Best Fantasy Anime of 1995

The greedy and powerful sorceress Lina Inverse travels from place to place, stealing treasure from any bandits she encounters. After she robs a group of thieves, they set an ambush in a forest, eager for revenge. Just as Lina is about to easily crush her attackers, the swordsman Gourry Gabriev appears. Mistaking Lina for a helpless maiden, the foolish but good-hearted man steps in to save her. After quickly defeating the bandits, the oblivious knight decides to escort Lina to Atlas City. Though she is not thrilled about it, she ultimately agrees. Unbeknownst to Lina, one of her recent stolen items is a powerful magical artifact. Two mysterious men begin hunting the young mage and her self-appointed protector, seeking to obtain this object for sinister purposes. Thus begins their adventure, one that could determine the fate of the entire world.

While exploring the National Library, Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo come across an odd antique book that emits a red glow, pulling them into a foreign realm. Upon arriving, they face hostile slave dealers and manage to flee with aid from Tamahome, a strong young man marked with a Chinese character on his forehead. However, the red light soon reappears, whisking Yui away. Determined to find her friend, Miaka seeks Tamahome's help. The situation intensifies when they meet Emperor Hotohori, who thinks Miaka is the prophesied priestess of the kingdom's guardian deity, Suzaku. By assembling the god's seven Celestial Warriors, the priestess can call upon Suzaku to grant any wish. Hotohori hopes this will rescue his nation, and since it also seems like a good way to solve Miaka's problems, he persuades her to take on the role. Back at the library, Yui realizes she has returned alone. Unable to act, she watches helplessly as Miaka undertakes brave challenges as the heroine of the mysterious book.

Only a short while has elapsed since the Magic Knights faced Princess Emeraude’s "Mashin" in their final battle. Still troubled by the princess’s death, Hikaru Shidou returns to Tokyo Tower. There she reunites with her friends Umi Ryuuzaki and Fuu Hououji for the first time after their sudden mission to rescue Cephiro. Haunted by dreams of the realm she left behind, Hikaru is comforted to discover that her companions also wish to go back and serve the kingdom they once worked so hard to protect. The Magic Knights’ desire is granted, because atop Tokyo Tower, the three are dazzled by the same intense light they witnessed on the day they first met. Once again riding a flying fish, they return to Cephiro—a land now barren and shattered. With the Pillar’s power broken, monsters wander freely, and three nations try to annex Cephiro in hopes of claiming the Pillar for themselves. Adding to the difficulty is the mysterious Lady Debonair, who declares she is the true successor of the fallen country. Facing even greater dangers and completely different foes, the three Magic Knights set out anew to rescue Cephiro and restore peace. United by the bonds they have created, the trio stands strong against this immense challenge.

The Spooner Continent has long been controlled by merciless sorcerers who answer to no authority. They view humans merely as raw materials for their sinister magical experiments, leaving the frightened populace with little means to defy their cruel masters. However, even in the darkest times, hope endures. A small band of courageous fighters has risen to challenge this oppression. Seeking retribution against sorcerers who have crossed the line, brothers Carrot and Marron Glace, sisters Tira and Chocolate Misu, and the warrior Gateau Mocha journey across the land, pushing back against the sorcerers' rule and sparking the fires of rebellion.

Makoto Mizuhara, a high school science prodigy, is busy readying his latest invention for the school festival with his best friend Nanami Jinnai at his side. Nanami's brother, the scheming student council president Katsuhiko Jinnai, is under fire for botching the festival arrangements and suspects Makoto is scheming to take over his role. One evening, while Makoto, Nanami, and their teacher Masamichi Fujisawa are taking a rest, Jinnai slips into the science lab and tampers with Makoto's device. This triggers a sudden portal that hurls all four of them into a different world! Upon arriving, Makoto finds himself under attack by a swarm of enormous insect-like monsters. Fleeing, he runs into Fujisawa and a young woman named Rune Venus. After Fujisawa drives the monsters off, a procession of officials shows up, searching for Rune—their princess. They explain to Makoto and Fujisawa that this realm is called El-Hazard and escort them to the palace of the kingdom of Roshtaria. Although her advisers are wary of the strangers, Rune declares them guests and quickly becomes friendly with Makoto. Not knowing that Nanami and Jinnai are also in this world, Makoto sets out to find a way back to Earth.

