Do you know what makes an anime most thrilling? It’s when an anime has the government as the main villain. Amongst all of the anime genres, anime with an evil government makes the best watch, for not only do they play the role of the all-powerful villain but also make for the most thrilling storylines. When it comes to such anime, you know you are definitely going to find the best battle of wits and the best of the best fight scenes. More often than not, they also serve to question deep political and philosophical questions that always seem to challenge our belief systems and broaden our mental horizons.
All these reasons considered, it is most definitely a 10/10 that an anime where the government is the ultimate antagonist is the most interesting one to go for. Curious to know the best anime in this particular genre? Fret not, for we have compiled the top 10 anime where the government is the main antagonist.
Also read: Top 10 Anime To Watch If You Loved Arcane!
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Synopsis: All Edward Elric knows in his life of 12 years is that tragedies are inevitable. Starting with the death of his mother, Edward, and his brother’s Alphonse life has taken a turn for the worst. Though life is tough, they are tougher. Thus, the brothers refuse to accept their mother’s death and decide to do anything to bring her back, even if it means using the forbidden art of human transmutation. Despite Edward being a gifted alchemist, the whole operation fails with terrible consequences when Alphonse’s whole body is destroyed, and Edward loses a limb. The consequences don’t end here as Edward has to give up his entire arm to keep Alphonse from dying by tying the latter’s soul to a metallic piece of armor.
Maybe refusal to give up even with the possibility of the worst consequence is a good thing, for a year later, the Elric brothers decide to set out on a mission to find the Philosopher’s Stone, a stone with seemingly the power to give them back all that they lost. The powerful relic is known to have the ability to grant an alchemist with the impossible power of going beyond alchemy’s most basic law of sacrificing something in order to get something of equal value. Edward’s master plan is to employ the assistance of the military to find the mystical artifact. However, the path to their goal is far from simple as their quest opens a can of worms far deadlier than they could have ever imagined.
Streaming: Hulu
2. Psycho-Pass
Synopsis: The concept of justice is ever-changing, and it has seen its fair share of transformation through the ages. In the far technological future, Japan has seen a complete change in the way justice is defined and executed. The present system of justice is known as the Sibyl System in Japan and is dubbed to be a perfect system with the accuracy to prevent crime before it can be committed under the watchful eyes of the government. The system uses advanced technology with a 100% accuracy rate to examine an individual’s psyche for even the slightest signs of ill-will, known as Psycho-Pass. Thus what the new normal dictates are for the Inspectors to enforce the Sybil system by jailing anyone with even the thought of committing a crime before they have even committed it.
In their dirty tasks, the inspectors are helped by Enforcers, who are essentially ex-cops inspected for Psycho-Pass that have been given the opportunity to lead a life of some freedom and normalcy in exchange for their services. The story begins when Akane Tsunemori, a rookie cop with a burning desire to enact justice, meets Enforcer Shinya Kougami. Soon, with every case, Akane realizes that the Sybil system couldn’t be farther from what justice actually entails. What will Akane do when she realizes that all the new concept of justice can amount to is complete and utter obedience by the government.
Streaming: Netflix
Also read: Top 10 Anime like Komi Can’t Communicate That You Should Watch
3. Attack On Titan
Synopsis: Hundreds of years ago, when giant man-eating creatures, known as Titans, suddenly appeared, the weaker humanity dwindled in huge numbers. The small percentage of remaining humans built large walls behind which they were forced to seek shelter in order to survive. To date, humanity’s greatest threat are these mindless titans who eat humans for joy rather than hunger. However, people’s quick reaction to start a civilization behind the walls has resulted in a century of peace without a single human casualty due to the strong and mighty walls. However, when a larger than normal titan manages to breach one of the balls and gives way to all the titans to come in, humanity has no choice but to fight back with all it has left.
Enters Eren Yeager, a young boy, victim to the incident when the titan broke the wall. When he tragically witnesses his mother being eaten by a titan, he makes a vow to himself to eradicate every single titan that there is. To do just that, he decides to get enlisted in the Survey Corps, an organ of the military with the sole duty of exterminating the titans outside the walls. Thus begins the journey of Eren, as he, along with his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman and friend Armin Arlert try to struggle to find a way to stop the titans before the remaining gates are shattered.
Streaming: Adult Swim
Also read: Top Anime Series To Watch on Netflix India
4. Guilty Crown
Synopsis: It is the year 2039, and the government of Japan has fallen and has been taken over by the GHQ, a military organization with the single aim of bringing back law and order after the spread of the Apocalypse Virus, an event that later came to be known as Lost Christman in history. Enters Funeral Parlor, an organization of armed freedom fighters led by the infamous Gai Tsutsugami, providing the only opposition to GHQ’s despotic rule. When Inori Yuzuriha, a member of Funeral Parlor, accidentally meets Shuu Ouma during a mission, the latter ends up gaining a power, known as the Power of Kings, a powerful ability that with the power to physically bring out a unique aspect of an individual’s psyche known as voids. Shuu, now caught in the cross-fire between the two dangerous organizations, must learn to harness the Power of Kings in order to live. Thus begins the journey of Shuu as he does his all to bring back peace to Japan. However, the path to peace is marked with jaw-dropping secrets of the GHQ, Funeral Parlor, and Lost Christmas that Shuu eventually discovers.
Streaming: Netflix
5. Code Geass
Synopsis: Since the defeat and conquest of Japan by the Holy Empire of Britannia, it has lost everything from its sovereignty to its identity. Now renamed as Area 11, the oppressed Japanese residents now known as Elevens have become a national threat to Britannia due to carrying out armed struggle with the goal of reclaiming their rightful sovereignty. Enters Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian high schooler living in Area 11, who accidentally finds himself caught in the midst of the feud between the Elevens and the Britannian government.
