10 Most Perfect Fantasy Shows of the Last 30 Years

23 hours ago 5

Carice van Houten as Melisandre in 'Game of Thrones'

Published Jun 23, 2026, 5:44 PM EDT

Born with Autism (formerly classified as Asperger syndrome), Tyler B. Searle has been obsessed with storytelling since he was old enough to speak. He gravitated towards fairy tales, mythology, the fantasy genre, and animated movies and shows aimed at family audiences. When not writing, Tyler enjoys watching more cartoons and reading fantasy books in his home in Ontario, Canada.

The fantasy genre has had a long and celebrated history in cinema, but things have been a lot more rocky on television. The smaller budget and condensed nature of television means that fantasy shows have to get creative to work around their limitations. Sometimes they fumble, and the shows are remembered as cheezy, but others are able to play to their strengths and become major success stories.

The last 30 years have been pretty good when it comes to memorable fantasy TV, both in live-action and animated form. The best examples have become staples of popular culture and have influenced tons of media that have come out since then.

10 'Over the Garden Wall' (2014)

Wirt and Greg eating dinner with a mysterious billionaire, his horse, and Beatrice in Over the Garden Wall

Half-brothers Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Greg (Collin Dean), with Greg's pet frog (Jack Jones), find themselves lost in a mysterious forest called The Unknown, inhabited by talking animals and people who feel like they're from another time. They meet a talking bluebird named Beatrice (Melanie Lynskey), who offers to guide them through the woods, and a mysterious Woodsman (Christopher Lloyd) who chops down oil-leaking trees to keep his lantern lit. The Woodsman warns the boys that, if they do not leave the woods soon, they will catch the eye of the Beast (Samuel Ramey) who rules the forest.

Over the Garden Wall uses every second of its very limited runtime to craft a beautiful, haunting narrative that draws from folk myths, fairy tales, and rubber hose animation. The Unknown is a beautiful location dripping in symbolism, and the obstacles the boys run into cover such topics as grief, loss, identity, death, and responsibility. Every character stands out thanks to simple but eye-catching designs, stellar voice acting, and strong dialogue that ensures each of them has at least one line that will stick with you.

9 'Merlin' (2008–2012)

Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Arthur (Bradley James) looking in the same direction in Merlin

Merlin (Colin Morgan) is a young man with budding magical powers who is sent by his mother to stay with a family friend and magical expert named Gaius (Richard Wilson) at Camelot. He saves the life of Prince Arthur Pendragon (Bradley James), so King Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head), who led a Great Purge against magic 20 years ago, assigns Merlin to be Arthur's manservant. He also meets the great dragon Kilgharrah (Sir John Hurt) beneath the castle, who tells Merlin that his destiny is intertwined with Arthur's, who is destined to one day unite the land of Albion.

Merlin is an original take on Arthurian legend that presents the famous wizard not as a mysterious and wise sage, but an awkward teenager still coming into his own. As a result, the show is able to present Arthur and Merlin's relationship as best friends, while still hitting all the expected notes and character beats, such as the slow corruption of Morgana (Katie McGrath) due to Uther's actions. Speaking of Uther, the show spends a lot of time making him into a complex character who kills thousands due to his hatred of magic, but also cares deeply for his son.

8 'Gravity Falls' (2012–2016)

A girl in a star rainbow sweater stands next to a person in a grave and they both smile in Gravity Falls.

Fraternal twins Dipper (Jason Ritter) and Mable Pines (Kristen Schaal) are sent to live with their great uncle, Stan (Alex Hirsch), over the summer. Stan runs a tourist trap called the Mystery Shack in Gravity Falls, a seemingly average town with nothing interesting going on. However, Dipper finds a journal that details all sorts of paranormal activity in the area, and the more he investigates, the more it seems to tie into his own family history.

Gravity Falls is one of the most influential cartoons of the 2010s, and attracted audiences of all ages thanks to its fun characters and clever writing. The show was a masterclass on how to build a long-running mystery, with each episode slowly feeding enough clues to the audience to keep them guessing up until the very end. As for the characters, they all balanced comedy and drama well, but Stan is by far the standout character thanks to his hilarious get-rich-quick schemes and his mysterious and tragic backstory.

7 'Arcane' (2021–2024)

Jinx and Vi in action in Netflix's Arcane.

Violet (Hailee Steinfeld) and Powder (Mia Sinclair Jenness and Ella Purnell) are two sisters living in Zaun, the oppressed undercity of the prosperous Piltover, and are raised by Vander (JB Blanc), a former freedom fighter who adopted the girls after one of his rebellions got their parents killed. As Vander tries to maintain peace between the two cities, his old partner, Silco (Jason Spisak), returns with a new mutagenic drug called Shimmer, and is intent on securing Zaun's independence by any means necessary. Meanwhile, in Piltover, two brilliant young men named Jayce (Faustino Duran and Kevin Alejandro) and Viktor (Harry Lloyd) find the means of combining magic and technology, creating revolutionary new technologies that, unfortunately, can also be used as weapons.

