Key Takeaways
- Anime series like "Eden of the East" and "Chobits" have predicted future trends such as social entrepreneurship and the integration of robots and AI into our lives.
- Shows like "Steins;Gate" and "Psycho-Pass" explore real-world concerns about internet privacy, data manipulation, and the ethical implications of advanced technologies.
- "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Serial Experiments Lain" portray future societies that reflect current anxieties about climate change, reliance on technology, and the psychological effects of living in a hyper-connected world.
Anime is a popular form of storytelling from Japan that has been at the forefront of speculative fiction, presenting imaginative futures based on societal and technological trends. Some anime series have even predicted the future, presenting scenarios that resonate closely with current realities.
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These predictions aren't literal but rather creative extrapolations of their time, reflecting the insights and foresight of their creators. From exploring themes like rapid urbanization, space travel, environmental crises, and envisioning autonomous vehicles, anime often delves into concepts that have since gained momentum or relevance. Let's explore some old and classic anime that have predicted the future.
10 Eden Of The East
Eden of the East (2009) introduced a social entrepreneurship model where individuals are given a massive sum of money to save Japan in their own unique way. This echoes the current trend towards social entrepreneurship, where profit-making and the betterment of society are intertwined.
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The anime also foresaw the power of digital communities used to mobilize change. Our current era of social media leverages influence with start-ups creating technologies for societal change. Eden of the East spotlights ideas and trends that have gained significant momentum in recent years.
9 Chobits
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Chobits (2002) is a romance anime that presents the concept of lifelike androids, called Persocoms, that serve humans with companionship and performing tasks. The show foresaw our current reality where robots and AI play an integral part in our lives, with AI assistants like Siri and Alexa becoming commonplace.
Chobits explored the emotional attachment between humans and AI, which questions the psychological implications of AI-human interactions. While we're not yet at the stage of lifelike androids, Chobits provides an early exploration of our increasingly complex relationship with AI and automation.
8 Steins;Gate
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Steins;Gate (2011) is a popular anime that delves into the concept of sending information to the past via the internet, using it as a medium for time travel. While time travel remains science fiction, the anime mirrors real-world concerns about internet privacy, data manipulation, and control.
Incidents of data breaches, information warfare, and deepfakes are on the rise. Additionally, the show's exploration of the unintended consequences of time manipulation aligns with debates about the ethical implications of technologies used in healthcare, law, and privacy.
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7 Planetes
Planetes (2003) is a space anime series that explores the issue of space debris, which has become an increasingly relevant concern in the real world. As satellite launches and space exploration have become more frequent, the amount of debris in Earth's orbit has grown significantly, posing risks to spacecraft and satellites.
The series features characters whose job is to clean up this debris, reflecting a potential future profession as space becomes more commercialized and populated. Planetes also touches on corporate influence and socio-economic disparities in the context of space exploration.
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6 Psycho-Pass
Psycho-Pass (2012) envisions a future where AI systems can assess a person's likelihood of committing a crime, a concept echoing modern discussions on predictive policing and AI's role in law enforcement. The system, known as the Sibyl System, uses psychological assessments to determine an individual's crime coefficient, similar to real-world facial recognition software to verify identity.
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The anime also explores the implications of technology that we're beginning to see in today's society. It delves into the ethical implications of technology concerning free will, privacy, and the potential for system error or manipulation.
5 Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) portrays a future where climate change has caused severe environmental impacts, including the complete melting of Antarctica and consequential shifts in sea levels. While this specific event hasn't happened, the show's underlying environmental concerns reflect the real-world anxieties and realities of climate change we're experiencing today.
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The series also deals with human isolation and an increasing reliance on technology, which are relevant in our modern digital society. Neon Genesis Evangelion offers a chilling parallel to current societal and environmental issues rather than a literal prediction.
4 Serial Experiments Lain
Serial Experiments Lain (1998) delves into the idea of a virtual world and cyber identities before they became commonplace in today's society. Its depiction of Wired, a virtual reality network that merges with reality, mirrors current advancements such as the Oculus and Apple Pro Vision launching in 2024.
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The anime also explores data privacy, identity manipulation, and the omnipresence of the internet. Moreover, it delves into the psychological effects of living in a hyper-connected society, a concern that resonates with modern discussions on mental health and social media usage.
3 ÉX-Driver
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éX-Driver (2000) features a future where self-driving cars have become the norm. This idea has grown increasingly relevant with advancements in autonomous vehicle technology from companies like Tesla. The series explores the implications of this technology, including the potential for system malfunctions and the loss of manual driving skills.
Many companies like Uber have invested in autonomous cars to transport people to their destinations without a driver. The series mirrors current concerns about our reliance on AI and the importance of maintaining human skills and intervention capabilities.
2 Akira
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Akira (1988) is set in the dystopian city of Neo-Tokyo in 2019, brimming with towering skyscrapers and vibrant neon lights. The visual depiction resonates with the current rapid urbanization in many modern megacities such as New York, Hong Kong, and London.
Notably, a plot point in the movie revolves around Tokyo hosting the Olympics, which happened in 2020 (although delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The grim realities of Akira have manifested in the years since its release, giving it a visionary and worldly quality.
1 Mobile Suit Gundam
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Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) envisioned a future where humanity establishes space colonies, mirroring today's growing interest in space travel and Mars colonization. The show also dramatized conflicts over resources and political power between Earth and these colonies, which could foreshadow potential real-world issues as nations and corporations increasingly focus on the space race.
The series introduced the concept of giant robots (Gundams) used for warfare, a precursor to current advancements in autonomous weaponry, AI, and robotics. This anime eerily reflects some societal and technological trends relevant today.
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