Although the term ‘steampunk’ was popularised in the 1980s, works of that genre have been around for decades longer than it was coined. The steampunk subgenre has spread to movies, shows, video games, and even anime, sparking interest in audiences with its eye-catching blend of Victorian-era architecture and steam-powered innovations.
Related
5 Great Steampunk Tabletop RPGs
If you’re looking for a fun tabletop RPG with the Steampunk aesthetic, then these are some excellent options.
Over the years, steampunk anime has seen human creativity stretched to the limit, not afraid to test the waters and explore what these surreal, retro-aesthetic universes could offer. Not only do they gift audiences with some of the best examples of immersive world-building and masterful fusions of dark fantasy, retro-punk, and sci-fi, but they also present some of the best in-depth stories to ever grace our screens.
10
Secret Of Cerulean Sand
2002
2002’s Secret of Cerulean Sand is very loosely based on Jules Verne’s The Barsac Mission, so it’s no wonder the world it’s set in goes with the steampunk aesthetic all the way.
The main character is Jane Buxton, the teen daughter of a wealthy English nobleman, who has always had big dreams of building her flying machine. Her brother, George, travels East to find the ‘Floating Liquid’, which will allow him and his sister to build the flying machine of their dreams. Despite receiving news of his death, Jane finds evidence that George is still alive, and makes her journey East to find George.
9
Last Exile
2003
An old-school gem from the early 2000s, Last Exile takes place in a world called Prester, where the two nations of Anatoray and Disith are locked in conflict, with the Guild overseeing it. However, a treacherous swathe of sky called the Grand Stream stands between them. Lavie and Claus are couriers who stumble upon a little girl who’s being transported. They end up taking on the assignment, which sets the duo on the path of not only ending the war but ending the Guild’s influence.
The design of the warships and buildings is very retrofuturistic, and although the CGI would make you grimace if you rewatch it today, the anime should be applauded for integrating it into its battle and flying scenes. The Last Exile is a shining example of the steampunk subgenre, one that stands the test of time with its amazing plot and themes.
8
Nadia: The Secret Of Blue Water
1990
Just like a previous entry on this list, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water takes inspiration from Jules Verne’s celebrated work, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and features some aspects of the story in the show’s plot.
Created by Hideaki Anno and Hayao Miyazaki, the show takes place in 1889 and centers on two protagonists, inventor Jean and former circus act Nadia. Nadia possesses a mysterious blue jewel known as the Blue Water, which a group of thieves seems eager to get their hands on. With the help of Captain Nemo and his ship, Nautilus, Nadia and Jean set off to uncover her origins and the mystery of the Blue Water, in this story with themes of fate, love, and perseverance.
7
The Case Study Of Vanitas
2021
An underrated fantasy adventure anime, The Case Study of Vanitas takes you to a world of vampires, magic, and steam-powered airships in an alternate version of 19th-century Paris. In this world, vampires operate differently, being able to walk out in sunlight, repress their thirst, and coexist with humans.
Related
8 Best Steampunk RPGs
Steampunk is an interesting aesthetic to apply to games, and here are the best steampunk RPGs you can play.
The Case Study of Vanitas gives you a compelling plot, alongside the anime’s stunning visuals and thrilling action sequences. A strange disease has been plaguing Paris’ vampires, corrupting their ‘true names’ and turning them into rabid attackers. With humans growing more paranoid about the vampires, it’s up to the human sorcerer Vanitas and his cursed grimoire, ‘The Book of Vanitas’, to cleanse the disease from the vampire population and prevent their extinction.
6
Sherlock Hound
1984
Although there have been a string of Sherlock Holmes adaptations over the years, 1984’s Sherlock Hound takes a different route. As referred to in the title, the famous detective – and the rest of the world’s inhabitants – have been turned into dogs, set in an alternate Victorian-era England where the steampunk aesthetic and far more advanced technology than what existed at that time are particularly visible in this extremely entertaining 26-episode show.
Some of the stories are loosely based on one of the 60 stories Conan Doyle wrote in his Sherlock Holmes series, such as ‘The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle’. However, most of the episodes consist of original plotlines with a sprinkle of inspiration from the source material. The premise remains the same, following Sherlock Hound’s exploits in the criminal underworld, and solving some of the toughest cases that the police couldn’t even begin to crack.
