If I want a good escape fantasy to watch, it needs at least one demon king or fire spell. Luckily, magic has always been present in the medium – and has given us some truly amazing shows. And if you’re looking for some magical anime for yourself, then keep scrolling as we count down our top picks for this category.
25. The Irregular at Magic High School
When you hear the words “magic high school”, you kind of know what you’re getting yourself into. However, this show does offer an interesting twist. Here, magic has been basically boiled down to a science – and the high school distinctly divides the students into those who have talent, and those who don’t. But what happens when someone who’s supposed to be magically inept, suddenly starts getting victories? This might sound like plot armor. But in reality, he just has a good head on his shoulders and decent combat knowledge. Okay, his power is also somewhat of the hacks variety – but let’s not talk about that part.
24. The Seven Deadly Sins
For this anime we take a trip down history lane and land in middle-age Britannia. However, there’s something amiss here, as demons keep popping out everywhere and embodiments of God’s commandments are also entering the fray. So it’s the job of the Seven Deadly Sins to restore peace to the land. The powers are all very varied, with Merlin being the only true mage, and the power scaling gets pretty insane by the latter part of the series. If you want to see a bunch of fast-paced action (as well as some surprisingly touching and dark backstories) then give this show a watch.
23. Witch Craft Works
Since the Internet set itself on fire regarding Resident Evil’s tall lady, I’m here to propose the anime alternative. Not only is Ayaka way less likely to murder you, but she even has that kuudere charm that we anime fans all know and love. Not only that – but if you’re the male protagonist, Honoka, she’ll literally do everything in her power as a fire witch to protect you from waves of enemies that just keep appearing out of nowhere. I think it’s obvious which tall gall has the upper hand in this fight. But if you are still on the fence, just look at her giant pointy hat and that’ll be sure to sway you.
22. Fairy Tail
Fairy Tail is the most shounen-y shounen you’ll ever see. It’s all about the thrill of the fight, nakama powers, and proving your own worth. The power system ranges from basic stuff, like just controlling an element, to bizarre, like wielding perfume magic. The cast is absolutely huge and quite varied, so you’re bound to find someone you like – and then rightfully decide that Erza is better. Plus the battles are pretty tense, and the run-time is quite long. So if you’re looking for something to really sink your teeth into, Fairy Tail might be the show to watch next.
21. Overlord
I’m sure that you’ve already seen countless “overpowered main character isekai” shows. However, what if we introduced actual strategy into the mix? You see, the protagonist of Overlord doesn’t simply want to live a normal life – nor does he want to destroy the world, but rather gain the allegiance of all the neighboring countries and spread his own influence to find more people like himself. From double agent missions to meta gaming the hell out of certain fights, he has to use everything he’s learned about gaming (and his new world) to come out on top.
20. Puella Magi Madoka Magica
If you grew up In the 90s or early 2000s, you certainly have a soft spot for magical girl shows. There’s just something so wholesome about a bunch of girls going about their day and using their magic to save their friends, while also learning some morals along the way. Wait, what was that? The show does what now? Okay, I’ve just been informed that Madoka Magica is not as wholesome as I originally thought. In fact, it’s an extremely action centered show where no one is ever safe. That somehow sounds even better than the original pitch I was giving…
19. Black Clover
In a world where magic is an essential part of everyday life, one unlucky kid somehow manages to have no magic prowess at all. However, that doesn’t stop his optimism – and he wants to get to the very top and become the Wizard King. Even though he has built up some serious strength and muscle mass, his dream seems extremely far-fetched. Or at least, that was the case until he got the power to negate other’s magic. Black Clover follows this kid as he uses his newfound anti-magic weapons to whack everyone in his way as he strives to reach the top. It might sound like a very basic concept, but trust me – the powers get very whacky, very quickly.
18. Log Horizon
If you love MMOs, this anime is like a dream come true. It starts off simple enough: a bunch of MMO players are transported into the fantasy world they had grown to know and love. However, the basics of the game are still present in the world. Meaning that knowing how to manage your cooldowns, how to juggle agro, and how to make a well-rounded team actually matters. There are also skill trees, items, classes, and anything else you might want in a believable MMO. Even politics is a part of this show, giving it that realistic feel that the isekai genre has been missing for quite some time.
17. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
You don’t usually tremble in your boots when you hear that you have to fight a slime. This show might just change that. Because the slime in question has the ability to absorb everything it comes into contact with, and then gain its power. And wouldn’t you know it, a legendary dragon happens to be the first creature it encounters. You can see where this is going. The slime amounts enormous power, and soon builds an entire village – and later even country for all of the other monsters that feel like they have nowhere to belong. Overall this is a very wholesome show with some pretty amazing fights to boot, so be sure to give it a shot.
16. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
If you ever dreamed of the day when Aladdin would get the full anime package and get a more complete magic system, you’re going to love this series. Our protagonist is even called Aladdin. And the power system of the world comes from dungeons that have popped up all over the world. Clear a dungeon, and you might get the power of a Djinn. You can then entrust some of your power to your friends and followers and defeat anyone in your way – through a combination of nakama power and some pretty sick action scenes. The show is absolutely brilliant. And even the prequel can easily stand on its own. I highly recommend it.
15. The Familiar of Zero
No good magic based anime is complete without the ability to summon a companion by your side. Although it’s usually a black cat, we’ve seen other variants as well. But what is this, the protagonist of this show just summoned a human? And said familiar is also overpowered beyond belief? And he has a talking sword that can warp people? I do have to say, this series is full of surprises. The battles can be just as unpredictable, and the wider cast is quite interesting. Maybe not the best of its kind – but still worth a watch.
14. A Certain Magical Index
Nothing has been as sacred to anime as the marriage between magic and high school.
Not only does this anime offer a magical high school, but it’s also set in a sci-fi world, far more advanced than we can see in our own lives.
So already combining three genres right here.
And the protagonist is deemed the weakest there is, as he has a non-existent aptitude for psychic powers, unlike everyone around him.
But he can negate others’ powers.
And we somehow even managed to sneak some shounen underdog juice into this show.
It truly does have something for everyone.
13. Mary and the Witch’s Flower
They say that curiosity killed the cat – but in this movie, the cat is definitely in on the scheme. It stars a young little girl who one day sees a strange-looking cat, and follows it into the forest where she finds a very powerful magical flower. The girl follows the cat once more the following day, and somehow manages to get herself enrolled into a witch academy. As you can imagine, that was a lot to take in at once. And now she has to do her best to fit in with all the other witches, and not get exposed for the Muggle that she is.
12. Trinity Seven
Nothing is as scary as being alone. So you can imagine how the protagonist of Trinity Seven felt when everyone he knew suddenly vanished. Not only that, but he also learns that he has a special grimoire that can recreate the world he has lost. Upon learning this new power, he’s invited into the Trinity Seven: a group of seven elite mages that aim to restore the world to normal. The power system here is quite interesting, and the world building is pretty top notch too. So if this sounds like something that’s up your alley, I highly encourage checking it out (or at least the beginning just to see what you think).
11. The Saga of Tanya the Evil
If you love anime that deals with the military, like the art of war and politics, then this show is bound to be among your favorites. Our protagonist is a man who was so convicted in his atheist ways that god literally had to isekai him to prove his omnipotence. However, that didn’t completely work. And the protagonist is now a little girl filled with magical powers, and a mind sharp enough to take over the battlefield. Before long, she becomes a demon of the battlefield, defeating entire platoons by herself. But wars are rarely won by a lone super soldier. This is an excellent show with some seriously hype moments, and enough political subtext to make you feel like a master tactician.
10. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Here’s one anime that could be the prime example of how even basic shows can be amazing when done correctly. On a surface level, it‘s as basic as you can get: Man dies and gets reincarnated to a different world that’s set in the medieval ages, and also has magic. However, the protagonist was not a teenager in his past life that stayed a teenager in his second. But rather he went from a grown man to an infant. Being that he still had the mind of a grownup, he used his formative years to learn everything there is to know about the world – and to grind out his magic skill to a respectable level. But there are still plenty of things that can kill him, so he needs to be prepared at all times. Quick bonus points: the character writing here is superb, and the animation is absolutely crisp.
9. Little Witch Academia
This is like the “My Hero Academia” of the magic girl world. It features a wide array of cute girls who all go to school together, studying to become the next top witch. It’s extremely wholesome, and features as many cute and funny scenes as it does fantastical scenes filled to the brim with imagination and magic. We also get an underdog story as our protagonist doesn’t have any witch blood in her – but is determined to beat the odds nevertheless. Little Witch Academia is episodic, so it’s easy to watch whenever you want. But if you’re into magical settings, you’ll be pressed to find a single episode that doesn’t entertain you in some way.
