Fantasy is anime’s deepest genre and its most crowded, which is exactly why a single ranking number fails it. Every title here carries two SenpaiRanks scores — a Consensus axis for how broadly it’s loved and a Quality axis for how well it holds up — so an easy crowd favorite and a demanding masterwork can both get their due. Here are the seven that top the board.
Quick answer
According to SenpaiRanks, the top three fantasy anime are Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (score 9.08), Sousou no Frieren (9.02), and Hunter x Hunter (2011) (9.00). The full list below runs from cozy elegy to nightmare descent, each with its studio, episode count, and where it streams. Scores are the dual-axis figure — Consensus and Quality — not one blended average.
The ranked list
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood — SenpaiRanks 9.08
Bones, 2009, 64 episodes. Alchemy, war, and one of the most complete stories in the medium. Streams on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
2. Sousou no Frieren — SenpaiRanks 9.02
Madhouse, 2023, 28 episodes. A quiet, aching elegy about the elf who outlives her party. The modern high-water mark for the genre. Streams on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
3. Hunter x Hunter (2011) — SenpaiRanks 9.00
Madhouse, 2011, 148 episodes. Adventure fantasy with a rule-set so tight it reads like a puzzle box. Streams on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
4. Made in Abyss — SenpaiRanks 8.23
Kinema Citrus, 2017, 13 episodes. Storybook art wrapped around genuine horror. Beautiful and brutal in equal measure. Streams on HIDIVE and Prime Video in most regions.
5. Re:Zero — SenpaiRanks 8.22
White Fox, 2016, 25 episodes. The isekai that made suffering a mechanic, with a return-by-death loop that keeps raising the cost. Streams on Crunchyroll.
6. Fate/Zero — SenpaiRanks 8.05
ufotable, 2011, 13 episodes. A seven-way war of mages and heroic spirits, animated with ufotable’s signature gloss. Streams on Crunchyroll.
7. Mushoku Tensei — SenpaiRanks 8.03
Studio Bind, 2021, 11 episodes. The isekai that took its world seriously enough to reset the bar. Streams on Crunchyroll.
How to use this list
Fantasy overlaps hard with its neighbors, so the best isekai anime, ranked, best magical-girl anime, ranked, and best action anime, ranked hubs are worth a look for adjacent picks. For the biggest fantasy films, our best anime movies of 2026, ranked hub covers the theatrical side. And if the two-score system is new to you, the MyAnimeList alternative breakdown explains why one number was never enough.
Think Frieren should top the board? Rate it — your vote moves the Consensus score.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the best fantasy anime according to SenpaiRanks?
A: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood leads at 9.08 on the Consensus and Quality axes, just ahead of Sousou no Frieren at 9.02.
Q: Where can I watch these fantasy anime?
A: Most stream on Crunchyroll, with Netflix, HIDIVE, and Prime Video carrying several by region. Each entry lists its main platforms.
Q: Is isekai the same as fantasy?
A: Isekai is a fantasy sub-genre — the "transported to another world" hook. Titles like Re:Zero and Mushoku Tensei appear on both this list and our dedicated isekai hub.
Q: Why two scores per show?
A: SenpaiRanks tracks Consensus (broad appeal) and Quality (staying power) separately, so a comfort watch and a demanding classic aren’t collapsed into one figure.
Q: Does the ranking change over time?
A: Yes. It reflects incoming votes, so rating a show yourself shifts its Consensus score and the board updates.