Some parents are Astronauts, others are firefighters, politicians, or doctors. In the case of Kaito Kuroba, his father was a stupendous magician. The joy he had of having such a cool father shattered 8 years ago, after an accident took him away forever. Despite the tragedy, Kaito took up illusionary magic. His practice usually turns to him spending his days pranking his friend Nakamori Aoko. One fateful day, Kaito stumbles into a secret chamber that belonged to his dad. Within this chamber was his father’s alter ego: the phantom thief, Kaito Kid. Taking up the mantle of Kaito Kid, Kaito is determined to uncover his dad’s untimely demise and the secrets of the strange Pandora Gem.

Magic Kaito is produced by TMS Entertainment and based on the shounen, mystery and adventure manga by Gosho Aoyama, creator of Detective Conan. For those looking for more illusionists than mages, this is a place to start. Magic Kaito takes the thrill of mystery and heists and wraps in in a magical bow fit for children and adults alike. The Kaito Kid embodies the art of trickery and charisma we expect from a protagonist. Dive in and discover a world much like our own and see how a crime fighting magician operates.

What happens when you cross a talking pink wombat with five high school boys? You get the Cute High Earth Defense Club. Rather, you get five boys magically imbued with the power to fight against the forces of evil that seek to trample all the love in the world. Together, these friends combat new fiends as defenders of love and seek to take down a green hedgehog and his minions.

Studio Diomedea brings an anime that does for magical boys what Sailor Moon did for magical girls. A slice of life comedy filled with fun adventures and quirky characters. Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! brings you five boys with unique personalities who will fight in the name of love. If you are looking for an anime that does not take itself too seriously, look no further.

Touma Maijou is an unremarkable high school student when compared to his classmates and others who live in the technologically advanced, Academy City in Japan. Nearly three quarters of the student population of this city consist of individuals developing psychic powers to use in different aspects of society. Touma is among those with a ranking of zero when it comes to his own psychic abilities yet possess his own strange ability to nullify the powers of others. While living a regular life, Touma encounters a girl named Index Librorum Prohibitorum, a walking database of all of the forbidden texts in that world. As it so happens, Index is being targeted and only Touma has a chance of saving her.

J.C. Staff brings the first action packed anime on this list that manages to combine elements of science fiction, magic, and superpowers all in one. Layered with comedic moments. A Certain Magical Index is packed full of fantastic animation, well-developed characters, and exciting action sequences to expect from a fight involving psychic and magical powers. A Certain Magical Index makes it to the list for having a protagonist that isn’t so much deterred by his lack of ability, but instead, seeks to utilize his skills the best way he can.

Kazuma Satou is a young and reclusive teenager who suffers a most embarrassing death. Upon arriving in the afterlife, he meets a deity named Aqua who provides the option of being transported to a fantasy world rather than reincarnated in the old one. Given the option to bring one thing with him, Kazuma opts to take Aqua herself. Yet upon their arrival, he uncovers how tragically unskilled she is. Now they are bound together to succeed in this new world.

Studio Deen brings you a humorous adventure and fantasy isekai (another world) anime. For those who want to take a step away from an urban fantasy setting, KonoSuba is a refreshing and comedic addition to the fantasy anime pantheon. The protagonist, Kazuma Satou, is a perfect representation of every single video gamer or table top player who has ever wondered how they would fair if transported to a magical world of fantasy with base level stats and no money. While the protagonist is not the strongest on the list, Konosuba, as a whole, is a joy ride for any fantasy fan and daydreamer.

Asta and Yuno are two brothers abandoned at the steps of a church when they were babies. Growing up in a world of magic, they both found themselves determined to become the next great Wizard King, the most powerful magic user in the land. If they hoped to compete and make this dream come true they must first receive their grimoires, magic books, and be accepted into the magic knights. This may seem realistic to the magically prodigious Yuno, but Asta, while physically strong, is devoid of any magical ability, so Asta must climb an even larger mountain to face this nearly impossible goal if he hopes to compete with Yuno.

Studio Pierrot brings an anime much like the various other shounen anime before it, by showing you a new set of young male protagonists, one with great skill and one with great heart. Between Yuno and Asta, the audiences are gifted with camaraderie and friendship that goes beyond simple comparison of skills or false sense of superiority. For those who are fans of anime with tight knit focus on magic systems and spells, you will enjoy the adventures and growth of Yuno and Asta in Black Clover.

Rin Okumura is a seemingly ordinary young man in every way possible except for the day where he discovers he is the literal son of Satan himself. In fact, Rin was sent to the human world (Assiah) from the demon world (Gehenna) by his father so that he can eventually grow to become the vessel, or the key, that will allow Satan to cross over and rule over Assiah. Upon discovering this, Rin and his brother Yukio commit themselves to become incredible exorcists, training at a secret cram school. He will work towards taking down demons, ghosts, and monsters to protect Assiah and prevent Satan from gaining control over the world.

