Magic in anime is an integral part of many well loved storylines. As such, there are countless magical anime out there for fans of the mystical arts. Magic in anime is very different to what people consider as Magic in real life, in contrast, anime features kinds of magic which are completely supernatural powers.
Magic anime involves the use of gestures, incantations or rituals. This mystical power is harnessed by some sort of an anime witch, wizard, mage, sorcerer or sorceress. Most of the time, magic in anime involves extensive learning, training, mastery, use of magical instruments or an ancestral history of magic in one’s bloodline. In a world where such a power exists, it is quite normal for anyone to desire such abilities. Magic is a way of life, used by wielders to meet their goals, whether noble in nature or not.
Magic in anime is a phenomenon amply used for world building, character building and as the ultimate driving force of the story. It adds a mystical flare to any anime and will likely attract fantasy fans of all ages to it. To the characters magic may be their passion, object of learning, mode of income, means to fight, means to achieve their end goals, way of protecting their beloved, a necessary tool of survival, a forbidden taboo. Perhaps, simply their way of life.
Whatever the reason may be, magic in anime is portrayed in many shapes, forms, scales, natures and utility. Fans witness how anime magic can transform everyday life into something far more mystical and interesting, but most of the time at some kind of cost.
There are so many magic anime titles out there, but below is a list of must see titles of this genre! They are guaranteed by popularity and ratings to be well worth the watch. They are in no particular order.
15. Anime With Magic: FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Starting off the list is one of the best magical anime of all time, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. It features the genres of Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy and Shounen. “In order for something to be obtained, something of equal value must be lost.” This is the absolute rule that drives the series and describes the very important price of magic in Fullmetal Alchemist: brotherhood. Alchemy is the predominant form of anime magic in the world of this series.
Alchemy is an art of chemistry, concerned with the transmutation of matter from one element or form into another. It is bound by the Law of Equivalent Exchange, which the two main characters Edward and Alphonse Elric learned the hard way. These two brothers attempt to bring their dead mother back to life via Human Transmutation, which is a forbidden taboo.
There is nothing equal in value to that of a human life and thus the two pay a tragic price; Edward loses his left leg and right arm, Alphonse loses his whole physical body. Edward manages to affix Al’s soul into a suit of armor in a desperate attempt. Determined to get their bodies back, Ed gets himself metallic limbs called “automail” and becomes a State Alchemist.
After years of research, the brother learned of the Philosopher’s Stone, a cool magical item in anime, said to be capable of overcoming the law of Equivalent Exchange. In their quest, they make reliable allies and get caught up in a nationwide conspiracy involving the Philosopher’s Stone’s hidden nature. They find themselves in the crossroads of destiny, where they must decide on how far they are willing to go to be human again and whether they will risk their humanity to do so. To the Elric brothers, the anime magic of Alchemy are the means to fight, defend, earn a livelihood, learn and reclaim their humanities.
14. The Seven Deadly Sins
Next up is The Seven Deadly Sins, an anime about magic, featuring genres of Action, Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen and Supernatural. Set in a world similar to the European Middle Ages, the Holy Knights of Britannia use incredibly powerful anime magic to protect the region of Britannia and its kingdoms.
Yet a rebellion was spurred by a small subset of the Knights attempting to overthrow the ruler of Liones. The Holy Knights dealt with them, but rumours say that these legendary knights called the “Seven Deadly Sins,” still live. A decade later, the Holy Knights staged a coup d’état and became the tyrannical rulers of the Kingdom.
This magic anime story, follows Elizabeth, the third princess of the Kingdom of Liones in her search for The Seven Deadly Sins. She is a determined anime sorcerer aiming to take back her kingdom from the Holy Knights and to serve justice in their unjust world.
13. Magical Anime: Fairy Tail
When it comes to magic anime, Fairy Tail is quite probably the epitome of it. It features the genres of Action, Adventure, Comedy, Magic, Fantasy and Shounen. Anime Magic and Friendship are the main focus points in this iconic series which spanned for years with a vast fanbase. The land of Fiore is a nation just brimming with magic power, where wizards and anime witches are a pretty common sight.
Numerous magic guilds have been established on this land, where mages and anime sorcerers band together and practice magic as an essential part of everyday life. These guilds overlook and govern magical activity and also provide mages with various job requests to earn a living.
Fairy Tail is the most predominant guild in terms of strength, spirit and family. Lucy Heartfilia is a young anime mage collecting Celestial Gate keys and dreaming of joining Fairy Tail. She fatefully meets the fire Wizard Natsu Dragneel and his partner cat Happy who are on a quest to find Natsu’s foster father, a dragon named Igneel. Dragons of course are one of the most interesting magical anime characters; we covered them in detail in our article covering the most awe-inspiring dragons in anime.
After getting caught up in a scam, Lucy is saved by Natsu and realizes he is the legendary Salamander of Fairy Tail. He invites her to join his guild and there she meets many other talented anime witches and mages, most notable being the ice wizard Gray Fullbuster and magic swordswoman Erza Scarlet.
