Science fiction has no concrete definition. It’s a genre with extensive subgenres, that falls underneath the umbrella of speculative fiction. Generally, it deals with human reactions to advanced technology. This could include time and space travel, the extremes of artificial intelligence, and/or extraterrestrial life—which barely scratches the surface of the genre.
The Origins of Science Fiction
It’s been speculated that this genre has archaic precursors (better known as proto-science fiction) that date all the way back to Mesopotamia—while others argue that science fiction’s emergence was the result of the scientific revolutions of a comparatively, more current time.
More definitively, Junes Verne, H.G Wells, and Mary Shelley are heeded as the pioneers of the genre—with many more important figures that come after them that have further explored science fiction, birthing new genres and concepts that we often see in our present day.
Naturally, this literary genre has diverged past written work and onto different forms of storytelling, including animation. From sci-fi movies, anime and video games, here’s a list of 5 animations that fall under the genre of science fiction.
The Worlds of Sci-fi Animation
1. Paprika
Release date: November 25, 2006
Genre: Sci-fi animation, Thriller, Mystery, Action
Animation method: Limited Animation
Country of Origin: Japan
Director: Satoshi Kon
Rated: R
Paprika is a Japanese sci-fi animation movie, based on the 1993 novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui. The anime centres around Dr. Atsuko Chiba, a scientist and a dream detective. Atsuko and her peers work together to build a device with the purpose of helping psychiatric patients by entering their dreams—which ends up being stolen. Dreams and reality merge, and Atsuko must now retrieve the device before irreparable damage is caused.
This sci-fi anime utilised hand drawn, limited animation techniques to portray the psychedelic visuals characteristic to Paprika and its themes. Expressions were dramatized and buildings seemed structureless with the assailant’s manipulation of reality—an overall stunning animated adaptation of Tsutsui’s titular sci-fi novel.
2. A Scanner Darkly
Release date: July 7, 2006
Genre: Sci-Fi animation, Tech Noir, Action
Animation method: Rotoscoping
Country of Origin: USA
Director: Richard Linklater
Rated: R
An adaptation appears once more in this list. A Scanner Darkly is a rotoscoped sci-fi animation of Phillip K. Dick’s novel of the same name. It’s a dystopic, cautionary tale about surveillance states and the misuse of drugs. It follows the undercover cop Bob Arctor, played by Keanu Reeves, who spends his time trying to track the source of a narcotic called “Substance D”. Through technology like “holo-scanners” and “scramble suits”, he surveys the household he’s been dispatched to—while battling substance abuse himself.
As previously mentioned, this sci-fi animation is a product of rotoscoping. Essentially, rotoscoping is an animation method where artists trace over live-action scenes, which often results in smooth, yet uncanny visuals. However, this translates well in terms of the themes and plot of A Scanner Darkly. The movie appears to be a manipulation of reality, reminiscent of the psychoactive drugs centric to the story.
3. Cowboy Bebop
Release date: April 3, 1998
Genre: Sci-fi animation, Neo-noir, Space Western
Animation method: Traditional Animation, CGI
Country of Origin: Japan
Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
Rated: MA
This sci-fi anime series is a comedic, neo-noir space western story—and it’s a mouthful to introduce. It ran for 26 episodes and surrounds a group of bounty hunters. The world of Cowboy Bebop is set in 2071, where Earth is rendered uninhabitable, and humans reside on nearby terrestrial planets and moons. The crew goes on misadventures, but the plot’s main focus is on the rivalry of two characters: Spike and Vicious.
This sci-fi animation was the result of a mixture of hand drawn animation and CGI—creating immersive landscapes and action sequences that convince its audiences of the fictious technological advancements of Cowboy Bebop’s universe. Overall, it’s a sci-fi anime that has been, and will continue to be talked about for years on end.
4. System Shock
Initial release date: September 23, 1994
Genre: First-person shooter, Survival horror, Action-adventure, Role-playing
Platforms: MS-DOS, Mac OS, and PC-98
Developer: Looking Glass Studios
A part of a video game’s experience is its graphics and animation, in which System Shock hadn’t cut corners on. This game falls under the subgenre of cyberpunk—which we can thank William Gibson for popularising—and is set in the year 2072. Players assume the role of a hacker who is situated on a space station, pitted against a ravaging AI called Shodan.
System Shock is one of the first games to truly be in 3D. It’s filled with sequences and cutscene of sci-fi animation. Aside from its cinematics, the game is packed with careful details, big and small, to ensure the environment truly feels alive. Blinking lasers and gritty backgrounds encapsulate cyberpunk wholly—gameplay aside, there’s little to wonder about why this game had a great impact on the industry.
5. E.Y.E Divine Cybermancy
Initial release date: July 29, 2011
Genre: Science Fiction, Role-playing game, Action, Indie
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Developer: Streum On Studio
The youngest item on this list is another video game, that is representative of the cyberpunk subgenre once more. In this dystopic, RPG game, players represent a member of the E.Y.E group, a force of cybernetically enhanced warriors. This playable sci-fi experience throws players into the middle of warfare between two rivalling groups—Jian Shang Di and the Culter Dei.
It may not have elaborate cutscenes of lengthy sci-fi animation, but the game shines most in its atmosphere. Great, imposing structures lay in the backgrounds as players fight enemies from a first-person point of view. Levels are akin to the destruction the backstory speaks of, where spaces are either bleak and grey or plastered with jarring neon signs and adverts—quintessential cyberpunk.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sci-Fi
1. What is hard science fiction?
Hard sci-fi focuses on accuracy and logic of the science depicted in the literature—a famed example is Liu Cixin’s “Three Body Problem”.
2. What is soft science fiction?
Soft sci-fi typically puts more attention into human reactions to technology, so politics, economics and sociology are majorly focused on, as opposed to scientific plausibility. “Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess is a soft sci-fi novel. 3. What’s an example of retro sci-fi animation? Fantastic Planet was released in 1973—and is arguably one of the first of its kind.
Author Bio
From Malaysia, Leia Emeera is a writer at TESSR, and a published author. She has been putting pen to paper ever since she learned how to, and has an anthology to her name, titled 'Ten'. Leia loves music, games and her beloved labrador retriever, George. She aims to further her studies in English Literature and Creative Writing the moment her gap year ends. 'Till then, you will find her sitting behind a desk, writing with TESSR.
Connect with her on LinkedIn: Leia Emeera
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