Time travel has long been a fascinating concept in both science fiction and anime, offering a unique lens through which to explore the complexities of fate, choice, and the passage of time. Time travel anime uses the concept of time as a powerful narrative device that allows characters to confront their pasts, alter the future, and navigate alternate realities. Whether it’s the heart-wrenching story of trying to save a loved one or the mind-bending twists of a time loop, these time travel anime series captivate audiences with their imaginative takes.
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Time Travel Anime
Delve into some of the most iconic and thought-provoking time travel anime and discover how these stories push the boundaries of storytelling while exploring deep philosophical questions.
Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate follows Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed “mad scientist,” and his friends as they accidentally discover a method to send messages back in time using a modified microwave. As they experiment with altering the past, they quickly learn that even the smallest changes can have drastic and often dangerous consequences.
Re: Zero – Starting Life in A New World
Re: Zero centers on Subaru Natsuki, an ordinary young man who is suddenly transported to a fantasy world. Soon after arriving, he discovers that he has a unique ability: each time he dies, he returns to a specific “checkpoint” in the past, allowing him to relive events and change outcomes. However, the pain and trauma of his repeated deaths weigh heavily on Subaru as he tries to protect those he meets in this new world.
Tokyo Revengers
In Tokyo Revengers, Takemichi Hanagaki, a down-on-his-luck 26-year-old, learns that his middle school girlfriend, Hinata Tachibana, has been killed by a gang known as the Tokyo Manji Gang. After a near-death experience, Takemichi finds himself 12 years in the past, back in his middle school days. Realizing he has the chance to alter the future, he sets out to save Hinata by infiltrating the gang and rising through its ranks.
Summer Time Rendering
Summertime Rendering follows Shinpei Ajiro, who returns to his hometown on a remote island for the funeral of his childhood friend, Ushio Kofune. Soon after, Shinpei realizes that her death may not have been an accident. As he investigates, strange occurrences and a mysterious shadowy presence start to plague the island. When he is killed, Shinpei discovers that he has the ability to loop back in time to the day of his arrival, giving him the chance to uncover the truth and prevent a disaster.
Erased
In Erased, Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling manga artist, possesses a unique ability he calls “Revival,” which involuntarily sends him back in time by a few minutes whenever a life-threatening incident occurs, allowing him to prevent disasters. However, when he is wrongfully accused of a murder, Satoru is sent back 18 years into the past, to his elementary school days. Realizing that the current events are connected to a series of child abductions and murders from his childhood, Satoru takes it upon himself to solve the mystery and protect his classmates, especially a girl named Kayo Hinazuki, from their tragic fates.
Orange
Orange follows Naho Takamiya, a high school student who receives a letter from her future self, detailing events that will happen and urging her to make different choices to avoid future regrets. The letter focuses particularly on a new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, who in the future will take his own life. So Naho and her friends work together to change the future and save Kakeru.
InuYasha
InuYasha tells the story of Kagome Higurashi, a modern-day high school girl who is transported to the Sengoku period of Japan after falling into a well at her family’s shrine. There, she meets InuYasha, a half-demon who seeks the powerful Shikon Jewel to become a full demon. When the jewel is shattered, Kagome and InuYasha must team up to recover the fragments before they fall into the wrong hands.
The Tatami Galaxy
The Tatami Galaxy follows an unnamed protagonist, a third-year university student, as he reflects on his unfulfilled college life. After a chance meeting with a mysterious man named Higuchi, the protagonist finds himself repeatedly reliving his college years, each time choosing a different student club in an attempt to find the “rose-colored” campus life he desires. However, each iteration reveals that no choice is perfect, leading to various bizarre and surreal outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any anime with time travel?
Yes, there are lots of anime with time travel elements. One of the most popular series with time travel is Steins;Gate, a story about a self-proclaimed “mad scientist,” and his friends as they accidentally discover a method to send messages back in time using a modified microwave.
What is the anime where the guy turns back time?
The anime where the guy turns back time refers to Erased. It features a protagonist, Satoru Fujinuma, who has the ability to turn back time by several minutes to prevent accidents. However, when he is falsely accused of murder, he is sent 18 years into the past to solve a series of child abductions connected to his current situation.
What is the anime about being stuck in time?
There are many animes about being stuck in time. This includes Re:Zero, where Subaru Natsuki gets stuck in a time loop every time he dies. Summertime Rendering also features a protagonist who is stuck in a time loop as he tries to prevent a mysterious disaster on his home island.
What is the anime about the girl who can time travel?
The anime about the girl who can time travel is InuYasha. InuYasha is an anime where the protagonist, Kagome Higurashi, can travel through time between modern-day Japan and the Sengoku period.