The incredible Mamoru Hosoda’s latest film Mirai hits select theaters this week, and its story about a magical garden that functions as a gateway for time travel got me excited to revisit some of my favorite anime time travel stories. With so many options out there, it’s easy to find yourself entangled—quantumly or otherwise—in a whole realm of titles. So on today’s episode of The Dan Cave, we’re gonna tachyon a few options for you with a rundown of the best time travel anime you need to put in your eyeballs.[brightcove video_id=”5972309587001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=“rJs2ZD8xâ€]
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Image: Madhouse
If you could you go back in time and fix minor mistakes in your life, would you do it? As much as I’d like to think I have self control, I would be screwing up the time stream more than a barrel of butterfly poison in a heartbeat. And that’s exactly what Makoto Konno does in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. And like so many Ashton Kutchers before her, Makoto discovers that altering her actions can lead to terrible consequences, especially for those around her. What follows is Makoto using a limited number of leaps through time to try and fix what she managed to break before time itself is irreparably broken. As for me, I’d probably run out of leaps on some trivial nonsense like changing what appetizer I ordered the other night to something tastier. How was I supposed to know the calamari was a bad choice?!
Steins;Gate
Image: Funimation
Let’s be honest, if I didn’t include this, it would open up a rift in space and time as we know it because Steins;Gate is one of the best time travel anime in every reality. It’s he story of a self-styled mad scientist, Rintaro Okabe, who invents weird gadgets in the “Future Gadget Laboratory,” which is really just an apartment he shares with his pals: the ditzy Mayuri and the horned up hacker Daru. Together they create the most ambitious crossover since Catdog: the Phone Microwave. Except this doesn’t just let you nuke Hot Pockets through the power of emoji; it lets you send text messages back in time. What follows is a tangled web of love, lies, and murders most foul as they begin altering the flow of time as we know it. Mostly it’s a case study in why you should be extra careful the next time you send someone a regrettable late-night text. These things are literally called D-Mails. I mean, come on.
Mirai Nikki
Image: Funimation
Do you ever have conversations with yourself? I spend what scientists call “an uncomfortable amount of time†talking to myself in the car every day. But that’s just my overactive brain. When high school student Yukiteru Amano talks to his imaginary friends, Deus Ex Machina and Murmur, they turn out to be the god of space and time and a servant of the gods, respectively. Yukiteru is gifted a diary from this deity that is filled with entries about brutal, bloody battles that take place in the future. They describe a horrific battle royale between Yukiteru and 11 other people who possess these mysterious diaries. Fortunately for Yukiteru, his classmate Yuno has sworn to protect him, and murders basically everyone who tries to come for him. Unfortunately for Yukiteru, she is also madly in love with him and may have some ulterior motives. All of this just makes me deeply grateful that I deleted my LiveJournal before it could plunge me into a competitive slaughterfest.
Thermae Romae
Image: Discotek Media
Not every time travel anime has to be about preventing the apocalypse. Sometimes they’re about being a fish out of water enjoying new experiences. And that’s exactly what happens in Thermae Romae, the story of a Lucius, an ancient Roman architect who designed bathhouses that is suddenly transported to modern-day Japan where—surprise, surprise—he has the time of his life at Japanese bathhouses. And much like luxuriating in steaming hot water, it’ll leave you feeling nice and toasty inside.
Occult Academy
Image: A-1 Pictures
In the year 2012, aliens invaded planet Earth. Faced with certain destruction, mankind sent time travelers back to the year 1999 in order to prevent the coming apocalypse by destroying an artifact known as the Nostradamus Key, which triggers the eventual alien invasion. It’s up to Maya, the headmaster of the titular spooky high school, and a time traveler named Fumiaki to hunt down the key, and wind up fighting everything from demons to mothmen to chupacabras along the way. So in other words, this is the true story of Bizarre States.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Image: Aniplex of America
Fighting evil by moonlight, horrifying everyone who watches it by daylight, never running from a real fight, this absolutely isn’t sailor moon. Madoka is an incredible, subversive take on the magical girl genre and while it isn’t a time travel anime per se, time travel does factor into the plot in a way that will genuinely surprise you and leave you reeling long after the credits roll. That is, of course, if you haven’t already been thrown for approximately 45,000 other loops by this frequently surprising and surprisingly freaky series.
Orange
Image:ÂCrunchyroll
What would you do if you got a letter from yourself in the mail? I’d probably try real hard to remember if this was some sixth grade project and when I realized it wasn’t, I’d probably start freaking out. When it happens to high schooler Naho Takamiya, she is skeptical until enough corroborating events happen to prove that it’s from her 26-year-old self in the future. The note is full of tips on how to correct small mistakes in her own life, but more importantly it contains a warning about a transfer student named Kakeru. Be careful around him, it urges, as he is not around in the future. From that cryptic warning springs a heartfelt, humorous and highly enjoyable shoujo romance that wins points for style if not for originality.
Zipang
Image: Geneon Entertainment
One of my favorite books when I was younger was William R. Forstchen’s The Lost Regiment, which tells the story of a Union Army regiment from the Civil War getting transported to an alien world. Zipang checks off many of the same alt-history boxes with its tale of a platoon of modern-day Japanese soldiers who suddenly find themselves transported back in time to World War II. With their knowledge of world history and their advanced military strategy, they could feasibly win the war for Japan. But the Japan of World War II is much different than the one they left behind. And despite their intentions not to get involved or alter history, things go to hell in a handbasket faster than I can eat my body weight in takoyaki, which in case you don’t know is uncomfortably quick.
Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World
Image: Funimation
Subaru Natsuki is having a terrible, horrible, no-good very bad day. After leaving the convenience store, he finds himself ripped from the world he knew and transported into a fantasy land. He befriends a half-elf girl named Satella…only to get murdered by a bunch of goons. When Subaru wakes up, he isn’t in some sweet hereafter; rather, he is living the same day over and over again. Can he use his knowledge of history to avoid getting killed, or is he doomed to be the world’s saddest and meatiest GIF of all time? You’ll just have to watch to find out.
Nobunaga Concerto
Image: Fuji TV
The best history teachers really know how to make the past come alive. Unfortunately for Saburou, his teacher sucked and he had no interest in Japanese history. Which is unfortunate because before he knew it, Saburou found himself transported back in time to the Sengoku Era, dropped at the feet of none other than Oda Nobunaga, the legendary legendary Japanese daimyo who attempted to unify Japan during the late sixteenth century. Even weirder? The two look almost identical. And before he knew it, Saburou was no longer a high school student, but the stand-in for one of Japan’s most high-profile military figures. The rest, as they say, is history. Specifically historical fiction.
Erased
Image: Aniplex of America
Some people possess incredible abilities. Usain Bolt can run faster than anyone on Earth, Kyle Hill can climb like a spider monkey, Kid Rock can smell a pig from a mile away. And in Erased, manga artist Satoru Fujinuma can travel back in time moments before something horrible is about to happen to him so he can try and prevent it. When his mother is suddenly and brutally murdered, Satoru finds himself transported back in time all the way back to 1988, when he was in elementary school. This time, he has a chance to prevent a very different tragedy: the abduction and murder of one of his classmates, Kayo Hinazuki. And when it’s done, you’ll find yourself wishing you could travel back to a time before you’d seen it so you can watch it all over again for the very first time.And those are some of the best time travel anime of all time! But tell me—which is your favorite? What would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments below.
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FAQs
What anime has time-travel? ›
Considered one of the greatest anime series out there, Steins;Gate revolves around Rintaro Okabe, a self-declared mad scientist who manages to create a time machine.
What anime where guy goes back in time? ›Erased is a 2016 anime based on the manga of the same name. It has what seems to be a very classic premise — Satoru Fujinuma is a 29-year-old manga creator and delivery boy with a secret power. At random times, he involuntarily travels back in time (usually less than five minutes) in order to save people's lives.
Is Tokyo Revengers a time-travel anime? ›Takemichi's time-traveling abilities play a huge role throughout Tokyo Revengers' narrative. Here's a complete breakdown of how they work. Tokyo Revengers blasted onto the scene with its 2021 anime debut, marking it easily as one of the best anime of that year.
Is Steins Gate best time-travel anime? ›1) Steins; Gate
Based on a visual novel of the same name, Steins; Gate has been one of the most beloved time-travel-related anime.
