Youji Itami is an otaku, a self-proclaimed one at that. So when an inter-dimensional force of dragons and trolls invade his world during the time of a convention, he is quick to throw himself in the fray, putting all his RPG knowledge to the test. He proves himself so useful during this initial battle that he receives a lot of honors and is later tasked with leading a special recon team into the fantastical world that lies beyond the gate. Gate does an impressive job immersing the viewer wholly into the fantasy world that stands opposite modern day society. It does this in a number of ways. One it efficiently and effectively develops each of the main characters, who represent various ideologies, and thus gives insights into different cultures. Secondly, it shows the inner workings (the government, religious factions, and military) of the kingdoms that Japan is trying to defeat/negotiate with. By doing this, we receive a much a grander picture of how this entire world runs and functions. It’s very akin to a cultural exchange program, at least by the time diplomatic solutions start being suggested.

Kazuma is young, lonely, and a shut in. One day, upon forcing himself out his room, he dies in an extremely awkward manner. Due to his relative youth, the goddess Aqua gives him the option to continue life in an alternate universe. He can even bring an ultimate item of his choosing to make sure things work at. Well, she happens to present on this information while completely humiliating Kazuma, and in an act of spite Kazuma declares that he wants her to accompany. To the higher ups of godhood, this request is valid and so Konosuba begins. Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!, aka Konosuba, presents a glorious fantasy world that’s brimming with life and then throws us into the outskirts. Basically, we realize quite quickly that neither Kazuma nor Aqua is quite suited for adventure. Thus, they end up working rather ordinary jobs and living in less than quality standards (a stable). Bringing some light into the world are the two companions that join this unlucky duo. However, they prove themselves to be equally as useless. Overall, Konosuba presents a fantastical world that gets flipped on its head as four inept adventurers try to make a living.

In a time long ago, the destructive powers of the great dragon Bahamut threatened the realms of the humans, demons, and gods. In a massive battle that invoked a combined effort from each race, Bahamut was successfully locked away. The key to Bahamut’s imprisonment was then split between the god’s realm and the demon’s realm. Our story begins when the key in the god’s realm has suddenly been stolen. Mappa’s 2014 Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis takes viewers down a visual masterpiece. We’re thrown into a medieval fantasy that has every type of mystical being you could hope for. There’s magic, swashbuckling, historical and mythological figures, as well as massive amounts of deception. Consistently, we are being brought face to face with some incredible setting or monster and the fight scene that ensues is always one of longevity and delight. It truly is an ode to fantasy lovers. It’s one drawback is that it provides such a massive world that it can only give a slight glimpse into the lives of some of the more imposing characters within its 12-episode run.

Have you ever wondered how Hell is ran? Obviously there is quite a bit of traffic going down in the underworld and for people to find their correct place in the afterlife, things cannot be left to anarchy. That’s why there’s Hoozuki, chief deputy to Lord Enma. Hoozuki no Reitetsu follows the management styles of this chief deputy as he makes sure that hell is a well-oiled, smooth-running bureaucracy. One of the best things about this show and what it does extraordinarily well is intermix Japanese mythology into its storyline. It’s not the only show to throw around beings from legends and folklore, but it clearly took the time to nail down the characters. Rather than simply invoking the name of a hero or god to appease mythology lovers, Hoozuki no Reitetsu revolves around these characters and utilizes its supernatural setting to its upmost. The only thing you might find strange is how similar hell is to your office space.

Not ten thousand, but thirty thousand gamers are suddenly trapped inside a popular MMORPG known as Elder Tale. They are not able to log out and they must learn how to survive in this dangerous fantasy world that has up to that point been only a virtual ‘escape’. Think Sword Art Online, but better. We won’t have to deal with an extremely overpowered protagonist here and there’s less focus on a single guy wooing every girl he has one-on-one time with. What Log Horizon does exceptionally well is propel us into a universe that is vast and requires a collaborative effort among characters. In doing so, characters take on relatively niche roles that are both standard and comforting. However, the particular role of puppet master, the behind the scenes mastermind, is actually played by our hero, Shiroe. This actually allows the other characters more time to shine as they excel at their relative skills, which are put to perfect use by Shiroe.

