If you're looking for a way to entertain yourself, then you might want to turn to fantasy anime. It allows you to explore different worlds without leaving the comfort of your home. It's a world where quite literally, anything is possible. Your own imagination is the only limit!
Fantasy anime covers a lot of concepts, which is what makes each show unique. There's always an adventure to be had, something new to explore, and places to see! From family-friendly tropes to darker-toned ones, you'll find that fantasy anime is quite versatile. If you don't know where to start, we have assembled a guide for you and our top 10 picks!
Quick List - Top Fantasy Anime
Justine joined mybest in 2020. She gravitates toward writing all things food-related and how they connect people. Aside from writing, she’s made it a point to hunt for the perfect croissant and chocolate chip cookie.
If there's a genre in anime that's unparalleled, it would be the fantasy genre. Through our viewer's guide, we'll help you find great films and TV shows with unique concepts as well as exciting storylines. Scroll down to know more!
When deciding whether to watch a movie or series, it's important to take into account your work or school schedule and determine how much time you can devote to watching without any interruptions.
Fantasy is one of the most often-explored genres when it comes to anime. This means you have more options for coming across films that aren’t a condensed version of its TV series.
You will be able to find standalone and quality films that are told from a different perspective than their TV series counterpart. This is ideal if you don’t have much time to invest in watching them.
Anime series indeed has shorter episodes than the average full-length K-Drama, but what it lacks in running time, it makes up for with the number of episodes. Fantasy anime often has numerous episodes and longer seasons—some of the longer-running animes even span up to more than a hundred episodes!
It’s not one-size-fits-all when it comes to fantasy animes—there are shorter seasons with hundreds of episodes just as there are a lot of seasons with a fewer number of episodes. But don’t fret! If you feel overwhelmed, some animes only have one season and several episodes.
Fantasy in itself is a broad genre, so it helps to have an idea of the type of fantasy movie or series that you want to watch to help narrow down your options. You could go for characters with magical powers, as there are animes set in an alternate universe where magic is a common occurrence or perhaps one who isn’t aware they have magic powers.
Fancy local folklore? There’s an anime for that, too! You would be able to find anime that features talking animals, forest spirits, and demons, which are often rooted in Japanese folklore. So, for those who are fans of the mystic, there’s always something for you.
Perhaps you might want an anime that incorporates a bit of science fiction in its plot. It’s always fun to see how they merge them with magic! Also, there are characters on a quest to find something valuable. You’ll find that the possibilities are quite endless when it comes to the fantasy genre. After all, most stories are based on the creator's imagination!
Given that the fantasy genre in anime had managed to churn out so many releases, we wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know where to start. If you're a bit lost, you could always start with old anime classics. And yes, that includes anime you grew up with. You'd be surprised, but some of them still produce episodes until this day!
If that is the case, you have quite a lot of episodes to catch up on. With all the streaming services available, you wouldn't have to deal with commercial breaks. You could also check what is popular or trending in the anime world right now, and start with that. These anime are on top of the list for a reason, so there's no harm in trying!
Since we are dealing with a fantasy genre, it is not uncommon to come across characters fighting or even scary scenes popping up. This might not be the most appropriate for children if they are watching with you. Websites like IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes also give a certification for which audience the film or series is appropriate for.
