Knights of Sidonia

After the Gauna wipe out Earth, the last humans live aboard the colossal starship Sidonia, where survival has turned into strict rules and mandatory military service. Nagate Tanikaze grew up hidden in the ship's forgotten maintenance levels, raised away from the surface culture his grandfather protected him from. When circumstances force him upward, he has to learn how Sidonia operates, train as a pilot of massive weapons meant to counter the alien threat, and form new relationships with fellow crew members. His sudden arrival coincides with the Gauna's unexpected return, so what starts as a personal adjustment quickly becomes part of a larger fight for the ship's future, with hard choices about duty and survival looming.

Released in 2014, Knights of Sidonia adapts Tsutomu Nihei's manga for television, with Sadayuki Murai credited as the series writer. The production leaned on 3D CGI to translate Nihei's stark, mechanical designs and large-scale space action into animated form.

Its distinctive 3D computer animation and utilitarian worldbuilding made it a frequent topic among anime fans, encouraging interest in harder science fiction on TV and prompting debate about animation techniques. The show's aesthetic and scale led viewers and industry commentators to discuss CGI's role in mainstream anime and how visual style shapes genre expectations.

Audience scores hover around 7.7/10, reflecting a generally positive response from viewers. Reviewers often praised the series' atmosphere, structural design, and ambitious scope, while some critics called out uneven pacing and the occasionally stiff CGI character work. Thematically it tackles survival, identity, social hierarchy, reproductive politics, and the ethical costs of using technology to preserve humanity.

While Knights of Sidonia wasn't a sweep at major international awards, it earned recognition within genre circles and at specialty events for its ambitious adaptation and technical approach. Fans and commentators continue to cite it when discussing how to adapt dense, adult-oriented manga into animated series and when arguing about the artistic possibilities of CGI in serialized anime.