The 33 Ultimate Post-Apocalypse Anime To Enjoy Ruin

The post-apocalypse setting has been utilized in many entertainment products such as movies and videogames.

It’s fascinating to imagine how the world would transform after an apocalyptic event and how people would adapt to this new reality.

This gives writers and creators the freedom to conceptualize a plot and characters that can be fiction but also be grounded in reality.

Even anime have picked up this trend and in this article, we will list many titles with a post-apocalyptic setting.

This listicle is based on our personal opinions and tastes.

33. School-Live!

School-Live is a 2015 anime based on a Seinen manga, which plays on the surprise effect quite often.

What seems with all the premises a very normal slice-of-life anime, where the cheerful protagonist Takeya Yuki lives her school life in a sunny and energetic way.

She’s enrolled in the school club School Life with her friends, a seemingly happy and cheerful setting.

Don’t worry though, because this scenario of happiness will soon be interrupted by a terrible and violent zombie invasion, which will send the school into a panic.

An interesting anime to watch because of its constant twists and changes in the atmosphere, which will be the main focus.

32. No. 6

This anime from 2011 is set in a post-apocalypse world where humanity lives in 6 different city-states gated from the rest of the world.

Many years before the events of the show, a war destroyed the world as we know it so the survivors decided to organize themselves in a few city-states. Those are isolated from each other and serve as a measure to rebuild from the wasteland the war has brought.

The events start to unravel when Shion, a boy from city-state No.6 meets Nezumi, who lives in the wasteland outside the walls.

The utopian ideal of the city-state breaks before Shion’s eyes when he and his mother are forced to relocate for having sheltered the fugitive boy.

No.6 is one of those anime that slowly and gradually reveals its secrets, each time adding a piece to its great puzzle of events and mysteries. For this reason, rest assured that it will know how to entertain you and leave you with bated breath.

Its great flaw, however, which is by no means negligible, is a rather weak, rushed animated adaptation with mediocre animation.

We recommend either the light novel or the manga.

31. Black Bullet

Black Bullet is a rather well-known anime that combines in itself science fiction elements with pure action.

The plot is set in the near future where Earth has been invaded by an alien parasite race called Gastrea.

These aliens are exterminating the human race so a special breed of agents called Cursed Children is tasked with handling this threat.

Rantaro and Enju, the two protagonists, are also Cursed Children, meaning children whose bodies contain trace amounts of the virus which grant them superhuman abilities.

Black Bullet combines good action, an interesting soundtrack and acceptable animations.

The problem, however, is that the story ends up being clichéd more often than not, with predictable situations.

30. High School of the Dead

In High School of the Dead, a mysterious deadly disease has spread throughout the world, with catastrophic repercussions for humanity, resulting in attacks caused by the living dead, called Them.

A group of high school students in Japan has banded together to escape the zombie onslaught, while also trying to figure out who or what is responsible for the ongoing apocalypse.

The manga blatantly references the corresponding horror film strand, not failing to pay homage to films such as Dawn of the Dead and 28 Days Later, as well as video games such as Resident Evil.

But don’t expect anything serious or even a masterpiece.

High School of the Dead was blatantly created to entertain without commitment with its exaggerated gore scenes and an inordinate amount of ecchi and fanservice.

29. Casshern Sins

Casshern Sins is an anime with very strong Sci-Fi and dystopian tones released in 2008 in 24 solid episodes.

As a setting we see a dystopian world where humanity is now enslaved, oppressed and exploited.

In the welter, however, the name of Luna, a girl referred to by the people as a true messiah and savior, pops up. Frightened by this threat, the leader of the oppressors Briking sends the 3 cyborgs (Casshern, Deo, and Leda) to kill her.

No one expects the terrible consequences of this act, as after the girl is killed, the world undergoes a true apocalypse, becoming a veritable desert of blight.

But 100 years later Kyashan awakens, with no memory.

Casshern Sins is an interesting anime with strong Sci-Fi influences that makes the mystery and setting its strong point.

It lacks a little in the technical aspect, but it remains an interesting anime.

28. Terraformars

This anime show aired in 2014 begins with humans trying to colonize Mars by sending cockroaches to the surface of the red planet due to their ability to endure the planet’s conditions.

Fast forward to the 26th century and humanity has been plagued by a disease known as the Alien Engine Virus.

The cure could be found on Mars but the problem is that the planet is now colonized by the so-called Terraformars, some kind of humanoid cockroaches that evolved from the ones originally sent by the human race.

The genetically enhanced men and women of the team Annex I will be humanity’s last hope to find a cure for the virus and withstand the disgusting threat represented by the Terraformars.

Terraformars is an anime that starts from interesting premises, which unfortunately are not fulfilled because of its bad adaptation.

Shoddy and poorly done animation spoils the whole thing, which is a shame because the action scenes are interesting, and the Terraformars are terrifying.

If you are interested we again recommend the manga.

27. Darling in the FranXX

An anime as highly regarded as it is discussed, released recently. Our attention now turns to DARLING in the FRANXX, animated by Studio Trigger and released in 2018.

The premise is the usual one of a classic mecha anime. Humanity, now devastated, has taken refuge in the mobile fortified city of Plantation.

The boys who are born into this reality are expected to follow a single purpose in life, which is to be trained from an early age in carrying out missions for the protection of humankind.

This is to fight mysterious alien life forms, the Kyoryu, by piloting robots called Franxx.

But you will have well understood that, born and raised in such an environment, completing assignments and piloting a Franxx becomes a reason for living.

And it is with this very problem that the protagonist Hiro, once a robot-driving prodigy but now lagging behind his peers, opens the series.

But the encounter with Zero Two, a mysterious girl with pink hair and a pair of horns, will shed new light on his life.

Darling in the FranXX is a good mecha anime if you are a sporadic fan of the genre or want to start being one, is an excellent entry-point for the genre.

If you are a seasoned fan and know the genre, then avoid it because it’s full of clichés and fanservice.

26. Guilty Crown

Guilty Crown is set in a pandemic-stricken post-apocalyptic Japan controlled by a multinational corporation known as GHQ.

The main character, Ouma Shu, is a 17-year-old boy who possesses a very special ability, the Power of the King, which allows his right hand to extract weapons or tools from the bodies of his friends.

The boy has always tried to keep himself out of trouble and hides his gift, at least until he meets Yuzuriha Inori, a girl member of the resistance, which he will join the fight to violently liberate Japan.

Here starts their vengeance. Guilty Crown is an all-in-all interesting anime, combining action with mecha and an excellent story of rebellion, all in a post-apocalyptic setting.

The only problem is that it ends up being quite clichéd in the long run, and the characters are not too complex, but remains a very entertaining and enjoyable show.

25. Rust-Eater Bisco

Rust-Eater Bisco is a new 12-episode anime series that was released in 2022. It falls under the adventure, action, and supernatural genres, all set in a fascinating post-apocalyptic world.

The plot revolves around a post-apocalyptic Japan, ravaged by a dreadful disease that causes the human body to rust away.

Bisco, a young boy, embarks on a journey with Dr. Milo Nekoyanagi to find a fungus that may hold the cure for the disease.

Rust-Eater Bisco is an excellent anime with a simple yet effective story, well-designed characters, and a meticulously crafted post-apocalyptic world.

24. Somali and the Forest Spirit

Somali and the Forest Spirit was adapted into 12 episodes in 2020 from an original seinen manga.

In a world ruled by spirits, goblins, and many other types of creatures, the human race is persecuted and pushed to the brink of extinction.

One day, an encounter occurs between a golem and one of the last human girls. This anime tells the story of the two and their journey with an ever-growing bond between father and daughter.

Somali and the Forest Spirit is an excellent anime that shows us a post-apocalyptic world with predominant fantasy tones in which nature is predominant.

It will also be wonderful to see the relationship between the two main characters evolve, becoming more and more tender and believable.

Beautiful to watch, wholesome, and with excellent characters. A very good formula.

23. Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet

The story of Garagantia on the Verdurous Planet is set in the distant future where the human race is engaged in battle against menacing beings called Hidiaasu.

During one of the clashes, young Lt. Red is shot down and ends up in a space-time distortion.

Awakening from a state of hibernation, he finds himself on Earth at the edge of the galaxy, a planet now largely covered by the water where the population lives on giant ships fishing their resources from the seabed.