8. Kiki’s Delivery Service
If you want to talk about something magical, you just have to look at studio Ghibli. The fact that this movie came out over 30 years ago, and yet is still this enjoyable to watch, is nothing short of sorcery. It features a young girl who’s tasked with venturing into the world and becoming a full-fledged witch. Needing something to put bread on the table, she opts for working as a delivery person – and uses her broom-flying abilities to their fullest. It’s a wonderful coming of age story with just enough magical elements to keep you enthralled.
7. Princess Arete
Now this show feels like a true fairy tale. It stars a princess looked away in a tower as her father plans to give her away to any knight that can bring him a certain magical artifact. However, one sorcerer dares to ask “why do that when I can just give her a lift?” And using his flying machine, he picks up the princess and takes her out into the real world. Having been locked in a tower her entire life, the princess had more than just a few questions about the outside world – and her curiosity is so infectious that you might just want to go outside yourself. God knows that after being locked up for a while, I feel for Arete completely.
6. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Alchemy is arguably one of the coolest powers ever. It combines science and magic all into one super balanced and intriguing system. And if having the coolest power system wasn’t enough, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is also one of the greatest anime of all time in terms of story, characters, really a lot to love here. We follow two brothers as they try to right a wrong from their past and return to a normal life. They’ll meet all kinds of people along the way, each with their own fighting style and alchemy attribute, as well as some of the most unique villains that anime has to offer. And yes, lots of magical alchemical goodness.
5. Magical Sisters Yoyo & Nene
Here’s a movie that has a very strong “Spirited Away” vibe, in all of the best ways possible. And I don’t just mean a young protagonist and parents turning into monsters. No, this anime features two sisters who use a plethora of spells to do odd jobs around the Magic Kingdom. But then something happens that even we couldn’t predict. One of the sisters gets reverse isekai’d and sent into our world. Yet not everything is quite like our normal boring world, since the adults also turned into jelly monsters. It’s now up to her to figure out how to restore this world and get back to her sister. The art style here is amazing, and the entire movie is filled with so much wonder that it just makes you feel like a kid again.
4. Brave Story
Brave Story tends to slip under a lot of people’s radars – and that needs to stop right now! This show is just a full-hearted adventure dipped into some fantasy. It features a boy who was definitely not given the best cards in life, with both his parents being in some serious trouble. However, he’s told of a world called Vision where if you defeat all the monsters and get to the very end, you’re granted a wish. So he sets off into this mysterious and magical world, determined to fix his broken home, and maybe even have a few adventures along the way.
3. Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina
This show is both very typical and very different, all at the same time. As you could have guessed from the title, Wandering Witch is all about a girl who recently became a witch, and decided to go on adventures around the world. Pretty typical. However, the tone of the story is a bit different. It’s not all dark, like Puella Magica. And it’s not all happy, like Little Witch Academia. But rather it’s a mix of the two. Some episodes will warm your heart and give off those typical magical girl optimism vibes, while others will showcase that power is a double-edged sword that can do as much harm as it can prevent. It’s a very interesting style that really keeps you on your toes, as well as keeping you thinking about everything presented in the story.
2. KonoSuba
A lot of the shows on this list are pretty serious and action-focused. But what if you want something more laid-back? Well then KonoSuba is the perfect pick to check out. It’s an S-class comedy set in the usual isekai fantasy world. Not to mention all the great characters. From a mage that can dish out city level threats (but then immediately passes out), to a tank main that can’t hit her own shadow, the cast is just pretty nutty. For me, the crowning jewel is the male lead – Kazuma. He’s the most believable protagonist I’ve seen in an isekai show thus far (and he’s one of our favorite isekai MCs). None of that pitch-perfect, shining light of morality stuff that we usually see. No, this guy would drop-kick a woman in the name of equality.
1. The Ancient Magus’ Bride
In terms of setting, this show is extremely peculiar and well worth a try. Instead of focusing on the usual tropes like a high school or an isekai world where it’s all about action and romance, The Ancient Magus’ Bride takes a more mystical and atmospheric approach to magical plots. It’s all about a girl who one day gets sold off at an auction, and gets purchased by a magus to become both his apprentice and bride. The story is set in an extremely colorful world full of fairies and other mystical beings, and the general tone is always calming with hints of romance. Overall a very unique watch, and a show you should not gloss over if you’re really into magical fantasy.
