Best Fantasy Anime of 2012

Since the launch of the revolutionary NerveGear, players worldwide have been able to immerse themselves fully in virtual reality. Among the console's most popular titles is Sword Art Online (SAO), which transports users to the sprawling, medieval world of Aincrad, where they can explore limitless possibilities limited only by imagination. With the game's global release, virtual reality gaming has never felt so real. But this perfect fantasy swiftly turns into a harrowing nightmare when SAO's creator traps thousands of players inside the game. The logout function has been disabled, and the only way to escape is to clear all one hundred increasingly treacherous floors of Aincrad. Worse still, any death inside the game results in real-world death. Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya, a former beta-tester, soon discovers that even with his prior knowledge, he cannot conquer SAO on his own. Partnering with Asuna Yuuki and other skilled players, he strives to overcome the seemingly impossible challenges ahead. However, between formidable bosses and sinister dark cults blocking their path, Kirito learns that these tasks are far easier said than done.

As the Fourth Holy Grail War continues with no decisive winner emerging, the remaining Servants and their Masters are summoned by Church overseer Risei Kotomine to form a temporary alliance against an approaching danger that could disrupt the Holy Grail War and lead to the devastation of Fuyuki City. The fragile ceasefire quickly falls apart as Masters reveal their willingness to resort to any means, however vile, to claim victory. Tension grows between Kiritsugu Emiya and his Servant Saber, as their opposing views on heroism and honor create friction. At the same time, a sinister connection develops between Kirei Kotomine, still searching for his own sense of purpose, and one of the other Servants. As the war's final moments draw near, the price of triumph starts to blur the distinction between success and failure.

A Magi is a sorcerer whose magical aptitude is so vast that they are believed to have the power to shape the world. Wielding this great influence, each Magi selects a worthy individual to become a king, aiding them in conquering strange labyrinths known as "Dungeons" and obtaining the power of mythical djinns within. Above all, the Magi oversees their chosen representative as they build a kingdom that may one day bring the world to its knees. Aladdin is a young Magi wandering the world in search of his true identity. However, his journey is not solitary, as he is accompanied by his friend and mentor Ugo—a djinn he summons using his flute. During his travels, Aladdin also befriends Alibaba Saluja and guides him to a nearby Dungeon. With this new bond, they embark on an epic adventure across the globe, witnessing various anomalies that appear more frequent than ever.

Around the year 2011, a small portion of humanity began awakening psychokinetic abilities known as Cantus. Over a thousand years later, in the village of Kamisu 66, Saki Watanabe is the last among her friends to manifest her powers and enroll at the Sage Academy, a school for psychics. Although all students there possess Cantus, they are not treated equally; soon after Saki starts, a classmate considered weaker than the rest suddenly disappears. One day while walking home with her friends—the determined Maria Akizuki, the intelligent Shun Aonuma, the observant Satoru Asahina, and the timid Mamoru Itou—she encounters two unfamiliar creatures called Monster Rats. These mole-like beings worship those who wield Cantus as gods. When Saki uses her ability to help one of them out of a predicament, she is met with profound gratitude. Now questioning the Monster Rats' place in society, Saki and her companions discover another disappearance. As time passes, they gradually seek answers to the mysteries surrounding them and begin to realize that this seemingly perfect new world conceals humanity's dark history.

Yoshino Takigawa, a typical high school student, is secretly in a relationship with Aika, the younger sister of his best friend Mahiro Fuwa. Following Aika's mysterious death, Mahiro vanishes, determined to hunt down and punish her murderer. Yoshino resumes his normal routine, having had no contact with Mahiro for a month, until a strange girl holds him at gunpoint. Mahiro arrives just in time to rescue him. Yoshino discovers that Mahiro has recruited a witch named Hakaze Kusaribe to assist in the investigation. However, Hakaze has been exiled to a deserted island because of conflicts within her clan. Her brother, Samon, selfishly seeks to exploit the power of the Tree of Exodus, ignoring both Hakaze's objections and the looming threat to the world. With Hakaze unavailable, Yoshino and Mahiro must aid her in saving the globe, while gradually uncovering the secrets surrounding Aika's death.

