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Time Travel Anime

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Steins;Gate

Eccentric scientist Rintarou Okabe has a never-ending thirst for scientific exploration. Together with his ditzy but well-meaning friend Mayuri Shiina and his roommate Itaru Hashida, Okabe founds the Future Gadget Laboratory in the hopes of creating technological innovations that baffle the human psyche. Despite claims of grandeur, the only notable "gadget" the trio have created is a microwave that has the mystifying power to turn bananas into green goo. However, when Okabe attends a conference on time travel, he experiences a series of strange events that lead him to believe that there is more to the "Phone Microwave" gadget than meets the eye. Apparently able to send text messages into the past using the microwave, Okabe dabbles further with the "time machine," attracting the ire and attention of the mysterious organization SERN. Due to the novel discovery, Okabe and his friends find themselves in an ever-present danger. As he works to mitigate the damage his invention has caused to the timeline, Okabe fights a battle to not only save his loved ones but also to preserve his degrading sanity. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

Re:zero -starting life in another world-.

When Subaru Natsuki leaves the convenience store, the last thing he expects is to be wrenched from his everyday life and dropped into a fantasy world. Things are not looking good for the bewildered teenager; however, not long after his arrival, he is attacked by some thugs. Armed with only a bag of groceries and a now useless cell phone, he is quickly beaten to a pulp. Fortunately, a mysterious beauty named Satella, in hot pursuit after the one who stole her insignia, happens upon Subaru and saves him. In order to thank the honest and kindhearted girl, Subaru offers to help in her search, and later that night, he even finds the whereabouts of that which she seeks. But unbeknownst to them, a much darker force stalks the pair from the shadows, and just minutes after locating the insignia, Subaru and Satella are brutally murdered. However, Subaru immediately reawakens to a familiar scene—confronted by the same group of thugs, meeting Satella all over again—the enigma deepens as history inexplicably repeats itself. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Boku dake ga Inai Machi

When tragedy is about to strike, Satoru Fujinuma finds himself sent back several minutes before the accident occurs. The detached, 29-year-old manga artist has taken advantage of this powerful yet mysterious phenomenon, which he calls "Revival," to save many lives. However, when he is wrongfully accused of murdering someone close to him, Satoru is sent back to the past once again, but this time to 1988, 18 years in the past. Soon, he realizes that the murder may be connected to the abduction and killing of one of his classmates, the solitary and mysterious Kayo Hinazuki, that took place when he was a child. This is his chance to make things right. Boku dake ga Inai Machi follows Satoru in his mission to uncover what truly transpired 18 years ago and prevent the death of his classmate while protecting those he cares about in the present. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tokyo Revengers

Takemichi Hanagaki's second year of middle school was the highest point in his life. He had respect, a gang of friends he could count on, and even a girlfriend. But that was twelve years ago. Today, he's a nobody: a washed-up nonentity made fun of by children and always forced to apologize to his younger boss. A sudden news report on the Tokyo Manji Gang's cruel murder of the only girlfriend he ever had alongside her brother only adds insult to injury. Half a second before a train ends his pitiful life for good, Takemichi flashes back to that same day 12 years ago, when he was still dating Hinata Tachibana. After being forced to relive the very same day that began his downward spiral, Takemichi meets Hinata's younger brother. Without thinking, he admits to his seeming death before flashing back to the past. Takemichi urges him to protect his sister before inexplicably returning to the future. Miraculously, he is not dead. Stranger still, the future has changed. It seems as though Takemichi can alter the flow of time. Given the chance to prevent his ex-girlfriend's tragic death at the hands of the Tokyo Manji Gang, Takemichi decides to fly through time to change the course of the future. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 2nd Season

Re:zero -starting life in another world- season 2.

A reunion that was supposed to spell the arrival of peaceful times is quickly shattered when Subaru Natsuki and Emilia return to Irlam village. Witnessing the devastation left behind by the calamities known as Sin Archbishops, Subaru sinks into the depths of despair as his ability to redo proves futile. As the group makes their way to the Sanctuary in search of answers, Subaru has an unexpected encounter with the Witch of Greed—Echidna. Subjected to her untamed rhythm, he is forced to dive into the spirals of the past and future. At the same time, several mysterious threats set their sights on the Sanctuary, heralding a horrific fate for the hapless people trapped within. Everlasting contracts, past sins, and unrequited love will clash and submerge into a river of blood in the second season of Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu. Pushed to the brink of hopelessness, how long will Subaru's resolve to save his loved ones last? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 2nd Season Part 2

Re:zero -starting life in another world- season 2 part 2.

After a stern yet compelling speech by Otto Suwen, Subaru Natsuki solemnly swears that he will successfully make it through this timeline and save everyone he can along the way. The first step toward achieving this goal is to help Emilia work through her past; however, that is easier said than done. Feeling as if she has been lied to by everyone around her, it will be difficult for Emilia to trust anyone, even Subaru, her self-proclaimed knight. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 2nd Season Part 2 presents the culmination of Subaru's experiences with the Sanctuary and its people, along with his unwillingness to give up hope on saving them. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Steins;Gate 0

The eccentric, self-proclaimed mad scientist Rintarou Okabe has become a shell of his former self. Depressed and traumatized after failing to rescue his friend Makise Kurisu, he has decided to forsake his mad scientist alter ego and live as an ordinary college student. Surrounded by friends who know little of his time travel experiences, Okabe spends his days trying to forget the horrors of his adventures alone. While working as a receptionist at a college technology forum, Okabe meets the short, spunky Maho Hiyajo, who later turns out to be the interpreter at the forum's presentation, conducted by Professor Alexis Leskinen. In front of a stunned crowd, Alexis and Maho unveil Amadeus—a revolutionary AI capable of storing a person's memories and creating a perfect simulation of that person complete with their personality and quirks. Meeting with Maho and Alexis after the presentation, Okabe learns that the two were Kurisu's colleagues in university, and that they have simulated her in Amadeus. Hired by Alexis to research the simulation's behavior, Okabe is given the chance to interact with the shadow of a long-lost dear friend. Dangerously tangled in the past, Okabe must face the harsh reality and carefully maneuver around the disastrous consequences that come with disturbing the natural flow of time. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Naho Takamiya's first day of her sophomore year of high school is off to an uneasy start. After waking up late, she receives a strange letter addressed to her. However, the letter is from herself—10 years in the future! At first, Naho is skeptical of the note; yet, after witnessing several events described to take place, she realizes the letter really is from her 26-year-old self. The note details that Naho's future life is filled with regrets, and she hopes that her younger self can correct the mistakes that were made in the past. The letter also warns her to keep a close eye on the new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse. Naho must be especially careful in making decisions involving him, as Kakeru is not around in the future. With the letter as her guide, Naho now has the power to protect Kakeru before she comes to regret it once more. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kagome Higurashi's 15th birthday takes a sudden turn when she is forcefully pulled by a demon into the old well of her family's shrine. Brought to the past, when demons were a common sight in feudal Japan, Kagome finds herself persistently hunted by these vile creatures, all yearning for an item she unknowingly carries: the Shikon Jewel, a small sphere holding extraordinary power. Amid such a predicament, Kagome encounters a half-demon boy named Inuyasha who mistakes her for Kikyou, a shrine maiden he seems to resent. Because of her resemblance to Kikyou, Inuyasha takes a violent dislike to Kagome. However, after realizing the dire circumstances they are both in, he sets aside his hostility and lends her a hand. Unfortunately, during a fight for the Shikon Jewel, the miraculous object ends up shattered into pieces and scattered across the land. Fearing the disastrous consequences of this accident, Kagome and Inuyasha set out on a challenging quest to recover the shards before they fall into the wrong hands. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo

The girl who leapt through time.

Makoto Konno is in her last year of high school, but is having a hard time deciding what to do with her future. In between enduring the pressure of her teachers and killing time with her best friends, Makoto's life suddenly changes when she accidentally discovers that she is capable of literally leaping through time. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo follows Makoto as she plays around with her newfound power. However, she soon learns the hard way that every choice has a consequence, and time is a lot more complicated than it may seem. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kaifuku Jutsushi no Yarinaoshi

Redo of healer.

When Keyaru acquired his powers as a Hero who specialized in healing all injuries regardless of severity, it seemed that he would walk the path to a great future. But what awaited him instead was great agony; he was subjected to years of seemingly endless hellish torture and abuse. Keyaru's healing skills allowed him to secretly collect the memories and abilities of those he treated, gradually making him stronger than anyone else. But by the time he reached his full potential, it was far too late—he had already lost everything. Determined to put his life back on track, Keyaru decided to unleash a powerful healing spell that rewound the entire world back to the time before he began to suffer his horrible fate. Equipped with the anguish of his past, he vows to redo everything in order to fulfill a new purpose—to exact revenge upon those who have wronged him. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song

Vivy -fluorite eye's song-.

When highly evolved AIs set out to eradicate mankind, the carnage that ensues fills the air with the stench of fresh blood and burning bodies. In a desperate bid to prevent the calamity from ever occurring, a scientist bets everything on a remnant from the past. Turning the clock back a hundred years, AIs are already an integral part of human society, programmed with specific missions meant to be carried out for their entire course of operation. Vivy, the first ever autonomous AI, is a songstress tasked with spreading happiness through her voice. In a theme park where she hardly ever gets a proper audience, she strives to pour her heart out into her performances, bound to repeat it day after day—that is, until an advanced AI from the future appears before her and enlists her help in stopping a devastating war a hundred years in the making. With no time to process the revelation that flips her world upside down, Vivy is catapulted into a century-long journey to avert the violent history yet to come. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Summertime Render

Summer time rendering.

Since the death of his parents, Shinpei Ajiro had lived with the Kofune family and their two daughters—Mio and Ushio. Although he then left his home island to continue his education in Tokyo, Shinpei returns after Ushio tragically drowns during the attempted rescue of a little girl. During the funeral, his best friend informs him about bruises found around Ushio's neck, casting doubt over the cause of her death. Suspecting a murder has taken place, Shinpei reevaluates recent events, but strange incidents only continue to transpire. Disappearing people and other unexplainable occurrences lead Mio to recall an old folktale referring to entities called "Shadows," which may not be entirely fantasy. Supposedly, an encounter with one's Shadow foretells the person's impending demise. Facing the dark side of Hitogashima Island, Shinpei stands against his grim fate to fulfill Ushio's final will—to protect Mio. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei

The tatami galaxy.

One autumn evening at a mysterious ramen stand behind the Shimogamo Shrine, a lonely third-year college student bumps into a man with an eggplant-shaped head who calls himself a god of matrimony. Meeting this man causes the student to reflect upon his past two years at college—two years bitterly spent trying to break up couples on campus with his only friend Ozu, a ghoulish-looking man seemingly set on making his life as miserable as possible. Resolving to make the most out of the rest of his college life, the student attempts to ask out the unsociable but kind-hearted underclassman Akashi, yet fails to follow through, prompting him to regret not living out his college life differently. As soon as this thought passes through his head, however, he is hurtled through time and space to the beginning of his years at college and given another chance to live his life. Surreal, artistic, and mind-bending, Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei chronicles the misadventures of a young man on a journey to make friends, find love, and experience the rose-colored campus life he always dreamed of. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Steins;Gate: Oukoubakko no Poriomania

Steins;gate: egoistic poriomania.

A few months after the events of Steins;Gate, Rintarou Okabe and his group of friends are invited to tag along with their acquaintance Faris NyanNyan, who is participating in a Rai-Net battle event in the United States. There, they meet up with an old colleague: Kurisu Makise, who has been recalling fragmented memories of events that happened in the other world lines in the form of dreams. She confronts Okabe, questioning him as to whether these events—particularly the incidents between the two of them—did indeed happen. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Shiguang Dailiren

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, it holds an infinite amount of secrets. These are secrets that only Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang are able to find. In a small shop called "Time Photo Studio," the two friends provide a special service: using their extraordinary powers that let them enter photographs, they jump into pictures brought to them by clients in order to grant their wishes. Through the eyes of the photographer, they live through the events surrounding the picture and try to decipher how to solve their client's request. But every time they jump into a picture, they take a great risk. One wrong move and they could alter the future of the person who took the picture... and possibly countless other events too. So when the events they are forced to live through in these pictures start to become personal, it will take the utmost strength to push their feelings aside and focus on accomplishing the task they were paid to do. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tokyo Revengers: Seiya Kessen-hen

Tokyo revengers: christmas showdown.

In spite of his best time-leaping efforts, Takemichi Hanagaki continuously fails to prevent the present-day death of Hinata Tachibana, his adolescent love. The adult Takemichi grapples with grief and the ramifications of the Tokyo Manji gang's criminal empire—an unintended product of his timeline meddling. Though the gang once operated under the idealistic Manjirou "Mikey" Sano, it has now been taken over by the malicious Tetta Kisaki and, as a result, has abandoned its original optimistic intent. Despite feeling hopeless, Takemichi travels to the past once again to investigate Black Dragon, a rival motorcycle gang whose actions ultimately lead to Hinata's demise. There, he meets the young Hakkai Shiba, a fellow gang member whose older brother, Taiju, tyrannically rules Black Dragon. When Taiju brutally beats Takemichi in a one-sided street brawl, Hakkai attempts to withdraw from Tokyo Manji in apology—an act that Takemichi must prevent to spare Hakkai a grim future. Through a shared tragedy, Takemichi bonds with Chifuyu Matsuno, establishing a close comradery both boys desperately need. With Chifuyu on his side, Takemichi works to unravel the fates of Black Dragon's members, fighting to create a happy future for his loved ones. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Bokutachi no Remake

Remake our life.

Life is not going well for 28-year-old Kyouya Hashiba. Having left his office job to pursue a career in the video game industry, his internship at a popular game studio abruptly ends, leaving him unemployed and forcing him to move back in with his parents. Additionally, his jealousy toward the success of the "Platinum Generation"—a group of similarly-aged creators—has caused him to regret his decision to attend a traditional university instead of an arts college. Even though he believes there are no second chances in life, Kyouya is suddenly given one when he wakes up one day and finds himself 10 years in the past. Instead of choosing business school like he originally had, Kyouya decides to pursue his passions and attends the Oonaka University of Art. There, he meets classmate Eiko Kawasegawa, the woman who had hired him as an intern in the present, alongside his new housemates and future Platinum Generation members: underachieving artist Aki Shino, aspiring singer and actress Nanako Kogure, and naturally-gifted writer Tsurayuki Rokuonji. With each project they complete together, Kyouya and his friends venture closer to discovering their true potential as creators and remaking their lives into the ideal versions they desire. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara

Iroduku: the world in colors.

Despite the kaleidoscopic magic ingrained in everyday life, Hitomi Tsukishiro's monochrome world is deprived of emotion and feeling. On a night as black and white as any other, amidst the fireworks spreading across the sky, Hitomi's grandmother Kohaku conjures a spell, for which she has been harnessing the moon's light for 60 years, to send Hitomi back in time to the year 2018 when Kohaku was in high school. Hitomi's mission seems unclear, but her grandmother assures her that she will know when she gets there. Following a trip through time aboard a train driven by a strange yellow creature, Hitomi finds herself in stoic artist Yuito Aoi's room, and his drawings flood her world with color. What is Hitomi's purpose there, and why do Yuito's drawings return such breathtaking color to her drab world? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Oda Nobuna no Yabou

The ambition of oda nobuna.

High school student Yoshiharu Sagara wakes up and finds himself in the middle of a raging Sengoku period battle. He is saved by the legendary Hideyoshi Toyotomi, but at the cost of the hero's life. With his dying breath, the warrior pleads for Yoshiharu to become a feudal lord in his place. Now that the course of history has been changed, Yoshiharu pledges to keep the timeline from diverging any further. Yet, after rescuing Nobuna Oda—whom he discovers is actually the fabled Nobunaga Oda's female counterpart—Yoshiharu realizes he has been transported to an alternate reality where most of Japan's historical warlords are now cute girls! To set things right and find a way back home, Yoshiharu agrees to become one of Nobuna's retainers and assist her in a conquest of Japan. As Nobuna initiates her campaign, Yoshiharu discovers that the history he learned from playing the video game "Nobunaga's Ambition" allows him to predict future events and turn the tide of war. Using this invaluable gift to aid the Oda clan's beautiful generals, Yoshiharu hopes to help his new lord fulfill her dream and win the hearts of women everywhere. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

InuYasha: Kanketsu-hen

Inuyasha: the final act.

Thwarted again by Naraku, Inuyasha, Kagome Higurashi, and their friends must continue their hunt for the few remaining Shikon Jewel shards, lest they fully form into a corrupted jewel at the hands of Naraku. But Naraku has plans of his own to acquire them, and will destroy anyone and anything standing in his way—even his own underlings. The persistent, unyielding danger posed by Naraku forces Sango and Miroku to decide what is most important to them—each other or their duty in battle. Meanwhile, Inuyasha must decide whether his heart lies with Kikyou or Kagome, before fate decides for him. Amid the race to find the shards, Inuyasha and his brother Sesshoumaru must also resolve their feud and cooperate for their final confrontation with Naraku, as it is a battle they must win in order to put a stop to his evil and cruelty once and for all. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Steins;Gate: Kyoukaimenjou no Missing Link - Divide By Zero

Steins;gate: open the missing link - divide by zero.

Having reached his emotional breaking point, Rintarou Okabe refuses to continue aiding time traveler Suzuha Amane in her mission to prevent World War III, believing any further efforts to save Makise Kurisu will be in vain. Shortly after, Okabe abandons his mad scientist persona and becomes a seemingly regular university student. Okabe's close friend Mayuri Shiina perceives him to be recovering from his trauma and is visibly happy. However, something still seems to be bothering Okabe. Steins;Gate: Kyoukaimenjou no Missing Link - Divide By Zero marks the beginning of a critical divergence—a timeline in which the burden of fate escalates beyond one's limits. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 4 - The Lost Tower

Naruto shippuden the movie 4: the lost tower.

Led by Yamato, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sai are assigned to capture Mukade, a rogue ninja who is pursuing the ancient chakra Ryuumyaku located underneath the Rouran ruins. While the Ryuumyaku has been sealed by the Fourth Hokage, the group fails to prevent Mukade from releasing its power. Consequently, a strong energy burst engulfs both Naruto and Yamato before they can escape. As he awakens in a magnificent yet hostile kingdom, Naruto meets its young queen Saara and three Konohagakure ninjas on a top-secret mission. They reveal to him that he has time-traveled to Rouran 20 years into the past! To make matters worse, Mukade has already infiltrated the royal court, becoming the naive queen's most trusted minister under the alias Anrokuzan. Joining forces with the three ninjas, Naruto must protect Saara's life without fail to stop the villain's plans and return to the present. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Gintama Movie 2: Kanketsu-hen - Yorozuya yo Eien Nare

Gintama: the movie: the final chapter: be forever yorozuya.

When Gintoki apprehends a movie pirate at a premiere, he checks the camera's footage and finds himself transported to a bleak, post-apocalyptic version of Edo, where a mysterious epidemic called the "White Plague" has ravished the world's population. It turns out that the movie pirate wasn't a pirate after all—it was an android time machine, and Gintoki has been hurtled five years into the future! Shinpachi and Kagura, his Yorozuya cohorts, have had a falling out and are now battle-hardened solo vigilantes and he himself has been missing for years, disappearing without a trace after scribbling a strange message in his journal. Setting out in the disguise given to him by the android time machine, Gintoki haphazardly reunites the Yorozuya team to investigate the White Plague, and soon discovers that the key to saving the future lies in the darkness of his own past. Determined to confront a powerful foe, he makes an important discovery—with a ragtag band of friends and allies at his side, he doesn't have to fight alone. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

After escaping a bus hijacking with the help of masked superhero Strange Juice, Yuuta Iridatsu finds his soul separated from his body and in the care of a perverse cat spirit, Chiranosuke. As a spirit, Yuuta wanders around his residence, the Korai House, aiming to regain his body and observe the other residents: Meika Daihatsu, a genius inventor; Mikatan Narugino, a cheerful idol; Ito Hikiotani, a shut-in NEET; and Rabura Chichibu, a spiritual medium. After catching a glimpse of Narugino's undergarments, Chiranosuke reveals to Yuuta that he becomes exponentially stronger upon seeing panties. However, if he sees another pair while he is still a spirit, his power will cause an asteroid to crash into the earth, ending the world and killing his friends. Punch Line follows Yuuta as he unravels the mysteries surrounding Korai House, its residents, and a villainous organization attempting to end the world. Will Yuuta be able to save everyone, or will the ever-present threat of panties result in their doom? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Fate/Grand Order: First Order

Fate/grand order -first order-.

In 2015, the Chaldea Security Organization draws on experts of both the magical and mundane fields to observe the future of mankind for possible extinction events. Humanity's survival seems assured for the next century—until the verdict suddenly changes, and now eradication of the species awaits at the end of 2016. The cause is unknown, but appears to be linked with the Japanese town of Fuyuki and the events of 2004 during the Fifth Holy Grail War. In response, Chaldea harnesses an experimental means of time travel, the Rayshift technology. With it, Ritsuka Fujimaru, a young man newly recruited to the organization, and the mysterious girl Mash Kyrielight, can travel back to 2004 and discover how to save humanity. A grand order to fight fate has been declared—an order to change the past and restore the future. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku-hen

After succeeding in their winter conflict against Taiju Shiba and his Black Dragons, the Tokyo Manji Gang absorbs their group's remaining members. Due to his heroic courage and indomitable spirit, Takemichi Hanagaki should have accomplished his goal of defeating the tragic fate awaiting his girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana. In reality, Takemichi's troubles are far from over. Although Takemichi's actions have exposed Tetta Kisaki's treachery, the conniving schemer has found power elsewhere: Tenjiku, a dangerous gang led by the enigmatic Izana Kurokawa. Izana sets his sights on Manjirou "Mikey" Sano, pursuing a vicious interest in the Tokyo Manji Gang's aloof leader. In the future, Takemichi discovers that the machinations of Izana and Kisaki led to Mikey's moral ruin—a downfall that directly results in Hinata's death. Unfortunately, a terrible loss robs Takemichi of his time-leaping ability, stranding him in the past with one final chance to rescue everyone he loves. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kamisama Hajimemashita: Kako-hen

While playing in the snow one day at her shrine, the land god Nanami Momozono witnesses her familiar—the fox youkai Tomoe—collapse, with dark markings appearing on his body. Tomoe's former master, Lord Mikage, appears after his long absence and places Tomoe into a magical pocket mirror in order to stave off his ailment. Mikage explains that long ago, before he and Tomoe had met, the fox youkai was in love with a human woman. Seeking to live as a human with his beloved, he made a deal with a fallen god, but he only ended up cursed and dying. When Mikage discovered Tomoe, the god made the youkai forget his human love as a quick solution. However, something has changed recently to reactivate the curse; Tomoe has fallen in love with his new human master, Nanami. Since there is no way to stop the curse, Nanami wants to stop Tomoe from getting cursed in the first place by traveling back through time, even if it means they may never meet. As Nanami travels back hundreds of years to save her precious familiar, she discovers that she is far more closely bonded to Tomoe than she previously thought. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sakurada Reset

Sagrada reset.

Kei Asai lives in the oceanside city of Sakurada—a town where the inhabitants are born with strange abilities. On the school rooftop one day, he meets Misora Haruki, an apathetic girl with the power to reset anything around her up to three days prior. While no one knows when she has reset, not even Haruki, Kei can retain everything before the reset thanks to his own ability: photographic memory. After they successfully help someone by combining their powers, they join the Service Club to aid others in their town. However, their club becomes involved with and begins completing missions for the mysterious Administration Bureau—an organization that focuses on managing the abilities in Sakurada and manipulating the town's events for their own ends. They may find out that there are more things at work in Sakurada than the machinations of the uncanny organization. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Mirai no Mirai

In a quiet corner of the city, four-year-old Kun Oota has lived a spoiled life as an only child with his parents and the family dog, Yukko. But when his new baby sister Mirai is brought home, his simple life is thrown upside-down; suddenly, it isn't all about him anymore. Despite his tantrums and nagging, Mirai is seemingly now the subject of all his parents' love. To help him adapt to this drastic change, Kun is taken on an extraordinary journey through time, meeting his family's past, present, and future selves, as he learns not only what it means to be a part of a family, but also what it means to be an older brother. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 3rd Season

Re:zero -starting life in another world- season 3.

3rd Season of Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

Orange: Mirai

Twenty-six-year-old Hiroto Suwa; his wife, Naho; and their old high school classmates—Takako Chino, Azusa Murasaka, and Saku Hagita—visit Mt. Koubou to view the cherry blossoms together. While watching the setting sun, they reminisce about Kakeru Naruse, their friend who died 10 years ago. Mourning for him, they decide to visit Kakeru's old home, where they learn the secret of his death from his grandmother. Filled with regret, Suwa and his friends decide to write letters to their 16-year-old past selves to set their hearts at rest. With the knowledge contained in the letter from his future self, 16-year-old Suwa has the chance to rewrite the future. What choices will he make? What will happen in this new future? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Island (TV)

On a remote island far from the mainland named Urashima, a man washes ashore, with no recollection of his name or homeland. What he does recall, however, is that he is a time traveler with a mission: to save a certain girl from harm. As nightfall arrives, he meets Rinne Ohara, a girl who sings a tune that reminds him of a specific name—Setsuna—and decides to use it as his own. Knowing another "Setsuna" herself, Rinne takes him to her household as a servant, hoping that he is the same one she remembers. On the other hand, Setsuna continues to learn more about Urashima, desiring to identify his lost past. He comes to know about the island's folklore, its three great families, and the endemic disease that prevents anyone afflicted from stepping out into the daylight. As the mysteries of his missing memories and Urashima itself unfold, Setsuna must remember his purpose and fulfill his mission as soon as possible. But, as he witnesses the myriad of troubles plaguing the island, Setsuna begins to question—is his temporal displacement merely an effort to change a single girl's fate? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsu suru

7th time loop: the villainess enjoys a carefree life married to her worst enemy.

Rishe Irmgard Weitzner finds herself in a familiar situation: her fiancé is publicly breaking off their engagement, and her ducal family is about to disown her in shame. However, Rishe is not distraught; she has already had six chances to rebuild her life and chase a different passion each time. But she would always get swept up in a war and die, so now she wishes for her seventh reincarnation to be easygoing and uneventful. What Rishe does not take into account is the presence of Arnold Hein, the crown prince of the Galkhein Kingdom. He is destined to usurp the throne and become a tyrant who starts a large-scale invasion of neighboring countries. To make their encounter worse, Arnold is the one who killed Rishe in her previous life. That is why it is all the more shocking when he proposes to Rishe on the spot. In pursuit of her desired life, Rishe must consider accepting Arnold's proposal and discover the reasons behind his brutal actions to stop the war from ever happening. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Hanyou no Yashahime: Sengoku Otogizoushi

Yashahime: princess half-demon.

Half-demon twins Towa and Setsuna were always together, living happily in Feudal Japan. But their joyous days come to an end when a forest fire separates them and Towa is thrown through a portal to modern-day Japan. There, she is found by Souta Higurashi, who raises her as his daughter after Towa finds herself unable to return to her time. Ten years later, 14-year-old Towa is a relatively well-adjusted student, despite the fact that she often gets into fights. However, unexpected trouble arrives on her doorstep in the form of three visitors from Feudal Japan; Moroha, a bounty hunter; Setsuna, a demon slayer and Towa's long-lost twin sister; and Mistress Three-Eyes, a demon seeking a mystical object. Working together, the girls defeat their foe, but in the process, Towa discovers to her horror that Setsuna has no memory of her at all. Hanyou no Yashahime: Sengoku Otogizoushi follows the three girls as they endeavor to remedy Setsuna's memory loss, as well as discover the truth about their linked destinies. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sora no Aosa wo Shiru Hito yo

Her blue sky.

High school student Aoi Aioi lives with her elder sister, Akane, after a tragic accident took their parents away 13 years ago. Because Akane has since been taking care of her single-handedly, Aoi wants to move to Tokyo after her graduation to relieve her sister's burden and pursue a musical career, inspired by Akane's ex-boyfriend Shinnosuke "Shinno" Kanamuro. Shinno was part of a band until he left for Tokyo to become a professional guitarist after the sisters' parents passed away, and he was never to be seen again. One afternoon, while Aoi practices her bass in a guest house, she gets startled by the 18-year-old version of Shinno from 13 years ago! As if by coincidence, the current 31-year-old Shinno also returns to the town, but he has changed drastically. There are now two Shinno's in existence, but why is the Shinno from the past present? Sora no Aosa wo Shiru Hito yo revolves around these four individuals as they confront their inner feelings toward each other and make decisions that will affect their lives from here on out. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kikansha no Mahou wa Tokubetsu desu

A returner's magic should be special.

After a decade spent fighting monsters in the Shadow Labyrinth—a growing dark cloud of magic that threatens to engulf the world and destroy all life—mage Desir Herrman and his five companions finally face their last foe: the dragon of destruction Boromir Napolitan. Although the group of heroes manages to slay this formidable opponent, the tremendous amount of mana stored within the dragon's body is released in an unstoppable explosion that annihilates the rest of the world. However, instead of dying, Desir is sent back 10 years into the past with complete memories of events to come. He enrolls at Hebrion Academy, determined to put an end to the classist prejudice plaguing the magical world that will ultimately lead to the demise of humanity. Unfortunately, his struggle begins early on during the entrance exams; although he is ranked first of his group, Desir is assigned to the Beta Class, the default class for commoners. Now, Desir's next objective is to rally someone to his cause that he could not save in his previous life: the wind mage Romantica Eru. Then, Desir will have to show his worth to the Alpha Class with his newly formed party if he wants to ultimately save as many lives as possible. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Shiguang Dailiren II

Link click season 2.

The attempt to capture the mysterious perpetrator who possesses people ends tragically: Lu Guang is rushed to the hospital in a critical state, while Cheng Xiaoshi is arrested for the alleged crime. In light of recent events, the father of Liu Min unleashes his skilled, ruthless lawyer—Qian Jin—after Police Chief Li Xiao, who is spearheading the investigation related to the photo studio owned by Qiao Ling. It appears that no one is safe from the unpredictable and fatal attacks of the adversary who painstakingly hides their identity. As he tries to learn from his past mistakes, Cheng Xiaoshi must act swiftly and decisively to put an end to this devastating trail of death. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

InuYasha Movie 2: Kagami no Naka no Mugenjou

Inuyasha the movie 2: the castle beyond the looking glass.

Fortune smiles on Inuyasha and his allies when they finally defeat their nemesis Naraku, who has caused them unrelenting hardships. Overjoyed by the long-awaited victory, they all hurry to resume their former lives, unaware that danger still lurks around. Kanna and Kagura, two of Naraku's subordinates, make arrangements to set free a sealed demonic entity that claims to be Kaguya, the legendary Princess of the Heavens. Although preoccupied with their own endeavors, Inuyasha's group members reunite by a string of unusual coincidences involving Kanna and Kagura along with an inexplicable phenomenon of repeated full-moon nights. Upon realizing that Kaguya is behind the troubling events and that she holds a terrible power, they join forces once more to stop the disastrous fate she has planned for the world. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin

Occult academy.

The story revolves around Maya, the daughter of the former Headmaster of Waldstein Academy, and a time traveling agent Fumiaki Uchida. In the year 2012, the world had been invaded by aliens and time travelers were sent back to the year 1999 in order to find and destroy the Nostradamus Key, which Nostradamus Prophecy foretold as what would bring about the apocalypse. The series then turns to the year 1999, where Maya returns to the Academy with the intention of destroying the Academy by superseding her late father's position as the principal. Her plan was interrupted when she meets Fumiaki and learns of the forthcoming destruction. Despite being distrusting towards Fumiaki, they form a pact to look for the Nostradamus Key. In order to find the Nostradamus Key, time agents were provided with specially created cell phones. When a user finds an object of interest, by thinking of destroying it and taking a photo, and if the resulting image is that of a peaceful world, then the subject is the Nostradamus Key. Conversely, if the subject is not the Nostradamus Key, then the photo displays destruction. By using the phone, Maya and Fumiaki investigates occult occurrences as they occur in the town. (Source: Wikipedia)

InuYasha Movie 1: Toki wo Koeru Omoi

Inuyasha the movie: affections touching across time.

During their quest in the feudal era to recover the shards of the miraculous Shikon Jewel, Inuyasha, Kagome Higurashi, and their friends become the target of Menoumaru Hyouga—a demon awakened by one of the Shikon fragments, now in pursuit of Inuyasha's heirloom sword Tessaiga. Following a clash between the fathers of Inuyasha and Menoumaru, the weapon is the only means to restore Menoumaru his rightful family heritage. However, upon ambushing Inuyasha, Menoumaru discovers that Tessaiga's owner alone can wield it. Determined to achieve his objective regardless, he kidnaps Kagome to force Inuyasha to use his blade and release the sealed powers of the Hyouga clan. With their dependable companions' assistance, Inuyasha and Kagome oppose Menoumaru, unaware that his sinister intentions and alarming potential will endanger not only their world but also its distant future. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

InuYasha Movie 3: Tenka Hadou no Ken

Inuyasha the movie 3: swords of an honorable ruler.

Following Inu no Taishou's death, his swords Tenseiga and Tessaiga were passed on to his sons, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha respectively. However, there exists one more blade. During a visit to his friend Kagome Higurashi in modern times, Inuyasha encounters Sounga—his father's third sword. Found by one of Kagome's ancestors inside the old well that connects the past to the future, Sounga has been kept for years as a treasured artifact at the Higurashi shrine. Nevertheless, it soon reveals itself to harbor an evil spirit with a terrible urge to kill. While struggling to subdue its calamitous nature, Inuyasha manages to bring Sounga back to the feudal era where he must confront his brother Sesshoumaru, who has always desired to possess it. But when they lose track of the sword during their fight, the siblings engage in a fervent competition to find it, still unaware of its secret and the legacy that Inu no Taishou has left for them. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

InuYasha Movie 4: Guren no Houraijima

Inuyasha the movie 4: fire on the mystic island.

Hourai is a mysterious island that appears for a limited period once every 50 years. Some say that the isle holds the secret of eternal youth; others believe that it brings disaster to their land. When Inuyasha's group saves a half-demon child from being hunted by a monstrous creature, they learn that her name is Ai and that she fled from Hourai. Surprisingly, the girl is an acquaintance of Inuyasha and begs him to rescue her friends, who are being held prisoner by vicious demons calling themselves the Four War Gods—an enemy Inuyasha remembers well. Upon reaching Hourai, Ai's guests are horrified to discover that only a handful of orphans still inhabit the island and are destined to become sacrifices to increase the Four War Gods' powers. Furthermore, the victims bear their oppressors' enchanted mark, which prevents them from escaping. Defeating the four demons remains Inuyasha's most viable option, but their superiority in strength will require daring initiatives achievable only by the group's combined teamwork. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete

In search of the lost future.

Kaori Sasaki—a member of Uchihama Academy's Astronomy Club—confesses to Sou Akiyama, but later that evening, she dies in a tragic road accident. Her friends and fellow club members mourn her death in a local hospital. Yet she shows up to school the following day, and no one senses anything amiss. The day finishes without any unusual incidents, and the group of friends plans for the upcoming cultural festival. Suddenly, the room is shaken by an unnatural earthquake. Everyone splits up to investigate—except for Nagisa Hanamiya, who stays behind. As everyone leaves, Nagisa notices that the odd relic-like cube that she was toying with starts emitting a strange blue light. Meanwhile, Sou stumbles upon an unconscious, naked girl lying in a pool of water. Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete follows the Astronomy Club's increasingly bizarre adventures—from dealing with ghosts to quelling unrests between student clubs. All the while, they unravel the circumstances behind the sudden appearance of a new transfer student. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Noein: Mou Hitori no Kimi e

Noein: to your other self.

During their last summer of elementary school, four friends decide to undertake a test of courage at their local graveyard. Before the test begins, Haruka Kaminogi makes a last effort to pull Yuu Gotou away from his controlling mother. While doing so, Haruka suddenly has a strange vision of blue snow followed by the appearance of an imposing silver-haired man. Later, a similar vision occurs at the graveyard to both Haruka and her friends before they try to escape what they assume are ghosts. Unbeknownst to the children, the people who appeared before them are Dragon Soldiers: an elite military group from a dimension known as La'cryma. The soldiers have traveled to this dimension to secure the "Dragon Torque"—an entity they believe to be their last hope for survival. However, both the Dragon Soldiers and Haruka are shocked to learn that the Dragon Torque is Haruka herself. She attempts to escape from the Dragon Soldiers as she finds her own last ray of hope—the strange silver-haired man who claims to be another version of Yuu himself. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Buddy Complex

When ordinary high school student Aoba Watase is suddenly targeted by a giant robot known as a "Valiancer," he is saved by his mysterious classmate Hina Yumihara. After revealing that she and their robotic enemy are from the future, Hina suddenly propels Aoba 70 years forward in order to prevent his death. Upon arrival, Aoba finds himself in the cockpit of a Valiancer called "Luxon," stuck in the midst of a firefight between the military forces of the Free Pact Alliance (FPA) and Zogilia Republic. After he shows high compatibility with an FPA pilot named Dio Weinberg, the two perform a successful "coupling," allowing them to share experiences and subsequently increase their capabilities and skills. Although Aoba is able to survive this unexpected battle, he is taken into custody by the FPA ship Cygnus, who wishes to interrogate him. While the student's main concern is whether he will ever be able to return home, what he doesn't realize is that he is about to get caught up in a war to protect the world. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Nobunaga-sensei no Osanazuma

Nobunaga teacher's young bride.

"One day, a girl who loves me will suddenly appear before me"—Middle school teacher Nobunaga has always been dreaming of such a gal game-like situation. However, the one who appeared before him was Kichou, a 14-year-old girl who proclaims herself as his wife. Appearing to have arrived from the Sengoku era, she mistakes Nobunaga as Nobunaga Oda and urges him to conceive a child with her. Thus begins the age-difference love comedy between a gal game-loving teacher and a Sengoku era expert princess. (Source: MAL News)

Tearmoon Teikoku Monogatari: Dantoudai kara Hajimaru, Hime no Tensei Gyakuten Story

Tearmoon empire.

Due to poor finances, an epidemic, and famine, the once prosperous Tearmoon Empire ultimately falls to a revolution instigated by its citizens and supported by neighboring nations. The rebellion also brings dire consequences for Mia Luna Tearmoon, the empire's extremely spoiled princess, who endures three years in the dungeons before facing execution. By some miracle, Mia finds herself reincarnated as her 12-year-old self, retaining full memories of everything that had transpired. With the pain of the guillotine blade freshly imprinted on her neck, Mia is determined to use this second chance at life to avoid the grim fate that awaits her. She utilizes all her knowledge to improve the state of the kingdom and gather personal allies, inadvertently winning over the people's hearts and becoming beloved as a saint. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Nobunaga Concerto

"Who cares about what happened in Japan's past? It has nothing to do with my life." With these words, carefree high school student Saburou finds himself unceremoniously thrown back in time to the Sengoku Era, landing directly in front of the legendary general Nobunaga Oda. Nobunaga, on the run from his retainers and wishing to rest due to his frailty, beseeches Saburou to take his place, as the two bear an uncanny resemblance. Although Saburou is still confused by his surroundings, Nobunaga hurriedly provides the boy with the necessary items to prove that he is the bona fide feudal lord and makes a hasty getaway. Now a stand-in for someone he doesn't even know all that much about—though his modern experiences and knowledge are sure to help him—Saburou begins his unexpected quest to pose as the man who attempted to unite all of Japan. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Inazuma Eleven Go: Chrono Stone

Inazuma Eleven Go: Chrono Stone is set after the Holy Road Soccer Tournament. The hero of of the moment, Tenma Matsukaze, traveled all over Japan to teach soccer to kids. He returns to Raimon Junior High School after completing his mission, but to his surprise, it's no longer the same Raimon Junior High that he remembers. The soccer club is non-existent, and the members of the champion team in the Holy Road Soccer Tournament have no recollection of taking part in the tournament. They neither remember Tenma nor the game of soccer they loved. As Tenma is baffled by this twist, Alpha, the leader of the Route Agents and captain of Protocol Omega team, suddenly appears before him. Alpha declares that he and his team are responsible for wiping out passion for soccer in Raimon along with the memories of the soccer club members: and Tenma himself is next. That's when a strange boy named Fei Rune appears just in time to save him. Just who is Fei, and why does Alpha want to eliminate soccer for good? Tenma knows that he needs to do everything in his power to emerge victorious. It's a battle that could seal the fate of soccer forever.

Ninja Batman

Batman ninja.

At Arkham Asylum, Batman clashes with Gorilla Grodd while trying to destroy Grodd's newest invention: the Quake Engine. Amidst the chaos, the engine activates, and the entire asylum suddenly vanishes into thin air—Batman along with it. Once the dust settles, Batman finds himself standing in the middle of an unfamiliar road. He soon realizes that he is no longer in Gotham City—but instead in Feudal Japan! The amazement quickly fades as samurai descend upon him, seeking to take his life. Later on, Batman's investigation leads him to discover that the one responsible for the kill order is none other than his archnemesis, the Joker. Following an encounter with Catwoman, he learns that the asylum's criminals had teleported there two years earlier—each ruling over a piece of Japan with Joker being the dominant warlord. In order to return home, Batman must reactivate the Quake Engine, situated in the remnants of the asylum, now known as Arkham Castle. However, there is one problem: aside from his gadget belt, the arsenal that was once at his fingertips is all but gone. Ninja Batman follows the Dark Knight as he traverses a strange new environment, facing off against familiar foes in a bid to return to Gotham in one piece. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tokidoki Rikugou is a history-hating student who flunks out of his Japanese History course; his high school forces him to make up for his failed grade by attending a special museum lecture. Its star exhibit, a vast recreation of the Edo Period, promises to alleviate the delinquent student's poor grades with an elaborate simulation of the Tokugawa Shogunate: the Edo Bakumatsu Walking Tour and Exhibition. Knowing next to nothing about samurai culture or the times he's walked into, he is quickly surprised to learn of the superstitious nature of Japan during the 1600s. Quickly dismissing the existence of gods and demons, he is shocked when confronted by a demon on a bridge, who attacks the unsuspecting high-schooler. Saved by a mysterious swordsman named Kuchiha, he discovers that he can no longer escape the simulation at the history museum. Meeting another swordsman named Kon Shinonome, he discovers another contemporary that was trapped in the simulation before him. Quickly adjusting to his new home, Tokidoki must now help protect the village from demons, while uncovering the mystery of both the simulation and the company that created it. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Meiji Tokyo Renka

Mei Ayazuki is just your ordinary, everyday high-school girl. That is until one night, when the moon is full and red, she’s transported through time to the Meiji Period by Charlie, a self-proclaimed magician. She ends up in a strange, Meiji-era ‘Tokyo’ where the existence of ghosts is accepted. Led by Charlie, she finally arrives at the Rokumeikan. There, waiting for her to arrive, are the historical figures Ougai Mori, Shunsou Hishida, Otojirou Kawakami, Kyouka Izumi, Gorou Fujita, Yakumo Koizumi, and Tousuke Iwasaki. Whilst interacting with these men, she discovers she is a Tamayori - someone who can see ghosts - a skill that is highly valued in the Meiji Period. Due to these powers, her relationship with the men begins to change… As she gets to know these handsome men in a new era she just can’t get used to, a love begins to grow within her. Will Mei be able to return to her time? What will become of her love - a love that crosses the boundaries of time and space? (Source: Honey's Anime)

Natsu no Arashi!

Summer storm.

In modern-day Japan, 13-year-old Hajime Yasaka moves to the countryside to stay with his grandfather. On the way to his new home, a lost Hajime finds himself in a cafe called Ark, where he immediately falls in love with one of the waitresses: the gorgeous Sayoko "Arashi" Arashiyama. While Arashi is initially unconcerned with the boy, her attitude quickly changes after she grasps Hajime's hand, leading her to believe they are "connected." As it turns out, Arashi is anything but a regular teenager—in reality, she is the ghost of a girl who perished in World War II. By touching a man she connects with, she gains the ability to travel back in time. Delighted to have found someone who can unlock her powers, Arashi asks Hajime to help with her mission: to save civilians from the carnage of the war that claimed her life. Smitten with Arashi, Hajime readily agrees. But as the two get further involved with Arashi's past, they soon discover that she is not the only one able to transcend time. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Yu☆Gi☆Oh! Movie: Chou Yuugou! Toki wo Koeta Kizuna

Yu-gi-oh 3d: bonds beyond time.

While riding with Jack Atlas and Crow Hogan, Yuusei Fudou's Stardust Dragon is captured by Paradox, a mysterious Turbo Duelist from the future, during a Turbo Duel and turned into a Sin Monster. With the help of the Crimson Dragon, Yuusei chases after Paradox as he enters a time slip, ending up in the past. During this time, Paradox duels against Jaden Yuki, who is still able to use the powers of Yubel and The Supreme King. However, by this time Paradox had also captured Cyber End Dragon and Rainbow Dragon and overwhelms Jaden. He is saved thanks to Yuusei and the Crimson Dragon. Jaden informs Yuusei of Paradox's true intentions. By stealing various monsters from across time and turning them dark, he plans to kill Maximillion Pegasus, the creator of Duel Monsters, preventing the game from being created and causing the events of all three series to never happen. Yuusei and Jaden agree to pursue Paradox, which leads them to the past and causes a meeting with the King of Games, Yuugi Mutou. However, by the time Yuusei and Jaden arrive, Paradox had already attacked his time, supposedly killing both Pegasus and Yuugi's grandpa, and had also managed to steal Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Red-Eyes Black Dragon. After explaining everything to Yuugi, he agrees to fight with Yuusei and Jaden against Paradox in the ultimate three-on-one duel to free the trapped monsters and save both the world and time itself before it's too late. (Source: Wikipedia)

16bit Sensation: Another Layer

Konoha Akisato's love for bishoujo games—a type of entertainment focused on interactions with beautiful girls—has always nurtured her aspiration of becoming a popular artist. However, as Konoha secures her first job as a sub-illustrator at the game company Blue Bell, she confronts the harsh reality surrounding her favorite genre. In 2023, the bishoujo game industry is overrun with cheap, repetitive, and low-effort releases, with Blue Bell at the core of the problem. After stumbling upon a vintage game store and reminiscing about the impressive titles of the past, Konoha suddenly winds up in the year 1992—just as the bishoujo game industry was beginning to flourish. Konoha struggles to accept her new circumstances until she joins Alcohol Soft, a small game company willing to employ her as an illustrator. Although she believes her skills from the future will propel her to success, technology and illustration are considerably old-school, and she must promptly adapt if she wishes to fulfill her dreams. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sengoku Otome: Momoiro Paradox

Battle girls: time paradox.

Yoshino Hide is an average girl who always seems to find trouble wherever she goes. One day Yoshino visits a local shrine to pray in order to pass her upcoming test. However, Yoshino sees a blue light coming from inside the Shrine and looks inside to find a mysterious person performing a magic spell. In a stroke of bad luck, Yoshino trips on a small bell and crashes into the shrine, prompting the stranger to catch her. Upon Yoshino's capture, the magic spell spirals out of control and sends Yoshino back in time to the Sengoku Era. Yoshino then encounters Akechi Mitsuhide and Oda Nobunaga. But unlike what really happened during the era, Hideyoshino realizes that everyone in the world is female. She then decides to help Oda Nobunaga find the Crimson Armor which is said to allow the person wearing the armor to conquer all of Japan.

Karin, a DNA operator from the future, is on a mission to change the course of History by stopping Junta Momonari from becoming the Mega-Playboy who fathered 100 children and led to the overpopulation of the world. But Junta is no playboy; in fact he is allergic to girls. But when Karin shoots him with the wrong DNA-altering bullet, he starts sporadically becoming the Mega-Playboy capable of charming any woman. Karin must try to restore the situation to normal before the change to Mega-Playboy becomes irreversible. (Source: ANN)

Hanyou no Yashahime: Sengoku Otogizoushi - Ni no Shou

Yashahime: princess half-demon: the second act.

Second season of Hanyou no Yashahime: Sengoku Otogizoushi.

Yojouhan Time Machine Blues

The tatami time machine blues.

On a hot summer day in Kyoto, a young man walks toward his apartment, dreaming of turning on the air conditioner and cooling down. But before he can turn his dream into reality, disaster naturally strikes in the form of Ozu, who spills soda all over the remote. With the air conditioner rendered completely unusable, the man and his friends are left to suffer in the terrible August heat. Just when all hope seems lost, the group finds a true-to-life time machine in their storage room. Not knowing the dire consequences of doing so, they decide to travel back to the past and grab the remote before Ozu even has a chance to destroy it. What awaits them on the other side is a staggering adventure none of them are prepared for. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Shiguang Dailiren Fan Wai Pian: Biwu Zhaoqin

Link click episode 5.5.

At the Time Photo Studio, partners Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi accept jobs of a peculiar nature. With the aid of their complementary abilities, they are able to leap into photographs—thereby entering the past. One such case involves Liu Siwen, whose only wish is to marry his one true love, Ou Yang. However, her martial arts master father is apprehensive of a suitor who is an outsider and refuses to give his permission unless Liu Siwen defeats him in an honest duel. After years of trying and failing miserably because of his less-than-impressive skills, Liu Siwen finds himself seeking the help of Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi. The two hatch a plan to outwit Ou Yang's father, but what seems simple in theory is rarely as easy to execute in reality… [Written by MAL Rewrite]

InuYasha: Kuroi Tessaiga

Sesshoumaru has never approved of his half-demon younger brother Inuyasha inheriting their father's prized sword, Tessaiga, while he was left with the restorative Tenseiga blade. Upon learning that even Tenseiga's one destructive technique—which he himself perfected—was designed to be transferred to Tessaiga, Sesshoumaru grows even more bitter as he feels disowned in favor of an unworthy mongrel. Meanwhile, Inuyasha's archenemy Naraku unscrupulously takes advantage of Sesshoumaru's grievance to tempt him with a means of stealing Tessaiga's powers. Pitted against each other, the siblings cross blades in a fight that will decide whether Inuyasha will thwart Naraku's dirty scheme and earn Sesshoumaru's acknowledgment or die at the hands of his own flesh and blood. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Boku dake ga Inai Machi Recaps

Erased digest.

Recap episodes of Boku dake ga Inai Machi covering episodes 1 to 6 and episodes 7 to 11.

Thermae Romae

Lucius Modestus, an ancient Roman architect, finds himself job-hunting due to having trouble coming up with new ideas. As his demeanor and personality become dismal, his friends try taking him to a bathhouse for him to relax. Unable to unwind in the bustling and crowded bath, Lucius dips his head in the water. Down there, he finds a secret tunnel that transports him to a modern-day Japanese bathhouse, providing him the inspiration he needed to make a new creation. Loaded with what seems to be knowledge way ahead of his time, Lucius does his best to try and recreate his findings, usually inferior in quality due to his circumstances. However, the sheer ingenuity may be just enough to gain the attention of the citizens and regain his reputation as an architect. [Written by MAL Rewrite] Note: MAL considers this show to be three episodes and not five. See More Info for additional details.

Buddy Complex: Kanketsu-hen - Ano Sora ni Kaeru Mirai de

The two part finale of Buddy Complex television series deals with the final battle between the Free Treaty Alliance and the space division of Zogiria, lead by an elderly Bizon, as Earth and time itself hang in the balance.

Mujaki no Rakuen

Paradise of innocence.

Shouta Handa is a jobless 25 year old who is sick and tired of his boring life. One evening, at the class reunion, he gets to meet all of the cute girls that used to be his classmates. He soon discovers that they are all successful with interesting careers, and even more importantly—really beautiful now, with bigger curves. Unfortunately, it seems that they are all aware of his boring, unsuccessful life, so they mock him and call him a loser, just like in the old days. Everything changes when Shouta goes for a walk to have a smoke and accidentally falls into the school swimming pool. This triggers a supernatural phenomenon that takes him back ten years into the past. He finds himself in the same swimming pool during swimming class, surrounded by his female classmates in bikinis. How is Shouta going to deal with their cuteness and closeness now that he is a grown man in a boy's body?

Meng Qi Shi Shen

Cinderella chef.

Ye Jiayao is a young and talented cook who dreams of becoming a renowned chef one day. As luck would have it, she's magically transported back in time to Imperial China, and in the body of an extremely useless girl. Ye Jiayao is immediately kidnapped and held for ransom, but she manages to use her wits (and her sense of humor) to get whatever she wants. (Source: CBR)

Thermae Romae Novae

Lucius Modestus, an ancient Roman architect, finds himself job-hunting due to having trouble coming up with new ideas. As his demeanor and personality become dismal, his friends try taking him to a bathhouse for him to relax. Unable to unwind in the bustling and crowded bath, Lucius dips his head in the water. Down there, he finds a secret tunnel that transports him to a modern-day Japanese bathhouse, providing him the inspiration he needed to make a new creation. Loaded with what seems to be knowledge way ahead of his time, Lucius does his best to try and recreate his findings, usually inferior in quality due to his circumstances. However, the sheer ingenuity may be just enough to gain the attention of the citizens and regain his reputation as an architect. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Butlers: Chitose Momotose Monogatari

Butlers x battlers.