Initially we will see the protagonist scared, but he soon realizes that the island natives have no hostile intentions.

So our protagonist will try to build a new life on this planet but there will be many new mysteries to uncover.

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet is an interesting anime with beautiful sea settings that will leave you speechless.

On the other hand, its flaw is that its plot, from a certain point on, ends up being too pretentious and intricate, ending up being confusing.

22. Humanity Has Declined

Humanity Has Declined was adapted into just 12 episodes from the manga of the same name. The plot is set hundreds of years after the beginning of humankind’s slow decline.

Earth has become the realm of fairies, small creatures with incredible intelligence, who spend their time in pompous tea ceremonies.

The protagonist of the story is a human who has become an ambassador to mediate between humans and fairies. But she will soon realize that the work is not as easy as thought.

Humanity has declined, unlike other names on this list, is very quiet, colorful and comic, without showing us desolation, war and monsters.

Although, technically, the world as we know it is over, so we can call it a family-friendly and kawaii post-apocalyptic scenario.

21. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortess

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is an anime that we have already discussed several times.

The world of Kabaneri shows us a post-apocalyptic scenario, where the Kabane infects people, making them like zombies with the only weakness in their hearts.

But Ikoma, one of the survivors, manages to create a weapon that turns the Kabane back to normal without killing them, thus giving new hope to humankind.

A great post-apocalyptic dark fantasy setting and lots of action make this anime an easy recommendation, which goes on to combine classic shonen themes with a post-apocalyptic scenario.

Note should also be made of the excellent animation by Studio Wit, the same as anime such as Attack on Titan in the first 3 seasons and Vinland Saga, but also many others.

20. Nagi no Asukara

If you’ve ever wondered what a hypothetical world might be like where mankind has colonized the sea, living in it, then this anime has the answer for you.

Nagi no Asukara, an anime released between 2013 and 2014, is based on just such a premise.

We follow the vicissitudes of four fourteen-year-old boys from the submarine village Shioshishio. After their underwater school closes due to the depopulation of the seas, they find themselves having to attend Mihama Middle School on the surface, where they will meet a boy named Tsumugu Kihara.

But life on land is completely new to them, and they have yet to discover customs and manners.

Nagi no Asukara pushes hard on the beautiful animations, the very chill and apt soundtrack, and its wonderful sea settings, and non.

It is a real feast for the eyes, worth watching for that reason alone.

19. The Promised Neverland

The setup for this anime is as simple as it is frightening. Humans and Demons ended a long war by coming to an agreement named The Promise.

According to this agreement, humans and demons won’t invade each other worlds but demons will have to be granted a steady supply of food in the form of human flesh.

The humans will be bred in these fake orphanages where a human Mother would make sure that the children would grow up and then be adopted, meaning they will be fed to high-ranking demons.

The story follows three children who live in one of these orphanages, the Grace Field House, as they slowly unravel the chilling mystery of the place where they grew up in.

A perfect starting point for mystery and horror lovers.

We will see a real escalation of tension until the final climax, in a whirlwind that will keep you glued from beginning to end.

18. Girl’s Last Tour

Girl’s last tour is an anime from 2017 featuring Chito and Yuuri, two little girls that are the last survivors of some kind of apocalypse.

The two protagonists are very different from each other. Chito is introverted and composed while Yuuri is a little clumsy and over-excited.

The two of them struggle to survive in this bleak new world and explore the ruins of the world interrogating themselves on how it could happen.

The post-apocalyptic setting is precisely the strength of this anime.

The empty, desolate and destroyed scenery will know how to convey a great sense of emptiness and uncertainty as we watch the protagonists wander aimlessly.

The relationship between the 2, of great friendship and mutual help, is also interesting and beautiful.

17. Desert Punk

Desert Punk takes place in a destroyed and post-apocalyptic setting where human beings have paid for their sins by ravaging their world.

Kanta Mizuno, better known as The Demon of the Desert, is the most famous bounty hunter in the Kanto Desert, known for his incredible skill in completing his assigned tasks no matter what the cost.

Desert Punk has a basic plot, a classic bounty hunter story, but its excellence is to be found in its spectacular setting.

A post-apocalyptic world very much in the style of Fist of the North Star mixed with excellent gunfights and well-characterized characters make this anime a little gem.

16. Seraph of the End

This is an anime that aired in the spring of 2015 and it is set in a world where a mysterious virus is starting to appear.

This disease begins to kill every human above the age of 13 so mankind is enslaved by a vampire race that promise to protect the survivors in exchange for donations of blood.

But contrary to how it may seem this is anything but good, but rather is a true realm of terror and oppression.

Yuuichirou and Mikaela Hyakuya are two orphans who get sick of living under the vampire’s reign of terror so the two of them try to escape the orphanage but Mikaela ends up dying in the process.

Yuuichirou is found many years later, now a Japanese Imperial Demon Army member determined to take revenge on the creatures that slaughtered his family.

But that’s just the beginning of the plot, full of action, mysteries, and much more.

Its characters are well written, and they tie together in a very interesting way, coexisting very well.

The real strength of Seraph of the End is its plot, which combines the post-apocalyptic scenario with a story of rebellion and revenge, with a touch of the supernatural given the presence of vampires.

15. Knight of Sidonia

This is an anime, based on a seinen manga, released in 2014 with pretty dark and sinister overtones. Humanity seems forced to succumb to its predators after the Solar System has been blown up.

It’s set in 1000 years in the future after planet Earth was destroyed by Gauna, a hideous alien race.

The planet has been destroyed by a terrific alien race. Humanity is reduced to wandering the Universe aboard the Sidonia, the last viable Ark in search of new planets to inhabit.

The only choice is to attack Gauna by destroying their cores, the weak point. Knights of Sidonia stakes everything on its frightening space setting, the ideal setting for psychological horror.

You will always feel the threat around the corner, and you will never feel safe while watching, given the very dark, empty, and silent settings where the enemy is always lurking.

Not to be missed if you like mecha and space settings and want to enjoy one of the best anime set in space we can recommend.

14. Made in Abyss

Made in Abyss is a recent addition set in a bizarre and gloomy abyss where you can see anything.

The narrated events follow the adventures of Riko, a 12-year-old girl who lives in the Belchero orphanage in the town of Orth, in a destroyed and different world compared to ours.

The distinguishing feature of this place is the presence of a giant chasm, called the Abyss, containing mysterious artifacts and general objects of special interest to the outside world.

As one descends through its various levels, ascending back up becomes more and more complex for a human, starting from mild symptoms to psychological and physical traumas.

This series is extremely dark and escalates really quickly. The interesting setting and the children cast are what make this series even more terrifying if you think about it for a second.

You won’t even know what’s down there and this group decides to explore the depths of the abyss anyway.

Made in Abyss is a great take on the fantasy genre that doesn’t really introduce new elements but uses what’s at its disposal.

13. Now and Then, Here and There

This is an anime tv show aired in 1999 and it tells the story of Shuu Matsutani, an ordinary boy who one day climbs a smokestack to watch the sunset. There finds Lala-Ru, a quiet, blue-haired girl wearing a strange pendant.

But suddenly, the girl is captured by a woman and two weird machine-like creatures.

As Shuu tries to save her, he is transported to a post-apocalyptic desert world and finds out that the girl’s pendant can manipulate water.

Thus begins the quest to return home, while more and more mysteries and dangers won’t cease to arise.

Now and Then, Here and There is a very different anime from the crowd, relying entirely on its characters and its very dramatic story full of pathos.

Its story is highly engaging, and you will find yourself feeling part of the journey of the 2 characters. The mysteries are the nicest addition to the series and make this anime a real banger.

12. Shinsekai Yori / From the New World

A 2012 anime released in 25 episodes based on the novel of the same name.

The anime is set in Japan 1000 years from now and features five main characters: Saki, Satoru, Maria, Mamoru and Shun, born and raised in a quiet Japanese village.

Set in a dystopian future, Shinsekai Yori is the story of these 5 young boys and their discovery of a rotten and dark society.

In a world where people are born with telekinesis abilities, Saki and his friends will have to come to terms with a harsh reality.

Shinsekai Yori shows us deep and complex psychological aspects, very mature despite the age of the characters.

All this is in a desolate and bare setting, which nicely renders the idea of a well-crafted post-apocalyptic world.

Among its subplots, we will also find a well-crafted and enjoyable romance.

11. Texhnolize

Texhnolyze is an anime that aired in 2003, produced by Madhouse Studio from the subject of master Yoshitori Abe.

The story takes place in the crumbling underground city of Lux, marked by a harsh conflict between 3 factions.

The conflict revolves around Raffia, a rare substance that can only be found in this dreaded city and it allows for the texhnolyze transplant of any limb with a prosthetic and more powerful one.

The protagonist Ichise is an orphan boy who has become a bounty hunter by circumstances. He was mutilated and left without a leg and arm, for them to be replaced by advanced inhuman, yet powerful technological prosthetics.

Texhnolyze shows us in an unprecedented way a cyberpunk-themed post-apocalyptic world with a focus on the underground and slum life.

A very interesting and deep anime, but one that requires a lot of focus to be fully understood given its peculiar pacing.

10. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 is an anime consisting of 11 episodes, where the story is set in Tokyo after a Richter scale 8.0 earthquake devastates the city.

The main characters are Mirai and Yuki, who go to a robot exhibition in Odaiba, without their parents, as they are busy with work. Suddenly, an earthquake occurs. From here, their journey home will begin, moving towards a destroyed Tokyo.

If you are looking for a realistic anime that can make you convey the terror, fear, and despondency of experiencing such a disaster on your skin, then give it a chance.

And that is precisely the strength of this anime: to show us a shattered and terror-filled but realistic scenario in a situation that, unfortunately, could really happen.

Making it even more engaging and empathetic is the relationship between the two siblings, with the older one having to look after the younger one to keep him safe.

9. Fist of the North Star

One of the greatest classics of Japanese animation set in a post-apocalyptic universe. It takes inspiration from a manga series that originally came out in the ’80s.

This masterpiece invented the diesel-punk genre and starred one of the most iconic protagonists of the medium, Kenshiro.

Our hero wanders to a post-apocalyptic wasteland on a quest to track down his rival, Shin, who has kidnapped his beloved fiancée Yuria

The drift of humanity is portrayed beautifully with grotesque characters and distorted senses of justice, but the shocking violence stands out above it all.

Thanks to its grotesque and exaggerated design, the rawness of the fights is even better.

8. Dr. Stone

In year 5738, all of humanity finds itself turned to stone due to a natural disaster, leaving the world in a wild state. Ooki Taiju manages to awaken, being confronted with a completely different reality than he remembered.

After reuniting with his brilliant scientist friend Senku, he will begin the story, trying to understand why this apocalypse occurred.

This implies doing a lot of scientific experiments to solve the mystery. Dr. Stone features the typical science-fiction plot with a post-apocalyptic setting marked by bleak and sad moors.

The great thing about Dr. Stone isn’t only the attention dedicated to Chemistry but its action scenes. This isn’t your usual boring anime, but rather an action-packed surprise that can also spark interest in science.

All of this is in a post-apocalyptic world where nature has regained the upper hand over man.

7. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

This movie from 1984 is set in a world where humanity barely survived a nuclear war called The Seven Days of Fire.

The remainders of the human race now are surviving in a hostile environment filled with mutated life forms that populate the menacing jungle.

Our protagonist is Nausicaa, the princess of the Valley of the Wind, a peaceful kingdom sheltered from the dangers of the post-apocalyptic world.

One day an airship from the kingdom of Tolmekia crashes into the Valley and the citizens find a sinister pulsating object in the wreckage.

The Valley is suddenly invaded by the Tolmekian military, who intend to revive a dangerous weapon from the Seven Days of Fire.

Nausicaa must fight to stop them from dragging everybody into a cataclysm that humanity could never survive.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is one of the milestones as far as anime movies go, and for several reasons.

We start with its spectacular setting, post-apocalyptic and beautiful to look at, with gorgeous colors.

But the same must be said for its characters, beautifully designed and characterized, all added to an interesting and not predictable plot.

6. Attack on Titan

One of the most popular works in recent times, if not the most in the period when his manga was at the finish line. Isayama’s Attack on Titan does not need much of a premise.

