While many steampunk stories tend to ride on 'Rule of Cool' as justification for their anachronistic settings, FMA explains the reason its old-fashioned but high-tech world exists: It's a world parallel to ours where alchemy overtook other sciences. See also Howl no Ugoku Shiro (Howl's Moving Castle) for a different, less sci-fi and more magic-driven take on steampunk by animation's greatest master.įullmetal Alchemist MAL Rated 8.35, Ranked #178 | Aired Fall 2003 | Produced by Bones Miyazaki made one of the best steampunk movies ever before steampunk was even a word (steampunk, by the way, was coined as a phrase in 1987, exactly a year after Laputa's release). High adventure in the vein of Jules Verne? Check. Ingeniously creative airship and robot designs? Check. Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa (Castle in the Sky) MAL Rated 8.39, Ranked #163 | Premiered | Produced by Studio GhibliĪn Industrial era, fantasy setting? Check. Even so, those who enjoy the period settings and alternate history elements of steampunk should definitely appreciate Baccano's supernaturally-tinged, action-packed take on the Great Depression era, in which American gangsters fight with immortal alchemists. Here are 10 recommendations of steampunk (or steampunk-esque) anime.įeeling stressed out? Why not let off some steam with these amazing Steampunk Anime?īaccano! MAL Rated 8.57, Ranked #71 | Aired Summer 2007 | Produced by Brains Baseĭoes Baccano count as steampunk? Some have categorized it as such, but it doesn't feature the anachronistic technology typically associated with the genre.

Several popular anime are definitely works of steampunk some feature certain elements which appeal to steampunk fans even if they don't hit all the genre's hallmarks. Popular contemporary works of fiction that feature elements of steampunk include Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials books, Mike Mignona's Hellboy comics, and the game Bioshock Infinite. Classic 19th century writers such as Jules Verne and HG Wells heavily influence the steampunk aesthetic. Sometimes steampunk stories take place in a pure fantasy realm, while others involve elaborate alternate histories based upon our world. Steampunk is a genre of science fiction that takes the steam-powered technology of the Industrial Revolution era in anachronistically advanced directions.

All aboard the Steampunk Anime train! Choo-choo!

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