Best Fantasy Anime of 1986

Goku Son is a young boy living alone in the wilderness when he meets Bulma, a girl searching for the legendary Dragon Balls. These rare artifacts are said to grant one wish to whoever gathers them all. Bulma wants to collect them to wish for her ideal partner. Goku possesses one of these orbs but refuses to hand it over. Bulma proposes a deal: he can accompany her on her journey if she is allowed to use his Dragon Ball. Thus, their incredible adventure begins. Their path is not lonely; they soon encounter Master Muten-Roshi and his student Kuririn, both of whom Goku trains with to improve his abilities for an upcoming World Martial Arts Tournament. However, the power to grant any wish makes the Dragon Balls a target for those with evil intentions. To stop anyone who might misuse this ancient power, they continue to grow stronger, using their developing skills to protect the people they meet along their travels.

In an era where airships and airplanes are a daily sight, the young Sheeta is seized by government agents upon the discovery of her enigmatic crystal pendant. Held in despair aboard a flying vessel, her fate shifts when pirates attack, offering her an opportunity to flee. There, she encounters Pazu, a boy determined to locate the mythical floating fortress known as Laputa. Together, they embark on a journey to find this castle in the sky, while government forces relentlessly hunt them down for their own selfish reasons. Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa follows the exciting exploits of Sheeta and Pazu, illustrating how shared aspirations and perilous circumstances can create an unbreakable bond between two souls.

In ancient times, a group of young warriors devoted themselves to safeguarding Athena, the deity of wisdom and warfare. Capable of fighting without weapons, their strength was immense; a single blow could split the heavens and crumble the earth beneath. These fighters were known as Saints and could harness the power of the Cosmos within them. In the modern era, a fresh batch of Saints emerges. Seiya, full of vigor, fights passionately to claim the Pegasus Cloth, determined to overcome any obstacle. After six years of rigorous training, his efforts bear fruit as he triumphs and joins Athena’s ranks as a Saint. However, Seiya’s trials are just beginning. Numerous threats and powerful adversaries still confront him and the other Saints. What future hurdles will the protagonists of the legendary Saint Seiya series face?

This tale depicts a different version of the Dragon Ball start, highlighting an unusual encounter between Goku, Bulma, Oolong, and Yamcha. The four come together while each seeks the dragon balls for their own motives, only to run into Gourmet, a wicked king after the same treasures.

Two pairs of young lovers are drawn into a conflict between two opposing kingdoms: the primitive yet splendid Isa and the militaristic yet unruly Paro. Izu and his wife Marin work as simple farmers in the humble village of Saki, situated directly between Isa and Paro. Though Saki lacks the elegance of Isa or the war engines of Paro, the village is home to a magnificent tree called "Windaria," to which the villagers offer their prayers in exchange for "good memories." When war breaks out, Izu decides to enlist in Paro's army, lured by the promise of a fantastic motorbike given to him as a bribe. Before he leaves, the couple makes a mutual promise: he will definitely return to her, and she will wait for him until he does. The other pair consists of Jill, the prince of Paro, and Ahanas, the princess of Isa. Initially they want no part in the rapidly escalating war, but after Jill's father—the king of Paro—dies by his son's hand during an argument over the conflict, Jill has little choice but to carry out his father's final wish: the conquest of Isa. The only complication is that Jill had sworn to his beloved Ahanas that he would not get involved. Windaria is a war parable set in a fantasy land filled with unicorns and ghost ships.

After giant robot parts fall from the sky, Nobita and Doraemon take them to the mirror world to build the machine, naming it Zandacross. Recognizing the danger it poses, they decide to keep it a secret. Soon, a mysterious girl named Riruru shows up and asks to use Zandacross for an invasion, even though she herself is against attacking Earth. To stop the robot army's assault, Doraemon and his friends join forces, eventually learning that only Riruru has the ability to halt the invasion.

In a distant era when gods and men walk the earth together, a young boy named Arion plays in the rolling hills of Thrace. His mother Demeter bears a double burden: a curse of blindness and the hidden truth of Arion's birth. A mysterious stranger spirits Arion away, intent on shaping the growing boy into an assassin—a covert weapon to tip the balance in the war between Zeus and Poseidon. But Arion will not be easily manipulated, nor will he submit quietly to adversaries such as the tenacious Ares, the intelligent and fierce Athena, or the elegant and scheming Apollo. Only his tremendous strength, a forgotten weapon forged by Prometheus, and the love and loyalty of his allies can carry Arion forward. To uncover the secret of his destiny, he must storm Mount Olympus—and face down Zeus himself!

In a realm of fantasy and adventure, Amon is a young warrior seeking to avenge his mother's death. His pursuit eventually carries him to the kingdom of Valhiss, where he joins the Emperor's army in hopes of finding a chance to carry out his revenge. But when he happens upon Princess Lichia, held prisoner by the Emperor as a pawn to extort a map from his greatest rival, King Darai-Sem, Amon is forced to choose between following his own path of vengeance and aiding the Princess in order to save a kingdom on the verge of collapse.

