The Best Fantasy Anime Of 2025, Ranked

Release Date: July TBA

Premise: Rudo and his foster father Regto live in poverty at the edge of a town dominated by the Abyss. Everything gets tossed into the Abyss, from garbage to people. Rudo's biological father was thrown in there after being accused of murder. Rudo meets the same fate when Regto is found dead and Rudo is blamed. He has no idea how he'll survive in the Abyss, especially with all the trash monsters around. His luck changes when a mysterious man shows up and teaches him how to fight them.

Why It's Worth Watching: This series has such a wild concept that it's hard to explain to anyone who's not an anime fan. A dark, gritty story about fighting trash monsters isn't something you find just anywhere. That's exactly what makes it worth watching - along with the fact that the manga is a lot of fun, so it should be great to see what Bones can do with it.

Release Date: October TBA

Premise: In this world, nobody wants to be a hero. Criminals are forced into mandatory military service against the Demon Lords, and they have to keep fighting until they win. Even death isn't an escape - if they're killed, they're just brought back to life and forced to keep fighting. Xylo Forbartz currently leads a panel of soldiers, and he's determined to make it through this alive - not just out of a natural will to survive, but because he wants revenge.

Why It's Worth Watching: Anime where characters are willing to give up anything to become heroes are common. But realistically, it's a difficult, dangerous job that many people would avoid at all costs. Whatever this series turns out to be, it's worth checking out for the premise alone.

Release Date: September 19 (Japan), October 29 (USA)

Premise: Chainsaw Man follows Denji, a boy who went from literally selling his organs and fighting devils to pay off his dad's mob debt to fusing with a devil to become one himself. He's soon scouted by the Public Safety Bureau, who want him to help fight devils. He's down for anything that guarantees food and shelter, and it doesn't hurt that he's smitten with its dangerously attractive female leader. This film picks up where the series left off, focusing on a mysterious young woman named Reze.

Why It's Worth Watching: The original series was beautifully done, but releasing high-quality episodes weekly can strain even the best studios. Hopefully, the time and space afforded by a movie will smooth out some of those issues. Plus, the film is generally more vibrant, and the fights are more over-the-top than in the first season, which is something fans wanted to see improved.

Release Date: April 5

Premise: Beryl Gardinant has a laid-back gig teaching sword fighting at a dojo in the middle of nowhere. He's happy with this - he spent way too much of his life on high-stakes swordsmanship. One day, he's summoned to teach the Liberion Order at the capital. Many of his former students are part of the order. He has no idea what he can possibly teach them, but he'll have to find a way to meet their expectations.

Why It's Worth Watching: In most anime, one of Beryl's former students would be the protagonist. After all, a young prodigy striving for greatness is a tale as old as time. While those stories can be a lot of fun, there's something to be said for exploring less common perspectives. After all, adults watch anime all the time, and kids sometimes want to know what life is like for older folks.

Release Date: July TBA

Premise: After their hometown is destroyed by kaiju, Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro agree that when they grow up, they'll join the Defense Force to take down those dangerous monsters. But only Mina achieves that goal, while Kafka is stuck cleaning up monster guts. When a freak accident turns him into a human-kaiju hybrid, he's suddenly of major interest to the Defense Force.

Why It's Worth Watching: When Season 1 ended, Kafka had finally achieved his dream of joining the Defense Force... but not everyone thinks he should be part of it. In fact, a lot of people believe he's too dangerous and unpredictable. In Season 2, he'll have to prove he actually deserves his spot. This should be exciting.

Release Date: January 6

Premise: Ever since her stepmother and stepsister moved in, Miyo Saimori has been treated like a servant in her own home. She's packed off to marry Kiyoka Kudo, a man known for being harsh and cruel. It turns out that Kiyoka isn't like that at all - he's actually really nice and an excellent husband. The main problem is that he has to spend so much time fighting dangerous magical beings called grotesqueries. As they live together, they form a loving and mutually respectful relationship.

Why It's Worth Watching: The fantasy element in this series is important but subtle. If you prefer your fantasy focused on human relationships, this is a great choice. The romance between Miyo and Kiyoka is genuinely heartwarming, as is her growing ability to care about herself. The art, like much of what Kinema Citrus produces, is top-notch.