Arcane's first season is as close as you can come to a perfect season of television, and can serve as a self-contained story if you're not a fan of the more divisive second season. Even if you've never played League of Legends, you'll be sucked into the messy character drama as good people are forced to compromise their morals to achieve their long-term goals, how well-intentioned progress can lead to unforeseen pain, and the heartbreaking rivalry that develops due to a falling out between Vi and Powder, called Jinx in her adult life. It's also gorgeously animated, using stylistic character designs and bright colors to create visually stunning landscapes and enthralling action sequences.

Collider Exclusive · Game of Thrones Personality Quiz Which Game of Thrones House Do You Belong To? Stark · Lannister · Targaryen · Baratheon · Tyrell

Five great houses. Five completely different answers to the same question: how do you hold power in a world that will take it from you the moment you stop paying attention? Eight questions will determine where your loyalties — and your nature — truly lie.

🐺Stark

🦁Lannister

🐉Targaryen

🦌Baratheon

🌹Tyrell

FIND YOUR HOUSE →

Someone powerful is acting dishonourably and everyone knows it. What do you do? In Westeros, the answer to this question has ended more than one great house.

ACall it out, openly and on the record. If honour means anything, it has to mean something when it's costly. BUse it. Information about someone else's dishonour is leverage — and leverage is power. CAct decisively to correct it — with or without the approval of those around me. DChallenge them directly. Strength settles disputes more honestly than courtroom manoeuvring. ENavigate carefully — build alliances, apply quiet pressure, and create a situation where the right outcome becomes inevitable.

NEXT QUESTION →

What is the source of your power? Every house endures because of something. What is it for yours?

AThe loyalty of people who trust me — earned over generations, not bought with gold. BWealth, intelligence, and the willingness to use both without sentiment. CA legacy so fearsome and a vision so total that opposition becomes unthinkable. DPhysical strength, military force, and the respect that comes from being the kind of person nobody wants to fight. ECharm, connection, and the ability to make powerful people feel that my success is also theirs.

NEXT QUESTION →

Who do you truly fight for? Strip away the banners and the words. The honest answer tells you everything.

AMy family and my people — those who depend on me and have kept faith with me through everything. BMy family — the ones who share my blood, even when they exhaust me, even when they disappoint me. CMy cause — a vision larger than any single person, including me. DMyself, and those few who've proven themselves worth fighting beside. EMy house — its name, its future, the position I intend to leave it in when I'm gone.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you deal with your enemies? A house's method reveals its character as clearly as its words ever could.

AHonestly — I face them directly, and I give quarter when it's warranted. BThoroughly — I don't leave loose ends, and I don't make the same enemy twice. CDecisively — fire answers questions that diplomacy only delays. DHead-on — I'd rather meet a threat on the battlefield than behind closed doors. EElegantly — I prefer to make former enemies into allies, or at least into people who owe me something.

NEXT QUESTION →

What kind of ruler do you believe in? Westeros is full of answers to this question. Most of them end badly.

AA just one — someone who serves the realm rather than using it, who leads by example rather than fear. BA capable one — someone smart enough to navigate the game, ruthless enough to win it, and realistic about what winning costs. CA transformative one — someone who doesn't just rule what exists but reshapes what's possible. DA strong one — someone whose authority is beyond question because the alternative is obviously worse. EA wise one — someone who understands that the realm is fed by more than armies, and that a full stomach keeps more peace than a sharp sword.

NEXT QUESTION →

You suffer a devastating loss. How does your house respond? How a house handles defeat tells you more about it than how it handles victory.

AWe grieve, properly and together — and then we endure, because endurance is what we do. BWe adapt. We reassess. And we ensure that whoever caused this loss comes to regret it completely. CWe burn hotter. Setbacks don't soften us — they clarify what needs to happen next. DWe hit back. Grief and revenge are the same motion in our house. EWe regroup quietly, rebuild our position, and return when we're ready — on our terms, not theirs.

NEXT QUESTION →

Which of these truths about Westeros do you most believe? Every house has a philosophy. This is yours.

AThe lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. Nothing matters more than the people you protect. BA Lannister always pays their debts — in gold or in kind. Reputation is built on consistency. CI am the blood of the dragon. Some destinies are written before the person who carries them is born. DOurs is the fury. When we move, we move completely — and we don't stop until it's done. EGrowing strong means knowing when to bloom and when to wait. Patience is its own kind of power.

NEXT QUESTION →

The Iron Throne is within reach. What do you do? The answer reveals not just your ambition — but your character.