Butlers: They are guardians that hold a thousand-year history and a certain fate. Jay lived in peace with his little sister Tenna and a fellow Butler named Hayakawa. However, those peaceful days came to a sudden end. Tenna was swallowed up into the void and Jay was sent a hundred years into the future. Jay finds there is now an academy called Koyomi Academy standing in the place where his mansion once stood. Jay took up the name Jinguji Koma and became the student council president of the school as he looks for clues about the past. Jay will eventually find out the truth behind this world. (Source: Crunchyroll)

Beautiful sisters Ai, Mai, Mii, their android maid Mea and slippery pet ferret Unagi make an amazing journey together through time and space without ever leaving their beloved mansion behind! Following the clues of the strange dandelion-like "Popotan," the girls are theoretically seeking the person who has the answers to their most personal questions, but they seem to have more than enough time to take side trips, meet new friends, visit hot springs and occasionally operate the X-mas shop they keep in the house along the way! Yet, the girls' ultimate destiny holds more than a few surprises of its own, and not every moment is filled with hilarity, as moving through time means having to leave friends behind as well. (Source: RightStuf)

The Bakumatsu was an era in which the souls of young men burned with anxiety for their country's future. Takasugi Shinsaku, a soldier of fortune from Choshu, sneaks aboard a government ship with his comrade Katsura Kogorou in search of a mysterious "timepiece" with the power to manipulate time that he fears the government wishes to keep for themselves. Rather than allow such power to fall into the wrong hands, Takasugi plans to destroy the artifact, but having obtained it, the artifact is quickly stolen, forcing the pair to follow the mysterious thief to the seat of government in Kyoto. However, when they arrive in the capital, they discover that the government has been overthrown and the deity Susanoo now reigns in its place. The streets of the city and the people in them are much different than Takasugi and Katsura remembered. The times may have changed but their mission hasn't - Takasugi and Katsura resolve to reset time and save their nation from the nefarious forces trying to hijack it. (Source: Tokyo Otaku Mode)

Stand By Me Doraemon 2

After reminiscing about his late grandmother, Nobita Nobi wishes to see her again and asks Doraemon to return them to the past. Following the wholesome reunion of the two, Nobita's grandmother confesses that she hopes to meet his future bride. Nobita accepts her request out of filial love and quickly scrambles into the time machine as he and Doraemon journey forward in time. However, when the duo warps to Nobita's wedding day, they discover that the future Nobita is missing from the ceremony! Determined to set things right, Doraemon and Nobita embark on a mission to search for Nobita's future self and encourage him to discover the happiness he deserves. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

A Ripple in Time Turns the Crucial Tide of WWII. Scheduled for routine military exercises, Commander Kadomatsu and the crew of Japan's newest and most modern Battlecruiser, The Mirai, are ready to test out the ship's state-of-the-art Aegis System. Instead, they find themselves transported back to June 4th, 1942—date of the crucial Battle of Midway, where the Japanese fleet was dealt a crippling blow. When an overzealous Kadomatsu rescues one of the battle's victims, Kusaka, from a sinking zero fighter, the Mirai's fate is sealed. The crew pledges not to do anything to alter the past further. However, they're now forced to fight a U.S. submarine in a battle that should never have occurred. Thus setting off a chain of events that may forever change the flow of history! (Source: Geneon Entertainment USA, edited)

Natsu no Arashi! Akinaichuu

Summer storm open for business.

The summer of a man's boyhood memories continue. Still on the cusp between childhood and being a man, he has linked with the ghost of a young woman from the World War 2 era. She, and the ghosts of other young ladies from that time, continue adventures alongside their linked partners, learning more about each other and travelling through time via their supernatural connection. While he struggles to see his crush on her come to fruition, meanwhile his friend—a girl his age, pretending to be a boy—seeks his attention as well. (Source: ANN)

Arata naru Sekai: World's/Start/Load/End

World's end.

Four high school girls in uniforms walk silently on the barren earth. These girls are time travelers who had been sent 6000 years into the future, from their present in which the same day is endlessly repeated, in order to evade human extinction. They studied time travel in school, were examined by the aptitude test, and were sent to the future as told. What should they do now? They had no idea. The only thing they could take with them from the present was a light, toy-like cellphone. Of course, it receives no signal here. As the girls are walking, they see strange birds flying in the sky, and a discolored river in the distance. Then, one girl finds an abandoned house, and recognizes the name inscribed on the front gates.

Kikansha no Mahou wa Tokubetsu desu 2nd Season

A returner's magic should be special season 2.

Second season of Kikansha no Mahou wa Tokubetsu desu.

Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song - To Make Everyone Happy With My Singing

Recap of all 13 episodes of Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song.

Time Travel Shoujo: Mari Waka to 8-nin no Kagakusha-tachi

Time travel girl.

Time Travel Shoujo is based on a 1983 book titled Jishaku to Denki no Hatsumei Hakken Monogatari by Japanese educator Kiyonobu Itakura. It is part of the Hatsumei Hakken Monogatari Zenshuu series which describes the story of various scientific discoveries and inventions throughout history. The 1983 book focuses on discoveries related to magnetism and electricity.

Doraemon Movie 26: Nobita no Kyouryuu 2006

Doraemon the movie: nobita's dinosaur 2006.

Nobita finds a fossilized dinosaur egg by accident, and with the help of Doraemon's tools, they hatched the egg and began raising the dinosaur. Knowing that they can't keep the dinosaur forever, Nobita was forced to send it back to prehistoric times where a group of hunters from the future threatens to endanger the dinosaurs. Determined to save the dinosaurs from the claws of the hunters, Doraemon and the gang returns to the past and sets out in a prehistoric adventure. (Source: ANN)

Shiguang Dailiren: Yingdu Pian

(No synopsis yet.)

Junta's great granddaughter goes back in time in order to make Junta stay as the Mega-Playboy so she can continue to exist. Along with her comes an old man with the intention of making Junta stay as the Mega-Playboy forever for his own purposes.When Junta starts getting attacked, he has no choice but to return to being the Mega-Playboy in order to protect his loved ones.

Bokutachi no Remake Recap

Remake our life recap.

Recap of the first 6 episodes of Bokutachi no Remake.

Tsuyokute New Saga

After a fierce battle, Magic swordsman Kyle finally killed the Demon Lord after being seriously injured in the battle. Kyle on the verge of death approaches a relic which was in possession of the Demon Lord and it sends him to the past. After recovering from the initial shock, he decides to use this opportunity to avoid making the same mistakes of the past and become stronger. (Source: MU)

Meiji Tokyo Renka Movie 1: Yumihari no Serenade

On an evening lit by a crimson full moon, an ordinary high school girl named Mei Ayazuki meets a self-proclaimed magician named Charlie at a festival. Through Charlie's magic, she time-travels to the Meiji era in Tokyo, where she meets and falls in love with various great historical figures from that time period. (Source: ANN)

Bakumatsu Crisis

Oda Nobuna no Yabou Recap

A summary episode of the whole series.

Jikuu Tantei Genshi-kun

Flint the time detective.

It is the 25th century. The dark lord has 'infected' history with time-devices that could damage history beyond repair. Genshi and his father lived in the prehistorics when they got turned into fossiles. They are discovered and Genshi gets turned back to his original state. With the help of his father, a boy Tony and a girl Sara he has to travel trough time to bring the time-devices back to the land of time so history will be saved. (Source: ANN)

Generator Gawl

Ryo, Gawl and Koji are 3 young boys who travel back into the past with only 1 objective: change history. In their time they discover that their country, Kubere, uses genetically enhanced persons called generators as a military tool. These generators are the cause for the Third War which kills most of the human population. Now Koji, Ryo and Gawl are there to change all the events. (Source: ANN)

Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete: Ushinawareta Natsuyasumi wo Motomete

Upon regaining her senses, Yui Furukawa discovers that the current day is July 13—a starting point that she has never experienced prior. However, despite the unfamiliar circumstances, she resolves to spend her summer vacation with the other members of the Astronomy Club at Nagisa Hanamiya's family villa. The house and its surrounding area have a rich history; a renowned scientist, Nagisa's great-grandmother researched and developed technology at the nearby military manufacturing plant. While the Astronomy Club is having fun at the beach, a sudden storm stops their plans short. Left with no other choice, the group takes shelter at the abandoned factory, eventually leading them to explore a hidden underground bunker. What they encounter there may reveal an unprecedented connection to a lost future. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Shiguang Zhaoxiangguan de Richang

Link click: the daily life in lightime.

Chibi-styled episodes of daily life at the photo studio.

Doraemon Movie 01: Nobita no Kyouryuu

Doraemon the movie: nobita's dinosaur.

Natsu-iro no Sunadokei

Sandglass of summer colors.

Makimura Koutarou has made up his mind: during the summer vacation, he is going to confess his love to the seemingly unapproachable Serizawa Kaho. Yet, on the night before, he has a run-in with a strange girl - an encounter which propels him into the future. There, he learns that not only has Kaho-chan become his girlfriend, but she has also died in a tragic accident. Returning to his own time, Koutarou sets out to change the future and save his love. (Source: ANN)

Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO: Mugen no Heiretsu Sekai

Unaired episode included with the third Blu-ray volume.

Tsuki wa Higashi ni Hi wa Nishi ni: Operation Sanctuary

Naoki Kuzumi, a junior in high school, had lost his parents in an accident five years ago, and is living with his aunt, uncle, and cousin Matsuri. He always thought his life was ordinary, besides the fact that he can't remember what happened in his youth. One sunny day as he is taking a nap on a bench, a redheaded girl -- Mikoto -- literally falls on him from the sky. For some reason, she thinks he's her younger brother. Naoki's time period is a temporal shelter for those in the future, when many are suffering from an incurable disease. When she heard her younger brother Yuusuke had been taken to Naoki's time, Mikoto herself had gone back in time. (Source: ANN)

Meng Qi Shi Shen: Zaijie Liangyuan

Cinderella chef: adorable food goddess.

Ye Jiayao is a modern-day celebrity chef who loves traditional Chinese recipes and often experiments with them. However, when a food experiment goes wrong, she travels back in time to the ancient times, where she becomes the daughter of a magistrate with the name Ye Jin Xuan. When she wakes up she is suddenly kidnapped to Hei Fang Camp where she meets the leader of the bandits, Xia Chun Yu, the young master of the Jing An Marquis manor, who is actually an undercover agent for the king. He had infiltrated the Black Wind Fortress bandits to investigate a plot to overthrow the king. The two then get engaged in a fake marriage. Ye Jia Yao starts to win over hearts, including Xia Chun Yu's, with her superb cooking skills and modern street smarts. (Source: Wikipedia)

Nijiiro Hotaru: Eien no Natsuyasumi

Rainbow fireflies.

Yuuta was 12-year-old boy, who had lost his father in the traffic accident one year ago. In the summer vacation, he visited a deserted dam deep in the mountains, where he had a good time with his father before. Suddenly a thunder storm occurred and he slipped on the ground. He lost consciousness and woke up to find a girl and an unfamiliar village. He time-traveled 30 years and reached a village, which sank at the bottom of the dam. This is Yuuta's precious memory of "another" summer vacation.

Magic Tree House

Based on The Magic Tree House series, award winning series of children books written by American author Mary Pope Osborne.

Shiguang Dailiren Special: Xiaoyao Sanren de Weituo

Link click: troubles of ordinary people.

Chibi-style special episode of Shiguang Dailiren.

Lupin III: Kiri no Elusive

Lupin iii: elusiveness of the fog.

On the ocean floor, Lupin is once again seeking a treasure hoping to get on Fujiko's good side. As Zenigata chases them on sea and land, people around the gang begin to vanish mysteriously. The fog rolls in and Mamo Kyosuke appears in a burst of light; he claims to be from the future and seeks revenge on Lupin III for what Lupin XIII has done to him. Mamo hurls Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, and Zenigata 500 years into the past; as two warring factions fight over a legendary shrine dedicated to time travel, Lupin must find a way to survive the past to ensure his future. (Source: Lupin III Encyclopedia) This movie is a remake of episode 13 in the original Lupin III series.

Yarinaoshi Reijou wa Ryuutei Heika wo Kouryakuchuu

The do-over damsel conquers the dragon emperor.

Jill Savelle—fiancée of the crown prince Gerald de Kleitos and known as the "Lady Goddess of War"—is being hunted down by the same country she swore to protect. Betrayed by her betrothed, she is framed as a traitor and imprisoned. In her last moments, Jill is filled with regret, but just as death approaches, she awakens six years in the past. This time, she will not be a mere pawn. Now as a 10-year-old girl, Jill resolves to escape her imminent engagement to the prince. To this end, she jokingly professes her love to the 19-year-old dragon emperor Hades Theos Rave, who will one day stain the land in blood due to madness. But against all expectations, he accepts! In contrast to the tyrant from Jill's memories, the Hades of this time is a kind albeit unfortunate emperor. Can Jill prevent Hades from descending down the same dark, villainous road, or is he bound to an inevitable future? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Top 20 Best Time Travel Anime Series & Movies

Here’s a question: what’s your favorite time travel anime? Are there even enough good titles in this sci-fi subgenre?

It isn’t filled to the brim each season unlike with the case of isekai titles, but it’s not impossible to find some great ones.

If you’re in the mood for some mind-boggling twists and turns (or even minor time travel elements in an otherwise typical anime) check out my list below.

And fair warning: spoilers ahead(in some cases). Some titles here have time travel itself as a key turning point or surprise in the series, so if you don’t want to know any more just skim the titles and pick one that interests you!

20. Nobunaga Concerto

I’m going to start with Nobunaga Concerto, an anime that does have time travel — but is also more of an isekai.

This is why I’m including it on my list but, but not the highest for sure. So what’s it all about?

As you may have already guessed, it involves Oda Nobunaga . Arguably one of the most popular Japanese historical figures.

He was a brutal leader, but he was also brilliant and a key figure in the reunification of Japan.

But Nobunaga isn’t the OP. In Nobunaga Concerto, he meets Saburou who mysteriously time travels from the 21st century and looks like him.

Saburou was just an ordinary high school kid, but now he must replace Nobunaga, who wishes to relax in his final years.

19. Natsu-iro no Sunadokei (Sandglass of Summer Colors)

This is an old anime. Like, really old.

But while its character design, animation, and overall quality haven’t stood the test of time, it is a worthwhile show that involves more time travel than Nobunaga Concerto.

Sandglass of Summer Colors is an adaptation of a video game, a visual novel (VN) from Princess Soft that was released way back in 2002.

Also, it only has two episodes; it’s an OVA. Still, it’s an intriguing show.

Yes it once again involves a teenage boy, this time named Kotaro Makimura.

But here, the time travel comes in the form of Kotaro waking up to the next school year, and then going back and forth to specific days of his summer vacation.

Through this he learns some very crazy news about his girlfriend Kaho Serizawa. It gets deep.

18. Buddy Complex

In 2014, Sunrise released an action-heavy mecha title that surprisingly wasn’t another entry to their sprawling Gundam franchise.

It’s called Buddy Complex, and it does enough to distinguish itself from other similar titles with its appealing trio, plot, and solid execution.

Buddy Complex starts with the main hero Aoba Watase nearly getting killed in the hands of a massive robot from the future.

Hina Yumihara saves him, and also takes him 70 years into the future for him to learn all about the fighting robots and possibly prevent his demise.

Can he go back to his actual timeline? Or is he stuck in this future of warring military forces?

17. Doraemon

Yes, Doraemon is indeed a time-travel anime — and quite a good one at that.

Some argue that the time travel aspect is a mere gimmick here. But I honestly love what the anime has done with it.

The story isn’t about a dystopian future and someone who wants to save it by going back to the past.

No, it’s about Sewashi Nobi from the 22nd century sending a cat robot to improve the life of his grandfather Nobita Nobi — and that’s wonderful.

With 1,700 episodes, Doraemon has proven that this subgenre can be wholesome for kids.

Likewise, who doesn’t want a four-dimensional pouch that can bring out all sorts of gadgets of different sizes?

16. Punch Line

Punch Line was MAPPA’s third original anime after Garo: The Animation and Zankyou no Terror, the latter being one of my all-time favorites.

No, Punch Line wasn’t a modern classic in my eyes at all.

It didn’t have the serious or ambitious tone of those previous shows.

However, Punch Line was a creative risk that needs commending — and even a reappraisal from anime fans.

It’s silly but fully aware of it.

How silly? It involves spirits, nose bleeding, panty shots.

Also, the OP has to avoid looking at panties as he travels through time as a spirit. Otherwise a meteor immediately kills all life on Earth. So that’s fun.

15. InuYasha

I’ve got another entry here from Sunrise Studio.

InuYasha was one of the biggest shounen titles before series like Naruto, Bleach, and Fairy Tail took over — and it does have time travel.

Kagome Higurashi goes back hundreds of years to feudal Japan. The difference is instead of meeting a general, he meets a white-haired guy who also has dog ears.

Also, both Kagome and Inuyasha can travel between modern Japan and feudal Japan with relative ease.

And I suggest InuYasha just because it’s one of the best shounen series of all time. Time travel or not.

14. Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara (Iroduku: The World in Colors)

I have a soft spot for original anime. It takes a lot of guts to push through with a story you don’t know will work out.

It doesn’t have a built-in fan base unlike with adaptations of manga, LNs, and video games.

But Iroduku: The World in Colors was more than just an original anime.

It was a visually imaginative and wonderfully animated series, and it was clear that P.A. Works didn’t just do this half-heartedly.

Think of it as a blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and school drama.

A grandmother sends her emotionally distant granddaughter 60 years back to the past, but she doesn’t say why.

And now that she’s back to 2018(present when released) the young girl named Hitomi Tsukishiro learns all about self-discovery and human connection. Go see it.

13. Charlotte

Look, I get it — Angel Beats was a great anime series.

That was a show that managed to make me love all the students in just 13 episodes.

Plus, I’m confident that most viewers won’t ever forget the ending.

Since then, people have been clamoring for something like it from Jun Maeda.

Well Charlotte came into the fray, but it wasn’t exactly as good as Angel Beats or Clannad.

Still, Charlotte certainly has its moments as a school drama with time travel (among other powers).

Also this is an anime original, and I think the best moments outweigh the pacing and plot issues by the end.

I don’t blame you if you haven’t heard of Zipang.

Despite being released two full years later than Naruto, Zipang somehow sports a more old-school design.

Then again, it’s a fitting choice given the military and historical setting.

Simply put, it’s about a Japanese missile destroyer (a navy warship) called Mirai that gets itself into a storm, but it was no ordinary storm.

Once Mirai gets away from the storm, its crew realizes that they’ve all time-traveled to 1942 — back to the Second World War.

Exciting, right?

Here’s the more interesting part: They must try their best not to change history. But can the crew keep themselves in the background when people are dying left and right?

11. Natsu no Arashi (Summer Storm!)

Interestingly enough, I didn’t catch this until last year — a full decade since its release.

But hey, this is an excellent example of “better late than never” because this is a fine mix of time travel and comedy.

Natsu no Arashi is about, again, a male teenager who meets a beautiful girl.

But Sayoko Arashiyama is far from an ordinary teenager.

She may not even be a teenager as Hajime Yasaka finds a photo of her in her 60s.

What’s going on? And why does Sayoko still look young?

Check out Natsu no Arashi. It’s made by Shaft so expect some visual delights.

10. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry)

We’re getting closer to the highest ranking so let’s be really careful now. I did warn about spoilers, so be prepared.

When They Cry deceives its audience by portraying itself as another generic anime with a guy OP and a bunch of cute girls.

Only for it to actually be a murder mystery with a time loop to boot.

Also, it may even be the only horror and time travel anime out there.

One minute you’re seeing kids playing together, all smiles. The next, they’re splattered with blood and having edgy expressions.

Admittedly I hate what happened to the anime adaptation here (although the movie Orange: Future was way better in terms of animation quality and consistency).

I read the manga, and it had moments that could’ve catapulted the anime as a classic.

But the anime did not meet or exceed expectations.

Orange was just above average. But still good enough to warrant a spot here.

If you think the anime was good and made you cry and laugh, consider the gorgeous and much more emotional manga too.

8. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World)

I think Re:Zero is a fine isekai and time travel anime.

It could’ve been like any typical isekai after all the hype for Sword Art Online. But it etched its own place in history.

Re:Zero makes you think that it’s just another guy getting transported to a fantasy world. But the time loop aspect elevates the series to new heights of dread and sheer desperation for Subaru.

It’s not just an escape to a better world with waifu material like Emilia and Rem, it’s overall a really engaging show. And I’m definitely excited for season 2 .

7. Kimi no Na wa. (Your Name.)

Yup, this is big spoiler territory.

I sure hope that you’ve already watched the critically acclaimed movie, which also broke records around the world — or that you’ve read the novel of the same name.

Because time travel is what made audiences gasp in the middle of the movie. Kimi no Na wa is seemingly just about two people living in different regions… but what viewers didn’t know was that they also lived in different periods.

I still remember the shock everyone had in the cinemas (because I saw this twice in theaters).

There is nothing quite like the audiovisual spectacle of a Makoto Shinkai film on the big screen. And the ending is so rewarding if you’ve watched Five Centimeters Per Second.

6. Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (The Tatami Galaxy)

Masaaki Yuasa needs no introduction after Devilman Crybaby garnered rave reviews from fans and critics all over the world, in part because it was available on Netflix.

But even before that, I was a huge fan of Yuasa’s directorial prowess.

He’s a man with impeccable skill, ensuring that both substance and style are way above the competition.

The Tatami Galaxy features rapid conversations (so you have to read fast if you prefer subtitles like me) and there’s so much going on when this is all about a young man’s life (and love life).

Watch him go through some sort of Groundhog Day, but in a much more artistic, magical manner.

It’s a rewarding experience across space and time (and tatami), I promise you that.

5. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

At this point, I’m not sure which of my top picks have time travel as one of its biggest turning points.

This one has a certain episode in the latter half that completely turns it from an impressive series to arguably one of the best anime of all time.

You may not agree that it’s a “deconstruction” of the magical girl genre . But it’s clear evidence that Gen Urobuchi could change the game if he had the right team.

Also, this original anime looks breathtaking.

It’s dark, it’s exciting, it’s inspirational.

Shaft had a classic in their hands and they didn’t waste the opportunity.

4. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

As one of Kyoto Animation’s first big hits, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya took the relatively small 2006 global anime community by storm.

It was hilarious, had a stellar set of characters, had a viral opening song, and had episodes that didn’t line up chronologically.

And yet the order of events didn’t ruin the story at all.

The nonlinear structure enabled a new way of looking at the character dynamics. And it made rewatches (in the chronological order) more rewarding.

Once you’ve watched the series (and bless you if you’ve seen the Endless Eight arc) go ahead and enjoy The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya .

3. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)

Like Masaaki Yuasa and Makoto Shinkai, Mamoru Hosoda is one of the best anime directors today.

And he’s done many more amazing films besides this one: Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and The Boy and the Beast, just to name a few.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time works as well as it does because of how it didn’t just use time travel as a gimmick.

It thought of how to shape the character and the story as a whole, creating tension and developing emotional impact in the latter half.

Plus I think many of us can relate to Makoto Shonno. Spending the last year of high school knowing that life is about to change, and yet you’re unsure of your own future.

It’s thrilling, hilarious, and has a heart at its core.

2. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED)

Am I making a controversial choice by putting this so high on my list?

Not really.

Sure, not everyone was a fan of the adaptation. And I admit that the suspense thriller aspect to it was a bit heavy-handed.

But like with how I feel about Zankyou no Terror, ERASED has highs that are so high, they easily make up for the lows.

It’s an imperfect masterpiece in my eyes.

The first episode was a 10/10 with how it easily grabbed my attention by the end with the change in aspect ratio, signifying the drastic change in time… it’s really interesting.

ERASED has a killer OP from none other than Asian Kung-Fu Generation, and I still think that the birthday scene of Kayo is one of the most heart-wrenching yet simultaneously heartwarming moments in anime.

Also, (big spoiler ahead) I dislike that some fans think the show was bad just because the guy didn’t end up with the girl he saved(and attempted to save again and again) in the past.

Look, you don’t just get to marry someone because you saved their life. You save someone because it’s the right thing to do, not because you expect something in return.

1. Steins;Gate

Is there even any other anime that could be at the No. 1 spot?

It’s the first show that comes to mind if you ask most anime fans what the best time travel anime is. And for good reason.

Furthermore, Steins;Gate isn’t just lauded as the top time travel series ever.

It’s also in the running as possible the best anime in general, usually in competition with FMA: Brotherhood.

Steins;Gate is both an outstanding gateway show to anime and one that becomes rewarding once you’ve consumed a ton of anime.

Some claim that it’s overrated, but one thing’s for sure: It set the standard for what a time travel anime could achieve in terms of sheer brilliance and entertainment.

Millennial introvert on the lookout for slice-of-life anime, world cinema, and European music. Follow on Twitter @notspencer08

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25 Best Time Travel Anime Series & Movies

Here’s a question: what’s your favorite time travel anime? Is this type of science fiction even full of good books?

Time travel anime is one of the more popularly used story hooks in modern anime and it can take unique shapes!

It doesn’t have a lot of great titles every season like isekai does, but it’s not hard to find some good ones.

From tradition time travel anime stories ( Steins;Gate ) to ones that use “time reset” ( Re:Zero) , there is no shortage of creativity at play.

Check out my list below if you’re in the mood for some twists and turns that will blow your mind (or even small bits of time travel in an otherwise normal anime).

And fair warning: (in some cases) there will be surprises ahead. Some of these books are about time travel, and it’s a big part of the plot or a big surprise.

If you don’t want to know more, just skim the names and pick one that sounds interesting.

Here are some popular time travel anime that fans should watch.

Table of Contents

25. Natsu-iro no Sunadokei (Sandglass of Summer Colors)

This anime is quite old. Really old, like.

But even though its character designs, animations, and general quality haven’t held up over time, it’s still a good show with more time travel than Nobunaga Concerto.

Sandglass of Summer Colors is based on a Princess Soft computer game called a “visual novel” (VN) that came out in 2002.

Also, there are only two episodes because it is an OVA . Still, the show is interesting.

Yes, it’s about a teen boy again. This time, his name is Kotaro Makimura.

But in this case, Kotaro travels through time by waking up in the next school year and then going back and forth to different days of his summer break.

He finds out some very strange things about his girlfriend, Kaho Serizawa, as a result. It gets deep.

24. Buddy Complex

Sunrise launched a mecha game with a lot of action in 2014, but it wasn’t another part of their long-running Gundam series.

It’s called Buddy Complex, and its appealing trio, interesting story, and solid execution set it apart from other games in the same genre.

At the beginning of Buddy Complex, the main character , Aoba Watase, is almost killed by a huge robot from the future.

Hina Yumihara saves him and takes him 70 years into the future so he can learn about beating robots and maybe stop himself from dying.

Can he return to his real past? Or is he stuck in a future where armed forces fight each other?

23. Doraemon

Yes, Doraemon is a time-traveling anime, and it’s a pretty good one.

Some people say that the time travel is just a trick. But I really love what they did with it in the anime.

The story isn’t about someone trying to save a bleak future by going back to the past.

No, it’s about Sewashi Nobi from the 22nd century sending his grandpa Nobita Nobi a cat robot to make his life better, which is great.

Doraemon has shown that this style can be good for kids with 1,700 episodes.

