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Published Jun 18, 2026, 8:45 AM EDT
Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.
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Anime allows fans to step into their wildest dreams, some would say. By offering power fantasies or simply fascinating new worlds and good stories, this medium is at the height of creativity, thanks to series such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan. However, the fantasy genre in particular is renowned for its quality, especially when it comes to worldbuilding.
Worldbuilding is a crucial part of any fantasy story, as it enhances the sense of adventure, scale, and intrigue. Movies are known for having good worldbuilding, but this list will highlight ten fantasy anime whose worldbuilding is better than most efforts from the big screen. Based on aspects such as setting, history, lore, political landscape, culture, citizens, depth, how much of a focus it is, and changing events, these fantasy anime embody those elements the best.
'Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions' (2016)
Image via A-1 PicturesThe Isekai genre has infiltrated fantasy, and while some don't like that, it does mean more worldbuilding sensations such as Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions. When hundreds of people are isekaid into a new game-like world, all the strong ones join together, leaving a ragtag group of characters to band together and fight in the army, which is the only way to make money in this world.
As opposed to idyllic fantasy stories, Grimgar focuses on the struggle of the real world and the danger that comes with it. There are real socio-economic issues in this show, with characters unable to afford the necessities, painting a clear picture of the state of the world. Even though it is a fantasy, there are plenty of harsh realities and psychological traumas that follow it. Grimgar is a forgotten anime that deserves to be remembered because of its worldbuilding.
'Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation' (2021-present)
Image via Studio BindIsekai is a polarizing genre, but it doesn't get more controversial than Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. When a depressed stay-at-home loser dies and is reborn as a child in a fantasy world, he aims to make the most of his second chance at life. Despite his best efforts, he still falls into old bad habits, but continues to make an impact on this fantastical world.
Even if Mushoku Tensei is a polarizing anime, fans have to admit that the worldbuilding is intriguing, especially since it has gorgeous animation that depicts the setting in a gorgeous way. Each continent has its own culture, races, clothing, climates, politics, and language, but major events, such as the Mana Calamity, greatly shift the political climate and cultural landscape.
'Hunter x Hunter' (2011-2014)
Image via MadhouseLong-running shounen anime are the perfect candidates for great worldbuilding since they have hundreds of episodes traveling to new places. Hunter x Hunter follows Gon, a boy who goes on an adventure to find his father by trekking the same path. Needing to become a hunter, Gon must first pass the entrance exam, but the road to his goal is much more challenging than he thought.
With the manga releasing very slowly, unlikely ever to finish, the Dark Continent remains unexplored, meaning the worldbuilding isn't what it could be. Still, the Hunter x Hunter anime highlights some fascinating ideas. With such distinct continents and characters, Hunter x Hunter can get really creative, being an anime that will have fans hooked. Here, the worldbuilding expertise comes from the bureaucracy and the red tape covering the world.
'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' (2023-present)
Image via MadhouseOne of the biggest modern-day anime blockbusters is Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, which is already one of the most popular shows in the world. The titular elf has long outlived her former party, which defeated the demon king years ago. Not expressing her true feelings before their deaths, Frieren embarks on a nostalgic journey with her former companion's pupils to go to the land of the dead to say everything she should've confessed.
Frieren can go on forever, and fans would still be happy because that just means more time in this quaint world. This anime highlights the importance of side quests and the daily wonders in life, simply enjoying their time as they trek across the world, meet new people, explore geographical landmarks, and fight regional monsters. One of Frieren's best aspects is how it depicts worldbuilding through the passage of time.
Image via Bones Inc.With guns, cars, and electricity, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood may not feel like a fantasy, but it technically is. When brothers Ed and Al lose parts or all of their bodies in a taboo alchemical experiment, they set off on a quest to find the philosopher's stone, hoping to restore what they lost. However, all they discover is a government conspiracy that threatens to consume the entire world.
As one of the greatest anime series of all time, it is only natural that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood would also have magnificent worldbuilding. The power system drives the worldbuilding, showcasing its importance in military might and historical events that rule the world. Plus, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood goes out of its way to focus on personal stories and history that made the world what it is today.