AClaim it only if the realm needs me to — and rule in a way that makes it worth having. BEnsure someone who owes us sits in it. The power behind the throne is safer than the throne itself. CTake it. It was always meant to be mine — I feel that in my bones and in my blood. DSeize it — with both hands, without hesitation. Opportunity in Westeros does not wait to be asked. EPosition my house to be indispensable to whoever sits there — influence outlasts any single reign.

REVEAL MY HOUSE →

The Maester Has Spoken Your House Is…

Your answers point to the great house whose words, values, and way of surviving in Westeros match your own. Bend the knee — or don't. That's very much up to you.

🐺 House Stark

Winter is Coming — and you have always known it. You prepare not out of fear but out of duty, because the people who depend on you deserve someone who takes the long view.

You lead with honour even when it costs you, because you understand that a reputation built on integrity is the only one worth having.
Your loyalty to family and people runs deep — not as sentiment but as a code that doesn't bend when things get difficult.
The North endures because Starks endure — not by being the cleverest players in the game, but by being the kind of people others are willing to follow into the cold.
You are that kind of person. The pack survives. The lone wolf dies. You already know which one you are.

🦁 House Lannister

You understand the game — its rules, its exceptions, and exactly when the rules become the exception. You play it without illusions and without apology.

You are sharper than most people realise, and you have learned to use that gap to your advantage.
A Lannister always pays their debts — and you always keep your word, because your word is an instrument of power, and instruments must be kept in working order.
You love your family with a ferocity that sometimes blinds you, and you know it, and you do it anyway.
The lion doesn't concern itself with the opinion of sheep. Neither, in the end, do you.

🐉 House Targaryen

You carry a sense of destiny that is difficult to explain and impossible to ignore — the feeling that you are not simply participating in the world but meant to reshape it.

You are capable of extraordinary things, and you know it, and that knowledge is both your greatest strength and your most dangerous quality.
Fire and blood are not just words to you — they are a philosophy about what change requires and what it costs.
The Targaryens at their best were transformative rulers who broke chains and defied the limits of what anyone thought possible.
At your best, so are you. The dragon has three heads. You are one of them.

🦌 House Baratheon

You are a force — direct, powerful, and difficult to ignore when you enter a room or a conflict. You do not negotiate with challenges. You meet them.

Ours is the fury — and yours is a kind of intensity that commands attention, respect, and occasionally fear from those who underestimate what's behind it.
You value strength and straight dealing. You'd rather know where you stand in a fight than navigate a web of courtly whispers.
The Baratheons built their house on the back of one of the greatest military victories in Westerosi history — and then struggled with what came after.
The lesson of your house is that winning is not the end of the story. Governing is. You are learning that too.

🌹 House Tyrell

You understand that power does not always announce itself — that sometimes it arrives with flowers, good wine, and a smile that doesn't quite reach the eyes.

Growing strong is your house's motto, and you live it: patiently, strategically, always investing in the relationships and resources that will matter most when it counts.
You are charming by choice and calculating by nature — a combination that makes you one of the most effective players in any room you enter.
The Tyrells fed King's Landing and shaped its politics without ever sitting on the Iron Throne — and they were arguably more powerful for it.
You know that the person who controls the food controls the kingdom. And you always know where the food is.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

6 'The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance' (2019)

On the planet Thra, the elf-like Gelflings are ruled by ancient vulture-like beings called Skeksis, who act as stewards of the Crystal of Truth. However, Rian (Taron Egerton), one of their guards, witnesses the Skeksis use the crystal's energy to kill a fellow Gelfling to harvest her essence to restore themselves, forcing him to go on the run so the truth doesn't die with him. At the same time, a subterranean Gelfling named Deet (Nathalie Emmanuel) learns that a blight is threatening to infect the planet's ecosystem, and Brea (Anya Taylor-Joy), the youngest daughter of the All-Maudra (Helena Bonham Carter), finds clues that could reveal the origin of the Skeksis and how to defeat them.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is an unfortunate casualty of Netflix's confusing habit of canceling great shows early, but the one season we got was a worthy successor to Jim Henson's 1982 masterpiece. The puppetry is amazing, especially on the Skeksis, and makes the world feel like a living, breathing entity that is truly alien to whatever we are used to on Earth. The story is a traditional heroic quest that sees good-hearted heroes banding together against oppressors, and while we know the Gelflings won't succeed, it's still a great tale about hope, trust, and sacrifice.

5 'Adventure Time' (2010–2018)

The characters of Adventure Time gathered together happily

Finn the human (Jeremy Shada) is a young adventurer from the land of Ooo who lives with his adopted brother, Jake (John DiMaggio), a dog with shapeshifting powers. Together, they travel the land looking for treasure, slaying monsters, and protecting the numerous themed kingdoms and their princesses, such as Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch) of the Candy Kingdom. However, things steadily become more complicated as Finn grows older, especially after battling the undead sorcerer known as the Lich (Ron Perlman).