Also, who wouldn’t want a four-dimensional pouch that can pull out different sized gadgets?

22. Punch Line

After Garo: The Animation and Zankyou no Terror, Punch Line was the third original anime made by MAPPA. Zankyou no Terror is one of my all-time faves.

No, I didn’t think Punch Line was at all a modern classic .

It didn’t have the same level of seriousness or ambition as those other shows.

But Punch Line took a creative risk that should be praised and even reevaluated by anime fans.

I know it’s silly, but I don’t care.

How stupid! It has to do with ghosts, nosebleeds, and poop shots.

Also, as a spirit traveling through time, the OP can’t look at underwear. If not, a rock would kill all life on Earth right away. That’s cool.

21. InuYasha

I have another piece from Sunrise Studio to show you.

Before Naruto , Bleach , and Fairy Tail came along, InuYasha was one of the most popular shounen books, and it does have time travel.

The story of Kagome Higurashi takes place in old Japan, hundreds of years ago. The only change is that instead of a general, he meets a man with white hair and dog ears.

Also, it’s not hard for either Kagome or Inuyasha to go between current Japan and feudal Japan.

And I recommend InuYasha because it is one of the best shounen shows ever. Can you go back in time?

20. Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara (Iroduku: The World in Colors)

Original anime is one of my favorite things. To keep going with a story you’re not sure will work takes a lot of guts.

It isn’t based on a comic, light novel, or video game, so it doesn’t already have fans.

Iroduku: The World in Colors wasn’t just an original anime, though.

It was a visually creative and beautifully drawn show, and it was clear that P.A. Works put a lot of effort into it.

It’s a mix of science fiction, magic , and school drama .

A grandma sends her emotionally distant granddaughter 60 years back in time, but she doesn’t say why.

And now that she’s back in 2018, Hitomi Tsukishiro, a young girl, has a lot to learn about self-discovery and how to connect with other people. Go see it.

19. Charlotte

Look, I get it — Angel Beats was a great anime series.

All of the kids on that show became my favorites in just 13 episodes.

Also, I’m sure that most people will never forget how it ends.

Since then, people have been begging Jun Maeda to do something similar.

So Charlotte joined the competition, but it wasn’t as good as Angel Beats or Clannad .

Still, Charlotte is a school drama with time travel and other skills that has its moments.

Also, this is a new anime, and I think the best parts make up for the story and pacing problems by the end.

18. Natsu no Arashi (Summer Storm!)

It’s interesting that I didn’t see this until last year, even though it came out ten years ago.

But hey, this is a great example of the saying “better late than never” because it is a great mix of time travel and comedy .

Again, Natsu no Arashi is about a young boy who meets a pretty girl.

But Sayoko Arashiyama isn’t like other teenagers at all.

Hajime Yasaka gets a picture of her when she was in her 60s. This means she might not even be a teenager.

What’s happening? And why does Sayoko still look young?

You should look at Natsu no Arashi. Since it was made by Shaft, you can expect it to look good.

17. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry)

We’re getting closer to the top spot, so let’s be extra careful. I did say there might be spoilers, so be ready.

When They Cry tricks its viewers into thinking that it is just another generic anime with a guy as the opening theme and a bunch of cute girls .

It turned out to be a murder riddle with a time loop on top of that.

Also, it might be the only anime that is both scary and goes back in time.

One minute, you see a bunch of happy kids playing together. The next thing you know, they’re covered in blood and have angry looks on their faces.

I hate what happened to the anime version here, even though the animation quality and consistency of the movie Orange: Future was much better.

I read the book, and there were parts in it that could have made the anime a classic.

But the anime didn’t live up to or go beyond what was expected.

Orange wasn’t much better than normal. But it is still good enough to be here.

If you liked the anime and how it made you cry and laugh, you might also like the manga, which is much more beautiful and emotional.

15. Kimi no Na wa. (Your Name.)

Yes, this is a very big surprise.

I’m sure you’ve already seen the highly acclaimed movie or read the book with the same name, which broke records all over the world.

People gasped in the middle of the movie because it was about time travel. Kimi no Na wa seems to be about just two people who live in different places… But people didn’t know that they lived in different times as well.

I can still remember how shocked everyone was in the theater, where I saw this movie twice.

There is nothing quite like seeing a Makoto Shinkai movie in a theater, where you can hear and see everything at once. And if you’ve seen Five Centimeters Per Second, you’ll love how it ends.

14. Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (The Tatami Galaxy)

Devilman Crybaby got great reviews from fans and reviewers all over the world, in part because it was on Netflix .

But I was a big fan of Yuasa’s directing skills even before that.

He is a very skilled man who makes sure that both content and style are way ahead of the rest.

Since it’s about a young man’s life (and love life), there’s a lot going on in The Tatami Galaxy. If you like subtitles like me, you’ll have to read quickly.

See him go through something like Groundhog Day, but in a much more magical and artsy way.

I promise you that it will be a rewarding journey across space, time, and tatami.

13. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

At this point, I don’t know which of my top choices has a big turning point that involves time travel.

In the second part of this series, there is one episode that makes it go from being a good show to being one of the best anime of all time.

You might not agree that it is a “deconstruction” of the magical girl type. But it’s clear proof that Gen Urobuchi could change the game if he had the right team.

Also, this original anime is stunning to look at.

It’s scary, exciting, and full of ideas.

Shaft had a chance to make a classic, and they didn’t waste it.

12. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was one of Kyoto Animation’s first big hits. In 2006, when the anime community was still small, it took the world by storm.

It was funny, had great characters, a catchy opening song that went viral, and shows that didn’t go in order.

Still, the order of events didn’t make the story any less interesting.

The story’s nonlinear framework gave us a new way to look at how the characters interact with each other. And it made it more fun to watch again in the right order.

You can enjoy The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya after you’ve seen the series (and God bless you if you’ve seen the Endless Eight arc).

If you haven’t heard of Zipang, I don’t blame you.

Even though Zipang came out two years after Naruto, it looks more like something from the past.

The military and historical setting, on the other hand, makes it a good pick.

Simply put, it’s about a Japanese warship called Mirai, which is a missile cruiser. Mirai gets caught in a storm, but it’s not just any storm.

Once Mirai is out of the storm, the crew learns that they have all gone back in time to 1942, which is during the Second World War.

Isn’t that cool?

The most interesting part is that they have to do their best not to change history. But can the team stay in the background when everyone around them is dying?

10. Noein: To Your Other Self

Studio:  Satelight

Episodes:  24

Quick pitch:  In the future, a violent war between two dimensions threatens the existence of space-time. A group called the Dragon Calvary is dispatched to search for the Dragon’s Torque, which is said to be the only thing to stop the war.

9. Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary)

Studio:  Asread

Episodes:  26 + 1 OVA

Quick pitch:  Yukiteru Amano spends his days writing a diary on his cell phone and talking to two imaginary friends, Deus Ex Machina and Murmur.

Deus reveals himself as a god of space and time, and grants Yukiteru a “ Random Diary .” This device shows descriptive future events to Yukiteru and he must use it to survive a deadly battle royale against 11 other people with similar diaries.

8. Thermae Romae

Studio:  DLE

Episodes:  6

Quick pitch:  Lucius is a Roman architect who has trouble coming up with ideas. One day, he discovers a tunnel underneath a spa that leads him to a modern Japanese bath house. Inspired this discovery, he creates a spa based on modern ideas from Japan.

7. Nobunaga Concerto

I’ll start with Nobunaga Concerto, which is an anime about time travel that is also more of an isekai.

Because of this, I’ve put it on my list, but it’s not the best. So what’s going on?

As you might have guessed, it has to do with Oda Nobunaga. Possibly one of the most well-known people in Japanese history.

He was a cruel boss, but he was also smart and a big part of how Japan got back together.

Nobunaga isn’t the OP, though. In Nobunaga Concerto, he meets Saburou, a man from the 21st century who strangely travels back in time to meet him. Saburou looks just like him.

Saburou was just a regular high school student, but now he has to take over for Nobunaga, who wants to take it easy in his last years.

6. Occult Academy

Studio:  A-1 Pictures

Episodes:  13

Quick pitch:  In 2012, the world is invaded by aliens. To stop this from happening, Fumiaki Uchida is sent back to 1999 to prevent the apocalypse from occurring by destroying the Nostradamus Key. In order to find the key, he forms a partnership with Maya Kumashiro, who is a girl with a strong hatred for the occult .

5. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Studio:  Shaft

Episodes:  12 + 3 (kind of remakes / sequel) movies

Quick pitch:  Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are friends who live normal middle old school lives, but everything changes after they meet a cat-alien named Kyuubey and a transfer student named Homura Akemi.

Kyuubey offers to grant them a wish in exchange of becoming magical girls, but Homura urges the duo to decline or they will enter a world of despair.

4. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Mamoru Hosoda is one of the best anime directors working today, along with Masaaki Yuasa and Makoto Shinkai.

He has also made many other great movies, like Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and The Boy and the Beast, to name just a few.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time works so well because it’s not just a story about time travel.

It thought about how to shape the character and the story as a whole, making the second part more tense and emotional.

Also, I think a lot of us can understand Makoto Shonno. You’re in your last year of high school, and you know that things are about to change, but you don’t know what will happen to you.

It’s scary, funny, and has a heart at its center.

3. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED)

Putting this so high on my list, am I making a risky choice?

Actually, no.

Sure, not everyone liked how it was changed. I’ll admit that the tension thriller part was a bit too much.

But, like how I feel about Zankyou no Terror, the high points in ERASED are so good that they easily make up for the bad points.

I think it’s a classic, even though it has flaws.

The first episode was a 10/10 because it was easy to keep my attention by the end, when the aspect ratio changed to show how much time had changed. It’s very interesting.

Asian Kung-Fu Generation makes a great opening theme for ERASED, and I still think that Kayo’s birthday scene is one of the most heartbreaking and moving moments in anime.

Also, I don’t like that some people think the show was bad just because the guy didn’t end up with the girl he saved (and tried to save again and again) in the past.

Look, just because you saved someone’s life doesn’t mean you can marry them. You help someone because you should, not because you want something in return.

2. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World

Re:Zero is a good isekai and time travel show, in my opinion.

After all the talk about Sword Art Online , it could have been like any other isekai. But it made its own mark on the past.

Re:Zero makes you think that the main character is just another guy who goes to a dream world. But the time loop takes the series to a whole new level of fear and hopelessness for Subaru.

It’s not just a way to flee to a better world with waifu characters like Emilia and Rem; the show as a whole is very interesting. I can’t wait for the second season.

1. Steins;Gate

Is there even another show that could be No. 1?

If you ask most anime fans what the best time travel anime is, this is the first show that comes to mind. And with good cause.

Also, Steins;Gate isn’t just praised for being the best time travel show ever.

It’s also in the running for the best anime of all time, usually against FMA: Brotherhood.

Steins;Gate is a great show to watch if you’re new to anime, but it also gets better the more anime you watch.

Some people say it’s overrated, but one thing is for sure: it set the bar for how brilliant and entertaining a time travel anime could be.

Don’t Forget to share it with your fellow otaku’s and bookmark MOW.

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About the Author

Garima Singh

Moshi Moshi everyone! I'm Garima, an anime enthusiast with a passion for sharing my love of anime with others. I've watched over 1000 anime, and I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting shows to watch.

I love everything about anime, from the stories and characters to the animation and music. I'm also a big fan of anime culture, and I love to learn about Japanese culture and history through anime.

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The 20 Best Time Travel Anime

The time travel genre isn't the most prevalent in anime, but it's one that more often than not is done very well.

Despite the existence of time-loops, stable and malleable timelines, and parallel dimensions, there are really only two types of time travel in anime , which are further divided into two subgroups. One where every action has massive consequences and one where time travel is only a device to comment on the era that the protagonist is exploring.

As a rule of thumb, Time Camping media tends to be pretty uncomplicated and does not leave viewers with an aftertaste of bitter existential dread. On the other hand, anime about time travel are more rewarding to watch for those into intricate narrative mechanics and unexpected plot twists.

Updated on April 2nd, 2024 by Chelsea Steele: Time travel is a classic sci-fi concept that can be found in just about every form of media under the sun, and that includes anime. In fact, some of the greatest anime series of all time feature this unique premise, offering mind-bending stories that often delve into the psychological genre. We've updated this list to meet CBR's current publication standard, providing more info on some of the best time travel anime currently available.

7th Time Loop And 9 Other Amazing Time Loop Anime

20 tokyo revengers follows takemichi a he travels back in time to save his loved ones, tokyo revengers rating scores.

Tokyo Revengers provides a familiar "do over" time travel plot, filtered through a bunch of classic delinquent tropes. The lead is Takemichi Hanagaki, a man leading a life full of regrets until he gains the ability to go back in time. Eager to save his childhood girlfriend, Takemichi's actions send him down a dangerous road of trying to give everyone a better future.

Tokyo Revengers is a series that will appeal to a certain brand of anime fan. Though the sci-fi elements are always prevalent, the true focus is on all the delinquents in Takemichi's life , and whether Takemichi can truly change as a person. With a deep, emotional story, a strong cast of characters, and tons of thrilling fight scenes, Tokyo Revengers joins together the action of classic shonen and the otherworldliness of sci-fi for a series like no other.

Tokyo Revengers

Hanagaki Takemichi lives an unsatisfying life right up until his death. Waking up 12 years in the past, he reckons with the eventual fate of his friends and tries to prevent an unfortunate future.

19 Iroduku: The World In Colors' Hitomi Tsukishiro Seeks Help From The Past

Iroduku: the world in colors rating scores, 10 most whimsical anime, ranked.

Iroduku: The World in Colors offers fans a bittersweet time travel romance series. In the year 2078, Hitomi Tsukishiro is a young witch who lost the ability to see colors after her mother abandoned her. Out of a desire to help her, Hitomi's grandmother Kohaku sends Hitomi back to the distant past of 2018. Though Hitomi has no idea what to do there, the people she meets in the Magic Photography Arts Club show her a different type of magic, as they restore the color to her life.

Fans of time travel and slice of life will find Iroduku an easy weekend binge. As ever with P.A. Works, fans can expect a visual showcase , as the studio outdoes themselves with Iroduku 's gorgeous and lush color palette. However, watching Hitomi learn how to reconnect with people is also a delight, even if the ending is obvious from the jump.

18 Re:Zero -Starting Life In Another World- Sees Subaru Stuck In A Time Loop Of Life & Death

Re:zero -starting life in another world- rating scores.

At the start of Re:Zero , protagonist Subaru Natsuki thinks he's going to have it easy when he awakens in an alternate world. He's expecting pretty women, and awesome special powers to navigate this new fantasy environment. However, what he discovers is he has one ability: when he dies, time rewinds back to an earlier point. What follows is Subaru figuring out a way through this new world, while dealing with the pain of his Return By Death ability . As he battles the despair of his new reality, he tries his best to use his power for good and help those around him.

Re:Zero is perfect for people who love time loop storylines. Over the course of the series, Re:Zero gradually turns into a puzzle, where Subaru is challenged to come up with the best possible option not just for himself, but the people around him. It's easily one of White Fox's best series, and time travel fans who don't mind a gritty fantasy world would do well with this one.

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World

After being suddenly transported to another world, Subaru Natsuki and his new female partner are brutally murdered. However, Subaru awakens to a familiar scene, meeting the same girl again. The day begins to mysteriously repeat itself.

17 Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song Stars An AI Songstress Fighting To Save The Future

Vivy: fluorite eye's song rating scores.

Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song is like if Terminator 2's main hero was the T-800. One hundred years in the future, AI evolves enough to strike out at mankind, wiping out most of the population. The last chance is an advanced AI, Matsumoto, going back one hundred years with the knowledge of the future, to try and prevent the war between humanity and AI. In the past, Matsumoto relies on Vivy, the original sentient AI, to help him protect humanity.

Vivy is one of the best sci-fi series in recent memory. Following a captivating lead protagonist, viewers gradually see the development of human history, wondering whether the war with AI is inevitable or if the future can be changed. Wit Studio's beautiful animation makes every episode a treat, and the short runtime means people can get through the show in a single weekend if they like.

Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song

In Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song, Vivy, an AI tasked with singing to make people happy, is approached by a mysterious program asking for her help in destroying AI.

16 Link Click's Cheng Xiaoshi & Lu Guang Jump Through Time Using Photographs

Link click rating scores.

With Link Click , LAN Studio brings fans an awesome new time travel anime. In the series, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang operate a business they call "Time Photo Studio". An innocuous name, but with their powers they're able to travel back in time by looking at photographs. While living in these snapshots through time, the two try to fulfill their client's requests, while also trying not to alter the past too much.

Link Click is one of the hottest new sci-fi anime , and its on pace to become a modern classic. The series offers an expertly crafted mystery that demands binging thanks to its awesome cliffhangers. LAN Studio's excellent animation also makes this anime quite the looker, which stands out that much more when Link Click goes into its superbly choreographed fight scenes. For fans of thrilling time travel stories, there's no reason not to check this series out.

Link Click (2021)

Using superpowers to enter their clientele's photos one by one, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang take their work seriously at "Time Photo Studio," a small photography shop set in the backdrop of a modern metropolis.

15 Occult Academy Follows Time Travelers On A Mission To Save Earth

Occult academy rating scores.

Directed by Tomokiho Ito, Occult Academy adeptly blends magical girls and time travel, weaving these two seemingly unrelated concepts into a seamless tapestry. The show revolves around a pre-apocalyptic scenario in which the heroes have to travel back in time to save the world.

Set in the year 2012, the world of Occult Academy has been ravaged by alien invaders. As mankind is on the brink of extinction, time travelers are sent back to 1999 and tasked with destroying an artifact named the Nostradamus Key, in hopes that this will stop the invasion from ever happening. Assuring humanity's survival requires the combined powers and battle expertise of a Traveler named Fumiaki and Maya, the headmaster of the Occult Academy. A unique mixture of sci-fi, mystery, and supernatural, Occult Academy is a fascinating approach to the classic time travel premise and is sure to appeal to fans of postapocalyptic stories.

14 Orange Follows Naho As She Tries To Change The Past

Orange rating scores, why orange hits way harder as an adult.

Orange is a dramatic romance series that takes a very different approach to time travel. There aren't any battles against evil or earth-shaking disasters. On the contrary, the protagonist begins her character arc as a high school student traversing her way through life. This particular time travel incident starts when Naho Takamiya receives a letter allegedly written by her older self.

While reluctant to believe it at first, enough things happen for Naho to eventually accept the truth. As a result, she begins taking the advice offered by her older self, including watching out for a transfer student who vanishes in the future. Thus begins Naho's emotional journey as she and her group of friends slowly change reality and alter the past, ultimately saving the life of Kakeru Naruse in the process. One of anime's most unique time travel stories, Orange is an emotional and heartfelt story of friendship, love, and overcoming grief.

High school student Naho Takamiya receives a letter from her future self that warns her to avoid mistakes she will make involving a new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, a troubled boy whom she meets and begins to fall in love with.

13 Zipang Follows Modern Soldiers As They Travel Back To WWII Japan

Zipang rating scores.

Plenty of books and movies have taken modern-day soldiers and equipment into the past. For example, the naval drama The Final Countdown placed a U.S. carrier group into the Pacific a day before Pearl Harbor. Much like the 1980 film, Zipang also places 21st-century warriors into World War II , but not where they can serve as saviors.

Instead, they land in Japan in the early 1940s, which is a radically different place. With their accumulated knowledge, they figure out how their country's forces can defeat the Allies. However, they're painfully aware of what the Showa era was like in Japan, which is why they desperately attempt to stay away from anything resembling warfare. A remarkable re-telling of WWII Japan, Zipang follows Commander Kadomatsu and his crew as they set off an unstoppable chain of events that alter history as they know it.

12 Buddy Complex Is The Story Of An Unlikely Hero Sent To The Future

Buddy complex rating scores.

Buddy Complex is technically part of the Gundam family . And yet, it has a completely different vibe to it than the rest of the franchise. Instead of a fight for the freedom of the present, the hero determines if he wants to get himself involved in a future battle between mecha forces. The story is simple and much shorter than most Gundam series, but it's nonetheless engaging, with a well-executed time travel premise that fans are sure to enjoy.

Buddy Complex begins when protagonist Aoba Watase is almost killed by a giant robot. Although he's saved from this gruesome fate, Aoba is simultaneously sent 70 years into the future. In this time, the world is ravaged by war, and Aoba quickly finds himself caught in the crossfire. He spends most of the story camping in that specific timeline, as his rescuers want him to learn all about the Gundams, allegedly to prevent his imminent death.

11 Summer Storm! Stars A Young Couple With The Ability To Jump Through Time Together

Summer storm rating scores.

Plots about characters being immortal or younger than their visual representations have been around since Oscar Wilde wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray . In Summer Storm! , this unique narrative notion is revised into a teenage romantic comedy. Here, a young adolescent named Hajime Yasaka meets a beautiful and charming girl named Sayoko Arashiyama. As they continue to develop a bond, Yasaka discovers that Sayoko is no ordinary girl.

Why she may appear average on the surface, Sayoko is actually the ghost of a girl who passed during the WWII era. After sensing a connection between them, Sayoko uses Yasaka to travel through time, where the two work together to save victims of the war. An underrated gem of the 2000s, Summer Storm! is probably one of the most unique time travel series out there.

10 Steins;Gate Is One Of Anime's Most Beloved Time Travel Stories

Steins;gate rating scores, why steins;gate is considered one of anime's best english dubs.

Though there have been many amazing time travel stories throughout anime history, few can compare to Steins;Gate . One of the most popular time travel anime out there, this thrilling psychological series is considered one of the best modern depictions of time travel to date. Steins;Gate stars Rintarou Okabe, an eccentric genius scientist who discovers a way to travel back in time using a bizarre device he has named the "Phone Microwave". Using this gadget, Rintarou is able to send messages to the past that alter the future.

Though a groundbreaking discovery, Rintarou soon finds that messing with the past has dire consequences. Thus, the series follows him on a harrowing journey as he desperately tries to fix his mistakes, ultimately creating a thread of alternate realities in the process.

Steins;Gate (2011)

After discovering time travel, a university student and his colleagues must use their knowledge of it to stop an evil organization and their diabolical plans.

9 Noein: To Your Other Self Uses Real-Life Science & Quantum Theory To Tell Its Story

Noein: to your other self rating scores.

With its complex storyline based on real-life science theories, Noein: To Your Other Self could also be titled Quantum Physics 101. This mind-boggling series features a universe divided between two factions, the Shangri-La who want to destroy the time-space continuum, and the Lacryma who refuse to let that happen. However, the key to saving everyone turns out to be the Dragon Torque, who is actually the protagonist, Haruka Kaminogi.

The writers rely on modern quantum theory as the almost-mystical motor of the story. Combined with elements of sci-fi and fantasy, this lesser-known time travel anime is easily one of the most unique within the genre. Noein: To Your Other Self is a great mix of various themes and subgenres because it manages to combine really chill slice-of-life episodes with epic space battles and even magical girls, all without breaking a single string theory along the way.

8 Sagrada Reset Stars A Strange Girl With A Unique Power

Sagrada reset rating scores.

Do not be fooled by Sagrada Reset 's slice-of-life exterior, as this anime is basically camouflage for an X-Men level backstory chock-full of philosophical dialogues. In this series, protagonist Kei Asai lives in Sakurada, a strange town where all its inhabitants possess otherworldly abilities. Kei's ability gives him an eidetic memory, which means he remembers practically everything. Meanwhile, his new friend Misora has the power to reset time up to three days in the past. Together, Kei and Misora combine their gifts to help others and make life in Sakurada better for everyone.

While they both join the Service Club to help people, the end of the first episode turns the slice-of-life premise on its head. Viewers soon realize that there are other powers moving the pieces of this small village, and it's up to these young heroes to unravel the mystery. A thrilling story of a supernatural conspiracy, Sagrada Reset is a must-watch for time travel and mystery fans alike.

Sagrada Reset (2017)

Set in the seaside town of Sakurada, where everyone possesses unique abilities, Kei Asai encounters Misora Haruki, a girl who can "reset" anything around her up to three days prior. However, she loses her own memories of the reset period. Kei, with his photographic memory, assists Misora in using her power to help others in town, forming a service club. As they solve various mysteries and challenges, Kei develops feelings for Misora, while questioning the ethics and consequences of altering the past.

7 The Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzumiya Introduces An Alternate World Where Haruhi Doesn't Exist

The disappearance of haruhi suzumiya rating scores.

The Haruhi Suzumiya franchise is well-known for its bizarre plots that feature many mind-bending and often confusing situations, from alternate dimensions to frustrating time loops. As such, it's no surprise that The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya carries on this trend. In the film, protagonist Kyon wakes to find himself in an alternate version of his reality, where everyone and everything has changed. Most notably, titular heroine Haruhi is nowhere to be found.

Thus, as the only one aware of this reality shift, Kyon must make choice. Either he accepts this new reality and lives a normal life, or he travels through time and space to restore things to the way they once were. Considered by many to be the best storyline in the entire franchise, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is hailed as one of the best time travel concepts in anime.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

A week before Christmas, Kyon wakes up in a world where the SOS Brigade doesn't exist. Mikuru and Yuki don't recognize him, and Haruhi and Itsuki seem to have vanished.

6 Future Diary Combines Classic Battle Royale With Time Travel Elements

Future diary rating scores, the 15 deadliest death games in anime.

In the iconic series Future Diary , protagonist Yukiteru Amano gets dragged into a battle to the death where the victor becomes a God. His main weapon is a special cellphone that receives messages and tips from his future self. This allows him to foresee what will happen, albeit to a limited degree. However, all the other combatants also have similar cell phones, further adding to the challenge.

Future Diary has a tournament format where every episode features a serious duel between Yukiteru and the other candidates. Further, the mechanics of time travel are extremely well-developed in this series, particularly the unstable timeline/parallel worlds concept. Combined with the classic battle royale concept, Future Diary stands out as one of the more unique time travel series in anime.

Future Diary

A young man competes with people around the world for a chance to become the succesor of God, with a diary that is able to tell the future.

5 Erased Is A Gripping & Emotional Murder Mystery Story

Erased rating scores.

It's difficult to talk about Erased without mentioning The Butterfly Effect and the video game Life Is Strange. Both of them share several themes and mechanics with this plot. Erased stars Satou, a man who can travel backward in time a few minutes to stop disasters, but he doesn’t have perfect control over this ability. Nevertheless, Satou tries to use his ability to help others as best as he can.

However, when he’s accused of matricide, Satou's mysterious gift sends him back to his high school days, right before one of his classmates was murdered by a serial killer. Now living in the past, Satou sets out to solve the mystery and save Kayo Hinazuki before it's too late and history repeats itself. Those who've watched The Butterfly Effect know that Erased 's Satou has his work cut out for him, despite his time-traveling powers.

Erased (2016)

29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma is sent back in time 18 years to prevent the events leading to his mother's death, which began with a series of kidnappings while he was in 5th grade.

