With Hunter X Hunter.
To decide which of these series deserves to be considered the best fantasy anime of all time, or even be considered among the top 10, tens of thousands of fans got together on Ranker.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
Although the first season of Demon Slayer was a triumph, the movie follow-up actually comes out on top. While both have amazing characters, incredibly stylish action, and moments of real emotional depth, Mugen train uses its more compact format to perfect effect to deliver the quintessential Demon Slayer experience.
Picking up exactly where season 1 concluded, Mugen Train begins with the central characters meeting the formidable and food-loving Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku as they face a demon that soon turns out to be one of their toughest enemies yet. With plenty of dramatic twists, the movie can even be enjoyed without seeing the series beforehand.
No Game No Life (2014)
Video game worlds have been a fruitful source of great fantasy settings in the past decade, especially with the rise of isekai anime, but No Game No Life goes even further in presenting a world where everything is a game. This turns out to be the perfect place for sibling protagonists Sora and Shiro, game-obsessed shut-ins, to thrive.
From chess to FPS games, the pair show off their skills in matches of the highest stakes and it's easily the show's strong point. However, the whole package is presented with a fantastic visual style and an over-the-top sense of humor which means it's perfect for fans of other hilarious isekai anime.
Black Clover (2017)
Shonen action series have dominated fantasy anime for a long time and Black Clover happens to be one of the best offerings in recent years. In its just over 100-episode run, the show packs in plenty of character development and drama as well as the high-stakes action that's always fun to watch.
Whilst the initial reaction to the show was mixed, with a lot of criticism for Asta's characterization and voice acting, the anime surprised everyone by growing into an incredibly well-executed action series. With moments of comedy to round things off, there's a lot to like about Black Clover.
One Piece (1999)
For a show that is as infamously long as One Piece, with well over a thousand episodes out, to have as many fans as it does is a testament to just how good the pirate-themed anime is at storytelling. The show has is plenty of filler but fans who get invested in the series are rarely left disappointed by the adventures of Luffy and co.
Though the anime can be divided into arcs that have different focuses, there nevertheless aren't many shows as daunting to get into as One Piece, and it certainly isn't for everyone. However, the show is incredibly distinctive and full of character which is a big part of why it's been so enduringly popular across the decades since it first began airing.
Overlord (2015)
With the fourth season of highly anticipated anime of the summer, it's clear that the show has won a lot of fans since it first aired in 2015. Set in a virtual reality game that seems to gain new life when it was supposed to shut down, Overlord is centered on Momonga, a high-level wizard player with a desire for power.
As a veteran of the MMORPG style game, Momonga knows exactly how to use the game and his servants to his advantage, living up to the title of the show. How much a viewer can enjoy Overlord may depend on their tolerance of villainous protagonists but the visuals and music are a perfect complement to the unique fantasy world of the show.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
For fans of shows with deep lore and detailed world-building in a fantasy setting, there aren't many shows that do it better than Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Although it's primarily centered on two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who were left without an arm and a body respectively after an unwise attempt to resurrect their mother, the show slowly reveals dark conspiracies that lie at the heart of their entire world.
The show also has plenty of great action and humor, and it's paced well enough that the 64 episodes can fly by. On top of that, the ending of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is considered one of the best in anime and makes the show worth watching for the finale alone.
Attack On Titan (2013)
When Attack on Titan first appeared in 2013, it brutally thrust the viewer into a dark world where imposing walls were all that stood between humanity and deadly giants. Now four seasons deep, it seems that it was just scratching the surface of one of the most complex and engrossing fantasy worlds that anime has seen in a long time.
Even viewers who aren't completely won over by the world and its fascinating characters will find plenty to enjoy in the amazing Titan fight scenes and the sheer detail in the animation. Though it's one of the darkest fantasy worlds in anime, Attack on Titan is beautifully animated.
Hunter X Hunter (2011)
With the simple premise of a group of young misfits training to take on a brutal trial, it would be easy to write Hunter X Hunter off. However, the show uses this premise to great effect, changing focus and showing the development of its characters over time in a way that is extremely watchable.
The action in Hunter X Hunter is also top-notch and it presents a fantasy world with enough depth that means it's still compelling to watch even in the latter part of its nearly 150-episodes. Hunter X Hunter is a stalwart of shonen anime and it's no surprise that it's one of the best fantasy series out there.
The Rising Of The Shield Hero (2019)
A unique underdog story, The Rising of the Shield Hero is centered on protagonist Naofumi Iwatani, a nerdy misfit who is summoned to the kingdom of Melromarc where he is destined to become the titular shield-wielding savior. Unfortunately, he is immediately the subject of ridicule due to apparently being the weakest of the kingdom's heroes.
Things go from bad to worse initially for the central character but there is plenty of reason to keep watching. Moments of drama are well-balanced with action scenes and, although the show had some mixed responses initially, it remains hugely popular a few years after its release.
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime (2018)
Isekai anime is usually the realm of power fantasies and, as such, it's typical for the protagonists to be sent to another world in a way that makes them the enviable hero that everyone relies on. It's unlikely that many viewers will envy protagonist Satoru Mikami, however, an ordinary man who is transported to a fantasy world as a blob of slime.
Fortunately for Satoru, his newfound form comes with the newfound power to devour any object and take on its appearance and abilities, and he soon begins to realize the advantages of his current predicament. Action-packed and hilarious, That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime stands as proof that there is still plenty of room to be creative when it comes to making great fantasy anime.
