There are a lot of TV shows out there and in this golden age of TV streaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic? Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest and unforgettable shows through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, our attention this time turns to series that delves into the concept of magic. From compelling magical adventures to intense survival horror, there’s a good choice to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below, and we’ll get them added on!
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon is renowned for making magical girls popular in the west. It also changed individuals’ perception of women in anime, thanks to it portraying females as crime fighters. It’s an anime with massive worldwide appeal and one that remains a classic in retro fans’ eyes.
For those unaware, Sailor Moon follows the clumsy school girl Usagi Tsukino. She’s a failure in the classroom and a klutz in real life. However, after she stumbles upon a magical cat named Luna, her life takes a turn for the better.
Essentially, Luna informs Usagi that she’s destined to become the planetary guardian, Sailor Moon, whose main mission is to protect Earth from evil supernatural threats. To do so, Luna bestows Usagi with a special brooch that allows her to transform into Sailor Moon. On top of saving the world, Usagi must also find the remaining Sailor Guardians, and the Legendary Silver Crystal, if she hopes on saving the planet from harm.
Sailor Moon is an incredible magical girl anime that blends its fantasy, heroism, and action elements well. If you’re looking to dive into a world featuring epic female superheroes, check out Sailor Moon.
Little Witch Academia
Little Witch Academia is a marvelous magical anime. It follows a clumsy yet awe-aspiring witch named Atsuko Kagari (Akko) and the magical adventures she embarks on with her friends Susie and Lotte. It’s a series that’ll leave you feeling soft and cozy.
Nonetheless, the magical abilities range from mere transformation magic and flying across the skies via a broom. Despite featuring predictable uses of magic, Atsuko and their friends’ do utilize these spells in some of the silliest ways possible. These mishaps will get a laugh out of anyone, even if magic isn’t their cup of tea.
Little Witch Academia also tackles darker themes like hopelessness and loss. The scenes that feature these themes will break fans’ hearts. However, you’ll see the characters conjure ways to pick themselves back up again, thereby reigniting the wonder and delight the anime’s best known for.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a well-beloved magical girl anime. It changed people’s view of magical girls by portraying the harsh realities the girls would develop with the position. It’s a sad anime but has enough light-hearted material to prevent fans from trudging through a gloomy mess.
This anime follows Madoka Kaname and her friend Sayaka Miki, who are chatting and covering with each other during class. During that day, Madoka spots a strange cat-like organism frolicking about and tells Sayaka. The two end up chasing this creature down and cornering it.
The cat reveals itself as Kyubey who has the power to grant girls’ wishes in favor of them signing up to become magical girls. Madoka and Sayaka decide to seize the opportunity and become magical girls. However, they’ll soon realize that making a deal with a stranger comes with consequences.
This anime features many beautiful action scenes and an excellent display of the magical powers Madoka and Sayaka have as magical girls. The anime also features three others girls, each having powers that are unique and tailored to their desires. It’s an anime that handles tension well and will sweep you off your seat!
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a remake of the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime. This remake covers content that wasn’t present in the original and has an arguably better conclusion because of it. This anime covers a field of different magical powers. Each with its own weaknesses and advantages. The fight scenes are glorious and a spectacle. However, the brother’s journey is what sells this anime.
For those unaware, this anime follows two brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric. While they do argue with each other occasionally, their brotherly bond is inseparable and charming. One day, they overhear information regarding Alchemy and conjure up a plan to utilize this dark magic to resurrect their mother.
Things don’t go accordingly, as the brothers find themselves losing several of their limbs. However, Alphonse gets the short end of the stick and loses his whole body. To prevent his brother from disappearing, Edward sacrifices one of his legs and arms and transplants Alphonse’s soul into a suit of armor. While they’re rescued by their neighbor the brothers are no longer fully human.
Years pass. The Elric brothers are now older and Edward has prosthetic limbs made from tough and versatile armor. After going through immense training and handling specific business issues, the boys set off on a quest for a mystical stone that will restore their bodies. While they know their journey won’t be easy, the boys are dead set on finding the stone no matter what.
That Time I Got Reincarnated Into A Slime
That Time I Got Reincarnated Into A Slime is as hilarious as its long title. It also features an intriguing protagonist with many lows and highs. The world he finds himself in is full of charm, wonder, and fantasy. He’ll encounter likable and horrid individuals along the way. Each of them has a unique personality or ability that’s sure to please fans of magical journies.
The story follows a corporate worker named Satoru Mikami, who enjoys his mundane lifestyle. Unfortunately, his time in his world comes to a close, when he meets a random criminal on the street who murders him. When he awakens, he finds out that he’s no longer human and has turned into a blob. With a new body comes new perks, as he discovers he has the power to eat anything and mimic their appearance and powers.
While goofing around, he stumbles upon a sealed monster named Veldora and helps her escape. He promises Veldora that he will befriend her and Veldora grants him a new body depicting him as a child. She also dawns on him the name Rimura Tempest and grants him divine protection. The anime follows Rimura’s new life in this magical world that will put him in more fruitful yet dangerous circumstances.