We’re all probably familiar with Berserk and this is the one series that gets to break the rule of beginning in the last five years. Its implementation of CG, separate story arc, and overall time gap from its 1997 predecessor gave way to an exception. Considering the massive amount of monsters, hectic swordfights, and epic story; it’s hard not to put Berserk on any type of fantasy list. Berserk, more than any anime on this list, captures the idea of a dark fantasy. Rather than act as an escape from mundane reality, Berserk presents landscapes that are dreary and haunting and characters who are highly damaged and complex. In this world, everything feels like it’s cast in some shadow, as it becomes increasingly difficult to decide what’s right and what’s wrong. All you can do is hold on as Guts heaves his hunk of iron into countless ghouls, and perhaps save a few innocents if he feels like it. The only issue you might find with it, is that CG isn’t your cup of tea.

No Game No Life follows the adventures of the siblings Sora and Shiro as they find themselves thrown into a completely different world, a world where everything is decided by games. Luckily, Sora and Shiro are actually god-like gamers with incredible reflexes, inexhaustible strategies, and impressive teamwork. In other words, they have really just been taken to heaven and are ready to ascend to an entire new status. Surreal on a completely different level than anything else on this list, No Game No Life invites its viewers to experience a visual feast. Few shows have the ability to completely consume the audience simply through the setting and animation styling, but that is exactly what No Game No Life accomplishes. It astounds you, and gives you an entire world that seems like a playground for your imagination to run wild with. Not only that, but each game that is played is executed with grace as strategies clash and mental capacities are tested.

Set in world that is modeled after the European Middle Ages, Nanatsu no Taizai follows Elizabeth, the third princess of the Kingdom of Liones, as she searches for the subset of Holy Knights that had been deemed The Seven Deadly Sins for their betrayal against the kingdom. Why is the princess looking for them? Well, after The Seven Deadly Sins had been suppressed, the rest of the Holy Knights had a little coup of their own. Maybe in a year or two Nanatsu no Taizai will be able to claim the top spot on a fantasy list. It has all the components for a traditional shounen in a fantasy world and it does them exceptionally well. It’s a case of presentation and pace beating out everything else. It has a diverse cast of powerful and interesting characters, who each offer a certain charisma that will attract its own following. The world is vast with plenty of visual appeal. No surprise their as A-1 Pictures steers the project. The story might be a little traditional in its search for the ultimate crew, but more than makes up for it with certain twists and its well developed characters. The only thing this show is truly missing is a second season to further explore the nuances of the world it has set up.

Re:Zero follows Subaru Natsku as he gets thrown into a crazy fantasy world. This world says hello by having him beaten to a pulp by a group of thugs. Thankfully, a mysterious girl by the name of Satella comes to the rescue. To repay her kindness, Subaru says he will help her find her ‘insignia,’ which she explains was stolen. Well, they find it, they find themselves in over their heads, and they both die. Then Subaru reawakens to the group of thugs once more. This anime is one of the few to have made an actual impact on the anime community. There are several reasons for this. One, the character designs are stellar and its simply enjoyable to watch people interact even in a relatively plain-looking setting. Two, there is a good amount of action from the get go to keep the people on their feet and excited to see what happens next. Three, the story does not dig itself into a hero who can save everything plotline. The third reason in particular sets the show apart. Usually, you would expect the ability to revive as a power that leads to happy endings. However, in this series, this power forcibly deconstructs Subaru into an entirely different character and creates massive struggles for himself and the people he comes into contact with.

Scattered about the world are deadly labyrinths, known as Dungeons, which hold magical treasures beyond the imagination. These Dungeons are ruled over by supernatural Djinns, who will give their power to anyone who conquers the impossible maze. This granting of power acts as the Djinn’s vote of confidence for the victor to be king. As a result, many people with grand dreams dare the labyrinths in hopes of achieving riches and power. One lucky big dreamer, Alibaba, happens to achieve such a feat while befriending Aladdin, a young magician who might be one of the legendary Magi, magicians who lead kings to their empires. Magi tops this list due to the world it has been able to flesh out over two seasons. Yes, it basically doubles the length of most other entries, but that’s no reason to not celebrate the vibrant and magical world that Magi creates. It seamlessly blends adventure, action, magic, and humor into one incredibly interesting story. Each character we are introduced to has a story and the creators do a great job giving life to everyone. Even characters of minor importance have personal quirks and are developed quite thoroughly. As a result, every battle, whether one of fists or ideologies, has a certain undeniable attraction.