Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction, fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world wherein steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles or analog computers; these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or with a presumption of functionality.
Although many works now considered seminal to the genre were published in the 1960s and 1970s, the term "steampunk" originated in the late 1980s, as a tongue-in-cheek variant of cyberpunk.
This article is a list of works in the science fiction and fantasy genres considered by commentators to be steampunk.
Precursors
Although the term "steampunk" was not coined until 1987, several works of fiction significant to the development of the genre were produced before that. For example, Mervyn Peake's novel Titus Alone (1959) anticipated many of the tropes of steampunk. Steampunk elements have also consistently appeared in mainstream manga since the 1940s, dating back to Osamu Tezuka's epic science-fiction trilogy consisting of Lost World (1948), Metropolis (1949) and Nextworld (1951).
Steampunk was particularly influenced by, and often adopts the style of the scientific romances and fantasies of the 19th century. Notably influential authors are:
G. K. ChestertonJohn Clute & John Grant,The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, "Steampunk", p.895 1st Ed., (1997), Orbit, Charles Dickens Arthur Conan Doyle George Griffith H. P. Lovecraft Albert Robida Mary Shelley Robert Louis Stevenson Bram Stoker Mark Twain Jules Verne H. G. Wells
Early adaptations of this scientific romance literature genre to film, particularly those from the 1950s and 1960s, are notable precursors of steampunk cinema: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) From the Earth to the Moon (1958) Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959) The Time Machine (1960) Master of the World (1961) First Men in the Moon (1964) Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969)
Comics and graphic novels
Year Title Creator(s) Publisher Note 1948 Lost World Akita Shoten Manga 1949 Metropolis Kodansha Manga and anime film 1951 Nextworld Fuji Shobo Manga and anime film 1972 The Rose of Versailles Shueisha Manga and anime 1982 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Tokuma Shoten Manga and anime film 1984 Nemesis the Warlock Book IV: The Gothic Empire , Kevin O'Neill, Bryan Talbot IPC Magazines Ltd 1989 Gotham by Gaslight , Mike Mignola, P. Craig Russell DC ComicsPart of the Elseworlds 1990 The Adventures of Luther Arkwright Valkyrie Press (1989), Dark Horse Comics (1990) Nine part series 1993 Sebastian O & Steve Yeowell Vertigo 1994 Steam Detectives Shueisha Manga and anime 1998Cathedral Child Cyberosia Part of the Texas Steampunk series 1999 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen & Kevin O'Neill America's Best 2000 Steampunk & Chris Bachalo Cliffhanger Cancelled after 12 issues 2001 Girl Genius & Kaja Foglio Studio Foglio LLC 2001 Fullmetal Alchemist Enix (2001–2003), Square Enix (2003–2010) Manga and anime 2002 Elemental Gelade Mag Garden Manga and anime 2003 Gintama Shueisha Manga and anime 2004 D. Gray Man Katsura Hoshino Shueisha Manga and anime 2006 Iron West Image 2009 Attack on Titan Kodansha Manga and anime series 2009 Grandville Jonathan Cape 2010 Lady Mechanika Aspen MLT 2013Clockwork PlanetYuu Kamiya, Tsubaki Himana, KuroKodansha 2015 The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage Penguin Books
Film and television Films
Year Title Director(s) Studio Note 1958 The Fabulous World of Jules Verne Karel Zeman 1961 Master of the World William Witney American International Pictures 1964 First Men in the Moon Nathan Juran Columbia Pictures 1972 The Asphyx Peter Newbrook 1979 Time After Time Nicholas Meyer Orion Pictures 1980 Fumoon Osamu Tezuka Tezuka Productions Anime 1981 The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians Oldřich Lipský 1981 Time Bandits Terry Gilliam HandMade Films 1984 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Hayao Miyazaki Topcraft Anime 1985 The Adventures of Mark Twain Will Vinton Feature film 1985 Brazil Terry Gilliam Embassy International Pictures Feature film 1986 The Great Mouse Detective Disney 1986 Laputa: Castle in the Sky Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli Anime 1988 Young Einstein Yahoo Serious Comedy 1992 Porco Rosso Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli Anime 1994 The City of Lost Children Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro 1994 Steam Trek: The Moving Picture Dennis Sisterson Ad Hoc Film Society Star Trek fan film 1995 Cannon Fodder 1999 Wild Wild West Barry Sonnenfeld Warner Bros. 2001 Metropolis Katsuhiro Otomo, Rintaro Madhouse Anime 2001 Sakura Wars: The Movie Mitsuru Hongo, Oji Hiroi Production I.G Anime 2001 Atlantis: The Lost Empire Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Feature Animation Animated 2001 Vidocq 2002 Treasure Planet Ron Clements, John Musker Walt Disney Pictures 2002 Turn A Gundam Yoshiyuki Tomino Sunrise Anime 2003 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 20th Century Fox 2004 Around the World in 80 Days Frank Coraci Walt Disney Pictures, Summit Entertainment, Walden Media 2004 Howl's