In an alternate dystopic world, humanity is hunted by giants, huge humanoid life forms that feed on people, becoming their natural predators.

Eren, Mikasa, and Armin will have to live with this threat, training to kill these life forms in order in order to get revenge.

A series capable of convincing anyone, even those who are less fond of Japanese animation.

And among the reasons without a doubt, we find a solid story, full of twists and very dynamic action scenes accompanied by excellent music and animation.

5. Ergo Proxy

Ergo Proxy is set in a post-apocalyptic future where survivors live under a dome city called Romdo, to get shelter from the lethal and toxic climate.

To help with mankind’s recovery, AutoReivs, humanoid-like robots, have been created to assist people in their day-to-day lives.

These automatons have begun contracting an enigmatic disease called the Cogito Virus which grants them self-awareness.

Re-l Mayer, with the help of his AutoReiv named Iggy, will be tasked to investigate this phenomenon and prove himself to his grandfather, the ruler of Romdo.

Ergo Proxy has one big flaw: very slow pacing and difficult for the less forged to follow.

But if this doesn’t scare you or indeed you are used to it, then you are looking at a little animation gem.

4. Trigun

Trigun, one of the best Sci-Fi anime ever made, follows the adventures of Vash the Stampede, also known by the dreaded title Humanoid Typhoon.

He is a wanted man throughout Gunsmoke, a fictional planet with strong Wild West vibes and atmospheres. This is because of the destruction of July City, of which he is believed to be the culprit.

Vash, however, is far from a criminal, but instead uses his keen skills to defend those in need, killing only on rare occasions and when strictly necessary.

Trigun is an excellent mix of action with a Sci-Fi twist, in which excellent characters fight strenuously for their ideals, Vash foremost among them.

It is hands down one of the greatest cult anime ever, and when it comes to gunfights in desert settings, we can safely say it’s unrivaled.

3. Gurren Lagann

Also known just by Gurren Lagann, it’s a 27-episode series produced by Gainax in 2007 and one of the best anime set in the future ever made.

The story is set in the distant future where Earth is dominated by the Beast Men, humanoid mutants with animal-like features and powers, while humans have been forced to live in underground villages.

Simon and Kamina are tired of living without ever seeing the sky. One day, while digging underground, they find the head of a robot, which they call Lagann.

Once they activate the mecha they manage to reach the surface and also take possession of the robot’s body.

Gurren Lagann incorporates a lot of homages to various mecha series and has robot-beastman fights on its side that are epic and over-the-top.

This anime is probably the best thing that has happened in the mecha genre since Neon Genesis Evangelion. Whether you like the genre or not, you should not let it pass you by.

2. Akira

Akira is a 1988 Japanese movie set in a dystopian 2019.

In the ’80s, the city of Tokyo has been destroyed by a boy with mysterious psychic powers and the government is forced to take him into custody as World War III rages on.

In 2019 the Japanese capital has been rebuilt into a new city called Neo-Tokyo and it is riddled with crime, violence and acts of terrorism.

Tetsuo Shima, a member of a criminal gang is starting to develop weird abilities after a mysterious encounter so the government seeks to capture him to prevent another apocalypse.

Akira is one of the greatest cult films of the Japanese medium, one that you cannot miss.

It seamlessly combines a very dystopian, rotten post-apocalyptic setting where humanity has lost its mind.

It has excellent action sequences that will keep you glued to the screen, a whole host of twists and turns, and excellent characters.

1. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the best Sci-Fi anime ever created by Hideaki Anno that depicts a destroyed world under attack by so-called Angels, mysterious entities that threaten the quiet of humanity.

Through the use of special mechs, it is possible to fight these beings, for which the Special Agency Nerv has taken responsibility.

The protagonist Shinji Ikari will be hired by this same group to pilot one of the robots, EVA 01, and attempt to put an end to these attacks.

Although the plot seems very action-centric, all the focus is on the characters and their psychology, as well as their traumas and personal experience.

The message of Evangelion resonates near the second half of the original anime, as the situation starts to get grim.

We think you already know that Evangelion is a cult anime that everyone should watch, and you don’t need us to tell you that.