What is Dystopia anime?

A dystopia (from Ancient Greek: δυσ-, "bad, ill", and Ancient Greek: τόπος, "place, landscape"; alternatively cacotopia, or anti-utopia) is, in literature, an often futuristic society that has degraded into a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian. Dystopian literature has underlying cautionary tones, warning society that if we continue to live how we do, this will be the consequence. A dystopia, thus, is regarded as a sort of negative utopia and is often characterized by an authoritarian or totalitarian form of government. Dystopias usually feature different kinds of repressive social control systems, a lack or total absence of individual freedoms and expressions and constant states of warfare or violence. Dystopias often explore the concept of humans abusing technology and how humans individually and collectively cope with technology that has evolved too quickly such as the car, the flamethrower or the microwave. A dystopian society is also often characterized by widespread poverty and brutal political controls such as a large military-like police.

Random Dystopia Anime You might like

Highlander: The Search for Vengeance

6.82

Description:

Colin MacLeod, the immortal Scottish Highlander, travels with the wise-cracking ghost Amergan in search of the immortal despot Marcus Octavius, who killed Colin's lover on the Celtic plains centuries earlier. The once great city of New York is now submerged under water, with only one dominant fortress towering over the sea, the fortress of Marcus Octavius. MacLeod is torn between saving the survivors of New York and hunting down his nemesis. (Source: ANN)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

86 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2007-02-14

Ooyukiumi no Kaina

(Kaina of the Great Snow Sea)

6.89

Description:

A world blanketed in an endless and ever-growing ocean of snow. The people eke out a living, either huddled around the roots of enormous trees dotting the surface, or high in the canopy, which spreads over the planet's atmosphere. A chance meeting between Kaina, a youth from the canopy, and Liliha, a young woman from the surface, sets off a chain of events that will change the fate of the world. (Source: Polygon Pictures)
Type

TV

Episodes

11

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

finished

Aired

2023-01-11

Terra e...

(Toward the Terra)

6.4

Description:

In the future, mankind's seemingly utopian society is strictly controlled by the government, and anything that threatens to disrupt the status quo is ruthlessly suppressed. When 14-year-old Jomy begins to question the way the society is run, he suddenly becomes a target for both the government and the Mu, an outcast race with extra-sensory abilities who have been fighting against the government for generations. Now, each is determined to hunt him down - one to kill him and the other to save him. (Source: RightStuf)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

111 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

1980-04-26

Chocolate Underground

5.99

Description:

Chocolate and other sweets have been banned thanks to the political reign of the Good For You Party, and the new laws are enforced strictly, with force if need be. Smudger and Huntley are two teen boys determined to eat chocolate again. They search out rumored chocolate bootleggers, eventually starting their own chocolate underground distribution. Based on the the British children's novel Bootleg by Alex Shearer.
Type

ONA

Episodes

13

Ep.Length

5 Min

Rating

Children

Status

finished

Aired

2008-06-12

Kyoukai Senki

(AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline)

6.46

Description:

In the year 2061 AD, Japan has lost its sovereignty. The Japanese people spend their days as oppressed citizens after being divided and ruled by the four major trade factions. The country became the forefront of the world following the deployment of AMAIM—a humanoid special mobile weapon—by each economic bloc. One day, Amou Shiiba, a boy who loves machines, meets Gai, an autonomous thinking A.I. The encounter leads Amou to cast himself into the battle to reclaim Japan, piloting the AMAIM Kenbu that he built himself. (Source: MAL News)
Type

TV

Episodes

13

Ep.Length

24 Min

Status

finished

Aired

2021-10-05

Eiyuu Densetsu: Sen no Kiseki

(The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War)

5.9

Description:

Lavian is the granddaughter of a deeply respected North Ambria hero-turned-traitor named Vlad, who joins the Northern Jaegers to prove that she is different from her grandfather. After multiple and constant disciplinary violations, Lavie is then ordered to form a platoon alongside with Martin, Iseria, and Tallion to infiltrate the Erebonian Empire and to investigate more about the “Civil War Hero of the Empire” who is threatening North Ambria. (Source: Official Website | Translated by Hansuke21)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

finished

Aired

2023-01-06

Eikyuu Kazoku

6.04

Description:

It started as a sociological experiment. Six different people were brainwashed to think that they were a family and then put in arbitrary situations to see how they would react; however, when a taping of the families conducts is sold in a desperate attempt to make a little capital, it instantly becomes a success. Now the family is a first rated show and their every move is broadcasted around the world without them knowing it. But when a clogged toilet sets off a chain of events that ultimately frees the family from the room they are confined in the broadcasters, not willing to lose their source of income, set out to hunt down and recapture every member of the Eternal family. (Source: ANN)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

28 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

1997-04-01

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts

7.97

Description:

Kipo Oak, a thirteen-year-old girl, is searching for her father after being forced to flee from her underground city. To do so, she travels through an overgrown post-apocalyptic urban wasteland ruled by sentient mutant animals ("mutes"), together with her new friends Wolf, Mandu, Benson and Dave. (Souce: Wikipedia)
Type

ONA

Episodes

10

Ep.Length

22 Min

Rating

Status

finished

Aired

2020-01-14

Hokuto no Ken: Raoh Gaiden Junai-hen

(Fist of the North Star: Raoh Side Story Junai Arc)

7.49

Description:

Kenshiro is the heir of the legendary martial arts known as Hokuto Shinken, which can kill a man with a single blow, by striking the pressure points in the enemy's body. Hokuto Shinken can be passed only to one successor at a time. When he was chosen as the successor, he parted ways with his brothers, Toki and Raoh. The former decided to use what he knew of the art to cure people... while the latter has chosen to use his supreme strength to install peace in the world by power. Kenshiro is accompanied by Lynn and Bart, and the movie's story begins when an overlord starts kidnapping children to use them as slaves for building his own pyramid... (Source: AniDB)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

95 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2006-03-11

Darkside Blues

6

Description:

The Persona Century Corporation has purchased nearly every parcel of land on earth. Dissension is not tolerated within the corporation's borders and those who oppose Persona are dealt with swiftly. Of those few places not yet under Persona's control is the free town of Kabuki-cho, also known as "The Dark Side of Tokyo". Within the town, under the leadership of a woman named Mai, is a small resistance group called Messiah. Into this world steps a man who takes the sobriquet of Kabuki-cho: Darkside. Sealed up in another dimension eighteen years ago by Persona Century, Darkside now returns to aid Messiah using his unique mystic power of renewal. (Source: ANN)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

83 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

1994-10-08

Dallos

(Dallos)

6.09

Description:

At the end of the 21st century, Earth had to confront the problem of population increases combined with shortages in resources. Development of the Moon was seen as the way to solve the situation. The Moon's mineral resources reinvigorated the Earth and brought prosperity. However, the achievement of that vision proved painful for those who'd left their home world to settle on the Moon. One of Man's greatest dreams has become a nightmare for those who have been forced to live it out. Shun Nonomura doesn't realize it, but he's about to discover a weapon - one that can overthrow the oppressive Monopolice and bring freedom to the lunar colonists. The growing resistance movemnt is quick to adopt it, along with its creator, into their ranks as they rally around the mysterious alien monument known as Dallos... Dallos was made in 1983 by Studio Pierrot, becoming world's first OVA series. It was also the directorial debut of Mamoru Oshii, who would later go on to direct such films as Angel's Egg, the first two Urusei Yatsura movies, and Ghost in the Shell. (Source: AniDB)
Type

OVA

Episodes

4

Ep.Length

30 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

1983-12-12

Ice

5.31

Description:

By A.D. 2010, all men have died off quickly due to a dramatic change in the environment and an unknown contaminant. The population decreased to the lowest number ever seen...until only the women were left alive. They live huddled in small corners of a world mostly reclaimed by nature. There are those who accept their inevitable extinction and live a carefree life... There are those who try to continue on the race with the help of science... It is a society of constant conflict over their differences of principles and policies. The story takes place in the center of Tokyo. It is one of the places left for them. The conflict over the specimen of "ICE" and the chance it may provide to save humanity begins. (Source: AnimeNfo)
Type