4 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Follows Makoto As She Learns That Time Traveling Has Its Consequences

The girl who leapt through time rating scores.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time stars Makoto Konno, an outgoing high school girl who accidentally gains the ability to leap through time. She promptly uses this unanticipated blessing to make her life easier in a myriad of different ways as she tries to figure out what she wants in life. Unfortunately, Makoto soon realizes that she also has a number tattooed on her arm, representing the total amount of time leaps she can make. Not only that, but as she meddles with time, she starts to see the unexpected consequences of her time jumps and what that means for her future.

Although this plot is not epic or action-packed in any way, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time introduces an intriguing concept. Makoto's ability to use cumulative time-leaps is similar to asking a genie for more wishes. The anime is beautiful to watch and its slice-of-life setup is sure to appeal to those put off by historical time travel or overly elaborate sci-fi.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

A high-school girl named Makoto acquires the power to travel back in time, and decides to use it for her own personal benefits. Little does she know that she is affecting the lives of others just as much as she is her own.

3 The Tatami Galaxy Gives A Bitter College Student A Chance To Re-Do His Life

The tatami galaxy rating scores.

The Tatami Galaxy is framed within a Groundhog Day device of a single day resetting unto itself. The series follows a young man named Watashi, who keeps reliving the same first day of college and trying to get the perfect “rose-colored” college life he's always dreamed of. After lamenting bitterly to himself about his regrets, Watashi is sent through time to re-start his college days, in hopes of doing it right this time. Thus, he goes on a journey to face his regrets and finally do everything he wished he could before.

Although the structure of all the episodes is similar, the great thing about this 11-episode series is the incredibly original style and the fantastic soundtrack. The conclusion is also refreshing, as it highlights the optimistic aspects of time travel. In other words, the most important thing is not to make the perfect decision but to make a decision and enjoy it to the max.

The Tatami Galaxy

The Tatami Galaxy" follows an unnamed third-year college student at Kyoto University, dissatisfied with his unremarkable college experience. Encountering a demigod, he receives the chance to relive his past three years, hoping to experience the ideal "rose-colored campus life" he believes he missed. Each episode presents a different timeline where he joins a new club (such as the rowing club, the filmmaking club, or the mystery research club), hoping to find fulfilling friendships and romance, particularly with his classmate Akashi. However, due to his awkwardness, impulsiveness, and misguided decisions, each attempt ends in disappointment, leading him back to the beginning of the loop. Through these comedic and melancholic cycles, the series explores themes of self-discovery, missed opportunities, the impact of choices, and the importance of cherishing the present.

2 Thermae Romae Is A Hilarious Story Of What Would Happen If Someone From The Ancient World Came To The Future

Thermae romae rating scores, thermae romae novae is a fantastic change from the classic isekai formula.

A popular theme in time travel stories is the concept of bringing someone from the past to present and exposing them to the marvels of the modern world. Historical comedy Thermae Romae does just this, transporting an ancient Roman to the future. When Lucius, an ancient thermae (Roman bathhouse) architect, gets fired, he also somehow manages to time-travel to modern Japan through a Roman bath sinkhole. Here, he makes a name for himself as a genius architect whose ingenuities are far head of his time.

This hilarious series follows Lucius' daily adventures as he navigates the modern world, shocked and delighted by the future's modern technology. Thermae Romae is one of the most unique anime based on the time travel trope, as well as the most lighthearted. Those who complete the three-episode anime series might also want to view a brilliantly scripted live-action movie.

1 Nobunaga Concerto Follows Saburou As He Travels To Feudal Japan & Trades Places With A Legendary Warrior

Nobunaga concerto rating scores.

Nobunaga Concerto is a historical shonen series following the adventures of Saburou, a carefree high school student whose life is turned upside down when he suddenly finds himself transported back in time to the Sengoku Era. Here, he meets Nobunaga Oda, the legendary leader of the Akechi Clan. After this chance encounter, Saburou suddenly finds himself swapping identities with Nobunaga, posing as the general himself. Now in an unfamiliar time forced to pose as a feudal lord, Saburou must use his modern knowledge to get him by as he helps to unite Japan.

With its unique visuals and refreshing take on historical fiction, Nobunaga Concerto is a highly underrated time travel series. The story is simple and straightforward, yet gripping and emotional, with brilliant character development that really gets the audience invested.

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Top 15 Anime About Time Travel Ranked By Plot

15. Occult Academy

13. the tatami galaxy, 12. noein: to your other self, 11. nobunaga concerto, 10. thermae romae, 9. iroduku: the world in colors, 8. summer storm, 7. sandglass of summer colors, 6. punch line, 5. future diary, 4. tokyo revengers, 1. steins;gate – best anime about time travel ranked by plot.

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That’s me, Andreea Blaga, author of the blog https:// anime-everything.com . I work as a content creator in the US. I am also passionate about Japanese Anime.

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The 14 Best Anime That Deals With Time Travel

For fans of traveling to the past or the future, these following time travel-themed anime shows are some of the best to watch.

For the longest time, humans have been fascinated with time travel as the ability to travel to the past and future to observe and even influence events can be tempting. Despite that, shows about time travel can sometimes become convoluted and exposition-heavy. However, when executed well and combined with an excellent narrative and interesting world-building, these types of shows can be exceptional to watch.

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The world of anime has utilized and explored the use of time travel extensively, with entire genres revolving around being ‘spirited away’ to other realms both real and fantasy. Some of these shows, however, have become instant classics, receiving high praise from avid anime viewers.

Updated February 9, 2023, by Suzail Ahmad: Time travel is an exciting concept that has been popularized by different media through the years, and anime is no exception. Over time, many anime series have been released that utilize time travel in their stories. By releasing so many new anime, the time travel theme has been compounded. It has become more important than ever to choose anime that explores time travel in a simple and discernible manner, as is the case with the best time travel anime series.

1 Tokyo Revengers (2021)

Tokyo Revengers follows the journey of Hanagaki Takemichi , a grown man who has nothing going for him. However, Takemichi's life changes when an accident causes him to go back in time. It takes him some time to understand that he actually traveled 12 years back, but eventually he manages to figure it out.

The anime takes a different turn from the usual shonen anime by making the protagonist weaker than the rest of the characters in the series. So, fans who want to see a normal anime character trying to fix the future should definitely watch Tokyo Revengers .

2 Inuyasha (2000)

Inuyasha is a popular anime series that is based on the work of Rumiko Takahashi. Inuyasha covers the journey of Kagome Higurashi. When she falls into the well at her family shrine, Kagome finds herself in the Sengoku period. She eventually meets Inuyasha and travels with him all over Japan to regain all the pieces of a shattered jewel.

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Inuyasha is much more adventurous in comparison to the other time travel anime. It also has a good amount of action and romance, which is enough to keep viewers glued to their screens. Another great thing about the anime is the fact that it has over 100 episodes, making it a great series for fans who like long shows.

3 Doraemon (1973)

Doraemon is one of the longest-running anime series of all time. It is based on Fujiko F. Fujio's manga, which has over a thousand chapters. Doraemon is aimed at a young audience, but that hasn't stopped it from earning the plaudits of grown-ups as well.

Doraemon falls into the comedy and sci-fi genres, and at the center of the story is a robotic cat that travels back in time to help a boy named Nobita Nobi. It might not cover adult themes, but it still makes for a good watch. Viewers can watch it to calm their minds and have a good laugh.

4 Summer Time Rendering (2022)

Summer Time Rendering is a story about Shinpei Ajiro, who loses both of his parents. Instead of becoming a recluse, he grows up with Ushio and Mio. The three become very close before Shinpei Ajiro eventually leaves for Tokyo. After a few years, he returns to his hometown to attend the funeral of Ushio.

However, he refuses to believe that Ushio died normally and eventually comes to learn about his power which allows him to reset time. Summer Time Rendering adds a unique twist to the regular time travel tropes. It is a solid combination of mystery and sci-fi, which makes it a delectable choice.

5 Nobunaga Concerto (2014)

The story of a high school boy named Saburo who travels back in time to Japan’s warring states period (Sengoku Jidai) to become Oda Nobunaga and unite the land. Saburo encounters several characters from that period including the real Nobunaga, who unable to deal with the immense pressure of ruling becomes Saburo’s subordinate, Aketchi Mitsuhide.

This is interesting as the real Aketchi Mitsuhide was historically the man who assassinated Nobunaga himself. Sporting a unique art style that is reminiscent of traditional Japanese art, Nobunaga Concerto is an anime that Japanese history lovers can sink their teeth into.

6 Thermae Romae Novae (2022)

A strange entry but by no means less entertaining, Thermae Romae Novae chronicles the tale of an ancient Roman architect named Lucius Modestus who finds a secret time travel tunnel that transports him to a modern-day Japanese bathhouse. As he was previously running out of ideas, his new experiences in Japan now motivate him to restore his reputation as one of the finest Roman architects.

Absurd, strange, and entertaining, this anime is a love letter to the public bathing culture in Japan and is perfect for those who enjoy watching things about cultural appreciation . It's also a solid option for those who love time travel anime.

7 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

Mamoru Hosoda’s classic 2006 sci-fi romance movie tells the story of a high school girl Makoto who learns how to time travel and uses it to her benefit. However, with great power comes great responsibility, a rule that Makoto doesn’t adhere to which leads to some complicated and devastating outcomes.

With a plot that may appear too ‘straightforward’ to some, the movie is an engaging and thought-provoking coming-of-age drama with moments of a slice of life that audiences can relate to.

8 Zipang (2004)

Zipang is historical war anime that depicts a modern Japanese navy vessel (JDS Mirai) being time-warped back to World War 2 as the Battle of Midway is about to commence. Aware that their superior ship can alter the course of the war, the crew of the Mirai is torn between aiding the former Japanese empire and abstaining from involvement as their futures would be affected.

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Filled with mature themes, viewers will watch how the actions of the JDS Mirai and her crew unfold in this gripping war drama.

9 Your Name (2016)

Your Name tells the story of a Tokyo boy Taki and a country girl Mitsuha from different timelines who periodically swap bodies. Through this, they manage to help each other out in different aspects of their lives. However, as they deepen their bond and try to figure out the phenomenon, the swapping stops abruptly, prompting Taki to uncover the reason why.

Beautifully animated and supported by the awesome J-pop soundtrack of Radwimps, Your Name will tug on anyone’s heartstrings and make them root for the characters.

10 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2006)

What happens when an unassuming high school girl is a god and can create anything she imagines or sets her mind to? Say hello to Haruhi Suzumiya, a 15-year-old girl with powers that can alter the fabric of time and space who is blissfully unaware of her abilities.

The show focuses on Haruhi and Kyon who are part of their school's SOS Brigade, an after-school club that is focused on paranormal and abnormal phenomena. The club also keeps tabs on Haruhi as her abilities could warp, alter, and destroy the world and each misadventure brings the characters and viewers closer to understanding what Haruhi is.

11 Re:Zero (2016)

Although technically part of the Isekai genre, Re:Zero focuses on Subaru Natsuki who is transported to a fantasy world. The time travel aspect comes into play every time Subaru dies. Every time he perishes, he resurrects at the last checkpoint similar to video games, prompting him to figure his way through until reaching the next checkpoint.

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Over time, the psychological ordeal of watching his friends and himself die only to be resurrected begins to take on toll on his psyche, creating a very interesting if not disturbing fantasy narrative .

12 Erased (2016)

A psychological murder thriller with elements of time travel set in Tokyo and Hokkaido. Erased follows Saturo who experiences a phenomenon known as ‘revivals’ that sends him back in time moments before a catastrophic incident occurs to prevent it from happening.

When his mother is murdered, the event causes him to travel back in time 18 years into the past, allowing him to not only save his mother but the lives of his former classmates whose tragic ends mirror that of his mother. A gripping thriller that will glue any viewer to their seat, Erased is a must-see for anyone interested in crime thrillers and the mystery genre .

13 Future Diary (2011)

Old but gold, Future Diary is a battle royale where participants receive messages on their cell phones that predict the future. Here, middle schoolers Yukiteru and Yuno must survive against 10 other participants to determine who will become the next god of space and time, also known as Deus Ex Machina.

Twisted, brutal, and unforgiving, Future Diary explores the main dynamic between the two lead characters and the show may have one of the most sadistic and psychopathic characters in all of anime. Perfect for any fans of yandere characters .

14 Steins;Gate (2011)

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. Meanwhile, SERN, an organization that is also researching time travel learns of the machine and steals it, killing one of Rintaro’s friends in the process. This causes Rintaro to go back in time to prevent his friend’s death unleashing a cascade of time travel problems.

Those who have watched Steins;Gate praise the show for its intricate handling of time travel and the rules the show establishes. The show will appeal to anyone who enjoys romance, comedy, drama, and hard science fiction genres.

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Top 10 Time Travel Anime [Updated Best Recommendations]

Time is a construct that no single human being can escape. We’re born, we grow old and we die. However, that won’t stop us from imagining ourselves in positions where we can freely manipulate our influence on history by manipulating time itself. A trope that has seen itself in virtually all storytelling media and features in some of the most influential anime, we’ve decided to drop a list of some of our favourite time travel anime, featuring characters who are able to change the course of history. In many cases, it isn’t as simple as changing a single event, creating some of the most compelling stories. Without wasting anymore time, we present to you Top 10 Time Travel Anime. Please be aware that this is an updated list and the other lists can be found below.

10. Oda Nobuna no Yabou (The Ambition of Oda Nobuna)

• Episodes: 12
• Aired: July 2012 – September 2012

17-year-old Sagara Yoshiharu finds himself travelling back in time to Japan’s Sengoku Era, finding out that all the famous Samurai lords who populate the history books in the modern era are cute girls. He meets Oda Nobuna, Oda Nobunaga’s female counterpart, who then recruits him to be her substitute for her aide, Kinoshita Tokichiro, who was killed by a rival clan. Using his knowledge of history and some of the technological advantages of the modern era, Sagara assists Nobuna in her very well-documented mission to unify Japan under her banner.

Without giving much away as to why he’s there, Oda Nobuna no Yabou follows Sagara into the reaches of the past, retelling a pivotal story in the history of Japan, with a few twists, of course. Being the history nerd that he is, Sagara takes to the Sengoku Era like a fish to water, or more like the protagonist of some sort of role-playing game. Steadfast in his duties so as to avoid changing the tides of history, Sagara assists Nobuna in her quest to take all of Japan.

• Episodes: ???
• Aired: July 2018 - ???

Located far away from Japan’s mainland is the island of Urashima, a place where its inhabitants live carefree lives. However, 5 years prior to the events of the series, the three great families of the island fell into disrepute and it severed all connection to the Japanese archipelago, leading to its slow and steady decline. The only individuals capable of saving the island are the daughters of the three great families; however, they remain conflicted. Things become interesting with the sudden appearance of a man claiming to be a time-traveller; one capable of changing Urashima’s fate.

Combining the time-travel plot device with an amnesia trope brings you Island, a somewhat politically-inclined permutation of the tried and tested time travel concept. The mysterious time-travelling stranger is Sanzenkai Setsuna, a man who washes ashore one day with no idea of who he is; however, his upbeat persona and one memory remain: he is a time-traveller tasked with saving the island of Urashima from an unsavoury end. But how will he do it with missing memories?

• Episodes: 13
• Aired: July 2016 – September 2016

Takamiya Naho begins her first day as a sophomore in high school in a not-so-great fashion as she wakes up late. Dashing to school, she arrives at her desk, finding a strange letter addressed to her. The letter comes from none other than herself, 10 years in the future. Highly sceptical of the letter and its contents, Naho’s attitude changes when it accurately describes several events which happen that day, particularly the arrival of transfer student Naruse Kakeru. Future Naho expresses several regrets in her letter, hoping that her younger self can do better with a heads-up of what is to come, expressing vehemently the need to keep an eye on Kakeru. Using the letter as a guide, Naho uneasily navigates the territory her future-self failed to the first time around.

Quite the emotional rollercoaster, Orange brings a refreshing element to the time-travel trope, making use of messages from the future as a means of altering the past, rather than the characters themselves time-leaping. The series brings together romantic elements in addition to some heart-wrenching moments which we are all too aware of when it comes to shows of this nature.

7. Break Ups

• Episodes: 1 (movie)
• Aired: 2009

The short film follows the trials and tribulations of a young couple who are consistently in an on and off relationship with each other. One day, the two stumble upon a time machine which consequently takes them to various points in history, visiting particular junctures in their relationship. The slice of life animation is technically a Korean production and the animation style is evidently different from the general feel of anime.

Break Ups are unusual in the time-travelling trope given the fact that the characters happen upon the object which allows them to go back in time and the machine itself really only takes them back to certain parts of their lives together as a couple. Available on Crunchyroll, the short film is an interesting change of pace within the time travel trope and contrary to its short runtime, it leaves a lasting impression.

6. Doraemon (2005)

• Aired: April 2005 - ???

As a result of his haplessness, Nobi Nobita’s descendants as far off as in the 22nd century find themselves in a state of poverty. In order to raise the Nobi family’s social status, their time-travelling robotic cat servant, Doraemon, takes it upon himself to go back in time to Nobita’s youth and undo the damage that plunges the family into poverty. However, Doraemon is quite dysfunctional himself and while he makes the child Nobita’s life infinitely more exciting, it still remains to be seen if he can truly do what he set out to do in his mission to the past.

Doraemon’s influence is widespread and many are familiar with the blue time-travelling cat. In fact, he is quite celebrated as an anime character and even features as one of the ambassadors of the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, alongside Shounen legend, Son Goku. The anime itself first aired in the 1970s and was rebooted in 2005, running ever since. Unfortunately for the older series, it was poorly preserved, never released other than on television and nearly all the 1973 series’ footage was destroyed. Nonetheless, we can still enjoy Nobita’s adventures with his robotic feline friend.

5. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi)

• Episodes: 14
• Aired: April 2006 – July 2006

Meet Kyon, a regular high school student who has no belief in any supernatural phenomena and would rather just live a normal life. He attends the same school as the highly eccentric and energetic Suzumiya Haruhi, a girl who is committed to breaking out of a dreary high school life by finding anything unusual: from aliens to ESPers, Haruhi and the new club she’s formed, the SOS Brigade, will find them all! Unfortunately for Kyon, Haruhi has taken an interest in him too, forcing him to join the club alongside the soft-spoken Asahina Mikuru, the stoic Nagato Yuuki and the somewhat popular Koizumi. To his surprise, all three of these club members are abnormal – a time-traveler, an ESPer and a cyborg have all taken up the role of guardian of Suzumiya, whom they have identified as the unknowing god of this realm. In order to avoid any calamities due to Haruhi’s emotions, the club members of the SOS Brigade humour her in any and all of her wacky activities in an attempt to maintain the current order of the world.

While not an out-and-out time-travelling anime, The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi is an anime which garnered much attention for its application of the time-travel trope. The infamous Endless Eight arc of the series’ second season is eight episodes which were more or less the exact same thing animated over and over due to the series’ main characters being caught in an infinite time loop which repeated itself over 15000 times until Kyon found a way out. The arc is still talked about to this day by fans of the series. Aside from the aggravating time-loop which gave Haruhi much attention, the series features Asahina Mikuru, its very own time-traveller whose older self appears to Kyon at some point during the series.

4. Sakurada Reset

• Episodes: 24
• Aired: April 2017 – September 2017

Asai Kei is a high schooler who lives in the seaside city of Sakurada, where the inhabitants are born with special abilities. One day on the school rooftop, he meets Haruki Misora, a stoic girl with the ability to reset everything around her up to three days prior. Her ability renders everyone completely oblivious to the reset, including herself. However, Kei has his photographic memory and, choosing to join their powers, Kei and Misora decide to join their school’s Service Club in order to help people in their town. However, their club is soon employed by the Administration Bureau, an organisation fixated on managing the abilities of the town’s inhabitants for their own desires. Kei and Misora may soon find out that there is more to what happens in Sakurada than meets the eye.

Sakurada Reset sets a limiter on the time travel trope it employs and to that end, there is a great potential for a lot of difficulty that the protagonists much endure in order to do the good that they desire to do. The series is incredibly interesting and the application of supernatural abilities central to the events of the series creates quite the worthy explanation for the manipulation of time which forms such an integral part of the series.

3. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World)

• Episodes: 26
• Aired: April 2016 – September 2016

One night, high school shut-in Natsuki Subaru decides to head over to the nearby convenience store in order to buy a few things, but when he steps out, he finds himself in the market district of a town in an alternate world. Modelled on the fantasy worlds he’s familiar with in the games that he plays, Subaru quickly takes to the hero role he believes he is there to fulfil, but not much longer after his arrival, he is attacked by bandits and subsequently killed. To his surprise, Subaru finds himself back in that same market and he’s attacked by the same bandits, but this time around, he is saved by a white-haired beauty named Satella. Satella is travelling in search of the thief who stole her family insignia, and out of gratitude for her help, Subaru decides to join her in her search. When they finally find the individual responsible, Subaru and Satella are both brutally murdered. Subaru awakens to the same sight: the same market, the same bandits attack him again and yet again Satella comes to his aid as history inexplicably repeats itself.

Re:Zero came in a year filled with stories of time travel; however, this particular rollercoaster came with plot-twists and emotions galore! Subaru’s Return By Death very closely mimicked the checkpoint save model which many games employ and in that capacity, his deaths often heralded a return to an earlier point in time. Subaru had no control whatsoever over which point in time to which he returns and much of the anime shows a frustrated Subaru coming to grips with his own death, as well as the deaths of many others on several occasions. This quickly wears away at him and to that end, Re:Zero will torture the viewer… and Subaru, of course.

2. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)

• Aired: July 2006

Konno Makoto is a high school senior who isn’t quite coming to grips with the demands of her future. She ebbs between the pressure applied by her teachers for her to take charge of her own future, and the sunny days she spends with her friends. Makoto’s life changes when she accidentally finds out that she is capable of literally leaping through time. Her mundane life becomes complicated as Makoto quickly learns about the drawbacks of playing with time, as well as the consequences of her newfound ability.

Quite the classic as far as the time travel trope is concerned, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a seemingly unassuming narrative which quickly becomes convoluted as the days Makoto relives begin to weigh heavily on her and her own decisions begin to have dire consequences. With the power to freely navigate the ever-flowing stream of time, Makoto is put through quite a lot emotionally as her power isn’t the only thing she deals with.

1. Steins;Gate

• Aired: April 2011 – September 2011

Okabe Rintarou is a self-proclaimed mad scientist who rents out a room in a building in Akihabara, where he and his friends (whom he dubs “lab members”) create “future gadgets” as a hobby. Alongside Shiina Mayuri, his childhood friend, and perverted hacker friend Daru, Okabe spends his time messing around with their most interesting invention yet: the Phone Microwave. The device has the strange ability to turn bananas into piles of green gel. While not very promising in terms of scientific breakthroughs, strange things begin happening after the Phone Microwave’s creation and soon enough, the contraption turns out to be able to send emails into the past which alter the flow of history. Soon realising the true gravity of their creation, Okabe must navigate the various consequences that come with the manipulation of time.

With Steins;Gate: 0 freshly entering its second cour, it is of no surprise that the first anime gets a mention on this list. Intense on so many levels, Steins;Gate is an incredible story that brings together elements of comedy and suspense in a character-driven plot that will shake you to the core. With time travel as its core theme, Steins;Gate throws you into an intricately woven plot with many twists and turns and an exploration of the consequences of time travel like none other. The series is well-deserving of the top spot on this list – just don’t let CERN know that.

Final Thoughts

Like we said before, time travel is a concept which exists in all forms of storytelling and as human beings, our current helplessness against the flow of time brings us to think up incredible stories. Maybe we wish to be free of it, maybe we wish to control it – whatever the reason behind our fixation on the concept of time, the fact remains that the resulting anime can be completely engrossing. Have we forgotten to mention your favourite time travel anime? Drop a comment below and tell us about it – if you’ve got the time.

Author: Hoshi-kun

I’m South African, harbouring an obsession for anything remotely related to Japan, mostly anime, of course. I draw sometimes. Some people call me Naledi, it’s my real name, or something like that. People think I’m stoic because I don’t smile often (I do sometimes). I like languages. Hoshi-kun and Naledi are the same side of the same coin.

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Top 5 Anime by Hoshi-kun

If there’s anything people ponder about at one point or another, it’s a variation of some sort relating to time travel. Maybe it’s travelling to the ancient past to observe what life was like. Maybe it’s travelling to the more immediate past to witness historical events or observe certain people alive during that time. Maybe it’s travelling to some point in the future to see what happens to humanity. Whatever the case, it’s an idea that is very difficult to get your head around, leading to multiple ideas and theories as to what might happen if it was ever attempted.

There are multiple anime that depict these ideas. Some are more detailed in their approach to a resolution, such as exploring the idea of multi-verse theory or the consequences that result in not thinking through your actions. Others focus more on other aspects of the anime and leave time travel as just another tool in the story. Here are the top 10 examples of time travel used in anime.

10. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

• Aired: May 22, 2009 - Sep 11, 2009

Although this anime may be about a group of students having supernatural adventures due to the main character’s unique ability to warp reality, it does have a unique take on time travel, even if it’s controversial. In what’s become known as the “Endless Eight arc” in the 2nd season, this anime does succeed in demonstrating the idea of time looping, or repeating the same events over and over. In this case, most of the 2nd season has the same few weeks looped for years and years as the characters experience the same events and do the same things repeatedly with no change whatsoever. If you’re a fan of Groundhog Day in terms of witnessing a character repeat the same day over and over again as well as the “slice of life” anime tone, this is the anime for you.

9. In Search of the Lost Future

• Aired: Oct 4, 2014 - Dec 20, 2014

This anime may start off as something of a “slice of life” anime at first as we are introduced to the main cast of characters attending Uchihama Academy participating in school events and beginning to move to a new building due to increased numbers. However, a mystery slowly begins to unfold in the old building, and we eventually see the main character, Sō Akiyama, wrestle with premonitions of the future showing his friends in danger. As Sō struggles to attempt to rescues his friends, including his closest friend Kaori Sasaki, and resolve the mystery, the tension only continues to build until the final reveal. If you’re a fan of both time travel and mystery, this is certainly an anime worth checking out.

• Episodes: 25
• Aired: Apr 4, 2016 - Sep 19, 2016

This anime is a great example of the time travel theme of returning back to the same spot in order to redo something over and over. After mysteriously arriving in a strange land only to get beat up by some thugs, Subaru Natsuki meets a beautiful girl only to get killed by a mysterious darkness alongside said girl. However, Subaru suddenly awakens to the same exact scenario of confronting the same thugs and meeting Satella. Re:ZERO is a great time travel anime not only because it does not have any plot holes as a result of time travel, but also keeping the viewer engaged as Subaru gets more and more desperate in his attempts to fix his mistakes and redo everything. If you enjoyed the movie Source Code for its similar take on time travel, this is definitely worth watching.

