Highlights

• Anime tackles environmental issues through vibrant storytelling and art, addressing concerns like pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, and technological ethics.
• Films like “Origin: Spirits of the Past” and “Children of the Sea” offer nuanced perspectives on genetic engineering and human impact on marine ecosystems.
• “Pom Poko” and “Spirited Away” use humor, fantasy, and Japanese folklore to explore habitat destruction, pollution, and the consequences of human waste on natural water bodies.

Anime uses vibrant storytelling and art to provide real-life messages, often delving into pressing global issues. Among these, environmental concerns have found a particularly resonant platform. From the enchanting landscapes of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, where the consequences of pollution and human greed are explored, to the scientific ingenuity and ecological considerations in Dr. Stone.

These stories range from subtle, metaphorical narratives to direct, poignant critiques of environmental degradation, highlighting issues like pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, and the ethical implications of technological advancement. This list explores the best anime that tackles environmental issues, showcasing the creativity and artistry of Japanese animation.

10 Origin: Spirits Of The Past

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.06

Why Watch Origin: Spirits of the Past?

• Unique blend of sci-fi and ecology
• Shows consequences of genetic engineering

Origin: Spirits of the Past is a science fiction anime film about a young boy named Agito, who encounters a girl named Toola from the past, cryogenically preserved and awakened in this new world. The film’s environmental themes are evident in its depiction of the forest, which has become conscious and hostile towards humans due to genetic modification experiments gone awry.

This mirrors real-world concerns about genetic engineering and its unforeseen impacts on ecosystems, such as loss of biodiversity, making our ecosystems more vulnerable to diseases and pests. Origin: Spirits of the Past offers a nuanced perspective on environmental responsibility and the potential dangers of manipulating nature.

9 Children Of The Sea

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.20

Why Watch Children of the Sea?

• Raises awareness about ocean conservation
• Explores the connection between humans and the ocean

Children of the Sea revolves around Ruka, a young girl who meets two mysterious boys, Umi and Sora, who are raised by dugongs and possess a unique affinity with aquatic creatures. This connection symbolizes the intrinsic bond between humans and nature, especially the sea.

The anime uniquely portrays environmental themes by highlighting the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems, as evidenced by the collection of marine debris in one scene and the appearance of a variety of sea life affected by these changes. Children of the Sea stands out for its breathtaking animation of underwater scenes, bringing attention to the beauty of the ocean and its inhabitants.

8 Pom Poko

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.30

Why Watch Pom Poko?

• Highlights habitat destruction, biodiversity loss
• Tanuki fight against urban environmental encroachment

Pom Poko is an anthropomorphic anime that directly tackles environmental issues, specifically urban development encroaching on natural habitats. The story centers on a group of tanuki (Japanese raccoon dogs) in the Tama Hills who are fighting to save their forest home from being destroyed by suburban development in Tokyo.

The tanuki, capable of shape-shifting, use their powers in various attempts to scare humans away. Key characters include Shoukichi, a passionate and young tanuki, and the wise elder Oroku. Their struggle represents the broader conflict between wildlife and human urbanization. What makes Pom Poko different is the film’s use of humor and fantasy to address serious ecological issues.

7 The Law Of Ueki

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.72

Why Watch The Law of Ueki?

• Features unique power turning trash into trees
• Symbolic of recycling and reforestation efforts

The Law of Ueki tells the story of a middle school student, Kosuke Ueki, who is given the power to turn trash into trees by a celestial being named Mr. Kobayashi. Ueki participates in a tournament where the contestants, each armed with unique powers, battle for the title of Celestial King, who can grant powers.

The ability to turn trash into trees is symbolic of recycling and reforestation, two critical aspects of environmental conservation. The uniqueness of The Law of Ueki lies in its imaginative approach to integrating an environmental message into a typical shonen battle format to subtly promote awareness, responsibility, and conservation.

6 My Neighbor Totoro

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.25

Why Watch My Neighbor Totoro?

