Steampunk isn’t the most populated niche of anime, but when the genre appears, it does so in high fashion—gears whirring, engines burning, and top hats tilting in the breeze. It’s a unique mix of old-world romance and futurist ambitions, usually presented in tales that are half-Victorian novel, half-sci-fi epic. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of cog-filled cities and steam-powered gadgets or simply inquisitive about the genre, this top steampunk anime list will take you on a ride to remember.
15. Code: Realize − Guardian of Rebirth
Ever dream of a world in which you might come across Lupin, Van Helsing, or even Frankenstein—except with a spin of steam-powered technology and mystery? That’s what Code: Realize offers you. It follows Cardia, a young woman with a fatal touch due to something known as the Horologium in her body. The series is heavy in romantic tension and steampunk gadgetry, in a stylized Victorian London. It’s one for readers who enjoy their steampunk with a side of romance and death.
14. Drifting Dragons
Skyships, dragon hunts, and dragon meat grilled to perfection—Drifting Dragons is such a thing as watching a steampunk fantasy travelogue. The Quin Zaza crew sails the air, hunting giant flying creatures in a world that is part Jules Verne novel, part cooking show. The animation style may not be to everyone’s tastes, but the originality in the world-building and aerial action makes this something you don’t often catch a glimpse of.
13. Steam Detectives
Narrated in a world of steam-shrouded mystery, this brings you right into the thick of steampunk noir. Narutaki, a young detective, is joined by his robot ally and loyal sidekick as he solves cases in a world dominated by steam technology. It’s traditional detective drama with coal-fueled gadgets and colossal mechanized monsters, and it has that nostalgic touch steampunk enthusiasts will enjoy.
12. Clockwork Planet
In a world where Earth has been remade from gears and springs, a machine-savvy boy and an automaton girl named RyuZU become embroiled in conspiracies and uprisings. Clockwork Planet is a full-fledged love letter to machinery design and highly constructed worlds. It’s less realism and more about the coolness factor—wild gadgets, quirky characters, and steampunk taken to the extreme.
11. Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Loosely based on Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, this late ’90s adventure show is full of submarines, hidden civilizations, and enigmatic crystals. In an alternate 19th century, the tale follows circus girl Nadia, who has a secret past, as she becomes embroiled in a global adventure aboard the fabled submarine Nautilus. It’s a genuine classic that combines fantasy and steam-age machinery in a manner that remains acceptable today.
10. Appare-Ranman!
And here’s a steampunk anime that doesn’t try too hard—and that’s precisely the reason it succeeds. Appare-Ranman! is the tale of an offbeat inventor and an unwilling samurai who join a crazy race across the American frontier in homemade steam cars. The plot is quick-moving, filled with humor, and replete with vivid characters and innovative machines. It’s like viewing a steampunk road trip with an added dash of retro anime dynamism.
9. Samurai 7
A daring remake of Kurosawa’s iconic Seven Samurai, this series brings giant mechs, dystopian action, and steam-powered technology into the fold. The basic premise is the same: a samurai team protects a village from conquerors. But here, the conquerors are war machines, and the world is full of cyberpunk-meets-steampunk atmosphere. It’s a looker and a tear-jerker, with fight choreography that blends swords and steam like nothing else.
8. The Vanitas Case Study
Based in a stylized 19th-century Paris, this show combines vampires, cursed books, and a lot of steampunk style. Vanitas, a self-titled doctor to vampires, and Noé, a benevolent vampire with a purpose, join forces to uncover secrets and rescue the damned. With airships suspended in mid-air, detailed gear-filled settings, and an added bit of gothic horror, the show offers a stylish spin on steampunk with supernatural flavor.
7. Princess Principal
Secret agents, school uniforms, and political spying in a city divided by a wall—this anime is an unusual blend of spy thriller and steampunk drama. A team of young women operates undercover in a fictional London, employing gadgets, tactics, and occasionally sheer luck to get the better of their foes. It’s intelligent, sophisticated, and unexpectedly emotional, demonstrating that steampunk can be as much about brains as about brawn.
6. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
It’s set against an industrial revolution infested with zombie-like Kabane. There’s no holding back on high-octane action. Humanity exists in a state of siege behind iron walls and moves around in steam trains plated in armor. The main character, afflicted but human, becomes a hybrid soldier to defend whatever’s left of society. With its stunning animation and unrelenting flow, it’s an exhilarating journey along a grim steampunk wasteland.
5. Violet Evergarden
While not a conventional steampunk action series, Violet Evergarden earns its place for the emotional resonance and workmanship of its world. Violet is an ex-soldier with enhanced mechanical arms who now works as a ghostwriter, assisting people in getting across what they’re feeling. The narrative takes place within a world packed with early 20th-century technology, stunning architecture, and a prevalent atmosphere of silent melancholy. It’s an elegant, poignant tale dressed in understated steampunk trappings.
4. Last Exile
This one’s a treasure trove for skyship fans, honor-bound aviators, and world-changing secrets. Last Exile follows the story of two teenage couriers who are drawn into an international conflict of airborne nations and shadowy players. It’s lush in its detail work, with air battles that resemble naval combat in the skies. It’s half-adventure, half-politics, and the world it creates is one you’ll never want to leave.
3. Howl’s Moving Castle
Arguably one of Studio Ghibli’s most iconic films, this magical tale mixes fantasy, war, and steampunk elements beautifully. The star of the show is, of course, the walking castle—an enormous, living machine full of mystery and whimsy. Between enchanted spells, steamy contraptions, and a war-torn backdrop, Howl’s Moving Castle delivers a steampunk dream that feels timeless in every way.
2. Steamboy
For its unadulterated steampunk, Steamboy is the benchmark. Crafted by Akira’s director Katsuhiro Otomo, Steamboy is the tale of a kid inventor in 19th-century England who’s left a powerful machine known as the Steam Ball by his late father. With breathtaking visuals and a narrative that delves into the morals of advancing technology, it’s as cerebral as it is action-oriented. This is steampunk filmmaking at its most daring and stunning.
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
No shock there. With its blend of alchemy, primitive industrial tech, and some of the richest character development in anime, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a work of genius. Edward and Alphonse Elric’s quest is heavy with emotional baggage, philosophical undertones, and an intricately designed world in which science and magic go hand in hand. It’s not just the greatest steampunk anime—it’s one of the best anime ever told.
Whether it’s the sound of gears ticking or the siren call of adventure, steampunk anime is a singular combination of imagination and nostalgia. Every series or movie on this list has something new to offer, demonstrating the diversity and staying power of this genre.