Thirty years have passed since Samon Syndrome started transporting countless young people to parallel fantasy worlds, with only a small number of returnees managing to keep the extraordinary abilities they acquired there. Akatsuki Ousawa, known as the "Rogue Hero," leaves his peaceful life in the realm of Alayzard to take on new challenges on Earth. He returns alongside Miu, the daughter of the vanquished Demon King, who must hide her true identity by pretending to be his younger sister. The pair enrolls at Babel, an institution that trains individuals who have gained magical powers through their inter-dimensional journeys. Although the school claims its purpose is to steer these young travelers toward a virtuous path for the good of humanity and themselves, its real motives remain hidden from the fake siblings. Will Akatsuki and Miu defeat the powerful and hostile student council while exposing the secret agendas working behind the scenes?

Following the events of Zero no Tsukaima: Princesses no Rondo, Saito Hiraga and Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière shift to an offensive stance. With assistance from two other individuals who wield the power of the "void," they confront King Joseph in the Holy City of Romalia. Amid the numerous conflicts ahead, an ancient evil begins to stir from the shadows. Will their deep connection develop into something more, or will it be broken by the ever-growing difficulty of the trials they must endure? Zero no Tsukaima F chronicles the journey of Louise and Saito as they confront their ultimate challenges together.

Aikawa Ayumu was brought back from the dead as a zombie by the adorable necromancer Eucliwood Hellscythe. Following the wild and chaotic escapades of the first season of Is This a Zombie?, Ayumu believed his life could finally return to normal, or at least as normal as possible for a zombie. But fate has different ideas for him. Some guys just can't catch a break.

On her first day of junior high, Mato Kuroi feels an immediate pull toward the quiet Yomi Takanashi and makes sincere attempts to start a conversation, hoping to become friends. Though Yomi initially keeps her distance, their connection changes when she notices a decorative blue bird on Mato’s phone—a charm from the book "Li'l Birds At Play." Realizing they share the same interest, the two girls form a deep bond. In a parallel world, these girls exist as counterparts: Mato is the warrior Black★Rock Shooter, and Yomi is Dead Master. Events in one realm seem to affect the other, and though they remain unaware of this link, fate intertwines their lives in unforeseen ways.

On the island of Regalo, a group of supernaturally empowered mafia-like guardians known as the Arcana Famiglia protects the populace from any who might threaten them. The members of this organization, having formed contracts with tarot cards, each wield distinct abilities, such as immense strength, invisibility, or the power to perceive someone's innermost thoughts. Mondo, their leader and the "Papa" of their family, declares at his birthday celebration that he will soon step down. He intends to host the Arcana Duello, a tournament where the victor will earn the title of Papa and any wish they desire. However, more than just a title is at stake: Mondo also decrees that the winner will marry his daughter, Felicità. Furious at this decision, the determined Felicità chooses to join the competition herself, seeking to forge her own path. As Felicità fights for her independence, her rivals compete for her affection.

Over many decades, steadily falling birth rates have driven human civilization nearly to extinction. The few remaining people scrape by in a post-apocalyptic world, using whatever the previous generations left behind. Fairies now rule the Earth—tiny beings armed with ultra-advanced technology, an insatiable craving for sweets, and zero concern for human well-being. A young woman who has just completed her education returns to her hometown and is appointed an official United Nations arbitrator. Her job is to act as a bridge between humans and fairies, convincing both sides that peaceful coexistence is possible. She expects the role to be straightforward, but reining in the disasters caused by the oblivious fairies as they chase after candy proves far more challenging than she ever anticipated.

While playing an MMORPG, Kon Hokaze receives a message from a female avatar, leading him to believe he has found an online romance. Suddenly, he is summoned to the world of Mira, where he inadvertently rescues a young princess by crashing into her attacker with his swivel chair. Unsure of how he arrived or how to return home, Kon joins the princess’s honor guard as a hostile militant faction within her homeland attempts to capture her prior to her arranged marriage.

