Best Fantasy Anime of 2003

Edward Elric is a gifted young alchemist who, at age twelve, suffers devastating losses. When he and his brother Alphonse attempt to bring their deceased mother back using the forbidden technique of human transmutation, Edward loses both his brother and two of his own limbs. Using his exceptional alchemical abilities, Edward manages to anchor Alphonse's soul to a massive suit of armor. One year later, Edward has become a state alchemist with the title of Fullmetal. Together with his younger brother, he sets out in search of the Philosopher's Stone. This legendary artifact is said to greatly amplify an alchemist's power, allowing them to bypass alchemy's core principle: equivalent exchange, where one must sacrifice something of equal value to gain something. Edward intends to use the military's resources to locate the stone and restore his and Alphonse's bodies to their original state. But as the Elric brothers delve deeper, they realize the stone holds secrets far beyond their expectations, drawing them into the heart of a conflict much darker and more vast than they ever anticipated.

Kino, a 15-year-old traveler, develops a close bond with Hermes, a motorcycle that can speak. Together, they journey across various lands, visiting different countries and places without any clear destination in mind, because travel is a venture full of unknowns. Along the way, they encounter a wide range of customs—some morally ambiguous, others tragic or mesmerizing. They meet many people: those who live only to work, those who live to bring others joy, and those who live in pursuit of their dreams. In each country they explore, there is always something new to learn from how the inhabitants conduct their lives. It is not for Kino or Hermes to judge whether these values are right or wrong; they simply act as observers within this small world. No matter how absurd those values might seem, they make no effort to change or influence the places they visit. They believe, in their own way, that things are fine as they are—that "the world is not beautiful; therefore, it is."

In a world on the verge of collapse, an old legend tells that when the end arrives, the path to paradise will open. This perfect world offers the only hope for the few living things left in this desolate land, but the myth says only wolves can discover the way to this fabled place. Although they were believed to have vanished long ago, wolves still exist, hiding among humans by using complex illusions. A lone wolf named Kiba is pulled by an irresistible scent to Freeze City, a poor settlement ruled by the cruel Lord Orkham. There, Kiba finds that wolves Hige, Tsume, and Toboe have also been lured by the same smell. Chasing the fragrance of "Lunar Flowers," which are rumored to unlock the door to their perfect world, the wolves travel across barren lands and decaying cities in search of their legendary paradise. But they are not the only ones hunting for this haven, and others with darker motives will stop at nothing to get there before them.

Daisuke Niwa is a clumsy, awkward, and timid middle school student with few notable strengths. On his 14th birthday, he works up the courage to confess his feelings to Risa Harada, the girl he has liked for a long time, but she turns him down. However, things take a strange turn when Daisuke discovers that any time he thinks about Risa, he transforms into Dark Mousy—the notorious phantom thief. While Daisuke has no clue about this bizarre family trait, his mother has been fully aware and has long been orchestrating his theft of valuable artworks to keep the legendary thief's reputation alive. Filled with uncertainty and confusion, Daisuke struggles to navigate his relationships with friends and family. Before long, he comes to understand that he is not the only one burdened by a destined family legacy—and his most formidable opponent might be the very classmate he least wants to fight.

Born into royalty, Pacifica Casull is called the "Scrapped Princess" due to a catastrophic prophecy claiming she will bring about the world's end on her sixteenth birthday. Saved from execution by a compassionate family, she lives under the protection of her adoptive older siblings, Shannon and Raquel Casull. When followers of the deity Mauser learn she is still alive, they order her elimination at any cost, forcing Pacifica to flee for survival. Beset by dangers from the church, aristocracy, and ordinary citizens, the three siblings struggle to escape the destiny Pacifica is fated to fulfill, constantly wondering whether one girl's existence is worth the planet's ruin. As the princess' sixteenth birthday draws near, the true identity of the Scrapped Princess and the shocking truths about the world become increasingly clear.

After winning the iconic characters "Kite" and "Black Rose" in a contest hosted by the developers of the MMORPG "The World," Shugo and his twin sister Rena enter "The World." They team up with new friends Ouka, Mirelle, Hotaru, and Sanjuro to complete events and quests. Soon, strange monsters begin appearing, and being defeated by them causes players to fall into comas in the real world. Only Shugo and Rena can resolve this crisis, but what is the reason they are being targeted, and what mysteries does the game conceal?

It has been fourteen years since Kibagami Jubei defeated the immortal warrior Himuro Genma and thwarted the Shogun of the Dark's evil plans. Jubei still wanders Japan as a masterless swordsman. On his journey, he meets Shigure, a priestess who has never left her village. When a group of demons destroys the village and kills everyone, Jubei becomes a prime target after obtaining the Dragon Jewel—a stone of unknown origin. Meanwhile, Shigure travels to the village of Yagyu alongside the monk Dakuan and a young thief named Tsubute. With two demon clans now hunting Shigure, Dakuan must once again enlist Jubei's services to protect the Priestess of Light.

