The Attack on Titan manga drew to a close on 9th April 2021, and you may be fretting about what to fill your time with now that the manga has ended its run. Luckily, there are many post-apocalyptic anime series that are as exciting and refreshing as the decade-long series about man-eating titans.
From post-pandemic societies to robots-ravaged civilisations, here are 22 post-apocalyptic anime series that will kickstart your next descent into an unknown world.
Image credit: Filmaffinity
In a world where vampires lurk, Owari no Seraph follows Yuuichirou Hyakuya, a member of an anti-vampire squad called the Imperial Demon Army’s Vampire Extermination Unit. His hatred of vampires stems from losing his friends in a gruesome massacre by the bloodthirsty creatures in his childhood.
Yet, things take an ironic twist when Yuu’s closest childhood friend Mikaela Hyakuya – long thought to be dead – reappears.
We know good-looking vampires are hard to resist. But more than that, Owari no Seraph is a thrilling show laden with constant twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Video credit: NBCUniversal Anime/Music
Length: 2 seasons, 24 episodes, 1 OVA
Available on: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Funimation
Imagine a land where mutated creatures roam your lovely city and wreak havoc – that’s the reality of the characters in Black Bullet. Our main duo, the easily irritated Rentaro and his boisterous partner Enju, embark on perilous missions to save the land from these fearsome monsters created by a mysterious virus called Gastrea.
Rentaro is a combat analyst called a “Promoter”, while Enju is an “Initiator” – someone who does the bulk of fighting. To become an Initiator, you must be a “Cursed Children”. Cursed Children are girls born with the Gastrea virus, which gives them superior combat abilities.
Unfortunately, not all Cursed Children are lucky enough to become heroic Initiators. Many of these girls continue to be shunned by society due to the stigma surrounding the Gastrea virus. While journeying on their missions, our duo will encounter these marginalised girls and attempt to bring them into the light.
Video credit: Sentai
Length: 1 season, 13 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Amazon Prime
Image credit: IMDb
Guilty Crown is a story about revolution and sacrifice. It revolves around a futuristic society plagued by a strange virus that causes humans to develop “voids” in their body. These “voids” are physical objects that take on different shapes and functions, depending on one’s personality.
Even worse, there are some cases when the virus causes the body to crystallise, eventually resulting in death. The virus created immense fear amongst the public, resulting in the “Lost Christmas” riot that broke out in December 2029.
The riot weakened political control over Japan, allowing the GHQ, a United Nations division, to take over the country in a bid to restore peace. However, the tyranny of GHQ has left citizens unhappy.
The main story follows high school boy Shu Ouma, who accidentally obtains the “Power of Kings”. It allows him to retrieve “voids” from other people and wield them as weapons. He was then persuaded to join a secret mission to overthrow GHQ with his newfound power.
With a breathtaking soundtrack and an unexpected plot progression, Guilty Crown is an emotional rollercoaster you won’t regret hopping on.
Video credit: Madman Anime
Length: 1 season, 22 episodes, 1 OVA
Available on: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Funimation
From the animation studio that brought to you the first few seasons of Attack on Titan comes the similarly epic Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress.
Set in the Industrial Revolution, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress depicts a post-apocalyptic world where mankind has to seek refuge in enclosure-like stations, living in fear of the Kabanes every day. The Kabanes are zombie-like monsters that hunt and infect humans with a mysterious virus that turns them into a Kabane.
Our protagonist, Ikoma, is a passionate inventor who lost everything when the Kabane attacked his village. In the process, he becomes infected with the Kabane virus too. However, he manages to prevent the virus from totally transforming him into a monster.
Instead, he becomes a human-Kabane hybrid. This comes with new powers, which he can use to defeat the Kabane and seek revenge.
Video credit: Manga UK
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crunchyroll, HBO, Funimation
Deadman Wonderland takes place in a carnival-style prison. Its main highlight is the lethal showdown, known as “Carnival Corpse”, between prisoners. The money earned from these “performances” will then be used for the Tokyo Recovery Project, which aims to rebuild a Tokyo devastated by an earthquake.
