The 20 Best Fantasy Anime of All Time

Charles Ono
Hello! My name is Charlles, and I'm passionate about Japanese culture, especially the world of anime. Here, I share curiosities, news, and everything related to this world...

If there's one thing the anime knows how to do well, it's transport us to completely new realities—full of magic, incredible creatures, and epic adventures. In this post, get ready to embark on a journey through fantastical worlds with the 20 best fantasy anime of all time . Whether you're a fan of medieval kingdoms, sorcery, or parallel universes, there's something for everyone here. Want to travel without leaving your couch?

The best fantasy anime – Top 20

20. Humanity Has Declined

Anime - Humanity Has Declined
Anime – Humanity Has Declined
  • MAL Grade: 7.70
  • Year: 2012
  • Studio: AIC ASTA
  • Episodes: 12

A surreal comedy in which humanity has passed its prime and now lives with cute elves and absurd bureaucracy. Prepare to laugh at the absurdity: paperwork to sign for everything, crazy inventions, and acidic social reflections—all with a wry smile.
And the funniest part? Despite the melancholic tone, the vibe is a bit like a movie remixed with "what if elves were cute, but totally crazy?" A find for those who enjoy intelligent humor disguised as nonsense.

19. Undead Murder Farce

Anime - Undead Murder Farce
Anime – Undead Murder Farce
  • MAL Grade: 7.86
  • Year: 2023
  • Studio: Lapin Track
  • Episodes: 13

Imagine Sherlock Holmes with supernatural touches: dead people returning to solve epic steampunk murders. There's a talking corpse, a cool detective, and a whole lot of didgeridoo (yes!).
It makes you want to jump into the scenes with the question on your tongue: "But who's the real culprit?" Mystery, humor, investigation, and bizarre powers make up this package that blends genres like a DJ of the macabre.

18. Ground Leveling

Anime - Solo Leveling
Anime – Solo Leveling
  • MAL Rating: 8.26 (Season 1)
  • Year: 2024
  • Studio: A-1 Pictures
  • Episodes: 12 (Season 1)

Sung Jin-woo starts the episode as the weakest of the group, but his leveling increases at an insane rate! With each dungeon he defeats, he grows into a fighting machine—and a force to be reckoned with.
If you enjoy power-up growth and jaw-dropping action scenes, prepare to feel your heart race with each of his evolutions. Total addiction!

17. From the New World

Anime - From the New World
Anime – From the New World
  • MAL Grade: 8.25
  • Year: 2012-2013
  • Studio: A-1 Pictures
  • Episodes: 25

In the future, all of humanity possesses telekinetic powers… but that doesn't mean life is easy—quite the opposite. Between dark secrets, strange rituals, and heavy revelations, this anime captivates from beginning to end. It's the kind of story you push through thinking, "Oh, it's a quiet fantasy..."—but then suddenly you're hit squarely in the face with an emotional punch. It's not just magic; it's a profound reflection on society.

16. Magi

Anime - Magi
Anime – Magi
  • MAL Rating: 8.01 (Season 1)
  • Year: 2012-2013
  • Studio: A-1 Pictures
  • Episodes: 25 (Season 1)

Genie of the lamp? Forget everything you've ever imagined. Here, the world of Aladdin is revisited in an adventure filled with ancient magic, conflicting kingdoms, and charismatic characters. In fact, Magi has a protagonist duo so in tune, it makes you want to invite them on an adventure. The plot blends politics, emotion, and magical battles that make us wonder, "Why am I still without powers?"

The best fantasy anime – Top 15

15. Slayers

Anime - Slayers
Anime – Slayers
  • MAL Grade: 7.72
  • Year: 1995
  • Studio: E&G Films
  • Episodes: 26

Slayers is that anime that screams "pure fun." Lina Inverse explodes everything with powerful (and futile) magic, accompanied by clumsy warriors and off-color humor. Each episode features a dungeon, a dragon, or a crazy god—and Lina always delivers a hilarious quip before unleashing an explosive spell. Great for a laugh and a relaxing break.

14. Violet Evergarden

Anime - Violet Evergarden
Anime – Violet Evergarden
  • MAL Grade: 8.68
  • Year: 2018
  • Studio: Kyoto Animation
  • Episodes: 13

Violet is like walking poetry: a former soldier who now writes letters to others, capturing emotions and memories with heartbreaking delicacy. Each letter is a story, each story is a thrill. You'll find yourself wiping your eyes without even realizing it. Beautiful, sensitive, and visually impeccable.

13. Mushi-Shi

Anime - Mushi-Shi
Anime – Mushi-Shi
  • MAL Grade: 8.65
  • Year: 2005-2006
  • Studio: Artland
  • Episodes: 26

A tranquil journey: Ginko crosses quiet places, encounters subtle creatures called mushi… and everything becomes a meditation on life, nature, and the inexplicable. Don't expect an explosion, but a deep calm—almost Zen-like. An anime for those who enjoy disconnecting from the urban chaos and immersing themselves in a world of sighs, shadows, and tranquil mysteries.

12. InuYasha

Anime - InuYasha
Anime – InuYasha
  • MAL Grade: 7.87
  • Year: 2000-2004
  • Studio: Sunrise
  • Episodes: 167

A half-demon and a modern girl cross a portal, fall into the feudal era, and face demons, spirits… and complicated feelings. It's adventure, romance, and epic battles. However, it's 100-odd hours of pure nostalgia: classic villains, a heavy emotional arc, and that exchange of barbs between Kagome and InuYasha that makes us sigh, "Get this pair together!"