7. Noein: To Your Other Self

• Aired: Oct 12, 2005 - Mar 29, 2006

In the near future, a struggle is taking place between 2 different dimensions: the good guys, La'cryma, and the bad guys, Shangri-La. A group, known as Dragon Calvary, is dispatched throughout space and time to search for the Dragon’s Torque, seen as the only thing that can stop the invasion from Shangri-La. One of those members, Karasu, meets his past self and his friend 15 years in the past, which appears to be a promising lead…

Noein’s time travel mechanics revolve around the idea of how different dimensions can result due to different actions that are taken. This is especially important, as the series takes a more “character driven” approach to what happens as opposed to a “plot-driven” approach. As a result, you have a beautifully crafted series that achieves what it set out to do. If you’re a fan of the time travel genre who would also like more of the quantum aspect involved, this would be the anime to check out first.

6. Charlotte

• Aired: Jul 5, 2015 to Sep 27, 2015

This anime may focus a fair amount on kids with magical powers who lose them when they become adults or overuse them, but one of the main characters, Shunsuke Otosaka, has the power to send his mind back in time to change the past, resulting in some key events unfolding. This is a unique take on travelling back in time, as most anime have the characters going back physically either through a time machine or some other unique way. To go back through the mind alone is a trend that may start to appear more and more as time goes on. If you were a fan of the time travel method used in X-Men: Days of Future Past, then this anime may be the one for you.

5. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

• Aired: Jan 7, 2011 - Apr 22, 2011

Again, another example of an anime that upon first glance you would not expect a complicated theme to be explored. Yet one of the “Magical Girls”, Homura Akemi, sets out to prevent the harm of another Magical Girl by going back in time. A big lesson regarding time travel is demonstrated here, though: sometimes the changes you set out to make are impossible to achieve, no matter how hard you try. If you’re a fan of the idea of how time travel doesn’t necessarily work out in the end as well as cuteness, Puella Magi Madoka Magica delivers in spades.

4. Dragon ball Z

• Episodes: 291
• Aired: Apr 26, 1989 - Jan 31, 1996

Yeah, this may be a shounen anime at heart, but considering you have one of its biggest arcs revolving around a time traveler from the future arriving to save Goku and his friends from androids as well as an android travelling back to the past to absorb the very androids themselves, it’s impossible to ignore this aspect. Not to mention Dragon Ball Super currently featuring one of the strongest characters in anime who can turn back time 3 minutes at will. Time travel may not be approached in this anime as the “main topic” so to speak, but if you want to watch an anime where time travel is still fun and interesting despite being a secondary focus, then look no further than DBZ.

3. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

• Episodes: 1
• Aired: July 15, 2006

This movie serves as the definitive example for what someone would probably do when realizing they can go back in time for the first time, making it that much more believable. Makoto Konno isn’t someone who has plans for going back in time. On the contrary, she tries to figure out what to do with her new ability as she goes along, only to learn the hard way what the consequences of her actions are. It is only by the sudden arrival of a character we wouldn’t expect that Makoto truly learns how to treat this new power. If you want to watch a believable experience in terms of what an average teen would do with time travel, then watch this movie.

• Aired: Jan 8, 2016 - Mar 25, 2016

The newest example of a time travel based anime, Erased focuses on Satoru Fujinuma using his special time travel ability to prevent bad things from happening to those he cares about. In this case, the focus of the time travel aspect is mainly on the mystery of how his ability suddenly jumps to going back years in the past as opposed to seconds. With the protagonist being a 29 year old male suddenly gifted with said ability as well as a new focus on the time travel element changing within the series, this anime is worth checking out if you’re curious as to a new take on the time travel genre.

• Aired: April 6, 2011 – September 14, 2011

No doubt which anime was going to be #1. Steins;Gate earns that spot for a reason: the setup of the time travel aspect, the combination of different takes on it, the different reactions of the characters to it as they slowly learn what it means, and the resolution at the end that ties back into the beginning without nay plot holes. As time passes, Steins;Gate will serve as the benchmark as to not only how to properly do a time travel related anime, but also serve as a basic framework in terms of how to properly tell a time-travel related story. If you have not seen this anime yet and are a lover of time travel, then wait no longer.

Time travel is a complicated concept to nail down. With so many aspects, possibilities, and a high likelihood of going wrong if not executed correctly, it’s a wonder why there are so many anime that choose to use it. However, if done correctly, the payoffs can be huge, as you can not only have an incredible adventure that unfolds with great characters along for the ride, you can also create a story that ultimately is fun to watch. These are the top 10 anime that best convey time travel. Are there any that are missing? Is there an anime that is ranked too high or too low? Let us know in the comments!

Author: Ian Williams

Hi, my name's Ian. I grew up in the United States, but I've traveled to and lived in many different countries, including Scotland, Japan, and New Zealand. Some of my hobbies include reading, writing, chess, running, playing video games, and watching anime. I started getting more into anime after watching Dragon Ball Z on Toonami as a kid, and have been hooked by the amazing stories and characters in anime ever since.

Top 5 Anime by Ian Williams

Have you ever wished that you could view the statue of liberty before it changed colors or watch the broadcast of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon, live? You could even go back to feudal Japan, like Kagome did in Inuyasha, and see a world full of yokai (monster) and other dangerous things. There are many different events throughout history that I would love to see, if I could travel through time. Which brings us to this list of the top 10 time traveling anime.

In this list, you will be reading about different anime that have taken the concept of time traveling in their own way. While most of the time, they will purposely travel in time, other times, they will be picked up by the hands of fate and played with.

• Aired: October 2004 – March 2005

The phrase “wrong place at the wrong time” could summarize Zipang for us. As the latest destroyer, Mirai, travels into a fierce storm that does little damage to the ship, but the storm is a rouge time vortex that sucks the Mirai and all of her crew into the past during the middle of the of the biggest war in human history, World War II. Now, it is up to Captain Umezu Saburo to get his ship and crew back to their own time, without interfering with history too much.

Time travel can be tricky and the consequences of a single mistake years ago, could change what you know about the present. Luckily, the Captain of Mirai knew this and tried to stay out of history’s events. Leaving it to be the first choice for the entrance to Time Traveling anime.

9. Arata naru Sekai: World's/Start/Load/End (World’s End)

• Episodes: OVA (30 minutes)
• Aired: October 2012

A rite of passage for most high school students is the graduation trip. Some students go off to tropical paradises while others just take a trip to the big city. Arata, Hongou, Arisa and Ichimiya take a trip to their own town. Doesn’t sound that exciting, until you see what has happened to the once pristine town after 6,000 years.

Methods of time traveling can vary from show to show. Sometimes we are not even shown the explanation behind the time traveling. These girls are shot out of their time and are put into a world that they never expected to be the future, for without humans around, the earth could take strange turns.

8. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

• Aired: May 2009 – September 2009

A whirlwind with long hair tied up in a yellow bandana, that is the best for Haruhi Suzumiya, for her logic is far out there and even the wises person in the anime, Kyon, can’t figure out what she is doing half the time. This is an anime where the main character, Haruhi, drags her friends around to do anything that she thinks of and sometimes her imagination can run wild.

It is almost like Haruhi can conjure up anything out of her imagination, even a Time Traveler who joins her school and becomes a slave of Haruhi’s whim. Though, it’s not all bad for Mikuru Asahina as she sometimes likes the outfits that Haruhi dresses her up in.

In the second season, the mechanics of time traveling come into play with most of the season portraying the repetition of the same few weeks for almost 43 years. Bringing the possibilities of a time loop into this list. Where sometimes that loop is set up to fix something, this time it was set up for fun, even if Haruhi didn’t realize it.

7. Noein – Mou Hitori no Kimi e (Noein: To Your Other Self)

• Aired: October 2005 – March 2006

When a man in a black trench coat appears before you, you should run for you don’t know who that might be. Haruka was lucky because the man in the black cape was Karasu, the furture version of her high school friend Yu Goto. Karasu was sent back to find the Dragon Torque and to fend off the agents of Shangri-La, people from a alternative future, where Haruka was already killed for who and what she is.

The time traveling in Noein shows us that many different actions can cause different dimensions to appear. Even if the event that caused the branch to split was not that long ago, a small change could drastically alter the course of time and have major repercussions with the world around it. If Captain Saburo wished, he could have changed the outcome of World War II with his accidental time traveling. The agents from Shangri-La showed us the outcome of what a change in history could do to in our future. Which brings it to number seven of this list.

6. Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku (Now and Then, Here and There)

• Aired: October 1999 – January 2000

Now and There, Here and There is another anime that the main character finds himself in a new time, surrounded by a harsh environment and harsher people. Shuuzou Matsutani tries to find his way back to his time and go home. Getting the help from Lala-Ru, a blue haired girl, he sets out to survive, and in doing so, he helps those who have to live in the harsh future.

Now and Then, Here and There shows us another version of what the future may bring if we don’t change our actions and protect the environment. Once the world turns into that from Fallout, there is no real hope. The time traveling in Now and Then, Here and There comes from the future, where they can grab people and bring them back from the past. Almost like the teleporters in Star Trek, just temporal-porters.

5. Charlotte

• Aired: July 2015 – September 2015

Life is tough sometimes and when you have magical powers, it doesn’t really make life any easier. In Charlotte, some teenagers have gained magical powers from a mysterious source. But, they are not going to take over the world, for once they become an adult their powers fade. Though, to control a child with magical powers would make any adult powerful, so an academy was built to protect those kids with powers. The builder of Hoshinoumi Academy is a secretive man who doesn’t want to be in the memories of anyone again.

Without giving away too many spoilers, one of Charlotte’s key plot devices is a person with the power to send his mind back in time to change the past. Charlotte spends some time explaining what happens as a result of this persons’ time traveling. Hopefully, you’ll agree why this new show is up high on the list of Time Traveling anime.

4. Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary)

• Aired: October 2011 – April 2012

Imagine that you are given the power to always know what your loved one is always doing, before they do it. Now, think if your stalker had that power instead! The Future Diary centers on the idea of a powerful god, the God of Time and Space, who gives his power to different people. Those people have to fight to survive. When Yukiteru Amano starts receiving messages from his future self, he teams up with Yuno Gasai, to hopefully survive this whole game/battle together. But, Yuno’s intentions are not as honorable as they may seem.

Time traveling can be good and harmless, but The Future Diary takes the concept to a darker place with the whole “Fight to Survive” aspect, but it does give us a new take on what time traveling can be. The time traveling in The Future Diary is limited to around 10 minutes. Which leaves you open for major insolvencies if you’re in trouble stretching further back than that limit.

3. Toki o Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)

• Episodes: Movie (98 minutes)

High school is the time of a young girl’s life. Makoto is a normal high school girl who loves baseball and her normal high school life. Unfortunately for Makoto, that all changes one day when she is alone in the chemistry room. She hears something in the teachers’ area and goes to investigate. Finding a small metallic walnut. As she looks down at the walnut, something falls over behind her, scaring her, causing her to trip. She lands on the walnut and finds herself in a time vortex. Waking up on the floor of the chemistry room, she thinks nothing of it, until she wrecks her bike, flying through the air and almost getting run over by a train. But, something weird happened that caused her to relive the past few minutes of her life.

Time Travelers need to keep good track of their toys, or who knows who will pick it up and cause havoc in the time stream. Luckily for the owner of the walnut shaped T.A.R.T.I.S., Makoto didn’t abuse the power too much… or destroy the universe. Time traveling should be for the professionals.

2. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

• Aired: January 2011 – April 2011

There have been many “Magical Girl” anime and each one has its own spin on an enemy and an ally. Now, when the enemy you have to fight, is a soul stealing witch, then you must count on your little fluffy friend, Kyuubey. The only thing Kyuubey wants is the crystals from the evil witches, what could be so wrong with that? To help fight the witches, Kyuubey grants his little magical girls anything that they could wish for. One of those little magical girls received the power to travel through time.

With the power to time travel, Magical Girl Homura Akemi sets out to stop the evil of the witches from harming another Magical Girl. However, she tries so many times that she becomes cold and the changes she wishes to make are impossible to achieve. Time, just can’t be changed sometimes. That is what this anime tells us about the hazards and rules of time traveling.

What can go wrong when a self-proclaimed mad scientist tries to fix his microwave? Luckily, you get a working microwave that can still heat up your leftover meatloaf from last night. Unlucky… or maybe lucky, you also get a time traveling device that allows you to send messages back to your past self. Each text that is sent, slightly changes the past until, Rintarou Okabe, discovers how it works. Then he really messed up Akihabara, the wonderland for Otaku all around the world. Left with a broken microwave, Rintarou has to repair what he wrecked.

This is not a happy-go-lucky anime where the lead character gets rich and lives a happy life. Instead, Rintarou’s life will not be the same. Each text he sends changes the very world he lives in and not every text that is sent can change what is meant to be.

This is an anime full of laughs and heartache by bringing you into its grasp like a hurricane playing with a butterfly. It drags you into the action and breaks your heart by the time it’s done.

Steins;Gate, is said to be the prime example of what a time traveling anime should be. It is what other sci-fi anime should look to become. Of course, you have older anime that has dealt with time traveling, Inuyasha for starters. Even Dragon Ball Z has had some time traveling. But Steins;Gate is currently the top among Time Traveling anime.

Time is not something that should be messed with. Even if you can achieve miraculous things with it, the little butterflies that you could make are numerous and unpredictable. A simple action in your past, could completely change your life, and not always for the best. Anime, such as Steins;Gate and Charlotte, show what could happen if you mess with time traveling, both good and bad.

As the anime Zipang showed us, it is sometimes best to just stay out of the course of time and let the events that happened, happen. Other time traveling anime, like Inuyasha, Now and Then, Here and There and World’s End, just pretend that the events in the previous time don’t really affect the future time line.

Is there another great anime series that is based on time travel that you want to share? Let us know in the comments below!

Author: Zack Ringler

My name is Zack Ringler, just like it is written on all of my articles. I come from America, Indiana to be precise. I work for the Board of Education in Utsunomiya Japan. Heard of it? Didn’t think so. I am a teacher, writer and game designer with my first game “Moonshine Run” going on Kickstarter later this year. You can learn more about me on my facebook by looking up my name or just adding /zringler to the end of the facebook URL. Hope you like what you read, later.

Top 5 Anime by Zack Ringler

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25 Time Travelling Anime That Will Blow Your Mind

Time Travel, a concept so infinite and unexplainable. A staple in the works of science fiction mystery, and fantasy, the focus of Time Travel is to make changes either by accident or intentionally.

Imagine going back in time to right that one wrong you made, that one mistake that costed you everything in the future.

You could also change the future so that your past self would be better informed of what is to come. The possibilities of Time Travel are endless, and these 25-hand selected anime prove the concept of time is not only infinite but conventional as well.

1. Your Name.

2. re:zero -starting life in another world-, 4. steins; gates, 5. mahou shoujo madoka★magica, 6. the girl who leapt through time, 7. tokyo revengers, 8. bokutachi no remake, 9. future diary, 10. the melancholy of haruhi suzumiya, 11. buddy complex, 12. higurashi when they cry, 13. mekakucity actors, 14. sakurada reset, 15. zegapain, 16. urusei yatsura movie 2: beautiful dreamer, 18. little busters, 19. occultic;nine, 20. date a live, 21. iroduku: the world in colors, 23. nobunaga concerto, 24. punchline, 25. charlotte.

The protagonists are Tachibana Taki, who lives in Yotsuya, Tokyo, and Miyamizu Mitsuha, who lives deep in the mountains of Hida. When they wake up one morning, Taki’s consciousness shifts to Mitsuha’s body and Mitsuha’s to Taki’s, and the two begin their life as swapping bodies. They are strangers who do not know each other, and they are in the midst of puberty.

They sometimes complained about the unfamiliarity and confusion, but before they knew it, they had grown into an indispensable part of each other’s lives.

Technically speaking, labeling this film a “masterpiece” is an insult by omission. Given that Shinkai is a master, anything he makes is obviously going to be a “masterpiece,” but among silt there is gold, and among gold there may be diamonds. This movie is a diamond, easily the prettiest feature-length film.

• The story is conceptually very simple, but a lot of depth is added as the story goes on. The show drives several important points, which can be very philosophical, without being too complicated for the average viewer to understand
• There was not a single sound that felt out of place. All the characters’ voices suited their appearances, leading to a very immersive experience
• Spectacular animation. There is one particular scene near the beginning which has a sort of “3D camera rotation” that looks so real that I thought it was rendered; but at the last second, the character turned their head, and I was able to tell that it had been entirely hand-drawn

Based on the novel of the same name by Tappei Nagatsuki , abbreviated as Re-Zero . The story begins when Subaru, a NEET high school student, is summoned to another world on his way home from a convenience store. As soon as he arrives, he is tangled up with a gang of thugs and in a pinch, but it is Emilia, a spirit user, who saves him.

Every time he loses a battle and loses his life, he always wakes up at the same point in time. Subaru had unknowingly acquired the ability to rewind time back to death. Subaru was exhausted by his mentally and physically damaging ability, but it was the demon maid, Rem, who loved and encouraged him.

Can Subaru rely on his “return to death” to protect his loved ones? And which love will he accept?

• The character designs are very lovely. They are usually rather detailed, especially their facial expressions and features during moments when their faces are zoomed in on. Vibrant colors also help to bring the characters and scenery to life
• An Isekai MC that is not insanely overpowered, making it easier for the audience to connect with his challenges
• As a light novel adaptation, you’ll probably find many standard tropes ranging from the generic jealousy of certain girls to the childish antics of Beatrice. Subaru also tends to make himself look like a fool in front of others which can be irritating to watch. Still, the comedy of the show on most occasions is properly timed to balance out the darker themes

Satoru Fujinuma, an unsuccessful manga artist, has a mysterious ability called “replay (revival),” which is triggered in a pinch and repeatedly rewinds until the unfavorable outcome is corrected.

Eighteen years ago, Kayo Hinatsuki died in a series of kidnappings, and her mother, Sachiko, recognized the kidnappers and turned the tables on them. When Satoru is about to be accused of his mother’s murder, a revival is triggered.

The place where Satoru’s consciousness was transferred was inside 11-year-old Satoru in 1988, the year the kidnapping took place. March 1, the day Kayo disappeared. Can he keep Kayo away from the incident and protect her? Satoru runs through time for the future where his loved ones are still alive.

• The suspenseful atmosphere which Erased is able to create, and the facial expressions which arouse suspicions on various characters are perfectly executed which supports its mystery genre incredibly well
• OP and ED are amazingly executed. They even became a staple for online anime content creators for a time
• The way ‘Revival’ is portrayed by showing a blue butterfly across the screen and the way history or the future is compared with the timeline using movie reels makes Erased more interesting to watch

A TV animation based on a hypothetical science ADV game by 5pb. The “Future Gadget Laboratory” in Akihabara is a rather strange invention club led by Rintaro Okabe and consisting of lab members Itaru Hashida and Mayuri Shiina.

They have discovered that their invention, a “telephone range (tentative),” can be used as a time machine to send cellular phone e-mails to the past. Further experiments revealed that the past can be altered by D-mail.

By the time they had succeeded in advancing their research and commercializing the time leap machine, they were being stalked by a mysterious organization. The past alteration involves great risk, and we learned the cruel fact that one of our friends will always die, whether in the alpha or beta world line…

Mayuri, his childhood friend, and Kurisu, to whom he is attracted. Can Okabe find a way to save them both?

• The art style simply has a way more realistic feel to it than your generic anime
• The characters are written in such a way that you are bound to like them. They all have their own likable and recognizable traits, which are perfectly described from the start: Makise Kurisu the tsundere, Daru the nerd, Mayuri the childish girl, and so on
• The voice talent in the anime is strong, with Miyano Mamoru’s performance as Okabe in particular standing out. The other performances are somewhat overshadowed by this, but are solid performances nonetheless

Director Akiyuki Shinbo and Shaft have teamed up to create a masterpiece of dark fantasy. It depicts the daily battles of girls who choose to live as “magical girls” in exchange for a wish.

Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are saved by the magical girl Mami when they wander into a witch’s ward, and they have a strong yearning for each other. However, they are reminded of the reality when they witness the horrific scene of Mami being eaten by a witch.

M adoMagi takes a turn from the heartwarming everyday life and takes on a darker fantasy aspect. What is the harsh fate that magical girls bear? What decision will Madoka make?

• Magical Girl overtones combined with the trance-like aesthetics of Shaft and the glorious character designs by a small green man who lives on top of an all-girls Japanese high school dormitory
• The script is written by Urobuchi Gen , known for his work on Fate/Zero (hence the poem) and the highly acclaimed (and crazy good) visual novel Saya no Uta
•  Madoka has an uncanny knack for going from quaint to disturbing incredibly fast. It also has the ability to BLOW YOUR MIND

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a juvenile novel written by Tsutsui Yasutaka . It became a TV drama, movie, and manga several times. However, this movie is its first anime adaptation. The main character, Konno Makoto, is brighter and more easygoing than any other characters in movies or TV dramas made before. At once she knows she acquires the power of “time leap.” She uses it without hesitation to satisfy her own desire.

Makoto Konno is in her last year of high school, but is having a hard time deciding what to do with her future. In between enduring the pressure of her teachers and killing time with her best friends, Makoto’s life suddenly changes when she accidentally discovers that she is capable of literally leaping through time.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time follows Makoto as she plays around with her newfound power. However, she soon learns the hard way that every choice has a consequence, and time is a lot more complicated than it may seem.

• Tsutsui Yasutaka is a prolific author and known for science fiction works featuring dark humour/satire. His most famous work is probably The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
• The art in this movie is special. Featuring what seems to be simple character work, yet extremely detailed environments, you begin to feel sort of immersed into the characters because of discerning features, particularly of their personality, rather than by simply their appearances alone
• This is an excellent, dramatic movie with a small amount of romance thrown in. The movie can actually be quite funny at times, especially with Makoto’s priceless reactions to some things

Takemichi Hanagaki’s second year of middle school was the highest point in his life. He had respect, a gang of friends he could count on, and even a girlfriend. But that was twelve years ago. Today, he’s a nobody: a washed-up nonentity made fun of by children and always forced to apologize to his younger boss. 

A sudden news report on the Tokyo Manji Gang’s cruel murder of the only girlfriend he ever had alongside her brother only adds insult to injury. Half a second before a train ends his pitiful life for good, Takemichi flashes back to that same day twelve years ago, when he was still dating Hinata Tachibana.

After being forced to relive the very same day that began his downward spiral, Takemichi meets Hinata’s younger brother. Without thinking, he admits to his seeming death before flashing back to the past. Takemichi urges him to protect his sister before inexplicably returning to the future. 

Miraculously, he isn’t dead. Stranger still, the future has changed. It seems as though Takemichi can alter the flow of time. Given the chance to prevent his ex-girlfriend’s tragic death at the hands of the Tokyo Manji Gang, Takemichi decides to fly through time to change the course of the future.

• From fluid fight scenes to encapsulating settings, the animators really put their hearts into it
• The OSTs, opening themes and ending are all bangers! (It was the first anime to feature a yodelling segment in the OP)
• The story can feel slow at times, but from it comes huge buildups for future events/arcs which you won’t want to miss

Life is not going well for 28-year-old Kyouya Hashiba. Having left his office job to pursue a career in the video game industry, his internship at a popular game studio abruptly ends, leaving him unemployed and forcing him to move back in with his parents. 

Additionally, his jealousy toward the success of the “Platinum Generation”—a group of similarly-aged creators—has caused him to regret his decision to attend a traditional university instead of an arts college. Even though he believes there are no second chances in life, Kyouya is suddenly given one when he wakes up one day and finds himself 10 years in the past.

Instead of choosing a business school like he originally had, Kyouya decides to pursue his passions and attends the Oonaka University of Art. There, he meets classmate Eiko Kawasegawa, the woman who had hired him as an intern in the present, alongside his new housemates and future Platinum Generation members: underachieving artist Aki Shino, an aspiring singer and actress Nanako Kogure, and naturally-gifted writer Tsurayuki Rokuonji.

With each project they complete together, Kyouya and his friends venture closer to discovering their true potential as creators and remaking their lives into the ideal versions they desire.

• With a character cast of young adults, the anime has an overall more mature feeling. While the anime is very light on fan service, it still has some compromising moments and the obligatory beach episode
• This isn’t a difficult anime to get into and you can watch this without breaking a sweat. It’s a simple show that uses time travel as a plot device but ultimately doesn’t rely on it to sell its main story
• One of the bigger selling points of the show is realism. It’s very refreshing to see young amateurs build their way up and learn about the video game industry

Based on the suspense manga of the same title by Esuno Sakae . For Yukiteru Amano, who is not good at interacting with others, the only people he can call friends are the imaginary creatures “Deus” and “Murmur”. When Yukiteru was typing in his diary on his cell phone as usual, a text that he does not remember was floating on the cell phone screen.

He also announced a survival game for the 12 owners of future diaries, starting with the first owner, Yukiteru, and ending with the 12th, with the winner of the game taking the title of god.

The diary owners join hands and cheat each other. During the battle, we learn that classmate Yuno Gasai, the 2nd, is actually Yukiteru’s single-minded stalker. How will the survival game turn out? Will Yuno’s paranoid love reach him?

• It explores how one’s actions and willpower can change the future and how good people can go insane or do terrible things because of traumatic experiences
• The pacing is fairly fast, but not forced, even when there’s no intense action going on, you find yourself on the edge of your seat knowing that an enemy could pop up at any time
•  The music (OSTs, OP, and ED) is decent, they wisely avoided sound during some of the intense, dark & scary moments where they let the suspense and fear build up in the viewers

Kyon is a high school boy who has taken a liking to his eccentric classmate Haruhi Suzumiya. Haruhi, seeking something out of the ordinary, starts a club of her own, and invites Yuki Nagato, a former member of the Literature Club, Mikuru Asahina, a moe, and Itsuki Koizumi, a mysterious transfer student, to form the SOS-dan (Haruhi Suzumiya’s group to make the world a more exciting place).

Unexpectedly, Haruhi’s activities are to “seek out and play with aliens, people from the future, and psychics,” which she has set as her mission statement. Yuki Nagato was an alien who observed Haruhi, Mikuru was a futurist who monitored Haruhi, and Koizumi was a psychic who belonged to an “agency.

The second season episode, “Endless Eight,” depicts a summer vacation that never ends due to a time loop. 8 episodes, almost two months of the same story, were aired (the drawings and direction were different for each episode), giving the viewers the feeling of being in a time loop. It became a topic of conversation among anime fans.

• There’s one episode where a particular character is singing and they have the lyrics/drummer/guitarist synced perfectly. Beautiful fight scenes (though these are short and infrequent) too
• It’s presented to you out of chronological order. That means episode 4 comes after episode 6, and episode 8 comes before 5 (not the actual order of the show). Don’t worry though, the episodes are out of order with purpose and intention, and it makes the anime all the more interesting
• The characters are spins on stereotypes. Kyon is the ‘boring unexceptional brown-haired guy’, Mikuru is the walking pile of moe, Yuki is the aloof meganekko, and then there’s Haruhi. She’s so original that I cannot even place her in a set category

Buddy Complex , a.k.a. BuddyCon , an original robot anime produced by Sunrise , follows Aoba, a high school student living in the year 2014, who is transported to the future 74 years in the future, where he lives as a confused pilot.

