From fun, magical whimsy to rich worlds that are host to incredible wonders,fantasy anime uniquely captivates audienceswith its boundless possibilities, unforgettable stories, and brilliantanimation. For true lovers of the genre, the perfectfantasyanimedoesn’t just entertain-it leaves a lasting impression through its memorable characters, intricate worlds, and masterful endings– a masterpiece from beginning to end.
Titles likeAttack on Titan,which leaves viewers pondering their morals, andDead Mount Death Play, which offers a surprisingly dark twist to the reincarnation trope, are just a few names that do right by the fantasy genre. The anime featured in this list contain well-crafted journeys that feel complete and emotionally rewarding,standing out as some of the best works of fantasy fiction from start to finish.
10’Monogatari Series' (2009–2019)
Studio: Shaft
TheMonogatari Seriesis a collection of urban fantasy stories and starts off strong withBakemonogatari. The story primarily follows Koyomi Araragi (Hiroshi Kamiya), a high school boy who, with the help of eccentric specialist Meme Oshino (Takahiro Sakurai), survives a vampire attack, mostly unchanged.
Each arc has its own climax and resolution, offering viewers a satisfying segment of the series.
TheMonogatari Serieshas an extraordinarily dedicated fanbase, drawn in by the anime’s unique combination of character-driven material, romantic drama, supernatural intrigue, and sharp dialogue.The series spansa few brilliant installments, from sequels to prequels alike, each maintaining an insanely high quality of content.Each arc has its own climax and resolution, offering viewers a satisfying segment of the series. At worst, some may find at least one arc to be less engaging than another, but that does not make it a failure; in fact, even those arcs serve as epic material that evolves the story to new heights, consistently delivering brilliant work.
9’Hunter x Hunter' (2011–2014)
Studio: Nippon TV, VAP, Shueisha, and Madhouse
This renowned fantasy adventure is a thrilling ride of fun, wholesome moments and intense action.Hunter x Hunteris set in a world where elite individuals called “Hunters” hunt monsters, pursue mysterious treasures, and explore dangerous territories. At the helm of the story is the young Gon Freecss (Megumi Han), whose wish is to become one of those elite individuals and surpass the father he’s never met.
Hunter x Hunteris quite frequently lauded for being one of the best shounen adventure animes out there.The 2011 anime deliversheated tension that builds and pays off with an epic arc of brilliance. The show faithfully adapts the manga, with each episode moving the story forward and offering no fillers. The animation quality is smooth, while the anime’s storytelling is tight. Each arc has a satisfying conclusion and a smooth and easy transition into the next. With its top-tier shounen story, great soundtrack, and voice acting,Hunter x Hunteris consistently regarded as an anime series that hits the nail from the very beginning right up to its end.
Hunter x Hunter
8’Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End' (2023–2024)
Studio: Madhouse
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis a high fantasy with a rather unique twist; it delivers a tale featuring what happens once the high-stakes adventure is done. The anime follows Frieren (Atsumi Tanezaki), an elven mage who was part of a legendary hero group. As an elf, with a longer lifespan than humans, Frieren journeys on a path of understanding and honor.
Despite having recently debuted,Frierenhas garnered a lot of love for its introspective take and emotional depth.With the anime’s first season of 28 episodes, many have lauded itas a near masterpiece, delivering a bout of pure, amazing fantasy with incredible character writing.The very first episode sets quite the bar, andFrierendoes not disappoint throughout, maintaining high-quality episodes with sharp writing and faithfulness to their source. Given constant praise, with little admonishments,Frierenepically succeeds, standing as a series that is honestly perfect from beginning to end.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
An elf and her friends defeat a demon king in a great war. But the war is over, and the elf must search for a new way of life.
Studio: Geek Toys
Dead Mount Death Playis a darker adaptation ofthe normal isekai trope. The story opens with the legendary Corpse God (Yuki (Yuuki) Sakakihara), who is at the cusp of defeat at the hands of a great hero. In a last-minute ditch effort,the Corpse God casts a reincarnation spell that awakens him in modern, supposedly magicless, Shinjuku.
Though quite a few viewers went into the series very skeptically, the more they watched, the more impressed they were byDead Mount Death Play’sunpredictable story and premise. The show blends a unique tone of fantasy, with supernatural horror, and even crime intrigue.With a span of 24 captivating episodes, the anime series delivers tight pacing and even a satisfying ending. WhileDead Mount Death Playhad only one season, it ended on a pretty nice high note, avoiding frustrating cliffhangers of any kind. With a well-balanced story, engaging subplots, and clever writing,Dead Mount Death Playstands as a perfect fantasy from start to finish.
Dead Mount Death Play
6’Mob Psycho 100' (2016–2022)
Studio: Bones
Thiscoming-of-age urban fantasy animeis entirely wholesome but also includes intense psychic battles.Mob Psycho 100is centered around an ordinary-looking middle school boy, Shigeo Kageyama “Mob” (Setsuo Ito), who possesses god-like telekinetic and esper abilities. Despite this, Mob is quite shy and socially awkward, wanting nothing more than to be an ordinary kid, living a normal life.
