Fantasy isa fairly popular genrein the world of anime. Given this, there are a near-infinite number of good fantasy anime that audiences can enjoy. Anime is already a great method of escapism from the real world, and when combined with fantastical elements, it is especially perfect. The colorful and creative animation can be uniquely perfect for translating fantastical worlds and incredible scenarios.
The overwhelming amount of anime available can be daunting, and the fantasy genre is especially common. Considering that, here are the most enchanting and incredible fantasy anime shows of all time, ranked.
10Fairy Tail (2009)
Fairy Tailis an anime that’sbased on the mangaof the same name. It follows a group of mages from the Fairy Tail guild as they go on adventures in the magical land of Fiore. The story’s main character is a fledgling member of the guild named Lucy Heartfilia. Lucy is a new mage who joins Fairy Tail to have adventures, and meets Natsu Dragneel, a fire mage searching for his adoptive dragon father, Igneel. Along the way, Lucy, Natsu, and their friends uncover dark secrets regarding the nature of magic and the truth behind the dragons.
Why It’s One of the Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
Dragons are a cornerstone of the fantasy genre. Given how involved dragons are in the story, it’s easy to see whyFairy Tailmade it on this list. Not only does the show feature cool dragons with fantastical magic powers, many of the dragons also come with adopted children like Natsu who also possess formidable magical powers.StreamFairy Tailon Funimation Now.
9Black Clover (2017)
If you’re a fan of powerful mages that have unique and interesting magical abilities,Black Cloverwill be right up your alley. The show takes place in the magical Clover Kingdom and revolves arounda young boy named Asta. Despite how common magic is, Asta is born devoid of any magical powers. This put him at a severe disadvantage, as magic is a highly valued trait in the Clover Kingdom. Asta’s journey takes an interesting turn when he is bestowed with a mysterious anti-magic grimoire. The grimoire grants him the ability to negate magic.
Asta’s abilities alone make this one of the coolest fantasy anime of all time. This is especially true the further you get into the story as Asta’s anti-magic abilities continue to expand. Aside from Asta, the show boasts a multitude of interesting and powerful wizards. Yuno, Asta’s main rival, is a great example of this, as he’s able to summon a wind spirit that enhances his wind abilities and grants him access to Divine Wind Magic.StreamBlack Cloveron Crunchyroll.
8Slayers (1995)
We can’t talk about powerful magic users in the world of fantasy anime without mentioning one of the shows that helped pave the way for the subgenre:Slayers.This popular series follows the adventures of Lisa Inverse, a skilled and powerful sorceress, and her friends as they journey through a medieval-like world filled with magic, monsters, and various other mythical creatures.
Slayersis about as close to classic fantasy as anime can get. Couple this with its incredibly endearing animated style, and you’ve got yourself one of the most iconic fantasy anime of all time. While it can be a little juvenile at times, it’s best to viewSlayersas an over-the-top romp through a fantasy world rife with dark forces that are constantly threatening the world. While the two previously mentioned shows may look better and feature stories that are more suited for modern audiences,Slayersboasts an undeniable charm that has stood the test of time.StreamSlayerson Crunchyroll.
7Made In Abyss (2017)
Audiences who love fantasy anime that introduce a foreign and mysterious world will surely loveMade In Abyss. The anime follows the story of a young girl named Riko who lives in a small town built around a mysterious and massive chasm that’s only known as the Abyss. The Abyss is filled with strange creatures and valuable relics. The further down you descend, the more dangerous the journey becomes. Along the way, Riko discovers a humanoid robot boy named Reg who possesses unique and powerful abilities. Together they explore and uncover all the mysteries that the Abyss hides.
This is ranked so high on the list because once you start watching, it’s almost impossible to stop. The more the show reveals about the secrets of the Abyss, the more audiences are pulled in. Perhaps the most impressive thing aboutMade In Abyssis its ability to continuously surprise viewers. Despite the show’s whimsical aesthetic, it’s not afraid to take the story in a grim direction when the situation calls for it. This results in a mysterious show with high stakes that will have you hooked from episode one.StreamMade In Abysson Prime Video.
6Attack on Titan (2013)
Attack On Titan
Speaking of fantasy anime that revolve around a central mystery,Attack on Titanhad audiences on the edge of their seats for a decade, right up until it’s emotional ending in 2023, and even becamethe most-watched show in the entire worldin 2021.Attack on Titanis set in a world where humanity resides within enormous walled cities in order to protect themselves from gigantic humanoid creatures known as Titans. Audiences see the world through the eyes of Eren Yeager, a young man who recently joined the Survey Corps, as he tries to get a better understanding of the world and the mystery behind the Titans.
One of the best things aboutAttack on Titanis itscomprehensive world building. Just when audiences think they understand what’s going on, the show then proceeds to expand and present new mysteries that completely transform how audiences view the world ofAttack on Titan. Aside from this, select individuals of the show’s interesting cast of characters also boast Titan shifting powers that allow them to turn into Titans with unique abilities. This adds a lot of depth to the show, as audiences never know who has these powers until they choose to reveal themselves.Stream Attack on Titan on Hulu.
