Animationandfantasygo hand-in-hand, as the medium is the perfect avenue to bring fantastical and other-worldly settings, concepts, and characters to life. What’s more, animation and fantasy are broad enough categories that there are films and TV shows that suit everyone’s tastes and interests. FromSamurai JacktoAvatar: The Last Airbender, there is no shortage of animated series to get lost in.
Indeed, these 20 shows see beloved characters flourishing in fantastical universes. Their imaginative storytelling offers refuge from everyday life on Earth while also gifting viewers worthwhile advice about empathy, self-love, and the importance of community.
20Young Justice (2010-2023)
Young Justice
Young Justicefollows the youthful DC Comics heroes attempting to make their own mark in Happy Harbor while sifting through their personal insecurities. From their dynamic relationships with their predecessors to the struggle of balancing superhero responsibilities with the everyday plights and potential highlights of adolescence, our young heroes must face it all in order to keep the universe safe.
What Makes It Great
With much-needed maturity in its approach to character development and universe-building,Young Justicesuccessfully resuscitates characters like Superboy, Artemis, and Aqualad, and experiments with their canonical adventures, resulting in a truly refreshing adaptation. With four seasons,Young Justicehas been hailed as one of thebest DC showsever made.Stream on Max
19Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016-2018)
Voltron: Legendary Defender
Based on the Japanese seriesBeast King GoLion,Voltron: Legendary Defendersees the universe’s technology being reliant on a force named “Quintessence.” Banded by a joint concern for the survival of sentient beings, the titular Voltron Force bands together in hopes of thwarting the plans of the nefarious Galra Empire.
Voltronhas received immense acclaim for offering authentically funny moments, riveting drama between characters, and astonishing action sequences. Successfully crafting characters and narratives worth investing in,Voltronhas cemented itself as a truly amazing fantasy adaptation, rivaling and, at times, besting the original.Stream on Netflix
18Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009-2010)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodfinds brothers, Edward (Ryosuke Yamada) and Alphonse (Rie Kugimiya) Elric, traveling across Amestris in hopes of recovering their bodies. In search of the Philosopher’s Stone, the two decide to join the state military, with Edward serving as the titular Alchemist.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodcontinues to be upheld as a particularly pristine story due to its fantastic depiction of combat at the forefront and a gripping narrative at its foundation. Noted for its excellent pacing and fantastical world-building, thispopular anime seriesgracefully rests at the top of everyone’s recommendations as it pertains to what a gratifying fantasy series looks like.Stream on Hulu
17Samurai Jack (2001-2017)
Samurai Jack
Fighting against a tyrannical conqueror named Aku, the brooding titular hero inSamurai Jackfinds himself thrust into the future and must make sense of the frightening yet familiar new world he has stepped into.
Unlike most animated fantasy series,Samurai Jack’s appeal relies on action rather than dialogue. With a few words exchanged between characters, aspects of the series become much more intentional. Be it the actions conducted or the amount of space filled,Samurai Jackoffers an unconventional yet entertaining story of retribution.Stream on Max
16X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997)
X-Men: The Animated Seriessees the beloved outcasts from Marvel Comics star in their own adventures. Theiconic ’90s animated seriessees the mutant rights advocates processing the meaning of their power, the responsibilities they choose to acknowledge, and the consequences of such.
Seamlessly balancing the esoteric-like connection between the mutants and the real predicaments of everyday people,X-Men: The Animated Seriessuccessfully widens the appeal of their characters and their respective, riveting narratives.Stream on Disney+
15The Dragon Prince (2018-Present)
The Dragon Princetakes place in a mythical kingdom, where power struggles result in the Crown Prince Ezran (Sasha Rojen) and his brother Prince Callum (Jack DeSena) venturing throughout the continent of Zadia in hopes of retaining peace, symbolized by the baby dragon Azymodias or “Zym.”
The Dragon Princemakes excellent use of the interpersonal relationships present. Whether it be strengthening familial ties, romantic relationships, or secret alliances, the Netflix fantasy series as a whole is enriched by the dynamics of the characters and their respective ambitions.
14Conan the Adventurer (1992-1993)
Set in the fictional “Hyborian Age,“Conan the Adventurerreimagines the many popular clans and cultures of the world of Antiquity, inviting audiences into a mature, exciting adventure about the titular hero’s quest against evil.
Despite his relative fame before the animation,Conan the Adventureroffers a more nuanced portrayal, straying away from the one-dimensional brute that many may perceive him as. With his conflict resolution skills standing just as strong as his combat skills, the series makes for a great epic.Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase
13The Owl House (2020-2023)
Discoveringa world of magic, 14-year-old Luz (Sarah-Nicole Robles) finds refuge with Eda (Wendie Malick), an ostracized witch with a witty sense of humor, and King (Alex Hirsch), the adorable, self-proclaimed “King of Demons”. Studying at Hexside Academy, Luz becomes enthralled with sorcery while also making sense of her personal ambitions.
With an incredibly admirable protagonist like Luz and the web of connections she makes along the way,The Owl House’s themes of compassion and community are beautifully accentuated, resulting in a moving yet amusing depiction of childhood.Stream on Disney+
Related:10 Anime Series That Ended on Huge Cliffhangers
12Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Over the Garden Wall
Over the Garden Wallfollows two brothers, Greg (Collin Dean) and Wirt (Elijah Wood), who find themselves in a bleak, agrarian world after suffering from an accident. With hopes of returning home, the brothers align with Beatrice (voiced by Melanie Lynskey) in hopes of saving the new-found land they come to know as “The Unknown.”
Over the Garden Wallentrances the audience with a chilling suspense that strengthens the story, but never detracts from the mutual companionship that Wirt and Greg have for each other, and their sincerity as it concerns The Unknown and the many residents they befriend along the way.Stream on Hulu
11Gargoyles (1994-1997)
Gargoyles is a dark fantasy/action television series created for Disney in a major departure tonally. The series follows a group of gargoyles that lived during a time of war and were cursed by the humans they protected to live in the day in stone and take form at night. After one thousand years of imprisonment, they wake to discover they now live in New York City and eventually become the defenders of the night.
Gargoylessees the titular creatures, led by the valiant Goliath (Keith David), freed from their stone prisons and serving as the knights of the night. Aside from their daily duties, the clan regularly mingles with their human counterparts, most notably NYPD detective Eliza Maza (Salli Richardson).
Gargoylesblurs the lines between our understanding of the real world and the supernatural. However, the animated fantasy series made gritty and unique stories truly gratifying to watch unfold. Everything from the strong presence of loyalty to the twisted comedy within made for an invigorating drama series.Stream on Disney+
