Published May 9, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT A shy boy and his robot friend embark on a rousing adventure Nobody is watching the best sci-fi anime of Spring 2026 Image: Studio Kai Since the humanoid robot from Tetsujin 28 walked across screens in 1963, mecha anime has endured within the cultural zeitgeist. Though there’s often a war at the center, there’s an escapist element to the spectacle of two or more gigantic robots fighting. Creators have ruminated on the futility of human conflict in everything from Gundam to the more SFF blend of Mazinger Z. Neon Genesis Evangelion famously delved into the psychological trauma connected to the piloting of biomechanical robots, while Patlabor found a more mundane utility for automated mechs. If you’re on the lookout for something completely new within the genre, Yuhiro Tsujitsugu’s Snowball Earth , which is currently airing on Crunchyroll, is your best bet. [ Ed.…