Julius Novachrono is one of the most powerful magic knight captains who is also a strong time manipulator. He wasn't born with this unique magical ability but learned how to activate it and control it over time. He can not only speed, slow, or stop time but can reverse the flow of time or even steal and store it.
What is the most twisted anime? ›- 8/12 Tokyo Ghoul.
- 7/12 Another.
- 6/12 Elfen Lied.
- 5/12 The Promised Neverland.
- 4/12 Corpse Party: Tortured Souls.
- 3/12 Monster.
- 2/12 Erased.
- 1/12 Paranoia Agent.
- Bloom Into You. Anime has always had a unique relationship to LGBTQ stories. ...
- Deadman Wonderland. ...
- Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. ...
- Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions. ...
- No Game No Life. ...
- Ouran High School Host Club. ...
- Princess Jellyfish. ...
- Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign.
Many readers believe that Mikey is not another time-leaper, rather his newfound temporal power is a direct result of him becoming the new trigger to Takemichi's own time travel. One theory suggests that Takemichi and Mikey are each other's triggers, and thus cannot travel back without each other.
Who won Mikey vs Takemichi? ›After dodging a string of Mikey's attacks, Takemichi got an opening and capitalized on it. The Tokyo Revengers fanbase was shocked to see that the Cry Baby Hero managed to take down one of the strongest characters in the series.
How long did Takemichi time travel? ›Takemichi possesses a supernatural skill that allows him to time travel. However, he is only able to travel back exactly 12 years.
Why is steins gate so famous? ›
The story centers around Rintaro Okabe and his friends and how they accidentally discover a way to send text-based messages back in time. Other interested parties take notice and chaos ensues. The science-fiction elements of the story are certainly what makes the plot the most thrilling.
Which is better steins gate or 0? ›One way that the original Steins;Gate is considered better than its sequel is the fact that series, despite its time travel plot, is rather easy to follow. In comparison, Steins;Gate 0 features many different plotlines occurring at the same time making it hard for a casual viewer to follow.
Was steins gate Cancelled? ›The light novel was expected to release on January 16, 2015. However, on December 22, 2014, it was announced that the light novel had been officially canceled.
What is the No 1 anime in world? ›| Top 10 Best Rated (bayesian estimate) (Top 50) | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | title | rating |
| 1 | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (TV) | 9.08 |
| 2 | Steins;Gate (TV) | 9.04 |
| 3 | Clannad After Story (TV) | 9.02 |
| Top 50 Most Viewed | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | title | rating |
| 1 | Fullmetal Alchemist (TV) | 8.64 |
| 2 | Death Note (TV) | 8.77 |
| 3 | Cowboy Bebop (TV) | 8.89 |
Saitama from One Punch Man is the strongest character in anime. Even with new anime launching all the time, no one holds a candle to him yet.
Can DIO stop time forever? ›DIO's evolved Stand, The World Over Heaven, can overwrite reality itself and stop time indefinitely, as opposed to the mere nine seconds The World could handle. With Time Stop, DIO is able to trap his opponents within the stopped time for however long he pleases.
Which anime has most violence? ›- Higurashi When They Cry. Trust us on this; if you face the slightest hesitation in watching the cruelty and slaughter, then skip Higurashi When They Cry. ...
- Blood C. ...
- Deadman Wonderland. ...
- Akira. ...
- Shiki. ...
- Devilman. ...
- Elfen Lied. ...
- Corpse Party: Tortured Soul.
There main four demographic genres in anime are Shonen, Shojo, Seinen, and what this entry looks at, Josei. Josei anime are series targeted at late teen young adult women, but do not need to be restricted to this demographic.
What is Japan's longest running anime? ›Sazae-san won the 8th Bungeishunjū Manga Award in 1962. An anime television adaptation by TCJ (later renamed Eiken) began airing in Japan in October 1969 and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running animated television series. It has also been adapted into a radio show, theatrical plays and songs.
What anime Can I finish in a day? ›
...
19/20 Tonari No Seki-kun: The Master Of Killing Time.
| Japanese Title | Tonari No Seki-kun |
|---|---|
| Studio | Shin-Ei Animation |
| Number of Episodes | 21 Shorts |
1/10 Erwin Is The World's Best Strategist (Attack On Titan)
Erwin Smith is the king when it comes to strategy. Even the most unlikely to succeed plans have worked for him simply because he knows how to analyze his enemy. Even Armin, who is also an incredible strategist, can't think as quickly as Erwin can.
