15 Underrated Anime Series for Fans of Eureka Seven
Eureka Seven redefined mecha anime with its blend of soaring mecha battles, coming-of-age romance, and existential themes.
These 15 underrated series echo its focus on rebellion, identity, and emotional depth while offering unique twists on power systems and underdog narratives.
1. Xam’d: Lost Memories (2008)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 26 | MAL: 7.3
Akiyuki gains shape-shifting powers during a terrorist attack, joining a postal airship crew to control his abilities amid interstellar war.
Similarities: Studio Bones’ signature mix of mecha hybrid action and character-driven growth, with themes of self-discovery and societal critique.
2. The Orbital Children (2022)
Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: 6 | MAL: 6.84
Genetically enhanced teens stranded on a space station use AI and social media to survive a catastrophic accident.
Similarities: Explores human-AI coexistence and youth agency, mirroring Eureka Seven’s optimism about technology and rebellion.
3. RahXephon (2002)
Streaming: HiDive
Episodes: 26 | MAL: 7.37
A boy pilots a mystical mecha to combat alien invaders while unraveling secrets about his identity and a hidden Tokyo.
Similarities: Psychological depth, music-themed power systems, and a romance that challenges reality.
4. Vision of Escaflowne (1996)
Streaming: Apple TV
Episodes: 26 | MAL: 7.79
A psychic teen is transported to a war-torn fantasy world where she bonds with a prince piloting a dragon-mecha.
Similarities: Blends mecha, romance, and political intrigue with Yoko Kanno’s iconic soundtrack.
5. Simoun (2006)
Streaming: RetroCrush
Episodes: 26 | MAL: 7.4
All-female pilots defend their nation in gender-fluid mecha, grappling with love and destiny in a world where everyone is born female.
Similarities: LGBTQ+ themes, anti-war messaging, and focus on emotional bonds between pilots.
6. Argento Soma (2000)
Streaming: Amazon Prime
Episodes: 26 | MAL: 7.1
A grieving scientist pilots a bio-mecha against alien threats while confronting corporate corruption.
Similarities: Moody atmosphere, existential questions about humanity, and a protagonist driven by loss.
7. Fafner in the Azure (2004)
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: 25 | MAL: 7.3
Teens pilot mecha to protect their island from aliens, facing moral dilemmas and existential dread.
Similarities: Sacrifice themes and a focus on community resilience amid despair.
8. Darker Than Black (2007)
Streaming: Hulu
Episodes: 25 | MAL: 7.9
Contractors with supernatural abilities navigate a dystopian Tokyo, blending noir storytelling with psychic battles.
Similarities: Morally gray characters and a critique of power systems.
9. Heroic Age (2007)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 26 | MAL: 7.3
A feral boy with cosmic powers allies with humanity’s remnants to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
Similarities: Space opera scale, destiny vs. free will, and a non-human protagonist’s integration into society.
10. Toward the Terra (2007)
Streaming: HiDive
Episodes: 24 | MAL: 7.8
Telepathic youths rebel against an AI-ruled dystopia in this adaptation of Keiko Takemiya’s classic manga.
Similarities: Intergenerational conflict and a focus on marginalized groups fighting systemic oppression.
11. Bokurano (2007)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 24 | MAL: 7.6
Teens pilot a mecha with a deadly cost: each battle kills its pilot.
Similarities: Subverts mecha tropes with psychological horror and ethical quandaries.
12. Geneshaft (2001)
Streaming: RetroCrush
Episodes: 13 | MAL: 6.2
A diverse crew pilots a mecha to prevent Earth’s destruction, confronting AI and genetic engineering.
Similarities: Focus on multicultural teamwork and critiques of technological overreach.
13. Kuromukuro (2016)
Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: 26 | MAL: 7.0
A samurai time-travels to modern Japan to pilot a mecha with a high school girl against alien invaders.
Similarities: Fish-out-of-water dynamics and mecha combat fused with historical motifs.
14. Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (2013)
Streaming: Crunyhroll
Episodes: 13 | MAL: 7.5
A soldier stranded on a waterlogged Earth learns peace from a maritime community while piloting his mecha.
Similarities: Contrasts war and pacifism through environmental storytelling.
15. Flag (2006)
Streaming: Amazon Prime
Episodes: 13 | MAL: 7.2
A photojournalist documents a mecha-led peacekeeping mission in a war-torn country, filmed as a faux-documentary.
Similarities: Grounded take on mecha politics and media’s role in conflict.
Why These Anime Work for Eureka Seven Fans
These series mirror Eureka Seven’s core strengths:
- Rebellion Against Systems: From Toward the Terra’s telepathic uprising to Flag’s media critique, each challenges oppressive structures.
- Emotional Resonance: Simoun and Bokurano prioritize character bonds over spectacle.
- Unique Worldbuilding: The Orbital Children and Geneshaft reimagine technology’s role in society.