Image adapted from: Manglobe
Our main lead, Ganta Igarashi, is a student who unfortunately landed in this deadly prison after being wrongfully convicted for the massacre of his class.
Luckily, he has a new power to defend himself with – the ability to manipulate his blood. But the puzzling part is – how did he get this ability?
Video credit: AnimeBlurayUK
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes, 1 OVA
Available on: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Funimation, Amazon Prime
Image credit: IMDb
Like the Twilight Renaissance, Sirius the Jaeger is bringing back the age-old clash between vampires and werewolves.
Our main character, Yuliy, is the last surviving werewolf after the vampires ravaged his community. Harbouring a deep hatred of the vampires, he often dives straight into battles without qualms like a lone wolf.
Luckily, he has teammates to cover his back. Together with an elite force called the “Jaegers”, he must defeat the vampires and prevent them from obtaining the Ark. The Ark is a golden sphere that grants god-like powers to the owner and would predictably lead to destruction if it falls into the wrong hands.
Video credit: Warner Bros. Japan Anime
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Available on: Netflix
Revisions is a sci-fi anime set in a perilous Shibuya of the future, where fearsome mechanical monsters called “Revisions” ravage the city.
High school student Daisuke Toujima has no time to be shell-shocked by the cyborgs before he is handed a robot suit by a mysterious pink-haired girl and ordered into battle.
But Daisuke isn’t your typical cowardly high school protagonist. When he was younger, he was told a prophecy – that he’d be thrown into great danger in the future, and that he must be the one to rescue everyone.
He took these words seriously all his life and now, his time has come.
Video credit: YouTubeチャンネルプラスウルトラ
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Available on: Netflix
Image credit: IMDb
If you’re a horror anime fan or can’t wait for the 2nd season of Alice in Borderland, consider giving GANTZ a chance. It’s a dark story filled with gore and explicit content, which can satisfy your darker thrill-seeking desires.
The story begins with a fatal accident at a train station. Amidst indifferent onlookers, Kei Kurono and his kind-hearted childhood friend Masaru Kato attempt to help a drunk man get off the tracks, only to be hit by an incoming train.
Instead of dying, the pair is transported to a random apartment near Tokyo Tower. Unable to escape, they have no choice but to join the existing group of people in the room. The group includes a cancer-ridden politician, an elementary school teacher, and members of the yakuza.
Then, an ominous black sphere in the middle room starts issuing the group with strange and sadistic missions that involve killing aliens roaming about the streets.
But as the show proceeds, you’ll realise that these strange missions are simply a prelude to something even more grave.
Length: 2 seasons, 26 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Amazon Prime
In Chrome Shelled Regios, huge insect-like monsters called “Contaminoids” are threatening humanity’s survival, and it is up to uprising warriors to protect the land. In the Academy City of Zuellni, there’s a training academy that equips fighters with specialised weapons to fend off the monsters. Finding himself enrolled in the academy despite great reluctance is Layfon Alseif.
Layfon is unreactive to most things, including the various love interests around him. Instead, he’s more occupied with saving people and in triumphing over other academies in Capture The Flag tournaments.
However, there’s more to Layfon than his outward nonchalance. As his past gets unveiled progressively, you’d get to discover his true power.
Length: 1 season, 24 episodes
Available on: Amazon Prime, Funimation, Animax Asia
Image credit: IMDb
Don’t be fooled by the cartoonish animation – Now and Then, Here and There is a morbid story about war, child labour, and death.
Shu chances upon a peculiar blue-haired girl one day. However, a mysterious group appears and tries to capture her. Subsequently, they are transported to Hellywood – a world suffering from extreme drought.
We soon learn that the chase was sparked by the girl’s power to generate water, which is a valuable asset in the arid world of Hellywood. Looking to capitalise on her power, the villains resort to every method to subdue her.
Image adapted from: IMDb
Seeing such injustice, Shu makes it his mission to rescue the girl.
Length: 1 season, 13 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll
Anime fans will be familiar with Tokyo Ghoul, or have at least heard the opening bars of its chilling opening song, unravel.
