Watch them today because...well, you get it.
It's
the end of the world as we know it and Michael Stipe feels fine, but we
couldn't let the apocalypse pass us by without putting together a list
of the best apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic anime based on your
responses. While others are gathering canned goods, fashioning spears
out of household utensils and hoarding gasoline, Road Warrior-style,
we're fastidiously compiling this list so that if the post-apocalypse
has electricity, you'll have some good source material to consult for
the harsh new realities you're about to face. And if you run into us in
the irradiated wasteland of the new world, be sure to say "hi" and let
us know which was your favorite.
High School of the Dead
- There ain't no apocalypse like a zombie apocalypse because a zombie
apocalypse don't stop. It comes back for seconds, actually. Number five
on our list starts right at the outset of the end of days as a
full-blown undead armageddon erupts in Japan, leaving a group of
erstwhile high school students and the school nurse to fend for
themselves as society breaks down. Don't worry - it's not all doom and
gloom. Sometimes the end of the world comes with a heapin' helping of
fan service, so the future isn't too bleak.
Fist of the North Star - Not only does Fist of the North Star
take place smack dab in the middle of a post-apocalyptic world ravaged
by nuclear fallout, but it might even teach you a thing or two about
defending yourself in the bold new world (hint: be a bad-ass martial
arts master). Using an innate knowledge of the human body's hidden vital
points, Kenshiro kicks ass, takes names and justifies a pre-apocalypse
career in massage therapy in one fell swoop. There may not be clean
water in the dystopian future, but there will be blood, especially in
this epic anime.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
- Row, row, fight the power! Looking for inspiration now that
Quetzalcoatl (or another feathered serpent god) is raining blood, fire
and feathers from the skies? Gurren Lagann is your answer. The awesome fact that it's a Gainax-produced mecha anime notwithstanding, TTGL
earns its apocalyptic stripes by presenting the story of a grim future
in which mankind is forced to live underground by a ruthless monarch and
the brave members of Team Gurren who took a stand against tyranny. Just
remember, kids, if you can dream it, you can drill it.
Neon Genesis Evangelion - Were you surprised to see Evangelion here?
Of course you weren't - because it deserves to be here. Gainax sure has
a knack for the robot-and-monster-filled end of the world scenario,
huh? Where Evangelion succeeds is in its depiction of
interpersonal struggles and those big ponderous questions that people
must face in the face of near-certain destruction. The tense
life-or-death battles between the EVA Units and Angels are pretty
freakin' sweet too, so you can have your post-apocalyptic cake and eat
it too.
Akira - Hail to the king, baby. In your responses, Akira
appeared more than any other title and for good reason. Katsuhiro
Otomo's apocalyptic masterwork helped inspire a generation of anime fans
and animators through its brutal examination of societal pressure,
alienation and the corrupting effects of power vis-a-vis the tale of two
childhood friends, Tetsuo and Kaneda. Whether or not the Mayans are
right, we'll be more than happy to spend our final moments in Neo Tokyo,
which is about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E. 
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