5
Castle In The Sky
1986
Castle in the Sky was the very first film to be animated by Studio Ghibli, and its story is as profound as any other Studio Ghibli film that came after it. The anime movie’s story and locations were inspired by a coal miners’ strike in Wales, and it comes as no surprise that Castle in the Sky has strong environmental themes and provides subtle commentary about how humans treat the world around them.
The characters’ motivations and actions all revolve around the island of Laputa. Laputa holds all the knowledge to build advanced machines like flying airships and a precious resource called Aetherium, but there is only one way to reach this floating island. A young girl named Sheeta possesses the key to Laputa’s location and how to reach it, while Pazu helps her escape the clutches of those seeking to find the island for more nefarious ends. Castle in the Sky is a story about greed, human nature, and compassion, and it remains an excellent, though underrated, Miyazaki creation.
4
Violet Evergarden
2018
One of the most beautifully animated shows, courtesy of Kyoto Animation, Violet Evergarden is, at its core, a touching, thought-provoking story. Violet Evergarden has a well-paced plot, with intriguing characters and an underlying mystery that unfolds throughout the whole story.
Set in a nation that’s just recently gotten out of a war, the protagonist, Violet Evergarden, was raised a soldier all her life. She got injured and lost her arms as a result, and received bionic replacements.
After she was released from care, she started working as an Auto Memoir Doll, ghostwriting letters for clients. Violet is intent on discovering what the phrase ‘I love you’ means after her superior says it to her, and the story focuses on Violet’s journey of self-discovery, learning how to feel and understand the complexity of what love is through her experiences.
3
Howl’s Moving Castle
2004
A classic Studio Ghibli film that sparks fond memories in our hearts, Howl’s Moving Castle is a loose adaptation of an English book by the same name. Not only did this film receive an Oscar nomination, but it is one of the most financially successful films in Japanese film history. Howl’s Moving Castle scores high points for its emotionally evocative, romantic storyline, paired with a gorgeous art style and an iconic music score by the legendary Joe Hisaishi.
Related
8 Best Dark Fantasy Anime
Knights, nightmares, and no hope to be found.
The movie’s story is set in a kingdom where magic meets machinery, a world of sorcerers and fantastical creatures, where the melody of hissing steam and creaking metal is always there. The protagonist, Sophie, works in a hat shop and lives an average life, but is cursed and turned into an old woman by the Witch of the Waste. After a fateful encounter, Sophie is whisked away on a magical adventure with the renowned wizard Howl, on a quest to not only stop a war from starting but break the curse afflicting her.
2
The Saga Of Tanya The Evil
2019
The Saga of Tanya the Evil is one of the best isekai trope anime out there, where a Japanese salaryman is murdered and reborn in the time of Imperial Germany, where World War One didn’t start until the 1920s. His soul is transported into the body of young orphan Tanya Degurechaff, who joins the army to avoid being killed on the front lines by climbing the military hierarchy through sheer grit and ruthless efficiency.
The universe it’s set in has heavy retrofuturistic influences and an architecture that resembles the industrial era, as well as incorporating magical elements. Although the isekai trope has been done many times before, The Saga of Tanya the Evil gives you a flawed protagonist who never fails to entertain.
2009
Possibly the most recognisable title of all steampunk anime, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood presents one of the most detailed and complex lore and power systems in the subgenre. The story is set in a fictional nation called Amestris, which resembles (and is inspired by) 20th-century Europe, where there’s not only advanced military weaponry and people walking around with bionic arms, but it also incorporates the art of alchemy (and its laws) in a way that amplifies the richness of the plot.
The story follows two brothers, Edward and Alphonse, who attempt to revive their mother through alchemy. The attempt failed, and the duo paid the ultimate price, with Edward losing his left leg and Alphonse his entire body. Now desiring to restore their bodies, the brothers seek out the Philosopher’s Stone, but they soon encounter a nefarious plot by powerful homunculi that could threaten the entire world.
Next
9 Anime Films To Watch If You Love Studio Ghibli
These anime movies will give you Ghibli vibes.