When a girl named C.C., a military secret of the Britannian government, comes to Lelouch’s rescue, he escapes from near-death by being granted an ability known as Power of Kings. When Lelouch for had always harbored hatred for Britannia due to his tragic backstory, recognizes the immense potential of a power that can make anyone and everyone obey him without fail, he seizes the opportunity to lead a powerful attack against Britannia to have the revenge he always wanted.
Streaming: Hulu
Also read: Top Anime To Watch if You Liked Code Geass
6. Heroman
Synopsis: Joseph Carter’ Joey’ Jones is an introverted but cheerful young boy who works a part-time job at a coffee shop and lives with his grandma. Although life is tough for Joey for the financial problems that his family faces and the constant bullying that he is always subjected to, As a passionate lover of robotics, his greatest dream is to own the best toy robot that there is known as a Heybo. One fateful day, Joey and his good friend Simon “Psy” Kaina stumble upon a smashed Heybo discarded by a few rich brats. Falling in love with it, at first sight, he takes it home for repair and names it Heroman. However, things change when Heroman gets struck by lightning and becomes animated with life and several times larger than it originally was. The same day, coincidently or not, aliens known as Skrugg invade the City after they were contacted by Joey’s friend Professor Matthew Denton. When Joey discovers that a number of people are in distress, including his friend Lina Davis and her father, he begins a fight against the aliens with the help of Heroman.
Streaming: Crunchyroll
7. Bleach
Synopsis: Ichigo Kurosaki is your everyday high school student till his family is attacked by a demonic spirit known as Hollow, with the sole aim of devouring human souls. His family is saved by Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who sustains major injuries while fighting the hollow. As a result, Ichigo ends up accepting Rukia’s request to take her powers in order to protect his loved ones. This marks the end of Ichigo’s normal life and the start of his life as Soul Reaper.
So, when Rukia is unable to reclaim back her soul reaper abilities, Ichigo is tasked in her stead to track down the Hollows haunting their village. Soon he discovers that he is not alone as his classmates Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryuu Ishida, with their own abilities, come to support him. However, this is just the beginning as Ichigo soon finds out that Hollows might be the least of his worries.
Streaming: Hulu
Also read: Top 10 Anime Similar To Blue Period That You Should Check Out
8. Akame ga Kill!
Synopsis: Night Raid is a secret branch of The Revolutionary Army that was especially formed to assassinate Prime Minister Honest, a power-hungry man who has taken advantage of the ignorance of the Child Emperor. As a result of his greedy actions, the nation has been reduced to a state of desolation, poverty, and disaster. Despite all of this and more, the assassins of the Night Raid have morals who are familiar with the worth of human life and would thus like to avoid killing anyone if not necessary.
Enters Tatsumi, a young boy of rural origins whose passionate commitment was to save his community as much as he could. When he came to know about the Night Raid, he came to be in complete awe of the principles that they upheld and thus came to be their newest member. Thus begins the journey of Tatsumi as he does everything in his power to fight the reign of the evil Prime Minister and along the way, discover what it means to kill for a greater cause.
Streaming: Prime Video
9. One Piece
Synopsis: History is a testament to the fact that the world hasn’t seen a pirate greater than Gol D. Roger, who is rightfully deemed with the title of the Pirate King. It is true that legends never truly die for his capture and eventual execution by The World Government only served to herald a new revolutionary age known as the Grand Age of Pirates. Moments before his death, the Pirate King’s in his final words, revealed the existence of the world’s greatest treasure, One Piece. Words that inspired men and women from all across the world to seek a treasure that would give them wealth and power beyond their imagination and, most importantly, the highest status of attaining the title of the new Pirate King.
When Monkey D. Luffy, a young not-so-average pirate, comes into the picture, chaos is bound to ensue. Rather than the normal pirate who would carry out sieges in the name of their selfish desires, Luffy’s reason for being a pirate is different and much simpler; that is to seek the greatest adventure that life has to offer, and if fate has it, the legendary treasure. As he aspires to live a life inspired by his greatest idol, Luffy and his chaotic crew encounter outrageous adventures, uncovering mind-boggling secrets and fighting the strongest of foes, all in the pursuit of the treasure known as One Piece.
Streaming: Hulu
10. Shimoneta: A Boring World Where the Concept Of Dirty Jokes Doesn’t Exist
Synopsis: In the future, Japan has had a social revolution and become a symbol of prudery. The prevailing government has taken every step possible to ensure that no Japanese commits the dirty deed by a device that every citizen is lawfully supposed to wear. In a seemingly average high school, trouble seems to be brewing under the surface when Tanukichi Okuma, the son of a notorious terrorist who battled chastity laws, takes admission. His aim is simple; to win over the heart of the Student Council President, Anna Nishikinomiya, his childhood friend and one-sided crush.
The drama reaches an all-time high when Tanukichi’s familial origins end up attracting the focus of Vice President Ayame Kajou. What no one knows is that she is a student during the day and an infamous criminal during the night known as Blue Snow who commits the worst crime by spreading filthy information among the oppressed public. Tanukichi is soon lured into her plans and becomes compelled to be a partner in crime in order to carry out an attack on the government’s nonsensical rule. However, what will Tanukichi do when his first target of the operation is none other than his longtime love?
Streaming: Hulu
Also read: Top 10 Anime like Squid Game That You’re Missing Out!