- 9/10 9. Guy And Kakashi (Naruto) ...
- 8/10 8. Ash And Gary (Pokemon) ...
- 7/10 7. Midoriya And Bakugo (My Hero Academia) ...
- 6/10 6. Kaguya And Miyuki (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War) ...
- 5/10 5. Yuno And Asta (Black Clover) ...
- 4/10 4. Alucard And Anderson (Hellsing Ultimate) ...
- 3/10 3. ...
- 2/10 2.
Tetta Kisaki is the main antagonist of the Japanese anime and manga series Tokyo Revengers. He is a manipulative, deceitful gangster who is on hellbent becoming the leader of the Tokyo Manji Gang and turning it into the largest criminal organization in Japan.
What is Manjiro Sano real name? ›Shotaro Mamiya as Tetta Kisaki. Ryō Yoshizawa as Manjirō Sano.
How old is Mikey manjiro? ›| Character | Age | Birthday |
|---|---|---|
| Manjiro Sano (Mikey) | 15 (Past) 27 (Present) | August 20, 1990 |
| Ken Ryuguji (Draken) | 15 (Past) 27 (Present) | May 10, 1990 |
| Keisuke Baji | 14 (Past) | November 3, 1990 |
| Takashi Mitsuya | 15 (Past) 27-28 (Present) | June 12, 1990 |
Takemitchy is my hero. Manjiro "Mikey" Sano is the deuteragonist-turned-final antagonist of the 2017 Japanese manga series Tokyo Revengers and its 2021 anime adaptation.
Who is second time leaper in Tokyo Revengers? ›In Chapter 268, it was revealed that the second time-leaper is none other than Shinichiro Sano, Mikey's late older brother. No one in the fandom expected this, as Shinichiro has been dead since before the story of Tokyo Revengers even started.
Who is stronger Mikey or Draken? ›Though Draken and Kisaki are notable fighters in their own right, they still pale in comparison to Tokyo Revengers' strongest. Tokyo Manji Gang's leader, Sano Manjiro or Mikey, is indisputably the anime's strongest fighter. Other characters in the series even refer to him as the "Invincible Mikey" and for good reason.
Can kisaki time travel too? ›The manga confirmed that Kisaki was not a time leaper, but he was aware of the concept of time leaping. This meant that the character was acquainted with someone who had the same ability as Takemichi.
Is Draken alive in the future? ›
Since he decided to join Brahman instead, some Rokuhara rookies went on a mission to kill Takemichi. Before Takemichi could be killed by the enemy, Draken arrived to save his life once more. Tragically, Draken was shot three times while saving Takemichi, leading to his death soon after.
Who is Takemichi's bestfriend? ›1. Atsushi Sendou (Akkun) Akkun or Takemichi's friend whose real name is Atsushi Sendou is the most loyal friend the same age in the Tokyo Revengers story. Since his junior high school days, Atsushi has been the leader of a small delinquent gang in Takemichi's class.
Is Steins Gate ending sad? ›Although confusing at times, Steins;Gate packs an emotional punch, especially when things go wrong. Nevertheless, seeing Mayuri and Kurisu alive at the end makes the journey worth it.
What is Steins Gate 0 based on? ›Steins;Gate 0 was produced by White Fox, and partially adapts the 2015 video game of the same name. The game is a sequel to Steins;Gate, which was also adapted into an anime by White Fox in 2011. While the game's story is composed of multiple routes, the anime reconstructs the story into one single route.
Is Steins Gate a real thing? ›Steins;Gate is a 2009 science fiction visual novel game developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus. It is the second game in the Science Adventure series, following Chaos;Head. The story follows a group of students as they discover and develop technology that gives them the means to change the past.
Is AOT better than Steins Gate? ›Winner: ATTACK ON TITAN! Endings: Don't get me wrong I love AOT endings but my god when I heard the Steins;gate 0 ending I was in love.
What means El Psy Congroo? ›El Psy Kongroo” definitely must have a deeper meaning! After digging deeper I found out that the etymology of the phrase stems from a combination of Greek and Latin which roughly translates to “harden the mind”.