The guild’s sense of friendship and family is as strong as it can ever be as they use the power of anime magic to battle evil, help the weak, make new friends and answer their guild’s title question “Do Fairies have Tails?”
12. Magi The Labyrinth of Magic
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is a magic anime series featuring genres of Action, Adventure, Fantasy and Shounen. In this world, there are several bizarre labyrinths hiding incredible treasures within them all across the map.
These mysterious labyrinths are termed “Dungeons” and are said to be the handiwork of Magi, who are a class of rare magicians working to help people build their empires by guiding them to a dungeon. The labyrinths are ruled by supernatural beings termed “Djinns”, who reward successful conquerors access to their own vast powers.
In addition, Djinns also choose them as potential king candidates to rule their world. Protagonist Aladdin is a young and kind magician. Having lived his life in isolation, he is very eager to explore the world once he was finally able to leave his home. Alongside his mentor Ugo, who is a Djinn he can summon with his flute, he embarks on his much anticipated journey.
As fate would have it, he meets and befriends the courageous Alibaba Saluja after causing the destruction of an unfortunate merchant’s supply cart. In need of a way to pay for these damages, Alibaba suggests conquering the nearest Dungeon. Thus the two make their first step in an epic magical adventure that will, unknown to them at the time, decide the fate of their entire world. Just like the title suggests, this series has magic in every nook and cranny of the story and keeps it going in a very entertaining way. All in all, Magi The Labyrinth of Magic is an anime about magic well worth the watch!
11. Magi The Kingdom of Magic
Magi The Kingdom of Magic is the sequel to Magi The Labyrinth of Magic. It follows similar genres and the same magic-abundant style as its predecessor. Aladdin and company leave the land of Sindria after their victory against Al-Thamen.
Unfortunately though, this meant it was time for them to all go their separate ways. Hakuryuu and Kougyoku receive orders to return to their home country of the Kou Empire. Aladdin claims that he wants to go to Magnostadt, a mysterious country ruled by magicians, in order to investigate some mysterious events occurring there and in order to excel more in his magic proficiency.
Inspired by his words, Alibaba sets off to continue training and Morgiana opts to return to her homeland. This magical anime series looks at each of these characters as they tread their own paths, overcoming challenges and witnessing adventures. But once again, unknown to them, a terrible war looms over the horizon threatening their world.
10. Anime Witch Overload — KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World!
“KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World!” is a magic themed Isekai anime. Covering genres of Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Parody and Supernatural, the story follows protagonist Kazuma Satou as he gets sent to a Magical world after his death.
This High school otaku dies a laughable death and is confronted by an obnoxious Goddess named Aqua offering to reincarnate him. She offers this NEET the choice of continuing to heaven or to reincarnate in a Fantasy Game world full of anime magic.
He is given the task of defeating the Demon King of this world and given a choice to select a magical item to take on his fateful quest. Hoping to get back at the snarky Aqua and planning to get an unfair advantage upon reincarnation, he chooses Aqua herself.
Unknown to him though, this Goddess is utterly useless. The world is truly a great example of magic in anime, but Kazuma faces almost nothing but trouble. Learning the hard way how difficult life is in game, Kazuma must work to the bone in order to just earn his living expenses. To add to his woes, an eccentric Explosion magic user “Megumin” and a masochistic lady knight “Darkness” joins his party.
9. Anime About Magic: Fate/Zero
Next up is Fate/Zero a magic focused anime from the ever expansive Fate franchise. It covers the genres of Action, Supernatural and Fantasy. The Holy Grail promises the granting of any wish and thus it sparked three wars, none of which had a clear victor. The wealthy Einzbern family gets a vessel of the Holy Grail and is sure the Fourth war will go differently.
They hire the hated “Magus Killer” Kiritsugu Emiya for this purpose, whose marriage to their only daughter Irisviel acts as a binding contract. Kiritsugu now faces six other contenders in a cruel game of survival, each armed with an Ancient Familiar.
Along with his familiar Saber, he now faces off against Kirei Kotomine who is hot on his trail. The Fourth Holy Grail War is alive with both magic and bloodshed, in a battle royale no one’s survival is guaranteed. This magical anime is definitely on our must watch list!
8. Epic Fantasy Anime: Overlord
Overlord is another Magic Isekai anime not to be missed. It features genres of Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game and Supernatural. Yggdrasil used to be a popular virtual reality game but it eventually meets its final hour. Protagonist Momonga is a powerful undead anime Wizard who loves the game so much that he decided to stay in game even as the servers shut down.
But he realized that the game did not shut down as it was supposed to, instead he as his character was fully conscious in the game. Being the only remaining master of the Dark Guild Ainz Ooal Gown, he also saw that the NPCs had developed personalities as if they were alive now.
Momonga finds himself stuck in a world which closely resembles the game he loved, thus decides to investigate and take control of this new world with his unmatched mastery of magic. Not in any particular need of getting out, he tries to find the cause of this abnormal situation as well as any other real world players stuck in that world.
7. Anime Sorcerer Series: Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Puella Magi Madoka Magica looks like a typical Magical Girl anime from the surface, but it is hardly that at all. It follows the genres of Psychological, Drama, Magic and Thriller. Protagonists Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are normal middle schoolers who cross paths with Kyuubey, a cat-like magical familiar and Homura Akemi, a new transfer student.
