume 3's "Night of the Mini Dead" about zombies to Volume 1's "Suits" which tells a scary story about bugs called DeeBees, each episode is fast-paced and fairly horrifying. Since Love, Death & Robots is from the incredibly talented David Fincher and Tim Miller, you know going in that this series is going to be unforgettable, and it doesn't disappoint. Futurama (1999-Present) One of the most common sci-fi storylines revolves around different visions of the future, and so it would be terrible to never watch the quirky, colorful, and fascinating world of Futurama. The characters look both regular and over-the-top, with main character Philip J. Fry (Billy West) depicted as a "normal" human and his friends looking more distinct. Leela (Katey Sagal) has one huge eye across her face, and Bender (John DiMaggio) is a robot who always looks slightly terrified. You'll also become invested in Fry and Leela's complex relationship. Watching characters wake up in the future after being frozen in time is always an epic sci-fi element, and Futurama uses this trope perfectly. The show begins with Fry being frozen in a cryonic tube and realizing he's in New York City in 2999, and by the end of the pilot, it's now 3000. The episodes of Futurama also nicely move between space, including Fry's job delivering pizza for Planet Express, and Earth, which shows New York City in the future. If you love the wild and creative sci-fi elements that can be added to fun animation, you won't want to miss Futurama's evil bees in space or creatures like the Decapodians. Rick And Morty (2013-Present) It's not every day that you find a TV show that makes science fun and thrilling, and that's what makes Rick and Morty a stand-out in this unique genre. While The Big Bang Theory depicts intelligent characters who find joy in their satisfying scientific careers, Rick and Morty is a weirder and wilder take on a scientist's life. Maybe you'll become the most invested in the family-centric plotlines featuring Rick Sanchez (Ian Cardoni) and his grandson Morty (Harry Belden), granddaughter Summer (Spencer Grammer), daughter Beth (Sarah Chalke), and son-in-law Jerry (Chris Parnell). Or maybe you'll love the Rick and Morty references to popular movies, such as the episode called "M Night Shaym-Aliens!" No matter what your favorite part of the show is, you'll enjoy the ride, especially since the storylines are so surprising and unique. Take season 4's "Mortyplicity," for instance. The episode depicts a terrifying, fascinating adventure where aliens keep murdering fake versions of the family. The series is completely out there and unpredictable, which makes it a lot of fun. Arcane (2021-2024) It would be a shame to never watch Arcane and miss what all the hype and buzz is about. The award-winning and popular series, which is adapted from Riot Games' League of Legends, focuses on characters living in Piltover and Zaun battling each other, with Powder (Ella Purnell) and Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) at the heart of the story. Arcane looks amazing, and the intricate, detailed animation is fascinating to observe throughout both seasons. It also has relatable characters and allows you to follow along with two sisters, and it's easy to root for them. The series also has fun sci-fi tropes like a parallel universe in season 2, episode 7, "Pretend Like It's the First Time."