In Nara period Japan, the celebrated sculptor Akanemaru sets out on a journey to locate the legendary immortal bird known as the Phoenix, believing it will provide the inspiration for his finest creation. Along the way, he encounters Gaou, a bitter bandit missing one eye and one arm, who attacks Akanemaru without reason and steals his belongings. After they separate, both individuals continue with their lives, oblivious to how their initial meeting will shape their futures. Akanemaru eventually gives up his search for the Phoenix due to fresh obligations, whereas Gaou experiences a dramatic downturn in fortune. These developments pave the way for their reunion, this time as enemies. Hi no Tori: Houou-hen explores the complex web of causation and consequence, tracing the lives of Akanemaru and Gaou as they contend with the fallout from their past deeds.

In the story "The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin," the adventurous penguin Lolo embarks on thrilling journeys alongside his friend Pepe. Together, they discover the marvels of their frozen home and learn from Don, a young dog, and Don's human companion—a scientist studying the Antarctic environment. Their adventures become more difficult when they become lost in unknown areas of the region, uncovering that hidden threats exist in their surroundings. However, with good fortune and Lolo's courage leading them, they are able to surmount every challenge.

Maple Town Stories centers on themes of friendship and adventure, as well as the predicaments encountered by the show's main young characters: Patty Rabbit, Bobby Bear, and Fanny Fox. Wild Wolfe, a homeless thief dwelling in the forest, frequently steals from the town and engages in other acts of mischief. However, the children consistently intervene to thwart him and restore order, gradually guiding him to recognize the error of his ways.

Dorothy and her dog Toto live quietly on Uncle Henry and Aunt Em's farm in Kansas. One day, a sudden event sweeps them from the prairie into the enchanted land of Oz. Traveling along the yellow brick road toward Emerald City hoping to find a way back home, Dorothy and Toto befriend several new companions. Upon arriving at the city, they find that the enigmatic ruler of Oz is far from what they imagined. The Wizard can send Dorothy home, but the cost is steep: she and her allies—the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion—must vanquish the Wicked Witch of the West and liberate the Winkies from her tyranny.

In the Bosco World, the Fountain of Life sustains all living beings. Princess Apricot, the destined Queen of Fountainland and guardian of this vital fountain, is abducted by those who seek to dominate the Bosco World. If Princess Apricot does not ascend the throne before the approaching solar eclipse, the Fountain of Life will stop flowing. Determined to aid her, the woodland creatures of Bosco—Frog, Otter, and Tortoise—set off to rescue the princess and escort her safely to Fountainland to preserve their peaceful existence. Their journey unfolds through a series of wondrous adventures, filled with dreams, hope, and love, as they travel by balloon.

Two brothers are cruising on their Hover bikes when a massive Metal Fortress blocks their path. Following a short fight, they succeed in critically damaging the fortress. It flees, leaving the heroes stranded in what appears to be a barren wasteland. However, this wasteland is home to nomads, who reveal that the fortress has taken refuge inside a mountain. The nomads beg the brothers to complete their mission. Two of the locals accompany them as guides, and during their journey, they obtain assistance from a faery capable of transforming into a mech-warrior woman.

In Love Position: Halley Densetsu, microbiologist Subaru Marita is picked for a research mission to Vietnam to examine a newly discovered microorganism, which catches his father Robert off guard. Decades prior, during the Vietnam War, Robert encountered Lamina, a mysterious woman with healing powers, deep in the jungle. Their relationship was interrupted by the conflict, and Robert never saw her again. Holding onto faint hope, Robert gives Subaru an old harmonica, asking him to pass it to Lamina if possible. After arriving in Vietnam, Subaru initially doubts he can locate Lamina and fulfill his father’s request. Yet he is stunned not only to find her but also to see she looks exactly as she did when Robert last saw her. Drawn to her, Subaru becomes caught up in a mystery that reaches far beyond his scientific work.

The OVA's first two episodes retrace the main events of the TV series, while the third episode, titled Crest of Iron, is set in an alternate reality.

Adapted from the manga Mamonogatari Itoshi no Betty by Koike Kazuo and Kanou Seisaku, the story follows Betty, a devil-girl possessing an angelic face and a golden heart. During a rainstorm, she falls for Danpei Kimogawa, a human gangster, and the two begin living together in Tokyo. However, Danpei struggles to manage his new in-laws, a witch and a demon, who frequently drop by at inconvenient times. Unbeknownst to Danpei, Betty's true purpose for coming to the human world is a mission to defeat the demon Lutan. As she pursues this goal, her skeletal grandmother dispatches nubile nymphs to tempt Danpei, testing whether he is worthy of being a husband.

Eleven rambunctious cats, fleeing from the town's police chief, discover a large fish nearby. Embarking on a perilous quest to catch it, they realize that working together is essential to their success.

Drawn by the commotion above, Mock and his sister Sweet emerge from their underground hideout to help those in need. Their goal is to protect the weak, the innocent, and the courageous across various worlds. Using clever and mischievous tactics reminiscent of Mole, they overthrow tyrannical leaders, evil kings, and infamous emperors. The narrative unfolds through major historical events.