The fantasy genre has a long history in anime. The genre lends itself to tales of the epic and spectacular. Some of the greatest animators and studios have focused on fantasy anime movies, drawing on both native Japanese stories and Western ones, as well as whole new ideas.
Here are some of the best Japanese fantasy anime movies that are sure to make your day more fantastic:
1. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
This unique post-apocalyptic movie was made by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, based on his 1982 manga.
It is a story set in a strange post-apocalypse that happened after a war that created a huge toxic jungle populated by mutant insects.
Nausicaa, a young girl, seeks to learn more about the jungle and find a way for the people and the jungle to coexist. The film has garnered near-universal praise and is considered a must-see for any fan of anime.
2. Castle in the Sky (1986)
Another great classic from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, in this film viewers join the adventures of two children as they try to keep a mysterious crystal power source from pirates and an evil government while searching for a long lost castle in the sky.
It is set in a unique and richly animated steampunk universe and is considered by many to be one of the best steampunk anime films of all time.
3. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
This is perhaps Studio Ghibli’s most well-known work. Drawing on Japanese folklore, a pair of young girls befriend some friendly woodland spirits near their new home.
It is a warm and sweet movie, full of whimsical animation sure to make your day better. Without question, this anime with a great story is one of the best Japanese anime movies of all time.
You can watch this movie on Amazon Prime.
4. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
This story about growing up is yet another great work by Studio Ghibli.
Kiki is a young witch who has just left home to make her own way and decides to start a delivery service, bringing goods from one place to another by flying on her broom.
The excellent animation makes the simple, heart-warming story (with dashes of action) well worth a watch.
5. Millennium Actress (2001)
This unique fantasy anime tells the story of the life of a Japanese actress. As the film goes on, the lines between the real and unreal blur.
The movie focuses on the place movies have in the culture’s collective unconscious, emphasized with beautiful animation.
6. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
A Studio Ghibli production based on a novel by Western author Diana Wynne Jones, it tells the strikingly romantic story of Sophie Turner and the Wizard Howl amid a magical kingdom at war.
It is by turns whimsical and lovely. While very different than the book, it is still a delightful and touching well-made story.
7. Tales from Earthsea (2006)
This epic story based on the works of Western author Ursula K. Le Guin is a Studio Ghibli work. It is an epic story of a magical world out of balance and of young lives and old that are affected by it.
It is a fascinating story, told with Studio Ghibli’s signature excellent animation.
8. Princess Mononoke (2007)
This fantastic epic by Studio Ghibli tells the story of a cursed prince emerging from his hidden home to encounter a world in conflict, which he soon becomes tangled in.
It is a strikingly beautiful film, balancing moments of intense action with quieter scenes of incredible peaceful beauty. If you like anime or fantasy film, this movie is a must-see.
9. Ponyo (2008)
This cute and quirky aquatic fantasy movie is another excellent anime from Studio Ghibli. It’s an exuberant, chaotic story, with animation to match.
This film has won praise all over the world and is well worth taking the time to watch. You will hear the voice of Liam Neeson who voiced the Fujimoto character ( English version) in this movie.
10. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011)
The story of a fantastic journey, this film features creatures and wonders inspired by tales from all over the world.
It is an ambitious work of animation that hits every goal it sets out to hit. It is a truly magical anime with an amazing story, music and characters.
11. Wolf Children (2012)
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, this unusual sweet and heartrending drama tells the story of a woman who finds herself raising her half-wolf children alone.
The animation is beautiful. While the story is simple, there’s also a fundamental heart to it that speaks to viewers around the world. You should collect this movie if you are a fan of Japanese anime!
12. Your Name (2016)
The passing of a comet causes a city boy and country girl to swap bodies from time to time. The two learn to leave messages and live each other’s lives, often doing favors for each other.
The twists and turns of this fantastic drama, as well as its beautiful animation, make it a delightful watch.
If you love watching fantasy romance anime similar to this one, we recommend checking out these great anime movies as well.
13. The Boy and the Beast (2017)
This coming-of-age fantasy anime is action-oriented, showing a lonely young boy finding himself growing closer to a beast-man who is on his own journey to learn responsibility.
The fight scenes are truly excellent and are carried along by a very competent story.
You may want to check some of our favourite action anime films. Don’t you?
14. Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017)
Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, This sweet and spectacular fantasy film tells the story of a girl who finds a magical flower that grants her the powers of a witch for one night, whisking her away to a whole new magical world of adventure.
It’s a fun movie for all ages.
15. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)
Incredibly epic yet deeply personal, this movie is set in a strange world inhabited by humans and magical creatures.
A tyrant king pursues immortality and attacks the long-lived Iorph, destroying their peace and triggering the film’s complex events.
This is a film about motherhood, aging, and loss, sure to tug at your heartstrings all the way through.
16. Weathering with You (2019)
A boy runs away from his troubled home to Tokyo, where he meets an orphaned girl with the power to control the weather. The animation and music are incredible.
The anime has won praise around the world for its heartfelt and unique story as well as how it captures the unique feeling of Tokyo life.
Watch this amazing fantasy anime here.
