10 Best Time Travel Anime of All Time

10 Best Time Travel Anime of All Time
10 Best Time Travel Anime of All Time

Time travel has become a very hot topic recently. Many films and series attempt to convey the complexity of time travel, and it has been proven that stories about time travel are capable of capturing the attention of many audiences. Nowadays you can find various anime movies or series that attempt to present similar stories. And it turns out that time travel-themed anime have existed for a long time. So, in this article, we will discuss various time travel anime that are considered to be the best. Anything? Check it out below, geeks!

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List of 10 Best Anime About Time Travel

The time travel genre is not the most prevalent in anime, but most of the time it is done very well. For fans of traveling to the past or future, the following time travel-themed anime shows are the best to watch.

Tokyo Revengers

Release Year:11 April 2021
Genre:Action, Drama, School, Shounen, Supernatural
Director:Koichi Hatsumi
Voice Actress:Yūki Shin, Azumi Waki, Ryota Osaka

Tokyo Revengers was adapted into an anime series in April 2021. The anime tells the story of Takemichi Hanagaki, a man who experienced a tragic life. One day, he discovers that his former girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, and her brother have been murdered by a brutal gang called Tokyo Manji. Not knowing what to do, Takemichi mysteriously goes back in time twelve years earlier, when he was in high school.

With this second chance, he is determined to change fate and prevent the deaths of Hinata and her brother. However, the journey to Takemichi is no easy task. He must join the brutal and interesting world of gang crime. By trying to reconnect with people from his past, Takemichi attempts to overcome obstacles and understand the essence of life.

Tokyo Revengers not only features exciting action, but also includes drama and mystery, making it appealing to a wide variety of audiences. The story of Tokyo Revengers was first created by Ken Wakui in 2017, and since then Tokyo Revengers has become a fan favorite because it has an unpredictable story.


Orange

Release Year:25 September 2016
Genre:Drama, Romance, School, Sci-Fi, Shoujo
Director:Hiroshi Hamasaki
Voice Actress:Makoto Furukawa, Kana Hanazawa, Seiichiro Yamashita

The next anime to feature time travel is Orange. The anime tells the story of High School student Naho Takamiya, who receives a letter from herself that comes from 10 years in the future. The letter informs Naho of decisions she must make, including whether to contact or stay away from a student named Kakeru Naruse.
The letter is from Kakeru, a new friend of his at school.

The letter reveals that in the future, Kakeru experienced a tragic event that could have been avoided if Naho had taken some action. With that information, Naho tries to change the future and prevent this event. However, changing the future is not always easy and the story unfolds through the dynamics of the relationships between Naho’s school friends and her exploration of hidden secrets and emerging emotions.

When it was released, the Orange anime received a positive response from audiences and critics due to the quality of the animation. Moreover, the presented story is very interesting because of the many plot twists. Orange is an adaptation of the Manga of the same name written and illustrated by Ichigo Takano. This manga was first published in 2012.


Future Diary

Release Year:10 October 2011
Genre:Action, Mystery, Psychological, Shounen, Supernatural, Thriller
Director:Naoto Hosoda
Voice Actress:Tomosa Murata, Mai Aizawa, Masaki Terasoma

The original title of Future Diary is Mirai Nikki. The manga was written and illustrated by Sakae Asuno, where it was first released in 2006. When the anime version was made, the number of Future Diary fans increased. The anime is quite popular and has gained a huge fan base. Future Diary tells the story of Yuki Amano, an ordinary teenager who finds herself involved in a deadly game called the “Diary Game“.

Yuki and several other participants receive special diaries that allow them to see future events. Yuno Gasai, a student obsessed with Yuki, also joins the game. Although at first it seems like a simple survival game, the participants realize that it is a battle to become the new god who controls time and space.

Each participant has a diary with the unique ability to predict the future, however, they also have to compete with each other and face moral and psychological challenges. As Yuki tries to survive, she must also understand her complex and unpredictable relationship with Yuno.


Erased

Release Year:7 January, 2016
Genre:Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural, Thriller
Director:Tomohiko Itou
Voice Actress:Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Tao Tsuchiya, Akari Kitō

The next anime to feature time travel is Erased. Erased tells the story of Satoru Fujinuma, a 29-year-old man who possesses a special ability called “Revival“. This ability allows him to go back in time to prevent future events from occurring. After being involved in a series of tragic events, Satoru finds himself thrown 18 years into the past, when he was only 11 years old.

This gives him the opportunity to prevent the murder of a school friend which happened in the past and is related to bad events in his adult life. Satoru tries to identify the criminals and protect his friend Kayo Hinazuki as well as other children who are in danger. As he investigates further, he discovers that the series of events are linked to his past.

Erased has a plot full of mystery. Furthermore, we are also presented with a twist in the plot that makes the story even more unexpected. Erased not only surprised audiences with its psychological thriller elements, but also impressed them with its themes of life, sacrifice, and redemption.


The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Release Year:15 July 2006
Genre:Adventure, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Director:Mamoru Hosoda
Voice Actress:Riisa Naka, Takuya Ishida, Mitsutaka Itakura

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is the story of a high school student named Makoto Konno. One day, Makoto accidentally discovers that she was seriously injured after a bicycle accident and has the ability to travel through time. With this power, Makoto initially uses her abilities to prevent small incidents for personal gain.

But as time passes, she realize that passing time is not easy and her small decisions have a big impact on the lives of people around her. When Makoto realizes that the big decisions she makes could affect the people she loves, she is faced with a moral dilemma and responsibility. Meanwhile, the secrets behind the origin of her powers begin to emerge, adding a deeper element of mystery to the story.

