10 Best Animated Fantasy TV Shows Ever Made

Epic animation, telling bigger and more mature stories through new styles of the animated medium, is a genre that has blown up in movies and TV in recent years, giving rise to some of the best animated fantasy TV shows of all time. Yet there are still amazing animated fantasy shows from earlier that demonstrate how the subgenre has always been brimming with potential. The best animated fantasy series ever made showcase a blend of seamless world-building, stunning animation, and heartrending stories for some of the best all-around TV experiences.

Some of these fantasy series appear to be the last outlet for 2D animation in today’s industry when TV networks and anime production companies seem to be the only ones that haven’t succumbed to cheaper and faster 3D animation. However, while anime has inspired some of the most exciting upcoming Netflix animated shows, stylized 3D animation has also started to take hold in TV. Ultimately, the best animated fantasy TV available is a satisfying blend of animation styles from different periods that immerses audiences in intricate worlds and shows off pure artistic talent.

10 Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Nickelodeon’s Avatar Is Still A Popular Series With Tight World-Building & Story

Avatar: The Last Airbender is a point of nostalgia for fans from its original run, as well as having found a new fanbase thanks to its resurgence from when it landed on Netflix. This recent addition to the fandom demonstrates how the story still resonates, even now, through the various character arcs of young people realizing their power and place in the world. In particular, Zuko’s arc is a masterpiece, subverting typical villain redemption tropes multiple times and convincing people to root for him long before he joined the “Gaang.”

The full cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender is hilarious, part of how the show became a precedent for other shows that combine conventional expectations of cartoons with serious stories. The series’ setting and world-building are also impressive, incorporating real martial arts into the different types of bending and drawing upon different historical civilizations. Most of all, Avatar: The Last Airbender shows realistic inner conflicts between personal values and duty, but doesn’t make the characters compromise on either.

9 Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

Gravity Falls Is A Hilarious & Mysterious Show About Family & Growing Up

The best episodes of Gravity Falls include its first episode, which sets up the series right away to be characterized by absolutely wild humor and sometimes conflicting themes of being cautious and trusting family. The comedy never lets up from the beginning of the series to the end, including everything from superficial unicorns to presidents entombed in peanut brittle to evil all-seeing triangles. Gravity Falls also created something of a cult of mystery, encouraging viewers to find hidden codes in each episode and giving rise to a fandom that was able to predict the show’s biggest twist.

There is so much to learn about from Gravity Falls’ two seasons, which pack in plenty of laugh-out-loud and tear-jerking moments.

However, at its core, Gravity Falls is about family and letting go of childhood. The theme of family bonds being endangered is perfectly illustrated by the parallel storylines of two generations of twins. The characters don’t get exactly what they want, like dating their dream crush or staying in Gravity Falls forever, but they face the future with their heads held high. There is so much to learn about from Gravity Falls’ two seasons, which pack in plenty of laugh-out-loud and tear-jerking moments.

FMAB Is A Great Starter Anime With A Story Built On Flawed Humanity

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood stands out as an amazing anime that surpassed the previous adaptation of the popular manga in terms of reception. The one-season anime is true to the story that is based on human mistakes, namely the Elric brothers’ misuse of alchemy and their years-long pursuit to undo the consequences of this mistake. Mishandled power is a running theme in this story, including how Col. Roy Mustang’s knowledge of fire alchemy became deadly when he was conscripted into an unjust war.

The characters navigate the brewing conflict in their country as they strive to make up for personal crimes and overthrow a corrupt government, threatened by a different entity that seeks absolute power at the cost of countless lives. The worst of all the characters is reflected in the personifications of the Seven Deadly Sins, while facets of their humanity are surprisingly seen in characters like Greed. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood impressively covers a lot of historical and political ground alongside a great magic system, giving audiences plenty to think about.

7 Over The Garden Wall (2014)

Over The Garden Wall Shows A Profound, Muted Journey Through An Enigmatic World

Over the Garden Wall is a strange show that exhibits shades of Gravity Falls and other Cartoon Network series with its whimsical and seemingly random setting, yet its tone is drastically different. So much symbolism is packed into its 10 episodes, with it being widely recognized that the story aligns with Dante’s Inferno and is meant to be a journey through purgatory. Over the Garden Wall tells a familiar story with a forgone conclusion, but does it in such a unique way that it is worth additional analysis.

An older brother is still coming to terms with his mother’s remarriage and the birth of his younger half-brother, as well as dealing with normal teenage troubles. On one Halloween night gone wrong, the pair is launched into an ethereal yet dangerous world that takes them to dark places, where the elder brother confronts what is troubling them. Over the Garden Wall is a simple story elevated by literary illusions that make it a more intellectual exercise; additionally, the whole thing is steeped in autumnal vibes.

6 Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006)

The High Point Of The DC Animated Universe Remains A Beloved Superhero Property

By extension, all of the DC animated universe is amazing, far surpassing most of the live-action movies of the 21st century and even arguably doing better than the Marvel counterparts. While pop culture is swamped with superhero fatigue, Justice League Unlimited remains a refreshing ensemble property from an earlier time, building upon the first animated Justice League show with the inclusion of even more DC characters. Truly, it is the ultimate crossover from before the epic final battle of Avengers: Endgame.

