World-building is a huge factor in a multitude of Anime. While there are plenty of anime that use legends and lore from religion, history, and culture, some creators think that's not going creatively far enough. Taking the step to make their own fictional myths and legends, these creators have made some of the most compelling lore in anime.

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The creative process is far from easy since everything has to be original and, at some point, make sense in the universe that's being created. Some of these anime have lore that was successful up to a point, but others far exceeded audiences' expectations and made history.

10 Naruto – A New Look At Ninja And Their Origins

Team 7 Poses For A Photo

Building up a diverse world, universal rules, and legends of old, Naruto introduced fans to different types of ninjutsu, the fame and infamy of certain ninja families, and most importantly the tailed beasts that once terrorized mankind. At the center of it all is Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja in training who was given the terrifying power of the nine-tailed fox.

As he grows into a strong and inspiring ninja, Naruto also learns about the unfortunate reality of his world. The original take on ninjas and ninjutsu makes for a compelling action story and aside from some confusing additions toward the end, Naruto succeeds at creating something new and entertaining.

9 Soul Eater – Terrifying Secrets Are The Final Lesson

Soul And Maka Claim Another Victory

Death gods and consuming souls isn't at all new to anime, bur Soul Eater brings in enough originality to create its own terrifying legends. In Soul Eater, students are trained to defend the world from evil at Shibusen Academy. Rather than being gifted with powerful weapons, roughly half the student body can transform into weapons, while the other half wielding them in battle. They train to maintain peace and level up to become a weapon fit for the headmaster. What's truly compelling about Soul Eater is the secret history hidden from the students, mainly with the overhanging threat of the next demon god.

8 Mushishi – Marking New Legends, One Study At A Time

Ginko Lays Sleeping While Surrounded By Mush

It's exciting to see new original creatures, but Mushishi takes it to another level. With little understanding of the invisible creatures named "Mushi," human beings are left at a loss of what to do when their lives are endangered by these supernatural beings. That's why Ginko, a man who can see the Mushi, is sent out to study their behavior, but what he discovers is something no one could be prepared for.

In Mushishi, anything that is explained is rather vague and complex, although that's what makes this series so compelling. The Mushi are described as "life in its purest form," and the audience is carried through the intriguing lore behind them.

7 Jujutsu Kaisen – The Plague That Is Curses And Their King

Sukuna Ryoumen Taking Control Of Yuuji

Centering around the original concept of curses manifesting into homicidal monsters, Jujutsu Kaisen is about the only force that can stop, the Jujutsu Sorcerers. To rid the world of curses for good, they aim to destroy the remains of Sukuna Ryoumen, notoriously known as "The King Of Curses." Fortunately for them, one inhumanely powered teenager named Yuuji Itadori has absorbed one of Sukuna's remains, becoming a vessel for the ancient evil and a compass for the remains.

Although Jujutsu Kaisen has a similar format with the concept of "hunting down the monsters," its original mythology and universal rules set it apart from the rest. There's also a hidden history behind "The King Of Curses" Sukuna Ryomen that's exciting for fans to watch.

6 Yona of The Dawn – A Shoujo Legend Of Dragons

The Dragon Gods Worshipping King Hiryuu

At first glance, Yona of the Dawn appears to take inspiration from Korean history and mythology, and a lot of it does in fact, but it swiftly breaks away with its own "legend of the dragons." The legend has much to do with the Kingdom's origins, stating that one of the five dragons gods descended from the heavens to rule mankind, and the main character, Yona, is said to be the reincarnation of that King.

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Long story short, there are four other reincarnations of the remaining dragon gods, all with their own powers, who swear allegiance to the King. A motley crew is formed after Yona's life is turned upside-down, and they travel together to restore peace to the kingdom.

5 Code Geass – Power Is In The Eyes Of The Beholder

Lelouch Using The Geass

Hidden beneath all the political drama, Code Geass has many supernatural secrets all centered around the mythical power known as "Geass." The audience is introduced to the ocular ability through the protagonist Lelouch who uses it to boost the power of the rebellion against the oppressive Britannian Empire. Season one covers the basics of how the Geass can be used, but R2 dives into its history and other characters who have used the ability to rise to power. There are certain rules that come with this power, but everyone manifests the Geass differently and has been able to handle it differently as well. Some have succumbed to the unfortunate side effects, while others have risen above it, coming close to being called a god.

4 Death Parade – The After-Life Is Under Different Management

Decim Introduces The Games To The Damned

Taking a whole new approach to judging the damned, Death Parade is far more than about torture and games. While there are myths and legends about supernatural beings who welcome or reject the dead from the pearly white gates of heaven, in this anime we have a humble bartender named Decim. Although this new concept appears simple at first, the audience learns there is much more going on.

There aren't too many rules per se, but one constant is that the two souls joining the game have just died at the same time. The game itself reveals the character's true nature and based on that Decim, the arbiter of the after-life, decides their fate.

3 Tokyo Ghoul – The Struggle And Pain Of Ghouls

Ken Keneki Fighting To Hold His Humanity

Simultaneously haunting and depressing, Tokyo Ghoul centers around the tragic lives of supernatural humans known as ghouls. The nightmare begins after Ken Kaneki is nearly killed by a ghoul. He awakes in the hospital to find that he's become half-ghoul, meaning that he must live by eating the flesh of human beings.

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Ken finds a group of kind ghouls who take him in, and as he makes every attempt to hold onto his humanity, he slowly learns who the real monsters are in society. The mythology of ghouls is seldom heard of and actually dates back to pre-Islamic Arabian religion, but Tokyo Ghoul makes the supernatural creatures original with modern-day twists and a thrilling, yet heartbreaking tale.

2 Ergo Proxy – Learning A Frightening Truth About Humanity

Re-l Mayer and Iggy standing side by side in Ergo Proxy

Riddled with mystery and supernatural occurrencesErgo Proxy leaves its audience on the edge with lingering questions that won't be answered right away. Humans must live within a protective dome, and the only creatures capable of leaving are manufactured androids called Auto-Rievs. These androids are the only support left for humanity, so when a supernatural change affects them, resulting in disorder and death, it's up to investigator Re-L Mayer to figure out what's going on.

1 Madoka Magica – Taking Magical Girls To Deadly Heights

Madoka considers her fate in Madoka Magica

Shocking the audience with its twisted take on the subgenre, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica seems unassuming with adorably designed characters and a plot that starts off wholesome but quickly takes a turn for the worst. In this version of the magical girl, a cat-like creature named Kyubey approaches young girls with the offer of becoming a powerful magical girl and fighting witches to protect humanity.

In exchange for the power and responsibility, they are granted any wish they desire. Not only did Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica succeed in breaking the mold, the anime created something entirely new. The impressive part of the series' lore is the fact that there are so many layers to it. The only downside is how terribly upsetting the reveal is.

NEXT: Spirited Away: 10 Mysterious Japanese Folklores That Inspired The Anime