Adventure Time is the show that kicked off a second Golden Age for Cartoon Network, and is one of the best examples of a show that begins with episodic storytelling before transitioning to a more serialized format. This is because the show grew up alongside its audience: the early seasons focused on adventures akin to what you might find in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, while later seasons focused on more existential questions such as one's place in the universe, the meaning of life, and the price of immortality. It also helps that the characters have a beautiful camaraderie and a tapestry of personalities, which gives a casual vibe that makes you feel like you know them as well as your real-life friends.

4 'Game of Thrones' (2011–2019)

King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) travels north to Winterfell to ask his best friend, Eddard "Ned" Stark (Sean Bean), to become Hand of the King following the death of their foster-father, Jon Arryn (John Standing). Ned initially wishes to refuse, but accepts when he learns that House Lannister might be linked to the death, and that Robert's life could be in danger. Meanwhile, his bastard son, Jon Snow (Kit Harington), travels to a massive ice wall to join the Night's Watch, while across the sea, the exiled Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) slowly gathers an army to reclaim her father's throne.

Game of Thrones was a cultural juggernaut whose impact is still felt on modern fantasy shows. People were enthralled by the complex web of political backstabbing, flawed characters trying to survive in an unjust world, and some of the most mesmerizing fantasy battles seen on TV. It's a shame that the writing fell off a clip in its final seasons, but the quality of the writing and acting of the original seasons remains untarnished, and it's unlikely that Game of Thrones' cultural shadow will fade anytime soon.

3 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' (2005–2008)

Image via Nickelodeon

For 100 years, the industrialized Fire Nation has launched an imperialist war against the rest of the world, thanks in large part to the disappearance of the Avatar—the only person who can bend all four elements at once. One day, Southern Water Tribe siblings Katara (Mae Whitman) and Sokka (Jack De Sena) find the Avatar frozen in an iceberg, and are shocked to discover he is a young Air Nomad named Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen). Using Aang's flying Sky Bison companion, Appa (Dee Bradley Baker), they travel the world to help Aang learn how to bend water, earth, and fire, all while evading Zuko (Dante Basco), the exiled prince of the Fire Nation who is not allowed to go home unless he captures the Avatar.

Avatar: The Last Airbender has been heralded as one of the greatest television shows of all time, and it is more than deserving of that praise. It is lavishly animated, draws heavily from Eastern philosophy and martial arts to create its world, and doesn't shy away from heavy themes such as totalitarianism, genocide, free will, and the cycles of violence. The characters are likewise very deep and multifaceted, with two of the standouts being Zuko for his outstanding redemption arc, and his uncle, Iroh (Mako and Greg Baldwin), who is well-loved for his insightful wisdom and laid-back sense of humor.

2 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (1997–2003)

Sarah Michelle Gellar offering a golden orb in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is the most recent incarnation of the Slayer, meaning she is destined to protect mankind from paranormal threats. Though at first reluctant to accept the call, Buffy is forced to accept when she learns that her home is situated on a Helllmouth. Fortunately, she receives help from her mentor Guiles (Anthony Head), and best friends Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a revolutionary show on release, and is still fondly remembered for its compelling characters and strong writing. It made heavy use of metaphors, especially in how its conflicts were often physical manifestations of teenage fears and anxieties, and Buffy herself was a trend-setting character who could kick ass while still possessing very human vulnerabilities. It also had a fantastic lineup of villains, including the ancient vampire known as the Master (Mark Metcalf) and Angelus (David Boreanaz), the evil counterpart to Buffy's love, Angel.

1 'One Piece' (1999–Present)

Luffy flying over greenery in One Piece Egghead Arc part 2

When pirate king Gold Roger was finally executed, he revealed that his fortune, called One Piece, was up for the taking for whoever could find it. This sparked a new era of piracy as people sailed the globe, searching for the fabled treasure. Among them is the straw hat crew, led by Monkey D. Luffy (Mayumi Tanaka and Colleen Clinkenbeard), a young man who ate a magic fruit that allows him to stretch his body as if it were made of rubber.

One Piece has run for almost 30 years and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon, which has allowed it to become one of the most recognized pieces of Japanese media in the world. The story continues to pull in new and old fans thanks to its impeccable worldbuilding with plenty of long-term payoffs and distinct groups, from the totalitarian Wold Government to the numerous unique cultures found on every island the Straw Hats visit. Speaking of the Straw Hats, their diverse personalities, skill sets, dreams, flaws, and personal interactions are a breeding ground for fantastic character interactions and developments.

One Piece

Release Date October 20, 1999

Network Fuji TV

Directors Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou

Writers Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda