5 Best Steampunk Anime
Steampunk anime exemplifies old fashioned technology with imaginative inventions powered by steam, gears, and clockwork machines. These stories often take place in alternate worlds inspired by nineteenth century Europe, where airships fill the skies and inventors push science beyond its limits.
What makes steampunk anime so appealing is its mix of adventure, mystery, and mechanical creativity. From daring pilots to brilliant engineers, each series offers a unique vision of progress shaped by ambition and curiosity. If you enjoy imaginative worlds with a classic feel, these five steampunk anime are worth exploring.
5. Last Exile
In the world of Prester, rival nations fight aerial wars using massive battleships and skilled pilots. Young courier Claus Valca and his navigator Lavie Head are drawn into the conflict after accepting a dangerous delivery involving a mysterious girl named Alvis Hamilton.
Alvis carries vital information tied to an ancient organization called the Guild, which controls advanced flight technology. As Claus learns to pilot the sleek ship known as the Silvana, he experiences the harsh realities of war, loyalty, and the responsibility that comes with mastering the skies.
4. Princess Principal
Set in the divided nation of Albion, the story follows a group of young female spies attending the prestigious Queen Mayfair School. Ange le Carré uses her ability to manipulate gravity through a device called the Cavorite Sphere, allowing her to perform daring missions.
Alongside Dorothy, Beatrice, and Princess Charlotte, she gathers intelligence while hiding her true identity. The anime combines secret missions, political tension, and steam powered gadgets, creating a stylish spy thriller where trust is fragile and every assignment carries serious consequences.
3. Steamboy
Young inventor Ray Steam lives in Victorian era England and receives a powerful device called the Steam Ball from his grandfather Lloyd. The invention can supply endless energy but becomes the target of the ruthless O’Hara Foundation, led by Edward Steam.
When chaos erupts during the Great Exhibition in London, Ray must decide how technology should be used. The film features massive steam powered machines, explosive action, and moral choices about progress. Its detailed animation and inventive battles make it one of anime’s most famous steampunk stories.
2. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
In the nation of Amestris, alchemy serves as both science and weaponry. Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric attempt human transmutation to revive their mother and pay a terrible price. Edward loses his arm and leg, while Alphonse’s soul becomes bound to a suit of armor.
As State Alchemists, they search for the Philosopher’s Stone while uncovering government secrets, homunculi enemies, and forbidden experiments. The anime mixes mechanical prosthetics, military power, and moral struggles, creating a rich steampunk inspired world filled with unforgettable characters and emotional storytelling.
1. Howl’s Moving Castle
In a magical land threatened by war, young hat maker Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and transformed into an elderly woman. She finds refuge inside a massive moving castle powered by steam and magic, owned by the wizard Howl Pendragon.
Inside the castle, fire demon Calcifer maintains its mechanical systems through a binding contract. As Sophie travels across kingdoms, she uncovers Howl’s past and the cost of endless conflict. The film’s stunning visuals and whimsical machinery make it one of the most beloved steampunk anime ever created.
