6 futuristic works that influenced programmers

Greetings, everyone! We’re back for another update.

At our company, Next System, we are actively involved in numerous developments in cutting-edge technologies, including VisionPose, VP-Motion and VP-Ergono, which utilizes WEB cameras and AI (Deep Learning) to detect human skeletons. In addition, we are also engaged in numerous developments in advanced technology fields such as VR and AR.

Out of curiosity, have you ever wondered what kind of content influences our engineers involved in VR (Virtual Reality), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and AR (Augmented Reality) development?

It’s just speculation, but we wonder if many of the individuals involved in this field might had a pre-existing interest in the atmosphere of futuristic movies, anime, manga, books, and games, especially in the science fiction genre.

Therefore, this time, we’ve prepared a theory in a certain program style.

Engineers involved in cutting-edge technology know a lot of anime, manga and light novel with a futuristic feel!!

Today, we’ll introduce ‘6 Recommended Anime, Manga, and Light Novel with a Futuristic Feel,’ that influenced our company’s programmers.

Also, there are some works that, while not particularly futuristic, have had an impact, so we’ll introduce those as well.

Influenced Works with a Futuristic Feel【Anime, Manga, Light Novel】

The GHOST IN THE SHELL

Primarily set in the mid-twenty-first century in the fictional Japanese city of Niihama, Niihama Prefecture (新浜県新浜市, Niihama-ken Niihama-shi),^[b] otherwise known as New Port City (ニューポートシティ, Nyū Pōto Shiti), the manga and the many anime adaptations follow the members of Public Security Section 9, a task-force consisting of various professionals skilled at solving and preventing crime, mostly with some sort of police background. Political intrigue and counter-terrorism operations are standard fare for Section 9, but the various actions of corrupt officials, companies, and cyber-criminals in each scenario are unique and require the diverse skills of Section 9’s staff to prevent a series of incidents from escalating.(Excerpted from Wikipedia)

A work that questions the existence of humanity in a world where cyborgs and cyberization have become a reality.

This is a must-mention work(anime) when it comes to describing the worldview of Next System.

This immensely popular work has been adapted into various media, including manga, anime, and movies. Recently, it has been made into a Hollywood movie.

In the future, as humans evolve through cyberization, and prosthetics still be considered human? What defines humanity?

It makes us think the existence of humans in such a future.

When watching Ghost in the Shell for the first time, it left a huge impression, and for a while, everyone can find themself frequently using the phrase ‘My ghost whishpers to do.’

First of all, we will like to recommend the anime ‘Ghost in the Shell’ as it is straightforward and easy to understand for everyone.

Comment from our president, also a programmer who wholeheartedly recommends this anime

Den-noh Coil

The year is 2026, and it has been 11 years since the “Den-noh Megane” (cyber glasses), a wearable computer in the form of glasses that uses AR technology, became widespread throughout the world. The glasses allow information from the Den-noh world to be superimposed on and manipulated in the real world. There are pets and tools that use Den-noh technology, and the telephone and Internet are used through Den-noh Megane. Children could no longer remember the time when they could see the world without looking through glasses. (Excerpted from Wikipedia)

When it comes to the original AR anime, it’s this one! Set in a world where eyeglass-type wearable computers have become popular.

Since it aired on NHK Educational Television in 2007, many people might be familiar with this. This is the story of an era where augmented reality (AR/MR) gadgets called ‘Cyber Glasses’ became commonplace.

It is considered a masterpiece among science fiction anime and has won various awards. If you haven’t watched this anime, there’s a very high chance that someone might tell you, ‘You’re missing out on life; you absolutely should watch it.’

Comment from our programmer who recommends this anime

Sword Art Online (SAO)

In 2022, a virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online (SAO) was released. With the NerveGear, a helmet that stimulates the user’s five senses via their brain, players can experience and control their in-game characters with their minds. Both the game and the NerveGear were created by Akihiko Kayaba. On November 6, 10,000 players log into SAO‘s mainframe cyberspace for the first time, only to discover that they are unable to log out. Kayaba appears and tells the players that they must beat all 100 floors of Aincrad, a steel castle which is the setting of SAO, if they wish to be free. He also states that those who suffer in-game deaths or forcibly remove the NerveGear out-of-game will suffer real-life deaths.(Excerpted from Wikipedia)

We wish this era would come soon. Adventures in a full-dive VRMMORPG.

