Best Fantasy Anime of 2005

The world has been transformed into a hunting ground for the Crimson Denizens, enigmatic entities from a parallel dimension that feed on human life energy. These ruthless killers leave behind only faint remnants of souls known as "Torches," which are mere residues destined to be destroyed, erasing the victims' existence from the memories of the living. To halt this silent, voracious slaughter, warriors known as Flame Hazes engage in an endless battle against these monsters. One day, Yuuji Sakai’s life changes drastically when he finds himself trapped in a time distortion and attacked by a Denizen. He is saved at the last moment by a nameless hunter who appears to be an ordinary girl, save for her fiery crimson hair and intense eyes. Before Yuuji can fully understand what is happening, he realizes he has already been reduced to a Torch—a fragment of memory poised for extinction.

In the present day, humans, gods, and demons coexist after the doors between their worlds opened. Tsuchimi Rin is an ordinary high school student at Verbena Academy, living peacefully with his childhood friend Kaede. One day, the King of Gods, the King of Demons, and their families unexpectedly move in next door to Rin. It turns out that Sia, the gods' daughter, and Nerine, the demons' daughter, are both deeply in love with Rin after meeting him in the past. Between his playful friendship with upperclassman Asa and his encounter with the quiet but cute Primula, Rin finds himself busy handling the affections of each girl. Based on the eroge by Navel.

In the arid realm of Clow, princess Sakura and her archaeologist companion Syaoran enjoy quiet days, despite the king's disapproval of their growing bond. Their peaceful existence is disrupted when Sakura, in a trance-like state, appears before Syaoran with wings sprouting from her back. The wings scatter into feathers and she collapses, prompting Syaoran to act. Syaoran discovers that to save Sakura, he must gather her feathers, which have been dispersed across numerous dimensions. He strikes a bargain with the Dimensional Witch Yuuko Ichihara and gains the aid of Mokona Modoki, a creature capable of crossing between worlds. Joining this quest are Fai D. Flourite, a lighthearted mage escaping oppression in his own realm, and Kurogane, a warrior sent on this journey to hone his skills and temper his nature. This unlikely group sets out to retrieve Sakura's feathers, a task that seems nearly hopeless.

After the apocalyptic war known as Armageddon, humanity encounters a new threat in vampires. Ongoing conflicts between the two species have divided the world into distinct factions. The vampire race, called Methuselah, aligns with the New Human Empire, while humans—referred to as Terrans by the vampires—form the Vatican Papal State. Additionally, extremist organizations such as the Rosenkreuz Order aim to reignite warfare, even as the factions try to avoid open hostilities. To counter terrorist groups, the Vatican establishes the AX unit. Under the leadership of Cardinal Caterina Sforza, AX agents investigate vampire-related incidents, hoping for eventual peaceful coexistence between Terrans and Methuselah. Among the unit is priest Abel Nightroad—a seemingly absent-minded yet kind-hearted man who becomes a formidable vampire slayer in battle. He is partnered with agent Sister Esther Blanchett, a courageous and gentle young nun burdened by a tragic past. As the pair grow closer, they begin to uncover hints of sinister plots and dark forces operating in secrecy. However, their journey is fraught with misfortune that may compel them to face the painful memories haunting their hearts.

Negi Springfield is a ten-year-old wizard who only needs to pass one final exam to become a Master Wizard. His last test is an unusual one: he must work as an English teacher at an all-girls boarding school. Upon arriving, he accidentally humiliates a student named Asuna Kagurazaka and replaces her favorite teacher, making her resent him. Things get worse when Asuna discovers Negi's magical abilities and blackmails him into helping her. Despite their rocky start, the two are forced to collaborate on various challenges, from battling evil wizards to ensuring their class passes their final exams—all while navigating humor, magic, and budding romances.

Following a routine raid, rookie sky pirate Coud discovers an unusual item in his crew's cargo hold: Ren, an Edel Reid—a race valued by humans for granting special combat abilities to their partners through a process called "Reacting." He soon realizes Ren is far more valuable than he initially thought. The pirate ship is visited by three agents from the Edel Reid Complete Protection Agency, Arc Aire, who attempt to buy her. When Coud refuses, a mysterious force attacks the ship, and Coud's captain orders him to protect Ren.