Ayu Tateishi, a well-liked second-year middle school student, has never cared for fantasies or miracles. She is dedicated to maintaining her cool and composed image, hoping to attract the attention of her crush, Tetsushi Kaji. However, her peaceful life is disrupted by the arrival of Nina Sakura, a transfer student who is secretly a witch. Because Ayu is the only one aware that Nina uses a mini-computer to cast spells, she is compelled to assist Nina in her quest to locate the five Holy Stones, a requirement for Nina to marry the prince of the Magic Kingdom. Nina’s clumsy magic and tendency to interfere in Ayu’s personal life create constant difficulties, forcing Ayu to protect her reputation while Nina tries to conceal her true identity from Hiroki Tsujiai, Tetsushi’s close friend and manga enthusiast. As Nina’s search for the Holy Stones draws allies and rivals from the Magic Kingdom, Ayu is pulled into a magical reality she never imagined existed.

While Satoshi pursues his dream of becoming the greatest, a wide range of others embark on their own adventures across the Pokémon world—researchers, professors, Gym Leaders, Team Rocket members, Trainers, and even Pokémon themselves. Some are already familiar, while others start as total strangers, but every one of them shares a passion for exploration—especially when it involves Pokémon!

Hatsuki, a high school student harboring intense romantic feelings for her sister Hatsumi, witnesses Hatsumi vanish in a flash of green light on her sixteenth birthday. Guided by a creature that looks like a plump baby chick, Hatsuki tracks her sister to the Great Library, a realm containing various worlds preserved within books. Finding Hatsumi absent, Hatsuki embarks on a journey across different books to find her beloved sister.

Set in the 22nd century, where space travel, planetary colonization, and anti-gravity basketball are ordinary parts of daily life. Earth has become impossible to live on, so people reside in colonies on neighboring planets. During a school field trip, a mishap sends the protagonist—a new transfer student named Luna—along with her pet robot and six classmates hurtling through a gravity storm. They crash land on a planet that appears deserted. With Luna taking charge, the group—including the robotic cat Chako, the independent Kaoru, the pampered rich boy Howard, the timid Sharla, the compliant Bell, the proud musician Menori, and the young genius Shingo—must struggle to survive. Yet is this world truly empty, or does something—or someone—lurk in the shadows, waiting?

According to an old legend, eating mermaid flesh grants immortality. Five hundred years ago, Yuta unknowingly consumed a piece of such flesh. For centuries, he wanders Japan, hoping to find a mermaid who might restore his humanity. When he finally discovers one, he learns that she and her companions have been raising a girl as food, intending to eat her and steal her youthful appearance to stay young themselves. Yuta kills the mermaids and rescues the girl, but she has already ingested some mermaid flesh. Though he had to destroy them, Yuta is not too disheartened. His once-lonely existence is over now that he has found a companion in Mana. And Mana, who spent her entire life confined to a small hut, finds joy in even the simplest things. Together, Yuta and Mana search for more mermaids, hoping to become normal humans once again.

Yume Kikuchi, a magical girl, travels to Tokyo to become an apprentice mage under the handsome professional mage Masami Oyamada. While in Tokyo, Yume studies magic, assists others, and gains many new experiences on her path to becoming a full-fledged mage. However, she soon discovers that magic alone is not sufficient to truly bring happiness to anyone.

Set in the year 2004, Binzume Yousei is a slice-of-life fairy tale centered on four fairies, each associated with a distinct color reflected in their magical bottle jars. These fairies are the extremely peppy Kururu, the reserved and feminine Chiriri, the samurai-loving tomboy Sarara, and the quiet yet quirky Hororo. Captivated by the human world, these fairies came from the fairy realm hoping to take part in yearly traditions and the general way humans live. However, their grasp of human society is quite limited. Fortunately, they are befriended and guided by two humans—"Sensei-san," a university student they live with, and a first-grade girl they call "Tama-chan," who is sometimes as innocent as the fairies themselves. Even though these bottle fairies come up with odd notions and occasionally struggle to grasp this unfamiliar world, they strive to make the most of the human experience in their own cute, small ways.

On the colonized planet of Mars, human children have been supplanted by robotic servants called dolls. Layla, a capable warrior haunted by a sorrowful history, roams the globe. She is joined by Nei, an enigmatic doll with unexplained connections to her, and Speedy, a doll breeder. Viewing the group as a danger to their society, the Martian founders repeatedly assault Layla and Nei, causing fragments of their obscure past and future to gradually surface.