It originated as an online novel and has since expanded into anime, manga, and movies, becoming a widely popular franchise. The story follows adventures in a massive multiplayer online RPG world utilizing full-dive VR technology.

It’s relatively new and seems to be popular among young programmers, and some employees were even carrying pamphlets. Many students who visit for our company tour also express their fondness for this series.

In general, artificial intelligence is often classified into two categories: ‘Weak AI’ and ‘Strong AI.’ ‘Weak AI’ refers to artificial intelligence that operates only within the limits of what it has been taught. On the other hand, ‘Strong AI’ has the capability to recognize, understand, and think autonomously, just like a human.

The AI that appears in this Alicization seems to be a story where the protagonist is forced to enter a world that nurtures ‘Strong AI.’

Comment from our programmer who recommends this novel

Time of Eve

In the not-too-distant future, androids have come into common usage. Rikuo Sakisaka, who has taken robots for granted for his entire life, one day discovers that Sammy, his home android, has been acting independently and coming and going on her own. He finds a strange phrase recorded in her activity log, “Are you enjoying the Time of Eve?”. He, along with his friend Masakazu Masaki, trace Sammy’s movements and finds an unusual cafe, “The Time of Eve”. Nagi, the barista, informs them that the cafe’s main rule is to not discriminate between humans and androids. Within the cafe, androids do not display their status rings, and, when patrons depart, the door is automatically locked for two minutes to prevent someone from following them to discover their true nature.(Excerpted from Wikipedia)

Comment from our programmer who recommends this anime

Crest of the Stars

Crest of the Stars chronicles how Jinto met Lafiel and the events that followed before the war.

When Jinto was a young boy, his world is invaded by the Abh empire. His father who was then president of the Hyde Star System, surrendered the system and earned for himself and his family a nobility within Abh society. Young Jinto is sent off to school in planet Delktou to learn the ways of Abh nobility and the story of Crest of the Stars picks up as he meets the young Abh princess, Lafiel who as a pilot trainee has been assigned to escort him to the patrol ship Gothlauth, a.k.a. Gosroth). Soon, they find themselves unready participants in the incident that would ignite the war between the Abh Empire and the Four Nations Alliance of Humankind — an anti-Abh alliance of the democratic nations of the United Mankind, the Federation of Hania, the Republic of Greater Alcont, and the People’s Sovereign Union of Planets.(Excerpted from Wikipedia)

It seems the setting is in an era where humanity has ventured into space, settled beyond the solar system for centuries, creating a significant sense of the future!

So, when we asked the programmer what he liked about this novel, he mentioned, “I like the protagonist’s extremely polite nature more than the story.”

Really??

The reason is that there are a lot of protagonists with violent and unruly behavior, so it would be better if everyone were polite. We wonder if there are any works where everyone fights using polite language. If that happens, it would ultimately become a historical piece, wouldn’t it? The sense of the future seems to be lost.

However, the person talking about it seemed to be extremely excited. It piqued our curiosity even more. The crucial story also seems to be genuinely interesting, so definitely check it out.

Comment from our programmer who recommends this novel

ROBOTICS;NOTES

Robotics;Notes is set in 2019 on Tanegashima,^[3] an island to the south of Kyūshū in southern Japan.^[4] In Robotics;Notes, the player assumes the role of Kaito Yashio, someone who enjoys fighting games.^[3] He is in his school’s robot club along with his childhood friend Akiho Senomiya.^[6] The story begins when Akiho decides to build a robot based on the Gunvarrel animated series she is a fan of, and she recruits Kaito to aid her. With the robot club short on members and on the verge of closure, Kaito heads out to try and recruit more members, eventually securing the support of professional robot battler Subaru Hidaka, karate practitioner Junna Daitoku, and the world renowned programmer Frau Kojiro. They also take advantage of the Iru-O system to change both Gunbuilds’ appearances via augmented reality. (extracted from wikipedia)

The one to save the world isn’t a hero—it’s an Otaku.