In a Tokyo ravaged by blood-thirsty ghouls, our main protagonist Kaneki Ken gets turned into a half-ghoul after a very eventful date with Rize Kamishiro, a beautiful woman who turns out to be a monster.
Image adapted from: Anime Lab
Mortified by his transformation, Kaneki suffers immense psychological trauma while struggling to accept his new identity. While treading the line between being a human and a ghoul, Kaneki eventually turns into someone completely different.
Video credit: animelab
Length: 4 seasons, 48 episodes, 2 OVAs
Available on: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Funimation, Amazon Prime
Blue Exorcist depicts the clash between demons and exorcists. Our main lead is a boy with blue flames – Rin Okumura.
Rin had a peaceful childhood with his adoptive family until Satan, the ruler of the demons, murders his adoptive father and drops a shocking revelation on him.
From then on, Rin swears to become an outstanding exorcist at the True Cross Academy, seeking revenge against the demons. However, will his classmates truly accept him, given his real identity as the son of Satan?
Video credit: Aniplex USA
Length: 2 seasons, 37 episodes, 3 OVAs
Available on: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Aniplex
God Eater first began as a series of Playstation Portable games before welcoming its anime release in 2015.
The main lead, Lenka Utsugi, is a fiery teenager who’s ready to take on the horrendous human-eaters called “Aragami”. He possesses the ability to wield a new kind of God Arc – the only weapon capable of killing the Aragami – that can morph from a huge blade to a gun and back, thus becoming an important warrior for humanity.
However, the Aragami are no pushovers. With a level of gore rivaling Berserk, God Eater is filled with splattering blood and some of the saddest deaths you’ll see in the world of anime. To know the lore in greater detail, we strongly advise you to follow up with the games after watching the anime.
Video credit: Aniplex USA
Length: 1 season, 13 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation
Ergo Proxy follows a post-disaster world where the earth has become as inhabitable as Venus. Humans resort to living in domes to survive the harsh conditions. Luckily, they have robots to help them out with everyday tasks.
The story begins when said robots start going berserk in a dome city called Romdeau. It is down to the fearless Re-l Mayer and her adorable robot, Iggy, to rectify the situation.
However, Re-l Mayer soon recognises that she’s dealing with something even more complex than just malfunctioning robots.
With cinematic fight scenes and a mystery that goes so deep, you’ll likely have to rewatch the series a few times to understand, Ergo Proxy was an anime far ahead of its time when it was released.
Video credit: AnimeBlurayUK
Length: 1 season, 23 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Funimation, Crunchyroll
Crowned the “Best Television Production” at the 2008 Tokyo Anime Awards, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann sets the bar for epic fight scenes.
The story begins in a small underground village. Simon and his childhood friend Kamina discover an old robot that can propel them to the earth’s surface.
Image credit: TheFC12
But when they reach the surface, they’re plunged into immediate danger as humanoid creatures called “Beastmen” seek to eliminate the humans. This was the reason why humans began to dig underground for refuge in the first place.
Image credit: TheFC12
Nevertheless, the pair pushes through and meets allies along the way. Together, the group of warriors call themselves “Team Dai-Gurren”. Years later, the team will play an important role in saving humanity.
Video credit: Aniplex USA
Length: 1 season, 27 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, Amazon Prime
Image credit: IMDb
Neon Genesis Evangelion is an anime classic, and many would have heard of its iconic opening, A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.
This show starts off with a rampage by humanoid monsters called “Angels”. Subsequently, our cowardly protagonist, Shinji, finds himself unwillingly thrusted in the pilot seat of the Evangelion-01 robot.
Carrying the burden of saving humanity, Shinji must now force himself to be brave.
In all, the decades-old classic is both a mecha anime and a psychological thriller. Do watch till the end for a finale so controversial that it still has fans fighting today.
Video credit: Netflix
Length: 1 season, 26 episodes
Available on: Netflix
Image credit: Anime Luxembourg
Taking place after a war that separated mankind into 6 city states, No. 6 revolves around 2 fugitives trying to unpack a grave mystery in a secret basement.
Their meeting goes back to a stormy night. Shion, originally an elite resident of city No.6, meets a blue-haired fugitive who calls himself “Nezumi”.