Black Clover
Black Clover is a magical tale full of action, magical powers, and emotional moments. It’s one of Shonen Jump’s latest hit series that often stands toe to toe with shows like My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer. It features an ensemble cast of likable characters. Each has unique powers and personalities.
The scenes in this anime will excite you. The anime contains breathtaking animation and well-designed characters. The character designs blend well with this wizarding world and its landscapes. This anime also features incredible story arcs and character-driven subplots that will challenge your morals and viewpoints. These arcs prevent the viewer from feeling bored with its content.
Black Clover follows Asta, a hard-working and athletic wizard who wants to get noticed by his peers and role models. Despite being a diligent workaholic, his peers end up shunning him for his righteous and bombastic attitude. Asta also doesn’t have a great understanding of magic nor does he know how to wield it properly.
This all changes when gets into a fateful encounter with a rogue warrior. The warrior beats Asta to a pulp. Although things look grim for Asta, he ends up tapping into a devil-like darkened state that increases his strength and abilities. He uses this newfound strength to defeat the perpetrator. Although his peers still find him annoying, Asta’s self-esteem increases.
Therefore, he decides to leave his homeland to embark on a quest to become his world’s, Wizard King.
Seven Deadly Sins
Seven Deadly Sins is an action-packed fantasy anime. It features a good amount of comedy, fight scenes, and colorful characters to keep fans’ entertained. The story is also well-written and its world is vast and full of mystery. The humor teeters between mild innuendos to clever slapstick. It never misses a beat and will get a giggle out of you.
The fight scenes are extraordinary and immaculate. The powers these characters wield are otherworldly and interesting. From Meliodas’s defensive Full-Counter mechanism to Diane’s giant strength, there’s a wide range of interesting magical elements at play here.
The anime also features some wonderful side characters like Elizabeth and Hawk that’ll make you smile every time they’re on screen. While the story’s not fully complete, what the anime offers currently is enticing enough to get you invested. So, if you’re looking for another comedy and action-driven adventure anime with a touch of magic, check out Seven Deadly Sins.
Magi The Labyrinth of Magic
Magi The Labyrinth of Magic is a magical adventure anime that’s full of charm and wonder. In the anime, you’ll find strong character development, a well-structured plot, and a grand and great magical world.
The anime focuses on a boy named Alibaba, whose trying to make it in life. One day while visiting his home’s marketplace, he meets a magician named Aladdin. Aladdin befriends Alibaba and the two embark on an adventure that will take them to many kingdoms, dungeons, and landscapes.
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic’s setting is based around the Arabian Nights and features many mythical creatures like djins that fit with the theme. The anime tackles political topics concerning unlawful government practices and how they impact each kingdom’s society. The kingdoms Aladdin and Alibaba encounter all feature different hierarchal structures that make each area feel unique.
The backgrounds in this show are immaculate. The action scenes are fluid and well-animated. The music and sounds match well with wild-life organisms that traverse the terrain. The characters’ facial expressions and reactions feel realistic and never feel off-putting.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride
The Ancient Magus’ Bride is a well-animated and visually remarkable series. When it was released, fans were stunned at its beautiful magical world and the marvelous creatures that inhabited it. In this anime, you can expect to see creatures like fairies, dragons, and elf-looking humanoids. You’ll also witness the magical and romantic bond between a magician and his future wife.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride follows Chise, a girl who ended up becoming a slave because of her ill-mannered parents. One day, she ends up being auctioned off to a mysterious person named Eins. To her shock, Eins didn’t have evil intentions.
Eins’s reason for purchasing Chise was to allow her to become his bride and apprentice. While Chise is bewildered by Eins’s request, she ends up accepting his offer. Now under the watchful eye of Eins and his housekeeper ally, the two embark on a journey full of romantic and magical shenanigans.
While the anime delves into Ein and Chise’s relationship more than its magical elements, they do tend to feature various sub-plots of Chise encountering magical beings on her own. These moments always come with some of the series’s best dialogue. The voice actors dubbing these scenes do a fine job in selling you in on the world these two lovebirds inhabit.
Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle is an extraordinary Studio Ghibli film. It contains well-rounded characters, a fun plot, a magical world, and a beautiful musical score. It’s regarded as one of Miyazaki’s finest works, and after watching the film, you’ll see why.
The story takes place in a magical world where a large metallic aircraft can be seen floating in the sky. This aircraft is home to the talented wizard Howl, who is infamous for magical abilities and charm on women. Meanwhile, in a small town, we follow Sophie, who is trying to find her purpose in life outside of being a hat maker.
As she’s frolicking about she ends up getting roped into a crime scene and falls. Before she could land, Howl swoops in and rescues her. Though their interaction was brief it sparks controversy, most notably with an evil witch. Deemed the Witch of the Waste, she decides to plant the curse on Sophie, transforming her into an elderly woman. To return to normal, Sophie must travel with Howl on a journey that will take them through many different scenarios ranging from happiness to madness.
During her adventure, Sophie will traverse through many different dimensions, each becoming more bizarre. She’ll encounter magical creatures that range from fire demons to wandering scarecrows. Her bond with Howl will gradually transform into something magical and romantic. Howl’s Moving Castle offers everything from magic and romance, making it a film everyone needs to watch.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best anime through the years about magic!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!