A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online, Your Lie in April) brought to the screen one of the finest examples of supernatural anime out there. Driven by an intriguing plot, the young male protagonists who lead the charge show us that it is not who we are born as that defines who we are but what we do with our gifts that matters. Supernatural and demonic themes galore, Blue Exorcist is sure to please for anyone who wants a bit dark powers mixed in with their magical heroes.

Subaru Natsuki was simply visiting his local store when he is transported to a strange, new world of magic, monsters, and kingdoms. Once there, he is rescued by a white-haired girl name Satella. As he joins her on what starts off as a pleasant mission, it ends in them both being slashed to death. To Subaru’s great surprise, he finds himself in the same moment he was in when he got to the new world. How is this possible? Is some dark magic at play? Will he be able to make it in this land or is he doomed to repeat the same fate over and over and over again?

Studio White Fox brings you a mind-bending fantasy, drama, and thriller anime. While the world itself is top notch as far as fantasy settings go, Subaru Natsuki proves to be a sympathetic, if at times hopeless, sad hero. Unable to fully grasp the magical abilities he possesses in this new world, while battling a curse, Subaru goes through hell to do all he can to help his friends. Though at times the journey may prove difficult for audiences to watch. This is for anyone who enjoys stories that do not shy away from the flaws of its protagonist, pushing him to improve as a warrior and as a person.

Near the dawning of our century, the landscape of the world, its infrastructure, and culture have shifted. Magic is now imbued in the normalcy of our day-to-day lives and drives new technological advances, economic prosperity, and evolution in tactical warfare and defense. The harbingers of such changes are the ever-growing workforce of trained magicians who are educated at magic schools such as the elite First High School. Tatsuya Shiba and his sister Miyuki, are a tight knit pair of siblings enrolled in the school. Yet they are separated by the structured cast system which seeks to separate the gifted “blooms” from those whose skills are lacking called “weeds”. Miyuki is sent to the former and Tatsuya, exhibiting no magical talent, is sent to latter class. Though the harnessing of magic is not his strong suit, he is prodigious when it comes to magic engineering and battle. How will his new skills shine through at the academy? Can he rise above the labels assigned to him?

The first to be reach the top three of our list and the second on the list to combine both sci-fi and magic elements, Studio Madhouse’s (Death Note, No Game No Life) Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei paints the picture of a clean future with advanced civilizations and military defenses. Yet aside from the intricate combination of magic meets technology, what stands out is the calm, cool, and collected demeanor of the shows male protagonist who is both a prodigy and yet seemingly labelled insufficient at the same time. While front and centre of the story, the protagonist proves to be, himself, a mystery for the audience to uncover through the course of the show.

In the magic land of Fiore, there exist many magic guilds of heroes and adventurers. Among the best and brightest fall under the banner of Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail is a bright and friendly guild and is the sole focus of Lucy Heartfillia, a celestial key wielder, who wishes to become a part of the guild someday. Along her journey to collect new keys, she is met by the charismatic Natsu Dragneel, the adopted son of dragon and a member of Fairy Tail. Through him, Lucy joins the guild and meets all sort of powerful and interesting characters as a new journey begins.

A-1 Pictures brings another fantastic fantasy anime to the list in Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail has grown to be one of the staples of the Shounen anime community, sharing the stage with the likes of Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach. This is in no small part to its fantastic group of mages with the fiery Natsu Dragneel at its centre along with cool Gray Fullbuster. Fairy Tail shows the value in friendship and how family can be found even amongst those we aren’t biologically related to.

In a world imbued with magic, there exist large towers across the earth known as labyrinths, which are said to hold both great dangers and incredible wealth a power for any who should be able to conquer one. Magi, powers wizards said to have created these towers, are tasked with beckoning the worthy to conquer them and become a king candidate, someone with the potential to rule the whole world. Among the few Magi, there is Aladdin, a small and kind young boy who embarks on a journey with his friend, Ugo the genie, to guide Alibaba Saluja towards conquering a dungeon and realizing his potential as a king candidate.

While all the anime on the list thus far have contained their fair share of magical boys and young men, when it comes down to the number one spot, we turn to the anime which holds a protagonist who could not be more perfectly fit for the description of a magical boy. We find that in the world of Magi, the powerful, if not at times innocent, Aladdin is the quintessential representation of the magic boy concept. Magi: Labyrinth of Magic is set apart by its unique take on the wise wizards who guide groups of heroes on adventures, akin to Lord of the Rings or King Arthur. In Magi, there is not simply a world but an entire law of the universe established that fuels the wisdom of Aladdin and the power of Alibaba and his friends. More than this, they all are there to support one another and not lose themselves in their sometimes overwhelming powers. When you first turn on Magi: Labyrinth of Magic, be prepared for embarking on a grand journey.