Great fantasy anime isn’t exactly rare. Each passing season will typically have one show, if not more, for fans of the genre to enjoy, and recent years have seen seemingly endless high-quality fantasy releases. Shows set in masterfully built, vast fictional worlds centered on magic come in bunches, while urban fantasy is becoming increasingly common in the anime scene.
Fantasy covers a wide variety of subjects and subgenres and, as such, is likely the most common story being told in anime at any given time. There’s bound to be quite a few titles belonging to the genre that fans wouldn’t themselves classify as fantasy, but do fit under the genre’s many definitions.
Not every show released can be perfect, but these 10 come as close as a series can get.
Because of the countless subgenres of fantasy, this list excludes Isekai titles,which have been ranked separately here.
Since premiering in 2017,Black Cloverhas been one of the most popular currentWeekly Shōnen Jumpanime adaptations, despite remaining on an extended hiatus dating back to 2021. The series offers a bit of a unique take on the fantasy genre, incorporating a fictional world and magic system,but having its protagonist be unable to use that magic.
Black Cloverutilizes that premise to not only deliver an engaging fantasy world, but also an endearing ‘hard work beats talent’ story for fans to sink their teeth into. Fortunately,Black Clover’s long hiatuswill finally come to an end in 2026with the airing of the fifth season, which gives viewers more than enough time to catch up on what they’ve missed.
Mushishiis a unique series, in that it’s classified as Iyashikei, a genre specific to Japanese stories similar to slice-of-life,but with unmistakably peaceful settings and events. It follows a man named Ginko, and trades its fantasy world for a real-life setting, set in a fictional period of time.
Ginko is one of the very few people capable of seeing life forms called Mushi, which often cause other people who cannot perceive them a variety of problems.Mushishidoes not feature overarching storylines, and instead follows an episodic structure, delivering relatively isolated fantasy stories in a calming, peaceful setting.
Inuyashais one of the most successful fantasy anime series ever, and was initially part of a group of titles that first introduced anime to mainstream audiences in the West. Based on the manga seriesby the legendary Rumiko Takahashi, who is also responsible for works likeRanma 1/2andUrusei Yatsura, the fantasy classicInuyasharemains one of her most widely beloved titles.
Inuyashapacks elements of adventure, romance, and action into a highly enjoyable fantasy setting.
The series follows Kagome Higurashi, a normal high school girl who gets sent back in time from 1996 to Sengoku period Japan,and becomes entangled in a world of demons and hybrid humans.Inuyashapacks elements of adventure, romance, and action into a highly enjoyable fantasy setting.
Delicious in Dungeonarrived on the scene during the winter 2024 anime season and became one of the year’s top sleeper hits, establishing itself as one of the genre’s most exciting new titles. The series introduces a standard medieval fantasy settingbut separates itself from its peers by placing a large focus on food and cooking.
The monsters-of-the-week eventually find themselves as ingredients in the main party’s dinner, giving viewers something new to look forward to in each confrontation.Delicious in Dungeonisn’t afraid to explore darker themes, and often catches viewers expecting fun with food off-guard with genuinely moving moments.
Kentaro Miura’sBerserkis one of the most popular and successful fantasy manga series of all time, and frequently tops ‘greatest manga ever’ lists wherever fans can find them. However, the franchise’sanime adaptations haven’t been quite as noteworthy, with OLM’s 1997Berserkgenerally regarded as the best of the bunch.
Guts' highly emotional demon-destroying struggle throughBerserk’s dark fantasy world is just so easy to become invested in, and the 1997 anime series covers one of the most popular sections of it. The only thing holdingBerserkbackis the fact that it only adapts about a fourth of Kentaro Miura’s fantasy epic.
Hunter x Hunter, despite being one of the most popularWeekly Shōnen Jumpmanga series ever, has had an unconventional history of anime adaptations.Its original 1999 grittier anime seriesby Nippon Animation ended after only 62 episodes, before the 2011 Madhouse adaptation arrived on the scene and immediately captured the hearts of a large section of the anime community.
The series is set in a fictional setting and features its own magic system in the form of Nen—the ability for a hunter to control their energy.Hunter x Hunteroffers viewers a vast world in which action and adventure take center stage,and combine to create one of the most beloved fantasy anime series ever.
Few anime series have been quite as big asAttack on Titanover the last 15 years and counting. The dark fantasy series chronicling the downfall of one Eren Yeager captured the hearts of countless fans throughout its decade of activity, and by the time it reached its final season,newAttack on Titanepisodes became an event every week.
There’s a lack of magic elements in the world ofAttack on Titan, but the politics of its fantasy setting allow for plenty of intrigue regardless. Though its story has come to a definitive conclusion, it doesn’t seemAttack on Titanwill be going anywhere soon, as the producers behind the serieshave confirmed further entries into the franchise.
There’s little left to be said aboutOne Piecethat hasn’t already been said. In terms of popularity, the series has long escaped the world of anime and manga, and catapulted itself to global mainstream successon a level enjoyed by very few titles.
The adventures of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates have been enjoyed by multiple generations of anime fans, and will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.
The adventures of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates have been enjoyed by multiple generations of anime fans, and will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.The scope ofOne Piece’s fictional world is vast, and its magical Devil Fruits comfortably place the series among anime’s best ever fantasy titles.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endarrived during the fall 2024 season and instantly took the anime community by storm, becoming one of the most acclaimed fantasy anime series of all-time. The anime offers a pretty standard fantasy setting and magic system, but sets itself apartby following the titular mage years after her defining journey concluded.
Frierendelivers a highly emotional, aesthetically pleasing, melancholic experience that’s only lifted by masterful soundtrack work courtesy of Evan Call, who lent similar sounds to 2018’sViolet Evergarden.The anime is set to return in 2026, with one of the most anticipated second seasons in anime history.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodwas finally dethroned from its number one spot on the MyAnimeList rankings byFrieren, but until the 2024 fantasy smash-hit proves it can keep up its quality in season two,the 2009 classic still reigns supreme. The series is set in a fantasy world constructed around alchemy, and follows the Elric brothers on an emotional quest to regain their bodies.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodhas become one of anime’s premiere gateway series over the last decade and a half, ushering countless fans into the anime-watching community every year. Following all the action and drama, the series eventually comes to what many considerthe greatest ending in anime history.
