Anime like Dune? Dune is one of the great masterpieces of sci-fi literature… and we’ve all remembered that after Dune (2021 film), with its epic planets, political machinations, and heroes with bizarre powers. I am sure I haven’t been the only one wondering if there is any anime with a similar vibe to Dune.
So whether you’re eagerly awaiting the second part of Dune, or just realize there’s a Dune-shaped hole in your anime viewing list, then here in no particular order are our top 10 anime series similar to Dune with honorable mentions!
Anime series similar to Dune
10.
Jyu-Oh-Sei: Planet of the Beast King
Juu Ou Sei
- Episodes: 11
- Studios: Bones
- Aired: Apr 14, 2006 to Jun 23, 2006
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Jyu-Oh-Sei starts with two twin brothers who are abandoned on a prison planet after their parents are killed. It begins with Thor, the elder brother, being the protagonist, and swiftly transitions into a nature documentary, action movie, drama, and finally space opera. They try to figure out who killed their parents and how they can get back home.
Similarity
Similar to Dune, Jyu-Oh-Sei is also a sci-fi series, and both deals with themes like genetics, social order, politics, relationships, and existentialism are explored. Both protagonists have to adapt to their new environment and learn the skills to survive.
9.
Patema Inverted
Sakasama no Patema
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- Studios: Studio Rikka, Purple Cow Studio Japan
- Aired: Nov 9, 2013
- Genres: Adventure, Sci-Fi
When Patema falls into a pit that her village declared a danger zone, she ends up in a new world where up is down. She would keep falling if she didn’t meet Age, an inhabitant of this land. With his help, she doesn’t keep falling into the endless sky. Together they learn more about each other’s unique worlds and unveil the secrets of their origins.
Similarity
Patema Inverted like Dune is a big fictional world that also talks about overcoming differences to coexist. Both series focus on serious topics like war and prejudice. Both series characters go through an unnatural occurrence that forces them to experience the other’s culture and avoid a deadly threat.
8.
Children of the Whales
Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau
- Episodes: 12
- Studios: J.C.Staff
- Aired: Oct 8, 2017 to Dec 24, 2017
- Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Super Power
Chakuro is 14 years old and is an archivist or scribe on the Mud Whale, an island that floats on a sea of endless sand. The island has two types of people on it. There are two types of people: marked and unmarked.
Chakuro is in the first category, that is, he can use thymia, a supernatural ability that unfortunately leads to the untimely death of anyone who possesses it. There are rules on the island everyone must follow, like never fighting, not crying for dead, and not asking why they live here and have supernatural powers. But when Chakuro discovers a girl, things for him and the islanders will begin to change.
Similarity
Similarities between Children of the Whales and Dune? Well, both protagonists have powers and live peacefully in the beginning till a different world setting turns everything on its head. Both series have a way of throwing the viewers and characters into an unknown world with very different cultures and landscapes that make us want to discover more about the people and society.
7.
Ozma
- Episodes: 6
- Studios: Gonzo, LandQ studios
- Aired: Mar 17, 2012 to Apr 21, 2012
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The story takes place in a world where almost everything has turned into a dessert. A fateful encounter happened between a boy, Sam, and a girl, Maya. Maya, who was pursued by Theseus, a cloned army of the government. Sam saves Maya and brings her to his ship. Theseus’ army then begins to follow after them. What secrets could Maya be hiding?
Similarity
Like Dune, Ozuma is a series with a lot of potentials, both series have a similar desert climate with futuristic technology. Both series also involve a boy unexpectedly encountering a girl with ice blue eyes and trying to save her. Both protagonists are somewhat carefree and are drawn into a great conflict.
6.
From the New World
Shinsekai yori
- Episodes: 25
- Studios: A-1 Pictures
- Aired: Sep 29, 2012 to Mar 23, 2013
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
In Japan a thousand years from the present, there is a utopia where a portion of the population has a special power called psychokinesis. From the beginning, we follow a group of five children as they grow up in this new world and see how they develop within a community bounded by strict rules and deal with the decisions they make that alter the course of their lives and the entire society they live in.
Similarity
Similar to Dune, From the New World is a coming-of-age story about changes and growing up, truths and lies. Both series have a supernatural feel to them, with both having a feeling of a hidden deep story that is unraveled as you go. Both plots also involve traveling to new environments and learning new things about the world.
5.
Kaiba
- Episodes: 12
- Studios: Madhouse
- Aired: Apr 11, 2008 to Jul 25, 2008
- Genres: Adventure, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
Kaiba takes place in a world where people can transfer their minds between each other’s bodies. It explores the consequences of doing so by showing how various characters’ lives are ruined by the cruelty of this society.
The protagonist is a guy named Kaiba, who wakes up with no recollection of anything about himself and finds himself under attack in a mysterious room, holding a locket that contains the picture of a girl who is a wanted terrorist. His story follows his journey to find who he is and the woman he once knew.
