In 2024, one fantasy series took the anime world by storm:Delicious in Dungeon. With just its first season, it quickly found devoted fans and became one ofthe best anime of 2024. It’s no surprise, though, that a fantasy series of this nature – one heavily inspired by worlds likeDungeons & Dragons– became so popular. The year prior,Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endwasan anime so good it left many in shockand awe. Meanwhile, for yearsWitch Hat Atelierhas been delighting readers with its gorgeous art, magic system, and world-building.
Along with these high-fantasy series, the isekai genre of anime has also been seeing a boom, with fantasy series likeKonoSuba: God’s Blessing On This Wonderful World,That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime,Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, andOverlordbeing some ofthe best isekai animeout there. Right now,fantasy anime is having a renaissance, and it is the perfect time to explore some of these remarkable series while also getting into one of the most anticipated anime of 2025, which is set to be a great year for anime.
Fantasy Anime Is About Found Family
From Delicious in Dungeon to Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, An Adventurer’s Party Can Make Or Break A Fantasy Series
When it comes to two of the biggest anime of the last couple of years -Delicious in DungeonandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End- both pull inspiration fromDungeons & Dungeon, and this goes beyond the genre. Both series feature adventure parties, with each character taking on a specific role. As a result,it is super easy for viewers to latch onto at least one character in an anime likeDelicious in Dungeon. For those who prefer a more grounded dwarf, Senshi may be their favorite. Meanwhile, for those who love a magic-wielding elf with an anxious, bookish side, Marcille is for them.
Delicious in Dungeon’s Author Shares the Reason For the Series' Fan Service, and It’s as Bizarre as Fans Would Expect
Delicious in Dungeon’s creator has finally revealed the weird inspiration for Senshi’s character, explaining the series' odd choice of fan service.
An adventure party does not just give viewers an ensemble to fall in love with.It also emphasizes the importance of communityandfound family, something that almost anyone can find comfort and joy in. TakeFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End,which is about the aftermath of a party’s successful adventure. In it, the titular Frieren, an elf who ages slower than her former party members, reflects on the importance of her friends and their short time together. While the magic and adventures are fun, it’s the bonds these characters make that are the series' most relatable and endearing parts.
Anime Fans Want Thoughtful Magic Systems
The Best Fantasy Series Deliver Unique Magic Systems
WhileWitch Hat Atelierhas yet to premiere,its manga series has endeared itself to countless readers. Already, it’s considered as part of the big three of fantasy anime, with the other two beingDelicious in DungeonandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End.There’s a lot to love aboutWitch Hat Atelier, and it’s certain to be the wizarding TV show on every fantasy fan’s radar once its adaptation hits Crunchyroll. The artwork captures the magic and whimsy of the series, and it features an ensemble of eager, endearing, and earnest young heroines who learn under a charming yet mysterious teacher.
Along with this,Witch Hat Atelierfeatures one of the best magic systems, being up there with alchemy inFullmetal Alchemist. The level of detail within this magic system – which in itself is a love letter to art and creativity – is full of care and attention. While there are clear rules, time and again, readers see how the characters ofWitch Hat Ateliergo above and beyond expectations when it comes to how they use magic. Witch Hat Atelier is all about how anything is possible, and that level of wonder easily appeals to readers looking for their own fantasy adventure.
Audiences Want To Go On Fantasy Adventures
Whether It Is A D&D Campaign Or An Isekai, Fans Want To Go On These Adventures
For many fans, anime - like other works of fiction - is a form of escapism, taking viewers to fantastical worlds they are unable to literally travel to. There are many ways to experience this escapism, with some fans turning to games likeDungeons & Dragonsbecause they can play as their own character in a fantastical world. Meanwhile, isekai anime, likeThat Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime,deliver protagonists who are set up as perfect self-insert.
It Turns Out Isekai’s Top Series Helped Bring Anime’s Next Big Manhwa to Life
The Beginning After The End is getting an anime, inspired by Mushoku Tensei, bringing its reincarnation fantasy to a wider audience
In an isekai, the main character is transported to a new, fantastical world in some way, like reincarnation. From there, that character – who often comes from a more grounded world – gets to go on an adventure akin to the ones readers dream of. Isekai fantasy series deliver a very direct form of escapism for fans, likeDungeon & Dragonsdoes, so it is no wonder isekai is having a moment along with other fantasy anime, likeDelicious in Dungeon,Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End,and the upcomingWitch Hat Atelier, which finally got a release window of 2025.