5Jujutsu Kaisen (2020)
Despite being fairly new,Jujutsu Kaisenhas quickly established itself as one of the best fantasy anime of all time. The show is centered around a high school student named Yuji Itadori. Despite having a normal life, Itadori’s entire reality changes when he comes into contact with a Cursed object.
The object in question is a finger from the King of Curses, Sukuna. In a moment of desperation after encountering Cursed spirits, Itadori eats the finger and consequently becomes the host for the King of Curses himself. Due to his new powers brought about by Sukuna’s Cursed energy, a strong sorcerer named Satoru Gojo abducts Itadori and brings him to the Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School so he can learn how to harness the power of Cursed energy to become a strong sorcerer.
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The power system of a fantasy anime can make or break it. Audiences that love intricate power systems will surely loveJujutsu Kaisen. Cursed energy can manifest in a variety of different ways. This results in many unique sorcerers that possess formidable abilities. The show makes the most of these powers thanks to the masterful job the animators did, asevery action sequenceis basically a piece of modern art.Stream Jujutsu Kaisen on Prime Video.
4Naruto (2002)
We doubt anyone can argue that the story of Naruto Uzumaki is one of the best in the fantasy genre of anime. The highly popylar seriesNarutofollows the journey of a young ninja named Naruto Uzumaki who dreams of one day becoming the strongest ninja and earning the title of leader of the Hidden Leaf Village. Unfortunately, things are easier said than done, as Naruto is basically treated like an exile in his village. This is because he’s burdened with the responsibility of being the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox that once attacked and nearly destroyed the village many years ago.
Aside from the visually stunning action sequences that have ninjas using elaborate and flashy techniques,Narutois ranked so high on this list due to the sheer scale of the classic story. Audiences follow Naruto as he goes from being anoutcast to becoming a hero. They see his struggles, his losses, and most importantly his victories. Audiences witness Naruto’s transformation from a novice ninja to Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.StreamNarutoon Prime Video.
3Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis set in a world wherein alchemy is a widely practiced and respected science. The story revolves around two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who commit the taboo of human transmutation in an attempt to bring back their deceased mother. After their attempt goes awry, the two suffer permanent damage to their bodies. Edward loses his left leg, while Alphonse ends up losing his entire body. To save his brother, Edward sacrifices his right arm in order to bind Alphonse’s soul into a suit of armor. From that day on, the two studied to be expert alchemists in hopes of one day restoring their bodies to their original states.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis consideredamong the greatest anime of all time, and has a lot of depth behind it. This is especially true further into the story, as it introduces elements of morally gray characters like Scar that make audiences question whether the government that Edward and Alphonse work for is truly in the right.
With that being said, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is also the perfect show to watch if you’re looking for an anime with great action scenes. Given the nature of the powers of the characters in the show, the battles are often huge and show off the many creative ways that alchemy can be used offensively.StreamFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodon Hulu.
2Hunter x Hunter (1999)
If you’re looking for a unique take on fantasy,Hunter x Huntermight just be perfect. The anime follows a young boy named Gon Freecss, who discovers that his long-lost father is actually a legendary Hunter: a special and elite member of humanity whose sole goal is to uncover rare treasure, discover exotic creatures, or even hunt human targets. Driven by the desire to find his father, Gon sets out to take the Hunter Exam so that he can be a Hunter too.
While it may seem likeany other shonen, this anime has so much depth that it hides in its sprawling world. There’s no better example of this than the Greed Island arc. During this part of the anime, the characters find themselves transported in a video game called Greed Island. To take the time and effort to create an entire world within the expansive world that hostsHunter x Hunteris what sets this anime apart. Given all of this, it’s easy to see whyHunter x Hunteris one of the best fantasy anime of all time.StreamHunter x Hunteron Prime Video.
1One Piece (1999)
One Pieceis a long-running anime series based on the manga created by Eiichiro Oda, with a recenthighly successful live-action adaptationas well. The story revolves around a young and ambitious pirate named Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy has one goal: to find a legendary treasure known as the One Piece so that he can become the Pirate King. On his journey, Luffy manages to recruit a lovable bunch of misfits to join his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates. They all sail on together, having wild adventures, until they achieve their goals.
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One Piecetakes all that’s good about the fantasy genre and cranks it up to 100. When it comes to world building very few can compete with Eiichiro Oda as the world he created is composed of dozens of unique islands all of which have their own history and culture. The show also boasts some of the most interesting powers in anime, whether it be Luffy’s ability to extend his limbs orVice Admiral Smoker’s abilityto turn into smoke. Lastly, the secret behind the One Piece is unknown to this day. This makesOne Piecethe perfect show if you’re looking to dive into a world of fantasy and mystery.StreamOne Pieceon Netflix.