Due to his small stature, Yukinari was constantly picked on and mistreated by girls throughout his childhood. By the time he reaches high school, this has resulted in an unusual allergic reaction: any physical contact or even close proximity to females causes him to break out in hives. So he is shocked when he finds himself transported to the city of Seiren, which exists on a hidden world that orbits Earth and is home to an enormous female population with very few males. Luckily, he meets Miharu-chan, a girl whose touch does not trigger his condition.

Long ago, a race called the Shadow Angels attacked Earth to drain the life force from everyone living there. Through an extraordinary miracle, the Shadow Angels fell into dormancy, allowing humanity to survive for another 12,000 years without fear of them. However, 11 years after a catastrophe known as the Holy Genesis devastated the planet, the Shadow Angels awakened and resumed their assaults. To give humanity a fighting chance, an organization named DEAVA was established, and a robotic weapon called Aquarion was deployed. To unlock Aquarion's full potential, three pilots must unite their hearts, bodies, and souls—a feat only a rare few can achieve. Consequently, the search for so-called 'Element Users' became a priority, in hopes of securing humanity's future. Sousei no Aquarion follows the story of Apollo, a nearly feral young man raised in poverty, believed to be the reincarnation of a legendary hero. After his best friend is taken by the Shadow Angels, Apollo decides to become an Aquarion pilot. Can he turn the tide of the war and free humanity from the Shadow Angels' threat once and for all?

Every night, Toramizu Ginta dreams of a magical world and longs to go there. Only his friend Koyuki believes in his dreams, yet Ginta stays optimistic despite the criticism he faces from others. His wish comes true when a giant door appears before him one day, summoning him to the realm of MAR Heaven. In this world, weapons called ARMS exist. Ginta initially delights in exploring this enchanted land, but soon discovers the devastating wars that have scarred MAR Heaven in the past—and the looming conflict that threatens to erupt again.

In the Kingdom of Windbloom, Arika Yumemiya enters Garderobe Academy with the goal of becoming an Otome—a virgin girl capable of wielding a HiME (Highly-advanced Materializing Equipment) that grants devastating powers. She also hopes to find her mother, who served as a Meister Otome, the highest-ranking Otome tasked with acting as a nation’s personal bodyguard and super weapon. During her time at the academy, Arika befriends Nina Wáng, a standout Otome student, and Mashiro Blan de Windbloom, the kingdom’s current princess. With their support, Arika quickly adapts to the school’s routines, spending her days training with enthusiasm, managing social bonds, and honing her abilities as an Otome. Yet Arika soon discovers that the path to becoming an Otome is filled with hazards and murky political schemes. Confronted by a series of personal challenges, she must make tough sacrifices if she truly intends to fulfill her aspirations.

Mountain biking fan Shou Yamato is inexplicably transported to another realm called X-Zone along with his companions Kakeru and Makoto during a race. This parallel world operates on Idaten battles, which are MTB races featuring unique courses, specific rules, and latent powers sealed within the bicycles. The trio can only return to their original world by winning matches and acquiring the MTB emblems from their defeated opponents. Although Shou is initially confused and frightened by the strange environment, he quickly becomes enthusiastic about the chance to race against other MTB enthusiasts, forge new friendships and rivalries, and uncover the X-Zone's secrets, which could drastically alter his destiny. Shou and his friends must endure a difficult path filled with conspiracies aimed at them if they wish to return home safely.

Often, individuals are most fragile when they are lonely and struggle to connect with those around them. This isolation can feel sharper within a crowd, driving some to seek comfort in bizarre locations where the unknown hides. Ayumu Aizawa, a former urban resident now living in the rural area of Tana, and Kisa Tanigawa, a young girl who finds it difficult to relate to people, are among these individuals. Both share a sense that their lives have veered off course. Zettai Shounen narrates the story of peculiar events impacting two distinct environments, without clarifying their origins or sudden emergence. It is only understood that these occurrences revolve around people harboring conflicting feelings toward themselves and others.

Kuromi is startled when My Melody shows up on Earth. Joining forces with junior high student Yumeno Uta, the trio uses magic to safeguard the dreams of the people.

