Made in Abyss

The "Abyss" is the last unexplored place in the world. Strange and wonderful creatures roam within, and it is full of precious relics that present humans can't recreate. Those that dare to explore the depths are known as "Cave Raiders." An orphan girl named Riko lives on the rim. Her dream is to become a Cave Raider like her mother and solve the mysteries of the cave system. One day, Riko starts exploring the caves and discovers a robot who resembles a human boy. (Source: Anime News Network, edited) Note: The last episode aired with a runtime of ~48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

If you like this, try

The Promised Neverland 81%

12 eps · 2019

You get the same wide-eyed young cast whose sunny surface hides horror waiting patiently beneath it.

Girls' Last Tour 79%

12 eps · 2017

Swap the crushing depths for empty ruins, but the quiet wonder of exploring a dying world remains.

Tengoku Daimakyo 76%

13 eps · 2023

A displaced orphan crossing a monster-ridden wasteland gives you that same tense, curious dread on every step.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind 75%

1 eps · 1984

This one trades the pit for a poisoned jungle, but the awe at a hostile, half-understood ecosystem is identical.