Top 10 Best Anime Series That Deal With Time Travel

Time travel is a theme that’s not too common in anime/manga. Why, you ask? Mainly because it doesn’t leave the authors a lot of wiggle room. Any small mistake can end up confusing the viewers and potentially lead to them dropping the series.

But that doesn’t mean that every time travel-themed anime that’s produced is a masterpiece. So, if you came searching for the good stuff, you are at the right place.

Here are the top 10 best anime series which follow the time travel theme and truly nailed their storytelling.

10. Erased

“Erased” follows a typical synopsis and story to which the time travel twist is added, which elevates the whole story of the anime series.

The time-traveling does not make the story confusing or less understandable, which is the biggest drawback of this theme.

“Erased” follows the story of Satoru, an everyday hardworking adult sent back to his past one day to make things right. He has to save his classmate who is being harassed at her house by her mother.

When he returns to his original timeline, he discovers that he has been framed for a murder, and for this, he has to go back in the past again to investigate this matter. Will everything that is affecting his current life have a link to his questionable past?

9. Tokyo Revengers

“Tokyo Revengers” might have been the best time travel anime/manga series until its cliche climax in the manga ruined the vibe of the whole series.

Like in “Erased,” the main character goes into the past to make things right. But Tokyo Revengers involves gangs and violence, which gives the series more depth for explanation and development.

“Tokyo Revengers” follows the story of Takemichi, a hardworking teenager pushed off the train station in front of the train. When he regains transformation after this incident, he is in the past, and now, he aims to protect his girlfriend, who was reported dead in his previous timeline.

So, for this purpose, he pushes ranks in the most notorious gang in Japan, Tokyo Manji Gang, and makes links. But during all this, more things start to go wrong, which puts our protagonist in a decision-making chair in every episode.

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8. Orange

“Orange” is a unique take on the time travel theme as it doesn’t involve a person traveling through time, but letters are sent through time.

The time travel approach taken in this anime is worth the appreciation. The anime also follows a good romance story, which adds to the enjoyment of the anime.

“Orange” follows the story of a high school student Naho Takamiya, who gets messages from her future self. The letters advise her to prevent her new transfer classmate, Kakeru Naruse, from meeting a horrible end and warn her of the regrets and errors she will make.

Naho seeks to affect the future by changing her acts in the present with the help of her friends. They learn the value of grabbing chances and savoring every moment as they negotiate friendship, love, and the difficulties of adolescence.

7. Higurashi: When They Cry -Gou

“Higurashi: When They Cry -Gou” might look like the story of a young boy who just transferred to a new school and is experiencing horror every day, but, in reality, it is the story of two girls who are fighting every day to prove the other girl wrong by going back in time again and again!

The series has multiple anime adaptations, but I would recommend watching the newer ones. This anime might be horror, but its main focus is on gore! So, if you are okay with gore, this anime will be a wonderful treat!

“Higurashi: When They Cry -Gou” follows the story of Keiichi, whose father gets transferred to the village of Hinamizawa for his job, and Keiichi also has to transfer schools. In his new school, he is the only boy present, and everyone loves him!

But slowly, Keiichi starts to notice strange behavior in his classmates as they are always talking about the curse the village has had for years, and every year, a person dies because of this. But he pays no heed to this. Will Keiichi be ready for the future horrid experiences waiting for him?

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6. Link Click

“Link Click” is the most popular and highest-rated Chinese anime (Chinese Dongua), which takes an exciting take on the time travel theme.

It follows two boys who can travel in the past to find out the mystery behind photos. The story’s pacing is perfect, and the time travel theme is depicted accurately, making this anime a solid recommendation for time travel genre lovers.

“Link Click” follows the story of two boys, Lu Guang, and Cheng Xiaoshi, who make a living by going inside the photos that people bring them for analysis. Both protagonists dive into the past and relive the pictures.

But with great responsibility comes significant risk, and if they mess up even a little event in the customer’s past, this could affect the customer’s life. So, will these two be able to do this job correctly, or will they face the consequences?

5. The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi

“The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi” is one of the best anime series of Kyoto Animation Studios. It follows a jolly yet serious synopsis that involves a girl who can reshape reality based on her mood swings.

The anime also has time travelers, and time loops, giving room for the time travel theme to develop. In general, it’s a good science fiction anime.

“The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi” follows the story of a high school student, Kyon, who meets a charismatic girl, Haruhi Suzumiya, looking for aliens, time travelers, and espers.

Haruhi can change reality based on her emotions, but she is unaware of this. Kyon participates in Haruhi’s crazy activities and joins the SOS Brigade, a group he founded to look for paranormal activity.

4. Your Name

“Your Name” is one of the top most-grossing films in the world. It follows a soul exchange between two people of opposite genders who live in different timelines.

This anime movie follows a unique romance development between people who have never seen each other. To top it all off, this anime also has masterclass animation and music.

“Your Name” follows a story between a country girl and a city boy who exchange their bodies sometimes, and things always seem to mess up when they do.

Slowly, they both want to know more about each other, so they try to find each other by giving each other their locations when they exchange bodies. But what mysteries lie in finding out that they can never meet each other without the help of a miracle?

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3. Re: ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-

“Re: ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-” is one of the best isekai-themed anime series of all time which follows a unique plot and adds time travel to it. It follows the story of a boy who tries to save his loved ones by returning in time but always has to make sacrifices while doing so!

This anime also follows very bittersweet relations and some wholesome relations. The music and animation of the series are top-tier, with the time travel theme depicted accurately.

“Re: ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-” follows the story of Subaru, a teenager who gets transported to another world suddenly when he is out to get some snacks. When he arrives in the new world, he meets a mysterious girl named Satella.

He learns more about Satella as time passes, but they are both killed eventually. When Subaru wakes up, he starts from a particular checkpoint, and now, he can redo the things that went wrong last time and save Satella. Will he redo and open doors to more mysteries?

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2. Summertime Render

“Summertime Render” is a modern-day classic that dominated the internet when it was released. It follows the same time travel concept as “Re: ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-.” The only addition to this anime is that people know that the protagonist can time travel, unlike Re: ZERO.

This series also follows a romantic relationship which becomes the main reason for the time travel for the protagonist.

“Summertime Render” follows the story of Shinpei, a teenager returning from Tokyo on an emergency basis because of the death of his childhood friend Ushio.

As he is not satisfied by the mysterious death of his childhood friend, he decides to investigate the matter. He finds out that multiple people disappeared during this murder, and countless crimes link up to this one tragedy. Will Shinpei be able to uncover this mystery on his own?

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1. Steins; Gate

“Steins; Gate” is the most popular time travel anime ever and for good reason! It follows a similar time travel concept to “Orange,” but the plot is done perfectly in this. It involves sending messages to past selves and avoiding an ongoing tragedy.

Although this anime doesn’t have the romance genre, it follows a casual romantic relationship that develops through the seasons. Everything else about this anime is also executed perfectly!

“Steins; Gate” centers on eccentric scientist Rintarou Okabe and his companions as they unintentionally find a technique to transmit text messages into the past, changing events in a process known as “time leaping.”

However, when they deal with the repercussions of their activities and encounter a covert organization, their experiments become an exhilarating voyage across time and alternate realities.

And there you have it: The top 10 Best Anime series which deal with time travel. If you liked the recommendations, you can also checkout Top 11 Must-Watch Anime Series of the 1990s. Let us know if any other time travel anime should be added to the list.