A dozen millennia after the events of Genesis Aquarion, humanity dwells on the star Vega, constantly threatened by trans-dimensional raiders called Abductors. These enemies come from Altair, Vega’s sister star, and attack Vega to steal human lives. In response, the organization Neo-DEAVA was created to fight the Abductors. Its pilots use advanced mecha suits known as Aquaria, which are strictly divided by gender. Boys and girls are prohibited from interacting and are even kept from fighting on the same battlefield. But when an advanced Abductor mecha suit appears, everything changes. Two teenagers, Mikono and Amata, are swept into the conflict. Without realizing it, Amata commits a taboo by summoning an Aquaria and initiating the Forbidden Union between male and female Aquaria. Neo-DEAVA is horrified, and the consequences of Amata’s actions extend far beyond what he understands. How was he able to summon an Aquaria? Where did he learn to perform the Forbidden Union? And why could Mikono also pilot that mecha?

Cinque returns to Flonyard in Dog Days', picking up his role as the Biscotti Republic's hero as if no time has passed at all. This time, however, he brings along two companions who become heroes in their own right: his childhood best friend Rebecca Anderson, who is persuaded by Princess Couvert Eschenbach Pastillage to serve as the hero for the Principality of Pastillage, and his cousin Nanami Takatsuki, who takes on the hero role for the Galette Lion Dominion. Just like in the first season, with countless secrets to uncover and mysteries to solve, will there even be room for the athletic competitions these three energetic teenagers love so dearly?

Using the chance created by the Mikawa Conflict, Tori and his allies try to rescue Horizon from the Testament Union. While the Floating City Musashi speeds toward its next destination, the Floating Island England, Tres España assembles its fleet for war with the British Islanders. As the search for Horizon's emotions reaches its peak, Tori's next fight is set to start in the land ruled by the Fairy Queen. The reenactment of the history recorded in the mysterious Testament goes on as the secret of the Armor of Deadly Sins is revealed in the stunning second season of Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere!

Satoshi, Iris, and Dent keep journeying across the Isshu region. Following his successful acquisition of his eighth Gym Badge from Homika in Tachiwaki City, Shirona invites the group to her villa in eastern Isshu, where their old friend Hikari is also a guest, and to take part in the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup prior to Satoshi's entry into the Isshu League. Meanwhile, Team Rocket launches its ultimate scheme for the Isshu region. What drives their quest for the legendary Pokémon Meloetta?

Mars, the war god and guardian of his namesake planet, was previously sealed away by Seiya, but as time moves forward, his resurrection approaches. In the meantime, Saori Kido (Athena) is raising Kouga, a boy whose life Seiya had spared, and he trains daily to become a Saint in preparation for the impending disaster. Ignorant of his fate, Kouga awakens to the hidden power of his Cosmo, unveiling the legend of a new Saint.

A great storm washes the mysterious girl Kaguya onto the shores of Wyndaria, where she crosses paths with Rick, a swordsman employed at a local bakery. Kaguya suffers from amnesia and has lost her emotions, while the island’s usual tranquility is shattered by pirates searching for the unique spirit stone hanging around her neck. Determined to restore order and help Kaguya recover her memories and feelings, Rick teams up with his colleagues Nellis, Amyl, and Aerie to protect the island.

When Queen Claudette’s rule shifts from nobility to oppression and heretical persecution, a new generation of warriors rises to challenge her. Facing off against the Amazonian ranks backed by her power and assassins, these rebels must rely on their wits and assets. The daring damsels, willing to risk their bodies and beauty, seek to expose the unexpected weaknesses in the queen’s formidable support.