Which is better Code Geass or Steins Gate? ›I found Code Geass's plot way better than Stein's;Gate. Even the plot of Stein's;Gate doesn't hold a candle against the plot of Code Geass. Stein's Gate isn't even popular for its plot. Rather time travel thrill and character interaction between main two characters are main focus here.
Is Steins Gate a masterpiece? ›Steins;Gate is the masterpiece of drama and sci-fi anime alike, it is also the greatest time travel series/movie of all time.
How old is Okabe? ›He is 18 years old and a first-year student at Tokyo Denki University. Okabe is voiced by Mamoru Miyano in Japanese and J. Michael Tatum in English. Critical response to Okabe has been positive due to his traits as a scientist and his darker characterization in Steins;Gate 0.
Is Steins Gate A romance? ›
The game is a romantic comedy set in a different world from the one in the original Steins;Gate, where the player builds romantic relationships with Steins;Gate characters. By making certain choices and interacting with the player character's cell phone, the player can affect the direction of the plot. 5pb.
What animes have a Time Skip? ›- Fairy Tail. ...
- Death Note. ...
- Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0. ...
- Tokyo Ghoul. ...
- Code Geass. ...
- Attack on Titan. ...
- One Piece. ...
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
All jokes aside, Naruto has finally introduced time travel to the main canon without any weird parallel universes being tampered with. In the films, Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie saw its hero transported to an alternate universe by Tobi.
What anime episode is the Time Skip? ›The timeskip in the context of One Piece refers to the two-year skip in the storyline that occurs between Chapters 597–598 and Episodes 516–517.
Does JoJo have time travel? ›What many of you may not know is that Diego Brando IS DIO. This PROVES that time travel actually exists in JoJo! Dio, before gaining his stand, had already taken precautions. He knew he'd soon turn to the dark side of the force and devised a plan to prevent this; to find the source of his evil deeds.
Can Goku do time skip? ›In the manga, while Super Saiyan Goku is stronger than Hit, he is not strong enough to make a noticeable altercation to the Time-Skip length, but by using Super Saiyan God he is able to shorten the duration of the Time-Skip more and more as he powers up, and he becomes immune to the Time-Skip entirely by using Super ...
What is the fastest thing in anime? ›7) Killua Zoldyck
He is often not in complete control of his body movements when using Godspeed. It is still quite effective during combat. Killua can move at speeds of over 550 mph, which is much higher than the speed of sound. He is also the fastest character in the anime.
Boruto's time-traveling leads to a fundamental change within the world of Naruto. Currently in the Boruto anime series, the young eponymous ninja and his mentor, Sasuke Uchiha, have accidentally journeyed back in time while pursuing a villainous being from another dimension, Urashiki Otsutsuki.
Can Sasuke use time travel? ›With his Rinnegan, Sasuke can use an unspecified Space–Time Ninjutsu to travel to different dimensions.
How old is Naruto in Boruto? ›The series takes place fifteen years after the events of the fourth great ninja war. Given that Naruto celebrated his seventeenth birthday during that time, it's presumed that he is around thirty-two years old at the beginning of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
What anime has 366 episodes? ›
Bleach (stylized as BLEACH) is a Japanese anime television series based on Tite Kubo's original manga series of the same name. It was produced by Studio Pierrot and directed by Noriyuki Abe. The series aired on TV Tokyo from October 2004 to March 2012, spanning 366 episodes.
How old is Luffy? ›| Straw Hat | Birthday | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Monkey D. Luffy | May 5 | 17 19 |
| Roronoa Zoro | November 11 | 19 21 |
| Nami | July 3 | 18 20 |
| Usopp | April 1 | 17 19 |
Rayleigh took Luffy here to train him in the use of Haki for two years. He placed his Straw Hat on a rock during this time. Rayleigh spent the first year and a half to teach Luffy the basics of Haki. After Luffy mastered them enough, Rayleigh left him alone for the remaining half year to finish his training.
What stands can stop time? ›THE WORLD (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part III Stardust Crusaders) is the Stand of DIO, which grants him the ability to freeze time itself.
Who controls JoJo time? ›Power/Ability to:
DIO Brando (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part III: Stardust Crusaders) ZA WARUDO/THE WORLD!! The ability to manipulate time/temporal energy made of psychic energy.