• Celebrates the beauty of the natural world
• Integrates Japanese culture and environmentalism

My Neighbor Totoro redefined the children’s genre and follows two young sisters, Satsuki and Mei, as they move to a rural area and encounter magical creatures, including the gentle forest spirit Totoro. The film showcases a deep respect for the natural world, evident in scenes like the girls’ father teaching them to thank the trees for their protection and the depiction of a lush countryside teeming with life.

What makes My Neighbor Totoro unique in its environmental messaging is its lack of conflict or overt environmental crises. Instead, it focuses on celebrating the beauty of the natural world, encouraging an appreciation for the environment through its enchanting and peaceful narrative.

5 Dr. Stone

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.28

Why Watch Dr. Stone?

• Educates about the ecological balance
• Advocates harmony between technology and the environment

Dr. Stone, while primarily a science fiction and adventure series, indirectly addresses environmental issues through its unique premise. The story begins with a mysterious phenomenon that petrifies humanity, leading to the collapse of civilization. Thousands of years later, the protagonist, Senku Ishigami, awakens in a world reclaimed by nature, free from pollution and human destruction.

This anime showcases a planet that has healed from human impact, with lush forests and clear skies, a stark contrast to the often depicted polluted, dystopian futures. Dr. Stone stands out for its focus on science and rebuilding civilization through sustainable methods, such as using renewable energy sources like hydroelectric power to build a water wheel that generates electricity.

4 Weathering With You

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.28

Why Watch Weathering With You?

• Explores human desire to control the weather
• Addresses climate change through a fantasy lens

Weathering With You tackles environmental issues through a story deeply intertwined with weather and climate change. The film focuses on Hodaka, a high school boy who runs away to Tokyo, and Hina, a girl with the mysterious ability to clear the sky and stop the rain.

Set in Tokyo, where it perpetually rains, reflecting real-world concerns about climate change, the film subtly addresses the impact of extreme weather on urban life. Hina’s power to bring out the sun, albeit temporarily, symbolizes the human desire to control and manipulate nature and the consequences that follow. Weathering With You is a must-watch as it blends teenage romance with environmental themes.

3 Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.36

Why Watch Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind?

• Explores human impact on ecosystems
• Shows the post-apocalyptic world’s environmental struggles

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind addresses environmental issues through its post-apocalyptic setting and the interactions between humans and a polluted world. The story centers around Princess Nausicaä, a compassionate leader from the Valley of the Wind, who explores the Toxic Jungle, a dangerous forest with poisonous spores and giant insects.

The Toxic Jungle is a result of environmental devastation caused by industrial pollution and war. Nausicaä discovers that the jungle’s plants are purifying the polluted world, a crucial ecological insight. What makes this film unique is its early focus (released in 1984) on ecological issues, portraying the interconnectedness of all living things.

2 Princess Mononoke

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.67

Why Watch Princess Mononoke?

• Visually stunning, deeply meaningful storytelling
• Portrays the importance of environmental protection

Princess Mononoke follows Ashitaka, a young warrior who becomes entangled in a struggle between the forest spirits and the humans of Iron Town, led by Lady Eboshi. The environmental themes are vividly portrayed through events like the deforestation caused by the town to produce iron and the subsequent anger of the forest spirits.

Characters like San (Princess Mononoke) and the Wolf God Moro represent the guardians of the forest, defending it against human encroachment. What makes this film unique is its nuanced portrayal of both sides of the conflict. Instead of clear-cut villains, it presents complex characters with understandable motivations, thereby exploring the environmental issues in shades of gray rather than black and white.

1 Spirited Away

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.78

Why Watch Spirited Away?

• Pollution’s impact on nature explored
• Blends Japanese folklore with ecological themes

Spirited Away is a beloved film that follows Chihiro, a young girl who finds herself in a magical bathhouse for spirits. A significant example of the film’s environmental commentary is the character of the Stink Spirit, later revealed to be a River Spirit polluted by human waste.

The process of cleaning this spirit, which involves pulling out heaps of trash and sludge, symbolically represents the detrimental impact of pollution on natural water bodies. What makes Spirited Away unique in its environmental messaging is how it intertwines these themes with Japanese folklore and Shinto beliefs, emphasizing respect for nature and the environment.

NEXT: Anime Characters Who Can Manipulate Weather