Moving Castle Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli Anime 2004 Steamboy Katsuhiro Otomo Anime 2004 Van Helsing Universal Pictures 2005 Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa Seiji Mizushima, Shō Aikawa Bones Anime 2005 The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello Short film 2006 The Prestige Touchstone Pictures 2007 The Golden Compass New Line Cinema 2008 Mutant Chronicles Philip Eisner Isle of Man Film, Grosvenor Park 2009 9 Shane Acker Focus Features 2010 Gulliver's Travels Rob Letterman Dune Entertainment, Davis Entertainment Company 2011 Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos Kazuya Murata Bones Anime 2011 The Three Musketeers Paul W. S. Anderson Impact Pictures, Constantin Film, NEF Productions, New Legacy Film 2014 Snowpiercer Bong Joon-ho Moho Film, Opus Pictures, Stillking Films Feature film 2015 Thelomeris Balázs Hatvani 2015April and the Extraordinary WorldChristian Desmares and Franck EkinciAnime 2018 Mortal Engines Christian Rivers Universal Pictures, Media Rights Capital, WingNut Films Feature film
Television
Year Title Creator(s) Studio Note 1965 The Wild Wild West Michael Garrison CBS series 1974 Space Battleship Yamato Leiji Matsumoto, Eiichi Yamamoto Group TAC Anime, Yomiuri TV series 1978 Future Boy Conan Hayao Miyazaki, Sōji Yoshikawa Nippon Animation Anime, NHK series 1979 The Rose of Versailles Tadao Nagahama, Osamu Dezaki, Riyoko Ikeda TMS Entertainment Anime, Nippon TV series 1982 Q.E.D. John Hawkesworth CBS series 1982 Voyagers! James D. Parriott James D. Parriott Productions NBC series Voyagers! Bat's Breath...The Omni's Red: History-Making DVDs for "Voyagers!" , TV Shows on DVD, April 17, 2007 1990 Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water Hideaki Anno, Hayao Miyazaki, Shinji Higuchi Gainax Anime, NHK series 1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Jeffrey Boam and Carlton Cuse Boam/Cuse Productions Fox Broadcasting Company series 1995 Legend Michael Piller and Bill Dial Gekko Film Corp / Bill & Mike Productions Paramount Television series 1998 Steam Detectives Nobuyoshi Habara, Kia Asamiya Xebec Anime, TV Tokyo series 1999 Turn A Gundam Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hajime Yatate Sunrise Anime, Fuji Television series 2000 Sakura Wars Ryūtarō Nakamura, Satoru Akahori Madhouse Anime, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) series 2000 The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne Gavin Scott Filmline International Sci Fi series 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist Seiji Mizushima, Shō Aikawa, Hiromu Arakawa Bones Anime, Japan News Network (JNN) series 2003 Last Exile Koichi Chigira Gonzo Anime, TV Tokyo series 2005 Elemental Gelade Shigeru Ueda, Naruhisa Arakawa, Mayumi Azuma Xebec (Sunrise Beyond) Anime, TV Tokyo series 2006 D. Gray Man Reiko Yoshida, Katsura Hoshino TMS Entertainment Anime, TV Tokyo series 2006 The Amazing Screw-On Head Chris Prynoski, Bryan Fuller, Mike Mignola Syfy Digital Animated, Syfy pilot (1 episode) 2008 Murdoch Mysteries Maureen Jennings, Cal Coons, Alexandra Zarowny Shaftesbury Films Citytv; 2011- CBC 2008 Sanctuary Damian Kindler Syfy Digital Web series 2009 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Yasuhiro Irie, Hiroshi Ōnogi, Hiromu Arakawa Bones Anime, Japan News Network (JNN) series 2009 Riese: Kingdom Falling Ryan Copple, Kaleena Kiff Syfy Digital Web series 2011 Mantecoza Susan Kaff, Kevin R. Phipps Web series 2011 Warehouse 13 Jack Kenny, David Simkins Syfy Syfy series 2012 The Legend of Korra Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko Nickelodeon Animated, Nickelodeon series 2012 Green Lantern: The Animated Series ("Steam Lantern") Ernie Altbacker, Rick Morales Cartoon Network Cartoon Network series 2013 The World of Steam Matthew Yang King Web series, initially funded on Kickstarter 2014 Phineas and Ferb ("Steampunx") Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh Disney Television Animation Disney Channel series 2016 Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Tetsurō Araki, Ichirō Ōkouchi Wit Studio (IG Port) Anime, Fuji TV (Noitamina) series 2019 Carnival Row René Echevarria, Travis Beacham Siesta Productions, Legendary Television, Amazon Studios Amazon Studios 2019 His Dark Materials Jack Thorne BBC Studios, Bad Wolf, New Line Cinema BBC Studios, HBO
Websites +YearTitleURLNote2002Steam Trekhttps://www.steam-trek.comExplore Steam Trek's rich Victorian steampunk universe of ships, crews, alien worlds, and adventures across the aether and the Steam Trek universe featuring tales of the Royal Aether Fleet's ship, the HMS Dauntless. 2025Airovalehttps://airovale.comAirovale is a multimedia steampunk fantasy featuring book and video episodes, following zeppelin crews navigating a Southern Sea archipelago, where fae guardians protect ancient secrets and human ambition collides with mystical forces.
Games Role-playing games
Airship Pirates (2011) Castle Falkenstein (1994) by Mike Pondsmith Forgotten Futures (1993) by Marcus L. Rowland GURPS Steampunk (2000) Iron Kingdoms (2004) Kerberos Club for Wild Talents (2009), Savage Worlds (2010), and Fate (2011) Space: 1889 (1988) Tephra: The Steampunk RPG (2012)
Video games
Literature