Entertainment
10 Fantasy Anime Better Than ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’
The 2020s have been a treasure trove of new anime, with some of the most popular shows of all time coming out in the past decade. Because of increased popularity, the medium is getting better, with more series, greater animation, quality, and storytelling. However, one of the best and most famous anime series from the 2020s is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which highlights the fantasy genre.
However, the fantasy genre has a deep catalog of anime, and this list will highlight ten fantasy anime series that are better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Based on aspects such as writing, animation, originality, popularity, worldbuilding, lore, action, critical acclaim, fan opinion, and overall quality, these ten anime shows are must-watch masterpieces that are better than even a modern masterpiece like Frieren.
‘Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation’ (2021-present)
The Isekai genre, for better or worse, is the most popular in anime, and it is also tied to the fantasy genre, occasionally delivering stand-outs such as Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. After living a regretful, sad, and lonely life, the protagonist is born into a fantasy world. Now named Rudeus, he uses his previous memories to build the life he always wanted, but danger still lies in wait.
This one may be a polarizing anime, but its worldbuilding is arguably better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End for the thoughtful way it explores the culture and unique regions. The protagonist can be a bit much, but he shows signs of character development that make him more intriguing than others. Not to mention the action in Mushoku Tensei elevates it above most fantasy shows.
‘Witch Hat Atelier’ (2026-present)
2026 has already been a fantastic year for fantasy anime, with a couple of sequel seasons and some new works, such as Witch Hat Atelier. Coco is a young girl who always aspired to be a witch even if it was impossible. However, after discovering the secret of magic, she accidentally petrifies her mother. Now, Coco must learn the ways of magic to try and save her mother, but a mysterious evil faction has its eyes on her.
Witch Hat Atelier is already one of the best anime series of 2026, and it has only had one season. Maybe it is a bit early to say it is better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, but the sheer creativity is so compelling. The power system is among the best in anime, and the blend of mystery, animation, worldbuilding, and fascinating characters means it will likely only get better.
‘Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic’ (2012-2014)
Fantasy can be inspired by many things, and Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic takes inspiration from Arabian Nights. Magi are magic users with great power who choose a king candidate, helping them conquer the world. When Alibaba overcomes a dungeon, he is granted a sword of fire and a magi, who, together, go on an adventure to bring a peaceful world.
High fantasy is so common in anime nowadays that fans want something different, and that is exactly what Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic offers. This show has much more of a structured plot than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, especially with its political intrigue and powerscaling, which makes it a double-edged sword that cuts with sharp dialogue, action, and adventure.
‘Ranking of Kings’ (2021-present)
One of the most underrated fantasy anime that came out of nowhere was Ranking of Kings, which was overlooked based on its art style. Bojji is the young and fragile prince of the kingdom, always underestimated because of his size. Wanting to prove his strength, he sets out on an adventure to train alongside his shadowy friend, but much mystery is soon to reveal itself.
Fans underestimated Ranking of Kings just like the characters in the show, but this anime is one of the biggest shocks. Bojji is an endearing protagonist who fans can’t help but cheer for, also having a wholesome dynamic with Kage. As one of the best anime of recent years, Ranking of Kings can deliver some of the best fights and has character development and an expanding political plot with mystery and plot twists.
‘Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-‘ (2016-present)
As mentioned earlier, the isekai and fantasy genres are pretty much synonymous, and the best of the former is arguably Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-. Suddenly awakened in a new fantasy world, Subaru is instantly met with a gruesome death by a friendly passerby. However, he soon wakes up from that, realizing he is in a death loop in a fantasy world.
Isekai anime aren’t for everyone, but even haters of the genre might enjoy Re:Zero simply because the writing is so good. This tragic anime is far more complex and dark than fans give it credit for, with each season building on the world and its characters. Especially after the most recent season, Re:Zero has proved itself to be among the greatest fantasy series ever.
‘Berserk’ (1997-1998)
Kentaro Miura is a manga and anime legend, and while the manga is the definitive way to enjoy Berserk, the anime is also spectacular. Born from a hanging corpse, Guts’ life is a living hell, tossed between mercenary groups in a time of constant war. However, after finding a place he can call home, a brutal betrayal takes everything away from him, sending him on a blood-fueled quest for revenge.
The CGI movies are atrocious, but the 1990s anime is surprisingly gorgeous, especially with its classic animation. But at its heart, Berserk still holds the main story, and with it, all the tragedy, trauma, and flawless writing. Boasting some of the best character development in anime, Berserk has a flawless dynamic between Guts and Griffith, which reveals itself through every moment.
‘Dungeon Meshi’ (2024-present)
After Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End came out in 2023, fans wanted the next best fantasy anime, and that is exactly what Dungeon Meshi is. After one of their party members is eaten by a dragon, the rest of the gang prepares to go back down and save her. But with no money, supplies, or food, they decide to eat the monsters they kill inside the dungeon.
Dungeon Meshi and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End reached the same audience, and while it is close, a lot of fans prefer the former. They are hard series to compare, but Dungeon Meshi is far more unique and has a better cast with more relevance and interesting personalities. The monster biology and ecology of the dungeon works its way into the worldbuilding, mystery, character development, and plot, proving it achieves an impossibly creative feat.
‘One Piece’ (1999-present)
Fantasy comes in many shapes and sizes, with most typical battle shounen falling under the genre, including One Piece. Monkey D. Luffy wants to become King of the Pirates, but to do so, he must build a crew and a reputation, which he does by picking fights with other pirates, the Marines, and the World Government. Danger is just another word for adventure for Luffy, as he and the Straw Hats explore the high seas.
There isn’t a lot of anime better than One Piece, even with its bad pacing. The worldbuilding is one-of-a-kind and on its own tier of impressive, connecting thousands of episodes of islands, political discourse, lore, mystery, and plot twists. Not only that, but One Piece evokes more emotion than any other show, and with it still hitting its stride, it is clear this anime is better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011-2014)
As previously mentioned, some of the greatest fantasy anime don’t offer a typical high fantasy narrative, but something completely new, an example being Hunter x Hunter. Gon had always wanted to meet his dad, who left him at a young age, prompting the young boy to set out on an adventure. First needing to become a hunter, Gon wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, no matter what danger comes his way.
Hunter x Hunter and One Piece are similar in many ways, and not just because they are better than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. A lot of characters get arcs, and with so much growth and change, it is no wonder why it has the best character development in anime. With a unique and intricate power system that adds tense moments to an emotional story of characters, this anime is a true fantasy masterpiece.
On the surface, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood may not feel like a fantasy anime, but it technically qualifies as one. After brothers Ed and Al lose parts or all of their bodies in a taboo alchemical experiment, they set out on a quest to find the philosopher’s stone. However, all they uncover is a government conspiracy that threatens to swallow the world unless they do something to stop it.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has a little bit of everything, from action to comedy, drama, good animation, worldbuilding, mystery, well-written characters, plot twists, and character development. It is no stretch to say it is an anime with no flaws, which shouldn’t be taken lightly, because even Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End isn’t perfect. In the end, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a historic anime that is perfect from the riveting introduction to the satisfying conclusion.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login