Upcoming anime releases like Chainsaw Man and the second part of Spy x Family's first season flex how diverse the anime genre can be, and the fantasy subgenre is arguably one of the ones with the most depth to it. It's quite flexible, especially since a fantasy series can be good as a traditional medieval-inspired one or combined with other subgenres.
Science fiction, horror, steampunk, and more have helped complement fantasy to make for some of the most memorable anime. MyAnimeList ranks the ten best fantasy anime, with the likes of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Jujutsu Kaisen showing off its star-studded list.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 (2020) - 8.67
Animation studio MAPPA has been on a hot streak of acclaimed anime with potentially more to come, including the fourth and final season of Attack on Titan, and 2020's Jujutsu Kaisen anime debut was a big part of that. The story centers around Yuuji Itadori finds himself thrown into the dark, supernatural world of Curses as he becomes the host for the King of Curses himself.
Meeting a new cast of classmates, Yuuji goes on to train to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer to put his newfound abilities to good use. Jujutsu Kaisen is perhaps one of the most refreshing modern shounen, as it combines elements of modern-day Tokyo, dark fantasy, and supernatural horror to create a tantalizing new world that breaks the monotony of tired tropes.
Mushi-Shi: Next Passage Part 1 (2014) - 8.70
Blending historical fiction, fantasy, and magical realism, Mushi-Shi: Next Passage is among the highest-ranked seinen anime series available. It's a sequel to the first anime series adaptation of writer Yuki Urushibara's manga, following the episodic adventures of Ginko -- a titular Mushi-Shi -- whose job is to study the otherworldly lifeforms living alongside people called Mushi.
The series has been widely acclaimed for its mellow, atmospheric tone and setting, as well as the emotional exploration of themes surrounding nature and the human condition.
Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel - III. Spring Song (2020) - 8.70
The Fate series has an impressively dedicated fanbase and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel - III. spring song was one of the most highly-anticipated anime releases of 2020. Ufotable (of Demon Slayer fame) was in charge of the animation, making this a particular feast for the eyes. This fantasy world revolves around the traditional Holy Grail War, where servants participate in the death tournament representing certain people for a chance to have their wishes granted.
Heaven's Feel takes place during the Fifth Holy Grail War, while this trilogy-closer sees the main cast of characters discover the dark, conspiratorial secret behind the shadowy figure threatening the war's participants. The movie was emphatically well-received for its fast-paced action coupled with a more methodically-paced story.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Part 2 (2021) - 8.72
Isekai anime is another subgenre that can feel like a dime a dozen, but Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation has managed to reach a particularly high level of acclaim. A 34-year-old shut-in whose entire life has been characterized by oppression finds himself reborn into an alternate fantasy world with the name Rudeus Greyrat, while simultaneously retaining the memories of his past life.
Season 2 sees the protagonist finds himself and his adventuring companions on a different continent as they work to find their way back home. The tropes typically found in isekai can certainly get overbearing, but Mushoku Tensei's cast of characters struck the right chord among fans for their diverse personalities and a high-fantasy world so meticulously detailed.
Mushi-Shi: Next Passage Part 2 (2014) - 8.74
The second season of Mushi-Shi: Next Passage maintains the high quality of the first. It's yet another case of how more down-to-earth anime can see emphatic critical success in a genre that understandably sees most of its well-received endeavors feature plenty of action.
Mushi-Shi: Next Passage Part 2 sees Ginko continues his countryside quest to understand these mysterious beings, meeting a variety of different people with equally varying experiences with the Mushi. Some are desperate to use their abilities, while others deem them as curses that should be exercised. As with the Mushi-Shi franchise overall, Next Passage is an excellent series for those that want something emotionally resonating and introspective.
Made In Abyss: The Golden City Of The Scorching Sun (2022) - 8.78
Made in Abyss is another praised anime adaptation that cleverly blends fantasy with steampunk elements in its world. Fans have been waiting years for season 2, dubbed The Golden City of the Scorching Sun, but have thankfully had some worthwhile story continuation through anime movies.
The overall story follows a young girl named Riko who aims to be a world-class Diver to explore the depths of the titular Abyss like her mother, whose gone missing. She meets a robotic boy named Reg and the two go off to explore the mysterious locale. While lauded for its adventurous tone and atmosphere, Made in Abyss has also garnered praise for world building and intimate, character-driven storytelling.
Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc (2021-2022) - 8.84
Demon Slayer was a sensation for the anime industry when it premiered its first season in 2019. That success was further amplified with the record-breaking Mugen Train movie, and this year's second TV season maintained the franchise's mainstream prevalence.
Dubbed the Entertainment District Arc, season 2 follows Tanjiro and co. as they go on a mission to help the Sound Pillar find his missing covert ninja operatives after they go missing in a Tokyo entertainment district. While the core premise of the series isn't revolutionary, the characters, action, and animation are what bolster this story -- with season 2 providing another one of Demon Slayer's greatest episodes.
Violet Evergarden The Movie (2020) - 8.93
On a more somber, grounded note, Violet Evergarden the Movie is an acclaimed post-war fantasy drama that continues the intimate story of its titular protagonist. The overall series focused on Violet, a young woman raised from childhood for the sole purpose of fighting in the Great War, learning to adjust to civilian life, and what it means to understand the humanity of one's emotions.
She works as an Auto Memory Doll, someone who transcribes people's emotions into words to write on paper, leading the series and the movie to revolve around her journey of self-discovery. Violet Evergarden the Movie is also one of MyAnimeList's most lauded anime movies, and it sees the need for Auto Memory Dolls diminish, but Violet's popularity rises all the same as she tries to understand the concept of love. It's a touching fantasy anime away from the action of it all, instead delivering poignant post-war commentary.
Hunter x Hunter (2011-2014) - 9.04
While it's been a painful series of hiatuses for fans of the manga, the 2011 Hunter x Hunter anime is a top-tier remake of the original '90s iteration, as well as some of the best shounen anime of the 2010s. Credit goes to veteran animation studio Madhouse, as this series goes beyond what the '90s anime covered and used the latest advancements in animating it.
Hunter x Hunter opens with young Gon Freecs as he chooses to follow in the footsteps of his runaway father to become a Hunter -- someone who specializes in locating and retrieving rare places and things. He meets a vibrant cast of friends and foes along the way, with Hunter x Hunter's world arguably possessing a deep level of storytelling, world building, and lore comparable to Eiichiro Oda's Once Piece.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009-2010) - 9.13
The second adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist manga is often cited as one of the best anime series of the modern age. Much of that acclaim comes from how animation studio Bones did such an exceptional job at faithfully putting to screen the source material.
Taking place in an inventive steampunk-fantasy world, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood revolves around the Elric brothers who've become government-sanctioned alchemists on a personal quest to find the Philosopher's Stone that will help undo their dark past. Brotherhood's emotional, sprawling storytelling and the investing cast of characters makes it hard for any shounen to match, even in the 13 years since its premiere.