Streaming sites, like Netflix, employ their own rating such as ALL, which means it is recommended for all audiences, 7+ for kids 7 and up, 13+, 16+, and 18+, which means you would have to be of legal age. They even describe which scene would depict language, violence, and frightening imagery.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anime Type | Fantasy Type | No. of Seasons | Total No. of Episodes | Movie/Episode Length | Rating | |||||
1 | Eiichiro Oda One Piece|1999 | ![]() | A Long-Running Anime About an Aspiring Pirate | Fantasy, Shonen | Magical Realism | 20 | 1070 | 22-25 Minutes | 14+ | |
2 | Hayao Miyazaki Spirited Away|2001 | ![]() | A Timeless Anime That Is Well-Loved Across Generations | Fantasy, Isekai | Spirits, Folklore | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 2 Hours, 5 Minutes | 10+ | |
3 | Yūki Tabata Black Clover|2017 | ![]() | A Boy Wants to Become the Wizard King Despite Not Having Powers | Fantasy, Shonen | Heroic Fantasy | 4 | 170 | 22-24 Minutes | 13+ | |
4 | Makoto Shinkai Your Name |2016 | ![]() | A Story About Interconnected Destinies | Fantasy, Romance | Science Fiction | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 1 Hour, 46 Minutes | 13+ | |
5 | Tatsuki Fujimoto Chainsaw Man |2022 | ![]() | A Chainsaw Hybrid Man Gets to Kill Demons | Fantasy, Isekai | Dark Fantasy, Science Fiction | 1 | 12 | 24-25 Minutes | 16+ | |
6 | Gege Akutami Jujutsu Kaisen|2020 | ![]() | Sorcerer School Students Battle Against Curses | Fantasy, Shonen | Dark Fantasy | 2 | 24-28 | 24 Minutes | 16+ | |
7 | Yōsuke Hatta, Makoto Fuchigami Ranking of Kings|2021 | ![]() | A Journey of Strength, Heart, and Overcoming Adversity | Fantasy | Historical Fantasy | 2 | 33 | 23 Minutes | 16+ | |
8 | Koyoharu Gotouge Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba|2019 | ![]() | Boy Goes on a Quest to Become an Accomplished Demon Slayer | Fantasy, Shonen | Historical, Dark Fantasy | 4 | 55 | 23-52 Minutes | 16+ | |
9 | Yuji Kaku Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku|2023 | ![]() | A Group of Criminals Fight Their Way to Freedom | Fantasy | Dark Fantasy | 1 | 13 | 24 Minutes | 16+ | |
10 | Hajime Isayama Attack on Titan|2013 | ![]() | A Boy Attempts to Save What's Left of Humanity | Fantasy, Shonen | Dark Fantasy | 7 | 88 | 24-61 Minutes | 16+ |
A classic anime from our childhood days, One Piece focuses on Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate who aspires to find the one-piece treasure and become the King of Pirates. It's certainly entertaining to watch Luffy, who may seem a bit childish for his own good, outsmart his enemies with his quick wit and abilities.
This anime gives us different backstories of characters that build up the momentum of the plot, from their origins as a rag-tag crew to established pirates in their own right. Even if it's been airing for two decades, the story doesn't get boring or too complicated to follow. This is definiely a must-watch!
Anime Type | Fantasy, Shonen |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Magical Realism |
No. of Seasons | 20 |
Total No. of Episodes | 1070 |
Movie/Episode Length | 22-25 Minutes |
Rating | 14+ |
On the way to their new home, Chihiro’s parents decided to stop by an abandoned amusement park. However, her parents transformed into mindless pigs after eating food from the roadside diner, and the previously uninhabited park started to become crowded with spirits. Her only hope is to trust a stranger named Haku, who helps her navigate the spirit world.
Spirited Away was the highest-grossing Japanese film for 19 years. Even if it was released more than 20 years ago, people continue to rave about this masterpiece because of its captivating story and visuals. It is one of the most popular films produced by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli and is considered a classic anime until this day.
Anime Type | Fantasy, Isekai |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Spirits, Folklore |
No. of Seasons | Not Applicable |
Total No. of Episodes | Not Applicable |
Movie/Episode Length | 2 Hours, 5 Minutes |
Rating | 10+ |
Anime Type | Fantasy, Shonen |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Heroic Fantasy |
No. of Seasons | 4 |
Total No. of Episodes | 170 |
Movie/Episode Length | 22-24 Minutes |
Rating | 13+ |
Following its release in 2016, Your Name has received critical acclaim, and rightly so. It tells the story of two poignant individuals from two different backgrounds. Taki Tachibana is a city boy while Mitsuha Miyamizu is from the countryside, yet every morning, they find themselves in each other's bodies!
