Anime is a storytelling medium that rarely struggles to tackle a certain genre, but it’s particularly receptive when it comes to fantasy series. Lush fantasy worlds are such a natural fit for anime, especially when they’re able to juxtapose these magical realms with the real world. Fantasy anime can adopt the isekai approach in which an unusual world stands out even more because it’s not the characters’ norm. Alternatively, fantasy anime can already begin in impossible places that are ready for some sort of revolution or change of pace.
Anime has tremendous freedom regarding how it approaches fantasy. Even fantasy anime that begin in familiar places can head in unexpected directions that intentionally disrupt and provoke. Fantasy anime have had plenty of room to grow and spread their wings between titles like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Overlord, Sword Art Online, and The Vision of Escaflowne. That being said, there is a special selection of fantasy anime that go above and beyond to represent the subgenre’s most impressive work.
Record Of Lodoss War Is A Dungeons & Dragons Campaign Brought To Life
There’s no set structure for what needs to be included in a fantasy anime. That being said, there are still certain expectations that call back to the genre’s earliest tropes that came from influential texts, like Dungeons & Dragons and tabletop RPGs. Record of Lodoss War is a monumental fantasy anime from the ’80s that resonates so strongly with die-hard genre fans because its origins actually started as a tabletop RPG campaign. The basics of this campaign were then turned into a series of light fantasy novels that in turn would inspire anime, manga, and video games.
This all reinforces the detailed, lived-in world that Record of Lodoss War has built and refined for several decades. It’s earned the reputation of one of anime’s most important fantasy series, but it’s also held up so well and actually delivers when it comes to action, adventure, and fantasy. Record of Lodoss War is very much a product of its time, but in this case, that’s actually a good thing. Madhouse and Studio AIC craft magical worlds with traditional animation that’s become a lost art in modern fantasy series.
There’s an equally epic orchestral soundtrack that makes every moment in Record of Lodoss War feel like a mighty climax of a legendary story. Record of Lodoss War‘s characters want to liberate the world from evil. However, the anime establishes that the karmic balance between good and evil will always be in flux. It’s impossible for darkness to ever be completely eradicated, which can be slightly empowering when it comes to this party’s commitment to heroism. They’re in a never-ending battle that gives them purpose.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Reinvents Fantasy Epics Through A Post-Modern Perspective
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End only made its anime debut in 2023 and has already been praised as one of the decade’s greatest anime, fantasy or otherwise. Recency bias is sometimes present with new titles that quickly become pop culture phenomena, but Frieren‘s success is unlikely to disappear. It’s a thought-provoking and challenging deconstruction of fantasy archetypes that’s contextualized through Frieren, an elf mage who lives for thousands of years.
Frieren operates on a sprawling scope and its story begins where most fantasy series would end. Frieren and her party eliminate the Demon King and complete their goal as the anime looks at what follows happily ever after. There’s a melancholy sense of grief and loss as Frieren grows comfortable with the idea of outliving all her friends and allies.
Nevertheless, she still lets new people into her life and gains a new sense of purpose in helping the next generation of mages, like Fern, grow. Frieren excels with its world-building, epic sense of scope and scale, and character development, all with an entertaining magic system that ties it all together.
It’s now par for the course whenever a fantasy anime features a self-aware sense of humor that undercuts the genre’s tropes as much as possible. That being said, fantasy comedies like KonoSuba and The Eminence in Shadow wouldn’t be possible without Slayers helping establish the genre’s foundation. Slayers chronicles the heroic adventures of Lina Inverse, a teenage sorceress with world-ending powers, and her faithful adventurer party, as they take on demons, wizards, and accrue loot and food.
All this is fairly standard fantasy fare. What helps Slayers stand apart is how it dresses down these tropes, particularly when it comes to Lina. Lina doesn’t confidently flaunt her power. Instead, she’s a greedy and unscrupulous anti-hero rather than a role model. She’s the perfect wild card to throw a typical fantasy realm into disarray. This was an enlightening change of pace in the ’90s and Slayers still stands tall as a definitive fantasy/comedy hybrid.
The anime’s comedy rarely misses and only gets stronger over time once a greater sense of chemistry between the cast is accomplished. That being said, Slayers never neglects its fantasy elements. There’s still a detailed power system and rich world of lore that gets to evolve over the course of Slayers‘ many sequels, expansions, and off-shoots.
Delicious In Dungeon Turns A Magical Fantasy World Into A Creative Culinary Showcase
Delicious in Dungeon is one of the more exciting fantasy genre subversions to come around in the past decade. The anime faithfully indulges in fantasy, comedy, and adventure tropes that will resonate with seasoned fantasy genre fans. However, the anime makes its mark by using fantasy tropes, creatures, and elements to rejuvenate the cooking subgenre. Delicious in Dungeon concocts a potent recipe in which dungeon-crawler fantasy staples compliment cozy, slice-of-life culinary arts.
A determined team of adventurers finds themselves on a dangerous journey when one of their own is eaten by a dragon. These heroes resort to dire measures as they struggle to survive through a punishing dungeon, which leads to an abundance of unconventional cuisine. Crafting and cooking elements aren’t out of place in fantasy RPGs, so it’s not as if Delicious in Dungeon‘s concept comes out of nowhere. There’s a lot of fun to be had when it comes to nonsensical monsters and ingredients that are applied to something that’s as meticulous and specific as cooking.
It’s a passionate celebration of the fantasy genre through a completely original lens that speaks to the genre’s versatility. It’s rare for a fantasy anime to make its audience want to experiment in the kitchen, but Delicious in Dungeon activates these creative impulses. It also doesn’t hurt that Studio Trigger’s involvement means that Delicious in Dungeon is also stunning on a visual level.
Re:Zero – Starting Life In Another World Wrestles With The Traumatic Implications Of Power
Now in its fourth season, Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World still leads the way when it comes to subversive isekai anime with a dark edge. Subaru Natsuki is a reclusive, introverted gamer who finds himself teleported to a fantasy world and put in the ultimate fish-out-of-water scenario. Subaru quickly meets a brutal end, only to learn that he’s gifted with a “Return to Death” ability that allows him to rewind time as if he’s returning to a “save state.”
Subaru can use this rudimentary version of time travel to prevent future tragedies and dark fates. It’s a smart, layered angle for a fantasy anime that’s gradually evolved into an even deeper series over the course of its run. This unique premise is an effective tool to deconstruct fantasy adventures, but it also turns Subaru’s story into a darker psychological drama about processing trauma.
Subaru’s gift only gives him greater grief and responsibility to process. It’s a power that leaves him fractured and often only exacerbates his existing flaws. Subaru’s development into a selfless hero who is fit for a fantasy world is part of the fun in this story. He’s forced to accept sacrifices and changes when it becomes clear that there’s no such thing as a perfect timeline and that any change that he triggers is going to be subject to some level of compromise. It’s appreciated to see an isekai fantasy to dig into such daunting psychological territory with its protagonist.