'Dorohedoro' (2020-present)
Image via CrunchyrollAfter six long years, Dorohedoro fans finally got another season, with a third on the way, giving them more episodes to explore its dark and gritty world. Residents of the Hole are constantly experimented on by sorcerers from another realm, testing out their magic. Caiman is the product of such experimentation, leaving him with the head of a crocodile and no memories.
Dorohedoro isn't a typical entry in the genre, but since it has sorcerers, magic, devils, and fantastical landscapes, it is most certainly a dark fantasy. Its triumphant return has already established the second season as an anime of the year contender, expanding on the worldbuilding through festivals, events, flashbacks, and character lore, which gives an insightful view of the culture of the world. Dorohedoro is an underrated worldbuilding sensation with a changing setting due to the characters and their powers, not to mention the devilish influence on the world and the changing power dynamics.
'Dungeon Meshi' (2024-present)
Everyone loves to eat, and everyone enjoys a good fantasy anime, and putting those two things together gives fans Dungeon Meshi. When a dragon eats one of their party members, the group goes back down to save her. However, without any money or food, they decide to cook and eat the monsters they find down in the dungeon.
As the newest anime on this list, Dungeon Meshi has already established itself as a worldbuilding heavyweight through its ecology, dungeon lore, and characters. Instead of depicting a massive world on a grand scale, the worldbuilding is centered around the dungeon and the masters inhabiting it. Dungeon Meshi is a modern masterpiece that details the fascinating life, biology, and lifestyles of the monsters, also showing how to cook them, proving this is a unique show that truly takes its lore outside the box.
'Made in Abyss' (2017-present)
Image via Kinema CitrusWhen it comes to the best worldbuilding, two fantasy anime usually come to mind, including Made in Abyss, which may surprise fans that it is ranked third on this list. A massive abyss is in the center of an island, holding secrets the further down it goes. A young girl whose mother never came back up and a robot boy who originated from the Abyss delve down into it to learn what it is hiding.
Made in Abyss is a rightfully controversial anime, but its worldbuilding is on another level. Each layer of the Abyss offers an atmosphere with different flora, fauna, and natural laws. This stratified biosphere is home to some of the most creative and dark natural oddities, not to mention the people who went down and live there, adding a scientific and humanity-fueled layer to the world.
'Ascendance of a Bookworm' (2019-present)
Image via Ajia-doMost of the anime on this list are big names, but Ascendance of a Bookworm is arguably the least-known, yet it has some of the greatest worldbuilding. Before she can achieve her dream of becoming a librarian, Urano tragically passes away, but is reborn in a medieval world. Books may be hard to come by here, but her unwavering dedication steers her in the right direction.
Ascendance of a Bookworm has some of the most compelling worldbuilding ever, and it achieves this by using a logistical approach. As opposed to most anime, her modern knowledge isn't readily accepted, but pushed back, with every modern solution requiring multiple steps in this fantasy world. Everything is written in law, including class divides, magic, and contracts. Ascendance of a Bookworm treats its magic as an economic resource, which has intriguing implications for the state of the world.
'One Piece' (1999-present)
Image via Toei AnimationAs mentioned, there are a couple of well-known worldbuilding anime, and One Piece is by far the greatest. Monkey D. Luffy wants to become King of the Pirates, prompting him to set off on a swashbuckling adventure. But to do that, he must make a name for himself and build a crew, which he does by exploring the seas and taking down anyone who gets in his way, from other pirates to the Marines and even the World Government.
One Piece is the king of worldbuilding on a macro scale, creating hundreds of islands with magnetic climates, cultures, people, geography, temperature, history, and rules. The world is made up of a handful of global superpowers, including the Four Emperors, Marines, and World Government. As each of them plays a game of chess, the world is in constant chaos and political torment, ranging from massive wars to island-specific conflicts. Whether they are small ripples or towering tsunamis, these waves change the tide of the story and the reality of the world. The sheer volume of the worldbuilding is unprecedented, but the most impressive part is that it is all connected by a century-old mystery, proving why One Piece is one of the best anime series of all time.
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