Japanese anime has creatively depicted various future scenarios, ranging from utopian digital worlds to dystopian algorithm-driven disasters. One notable series is Pluto (2023), where Naoki Urasawa reinvents the iconic Astro Boy narrative into a noir detective saga, featuring robots as the most emotionally complex and scarred characters. Another compelling title is Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song (2021), which follows an AI vocalist on a century-long mission to avert a conflict between humans and machines, delving into the depth of what an AI can understand when its sole purpose is to spread joy through music.
Serial Experiments Lain (1998) stands out as a prescient work from the dial-up internet era, showcasing how the digital realm would eventually overshadow reality, even before the rise of social media. Psycho-Pass (2012) presents a dark future where AI determines the "crime coefficient" of individuals, raising critical questions about the reliability of algorithms in matters of justice.
Ghost in the Shell (1995) is a seminal work that examines the thin line separating the organic from the digital, set in the near-future year of 2029, which is now just three years away. Akira (1988) remains a landmark film that portrays Neo-Tokyo and the consequences of military experiments gone awry, embodying society's anxiety over the rapid pace of technological advancement and the weapons it produces.
Time of Eve (2010) offers a subtler take on the genre, portraying a cafe where humans and androids coexist harmoniously, focusing on their interactions rather than grand conflicts. Paprika (2006) takes viewers on a surreal journey into a world where technology permits entry into others' dreams, highlighting the potential dangers of neuro-interfaces that are becoming increasingly relevant. Lastly, Blame! (2017) presents a cyberpunk horror narrative set in a universe where construction algorithms have spiraled out of control, resulting in an endless, treacherous megastructure.
Do you enjoy watching anime? ❤️ — Yes, I love it! 🤨 — No, not really 🎃 — Sometimes, but I'm not a fan.
Informational material. 18+.
