Science Saru is like that one eccentric genius in high school who aces every subject but wears mismatched socks on purpose.
Their anime isn’t just about telling stories; it’s about bending reality, mixing absurdity with philosophy, and making you laugh, cry, or question your life choices. Here are ten of their best works that prove the studio has some galaxy-brain level stuff going on!
1. The Night is Short, Walk on Girl
Title | Yoru wa Mijikashi Arukeyo Otome |
Episodes | 1 |
Aired | Spring 2017 |
Imagine having a one-night bender that turns into a surreal journey through the streets of Kyoto. That’s this movie. A girl is determined to drink all the booze, while a hopeless romantic follows her, trying to confess his love. Along the way, they meet eccentric characters, including a literal god of second-hand books. Yes, you read that right.
You’ll wish your drunk nights out were this bizarre and poetic. Plus, the visuals are so trippy you might feel like you’ve had one too many without leaving the couch.
2. Lu Over the Wall
Title | Yoake Tsugeru Lu no Uta |
Episodes | 1 |
Aired | Spring 2017 |
A teenage boy forms a rock band in a seaside town, only to attract the attention of a singing mermaid named Lu, who loves music but hates sunlight. Think of it like The Little Mermaid, but way more punk rock, with some mind-bending dance numbers and a mermaid apocalypse.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you mix mermaids, EDM, and teenage angst, well, you’re in for a treat. Also, Lu’s adorable and could probably become a viral TikTok star.
3. Devilman Crybaby
Title | DEVILMAN crybaby |
Episodes | 10 |
Aired | Winter 2018 |
A classic tale of friendship where one friend becomes a demon-slaying superhero and the other becomes, well, Satan. It’s brutal, it’s bloody, and it’s existential AF. Spoiler: You’re going to cry, baby.
If you ever thought your friendships were complicated, this show will make you feel better. Plus, the soundtrack slaps, and the animation feels like a fever dream you won’t wake up from. Probably because you’re dead inside after the ending.
4. Ride Your Wave
Title | Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara |
Episodes | 1 |
Aired | Spring 2019 |
A surfer girl falls in love with a firefighter, and everything’s going swimmingly (pun intended) until he dies. But don’t worry, he comes back as a ghost. In the water. So she sings to summon him while surfing. Yes, this is a real movie.
It’s a touching story about moving on, but also, it’s kind of hilarious that her dead boyfriend only shows up in water. Imagine crying into your bath because you miss him, and suddenly, poof, there he is. Awkward.
5. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
Title | Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na! |
Episodes | 12 |
Aired | Winter 2020 |
Three high school girls with a passion for animation decide to make their own anime. But making anime is hard work, and their imaginations are running wilder, maybe it’s Science Saru in disguise.
It’s like watching a behind-the-scenes look at how anime is made, but way more chaotic. Plus, it’ll make you feel like your wildest dreams are totally achievable. Just, you know, with a lot of caffeine.
6. Japan Sinks: 2020
Title | Nihon Chinbotsu: 2020 |
Episodes | 10 |
Aired | Summer 2020 |
Japan is literally sinking. As in, the entire country. The story centers on the Mutou family, and the siblings Ayumu and Gou. The four members of the Mutou family are caught in an earthquake that hits Tokyo, and attempt to escape the city, while disaster claws at their heels.
Families are separated, cities are destroyed, and things get apocalyptic real fast. This isn’t your typical disaster movie; it’s more like, “What if 2020 wasn’t bad enough?”
It’s a disaster story that will make you feel better about all the times you’ve lost your keys or spilled coffee on your shirt. At least you’re not sinking. Bonus points for reminding you to check if your city has an evacuation plan.
7. The Heike Story
Title | Heike Monogatari |
Episodes | 11 |
Aired | Fall 2021 |
A historical drama about the rise and fall of the Heike clan in feudal Japan. It’s epic, tragic, and beautifully animated with a style that looks like ancient scroll paintings came to life. Prepare to feel cultured.
This is basically a crash course in Japanese history, but way prettier and less boring than your school textbook. Plus, if anyone asks if you know anything about classical literature, you can pretend to be a scholar after watching this.
8. Inu-Oh
Title | Inu-ou |
Episodes | 1 |
Aired | Spring 2022 |
A rock musical set in 14th-century Japan. Yes, you read that right. It follows a blind biwa player and a deformed dancer, both of whom become rock stars in a time where rock music didn’t even exist. Time-traveling vibes, anyone?
It’s like if Queen met Noh theater and had a baby. If you’ve ever wanted to see samurais headbang, this is your moment. Plus, it’s not every day you see historical figures shredding guitars on stage.
9. The Tatami Time Machine Blues
Title | Yojouhan Time Machine Blues |
Episodes | 6 |
Aired | Summer 2022 |
A sequel to The Tatami Galaxy, this time featuring a broken air conditioner, a time machine, and a frantic attempt to fix the AC before summer turns into a sauna. Yes, the fate of the universe might depend on a working AC. Priorities.
Time travel + absurdity = instant win. If you’ve ever wondered what trivial problems are worth messing with the space-time continuum for, now you know.
10. DAN DA DAN
Title | Dandadan |
Episodes | 12 |
Aired | Fall 2024 |
This one’s fresh out of the oven. An action-packed series about a boy who doesn’t believe in ghosts and a girl who doesn’t believe in aliens—until they’re both proven wrong in the most chaotic ways possible. Aliens, spirits, and absurdity ensue.
You’ll be questioning reality while laughing at how wrong these two are. Also, if you’ve ever debated if aliens or ghosts are more real, this show will not help your argument. At all.
Science Saru doesn’t just make anime—they warp reality, set it on fire, and serve it with a side of existential crisis. Whether you want to cry, laugh, or question why your life isn’t as cool as a mermaid rave, Science Saru has something for you. So brace yourself for the wild ride!