Plastic Memories is a poignant sci-fi drama that explores the fleeting nature of life through the lens of Tsukasa and Isla, a human-android duo tasked with retrieving sentient robots nearing their expiration.
The series delves into themes of love, loss, and the bittersweet beauty of impermanence.
While Plastic Memories is beloved, many anime with similar emotional depth and existential themes remain overlooked. Here are 15 underrated gems that deserve more attention.
1. SukaSuka (WorldEnd) (2017)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.50
- Studio: Satelight
- Summary: In a post-apocalyptic world, a warrior bonds with fairy soldiers destined to die in battle, confronting love and mortality.
- Similarities: Doomed relationships, emotional weight of fleeting moments, and a focus on cherishing time.
2. Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 5
- MAL Rating: 7.70
- Studio: David Production
- Summary: A scavenger meets a robot in a ruined planetarium, reigniting hope in a desolate world.
- Similarities: Human-robot bonds, themes of legacy, and quiet, introspective storytelling.
3. Eve no Jikan (Time of Eve) (2010)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 8.00
- Studio: Studio Rikka
- Summary: A café where humans and robots coexist challenges societal prejudices about artificial life.
- Similarities: Ethical questions about android humanity and slice-of-life warmth amid existential themes.
4. Hal (2013)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.20
- Studio: Wit Studio
- Summary: A robot replaces a deceased man to help his grieving lover heal, blurring lines between human and machine.
- Similarities: Love transcending mortality and the ethical complexity of artificial companionship.
5. Kowarekake no Oregel (Half-Broken Music Box) (2009)
- Streaming: YouTube (Free)
- Episodes: 1 (OVA)
- MAL Rating: 7.10
- Studio: Studio Guts
- Summary: A man repairs a discarded android, forming a bond that challenges his loneliness.
- Similarities: Fragile human-android relationships and the healing power of connection.
6. Haibane Renmei (2002)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 8.13
- Studio: Radix
- Summary: Angel-like beings in a walled town grapple with guilt, redemption, and existential purpose.
- Similarities: Ethereal tone, themes of impermanence, and emotional introspection.
7. Iroduku: The World in Colors (2018)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.33
- Studio: P.A. Works
- Summary: A colorblind witch time-travels to heal her emotional wounds through art and friendship.
- Similarities: Healing through creativity and the transient nature of human connections.
8. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 8.13
- Studio: Bones, Kinema Citrus
- Awards: Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Award
- Summary: Siblings survive a catastrophic earthquake, learning resilience and the value of family.
- Similarities: Grounded emotional stakes and the impact of loss on personal growth.
9. Natsuyuki Rendezvous (2012)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 7.25
- Studio: Doga Kobo
- Summary: A widow’s suitor is haunted by her late husband’s ghost, exploring love beyond death.
- Similarities: Bittersweet romance and navigating grief through unconventional relationships.
10. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
- Streaming: Hulu
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 8.66
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: Japan Academy Prize for Animation
- Summary: A girl’s time-leaping ability teaches her the consequences of altering fate.
- Similarities: Fleeting moments and the acceptance of life’s impermanence.
11. Colorful (2010)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.75
- Studio: Sunrise
- Awards: Japan Academy Prize for Animation
- Summary: A soul reincarnates into a suicidal boy’s body, learning to value life through fractured relationships.
- Similarities: Redemption themes and the fragility of human connections.
12. Hotarubi no Mori e (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 8.38
- Studio: Brain’s Base
- Summary: A girl’s friendship with a spirit culminates in a tragic lesson about love and loss.
- Similarities: Ephemeral bonds and the heartache of inevitable separation.
13. Air (2005)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.13
- Studio: Kyoto Animation
- Summary: A traveler meets a girl cursed with reincarnation, exploring legacy and sacrifice.
- Similarities: Tragic romance and the weight of destined endings.
14. Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora (2006)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Episodes: 6
- MAL Rating: 7.20
- Studio: Group TAC
- Summary: Hospitalized teens find love while confronting their mortality.
- Similarities: Intimate focus on life’s fragility and cherishing limited time.
15. Saishuu Heiki Kanojo (Saikano) (2002)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.00
- Studio: Gonzo
- Summary: A girl becomes a government weapon, straining her relationship as war ravages humanity.
- Similarities: Love amid devastation and the ethical cost of artificial power.
Why These Anime Work for Plastic Memories Fans
Each series mirrors Plastic Memories’ exploration of love, loss, and the transient nature of existence.
Whether through human-android dynamics, tragic romances, or existential introspection, these anime offer cathartic journeys that balance heartache with hope.
For viewers moved by stories where connections are fleeting yet profound, these underrated picks deliver emotional depth and resonant themes.
