Fantasy is one of the most prolific and multifaceted anime genres, and its popularity cannot be overstated. Many of the greatest anime titles of all time fall under the fantasy umbrella; yet, despite being part of the same genre, these masterpieces vary significantly, from classic sword and sorcery epics to stylish urban fantasy adventures to petrifying grimdark horror stories.
The kinds of fantastical ventures fans seek or recognize as exceptional largely depend on personal taste. However, there are some fantasy shows that have earned the status of must-watch classics, demonstrating what the genre is capable of at its most wondrous, imaginative, and boundary-pushing.
Delicious in Dungeon Has Every Chance to Go Down in History as a Masterpiece
Despite having only one season (with a sequel, thankfully, on the way), Delicious in Dungeon has already established itself as a must-watch fantasy series. The secret to Delicious in Dungeon’s success lies in its unique fusion of narrative elements – high-octane, imaginative fantasy and character-driven cooking show.
Descending into the dangerous dungeon filled to the brim with monsters, Laios and his party settle for an unconventional way of solving the matter of their need to eat – turn the dungeon’s creatures into delicious meals. However, the cooking aspect of Delicious in Dungeon is not just a gimmick – it’s an inherent part of the series that helps to highlight its exceptionally nuanced worldbuilding and the deepening of the protagonists’ bonds as they share both perilous adventures and quiet, joyful moments of enjoying scrumptious meals.
Record of Lodoss War Is a Brilliant Classic for Fans of Traditional High Fantasy
Fantasy might be a uniquely multifaceted genre, yet, when thinking of its most quintessential aspects, most fans imagine the same things: magical creatures, majestic spellcasting, vast worlds inspired by medieval Europe, and a quest to save the world from some ancient evil at the heart of the story. These high fantasy staples are all present in Record of Lodoss War, a classic anime series based on Dungeons & Dragons “replays.”
Despite being very traditional, Record of Lodoss War doesn’t feel boring or derivative. The series fully understands the appeal of classic fantasy epics and captures their nostalgic charm flawlessly. When it comes to old-school high fantasy, Record of Lodoss War is anime’s most quintessential exemplar of the genre that holds up excellently due to its narrative timelessness and brilliant production quality.
Fate/Zero Is a Stunning Urban Fantasy Spectacle With Layers of Depth
A massive dark fantasy franchise, the Fate series features countless masterful entries. Among them, Fate/Zero is revered for its excellent storytelling, stunning visual quality, and accessibility to new fans. Like most plots in Fate, Fate/Zero focuses on the Holy Grail War – a deadly battle royal where mages summon historical spirits to compete for the titular wish-granting artifact.
Worldbuilding in Fate is exceptionally unique, luring viewers into a nuanced urban fantasy world where legends come to life and magic blooms right outside the common people’s gaze. Fate/Zero specifically elevates the already intriguing core concept of the series through layers of thematic depth, presenting audiences with not just a flashy, ruthless spectacle but a profound, morally ambiguous story that blurs the lines between heroes and villains.
Hunter x Hunter Subverts Expectations in the Development of Its Core Fantasy Adventure
While Hunter x Hunter might appear like a relatively standard shonen fantasy epic at first, there is a reason why it’s revered as one of the best action-adventure series of all time. The worldbuilding of Hunter x Hunter is immaculate – the series world feels rich, inventive, and doesn’t simply revolve around Gon’s quest.
The further the story progresses, the more it subverts expectations of a typical shonen power fantasy, changing genres and shifting focus between characters to explore both the wonders and the perilous dangers of Hunter x Hunter’s intricate setting. The series’ innovative yet meticulous power system, Nen, deserves a special mention for how it enriches Hunter x Hunter’s already fascinating world and its fantastical elements.
One Piece Is Anime’s Most Thrilling Long-Running Adventure
Ever since its debut in 1997, One Piece has been one of the most popular and influential long-running shonen fantasies, which has only widened its reach with time. Countless people all over the world eagerly follow Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates’ adventures across the Grand Line; the closer the story gets to concluding, the more excited its fans get.