The seal that had kept the fallen angels Kirin no Yuda and Houou no Ruka imprisoned is broken, and the two choose to exact vengeance on the God who cast them into Hell by destroying the Heavens that were once their home. Before long, guardian angels on Earth start vanishing, and Heaven has no explanation for these events. Yet a vengeful animal spirit seems to be at work, prompting the four Saint Beasts to be summoned for an investigation. The four Gods of Beasts endeavor to rescue the missing guardian angels while also uncovering the true nature of this evil animal spirit.

Dejiko (also known as Di Gi Charat) heads to Earth with Petit Charat (Puchiko) and Gema to complete her training to become a proper princess. Their journey ends with a crash in a small Japanese town, where they meet the Omocha brothers, who are constantly preoccupied with how cute Puchiko is, and the elderly couple Mr. and Mrs. Ankoro, who make traditional Japanese sweets.

In a certain place, there was a young man with a gentle heart who loved animals. Yet the most unfortunate events continuously befell him—his workplace went bankrupt, and he would collide with signboards while walking down the street. He was completely weighed down by bad luck. But his life took a drastic turn when he met a fortune teller. Through the fortune teller's power, "Guardian Angels" were summoned via a mobile phone, and a group of cute girls appeared. These Guardian Angels, who came from another world, were actually the reincarnations of the pets the young man had once looked after. They had returned to repay his kindness. This sequel takes place one year after the previous series. It returns to the moment when the twelve Guardian Angels go to Goro Mutsume. Once again, we have the voice talents of Nogawa Sakura, Chiba Saeko, Kawasumi Ayako, and a whole extravaganza of other voice actors and actresses. Let us see how the Guardian Angels grow up!

Pinon, a boy who carries the blood of three races—Dragons, fairies, and humans—is the son of the legendary Courageous One, Pietro. When Pinon meets a strange creature named Pap, a door to adventure swings open. Along the way, he becomes friends with Luna and Marco. Yet, upon discovering that his journey will decide the fate of PoPoLoCrois, Pinon steels his heart and separates from his companions. Unbeknownst to him, this is merely a prologue to a greater quest—one where he must confront an even larger crisis threatening PoPoLoCrois.

The animated form of the Korean manhwa.

The legendary Forbidden Treasure is a remarkable artifact capable of fulfilling any desire. Those who hunt for this prize are known as Bankers, and our protagonist, Corokke, is among them.

Long before recorded history, the Kingdom of Spheres thrived on Earth, its inhabitants possessing psychic abilities. However, widening social stratification and a lust for power led to its eventual collapse. Na Yeon, a mysterious girl discovered in Antarctica, is a remnant of this fallen civilization. Asten, the ambitious chairman of the Sphere Union, seeks global domination and dispatches his followers to monitor Na Yeon. In response, she and her friends strive to protect three powerful artifacts, which serve as keys to conquering the world, from falling into the hands of the Sphere Union.

Kim pursues the Black Hammer Gang, a crew of thieves, until their paths converge on an island ruled by the guardian Michel and populated by fairies. When the Black Hammer Gang attempts to seize the island's life source, the Tree of Life, they devastate the environment and abduct the fairies. Consequently, Kim and Michel must join forces to defeat the criminals and rescue the captives.

Kasumi Haruno is a fourth-grade student who arrives in Kasumi Town to bid farewell to her zoologist parents as they depart for Africa to conduct research. She will be residing in the large mansion belonging to the Kasumi family, which stands in the center of town and is surrounded by a dense forest. After passing through the mansion's gate, Kasumi senses a strange atmosphere emanating from the Kasumi Forest. Upon reaching the house, she discovers that the appliances are capable of speech. It turns out that the members of the Kasumi family are youkai known as Henamon. Kasumi never imagined she would end up living with a family of Henamon. In exchange for housing, she is occupied with cooking, laundry, and cleaning. Surrounded by these mysterious companions, what will happen to Kasumi's new life?

Yorang is a fox residing in heaven with important duties, yet prefers to spend time playing pranks and chasing fun. One day, heaven holds a festival celebrating the completion of the "Book of Wishes," a prestigious artifact capable of breaking the black fox's seal. During the event, the mischievous Yo-rang discards the valuable book. Heaven then faces the threat of the black fox's dark magic. Taking responsibility for the disaster, Yo-rang sets out to find the book and encounters a boy named Kang-hyun, who lost his mother at a young age and moved from Seoul to Fox Village with his father. Together, Kang-hyun and Yo-rang search for the book. However, the black fox attempts to thwart their efforts, leading them through various hardships. In the end, they forge a strong friendship.

No synopsis has been added for this series yet. Click here to update this information.

No synopsis has been added for this series yet. Click here to update this information.