Not Only 'Akira': 5 Lesser-Known Cyberpunk Animated Movies, Ranked by IMDb

Cult movies like Akira and Ghost in the Shell have long been synonymous with cyberpunk. However, lurking in its shadow is a whole universe of animation that explores dark, technologically overloaded dystopias.

Set in various countries and time periods, these movies boast unique visual styles, complex philosophical topics, and captivating stories that warrant equal recognition.

5. 'Blame!', 2017

IMDb Score: 6.6/10

In the distant future, robots began uncontrollably constructing and expanding a massive, multi-level city. The robots consider humanity to be dangerous, so the remaining people are forced to survive in small settlements and suffer from a lack of food.

A wanderer named Killy sets out to find the Net Terminal Gene that can resolve the situation.

The Netflix anime is based on the manga of the same name, which has been published since the mid-1990s. The plot offers a beautiful yet scary vision of the future where machines do not rise up but mindlessly perform tasks, thereby destroying humanity.

4. 'Renaissance', 2006

IMDb Score: 6.6/10

In 2054 Paris, Inspector Barthélémy Karas searches for the missing Ilona. The woman worked at Avalon, a company that studies health and aging.

After talking to her colleagues and loved ones, Karas realizes that Ilona had come close to making a great discovery, which could also be very dangerous.

The characters' movements were filmed using motion capture, and then, it was all transformed into a black-and-white noir comic movie.

3. 'A Scanner Darkly', 2006

IMDb Score: 7.0/10

Police Officer Bob Arctor infiltrates a group of drug addicts to find out where they obtain the latest and most dangerous drug. Gradually, Arctor begins to use the drug himself and loses touch with reality.

When Arctor arrives at the station with reports, he wears a special suit that alters his appearance every second. Because of this, he even begins to suspect himself.

Strictly speaking, A Scanner Darkly is a live-action film. However, director Richard Linklater filmed scenes with stars such as Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr. and then, the animators recolored each frame, turning the live-action scenes into animation.

2. 'Technotise: Edit & I', 2009

IMDb Score: 7.3/10

In 2074, Edit is a student who fails her exams several times. Then, she decides to purchase an intelligence-boosting chip on the black market.

However, the device releases an unknown substance into her body. She begins to see hallucinations, and her body moves on its own. It seems as if someone else is living inside her.

Technotise: Edit & I is a rare opportunity to experience a cyberpunk story set in futuristic Serbia. Rather than telling the story of an aggressive invasion of artificial intelligence, the movie tells the story of an unusual symbiosis.

1. 'Mars Express', 2023

IMDb Score: 7.5/10

In the distant future, humanity has established a colony on Mars. For a long time, people have been helped by androids, which have many restrictions for safety reasons.

Detective Aline Ruby and her partner Carlos, who became a robot after death, investigate a strange case. A hacker girl who created a code to free androids from restrictions has disappeared. However, much more serious forces are actually behind all this.

The story begins with an investigation and gradually shifts to discussions about the role of androids in humanity's future.