In 2014, Aoba, a high school student, is relentlessly pursued by Bizon, a passenger on the giant robot “Nebiros”. To protect Aoba, it is her classmate Hina Yumihara who fights back with “Carla”. The moment Bizon tries to take her along by self-destructing, a singularity appears. Hina is sent to the future of 2078, and Aoba is sent to the future of 2088.

Aoba arrives in the world of 2088, and a chick that looks exactly like Hina appears in front of him. Why does Bizon attack Aoba? What happened behind the time leap between Hina and Hina?

• They are easily likable and feel human enough not to feel two-dimensional. Also, when they get emotional, there are clear reasons behind them, and there are also no noticeable plot holes that I have noticed while casually watching the show
• Coming from Sunrise , it is not much of a surprise that the art and sound are well done. The background music during the battles and while they are on standby fit in very well, and the OP and ED are catchy
• The plot did a great job creating a sci-fi-action anime with a romantic kind of atmosphere at some parts

The original is a computer game produced by the doujin circle 07th Expansion . The first season includes “Onikakushihen”, “Watanagashihen”, “Chousakushihen”, and “Biyasushihen” the question-and-answer version, and “ Meakashihen ” and “ Kakushihen ” the solution version, for a total of 6 parts.

The setting is the village of Hinamizawa in 1983. Keiichi Maehara, a transfer student from the city, was enjoying his life in the village surrounded by Rena, Enone, Satoko, Rika, and other cheerful friends.

However, the situation gradually changes, and he finds himself drawn into the vortex of a mysterious incident in Hinamizawa. When they are tormented by anxiety and unable to trust others, who reaches out to them? You will have to see for yourself why this is a “time-lapse” work!

• The pacing is excellent, and the suspense is palpable. You know terrible things are going to happen, but you don’t know exactly what
• Each experiment you run (arc you see) reveals a few more clues, and you formulate a new theory, only to find it shattered by another totally unexpected horror in the very same arc
• Higurashi would appeal to two types of people. The megalomaniacs who cackle madly in seeing a happy community descend into the depth of oblivion, and the curious scientist who watched each arc with intense interest… for they want to know exactly *why* everything goes wrong (though they can also cackle madly just a little)

The animation division of the Kagerou Project by Jin (Enemy of Nature P). A long time ago, Azami, a medusa, fell in love with a young human named Tsukihiko and created “Kagerou Days,” a world that will never end because of the shortness of human life.

When her granddaughter Marie was beaten to death, Azami brought her back to life by drawing her into the Kagerou Days and giving her the power to control all snakes!

Meanwhile, a reclusive young man named Shintaro encounters a strange group called the Mechakushidan as soon as he steps out into the outside world for the first time in two years because of a prank played on him by a mysterious software program called Dennou Shoujo Ene. Kido, the leader of the Mekakushi-dan, has the ability to “hide his eyes,” Set has the ability to “steal eyes,” and Kano has the ability to “deceive eyes”.

The members of the Mekakushi-dan, a group of people with abilities related to “eyes,” seem to have powers that stem from their respective pasts. This is a time-lapse work in which the Mekakushi-dan, made up of such unique members, are active!

• What Mekakucity does do, as a result of its roundabout approach to storytelling, is repeatedly twist your perception of the main characters. The show’s big ‘mystery’, where you have to guess which character is actually the one holding the witch’s power, is one that takes a while to become obvious
• Produced by Jin , the music was quite popular before the anime was released. Which helped the anime skyrocket popularity with viewers
• The voice actors of Mekakucity Actors bring so much more into the story, really justifying the anime adaptation, and a special mention goes to Ene’s voice actor Kana Asumi – her character never fails to bring a smile to your face!

The popular novel by Yutaka Kono , consisting of seven volumes, has been adapted into an anime. The story depicts the love and friendship between high school boys and girls in Sakurada, a town where people with supernatural powers gather. Kei Asai, who can retain all her memories, and Misora Haruki, who can rewind the world for up to three days, have a mission to accomplish.

They are still trying to bring back Violet Aima, their classmate, who died two years ago as a result of the resetting process.

During these days, Kay and Harusaki meet two important figures in Sakirata’s history: Sasano, an old man who can enter photographs, and a witch who has the ability to see into the future.

• There are scenes that have a really deep impact while having a good harmony with the soundtrack
• The characters manage to develop well in a very surprising way, they start getting more emotional over time while dealing with very philosophical and psychological events that will help them understand more about themselves, the story of Sakurada, and the ability users
• If you aren’t into a slow-paced story with characters that will develop quite slowly, this show certainly might not be for you. but if you are patient enough, certainly this anime will keep you hooked and will reward those that stick to the end

Sunrise presents this robot coming-of-age anime. The story centers on Kyou, a carefree high school student living in Maihama City, his childhood friend Ryoko, and a mysterious beautiful girl named Shizuno.

At Shizuno’s invitation, Kyou sets out in his giant robot Zegapain. He is convinced that what he sees is a virtual world that bears no resemblance to the peaceful everyday world, but what he sees is the real world of war.

In fact, it has been a long time since humans disappeared from the earth, and Kyou and Ryoko were nothing more than “phantom bodies,” personality memory bodies, and data without substance. Their high school life in Maihama and club activities were all virtual spaces created by computers.

Is the phantom body human? Or is it …? What was the answer they came up with after all their troubles? The story of Ryo, a high school student, struggling to discover what is important to him will touch your heart.

• Zegapain manages to maintain a complex fully explored setting and plot advancements without any of those, the show is maturely handled, always evolving with its characters and plot developments, always rewarding, and never breaking its rules
•  All the characters have a purpose and add something to the show but some of the side characters can lack some presence occasionally and are rather forgettable despite being well fleshed-out and having solid development and backdrop
•  Something that can also throw a lot of shows off the deep end is a shoehorned romance or love triangle that just isn’t well handled in general, Zegapain deals with its romance very well

This is the second theatrical version written and directed by Mamoru Oshii , who was the chief director of the TV series. It is highly regarded as the original “loop” film, and is known as a work that had a great influence on creators in later generations.

The main character, Ataru Moroboshi, attends Tomobiki High School, which is in an uproar with the school festival coming up the next day. The day before the school festival is about to begin, the students are in an uproar, but something unusual is discovered when Ataru’s exhausted homeroom teacher, Onsen Mark, complains, “I feel like I’m repeating the day before the school festival”.

Sakura, a public health doctor, embarks on an investigation and comes upon the frightening sight of the entire town of Tomobiki being transported on a giant stone statue of a turtle. Not Urashima Taro on the back of a turtle, but Tomobikicho… What on earth is going on? And will Ataru and his friends be able to escape from the loop?

• The animation has a lot of fun stylistic choices and tends towards being very inventively surreal
• Music–it’s a combination of atmospheric creepy tones and 80s synth. Oh and let me tell you, the 80s synth gets really hilarious really quickly
•  The characters never keep you in a state of being uninvested, and the story has a certain weight to it that truly lends itself to some of the heavier dialogue

The anime Orange is based on a shoujo manga by Takano Ichigo . At the opening ceremony of her second year of high school, Naho Takamiya receives a letter from “herself in 10 years”. In the letter, it told Naho what would happen to her in the future and the actions she should take to avoid it.

At first, Naho was skeptical, but then a boy named Kakeru Naruse transferred from Tokyo, just as the letter said. In the letter, it was written that Naho would fall in love with Sho from now on, but that Sho would die in an accident in the winter of his seventeenth year. 

It was also discovered that similar letters had been sent to Naho’s friends, Hiroto Suwa and Takako Chino. Naho and his friends believe the contents of the letters and cooperate to prevent Sho’s accident.

• The opening “Hikari no Hahen” by Yu Takahashi is really splendid and set the mood for the next 20 minutes of the show while the ending “Mirai” by Kobukuro acts as a catalyst to all those feelings we go through
• The main casts do get their developments due to the main cast being in a group and there are some romantic tensions here and there
• The animation was consistent throughout and the visuals on how the camera was used were used to great effects, such as sudden transitions on weird differing angles, made a rather mundane occurrence, intense at times, huge praise goes to its backgrounding artwork as it was utterly gorgeous at the best of times

Based on the romance adventure game produced by Key, Little Busters! (Abbreviated as “ LITBUS “). The main character, Naoe Riki, who lost his parents when he was a child, was saved by the “Little Busters,” an ally of justice led by his childhood friend Kyosuke.

Time passed, and the members of the Little Busters became high school students. Kyosuke announces the formation of a baseball team and orders Riki and Suzu to gather the members. Kyosuke watches over each member as Riki takes care of each one of them. Before the first game, Kyosuke tells the team that the leader will be replaced.

Riki begins to climb the stairs to adulthood, fighting his desire to be pampered by Kyosuke. Meanwhile, the “secret of the world” is revealed. With Kyosuke at the helm, Riki forms an emotional bond with his childhood friends who support him. It is a moving work that will inevitably bring tears to your eyes when you discover the truth behind peaceful everyday life!

• If you love slow-paced storylines, this is a time-travel anime made for you
• The voice actors/actresses sound more natural and the dialogue feels more fluid than forced between the characters
• *Psst*, heard you were looking for fanservice, if so, there’s lots of it here for you

Based on a novel by Chiyomaru Shikura , creator of “STEINS;GATE”. Gamon Yuta, a.k.a. “Gamotan,” is a high school sophomore who runs the occult-related website “Kirikiribasara” for affiliate income.

He visits Hashigami, an “occult-oriented” professor who has attracted media attention, on the recommendation of the site’s staff member, Ryoutan (Narusawa Ryoka), and comes face to face with Hashigami’s corpse, which has been murdered by someone!

A few days later, a large number of dead bodies surface in a pond in Inokashira Park, titled Case 256, and since there is no major damage to the bodies, suicide or brainwashing is suspected. Gamotan and “Kiribasa” officials were interested in the case, but they were confronted with an unexpected fact…

In fact, Gamotan and the others were victims of the 256 incidents and had become ghosts without their knowledge. How did they end up dying? Gamotan and his team, now in spirit form, take on the giant organization behind the case!

• The sound is amazing and is composed by Yokoyama Masaru ( Your Lie in April , Plastic Memories ) with it just adding to the immersion in certain scenes
• The art style is a breath of fresh air with the character designs being relatively unique
• The animation as expected from this studio is relatively good with most scenes being aesthetically pleasing and generally fluid

The Date A Live series is an anime work based on science fiction and romantic comedy themes. Based on a light novel by Tachibana Kouji.

The setting is a world 30 years after the spatial earthquake, a catastrophe caused by the appearance of mysterious life forms called “spirits”. The main character, Shidou Itsukawa, meets a spirit girl, Juka Yatogami, at the place where the spatial earthquake occurred. However, Shido was caught up in the battle between the human and the spirit and collapsed. When he woke up, he found himself on board the Fluxinus, an aerial ship. There, he learns that his sister, Kotori Gokawa, is the commander of Ratatosk, an organization dedicated to the peaceful resolution of spatial tremors.

Kotori’s surprise solution to stop the spatial earthquake is to “date the spirits and make them fall in love with each other”? In order to negotiate with the spirits, Shido has to repeatedly go on dates with various beautiful spirit girls.

• The art style and animations are beautiful to look at. If there is one thing DAL does great its the animations. There were no derp faces, the fight scenes looked crisp, the backgrounds were well done, and everything about was done to a tee
• The soundtrack is another category DAL excels at. The BGM fits almost every scene and really brought the most out of each scene
• Buddy, look at me, harem plus ecchi, you get the best of both worlds

Iroduku: The World in Colors is an anime work written by Yashio Natsuka and produced by P.A. WORKS. 13 episodes were broadcast as an original anime.

Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, in the year 2078 A.D., is a mysterious world where magic is available. Hitomi Tsukishiro, a girl with color blindness who cannot use magic very well, is a girl with little emotion because she lost her color vision at an early age. Her grandmother, Tsukishiro Amber, a great magician, is worried about Hitomi and sends her back in time to the year 2018 in Nagasaki Prefecture.

The place where Hitomi crosses time and space is the room of a high school boy, Yuiyo Aoi. She rushes out of the room, but sees vivid colors on the picture he drew.

• The pacing is slow, but this is intentional since the author wants you to learn every characters growth/story
• As it’s part of the plot, the show’s visuals manages to capture the essence of that at its finest
• From Hitomi joining the photography club to experiencing the cultural festival together with friends, P.A. Works manages to sell this series as a modern coming of age fantasy

The anime ISLAND is based on the Windows video game software released by Front Wing. A young man washes ashore on an island called Urashima, which has an exclusive climate.

The young man has amnesia and believes from his fragmented memories that he has come to the past to save the world from the future. A girl named Rinne Ohara gave him a name, which he changed to Sanzenkai Setsuna.

Urashima holds many mysteries, such as “Baimon disease,” which kills people when exposed to sunlight, and “Boryujima,” which only appears on stormy days. Kirina, together with Rinne, Kurutsu Karen, Garando-Sara, and others, will explore the mysteries of the island.

• The story is well written and will have you at the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens at the end of each episode
• The art style is very unique and its animation has received high praises
•  The characters’ personalities were as well-written as the story as well. Each of the four main characters—Rinne, Setsuna, Sara, and Karen—had their own character developments which developed quite nicely

The original story of Nobunaga Concerto is a shonen manga by Ayumi Ishii . It won the 57th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Juvenile Division.

Saburo, a high school boy living in the present day, accidentally travels back in time to the 18th year of the Sengoku Period (1549). In Sengoku-era Japan, Saburo meets Nobunaga Oda, a man with a face identical to his own. Nobunaga, who is sickly and frail, unlike the legends of history, asks Saburo to switch places with him and live as Nobunaga Oda.

At first, Saburo does not accept the idea of taking Oda Nobunaga’s place. However, Saburo skillfully survived the Warring States period with his bold words, actions, and ideas.

• The storytelling is brilliant – no cliches, no harems, no love triangles, it’s all about Oda Nobunaga quest to unite all of Japan in Saburo’s way
• The sound is amazing too (listening to the ED as I write this), making you cry at times – from sadness and happiness alike
• Character development is subtle yet clear, you might even end up cheering for the once-disgusting guy

An original work by the animation production company MAPPA. The story is about a high school student, Yuta Irritatsu, who aims for the survival of the earth after he sees a pair of underpants that will lead the human race to the end of the world.

The story begins when Yuta and the residents of Furukaikan, Labura, encounter a bus hijacking. Strange Juice, an ally of justice (who is actually Mikatan, a resident of Korokan), rushes in and quickly defeats the enemies, but the leader of the group takes his back and is killed by a man.

Yuta awakens when he sees the underwear of the unconscious labra, and dives into the river with the man in tow. As Yuta is pulled out of the river, all he sees is Strange Juice Mikatan’s underwear!

The amount of energy released exceeds the limit and Yuta dies, and the human race faces extinction. Yuta, now in spirit form, decides to go back in time and fight in order to regain his reality and save the earth from destruction.

• Punch Line is a good flex of narrative muscle, bringing together originally stereotypical characters into a community that gives them just a little more innovation than the rest of the industry can do right now
• It’s a riotous comedy that inverts all sorts of terribleness from the known-to-all loved-by-none (or degenerate) genre of ecchi. It has everything; a zany premise, harem situation, superpowers, nose bleeds, the promise of sex jokes, robots, time travel, ninjas, mascot characters, archetypal cast, forgettable lead, low-budget setting, and the list goes on
• This completely absurd show with no boundaries and just a handful of troupes that the scriptwriter wanted to toy with actually manages to make you care. That is Punch Lines’s charm

The second original anime by Key . Yuu Otosaka is enjoying carefree high school life, abusing her ability to “take over another person’s body for 5 seconds” for her own trivial desires. However, the sudden appearance of Nao Tomori, the president of Hoshinoumi Academy, uncovers Yuu’s evil ways and forces him to help out with student council activities.

At first, he was reluctant to join the student council, but as he learns of his destiny as a gifted student, he gradually discovers what he is meant to do. When he realizes that his ability is “looting,” an extremely dangerous ability, he makes an important decision.

• Each Character is given a whole episode for introductions and has a backstory. And as you continue through this series you will see the main character Otosaka Yuu changing positively, as he was a narcissist
• Music and art-wise, this anime has it all and even spawned memes that are still used until this day
• An outstanding, dramatic, and heartwarming story that will make the biggest man “shed dem tears”

The power of time travel elevates your perspective and increases possibilities by infinite multiples. We either go back in time to fix something we once fumbled, or we go to the future and explore new horizons that have yet to be encountered. 

Time an infinite concept, and with these kinds of anime comes a variety of paths to be explored. We all have that one moment where we wish we could have gone back in time, so let’s experience that with this grand list of anime to binge and chill too. 

Be sure to keep checking back on our site for more great anime recommendations!

Top 15 Best Time Travel Anime [2024]

By: Author Amar Hussain

Posted on Last updated: January 2, 2024

When it comes to time travel, time paradoxes, and timelines, anime shows either do it right or wrong, and all of these series below do it perfectly, some are even considered masterpieces!

Getting the sci-fi clique and fresh coat of paint, all of these shows and movies make time travel refreshing all over again.

Quick Links

15. Occult Academy

13. sagrada reset, 12. iroduku: the world in colors, 10. remake our life, 9. charlotte, 8. blast of tempest, 7. the girl who leapt through time, 6. tokyo revengers, 5. re:zero –starting life in another world–, 3. rascal does not dream of a dreaming girl, 2. link click, 1. steins;gate, best time travel anime.

17-year-old Maya Kumashiro, and student at Waldstein Academy, crosses paths with Fumiaki Uchida, a time traveler. According to Fumiaki, in 2012, aliens have invaded the earth!

To save the planet, he, along with other time travelers, is going back in time to 1999 to destroy an artifact called the Nostradamus Key , prophesized to cause an apocalypse.

Living in 1999 with her own plans and ambitions for the future that won’t exist, Maya teams up with Fumiaki to help find the Nostradamus Key!

Being an only child, 4-year-old Kun Oota has always been spoiled rotten by his parents.

But when his baby sister Mirai is born, all his parent’s love and attention shift only to Mirai—and he hates it! Kun hates his new sister Mirai!

To adjust to the changes in his life, a girl who claims to be the future Mirai takes Kun on a journey through their family’s past, present, and future .

In this travel through their family, Kun learns why he comes from and the big brother he should become for Mirai.

16-year-old Kei Asai was born and lived in the small town of Sakurada. Not an ordinary town, however, as everyone born, there has superpowers!

With photographic memory ability, Kei forms work together with his friend Misora Haruki, who has the power to reset time!

The two form the Service Club at school in order the use their abilities to help the townspeople.

Kei and Misora might have got more than they bargained for when they got involved with the Administration Bureau, manipulating the town to their own means.

In 2078, despite being from a family of witches, 17-year-old Hitomi Tsukishiro can’t use magic and, after losing her mother, loses her ability to see the joy and colors of the world.

To bring happiness, love, and color back into her granddaughter’s life, Kohaku sends Hitomi back in time 60 years.

In 2018, Kohaku was also 17-years-old going to school with her group of friends and meet her future granddaughter!

So can Kohaku and her friends return the colors to Hitomi’s life, or will she forever be trapped in her new bleak world?

16-year-old Naho Takamiya’s first day back at high school starts off on a weird note: she gets a letter addressed to her from her future self!

10 years in the future, Naho writes about her regrets with her new classmate Kakeru Naruse and asks her past self to be friends with him .

At first, Naho thinks she’s going crazy, but then when Kakeru Naruse transfers to her school on the very same day, Naho has no choice but to accept that the letter is real!

Along with her friends, Naho invites Kakeru into her circle of friends. Naho is worried for Kakeru, however, because, in the future, he’s not alive anymore…

At 28, Kyouya Hashiba hates his life. After losing his chance to get his dream job in the video game industry, he is currently unemployed and living with his parents.

Meanwhile, he is surrounded by people his age who are successful makes him regret never going to art school.

Kyouya wishes he could go back in time to rewrite all his regrets and mistakes. But life doesn’t work that way…or does it? Suddenly, Kyouya wakes up one day to find that he is inexplicably 10 years in the past! Cool!

With a second chance in his hand, Kyouya enrolls at the Oonaka University of Art and pursues the dreams he missed out on in his first run. But will Kyouya be able to change his life for the better, or is everything inevitable?

On the outside, 15-year-old Yuu Otosaka is a charming and smart student, but it’s all an act. He is really a narcissistic and manipulative guy who can fully fully anyone’s body for five seconds.

He uses his ability to cheat on his tests and look like a hero in front of girls.

It turns out, Yuu isn’t the only one with unexplained superpowers. Yuu gets caught by a girl named Nao Tomori, who can be invisible to any person she chooses. Blackmailing Yuu with his cheating away, Nao forces Yuu to transfer to her school, Hoshinoumi Academy.

Here, Nao makes Yuu help her and her comrades track down other supernatural kids abusing their powers .

Yuu reluctantly agrees, and soon, things get much more complicated than it seems, especially when one of their targets has the power to travel back in time!

18-year-old Yoshino Takigawa has kept a big secret from his best friend Mahiro Fuwa: he’s been dating his younger sister Aika. This all comes to an end when Aika is murdered!

Mahiro disappears in search of her killers, and Yoshino tries to moves on with his life. A chance to going back to a normal life ends when a mysterious girl points a gun at Yoshino’s head!

At the last second, he is saved by Mahiro, who tells Yoshino that he has hired Hakaze Kusaribe, a witch, to help him find Aika’s murderer. Hakaze has no at state—the whole world! If her brother finds the “Tree of Exodus,” he can use it to end the world!

Now Yoshino is caught up in trying to save the world and learn the truth of why Aika had to die .

Although 17-year-old Makoto Konno is facing her last year of high school, she has no clue what she wants to do with the rest of her life.

Being pressured by her teachers, Makoto pushes her problems aside and spends her life relaxing with her best friends.

Makoto’s life gets a bit more complicated when she accidentally learns that she has the ability to “time-leap”: the power to leap through time!

At first, Makoto has fun with her new powers but quickly learns the consequences of her choices and trying to untangle all the damage she’s done.

Takemichi Hanagaki peaked after middle school. He had a group of loyal friends and a girlfriend named Hinata Tachibana.

But, 12-years-later, Takemichi is a nobody: working a dead-end job and being made fun of by kids and his younger boss.

Everything gets worse when Takemichi learns that the Tokyo Manji Gang murdered his ex-girlfriend Hinata and her brother.

Unfortunately, Takemichi is also about to meet his end on train tracks.

It’s on the verge of death that Takemichi unlocks the ability to travel through time! Hoping to prevent Hinata’s death, Takemichi uses his powers again to go back in time to face the Tokyo Manji Gang!

One moment, 18-year-old NEET Subaru Natsuki is standing in a convenience store, the next moment, he’s standing in a fantasy world!

He is excited to start his new life in a fantasy world…he quickly gets beat up by a bunch of thugs.

However, Subaru is saved by a half-elf girl named Satella, who he immediately falls in love with…then, he and Satella are both assassinated.

However, Subaru finds himself back where he first started and realizes that he goes back in time every time he dies .

Retaining this knowledge, Subaru meets Satella all over again, and again, and again.

As a kid, Satoru Fujinuma will never forget the faceless killer who murders three kids, including two of his classmates.

Now, Satoru is a 29-year-old manga artist, and the killer has struck again, killing someone precious to him.

Satoru gets falsely accused when he gets suddenly through 18 years into the past.

Finally, at the age of 11 again, Satoru realizes that he can discover the killer’s identity and stop the murders of his classmates!

Sakuta Azusagawa and Mai Sakurajima are a new couple, and things already get complicated when Sakuta’s first crush Shouko Makinohara re-enters his life.

This makes Mai beyond jealous, but Sakuta is confused as to why Shouko is suddenly a grown adult.

Then Shouko is back to when she was in middle school and suffering from her grave illness. What’s worse, the old scar on Sakuta’s chest is worsening whenever Shouko is around him.

Despite going through a rough patch with Mai, Sakuta knows that Shouko needs his help, but what will he lose if he continues to uncover her mystery?

In a small photography shop called Time Photo Studio, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang can use their superpowers to enter their customer’s photos .

Cheng can control a person’s words and actions inside a photo while Lu can see 12 hours into the future from when a photo is taken.

Each job has its sets of challenges and dangers, but Cheng and Lu are determined to complete are of their jobs!

18-year-old “mad scientist” Rintaro “Okarin” Okabe lives in an old building in Akihabara where he hopes to invent “future gadgets” with his childhood friend and part-time café maid Mayuri Shiina and hacker Hashida “Daru” Itaru.

Their current project: the Phone Microwave. Function: turning bananas into green goop.

When science prodigy Makise Kurisu steps into their “lab,” she helps them out with their Phone Microwave, resulting in the weird trio creating a time machine!

With the beginning to change the past, present, and future, only Okabe is the only that can remember all of the timelines and the consequences of messing with time .

The 24 Best Time Travel Anime To Explore Alternatives

Francesco Buffa

November 18, 2022

Tops & Rankings

Having the possibility to travel through time and influence the past or the future is an undeniably fascinating perspective.

Many anime tried to take this concept and integrate it into their plot, using it to give more variety to their story.

In this article, we list the best time travel anime that we think uses this plot device in the most effective way.

The specific ranking of every anime you’ll find in this listicle is based on our personal preferences.

Table of Contents

24. Sandglass of Summer Colors

This anime was released in 2004 and revolves around a boy called Makimura Koutarou who finally works up the courage to confess his feelings to the beautiful Serizawa Kaho .

The night before he meets a strange girl that sends him several years into the future. Here he learns that his beloved girlfriend-to-be will die in a tragic accident.

This shocking discovery will propel the events of the show, during which Makimura will try to change the future to find a way to save Serizawa’s life .

Even if it’s not the best in this category, it still has a lot of redeeming qualities that will keep you entertained.

The main one is surely the tension derived by not knowing if the actions of Makimura will save the life of his loved one, or if it will all end in tragedy again.

23. Occult Academy

Occult Academy is a short anime that came out in 2010 and it is one of the few examples where the anime came first and inspired a manga adaptation.

The story revolves around a girl called Maya , the daughter of the former Headmaster of Waldstein Academy, and Fumiaki Uchida.

The year is 2012 and the planet has been invaded by aliens , so time travelers are been sent back to 1999 to find the Nostradamus Key and avoid the disaster.

To find the Nostradamus Key , time agents were given special cell phones. When a traveler finds an object of interest he takes a photo and if the resulting image is that of a peaceful world, then the subject is the Nostradamus Key.

Maya and Fumiaki will join forces to find the artifact and prevent the apocalypse.

A classic story where the protagonists try to go back in time to save the world from a tragic future, perfect for you all that are watching this list.