Similarity
Kaiba like Dune too has a similar storytelling style with both protagonists going on journeys to weird and wonderful places and quickly getting involved in other people’s lives. Both series are character-driven, about self-discovery, sci-fi themes, and emotional.
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4.
Trigun
- Episodes: 26
- Studios: Madhouse
- Aired: Apr 1, 1998 to Sep 30, 1998
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Vash the Stampede is a legendary gunslinger with a large bounty on his head partly due to the way he leaves a path of destruction in his wake wherever he travels. Because of this rampant devastation, the Bernardelli Insurance Society tasks Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson to find Vash to evaluate insurance claims and attempt to minimize the damage. The story follows these characters across a desert wasteland as it quickly becomes apparent that Vash is more than a simple outlaw.
Similarity
At number four is Trigun, a series similar to Dune, with both protagonists losing loved ones to their enemy, and wandering a dystopian wasteland and desert. Also, both protagonists’ motivation revolves around a woman whose significance is kept vague. Both series have some of the best fight scenes ever seen.
3.
Legend of Basara
- Episodes: 13
- Studios: KSS
- Aired: Apr 3, 1998 to Jun 26, 1998
- Genres: Adventure, Drama, Romance
The world has turned into a wasteland and Japan is ruled by a tyrant King and his four sons. But one day twins are born, Tatara and his sister Sarasa, a prophet declares that the boy is the chosen one which would save them from their predicament.
Unfortunately the supposed chosen one is killed by the Red King, now Sarasa must take on her brother’s name and responsibilities and embark on a quest to free Japan and deliver vengeance to the Red King.
Similarity
Similar to Dune, Legend of Basara has a fantasy setting and the protagonist also loses an important member of their family, ultimately leading them to become leaders and symbol of hope or rebellion. Both series have a “chosen one” and involve large scale conflicts.
2.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- Studios: Topcraft
- Aired: Mar 11, 1984
- Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
A millennium after the “Seven Days of Fire” that destroyed the world as we know it, forests of poisonous plants and fungi and giant bugs are spreading through the world, isolating and swallowing human settlements. Nausicaä is the princess of the Valley of Wind, one of the few untouched human settlements, known for its peaceful inhabitants.
However, when an airship from the kingdom of Tolmekia crashes in the Valley with its cargo. Nausicaä will have to stop the invading Tolmekian military, while also protecting the Valley from the encroaching forces of the toxic jungle.
Similarity
Like Dune, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind has a similar desert setting and creatures. Both have great storylines with elements of fantasy and action. With both series having incredibly imaginative settings, with both protagonists undergoing a lot of development on their adventure and dealing with a lot of hardships on their journey.
1.
Desert Punk
Sunabouzu
- Episodes: 24
- Studios: Gonzo
- Aired: Oct 6, 2004 to Mar 30, 2005
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
In a post apocalyptic future civilization now inhabits great desert cities throughout the wasteland. Relatively lawless with strength and money being the deciding factor in this new world.
In the desert, there’s a group of handymen who take mercenary jobs and our protagonist, Kanta Mizuno, is considered one of the greatest of them. The series follows him as he takes a variety of jobs and different events ensue.
Similarity
Last but not least, anime like Dune is Desert Punk. Watching these two series will feel like taking on an adventurous trip. With both protagonists meeting other characters that influences their lives in various ways. With both taking place in a futuristic setting.
Honorable Mentions
Last Exile
- Episodes: 26
- Studios: Gonzo
- Aired: Apr 8, 2003 to Sep 30, 2003
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Saga of Tanya the Evil: Operation Desert Pasta (Youjo Senki: Sabaku no Pasta Daisakusen)
- Episodes: 1
- Studios: Nut
- Aired: Jun 19, 2021
- Genres: Action, Military
Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken)
- Episodes: 109
- Studios: Toei Animation
- Aired: Oct 4, 1984 to Mar 5, 1987
- Genres: Action, Drama, Martial Arts, Sci-Fi
Ergo Proxy
- Episodes: 23
- Studios: Manglobe
- Aired: Feb 25, 2006 to Aug 12, 2006
- Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi
Gurren Lagann (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
- Episodes: 27
- Studios: Gainax
- Aired: Apr 1, 2007 to Sep 30, 2007
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mecha, Sci-Fi
The Weathering Continent (Kaze no Tairiku)
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- Studios: Production I.G
- Aired: Jul 18, 1992
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural
And that’s our list of Anime Series Similar to Dune! Did you like them? Do you think we missed one? Have you watched one, what did you think? What did you think of Dune?
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Till next time…Have an amazing weekend and remember you’re human like the rest of us, as long as you’re doing the best you can. That’s all we all can really do.
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