Top 5 Fantasy Anime of Spring 2021 [Best Recommendations]

Fantasy is a challenging genre to cover because it requires the right combination of classic staples as well as a fresh and previously unseen world/story. Dragons, elves, and magic-wielders are always welcome sights but rely too heavily on these and the audience may feel like they’ve seen this before. If one tries too hard to deconstruct the fantasy genre into something super gritty and modern, it can come off as pretentious and not tick any of the boxes for fantasy fans. The magic is found when some recognizable characters exist in unique ways and when you feel like you're really learning about a new world, not just made to accept whatever pops out. With engaging stories and colorful casts, let’s look at Spring 2020’s best fantasy anime!


5. Marimashita! Iruma-kun (Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun!) 2nd Season

  • Episodes: 21
  • Aired: April 2021 - ongoing

Things seem hopeless for Iruma when he’s sold off by his no-good parents to a powerful demon! Amazingly, this demon just wants a loving grandson who will enroll in the school he runs. But while Iruma is just starting to feel relieved, he realizes that most demons are NOT like his silly, doting new grandfather! Will Iruma be able to go to school and not reveal himself to be a weak and tasty snack for the student body?

Marimashita! Iruma-kun is in its second season but the fun continues! Clara, Asmodeus, and Amelie are back with their same silly dynamics but in new situations that will have you rolling! Some characters experience brief but total personality changes like the tough Amelie becoming docile and our sweet Iruma-kun going bad! And with a new character addition that surprises even the other demons of Bablys, there is plenty more to see and learn this season!


4. Tensura Nikki: Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (The Slime Diaries: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: April 2021 - June 2021

Now that Rimuru has fully adjusted to his new home with his new comrades, he’s focused on expanding the town and making life easier for its inhabitants. Bringing oni, elves, goblins, and lizardmen into one town can be a recipe for disaster with their different lifestyles and temperaments. But Rimuru does a great job of helping and organizing the different species into work that suits them so everyone benefits from their close contact. While the oni are basically humans with horns, the designs of other species are quite varied and definitely give you a fantasy feel! And while you wouldn’t normally expect these characters to all live civilly together, Tensura Nikki does a good job of imagining and explaining how that could work.



3. Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou Desu (The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: April 2021 - June 2021

When the magical kingdom of Salutania once again has need for the fated Saint to save them from evil, corruptive miasma, they perform the necessary summoning ritual. What is not written in the ancient texts is that this ritual can summon TWO different people with the capacity to be Saints. Jaded office worker Sei is overlooked for her younger, prettier counterpart but that’s just fine with her. She’d rather forgo the title of Saint and study plants and potions at the Medicinal Flora Research Institute. Yet her aptitude as a Saint turns her potions into miracles, making it harder for her to live a normal, quiet life.

The Saint’s Magic Power provides little details to explain their fantasy world without shoving it down your throat or just hoping you’ll go along with it. Potions of different strengths being differently colored is explained by the different ingredients in them. Magic is almost like a science that is studied and is constantly being expanded on, funded by the king. It’s less comedic and silly than lots of fantasy anime that isn’t battle-centric but it’s immersive and well-thought-out!


2. Sentouin, Hakenshimasu! (Combatants Will Be Dispatched!)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: April 2021 - June 2021

The evil Kisaragi Corporation manages to rule over the entire Earth… which is great until they realize they’re jobless without new lands to take over. This forces Chief Operative Number 6 to embark on a dangerous mission using an untested teleportation device to send him and a mouthy, non-combat-oriented android to another world. With ‘Evil Points’ being the currency used amongst Kisaragi employees, Number 6 will have to balance being enough of a jackass to get paid but obedient enough to infiltrate the enemy!

Combatants Will Be Dispatched! has the humor and intrigue of KonoSuba but with a completely different storyline and fresh characters. You learn about this new world slowly along with the main characters and it’s elaborated upon by others that join them later, offering you contrasting views that serve to paint a more realistic picture of this shining kingdom. Most of the characters are human(esque) and demons but the other-worldliness is felt even as Number 6 is making dick jokes and saying incredibly offensive things to his predominantly female team. It’s super funny without just rehashing old jokes and crafts a world you look forward to learning more about!


1. Dragon, Ie wo Kau. (Dragon Goes House-Hunting)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: April 2021 - June 2021

Dragons are feared throughout the land… except for the kind, timid Letty! After being kicked out for not being dragon enough, Letty is hunted as an easy target by man and beast! A safe, quiet home seems impossible for Letty until he encounters Dearia, the legendary architect and real estate agent (and demonlord)! Despite being a pro, Dearia will have his work cut out for him in finding the perfect home for a dragon that is not the perfect dragon.

Ambitious in having a dragon as the main character without a human form, but Dragon Goes House-Hunting has an amazing cast of fantasy creatures with unique designs, abilities, and ways of life. They also have an interesting take on heroes, citing them as being thieving, murderous jerks in ways that make you question your own gaming quests where you took stuff from people’s houses or hunted down creatures in their own homes. From elves to sahuagin, you’ll find the things you love about fantasy mixed in with intriguing new situations and creatures to keep you wondering!


Final Thoughts

This was a good season for fantasy lovers! From the still-running Mairimashita! Iruma-kun to the intriguing Dragon Goes House-Hunting, it’s more fun when fantasy characters aren’t all made the same way and you’re able to learn more about them as the story progresses. Whether you want unbelievable humor to go along with these impossible stories or a more analytical look at what a fantasy world might entail, we hope you enjoyed these top 5 fantasy anime picks for Spring 2021!

Tensura-Nikki-Tensei-Shitara-Slime-Datta-Ken-Wallpaper-2 Top 5 Fantasy Anime of Spring 2021 [Best Recommendations]

Writer

Author: May

Hey friends! I reside in Georgia and use my degree in Japanese primarily to (barely) read doujinshi that hasn’t been translated. Beyond deciding who is best girl in whatever I happen to be watching, I really enjoy ballroom dancing, reading, crying over dating sims, karaoke, and being surrounded by beautiful things~ (You know, scenery, décor, boys, stuff like that). I also love talking about passions with others!

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