The secret to One Piece’s success lies in the series’ commitment to long-term storytelling. While the show remains exhilarating on an episode-to-episode basis, it also ambitiously weaves large-scale storylines that take decades to develop. As such, the fantastical world of One Piece never runs out of surprising, riveting things with which to present its audience.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Is the Best Fantasy Anime of the 2020s
Upon premiering in 2023, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End took the anime community by storm almost immediately. Its release marked a shift in the medium’s approach to the fantasy genre – a newfound interest in seemingly traditional fantasy stories that, nonetheless, don’t follow established conventions.
The plot of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End unfolds after the adventure most fantasy plots would focus on has already come to an end: the Demon King was slain, the campaign’s participants have grown old and died, and the one left is a near-immortal elf trying to process the weight of it all. As such, Frieren takes an introspective, reflective approach to fantasy storytelling, following the heroine as she learns to appreciate life in a new light and see value in human connection.
Haibane Renmei Approaches Fantasy From an Unconventionally Grounded Angle
Haibane Renmei is not a traditional fantasy narrative. For its heroine, Rakka, and for the audience, the story begins with an onslaught of enigmas, as the protagonist wakes up in an unfamiliar town with no memories of her past. However, rather than being a conventional mystery story, Haibane Renmei does not strive to give viewers any straightforward answers, instead guiding them through a meditative tale of death and redemption that focuses more on feeling than plot.
Haibane Renmei features many fantastical elements, such as the titular haibane. Yet, its slice-of-life vignettes remain distinctly human as they tackle relatable themes of mortality and grief. While non-linear and confusing at times, Haibane Renmei is a series worth experiencing for those seeking a truly unorthodox fantasy narrative.
Berserk’s Anime Adaptation Is Exceptional Despite Being Incomplete
One of the greatest dark fantasy narratives of all time, Berserk, nonetheless, never had the best of luck with anime adaptations. Of the multiple attempts to bring Kentaro Miura’s magnum opus to life, the 1997 series remains the best, despite its animation being dated and its story incomplete.
Berserk 1997 adapts the manga’s most famous storyline, the Golden Age arc that sets Guts’ grueling revenge quest in motion. While not perfect, the anime captures the gritty, haunting atmosphere of Berserk flawlessly and acts as a stellar introduction to a timeless epic revered relentlessly for its narrative and character depth, immaculate worldbuilding, and renowned dark fantasy iconography. A profound, tragic tale of resilience set against a terrifying yet mesmerizing high fantasy backdrop, Berserk will forever remain the pinnacle of its genre.
Mushishi Is a Soothing Supernatural Masterpiece
Fantasy anime hardly needs to be spectacular or high-octane to be excellent. In Mushishi’s case, fantastical magic is not presented as something extraordinary but as an enigma integrated into the world’s natural order, resulting in a uniquely soothing narrative that urges audiences to appreciate life’s simplest wonders.
Set against the serene backdrop of the Japanese countryside, Mushishi chronicles the episodic adventures of Ginko, a mushi specialist examining cases pertaining to the world’s most basic yet uniquely disruptive lifeforms. Serene and meditative, Mushishi is a series brimming with tranquility, yet its ethereal atmosphere doesn’t take away from the very grounded life lessons each of its episodic vignettes carries.
The tale of the Elric brothers’ search for the mythical Philosopher’s Stone is not just one of the greatest fantasy anime series ever created; it’s the show many claim to be the best anime of all time. Indeed, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a series of outstanding quality, excelling equally in its production value, storytelling excellence, and character development.
For fantasy fans, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood offers an exceptionally well-realized world where steampunk aesthetics meet innovative science fantasy. The supernatural elements of Fullmetal Alchemist coexist seamlessly with a spectacularly fleshed-out world featuring realistic politics, drama, and conspiracies – all aspects its protagonists have to face on their perilous journey to restore their bodies.