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Justice League Unlimited is the best DC animated universe show because it covers so much ground, finding time for many individual storylines and showing plenty of DC characters and locations, plus great action on top of it all. The enduring but swiftly disappearing bias against animation made the MCU a bigger event in pop culture, but Justice League Unlimited highlights what is valued about this spectacle. After all, there is less of a need to spend millions on a live-action franchise when creatives can accomplish the same story effect through serviceable if not groundbreaking animation.

5 Love, Death + Robots (2019-Present)

Love, Death + Robots’ Anthology Format Allows For Incredible Imagination

A few years ago, animators finally got what they deserved with Love, Death + Robots, inspired by the anthology format of other shows with a new story told each episode, varying in genre and animation styles. This structure allows storytellers to show off what they can do, so long as it is under 20 minutes, and be seen on a giant platform like Netflix. The results are stunning, showing the future potential of 3D and 2D alike and delving into some of the darkest and grittiest stories told through animation yet.

The best episodes of Love, Death + Robots showcase twisting narratives concentrating on themes of betrayal, personal power, technology, and the fear of the unknown. However, the de facto faces of the series are the three robots, whose two episodes provide a comedic take on the ultimate mortality of humanity. Love, Death + Robots is primarily based in the fantasy and sci-fi genres, which support storytelling about the dangers and promises of curiosity and exploration, both in animation and other subjects.

4 The Owl House (2020-2023)

The Owl House Is Gravity Falls’ Legacy That Broke Ground in Its Genre

Created by a former Gravity Falls storyboarder, The Owl House demonstrates a similar animation style, sense of humor, and strangely fantastical genre. However, The Owl House goes beyond what Gravity Falls accomplished with its deconstruction of genre tropes and by shattering the implicit barriers in this kind of show. Suited to accompany the show’s groundbreaking LGBTQ+ representation is its core theme of believing in oneself, reaching this point through family and friendships. The relationships between the main characters are hilarious, yet what everyone hopes for in real life.

Like other amazing shows of this nature, one of the biggest draws is that the main characters are flawed people. Luz lies to her mother, Eda closes herself off from others, Amity is initially a mean girl and a perfectionist, and so on. Together, they all become happier, healthier people. The vehicle for these strong storylines in The Owl House is its creative world, with so much meta humor celebrating (and making fun of) the genre and pushing it into a new era.

3 Castlevania (2017-2021)

Netflix’s Castlevania Anime Proved The Potential Of Two Genres

Castlevania and The Witcher together can arguably be seen as the launchpad for video game adaptations proliferating in the TV industry, while Castlevania itself is definitely responsible for more original anime coming to Netflix. While this series may have been a gamble at the time, it is one that has paid off. The mature vampire series showcases many complex relationships, particularly among the main trio and Dracula’s family, that make their responsibility of helping others easier and harder at different points.

It was only natural for Castlevania to spawn a spinoff series, while its greater impact will be seen soon.

Vampire power struggles and quests for understandable revenge mesh together in this series that will likely be looked back upon as a milestone. The dark story highlights characters like Lisa and Trevor find themselves in the difficult position of wanting to help people who only fear them. Castlevania is completed by its absolutely breathtaking animation, especially during the action sequences in the season 2 and 3 finales. It was only natural for Castlevania to spawn a spinoff series, while its greater impact will be seen soon.

2 Adventure Time (2010-2018)

Adventure Time’s Beautiful Story Is Happy & Melancholy At The Same Time

On the surface, Adventure Time is a cheery, episodic series, comprising literally hundreds of self-contained adventures with predictable morals and more subversive narratives within the brief episodes. It has the same random flavor that characterizes Gravity Falls and Over the Garden Wall with its own unique twist, bringing to life a bizarre world of candy people, vampires, and ice kings. Yet throughout Adventure Time, there are undertones of melancholia, especially as more about the main characters and the world is revealed, and particular episodes touch upon sadder themes.

Adventure Time‘s big twist tells the audience something else about death and rebirth after years of Jake and Finn going on different adventures where they learn more about heroism and kindness. The full roster of supporting characters includes other iconic figures like Princess Bubblegum, Ice King, and Marceline, who tell their own stories about loneliness applicable to real life. Yet at its core, Adventure Time is to be enjoyed episode by episode, with drops of its bigger themes hitting each time.

1 Arcane (2021-2024)

Arcane Changed The Animation Game At Netflix With Its Impeccable Style & Story

The next big hit for Netflix following Castlevania at the video game-animation intersection was Arcane, and it can be safely said that this show blew everyone away. Anticipation is high for Arcane season 2, tasked with concluding the story of the conflict between the wealthy, flourishing kingdom of Piltover and the underresourced, toxic underground realm of Zaun. Arcane is arguably flawless in both narrative and animation, taking the stylization of the dominant computer technology to new heights.

In addition to its vivid illustration of the setting’s wealth gap, Arcane revolves around the fraught relationship between sisters Vi and Powder/Jinx, who inadvertently find themselves on opposite sides of an increasingly dangerous conflict. Strained relationships conflicting with personal viewpoints on Piltover’s socio-political situation are a motif in the series, creating a very nuanced and well-written story about both of these concepts. No one expected a League of Legends adaptation to be one of the best animated fantasy series of all time, but animation is nothing if not a way to surpass everyone’s expectations.