Following the defeat of a mysterious foe, Yuma Tsukumo, aided by Kaito Tenjou and Ryouga "Shark" Kamishiro, successfully thwarts the Barian's schemes. Yet, Yuma remains dedicated to gathering the Number Cards to help Astral recover his memories. The Seven Barian Emperors learn of Yuma and Astral's mission and start hunting for the cards themselves, aiming to destroy Astral's dimension in exchange for saving their own. Although only five emperors appear, they unanimously resolve to eliminate Astral and Yuma once and for all. Meanwhile, empowered by their new ZEXAL abilities, Astral and Yuma strive to defeat the enemy force threatening Earth and the wider universe. Yu☆Gi☆Oh! Zexal Second reveals the mysteries and unwelcome surprises following Yuma's hardships. As Astral grapples with accepting his past and its potential consequences, will the gods continue to bless Yuma with good fortune during this next dangerous journey?

In Sengoku Collection, a group of samurai are accidentally transported from a parallel universe that hosts well-known historical figures. Unlike the historical war period we know, all inhabitants of this unusual world resemble high school girls. Hailing from the medieval era and utterly bewildered by everything they encounter in present-day Tokyo, the girls forge deep friendships through their adventures.

The yellow-and-black creature named Wooser may look adorable, but he has a dark side. This strange being lives a hand-to-mouth existence. Though lovely, his heart is dark—the new hero (?) from the depths of the internet now appears on TV and Nico Nico Video! Wooser says his favorite things are meat, money, and girls, but what are those cute, round eyes actually staring at? (Probably meat, money, or girls.) This peculiar creature's bizarre daily life is brought to life by Sanzigen, known for their 3D CG animations. Be aware that the dot in the middle is intended to be a mouth, not a nose.

The inspiration from a traveler who once came to her childhood town leads Princess Mikoto of Elua to pursue the life of a hunter, seeking treasures across the realm of Driland. She begins her quest accompanied by her aide Wallens. Along the way, they are joined by Pollon, a hunter with aspirations of becoming a hero, and Paan, a knight without a fixed abode. As their adventures progress, they start to perceive a looming menace approaching.

Years earlier, the emperor's death triggered riots and civil wars that ravaged Atlantia. When the young king Yaiba took the throne, traitorous rebels were executed to restore the peace the country had once known. However, stained by this harsh political act, Atlantia remained under the shadow of oppressive rule. Tsurugi Tatewaki is an energetic youth who grew up in the rural countryside with little memory of his biological parents. One day at home, he discovers a mysterious sword that turns into a Battle Spirits card. When soldiers from Atlantia confront Tsurugi, aiming to seize his card, the truths about his past gradually start to surface. Alongside a droid named Bringer, Tsurugi travels to Atlantia's capital and meets supposed warriors who wield similar swords. As his world is slowly turned upside down by the emergence of deeper mysteries, Tsurugi may have to reconsider everything he knows, even his own perception of what separates good from evil.

Following the collapse of the Mechanical City and the near-destruction of the Mohists, the Qin Empire seeks peace and prosperity, employing vast labor forces to construct the Great Wall and initiate advanced projects. Tension rises in the city regarding the mysterious giant vessel, the Mirage, appearing offshore. Rebel factions unite in Shanghai to thwart the Emperor’s ambitions. The Emperor and his forces, including the Quicksand group, the Yin-Yang School, the Net Trap Organization, and swordsman Shengqi, oppose a rebel coalition comprising the Mohists, Confucianists, and Taoists. As Tianming faces increasing challenges as the Mohist leader, his education and training continue.

The story follows Katta Kirifuda, Bucyake, and Yohdel as they continue their school season, meeting new classmates like Leo for dueling matches.

As a young child, Nian Chi watched helplessly as his older sister was abducted right in front of him, an event that has haunted him ever since. Ten years later, he is determined to rescue her and embarks on his quest.

Fourth season of the Shimajirou children's television series.

This is a music video for Peggy Hayama's song "Ton Ton Ton," which aired as part of NHK's Minna no Uta program. The animation was done by Tetsu Suzuki, with artwork by Yuu Iijima.