Illegally housing Nezumi for a night out of goodwill, Shion subsequently gets demoted for his transgression and is forced to move to the suburbs.
Years later, Shion is arrested for a series of mysterious murders to which he has no connections. Amidst confusion, he is rescued by a familiar figure who hijacks the police car he’s in.
As partners-in-crime from then on, Shion and Nezumi set out to uncover the strange murders happening in the city. Along the way, their relationship also blossoms into an inexplicable bond, sealed with a goodnight kiss and a silent waltz.
Length: 1 season, 11 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll
Forget about concrete skyscrapers and a buzzing metropolis; Humanity Has Declined brings us back to a simpler lifestyle reminiscent of the Middle Ages.
In this anime, human civilisation has devolved over the years due to low birth rates. Consequently, mankind has returned to a primitive lifestyle of farming and agriculture. The only difference? Miniature fairies now roam the land alongside humans.
To ensure the peaceful co-existence of mankind and the fairy world, our unnamed main character arrives at Kusunoki Village as a Mediator from the United Nations Conciliation Council.
The story follows her various adventures in the small town, from chasing after headless chicken, to being chased by slime creatures.
Not all post-apocalyptic animes have to be dark and heavy. With a bright art style and top-tier comedy, Humanity Has Declined offers an optimistic portrayal of the post-apocalyptic genre.
Video credit: Sentai
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes, 1 OVA
Available on: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime
Girls’ Last Tour depicts the end of humanity through the adventures of 2 girls, Yuuri and Chito. They wake up to a desolate post-war world and are left to scour the meaning of their existence while journeying to the top of the city.
It’s uncommon to see an anime that straddles 2 dissimilar genres – post-apocalyptic and slice-of-life. The show even emerged as the “Best Slice of Life” in the 2018 Crunchyroll Awards by virtue of its skilful storytelling.
The anime leaves out the real finale of the story, so do read the final chapters of the manga after finishing the show. Be warned – you’ll have to prepare lots of tissues beforehand.
Video credit: KADOKAWAanime
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime
Image credit: IMDb
Cells at Work saved your Biology grades. Now, Dr Stone is here to rescue your Chemistry and Physics marks.
Life was ordinary until a glaring light turned the whole of humanity into stone. 3,700 years later, Taiju reawakens to a barren world. His only companion is Senku, who woke up before him.
The sole survivors thus begin a mission to revive humanity – not with superpowers, but with the power of science.
With an attention to scientific accuracy, Dr Stone illustrates how revitalising a post-apocalyptic world can simply boil down to paying attention in science classes.
Video credit: IGN
Length: 2 seasons, 35 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Funimation
Saki, Satoru, Maria, Mamomru, and Shun are learning to control their “Juuryoku” at the Sage Academy. In From The New World, “Juuryoku” is a term for the psychokinetic powers that developed in humans 1000 years ago.
However, the idyllic lifestyles of the quintet are disrupted after the disappearance of a few students. Their curiosity spurs their venture into the forbidden areas outside of their peaceful village, where they learn about the shocking history of their world.
Featuring an atmospheric art style and gripping storytelling, From the New World tells a dark story despite its innocuous art style.
Video credit: Hanabee Entertainment
Length: 1 season, 25 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime
Image credit: IMDb
Life at the Grace Field House was blissful until 11-year-old Emma discovers the horrifying purpose behind the orphanage. A grand escape plan is thus hatched, and the children attempt to outsmart the caretakers in a series of unorthodox manoeuvres.
Playing tag isn’t thus no longer an afternoon pastime but a life-or-death matter. With gut-wrenching moments and suspenseful cliffhangers, The Promised Neverland will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Season 2 deviates from the manga, so do read the manga for an alternative plot if you’re interested. A live-action movie was released in December 2020, so check that out too.
Video credit: Aniplex USA
Length: 2 seasons, 23 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crunchyroll, HBO Max, Funimation, Hulu
Life can get rather mundane and imagining a dystopian future is much more entertaining. Grab a snack, put on your headphones, and snuggle up with these post-apocalyptic anime series if you’re feeling empty after the end of the Attack On Titan manga.
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