The story of Goldran centers on three boys who must locate alien robot fighters, called Braves, which are hidden as crystals. Their primary foe is the showy and utterly inept Walter, with his henchmen also being comedic.

Sorao is an ordinary student living the typical everyday life of a kid, who accidentally becomes friends with two aliens stranded on Earth. His life changes when he decides to help them find a way back home. When they finally reach the aliens' homeworld, Sorao and Miki discover a blood feud between two different tribes. Things go wrong as the tribes' representatives try to outdo one another in searching for a missing treasure from the past, using a clue that has been uncovered.

In this story, the world we inhabit is referred to as Earthside. There exist other realms known as Nosfertia, Heavenstia, and Eternalia. When Darknoids from Nosfertia launch an invasion of Earthside, Heavenstia dispatches three Animanoids—beast-humans—to halt the attack. The protagonist, Touya, initially thought he was an ordinary human but later discovers that he is actually a being from Eternalia. With the aid of the three Animanoids, Touya fights to protect Earthside.

The Eto Rangers travel inside the Space-Time Transmitting Machine Kirinda to fix the Novel Worlds of Mugen. These rangers are anthropomorphic animals, each embodying one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs (as well as the Twelve Branches of Buddhism). In Japan, they are called the Eto animals. The Novel Worlds are creations of human imagination, encompassing everything from ancient folk tales to modern books. These living worlds repeat their stories endlessly, which is essential for humanity's well-being. Princess Aura governs Mugen, a continent island suspended over an ocean beneath the skybound Novel Pole. She derives her power from the Great God Goal but is forbidden to leave the small palace island. Their adversary is the forgotten Spirit of Cats, Nyanma (whose real name is Chocolat), who was excluded from being one of the 12 protectors after losing a race (actual folklore includes many versions of this tale). She seeks vengeance by distorting Novel Worlds with Jarei Monsters. Whenever a Jarei Monster enters a Novel World, it changes the story, turning it into an alternate version, sometimes a parody of itself. Bakumaru, the Spirit of Mice, must employ the Genmakyou mirror to expose (by shouting "Jarei Shouran!") the evil spirit once enough evidence reveals its identity. The Eto Rangers often have to participate in the narrative to uncover who or what it is, occasionally assuming the roles of characters within the tale. After defeating the monster, Bakumaru raises his hand bearing one of Aura's 12 gems and cries out "Daikourin Kirinda!" Kirinda then emerges from a dimensional rift and cleanses the evil spirit using a beam weapon, declaring "Jouka!" (Purification).

During a school yachting trip, fifteen children of various ages are mysteriously carried off to a different world where dinosaurs still roam. In their efforts to return home, they come across talking dinosaurs, revolutionaries, pirates, a princess, and primitive scientists. These strange allies help them evade soldiers, bandits, ferocious dinosaurs, and zealous priests. Tension between the two oldest boys causes a rift in their group, setting up a deceitful scheme of betrayal. Unexpected romances develop in this strained environment, and the children come to understand that each of them holds strengths that can help everyone get back home, provided they cooperate. Loosely inspired by the 1888 novel Deux ans De Vacances by Jules Verne.

Gulliver is a boy born with magical abilities who is forced against his will to attend a school for magicians so he can hone his skills and defend his city. He escapes, only to discover that his hometown has been destroyed by the army of the evil Judau. Judau personally kills Gulliver's father and swears to kill Gulliver as well. Meanwhile, Gulliver and his friend Eddison rescue a girl named Misty, who is fleeing from Judau. Together with a fairy named Phoebe, a lone wolf ninja named Gecko, and an ancient ship, Gulliver and his companions set out on an adventure to defeat Judau and uncover the secrets of Atlantis.

Drawing upon classic Western narratives from a wide array of renowned sources, including 1001 Nights, Charles Perrault, Madame de Beaumont, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Carlo Collodi, traditional English fairy tales, Howard Pyle, Lewis Carroll, Jonathan Swift, Alexandre Dumas, E.T.A. Hoffmann, L. Frank Baum, and Johanna Spyri, this series adapts these timeless tales. The production ultimately aired only 21 episodes, with the final five installments released exclusively on VHS.

Originally a 1950s NHK radio drama about the three monkey brothers Yanbou, Ninbou, and Tonbou, this anime adaptation was updated for the 1990s audience of the broadcaster's new satellite channel. The brothers sample crow soup, accidentally start a fire on the mountain, and race the king of the Pig People—just like kids do.

First season of Koby Koby series.