Best Fantasy Anime of 1983

Shou Zama, a typical 18-year-old from Tokyo, is suddenly pulled into the mystical realm of Byston Well. Once there, he is forced into service under Drake Luft, a noble consumed by ambition. People from "Upper Earth" like Shou possess strong aura abilities and are assigned to pilot "Aura Battlers"—insect-like mecha created by Shot Weapon, another Upper Earth native. Shou's loyalties shift after he meets Marvel Frozen, a young woman opposing Drake's political schemes. Realizing Drake's malevolent goals, Shou decides to rebel and sides with Neal Given, the rebellion's leader. Riml, Drake's daughter and Neal's secret lover, also supports the cause, yearning to escape her father's control. Together, Shou and his comrades strive to halt Drake's bid to conquer Byston Well, risking everything to crush the oppressive lord's ambitions.

This version reimagines Lewis Carroll's classic story, focusing on Alice as she follows a white rabbit down a hole and arrives in the bizarre realm of Wonderland. There, she encounters a variety of peculiar figures, including the enigmatic Cheshire Cat and the fearsome Queen of Hearts.

This animated feature, based on a new theatrical adaptation of "Unico and the Kingdom of the Sun," centers on a confrontation between the wizard Kukuruku and the magical creature Unico. Kukuruku constructs a fortress using humans who have been transformed into its building materials. The narrative explores the anguish and fear experienced by those turned into dolls, while also tracing the efforts of a girl named Cherry, who seeks to restore the lost warmth in her brother—a disciple of Kukuruku. The film highlights Tezuka Osamu's enduring theme of transformation, showing how it alters not only physical form but also the core of human nature.

In a Chinese valley untouched by human presence resides a small panda named Tao Tao. Alongside his companions—Kiki the monkey, Puhu the squirrel, and Poe the hare—he spends his days playing throughout the forest.

A young boy named Kona counts a pink dragon called Serendipity among his friends. With a gentle personality, the dragon aids Kona in their quest to prevent a wicked captain from making off with the gold of their tranquil island.

The story follows Noel, a young girl, and her dog Pup, who reside together on Planet Noel. While taking it easy, Noel gets the notion to bring ice cream to the sun. The pair take flight and head off toward their destination. Along the way, they touch down on Planet Gaudy. The President comes out to greet them upon their arrival and invites the two to a special gathering, where the Emcees present the planet's most exquisite fashions. Noel is unimpressed, remarking that what one wears doesn't determine their beauty or the love they receive. Her words persuade the President and the planet's residents to shed their clothing, and Noel does the same. Pup gently reminds her about their journey to the sun, and the two set off once more to find it. When they reach the sun, it cautions them about a foul smog rising from an unidentified planet. The pair leave the sun to locate the smog's origin, but the haze quickly closes in around them. They manage to escape by diving underwater on a nearby planet. There, they take in the lovely sights beneath the surface, but as they venture deeper, they come to realize the fish are unwell.

Sachiko is a discontented girl who is extremely particular about what she eats, leaving her without sufficient energy and causing her to struggle in physical education at school. One evening, a white rabbit appears and escorts her to the Land of the Moon. In that place, she encounters a princess who is her exact double, but who is energetic, cheerful, and robust. This encounter motivates Sachiko to transform her own habits.

Adventures of a demon slayer Tenmaru.

Within the series "Manga Aesop Monogatari," a lively young boy named Aesop is magically whisked away to a strange world inhabited by fantastic beings, including fairies and talking donkeys. Determined to find his way home, he begins a journey, crossing paths with many iconic characters from well-known fables along the way. Each new encounter brings its own obstacles, teaching Aesop valuable lessons as he travels.

The story "Jeremy no Ki" delivers a heartwarming Christmas tale, adapted from a children’s picture book. It follows a bird that was abandoned and subsequently raised by a tree, then cut down for the city’s holiday decorations. Jeremy, a destitute orphan who hears the bird’s account, helps the bird search every Christmas tree in town for the tree that nurtured her. As the cold search drags on, Jeremy endures various hardships until a vision resembling Santa Claus appears—leaving doubt about whether it is truly Santa.

A mischievous boy named Aesop is magically whisked away to a fantastical world where beings such as fairies and a talking donkey—creatures he thought only existed in stories—are real. His mission is to discover a way back to his own world. During his journey, Aesop meets and becomes friends with well-known characters from famous fables. Every obstacle he faces imparts important moral lessons.

This one-shot adaptation of Morio Kita's science fiction novel follows Dr. Mambo and his unusual partner, thief Jibako, as they aid Princess Laura—the former ruler of Eden—in taking back her throne from the usurper, President Capo.