Yagi Takeru has been living under the roof of the Touma family ever since losing his parents, raised by the head of the household, Touma Rokunosuke. His days are filled with the company of Yamato Takeshi, his best friend and rival from the kendo club, the Shiratori sisters Kotono and Asuka, and his childhood friend Oosu Seri. Life seems peaceful until one day an earthquake hits the school, turning everything upside down. When Takeru comes to, he finds the school has decayed into ruins as if abandoned for centuries. He realizes that all the teachers and students have vanished. He reunites with Seri and Asuka, and they flee from the ruins, only to discover that the town they once knew is completely deserted. Then, figures wrapped in cloaks appear before them, informing them that they have been transported to another world.

Cluster Edge Academy is no ordinary school—it is the premier institution where the children of the elite train for their future positions in a world where artificial soldiers and religious factions vie for ultimate dominance. This might explain why the new transfer student, Agate Fluorite, seems out of place. His exuberant personality stands in stark contrast to the dour, brooding atmosphere of the student body. Yet there is something about Agate that captures attention, even from cynical top students like Beryl Jasper. From the moment he arrives, he finds himself at the heart of a series of enigmas that even he cannot decipher. For Agate is not merely a student—he is part of something so monumental and perilous that the very world which created Cluster Edge may not endure its passing.

In the dark century, people live under the oppression of the devil Vandel, who has the power to command monsters. Those who hunt these devils are known as Vandel Busters. The Zenon Squad is renowned as the strongest group of busters on the continent. A young boy named Beet dreams of joining the Zenon Squad. However, one day, because of Beet's mistake, the Zenon Squad is defeated by the devil Beltose. The five dying busters pour their life force into their five weapons, the Saiga. They entrust these weapons to Beet and then perish. Years later, the young Vandel Buster Beet sets out on his journey to carry out the Zenon Squad's desire to bring an end to the dark century.

After centuries of conflict and misunderstanding between humans and youkai, Japan has finally accepted these supernatural beings into society. To promote integration, human children now attend school alongside humanoid paranormal creatures. Shingo Ohashi finds himself falling for Hatoko “Petoko” Fujimura, a half-youkai, half-human girl with three distinct abilities: an irresistible cuteness that charms everyone around her (similar to a low-level succubus), the tendency to stick to anyone who touches her bare skin (which only stops when she falls asleep), and the capacity to vanish even at a molecular level—a power she can mostly control.

In an alternate Meiji Era, a boy named Sakamoto Ryunosuke returns to Kyoto from Shanghai with his youkai Nekomaru. The law requires that any youkai must be licensed to live freely alongside humans. The Kidou Shinsengumi Co. Ltd. is tasked with capturing unlicensed youkai, but they must contend with the Tsubamegumi, a group that opposes the new law. It is later revealed that Ryunosuke is the son of the Shinsengumi's owner.

Amano Sakogami suffers from an extraordinary amount of misfortune. One day, she stumbles into the clubroom of the Better Fortune Research Organization, a group composed of one boy and seven other girls who secretly harness the power of luck deities to battle the Magatsugami—monsters that can influence a person's luck and health. Amano soon becomes the club's manager and joins their fight against the Magatsugami and their controller, Kukitomoe.

Wishing upon shooting stars is a common occurrence, yet for B-DaPlayers across the globe, the true desire is not for those wishes to come true. While most perceive the fragments that have shrunk to pebble-sized during atmospheric entry and landed on Earth as mere rocks, the chosen few recognize them as Strike Shots—potent marbles originating from the mystical depths of outer space. Having secured victory over his ultimate adversaries, Yamato Daiwa presses onward in his evolution as a rising B-DaPlayer, driven by the pursuit of a new power befitting his upgraded battle equipment.

Drawing from Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale, Gerda and Kai are childhood neighbors and inseparable friends, with Gerda being eleven and Kai twelve. Their idyllic existence is shattered when the Snow Queen’s enchanted mirror shatters, scattering shards of malice across the globe. These fragments can freeze a person’s heart if they enter their eye, and indeed, a shard pierces Kai’s eye, turning him cold and unfeeling toward those he cares about. The Snow Queen eventually arrives in her carriage and kidnaps Kai, transporting him to her icy fortress at the world’s northernmost edge. While the villagers assume Kai perished in the frozen lake, Gerda refuses to accept this fate after dreaming of his abduction. A drunken witness confirms her vision, prompting Gerda to pack her bags and embark on a perilous quest to rescue Kai and return him home.