11. Attack on Titan

Anime - Attack On Titan
Anime – Attack On Titan
  • MAL Rating: 8.56 (Season 1)
  • Year: 2013
  • Studio: Wit Studio
  • Episodes: 25 (Season 1)

When the walls come down, the battle for survival begins. What an intense series! Birds break out of their cages, titans appear… and the gang fights with everything they've got—and a lot of blood. But it's not just action: the story becomes a giant puzzle, full of conspiracies, twists, and cliffhangers that will keep you glued until the wee hours.

The best fantasy anime – Top 10

10. Delicious In Dungeon

Anime - Delicious In Dungeon
Anime – Delicious In Dungeon
  • MAL Grade: 8.60
  • Year: 2024
  • Studio: Trigger
  • Episodes: 24

Imagine cooking monsters? That's exactly it. After nearly dying in a dungeon, the gang discovers a radical way to survive: becoming dungeon chefs. And the anime features bizarre recipes and scenes that make us roll with laughter (and hunger?). An insane mix of food and fantasy that's pure originality.

09. Mononoke

Anime – Mononoke
Anime – Mononoke
  • MAL Grade: 8.41
  • Year: 2007
  • Studio: Toei Animation
  • Episodes: 12

Mystical, stylish, and mesmerizing. A former onmyoji doctor travels the world battling specters called mononoke, with each episode featuring a visual design that's out of the ordinary. An "artistic horror" anime that builds tension not with jump scares, but with soundtrack, framing, and atmosphere. A visual and psychological spectacle.

08. Fate/Zero

Anime - FateZero
Anime – FateZero
  • MAL Rating: 8.27 (Season 1)
  • Year: 2011
  • Studio: Ufotable
  • Episodes: 13 (Season 1)

War for the Holy Grail: Seven wizards summon historical heroes for brutal battles involving strategy, ideology, and destiny. The narrative is dense, dark, and epic. If you enjoy a debate of ideals mixed with clashing superheroes, this is the one for you.

07. Black Clover

Anime - Black Clover
Anime – Black Clover
  • MAL Grade: 8.14
  • Year: 2017-2021
  • Studio: Pierrot
  • Episodes: 170

Asta doesn't have magic, but he wants to be the Wizard King—and he makes up for it with grit, screams, and unbridled powers. The contrast between hard work and innate talent is pure motivation. Each episode leaves you with butterflies in your stomach: "Will he be able to control this stupid power?" The vibe is "let's go to the top together."

06. Made in Abyss

Anime - Made In Abyss
Anime – Made In Abyss
  • MAL Rating: 8.63 (Season 1)
  • Year: 2017
  • Studio: Kinema Citrus
  • Episodes: 13 (Season 1)

A macabre exploration of an abyss filled with bizarre creatures and disturbing secrets. With a cute protagonist, the anime hides a psychologically heavy plot. Visually beautiful and emotionally devastating, it will enchant you and make you think, "Maybe fantasy shouldn't be all joy..." A low blow, but a memorable one.

The best fantasy anime – Top 5

05. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

Anime - Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Anime – Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
  • MAL Grade: 9.10
  • Year: 2009-2010
  • Studio: Bones
  • Episodes: 64

Alchemy, little brothers, redemption, and the ultimate journey of "what's worth sacrificing?" Edward and Alphonse embark on an epic journey to regain what they lost. Gradually, the story becomes a universal epic, with morality, politics, action, and soul. Spoiler alert: it has an ending that will bring tears to your eyes with fulfillment.

04. One Piece

Anime - One Piece
Anime – One Piece
  • MAL Grade: 8.73
  • Year: 1999-present
  • Studio: Toei Animation
  • Episodes: +1000

Sailing, making friends, collecting treasure, and… Gomu Gomu no! Each arc is a new adventure with so much heart it almost feels like a hug. Does the story feel endless? Yes—and that's okay, because each episode brings new laughs, tears, and pure loyalty. Emotional piracy on the high seas.

The best fantasy anime – Top 3

03. Hunter X Hunter

Anime - HxH
Anime – HxH
  • MAL Grade: 9.03
  • Year: 2011-2014
  • Studio: Madhouse
  • Episodes: 148

Gon and his friends dive into a world where hunting biomes, beings, and masters is a reality. There are incredible battles, incredible powers, and incredible strategic planning. This anime shifts from "cute" to "awesome" in seconds. Each saga is an emotional punch with twists and turns that leave us wanting more (or more likely) to binge watch.

02. Frieren

Anime - Frieren
Anime – Frieren
  • MAL Grade: 9.30
  • Year: 2023-2024
  • Studio: Madhouse
  • Episodes: 28

After defeating the ultimate villain, the heroes part ways—except for Frieren, an insomniac elf trying to understand human time and the finiteness of friendship.
It's thoughtful, gentle, and cutting: seeing an immortal dealing with the finiteness of others makes us question the value of time, memories, and love. Mature fantasy without dramatic explosions.

01. Studio Ghibli Films

Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli
  • Castle in the Sky (1986)
  • My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
  • Pom Poko (1994)
  • Princess Mononoke (1997)
  • Spirited Away (2001)
  • Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
  • Ponyo (2008)
  • The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
  • The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

However, Ghibli is synonymous with Technicolor dreams: Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away… each film, a unique visual and emotional journey.
It has magic, poetry, humor, and tears—all blended together in a way that makes you revisit your childhood (or create a new one). If fantasy is art, Ghibli is your favorite gallery.

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Hello! My name is Charlles, and I'm passionate about Japanese culture, especially the world of anime. Here, I share interesting facts, news, and everything related to this fascinating world that has fans all over the world.