Fans of anime looking for epic fantasy adventures to watch will find these titles among the best ever animated.
Who doesn’t love an amazing fantasy story? From serious tales like Lord of the Rings to lighter-hearted romps like Onward, it’s a genre that begs to be explored time and time again. Still, few forms of animation have told more fantasy stories than those shown in anime.
With countless good fantasy anime available for viewing, it can be difficult to decide which ones to prioritize. Certain stories stand out above the rest as anime that no fan should go through life without watching. Which are the best fantasy anime?
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Spring 2023 is shaping up to be a strong quarter for anime. As usual, many fantasy-leaning series will be airing over the upcoming months. KonoSuba, Demon Slayer, Edens Zero, and The Ancient Magus’ Bride are all airing new seasons, and those are just the tip of the iceberg. What are some of the best fantasy anime set to air in Spring 2023?
Ranking of Kings is undoubtedly one of the most memorable fantasy shows to debut over the last few years, and The Treasure Chest of Courage looks set to continue season 1’s fantastic work. The anime follows Bojji, a prince who was born deaf and small, compared to his giant parents. Underestimated and ridiculed by many people, Bojji feels alone and scared, although he finds solace in a new friendship with a unique character named Kage. The opening season chronicles Bojji’s powerful journey that involves saving his kingdom.
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Ranking of Kings has developed a reputation for circumventing expectations, particularly when dealing with the motivations of characters. « Never judge a book by its cover » is arguably the anime’s main theme, and it explores this concept beyond just Bojji. The protagonist finds himself in a very different position at the start of season 2 compared to the pilot episode of the 2021 entry, but great adventures likely await him.
A comedy shonen anime, Mashle pits magic versus sheer physical force. Mash has no magical ability, which is a death sentence in his world. To protect his peaceful lifestyle with his father figure, Mash decides to infiltrate a magic academy and work his way to a coveted position that would make him untouchable. He needs to pretend to be capable of pulling off a spell or two to get by; however, in truth, Mash relies solely on his bulging biceps.
Mashle is essentially a parody of not only magic-based manga but properties like Harry Potter, something the anime’s trailer showcases through the reveal of the main school, which looks somewhat similar to Hogwarts. Fantasy shows revolving around action and adventure are abundant, so a comedy series could be a nice alternative.
Hell’s Paradise is probably the most highly anticipated new fantasy anime of Spring 2023, and that can be extended to shonen in general. Yuji Kaku’s manga enjoyed a good 3-year run on Shonen Jump+, and while it never gained the mainstream exposure of a Naruto or Chainsaw Man, Hell’s Paradise was received well and became reasonably popular toward the end of its existence.
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As the title suggests, the story takes place on an island that looks like a paradise but, in truth, is anything but. Criminals are sent to the island to track down a special item; if their expedition is successful, their sentences will be forgiven. However, most of them are not expected to survive.
Now, here are the best fantasy anime of all time…
As this anime’s title suggests, Humanity has Declined finds mankind at a low point in its history. It looks like humans are on their way out, with fairies taking their place as the planet’s new dominant inhabitants. As the latter are driven nearly entirely by impulse, they need some guidance, which is provided by an unnamed woman with a realistic disposition.
Humanity Has Declined delivers a blend of surreal comedy, vibrant visuals, and cynicism. It presents a fantasy world that is caught in the middle between two eras, sparking plenty of misunderstandings and bizarre happenings.
Spanning two seasons, The Labyrinth of Magic and The Kingdom of Magic, and a spin-off series, Adventure of Sinbad, Magi takes inspiration from Arabian Nights’ classic stories. Figures like Aladdin, Sinbad, Ali Baba, and Morgana serve as the protagonists of this fantasy anime.
Magi begins quite unassuming in its first season as it revolves around Aladdin and Ali Baba entering massive towers in search of treasure, but the show expands significantly as it progresses. The Kingdom of Magic is especially enthralling as it explores this world’s political and social climate more closely. The spin-off series is also a lot of fun and perhaps even better than the main show.
Based on Kana Akatsuki’s light novel series, Violet Evergarden is named after an Auto Memory Doll designed specifically for war. Once that conflict subsided, Violet found herself working as a messenger, a role that causes the doll to gain direct experience with human emotions.
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Violet Evergarden follows an episodic format as most entries revolve around one of the protagonist’s missions. While the fantasy anime is a bit inconsistent at times, at its best, Violet Evergarden is harrowing, moving, and unforgettable. The movie is also fantastic and well worth seeking out even by those who are not especially huge fans of the series.