Originally a novel game, it has also been adapted into anime and stage performance.

It is the third main game developed by 5pb, following Chaos;Head and Steins;Gate and is described by the developers as ‘Augmented Science Adventure’. This novel game is connected to both, so if you haven’t seen those, we highly recommend checking them out as well.

There are also some interesting aspects, such as the appearance of the AR app called ‘IRUO.’

Since the story is set in 2019, it will be exciting to see how much AR apps have evolved by next year.

Comment from our programmer who recommends this novel game

Influenced works without futuristic feel, but left an impact

Haru Rock

During her childhood, Haru, driven by curiosity, disassembled a newly bought rice cooker and DVD player. Due to this, she was feared by her family as a “disassembly demon,” and her screwdriver was sealed away. Nevertheless, she continued to wander around the neighborhood in search of a screwdriver, now being feared as the “screwdriver girl.” As time passed, influenced by the advisor of the electronics club during high school, Haru awakened to electronics, and even as a university student, she continued to live a peculiar life, facing the constant choice between returning home and going to Akihabara.

This quirky and somewhat salty individual, through various encounters with people, transforms her hobby of electronics, which was limited to personal interests, into a job that serves others. The story unfolds, depicting her unique journey.

Beautiful girl meets electronics. Does this manga make anyone interested in electronic work?

It’s a story about a junkie girl who gets into electronics, and grows up while involving various people in her journey.

Comment from our programmer who recommend this manga

HUNTER×HUNTER

A manga series which focuses on a young boy named Gon Freecss who discovers that his father, who left him at a young age, is actually a world-renowned Hunter, a licensed professional who specializes in fantastical pursuits such as locating rare or unidentified animal species, treasure hunting, surveying unexplored enclaves, or hunting down lawless individuals. Gon departs on a journey to become a Hunter and eventually find his father. Along the way, Gon meets various other Hunters and encounters the paranormal. (extracted from wikipedia)

Many programmers are impressed by the game setting in the Greed Island version.

When you hear ‘HUNTER×HUNTER,’ many people might wonder, ‘Did it have a futuristic vibe?’

When listening to people’s experiences, it seems that the game system of the Greed Island has left a impression on them.

Indeed, in the Greed Island version, players immerse themselves both physically and mentally into a game world with a MMORPG-like setting, aiming to clear it, but when you say ‘book,’ a binder containing items appears. We think that it would be fun if this were recreated in VR.

In the main story, since the transfer involves the actual transportation of the physical body, it would be difficult to recreate it completely. Nevertheless, it will be a dreamy game system.

Comments from our programmers who recommend this manga

Case Closed (Detective Conan)

We feel like we don’t need to explain this anime because it’s such a popular anime, but just in case.

Jimmy Kudo (Japanese name: Shinichi Kudo) is a high school detective who sometimes works with the police to solve cases.^[2] During an investigation, he is ambushed and incapacitated by a member of a crime syndicate known as the Black Organization. In an attempt to murder the young detective, they force-fed him a dangerous experimental drug. However, instead of killing him, it shrinks his body into the size of an elementary school child.^[3] Adopting the pseudonym Conan Edogawa and keeping his true identity a secret, Kudo lives with his childhood friend Rachel Moore (Ran Mori) and her father Richard (Kogoro Mori), who is a private detective.(extracted from wikipedia)

Have you wonder what part of this manga influenced our programmer who recommends it…?

Oh, but indeed, the skateboards and glasses that appear in the work give off a futuristic vibe! It must be that.

No, wait!

We were wrong.

Aoyama’s brilliant tricks might be contributing to the birth of programmers, perhaps.

Conclusion

What are your thoughts on the theory that engineers working on cutting-edge technology tend to be well-versed in recommending anime, manga, and novels with a futuristic vibe?

It is still not enough right?

With that in mind, we decided to research future oriented movies, books and games.

We also have personal recommendations that align with this theme, including ‘Rust Blaster,’ ‘Chobits,’and the original ‘Digimon Adventure.’

Next System’s website

NEXT-SYSTEM

NEXT-SYSTEM

Additionally, you can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, Website & Linkedin.