With a visually stunning animation accompanied by an equally beautiful soundtrack, this is one film that'll tug at your heartstrings. You'll laugh and cry along with the characters as they attempt to make sense of this odd phenomenon. It's perfect for the inner wanderer in us!
Anime Type | Fantasy, Romance |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Science Fiction |
No. of Seasons | Not Applicable |
Total No. of Episodes | Not Applicable |
Movie/Episode Length | 1 Hour, 46 Minutes |
Rating | 13+ |
Anime Type | Fantasy, Isekai |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Dark Fantasy, Science Fiction |
No. of Seasons | 1 |
Total No. of Episodes | 12 |
Movie/Episode Length | 24-25 Minutes |
Rating | 16+ |
Curses arise when there is abundant negative energy. At least that’s what Yuji has been told after he accidentally ate a thousand-year-old powerful cursed object. As the newest transferee to Jujutsu High, he must learn all about curses and figure out a way to exorcise the one in him.
If you are into dark fantasy shounen, you should place Jujutsu Kaisen on your watchlist. It is also one of the series that has recently gained traction because of its remarkable animation and engaging story. Packed with exciting action scenes and hilarious dialogues, this is gearing up to be a fan favorite!
Anime Type | Fantasy, Shonen |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Dark Fantasy |
No. of Seasons | 2 |
Total No. of Episodes | 24-28 |
Movie/Episode Length | 24 Minutes |
Rating | 16+ |
Anime Type | Fantasy |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Historical Fantasy |
No. of Seasons | 2 |
Total No. of Episodes | 33 |
Movie/Episode Length | 23 Minutes |
Rating | 16+ |
When Tanjiro Kamado left his home that morning to sell charcoal, he did not expect much. But he certainly did not expect tragedy to strike. When he returned home, he found his family members murdered. On top of that, his younger sister Nezuko got turned into a demon!
With no one to turn to, he dedicates his life to eradicating demons by enlisting in the Demon Slayer Corps. He hopes to find a way to turn his sister human. With heart-stopping action sequences thrown in with just the right hint of mysticism surrounding the existence of demons, this is one anime you wouldn't want to miss!
Anime Type | Fantasy, Shonen |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Historical, Dark Fantasy |
No. of Seasons | 4 |
Total No. of Episodes | 55 |
Movie/Episode Length | 23-52 Minutes |
Rating | 16+ |
Anime Type | Fantasy |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Dark Fantasy |
No. of Seasons | 1 |
Total No. of Episodes | 13 |
Movie/Episode Length | 24 Minutes |
Rating | 16+ |
What would you do if humanity as you know it is on the verge of extinction? You fight back, of course. That's what Eren Yeager sees as the only possible solution. This is after humanity is nearly wiped out and cornered into man-made walls to repel Titans, which are predatory and colossal humanoid creatures.
They only know how to wreak havoc, so you can imagine it must be enough to make you lose hope for the future. As the series progresses, questions will raise about how Titans came to be, and how things are not what they seem. We also get a glimpse of how people cope in the midst of trying times.
Anime Type | Fantasy, Shonen |
---|---|
Fantasy Type | Dark Fantasy |
No. of Seasons | 7 |
Total No. of Episodes | 88 |
Movie/Episode Length | 24-61 Minutes |
Rating | 16+ |
Check out these other animes you can watch to ensure fun times ahead. Whether you're craving something funny, something action-packed, or romance, these will keep you company!
Author: J. Cuizon
Our viewer's guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the viewer's guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the anime recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from Netflix and other streaming sites.
No. 1: Eiichiro Oda|One Piece|1999
No. 2: Hayao Miyazaki|Spirited Away|2001
No. 3: Yūki Tabata|Black Clover|2017
No. 4: Makoto Shinkai|Your Name |2016
No. 5: Tatsuki Fujimoto|Chainsaw Man |2022
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Beauty
Health
Household goods
PCs and laptops
Home appliances and electronics
Cameras
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Mom and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, and DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Home improvement and tools
Smartphones and tablets
Banking and finance
Insurance
Audio
Smartphone applications
Others