Mob Psycho 100holds quite a dedicated fanbase. The anime is innovative and uplifting, drawing in viewers with its hilarious, wholesome qualities and epic battles. Each season compounds on the anime’s greatness, delivering great entertainment with tight storytelling and zero drop in quality.At the anime’s end, fans are met with an extremely satisfying and emotional conclusion that offersa pondering look back into the moments in between that got their beloved characters so far.For staying consistently funny, heartfelt, and action-packed,Mob Psycho 100holds the title of one of those anime that has not had one bad season.
Mob Psycho 100
5’Mushi-shi' (2005–2014)
Studio: Artland
Mushi-shistands as one of the most profound and insanely beautiful animes out there.The series is set in a mystical version of historical Japan, following a wandering Mushi-shi–a sort of supernatural doctor–named Ginko (Yūto Nakano) as he embarks on a journey studying mysterious lifeforms called “mushi.”
Mushi-shihas a very calm and meditative feel to it, with each episode delivering a poetic parable on the human condition or folklore tales captivating enough to enthrall any viewer. Standing as an episodic series,Mushi-shiconsistently upholds its quality and tone. Each chapter features reflective storytelling and gorgeous art, forming episodes that are thoughtfully put together with no dips in animation or weak story points. In all honesty, viewers are able to watch the series in any order and still conclude the series with ultimate satisfaction.This cementsMushi-shi’splace on this list of fantasy tales that areperfect from start to finish.
Follow Ginko, a traveling “Mushi Master,” as he investigates supernatural creatures known as Mushi. Each episode delves into a different encounter, exploring the mysterious and often beautiful interactions between humans and these otherworldly beings, while unraveling the secrets of the natural world.
4’Inuyasha' (2000–2010)
Studio: Sunrise
This anime is truly unlike any other, with its epic romance and fantastic action sequences.Inuyasha, standing as an anime fantasy series way ahead of its time, follows modern high schooler, 15-year-old Kagome Higurashi (Yukie Nakama), who finds herself in Sengoku-era Japan. There she meets the half-demon, Inuyasha (Kappei Yamaguchi), and learns a little more about her own identity.
Inuyashais abeloved classic shounen fantasythat weaves an epically romantic story between high-stakes battles. It’s an anime that is a balanced mix of genres, from heartfelt moments to comedic scenes, and plenty of thrilling action.Inuyashaspans many episodes, a long-running anime that is consistently entertaining, with a satisfying ending. With a start that is completely captivating for audiences, and a conclusion that makes everything the fans' beloved character has been through worth it,Inuyashais definitely considered a masterpiece that is perfect from beginning to end.
3’Attack on Titan' (2013–2023)
Studio: Wit Studio and MAPPA
Even amidst its mysterious and intricate plot,Attack on Titanupholds its status as one of thebest anime series ever made. The action-filled dark fantasy is set in a world of man-eating monsters known as Titans. The story centers around the young Eren Yeager (Yuki Kaji), his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman (Yui Ishikawa), and their friend Armin Arlert (Marina Inoue) as they embark on a vengeful journey to become military officers that fight back against the monsters that once destroyed their home.
With a gripping storyline, insane and high-stakes action, and complex characters,Attack on Titancontinuously delivered, quickly becoming a beloved global phenomenon. Across four seasons and several parts of a “final season,“Attack on Titanmaintained a remarkably high quality.Each season beautifully builds upon the last, with the storytelling remaining tight along the way, despite the expanded conflicts and intricate plot points.Attack on Titanis renowned for its captivating narrative, which just doesn’t lose momentum, making it the perfect addition to this list of fantasy anime that are perfect from the very beginning, right on up to the end.
Attack on Titan
After his hometown is destroyed and his mother is killed, young Eren Jaeger vows to cleanse the earth of the giant humanoid Titans that have brought humanity to the brink of extinction.
2’I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability' (2024)
Studio: Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab
This fantasy anime is an underrated treat that is wholly entertaining.I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Abilityfollows 10-year-old magic prodigy, Prince Lloyd de Saloum (Makoto Koichi), who is actually living his second life. Completely obsessed with magic and finding himself with immense talent for it, Lloyd explores the world with a complete focus on studying magic.
The whimsical fantasy anime is something fans are surprised to find pretty epic. While it wields the usual isekai trope, its animation and brilliant action sequences make it a perfect standout amongst the rest. Audiences adore the series' characters, particularly the protagonist Lloyd, as he embarks on his magic-obsessed quest, wielding both adorable cuteness and intense mania.The 7th Princedefinitely scratches that fun fantasy itch, and even with its single season of 12 episodes, delivers an incredible arc that concludes quite nicely.This series is definitely an underrated gem that isa joyous, fantastical ride from start to finish.
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability
1’Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood' (2009–2010)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis a fun, high-stakes adventureset in a steampunk fantasy world. The series follows brothers Edward Elric (Romi Park) and Alphonse Elric (Rie Kugimiya) as they embark on a journey of using alchemy to make them whole again.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodsits among the animes known as the best of the best. Fans adore the series' memorable characters, rich world-building, and tightly woven story. With themes of sacrifice, family, and ethics, and a blended balance of emotion, action, and humor,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodmaintains excellent quality from beginning to end. The adaptation is quite faithful to its source, with each arc serving as an epic part of the story’s evolution.The series is known to have no “weak” episodes, delivering near-flawless pacing and consistent character development, cementing its place as number one on this list of fantasy perfection from start to finish.
