Anime that focuses on environmental issues not only sheds light on important topics, but also presents them through captivating narratives and well-developed characters. Throughout time, numerous anime have addressed real-world environmental concerns, including humanity’s effect on the environment and depictions of potential ecological disasters.
These narratives prompt us to delve further into issues such as pollution, climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity decline. The environmental themes in these animated series often hit close to home, emphasizing the delicate nature and interdependence of the ecosystems surrounding us.
While some adopt an activist approach, others place greater emphasis on the impact. Some present optimistic visions of the future, while others portray darker scenarios to emphasize the urgency. However, all of them provoke thought in their audiences regarding humanity’s connection with nature.
10 Must-Watch Anime That Highlight Environmental Issues
Princess Mononoke
Hayao Miyazaki’s epic Princess Mononoke is widely praised for its portrayal of environmental concerns. Taking place in a period reminiscent of Japan’s late Muromachi era, it tells the story of Prince Ashitaka’s involvement in a conflict between a town that mines iron and the forest’s spirits.
The narrative emphasizes the consequences of unregulated industrialization and the exploitation of natural resources. In response to the town’s deforestation and contamination of water sources with iron, the forest spirits react with fierce aggression.
Despite the presence of characters on both sides with valid arguments, Ashitaka questions their beliefs, highlighting that there are no clear-cut heroes and villains. In the end, the message conveyed is not a complete rejection of technological advancement, but rather a reminder of the importance of balance and conservation.
2. Ergo Proxy
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this brooding anime portrays a society where humans reside in enclosed city-domes to avoid the desolate wasteland beyond. Within the dome of Romdeau, a chain of incidents raises doubts about the supposed perfection of this artificially created habitat.
The narrative gradually reveals a previous ecological catastrophe that rendered the planet uninhabitable – while not explicitly defined, it alludes to both climate disaster and the consequences of biotechnology. Ergo Proxy posits that in their pursuit of advancement, humans ultimately caused their own downfall.
The domed cities, which are upheld by an authoritarian system, are regarded as a crucial but flawed setting constructed from the remnants of the former, unsustainable world.
3. Trigun
Despite the limited resources of water and vegetation on the desert planet Gunsmoke, Vash the Stampede faces a difficult decision between protecting life and stopping further destruction.
In the anime, the story takes place in a world devastated by resource wars, leading to environmental destruction that has rendered most of the planet unlivable. The scarcity of water is a prevalent theme, as the anime depicts the struggles of communities to survive and the conflicts that arise over resources.
Trigun explores the environmental struggles of a marginalized society and delves into the concept of scarcity versus abundance mindsets.
Origin: Spirits of the Past
In a dystopian universe heavily influenced by Miyazaki’s renowned film Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, humanity’s reckless manipulation of genetics leads to the creation of unbridled forests filled with mutated vegetation that emits lethal poisons and takes over the earth.
Three centuries later, the remnants of humanity have taken refuge in subterranean fortresses. While exploring an enchanted forest, the protagonist Agito encounters a young girl named Toola who has recently emerged from cryogenic hibernation. This encounter hints at the potential for a peaceful coexistence between humans and nature.
They come to realize that the altered forest is not just a threat to humanity, but has also become uncontrollable in its efforts to contain the pollutants and safeguard the few remaining pockets of pristine nature in the world. This showcases the negative consequences of technology, but also offers a glimmer of hope and rejuvenation through Toola’s presence.
Blue Gender: A Science Fiction Anime Series
In a bleak portrayal of Earth’s future, Blue Gender portrays a planet where unbridled population growth, depletion of resources, and loss of biodiversity have led to the invasion of insectoid creatures known as the Blue.
The human race is facing extinction and has sought refuge on a space station in orbit while they wait for Earth to be reclaimed. The anime delves into the urgent environmental concerns of overpopulation and the catastrophic effects of ecosystem instability, serving as a warning to society.
Similarly, this epidemic tale delves into the ethical decisions that humanity faces in regards to developing bio-weapons as a means of defending against insectoid invaders. Such actions could potentially exacerbate the already existing damage to our planet.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
This futuristic computer-generated anime focuses on environmental concerns and chronicles the efforts of a team of researchers to control a plague of spectral insectoid beings called Phantoms. These ethereal creatures have taken over the world, devouring various species and making Earth uninhabitable.
