If by recent you mean within the last 10 years, I'm mostly drawing blanks. The only 'space' anime I've watched that I really really liked was Cowboy Bebop, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help there. As for sci-fi, MorbidToaster mentioned the Girl Who Leapt Through Time (movie), which was a fine sci-fi time-travel movie I thought. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (series) has some good sci-fi/time-travel elements as well. The new versions of Neon Genesis Evangelion might be worth your time, if you like mecha action. Paprika (film) is a real sci-fi head trip, and might be just about the most visually impressive anime I've seen. There's always that Daft Punk anime film, Interstella 5555. And I guess if you don't mind a healthy-dose of raunchiness there's Dead Leaves. Still, all of those are 'lighter' sci-fi than Bebop, with most of them probably more fantasy than they are science-fiction.

Thanks, Metalsonata I'll have to look into some of these movies/series. I've been out of the anime loop for several years now...just lost interest in it once I hit my mid-twenties. But I'm willing to dip my toes in some good anime again.
Since we're on the topic of anime, can anyone suggest a really good recent sci-fi and/or space travel anime? Something in the vein of Cowboy Beebop or Outlaw Star?





















