Planetes is a cult classic anime that changed how we think of sci-fi. The beloved series is now available to stream on Crunchyroll.

For most anime fans, the conversation around anime’s sci-fi genre typically begins and ends with the genre’s influential names: Akira, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost In The Shell — classic late 90s masterpieces.

While there are plenty of sci-fi anime series that garnered attention and critical acclaim in both modern years and decades past, there are just as many great shows that slipped through the cracks.

The 1980s was a transformative era for sci-fi anime, marking a period where the genre truly found its voice and audience. This was the decade when anime began to embrace the limitless possibilities of ...