Return to Tradition

We all love a good Isekai, but sometimes you crave a world that stands on its own. You want lore, history, and characters who actually belong there—not some guy named Steve who got hit by a truck.

With the massive success of Frieren, High Fantasy is back in style. Here are the 10 best shows to watch if you want pure magic.

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1. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

The Masterpiece. What happens after the heroes save the world? Frieren is an elf who outlives her friends. It’s a slow, melancholic, and beautiful journey about time, memory, and regretting not knowing people better.

Read the Source: The manga is quiet and profound. Start with Frieren Vol. 1 on Amazon.

2. Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon)

The Cooking Show. It looks like D&D, but it’s a cooking show. Layos and his party have to eat monsters to survive the dungeon. It’s funny, the world-building is incredibly detailed (biology of monsters), and the animation by Trigger is fluid.

3. Made in Abyss

The Nightmare. Do not let the cute art style fool you (again). This is Lovecraftian horror. Rico descends into a massive pit to find her mother. The deeper she goes, the more twisted reality becomes. It’s breathtaking and traumatizing.

4. Ranking of Kings (Ousama Ranking)

The Heart. Prince Bojji is deaf, tiny, and weak. Everyone mocks him. But his journey to become a king is the most heartwarming story of the decade. The storybook art style is unique and charming.

5. The Ancient Magus’ Bride

The Folklore. If you like British folklore, fairies, and magic that feels dangerous and mysterious, watch this. Elias Ainsworth (the skull-headed mage) buys Chise to be his apprentice. The visuals are stunning.

6. Violet Evergarden

The Emotion. While more "Steampunk/Fantasy," it fits. Violet tries to understand emotions by writing letters. The animation by Kyoto Animation is arguably the best TV anime production ever.

7. Yona of the Dawn (Akatsuki no Yona)

The Epic. A spoiled princess loses her kingdom and has to survive in the wild, gathering legendary dragon warriors. It’s a fantastic character growth story with great action.

8. Spice and Wolf

The Economics. A merchant travels with a wolf harvest goddess. Instead of fighting dragons, they fight... inflation and currency manipulation. It’s witty, romantic, and smart.

9. Berserk (1997)

The Legend. (We have a full article on this!) The Golden Age arc is pure dark fantasy. Just stick to the 1997 version or the movies.

10. Goblin Slayer

The D&D Session. It treats fantasy like a harsh survival game. Goblins aren't fodder; they are terrifying. It’s gritty and focuses on preparation and tactics.

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Conclusion: Magic is Alive

These shows prove you don't need a gimmick to make fantasy interesting. You just need a good story.

Which party are you joining? Eating monsters with Laios or collecting spells with Frieren? Tell us below!