by Michael Collins

Created on: April 16, 2008

Science Fiction is one of those genres that's hard to find in a "pure" form: so many different productions contain elements of the futuristic, or highly extrapolated technology, or space travel, that it is hard to delineate between a "true" science fiction production and something which simply contains sci-fi elements. This is even more difficult to do with animated productions. Can you consider the super-hero genre to be Sci-Fi? What about programs that are more fantasy-based, despite using space as a background or technology to drive the plot forward?

In this list of the best of animated Sci-Fi, I've opted to stick to "serious" science fiction on which technology and looking toward the future is the focus, eschewing comedic and nostalgic series like "Futurama." I've also chosen to omit superhero cartoons, which tend to combine Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Action-Adventure into a wholly unique genre. With that taken into consideration, here are the Top Three Best in Sci-Fi Animation (on TV).

The Transformers (1984):

Number of Episodes: 98

Laugh if you must, but keep reading once you've regained some composure: "The Transformers" was an absolute phenomenon that redefined what cartoons aimed at children were supposed to be like. "transformers" followed the adventures of the Autobots, robots who could transform into vehicles to remain undetected, as they battled their evil counterparts, the Decepticons. Written and designed to help Hasbro sell there line of transforming toys (licensed from Takara of Japan), the show was a smash success, and is still a valuable franchise to this day.

But it was more than a marketing success - something about The Transformers resonated with the children of that era more than, say, "Power Rangers" did with my generation. One reason for this may have been the focus on the series' mythology - like "The X-Files," The Transformers didn't simply try to ram transforming robots into a modern day setting or a future society, but created a past for the characters, hinting at a larger universe. The third season of the series would place an emphasis on continuity, further strengthening that universe as integrated and consistent. Not bad for a "half-hour commercial," huh?

ReBoot (1994):

Number of Episodes: 47

ReBoot was a cartoon set in the world of a computer, where "sprites" (humanoid creatures that are closest to ourselves, but with brightly colored skin) and "binomes" (literally ones and zeroes) deal with viruses, system corruption, and games on an "hourly"

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