Kyuubey offers to grant any one of their wishes in exchange for turning them into Magical Girls. He claims that this power will allow them to achieve their dreams but Homura warns against it, claiming that it is not what it seems. Amidst a lot of Magic, this series looks at the hope, despair, friendship and difficulties that come with being a magical anime girl. The price paid to make a dream come true is no trivial matter at all.
6. Log Horizon
Log Horizon is the story of a group of people getting transported into a world very similar to the anime game they play. It features the genres of Action, Game, Adventure and Fantasy. In an instant, thirty thousand Japanese gamers are taken from their real world lives and put in the middle of the popular MMORPG, Elder Tale, following the game’s latest update.
None of them are able to log out and are left bewildered and confused. However veteran gamer Shiroe overcomes the shock quite fast and resolves to explore this new reality. Shiroe and his fellow anime gamers stuck in the game must now adapt to this new world, guiding others and coexisting with the NPC natives of the world.
In the virtual city of Akihabara, advanced magic enchanter class Shiroe, tanky Guardian class Naotsugu and petite but fierce Assassin class Akatsuki traverse this new world which isn’t exactly the same as the game they so well knew. Log Horizon brings out fantasy, adventure, politics and diverse magic in a world seen through the eyes of a master Strategist wizard.
5. Black Clover
Black Clover is one of the New Big Three of Shonen anime, in addition it features Action, Comedy, anime Magic and Fantasy genres. Asta and Yuno are two orphans who promise to compete against each other to someday become the “Wizard King”.
Yuno was naturally gifted with magic but Asta was the complete opposite. At the age of 15, Yuno is bestowed a spectacular Grimoire with a four-leaf clover, while Asta gets nothing. When a person named Lebuty attacks Yuno to get his Grimoire, Asta fights to defend his friend against all odds. He unleashes his emotions to ultimately receive a five-leaf clover Grimoire, a “Black Clover”, overwhelming Lebuty.
The two now set off to fulfil their promise, as eternal friends and rivals. The increasing cast of Black Clover characters each wield unique and vivid types of magic, each in pursuit of their own goals.
4. The Irregular at Magic High School
The Irregular at Magic High School is a magic anime series featuring genres of Action, Magic, Romance, School, Sci-Fi and Supernatural. By the 21st century, magic, which used to be limited to folklore and fairy tales, had become a systematized technology which is taught as a technical skill.
In First High School, high scorers are termed as “Blooms” and assigned to the First Course and others are termed as “Weeds” and assigned to the Second Course. Siblings Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba enroll here and are split between the two courses. Tatsuya, despite being a “Weed” possesses extraordinary technical knowledge, physical combat capabilities and unique magic techniques, making him a truly magical Irregular at the school.
3. The Ancient Magus’ Bride — a Magical Anime Classic
The Ancient Magus’ Bride features genres of Slice of Life, Magic, Fantasy and Shounen. Chise Hatori is a 15-year-old Japanese girl, who got sold at an auction to a mysterious tall masked man.
On her way to her new home, she overhears whispers from robed men along the path, talking about a buyer getting his hands on a rare “Sleigh Beggy.” In the buyer’s study, he is revealed to be Elias Ainsworth, a magus. Following the use of teleportation magic, the pair arrive at his picturesque cottage located in rural England. Surrounded by magical beings like fairies and many more, Chise’s life as a magus apprentice and an ancient magus bride begins.
2. Awesome Magic Anime: How Not to Summon a Demon Lord
“How Not to Summon a Demon Lord” is a Magic Isekai anime also featuring genres of Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy and Harem. The Demon King Diablo is unmatched in magical power in the fantasy MMORPG Cross Reverie.
But one day he is transported to another world via a Summoning spell, teleporting his real world self into it as well. Here he meets his two summoners; a petite Pantherian adventurer Rem Galeu and a busty Elf summoner Shera L. Greenwood.
Their enslavement ritual backfires on them, turning them into Diablo’s slaves instead. Diablo embarks on a magical journey with them to undo the ritual while adapting to his new life as an overpowered Demon Lord in an Isekai world.
1. Carefree Magical Anime — Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
“Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” is a relatively new magical anime featuring the genres of Drama, Magic and Fantasy. The tragic life of a thirty-four-year-old shut-in comes to an abrupt close in an accident. He then reincarnates in a magical fantasy world as Rudeus Greyrat.
Armed with memories and knowledge from his past life, he quickly adapts to the new world. His grown mind allows him to display magical talent that exceeds all expectations and along with fellow mage Roxy Migurdia, the two hone their magic skills. In this second chance he had been given, he resolved to make the most of this new mystical life and maybe even find what he couldn’t in his past life, love.
Conclusion
Thus concludes this list of absolutely must see magic anime of this decade and the past! Popularity and reviews speak for themselves, as these titles are very unlikely to disappoint fans of the Magic anime genre! So prepare to embark on truly magical journeys when getting into these titles and allow yourself to be spellbound!