22. Buddy Complex

Aoba Watase  is a regular high school student living peacefully in Chiba, that is saved by one of his classmates from the attack of a giant robot.

The girl later turns out to be from the future from 70 years further back, returned to the past to save Aoba, and after saving him, brings him into the future to fight an ongoing war.

Here Aoba shows high compatibility with a pilot named  Dio Weinberg . The two boys perform a successful coupling, and this allows them to share experiences and subsequently increase their capabilities and skills.

As you may have guessed, this anime is heavily centered around battles with robots, making it perfect for all the mecha fans that are searching for something new and some cool anime set in space.

21. Summer Storm!

Summer Storm premiered in the spring of 2009 and tells the story of Yasaka, a 13-year-old boy who is spending his summer vacation at his grandpa’s house.

He meets a girl called Arashi in a cafe where she’s working as a waitress. Yasaka will fall in love with the girl who doesn’t seem to reciprocate his feelings.

This is until she accidentally touches his hand and realizes that she has a connection with Yasaka. Arashi is not just a regular girl, but a ghost of a teenager who died in World War II .

By connecting with Yasaka, she is able to travel back to her time , so she asks Yasaka to help her in her quest to save as many people as she can. The boy will of course agree, not fully realizing what he is getting into.

A perfect story if you are searching for a simple and light story with some sad undertones.

20. Kimagure Orange Road

This is a cult anime from the ’80s and is one of those romcoms that inspired many other future works and is based on the love triangle trope .

Madoka Ayukawa and Hikaru Hiyama are best friends and in love with Kyōsuke Kasuga , and the boy will play along with this dangerous game.

The protagonist Kyōsuke Kasugaiss is also able to use psychic powers to modify reality to his needs.

Orange Road’s plot isn’t based on time travel as the others from this list. It’s present near the end, leading to some interesting revelations.

Nonetheless, we highly recommend it as it’s still a great classic that everyone should watch at some point.

19. Hello World

Hello World is a movie from 2019 that takes place in Kyoto in the year 2027. The plot focuses on Naomi Katagaki , a socially awkward boy with a love for books.

One day Naomi sees an aura piercing through the sky and he has a vision of a three-legged crow and a hooded man who turns out to be him 10 years in the future .

The mysterious figure explains that he has come to change an imminent tragic event that happens to his friend Ruri shortly after they start dating.

At first, Naomi doesn’t believe him but he will eventually follow his future self’s advice to try and save Ruri.

The mystery around what will happen to Ruri makes the film engaging from the get-go, resulting in a brief but surely compelling story.

Zipang is an anime TV show broadcast from 2004 to 2006 and it takes inspiration from a seinen manga of the same name.

The plot revolves around a group of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force led by Capt. Umezu Saburo and Executive Officer Kadomatsu Yosuke.

While running some scheduled training their ship encounters a storm that transports them back to 1942 during the Battle of Midway in World War II.

This battle marks a crippling defeat for the Japanese Navy by the hand of their U.S. counterpart

The crew will try to not change anything and let history take its course, but when they’ll find a dying Lt. Commander Kusaka Takumi, they will be convinced to save him changing history forever.

The main selling point of this anime is its historical setting because it explores WW2 and the danger of time paradoxes .

17. Nobunaga Concerto

This 10-episode anime from 2014 revolves around Saburou , a high school student who finds himself thrown back in time to the Sengoku Era.

Here he will meet legendary general Nobunaga Oda who is frail and on the run. The general will try to teach Saburou to take his place, given that the two are physically very similar.

Saburou will find himself in the position to be a replacement for a man that he doesn’t even know and will have to pose as the legend who united all of Japan .

Nobunaga Concerto is a very underrated show and we think you should give it a chance if you enjoy the peculiar art style and the unusual premises.

16. Charlotte

The scenario presented by Charlotte is that of a world in which a small percentage of the teenage population can develop special powers.

Among them is Yuu Otosaka , a high school student, who keeps his mind-control power hidden. One day, he will be approached by Nao Tomori and taken to a special school for empowered boys like him.

One of the factors that make Charlotte interesting is the inclusion of special powers but in a very limited way. So it retains a fair degree of realism when compared to other similar series.

Time travel is managed by the so-called Time Leap ability , which allows many characters in the show to travel back in time.

15. Thermae Romae

Thermae Romae in a brief anime aired in 2012. It is composed of only 3 episodes and is inspired by a manga series written by Mari Yamazaki.

The plot revolves around Lucius Modestus , an ancient Roman architect who lost faith in himself and his work so his friends decide to take him to a bathhouse to cheer him up.

He is unable to relax and while dipping his head in the water, he finds a secret tunnel that transports him into modern-day Japan .

Lucius will be baffled at first but he will focus on how to find new inspiration in this new timeline. This will help him regain his confidence and reputation as an architect.

This is a genius setup for a fun short experience that you should try for yourself.

14. Iroduku: The World in Colors

Iroduku: The World in Colors is a short 13-episode anime that came out in the Fall of 2018.

It tells the story of Hitomi Tsukishiro , a girl who lives in 2078 and whose life is deprived of colors and feelings.

This obviously takes a toll on her, so one day her grandmother Kohaku conjures a spell to send Hitomi back in time to the year 2018 when Kohaku was in high school.

Hitomi will find herself in a world filled with colors that she had never seen before, and this will take her by surprise because she hadn’t seen anything like it.

Hitomi will also meet an artist called Yuito Aoi and his drawing will have a deep impact on her. Nonetheless, she will struggle to realize what’s the point of her being there and what the focus of her mission might be.

In this anime, time travel is not used as a way to change the present or the future, but to explore a forgotten past . An interesting twist to the standard formula of this narrative topos, and a great pick for a good anime set in the future.

13. Ya Boy Kongming!

Ya Boy Kongming! is a short anime that came out in 2022 and takes inspiration by a manga written by Yuto Yotsuba

This anime tells the story of Zhuge Kongming, one of the greatest tacticians of the Three Kingdoms period of third-century China.

He falls gravely ill and regrets having never seen the end of the war, so he wishes to be reincarnated in a more peaceful time.

His wishes are granted by being reincarnated in present-day Japan where, after meeting Eiko Tsukimi by chance, the two work on launching their music career.

Ya Boy Kongming! is one of the most underrated music anime in recent years. We recommended this if you want good character development and something different from the average isekai.

12. Dragon Ball Z

Another iconic show that was a staple for anyone growing up in the ’90s is Dragon Ball Z . Of course, Time travel is not the main topic of the show, but it’s still something that comes up fairly frequently.

Dragon Ball Z is a legendary anime that tells the story of Goku, a man who discovers to be part of the Saiyan race and decides to put use his powers to protect humanity and Earth.

This anime tv show tells lots of stories with many compelling characters that make it stand out and be remembered as one of the most successful shounen of all time.

The concept of time travel is introduced with the creation of the Time Machine by Future Bulma, one of the protagonists, from a future timeline.

This will allow her son Trunks to travel back in time to prevent the victory of the Androids that will destroy the world.

11. Your Name

Your Name is a movie from 2016 that’s been a real media phenomenon since it came out.

Mitsuha is a high school student living in a rural town nestled in the mountains who dreams of life in Tokyo.

Taki is a student living in downtown Tokyo that juggles his studies and his part-time job. One day, they both will find themselves in each other’s bodies and their respective timelines.

For the whole movie, they will try to communicate and try to unravel this mystery.

Even if the plot will not be the most consistent you’ll find around, It’ll still be pretty decent if you are searching for a love story that involves time travel .

10. Tokyo Revengers

Tokyo Revengers is a recent anime that was released in 2021 and is inspired by a manga series written and illustrated by Ken Wakui.

The anime show tells the story of Takemichi Hanagaki , a young man that has hit a low point in his life and keeps thinking about his much happier past.

He also finds out that Hinata Tachibana , his ex-girlfriend, was murdered by the Tokyo Manji Gang , a criminal gang that is terrorizing Japan’s capital city.

After almost getting hit and killed by a train, he finds out that he can travel through time and decides to travel back to when he was still in a relationship with Hinata.

Takemichi joins the Tokyo Manji Gang and rises to the ranks of the organization to try and save his ex-girlfriend , in a story full of twists that will satiate all of you action fans.

9. Doraemon

Doraemon has been one of the best-known mascots in Japan and beyond for as long as we can remember.

The anime, which began in the late 1970s, now has well over 1,700 episodes to its credit, earning it the title of one of the most influential anime ever.

The iconic show tells the story of Nobita Nobi , whose descendants are still impoverished because of his behavior in the 20th century.

The family robot cat from the 22nd century decides to travel back in time to help the progenitor of the family to make something of himself.

Doraemon doesn’t need introductions, and even if it’s targeted at children, its many positive messages and morals will always be useful for people of every age.

Re: Zero tells the story of Subaru, an introverted guy who suddenly finds himself in the mysterious magical world of Lugunica.

He will make the acquaintance of Emilia, a half-elf with whom he falls in love from the start.

Following an unfortunate accident in which they will both lose their lives, the protagonist will realize that he can come back to life, traveling through time .

From that point on, he will try to unravel the mysteries of this new magical world he lives in.

This ability will be the real strength of the narrative of Re: Zero, which allows the protagonist to continuously change his future .

The implications also affect other characters, giving the plot completely unexpected turns.

7. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

This is a short 14-episode anime that came out in 2006 and it takes inspiration from a light novel by Nagaru Tanigawa.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is the true precursor of school anime with supernatural elements. You should watch it if you are a lover of the genre.

Kyon was just an average high schooler who one day meets the eccentric Haruhi Suzumiya , who’s completely bored with everyday life.

Kyon mentions to Haruhi that since she’s so bored with everything she should found her own club, so she does and drags him along.

She is interested in finding supernatural creatures like aliens, espers, and time travelers, so she founds the SOS Brigade (Save our world by Overloading it with fun Haruhi Suzumiya’s Brigade).

The plot will unravel from there and we will be treated as a light-hearted story about supernatural powers and creatures.

6. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is an anime that came out in 2006 and is inspired by a science fiction novel written by Yasutaka Tsutsui

The plot revolves around Makoto Konno , a girl in her last year of high school that doesn’t know what to do with her life. She also feels very much the pressure from her teachers and her parents that keep asking about it.

One day her life changes when she accidentally discovers that she is capable of leaping through time .

She plays around with her newfound power, however, she will soon learn that every choice has a consequence , and time is a lot more complicated than it seems.

A story with simple premises but a well-narrated plot, that will surely take the attention of every fan of light-hearted comedies in search of something new.

5. Inuyasha

Everybody knows Inuyasha, a big classic of the shonen genre and anime in general.

The story stars  Kagome , a young girl who, as a result of an accident, will fall a well and is catapulted into  Sengoku-era Japan .

Here she will discover to be the reincarnation of the priestess  Kikyo , having also inherited her task to protect the four winds’ sphere with the help of Inuyasha, a canine-like  demon .

Inuyasha is undoubtedly one of the greatest cult greats ever, and there must be a reason for that. It’s a simple but solid story , its excellent settings, and its character design is always on point.

Extremely peculiar is also the contrast between modern-day and Sengoku-era Tokyo , which will be shown every now and then throughout the series.

Orange is a Sci-Fi themed anime combined with romance and the usual psychological elements characteristic of this list, such as  depression and social anxiety .

Naho Takamiya  receives a letter from her 10-year-old self in the future. At first, Naho thinks it’s a joke, but changes her mind when the events in the letter happen, including the transfer of a new student  Kakeru Naruse .

The boy himself is the main theme of the letter, as the protagonist from the future asks her past self to treat him with as much love as possible because 10 years from that time he will lose his life.

As you may have already well understood, this is a  real punch in the gut, especially if we consider how it ends.

Erased is a pretty recent anime that counts just 12 episodes. The plot merges mystery with supernatural elements while keeping all of its romance.

The main character is  Satoru Fujinuma , a 29-year-old mangaka without any success, mostly due to suffering from the notorious “writer’s block”.

However, following mysterious happenings, he obtains a power called Revival that allows him to go back in time just enough to save people’s lives.

During his far-from-a-happy childhood, one of his classmates had been murdered, and this is where his mission begins.

As you may have guessed, this series will contain a whole lot of investigations, making it perfect for thriller and mystery fans.

2. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

A 2011 short anime produced by Shaft and Aniplex, Puella Magi Madoka Magika is a masterpiece that has affected how Majokko is perceived.

The protagonist Madoka Kaname is shy and indecisive and will quickly get dragged into a much worse reality.

Even though the plot starts as stereotypical,  the atmosphere starts changing from Episode 3 , quite early considering that it’s 1/4 of the length of the series.

The relaxed and playful atmosphere is just a facade, as the focus is on dark and deep themes. As the plot thickens, you will get to learn many gloomy details and the plot can only get darker.

As with Orange Road, the time travel part comes only later during the plot, but it will have a much bigger impact on the story, making it a perfect entry for this kind of list.

In general, watch it if you are searching for a sinister and unique series that gives a unique spin to the genre.

1. Steins;Gate

Steins; Gate is an animated adaptation of the visual novel that premiered in the spring of 2011 and the best sci-fi anime you can find at the moment in our opinion.

The plot follows Rintaro Okabe , a boy who with his two childhood friends runs the so-called Futuristic Gadget Laboratory . The only notable gadget the trio has created is a microwave that has the mystifying power to turn bananas into green goo.

Okabe, who is also a big fan of time travel, happens to be at a conference on it one day. It is here that he will find the dead body of Makise Kurisu , and from which everything will begin.

The group will discover that the microwave is more powerful than it seems. Apparently, it is able to send text messages in the past.

Rintaro dabbles further with the time machine , attracting the ire and attention of the mysterious organization SERN.

Another mystery anime that will surely be interesting to all fans of conspiracy theories, considering all the moving parts that are influencing the plot.

Don’t expect a light comedy with some sad moments here and there though, as the story proceeds, the tone will get darker and darker with each episode.

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DualShockers

9 best time travel anime.

From Tokyo Revengers to Steins;Gate, these are the best anime that focus around the concept of time travel.

• Time travel in storytelling requires attention to detail and tying together diverted paths can be difficult indeed.
• The choices characters make, regardless of size, can have massive consequences, making time travel stories engaging rollercoasters.
• Time travel can serve as a bittersweet method of communication, enhancing themes of actions, consequences, and personal growth.

Whether it's a mere five minutes or an entire decade, time travel is one of the most compelling yet complicated devices in storytelling. What makes it complicated is the attention to detail required: one story must already be established in order for diverted paths to take place, and tying them together effectively can be very difficult indeed.

RELATED: Saddest Deaths In Anime, Ranked

The choices that characters make, regardless of how small or big they perceive them to be, can have massive consequences. More often than not, the audience discovers the stakes of these choices along with the characters themselves. Therefore, a time travel story can become quite the rollercoaster, with a sometimes unpredictable track. Here are some of the best anime for fans of the fascinating concept of time travel.

9 Irodoku: The World in Colors

Despite coming from a long line of witches, Hitomi Tsukishiro has a rather strained relationship with witchcraft. Unable to truly master her her potent magic , she loses her ability to connect with the world around her in a literal sense. She can no longer see colors. Her grandmother hopes to reconnect her with her roots by sending her back in time to meet a younger version of the guardian.

Irodoku is a story of true connection with the world and, in a way, with one’s heritage. It speaks earnestly to the challenges one faces when it comes to mental health, and presents hope as an answer through the lens of Hitomi’s grandmother’s past.

People are not the ones to travel through time here: letters do instead. Naho Takamiya finds a letter addressed to her, soon discovering that it is from her future self. Future Naho gives herself glimpses of the future and shares regrets she had during high school. In doing so, she hopes to convince Present Naho to make different, bolder decisions that could just save someone they both care for dearly.

Orange is, in a way, a melancholy ode to those who sit on the sidelines of their own lives. It is also a reminder that reaching out may seem small and insignificant to some, but it can mean the world to others. Time travel is a bittersweet method of communication in this story that only serves to enhance these messages as the show progresses.

7 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Hit the brakes and check out this early 2000s anime movie classic . Based on a novel by the same name, the story follows Makoto Konno as she is suddenly granted the ability to leap through time. Makoto starts to use these leaps to her own advantage, often for selfish reasons. However, she only has so many she can use, and some decisions lead to terrible consequences.

It's expected that a teenager like Makoto may make a few silly, albeit selfish, decisions when discovering a new power like time travel. The story becomes even more compelling when she becomes aware of this and tries to remedy some of the decisions she’s made. In doing so, this movie truly broaches the subject of actions and consequences, on both a small and large scale.

6 The Tatami Galaxy

Take a trip that starts with something quite familiar to the college-age demographic: ramen. A third-year college student finds himself at a mysterious ramen stand, where he reflects on his lonely years thus far. Jealous of the surrounding couples, he secretly harbors the regret of not trying harder to be in a relationship like his peers. He is then thrown back into the beginning of his college years once more, for another chance to do just that.

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This show is a journey and a half for anyone not used to a more surrealist animation style. Yet, all-in-all, it is a story about a young man trying to find his place among his peers. It speaks honestly to the reality that sometimes life is a series of repetitive situations and different choices.

5 Tokyo Revengers

It’s a jarring reality to go from having it all to losing something dear and cherished. Takemichi Hanagaki used to have a more joyful life, supported by friends and his girlfriend. As time progresses, though, he loses his footing in the world and his ex-girlfriend. It isn’t until he finds himself gifted with the ability to alter time that he decides to use this ability to save the girl he once loved.

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Based on the manga of the same name by Ken Wakui, the world of Tokyo Revengers is brutal and precise, especially with what Takemichi is attempting to achieve. He is also an underdog character, as he is not strong right from the get-go. Rather, he grows from his experiences and keeps to his wits as much as he can to achieve his desired outcome.

4 Your Name

Small-town-girl-meets-city-boy is taken to an entirely different level when it comes to this CoMix Wave film. While Mitsuha Miyamizu lives her life in the rural village of Itomori, Japan, Taki Tachibana lives his life in the bustling city of Tokyo. Both begin to have strange "dreams" where they swap lives without knowing it, until suddenly, they realize they are actually swapping bodies.

Winning three awards both for its stunning animation and its compelling story, Your Name is a tragic yet beautiful story worth falling into . The movie uses tension and suspense through the narrative of time, showing its audience slices of its protagonists’ lives.

When accused of murdering someone near and dear to him, Satoru Fujinuma turns to the past in order to clear his name. His ability, called Revival, allows him to travel into the past and alter events about to happen. While at one point he traveled mere minutes prior to an event, this time he is sent back to when he was just a child in order to solve the murder of one of his classmates.

Erased wraps a mystery within a time travel blanket that does nothing but enhance the suspense of its story. Time seems almost autonomous in the show, as it serves as a guide for Satoru while he decides to make the ultimate decisions. In a sense, he is not in it alone either, because he finds support in the most convenient of places: home.

2 Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World

Just in the blink of an eye, Subaru Natsuki is transported to a fantasy realm called the Kingdom of Lugunica. Initially, he is more than excited to escape the mundanity of his regular life. Soon enough, though, he discovers that there are still challenges around the bend that he must face. Luckily, he has an ability that no one around him realizes: the ability to return to a specific point in time after "dying."

The story of Subaru takes some unexpected turns that lead him down a much darker road than he ever anticipated. Yet, part of what makes Re:Zero such a successful story is its protagonists’ slow growth over time. Each "death" is an opportunity for Subaru to truly take in his surroundings and learn to make conscious decisions. Additionally, the show is certainly dedicated to its small details and world-building. This only enhances the viewing experience for the audience.

1 Steins;Gate

Every great scientific discovery starts with something simple, right? For Rintarou Okabe and his team, that beginning comes in the form of a microwave. However, after attending a conference on time travel, Rintarou starts to see their invention in a new light. This discovery leads him into dangerous territory that not only puts his team at risk, but also his mind.

This anime is a roller coaster that makes its audience question what’s real and what isn’t. Humor turns into horror, and that horror leads into the core questions that Steins;Gate asks: What is the cost of time travel? What do we truly have control over when it comes to some of life’s most haunting consequences?

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Screen Rant

10 most powerful anime characters who travel through time.

Some of the most amazing and powerful anime characters travel through time, whether it's to save the world, someone they love or solve a crime.

Time travel is a slippery thing. It's dangerous to meddle with, yet at the same time, it has great potential for good, preventing tragedies before they happen and setting right what once went wrong.

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To wield such power correctly requires a hero with cleverness, a keen eye, and the guts to risk erasing their own futures to do the right thing. These are some of the most powerful anime characters whose characters revolve around themes of time travel, although their journeys are all very different.

Takemichi Hanagaki (Tokyo Revengers)

A washed-up 26-year-old with no hope for the future, Takemichi thinks it's just par for the course when his former girlfriend Hina dies at the hands of the Tokyo Manji Gang. However, after an accident, he wakes up in the body of his 14-year-old self and realizes he's been given a chance to change the future. He infiltrates the gang to make sure that they never kill Hina.

Takemichi can switch between his young and adult selves in Tokyo Revengers by shaking hands with Hina's brother, Naoto, who assists Takemichi as an adult by figuring out which exact events he needs to change to fix the future. He can only travel exactly 12 years back, though, meaning he only gets one chance to act on each significant date.

Narrator (Tatami Galaxy)

The unnamed narrator of Tatami Galaxy, one of the best time travel anime , is a young man entering his final year at Kyoto University and realizing that he has wasted his college days. Feeling frustrated and unfulfilled, he thinks back on what he could have done differently in past years and finds himself thrown into a time loop that lets him explore all the possibilities.

He tries joining different clubs, meeting new people, and approaching romance in various ways, all in a fruitless effort to achieve the "rose-colored campus life" he dreams of. It takes several loops for him to realize that such a thing does not exist and that his quest for perfection has led him to ignore how satisfying it can be to simply enjoy life for what it is.

Yukiteru Amano & Yuno Gasai (Future Diary)

The cast of Future Diary are players in a deadly 12-way game to determine who will take the place of their world's dying God. Their weapons are Diaries, cell phones that predict the future in various ways. Yukiteru's Diary predicts everything but his own actions, and Yuno's predicts nothing but Yukiteru's actions, so they team up and become one unstoppable unit.

Predicting the future is only the beginning. As the game goes on, Yukiteru and Yuno's struggles to keep each other alive and win the game turn fiercer, and the boundaries of time and space itself are broken. Yuno is revealed to have traveled from another timeline where Yukiteru died in order to have him in this one, and when Yukiteru learns that there are multiple timelines, he resolves to protect Yuno in all of them.

Rintaro Okabe (Steins;Gate)

Rintaro's approach to time travel is unique and one of the craziest things that ever happened on Steins;Gate , in that instead of visiting the past himself, he simply texts and emails it. A mad scientist who studies time travel, he experiences a shift in reality that tips him off that his research might have merits. Events he attended never happened, messages he sent one day arrived five days earlier, and people he saw murdered are alive again.

Trying to get a handle on this phenomenon, Rintaro experiments further. He builds machines that can send messages into the past and compiles several theories about what could be giving them that power.

Makoto Konno (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, the film that put director Mamoru Hosoda on the map, follows Makoto, who survives a train accident by spontaneously traveling back in time. Realizing she can do it again, she uses it for everything from avoiding embarrassing situations at school to reliving a fun experience as many times as she wants, with no regard for how it affects others.

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However, when she meets another time traveler, she learns that her ability is not only not unique to her, but finite as well. Now the consequences of Makoto's choices start to catch up with her, and she must use her remaining "time-leaps" wisely to fix what she has inadvertently broken.

Naho Takamiya (Orange)

Naho is another time traveler who doesn't move through time herself, but rather sends other things into the past. On her first day of school, 16-year-old Naho wakes up to find a letter from her future self. It tells her that she will fall in love with transfer student Kakeru, but that she has to watch him carefully or else she'll lose him forever.

As Naho gets to know Kakeru, she realizes that his smile may hide deep depression. She must follow the directions from her future self in order to save Kakeru from his inner demons.

Shunsuke Otosaka (Charlotte)

The young heroes of Charlotte all possess special abilities that make them the target of government scientists. One of the most powerful, and similar to characters seen in some of the  best anime like Invincible , is Shunsuke, who possesses the power of Time Leap. It allows Shunsuke to travel back in time, but at a price: every time he uses it, he loses some of his vision, until he goes completely blind and loses the ability permanently.

Shunsuke repeatedly goes back in time to build a refuge for super-powered teens. Once his vision is gone, it falls to his younger brother Yuu, the show's main protagonist, to take Time Leap and finish what Shunsuke started.

Taki Tachibana & Mitsuha Miyamizu (Your Name)

Mitsuha, unsatisfied with her rural village, wishes to be reborn as a city boy in her next life. She soon gets her wish in this lifetime: she begins to frequently swap bodies with Taki, who lives a hectic life in distant Tokyo. In figuring out how to live each other's lives, they become friends and start to fall in love.

When the body-switching suddenly stops, Taki decides to find Mitsuha himself. But on reaching Mitsuha's home, he finds only a crater: Mitsuha and her whole village were killed in a disaster three years ago, and they have not only been swapping bodies but time periods too. Now, he and Mitsuha must use their power to save the village and ensure that they can find each other in the future.

Subaru Natsuki (Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World)

Reclusive gamer Subaru isn't sure how he went from making a routine snack run to wandering a fantasy marketplace, but he had better figure out the rules of this new world fast. No sooner does he find an ally than they are both murdered, and he respawns at the same point where he started.

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Using the ability he comes to call "Return by Death," Subaru explores the fantasy realm and gathers friends and allies. No matter how hard he trains, he never becomes very strong in melee combat or magic, so he relies on the knowledge he gains from his many respawns to finesse his way through obstacles.

Satoru Fujinuma (ERASED)

Satoru calls his ability "Revival." Every so often, he'll be sent back in time a few minutes, and relive it over and over until he solves whatever problem Revival is warning him about. He considers it a hindrance, until the night his mother is murdered, he is framed for it, and Revival sends him back the furthest in time yet: to the body of his 11-year-old self.

Satoru quickly realizes the problem he's meant to solve. When he was this age, three of his classmates were murdered by a serial killer, and the same person must be responsible for his mother's death later on. To save everyone's lives, Satoru must look at his childhood nightmare from an adult's perspective and stop the killer.

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Back to Black

The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

• Sam Taylor-Johnson
• Matt Greenhalgh
• Marisa Abela
• Eddie Marsan
• Jack O'Connell
• 1 User review
• 11 Critic reviews
• 52 Metascore

• Amy Winehouse

• Mitch Winehouse

• Blake Fielder-Civil

• Cynthia Winehouse

• Janis Winehouse

• Raye Cosbert

• Nick Shymansky

• A & R Manager

• Aunt Melody

• Perfume Paul

• Island Records Senior Executive

• CID Officer

• Uncle Harold

• Chris Taylor
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• Trivia Marisa Abela did all the singing in this film herself. She trained extensively to mimic Amy Winehouse 's vocals.

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 2 minutes

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