Spring is approaching. While some may be looking forward to April showers, fresh flowers, and some bright sun, anime fans are looking forward to the latest broadcast season to throw their lives into. And what better type of anime to escape into, especially in today's uncertain times, than some good fantasy series.
Fantasy anime have been great companion pieces to the otaku, with many like Dragon Ball, Inuyasha, and (for the edgy kids) Berserk being the key introduction to all of anime. With Spring 2020 fast approaching, it's time to make a few memories in another world. Here are some of the most anticipated fantasy anime for the season and (if they're available) where you can stream them in the US.
10 Bungo And Alchemist: Gears Of Judgment
Anime can make a fantasy action series out of literally anything. Whether it's historical figures trying to rule the modern-day, Japanese spirits trying to claim humanity, or even soda cans trying to discover what material makes the most durable can, anime can make anything that exists into a warrior.
Bungo and Alchemist: Gears of Judgment is the next installment to that tradition. Based on the mobile game of a similar name, this fantasy series delves into the secret world of famous Japanese writers from throughout history who work tirelessly to fight against the paranormal threats of tainted books.
Streaming on: Funimation
9 Yu-Gi-Oh!: Sevens
The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise continues to make what are essentially really expensive commercials that more than make their return through their community endlessly buying new cards and toys. To stay relevant, the franchise has made Duel Discs, thrown in motorcycles, created an entire futuristic city, and implemented VR like systems within its anime.
In the latest and appropriately named seventh installment, the anime tries to shake things up again for a new generation of duelists. Yu-Gi-Oh!: Sevens is made in honor of the anime's 20th anniversary and will be implementing a new mechanic known as Rush Duel. This will also be the first installment to not be made by Studio Gallop as the franchise makes its jump to Studio Bridge.
Streaming on: Unconfirmed
8 Princess Connect! Re: Dive
Princess Connet! Re: Dive is another mobile game entry on this list that centers on the humble adventures of some cute girls. The main character finds themselves in an unknown location with no memory as to how they got there. As they move along, they come across a few girls that they begin to adventure with.
As the colorful crew of cute girls move forward in their adventure, they begin to uncover a big mystery looming above them. For those looking for a lighthearted RPG series and some adorable faces brighter than the Springtime sun, try giving Princess Connect! Re: Dive a shot.
Streaming on: Unconfirmed
7 Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle
Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle is a strong example of some classic, fantasy anime traits. In an adventuring world full of different isles, the main character stumbles upon and follows the mysterious adventurer, Kyle. Along the way, they make friends with a girl named Iris and her talking cat.
Before they know it, they come across a flying island whose darkness seems to take over Kyle. Before he disappears, he gives his new companions a new mission to find the seven Great Runes. Now riding on the flying island, the ragtag group now sets out to follow Kyle's will.
Streaming on: Funimation, AnimeLab
6 The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?
It really doesn't take too long in a list like this to reach an isekai anime. The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me? tries to shake things up by not creating as clear-cut of a journey as "Go fight the Demon King." Much like most isekai anime, the main character is a salaryman who is mysteriously transported into another world.
In this instance, he's actually put into the six-year-old body of the youngest heir of a poor noble family. While he has no administrative abilities of his own, he tries to use his magical abilities to do good by his new home, only to be met with disastrous effects. On a journey to prosperity, what will Wendelin von Benno Baumeister do?
Streaming on: Crunchyroll
5 Ascendance Of A Bookworm Part 2
While The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me? could be a fun romp within its own right, many isekai fans are already looking forward to the continuation of one of the most original renditions of the modern age. For those not caught up, Ascendance of a Bookworm is an isekai anime about a bookworm that is transported into the body of a little girl in a fantasy setting.
She's distraught to find that books are actually a rarity in this dimension but doesn't let that fact get her down. Part 2 sees the next part of Myne's adventure to bring the printing press and more books to the people of the world and, more importantly, her hungry eyes.
Streaming on: Crunchyroll
4 My Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!
While the isekai genre may be congested at this point, there's no denying that the creators are doing some interesting stuff with the premise. Little Katarina Claes once thought that she was just the noble daughter of a duke until she hits her head and remembers that she was isekai'd! Katarina is actually an otaku who got mysteriously transported while playing her favorite otome game, Fortune Lover.
Taking stock of her surroundings, Katarina realizes that she's not only in the game but that she's also in the body of the main villainess who's only destined to die. Using her knowledge of the game, she now works quickly to change the outcome before the end game screen gets her.
Streaming on: Crunchyroll
3 BNA
The studio that never rests, TRIGGER returns in 2020 with another unique looking entry that is just primed to dazzle its audience with sci-fi nonsense and high octane action. BNA focuses on an alternate world in which humanoid animals have resurfaced after being in hiding for centuries.
The main character, Michiru, suddenly finds herself transformed into a tanuki and is now investigating the strange circumstances of her situation. Alongside her new wolf friend, Ogami Shirou, she ventures deep into Anima City only to discover even stranger events.
Streaming on: Netflix
2 Tower Of God
Tower of God is the next entry of Crunchyroll's growing line-up of "Originals." This series focuses on the battle royal between different adventurers, as they must scale up a massive tower to become god.
The main characters are Rachel and Twenty-Fifth Baam, a boy who has spent most of life beneath the tower. When the two manage to enter the structure for the first time, Rachel races to finally see the top, whereas Baam simply wants to find and connect with his companion again.
Streaming on: Crunchyroll
1 Sword Art Online: Alicization - War Of Underworld 2nd Season
While there are plenty of isekai anime on this list, all of them may have Sword Art Online to thank for jump-starting the entire trend. This eclectic series of gamers (or, at least, gamer) constantly getting stuck in life-threatening video games has connected with a large and diverse fanbase and has enjoyed more than enough success to keep going.
In the series' latest saga, Alicization, Kirito teams up with the powerful warrior, Alice, to help fix the latest dilemma of a new fantasy world and try and escape back into the real one. What new adventures await in War of Underworld 2nd Season when Alice must now venture out on her own?
Streaming on: Crunchyroll, Funimation, HIDIVE