The anime film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, also known as Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, is adapted from the novel of the same title written by Yasutaka Tsutsui. Before the anime, this story was adapted into several film versions. The anime is directed by Mamoru Hosoda, known for his works such as Summer Wars and Wolf Children.


Thermae Romae

Release Year:28 March 2022
Genre:Comedy, Historical, Seinen, Supernatural
Director:Azuma Tani
Voice Actress:Hiroshi Kamiya, Aya Ueto, Masachika Ichimura

The next anime to feature time travel is Thermae Romae. Thermae Romae tells the story of Lucius Modestus, a Roman engineer who discovered the time warp connecting modern Japan. Every time you soak in the hot springs, you are magically transported to the hot springs of modern Japan. Lucius was initially confused and amazed by the innovations surrounding modern technology, particularly Japanese hot springs.

However, he quickly realized that there were many concepts that could be adopted from everyday Japanese life to improve life in ancient Rome. This anime combines elements of comedy and shows two different cultures. Lucius attempted to bring these new ideas into Roman culture and as time went on, he became increasingly involved in the life of modern Japan.

Thermae Roma achieved immense popularity in Japan and received positive reception due to its unique approach to historical comedy. The anime is adapted from the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Mari Yamazaki. This manga was first published in 2008.


Zipang

Release Year:7 October 2004
Genre:Action, Drama, Historical, Military, Sci-Fi
Director:Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Voice Actress:Hiroshi Kamiya, Yuji Ueda, Kazuhiko Inoue

Zipang is an anime adapted from the manga by Kaiji Kawaguchi. This anime is quite short as it only runs from Oct 8, 2004 to Apr 1, 2005, where the anime is directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi. Zipang tells the story of the crew of a modern Japanese warship, the JSDF Mirai, who is suddenly transported back in time during World War II.

In 1942, in the midst of war between Japan and the United States, he found himself in the Pacific Ocean. With modern technology, the Mirai team is in a unique position where they have knowledge of the future and the conflicts that may arise. Ethical questions arise when they have to decide whether to change the course of history or let events unfold according to the historical events they already know.

This creates complex moral dilemmas and interesting strategic battles as the Mirai crew tries to survive and face the consequences of their past decisions. Of course, there are many epic ships in this anime that would be a shame to leave out.


Iroduku: The World in Colors

Release Year:6 October 2018
Genre:Drama, Magic, Romance
Director:Toshiya Shinohara
Voice Actress:Kaori Ishihara, Shoya Chiba, Kana Hanazawa

The original title of Iroduku: The World in Colors is Irozuku Sekai no Ashita Kara. The anime consists of a total of 13 episodes and takes place between October 2018 and December 2018. Iroduku: The World in Colors tells the story of Hitomi Tsukishiro, a teenager who lost the ability to see colors in the world. Despite her family’s magical abilities, Hitomi feels sad and alone.

One day, Hitomi is sent back from 2018 to 2078 by her grandmother, who witnesses her granddaughter’s sadness. There, Hitomi meets a group of young high school artists, including Yuito Aoi, a young man interested in painting. Together with her friends, they try to help Hitomi rediscover her happiness and explore a colorful world.

iroduku: The World in Colors explores the themes of loss, growth, and beauty in life. With magical touches and a romantic story, this anime offers a deeply emotional and visual experience.


Nobunaga Concerto

Release Year:12 July, 2014
Genre:Action, Historical, Samurai, Sci-Fi, Shoujo
Director:Yosuke Fujita
Voice Actress:Mamoru Miyano, Yūsuke Kobayashi, Yūichi Nakamura

The next anime to feature time travel is Nobunaga Concerto. When it was released, Nobunaga Concerto received a positive response from audiences and critics as it presented an interesting story. The anime is adapted from the manga of the same name written by Ayumi Ishii. Nobunaga Concerto tells the story of Saburou, a high school student who is mysteriously travled back in time during the Sengoku (State War) in Japan.

After reaching the past, Saburō meets Oda Nobunaga, a very powerful daimyo. Given his resemblance to Oda Nobunaga, Saburō saw the opportunity to replace the famous daimyō. Although he was reluctant at first, he soon realized that the actions and decisions he made could have a great impact on the story.

Saburō attempts to deal with the challenges of being Oda Nobunaga, creating policies and military policies to overcome the conflicts around him. He interacts with other historical figures, such as Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, while trying to keep his identity secret. This anime will allow viewers to enjoy a story that covers important events while also taking a look at the current story.


Steins;Gate

Release Year:6 Apr, 2011
Genre:Sci-Fi, Thriller
Director:Hiroshi Hamasaki
Voice Actress:Mamoru Miyano, Asami Imai, Kana Hanazawa

Steins;Gate tells the story of Rintarou Okabe, a student in Tokyo who believes he is a mad scientist. Along with his friends, Mayuri Shiina and Hashida Itaru, Okabe discovers that the phone he created has the ability to send text messages to the past.

After discovering their first breakthrough in time travel, Okabe and his friends accidentally become involved in a vast conspiracy involving a secret organization and terrifying scientific experiments. They realize that every change they make to the timeline has a huge and complex effect on the world around them.

When his life is in danger, Okabe enters a complex world and must face the serious consequences of the time game they are playing. Time travel becomes more than just a science experiment and he must make difficult decisions to solve this dilemma and save his friends. The Steins;Gate anime is an adaptation of the visual novel of the same title developed by 5PB. And NitroPlus. This visual novel was first released in 2009.


That’s all, there are plenty of anime that include time travel elements. Of course, these anime have their own uniqueness and are very suitable if you are interested in time travel stories, which are usually quite complex. Which of these anime is your favorite, geeks?

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