OVA

Episodes

3

Ep.Length

37 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2007-05-25

Love, Death + Robots Volume 2

(Love, Death + Robots Volume 2)

7.65

Description:

A second collection of shorts.
Type

ONA

Episodes

8

Ep.Length

15 Min

Status

finished

Aired

2021-05-14

Hokuto no Ken: Raoh Gaiden Gekitou-hen

7.69

Description:

The third chapter of the pentalogy (3 Movies + 2 OVAs). A retelling of Kenshiro's final battle with Raoh. (Source: Wikipedia)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

89 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2007-04-28

ATRI: My Dear Moments

7.15

Description:

In the near future, a sudden and unexplained sea rise has left much of human civilization underwater. Ikaruga Natsuki, a boy who lost his mother and his leg in an accident some years earlier, returns disillusioned from a harsh life in the big city to find his old countryside home half-swallowed by the sea. Left without a family, all he has to his name is the ship and submarine left to him by his oceanologist grandmother, and her debts. His only hope to restore the dreams for the future that he has lost is to take up an opportunity presented to him by the suspicious debt collector Catherine. They set sail to search the sunken ruins of his grandmother's laboratory in order to find a treasure rumor says she left there. But what they find is not riches or jewels; it is a strange girl lying asleep in a coffin at the bottom of the sea. Atri. Atri is a robot, but her appearance and her wealth of emotions would fool anyone into think she's a living, breathing human being. In gratitude for being salvaged, she makes a declaration to Natsuki. "I want to fulfill my master's final order. Until I do, I'll be your leg!" In a little town slowly being enveloped by the ocean, an unforgettable summer is about to begin for this boy and this mysterious robot girl... (Source: ATRI -My Dear Moments- VN Site)
Type

TV

Episodes

13

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

finished

Aired

2024-07-13

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts Season 2

7.94

Description:

Second season of Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
Type

ONA

Episodes

10

Ep.Length

25 Min

Rating

Status

finished

Aired

2020-06-12

Hokuto no Ken: Yuria-den

7.17

Description:

The second part of the new Hokuto no Ken pentalogy. The story of this OVA centers around Yuria. (Source: Wikipedia)
Type

OVA

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

64 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2007-02-23

Ai City

(Love City)

6.02

Description:

It's sometime in the future and the story starts off with Kei and Ai running for their lives. Ai is a little girl who holds a terrible secret which could destroy the current world. The world is now populated by Headmeters, people who have psychic powers and their strength is shown on their forehead when they fight. However, Kei was an experimental subject and his strength never went above level 5 while other surpasses his ability effortlessly. While escaping, when in desperate moments, Kei could increase his ability to infinity when Ai is in trouble. The one who's after her have a deep secret, aided by a small dwarflike man living in a robotic suit. Eventually Ai is captured and Kei, a sherlock holmes detective and another Headmeter who was converted to the good side when Kei unleashed his horrible powers through Ai must go and rescue her. Together they must save Ai and the secret which she holds. What is the secret of Ai? Who is she? (Source: AniDB)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

88 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

1986-07-26

Ultraviolet: Code 044

(Ultraviolet: Code 044)

6.26

Description:

044 becomes the strongest female soldier excelling in combat through gene manipulation using a virus. However, in exchange for her abilities, her days become numbered. The next mission of the government is to destroy a bloodthirsty squad, Phage, and its leader King. In her battle, she encounters a Phage soldier, Luka, and finds herself unable to kill him. She wonders why, but as a result, Daxus Jr., the leader of the government group, regards her as a traitor. She is targeted by both Phage and the government, and she runs away with the injured Luka. (Source: ANN)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2008-07-01

Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!: Zankyou-hen

(The Eminence in Shadow: Lost Echoes)

0

Description:

Theatrical follow-up to Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! 2nd season.
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

tba

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