In a distant future, after an apocalyptic event, the remaining human population has taken refuge in fortified cities in order to protect themselves from the Phantoms. The focus of the story is on the Gaia project, an initiative aimed at finding a solution to the Phantom threat by hypothesizing that the Phantoms were brought to Earth through a meteorite collision.
The movie showcases a cautionary message about the environment, portraying the planet’s aggressive response to human-induced extremes. Additionally, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within depicts the idea of a collective ecosystem, with the potential to reach a tipping point.
Best Animated Film: Wolf Children
Wolf Children, although not explicitly science fiction, delves into the emotional bonds between Hana, a single mother, and her two children, Yuki and Ame, who possess both human and wolf qualities. The film beautifully portrays the evolving dynamic between mother and children as they navigate the challenges of growing up and the encroachment of urbanization on their wolf heritage in the countryside.
The anime film thoughtfully showcases the impact of expanding towns on nature, as well as the human tendency to label and criticize unfamiliar things as threats to their comfort zones.
Despite facing discrimination and hardship, Hana’s perseverance highlights the power of love that transcends boundaries between species, and the enduring presence of the wolfish nature within even as children grow.
8. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
This anime film is widely regarded as one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most essential pieces on the environment. It showcases the conflict between the peaceful inhabitants of the Valley of the Wind and the Tolmekians, a militaristic nation that aims to expand their territory through the use of violent, ancient bioweapons.
Nausicaa, the central character, strives to comprehend the Sea of Decay, a poisonous forest that has engulfed kingdoms in the aftermath of an apocalyptic war.
As a groundbreaking anime that addresses environmental concerns, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind endeavors to promote peace between kingdoms that lack understanding of the forest and its inhabitants, all of which are impacted by harmful human actions.
9. A Japanese Animated Film: Pom Poko
Another animated movie from Studio Ghibli, Pom Poko, directed by Isao Takahata, centers on the plight of the Tanuki, magical creatures native to Japan. As their forest homes are threatened by urban development, the Tanuki unite to defend their ancestral land rights and drive away the encroaching humans.
In the midst of rapid urbanization to accommodate the increasing human population, the shape-shifting Tanuki finds it challenging to keep up. Pom Poko, animated in the iconic Ghibli style, serves as a poignant tribute to Japan’s rural history and the inevitable loss of nature to expanding human civilization.
The anime’s underlying message of conservation and cultural heritage, which is tied to the land being at risk of permanent loss, is highlighted by the Tanuki’s occasional humorous battles.
Princess Arete Film Review
Directed by Sunao Katabuchi, this relatively obscure anime sheds light on environmental concerns. It follows the story of Princess Arete, who is imprisoned in a tower by her father based on a prophecy. Despite her confinement, she remains deeply connected to the land and utilizes her intellect and empathy to revive her kingdom. She weaves protective spells, blesses crops, and even plants forests beyond the confines of her tower.
After several years, Arete finally manages to escape the tower. During her time in captivity, she discovers that the nearby realms have undergone rapid industrial advancement, drastically changing the world. Additionally, the land surrounding her kingdom has become barren as a result of ceaseless mineral extraction.
Ultimately, Arete’s affection for the valleys in her childhood realm rejuvenates nature and brings back light – signifying that environmental harm can be undone when we prioritize the worth of nature over material possessions. This conveys a positive message that humanity can once again live in harmony if we prioritize doing what is right rather than exerting power.
Conclusion
Anime that focuses on environmental concerns possess immense potential to use creative visuals and storytelling to emphasize the environmental dangers that we are currently confronting as a society. This form of media is unafraid to portray exaggerated depictions of ecological devastation or unsettling predictions of the future in order to evoke emotions and provoke contemplation among viewers.
Anime also comprehends subtlety, skillfully blending grim cautions with optimistic resolutions and delving into the possibility of humanity crafting a new outcome through empathy and harmony with the environment. Ultimately, it prompts us to contemplate our decisions and their impact on not only our own future but also that of future generations.
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