Genjou Sanzou, a Buddhist monk, is dispatched by the Emperor to retrieve sacred scriptures. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he encounters an Earth Deity, who reveals that Buddha has assigned him a disciple: the mischievous Monkey Deity Son Goku, who was imprisoned within a mountain for five centuries following his chaos in Heaven. Sanzou is soon joined by Cho Hakkai, a playboy with a fondness for alcohol; Sagojyou, a general from the heavenly army; and Ryuuba, a horse who is actually a Dragon Crown Prince. Together, this eclectic group embarks on various escapades, ranging from battling monsters to participating in bishounen contests.

A spaceship carrying powerful, mysterious life forms crashes into a dying planet, releasing an explosion of energy that restores the world with life-generating force. Popo, the protagonist, lives peacefully with his mother in a remote forest inhabited by praying mantises, ladybugs, beetles, and other insects. His primary wish is to become strong enough to find his father, the former Guardian of the Forest, who left years ago to pursue research on the planet and vanished without a trace. While walking through the woods, Popo encounters a sinister mist that engulfs the forest. The malevolent Passer appears, labeling Popo’s father as an enemy and the cause of the forest’s troubles. Upon returning home, Popo is horrified to discover his mother has been transformed into a half-plant, half-human creature. Believing only his father can restore her and save the forest, Popo sets out on a journey to find him. The villain Adder and his minions attempt to stop Popo using giant beetles that attack him relentlessly. Fortunately, Popo is aided by Mushiking, the King of Beetles. With immense strength and a dominant fighting style, Mushiking intervenes at critical moments to rescue Popo from defeat and keep him on his path. As Popo embraces his destiny as the next Guardian of the Forest, guided and protected by Mushiking, his epic quest to reunite with his father and save his home begins.

On the day her family moves into a new house, five-year-old Ami-chan discovers a door in her bedroom floor that leads to Animal Yokocho, a different world. Through it, she meets three talking animals: Issa, a gentle and naive panda; Kenta, a bear who always wears a red scarf and puts on a tough-guy attitude; and Iyo, a rabbit who prioritizes personal enjoyment and safety over the well-being of others. Despite being only five, Ami-chan is the most sensible of the group and initially feels cautious, but eventually grows comfortable and spends free time with them. A typical day involves the four playing various games meant to pass the time, but in true AniYoko fashion, these seemingly innocent activities often turn out drastically different, far less logical, and much more dangerous than their ordinary versions.

Mix Masters is an anime series co-produced by Korea and Japan, also referred to as Mix Master: King of Cards. The production involves Nippon Animation from Japan, along with Sunwoo Entertainment and KBS from Korea. The plot revolves around the fantasy and adventure card game Mix Master, which shifts from being a video game into reality after a scientist's new invention goes horribly wrong. Creatures known as henches from the video game escape into the real world, and it falls to the Mix Master to stop these creatures from causing chaos. Meanwhile, an evil leader from the game, Prince Brad, stirs up trouble for them with some sinister goal.

This claymation series features Hello Kitty. The setting, Stump Village, consists of homes made from tree stumps situated in a remote part of a forest. The close community includes Badtz Maru, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Pom Pom Purin, and Hello Kitty. Most other Sanrio characters, despite the franchise having hundreds of them, rarely appear in this show.

A fairy named Mi is dispatched to the planet Pandasia to alert its inhabitants of an impending great evil that could destroy it. To stop this threat, she selects Toby, a courageous panda, to oppose Gold and Silver, two villains whose goal is to gather the seven Beans of Power and transform Pandasia's vibrant, colorful landscape into a dark, barren wasteland.

Kotencotenco is a gag strip anime for young children that follows the antics of Kotenco, the Prince of the country of Paradice. Kotenco protects the "Angel Star" for the Queen in Paradice. He is a very well-behaved child, but when evil spirits rise, Kotenco transforms into Matenco. Unlike Kotenco, Matenco is a very naughty child who causes trouble for everyone. But don't worry! By turning the angel ring, Matenco changes back into Kotenco. Will Kotenco be able to keep the "Angel Star" safe from the ruler and the Devil of the Country of the Ground, who aim to conquer Paradice?

A whale-shaped cloud drifts across the blue sky. What remains unseen is the strange land of Nepos Napos that exists above it. Don't you wonder what happens and how everyone lives up there?