Best Fantasy Anime of 1996

After years of searching, Emperor Pilaf at last obtains the Black Star Dragon Balls, artifacts rumored to possess twice the power of the ordinary Dragon Balls found on Earth. Just as Pilaf is on the verge of wishing for total world domination, Gokuu Son barges in and disrupts the ceremony. The interruption causes Pilaf to botch his wish, and instead of ruling the world, he accidentally reverts Gokuu to the body of a child. No sooner is the wish fulfilled than the Black Star Dragon Balls fly off to distant corners of the galaxy. Gokuu soon learns that these special Dragon Balls come with a terrible catch: unless every last one is recovered within a single year, the Earth itself will be destroyed. Joined by his granddaughter Pan and a now-young-adult Trunks, Gokuu embarks on an intergalactic quest to track down the scattered Black Star Dragon Balls and keep his home planet from exploding.

Hitomi Kanzaki, a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl who enjoys tarot and fortune-telling, finds her mundane life upended when a boy named Van Fanel plunges from the sky alongside a fierce dragon. Using her ability to see glimpses of the future, Hitomi helps Van vanquish the dragon, but the two are then engulfed by a ray of light and transported to Gaea, a mystical realm where Earth hangs in the heavens. Once there, Hitomi learns that Van is the prince of the Kingdom of Fanelia, which faces imminent danger from the malevolent Zaibach Empire. To protect his realm, Van pilots his family's legendary guymelef, Escaflowne—a mighty mechanized armor suit—but he cannot prevent Fanelia's downfall. Fleeing the devastation, Hitomi and Van meet Allen Schezar, a handsome knight from Asturia who bears an uncanny resemblance to a boy Hitomi admired back on Earth. As they gather more companions, Van and Hitomi struggle against the Zaibach Empire, whose goal is to awaken an ancient and dangerous power.

In the world of Xoana, Lina Inverse and Gourry Gabriev encounter their former companions, Zelgadis Graywords and Princess Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune. They quickly put a stop to the evil schemes of Xoana's king and his daughter, who sought global domination. Shortly afterward, Zelgadis speaks of his search for the Claire Bible, a powerful magical tome that he thinks can return him to his human form. Despite some reluctance, the party decides to accompany him on his quest. While puzzling over how to find the hidden book, they come across an enigmatic priest called Xellos, who offers his help in their endeavor.

A different version of the early Dragon Ball story presents a fresh perspective on Goku's first encounter with Bulma and Kame-Sen'nin. The narrative returns to the struggle against the Red Ribbon Army, featuring a twist where the military organization discovers Goku first rather than him finding them.

The fate of the universe hinges on a single decision by Kamui Shirou, who must choose to destroy either the Dragons of Earth or the Dragons of Heaven—two opposing armies. His choice alone will decide whether humanity should be wiped out to bring about a purified universe or safeguarded to preserve civilization. Two oracles, the sisters Hinoto and Kanoe, foresee the arrival of the Dragons and each predicts a different outcome. They each gather allies and resources to ensure their own vision of the future comes to pass. Yet neither sister realizes that one man wields power even greater than the Dragons, and that he will ultimately decide the planet's fate. Which sister's prophecy will come true, and what role does Kamui play in their conflict? The answer will shape the destiny of all humanity.

Martial artist Junpei Ryuzouji, actress Airi Komiyama, and Ritsuko Inoue—a student with a passion for artillery—find themselves suddenly whisked from Japan to a mysterious, enchanted realm. An elven priestess named Celcia Marieclaire attempts to send them back with a spell, but the magic is interrupted and shatters into fragments that lodge themselves into the skin of various elves. Using Ritsuko's tank, the trio sets out to locate these elves, hoping Celcia can retrieve the spell pieces and reassemble the magic. On their journey, they become known as "Those Who Hunt Elves" because of their elf-hunting and their fame as warriors who wield a powerful cannon. They develop a terrifying reputation among elves for capturing and stripping anyone they find. Though they may lack smarts, they compensate with eagerness and an unyielding determination to get back to Japan.

After their journey through the magical book Fushigi Yuugi, Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo have returned to everyday life, and Miaka was able to bring Tamahome out of The Universe of the Four Gods. But their happiness is soon threatened by new obstacles. While visiting the graves of the other girls who once entered The Universe of the Four Gods, Tamahome vanishes after being consumed by a red light, leaving Miaka heartbroken. Having witnessed this, Miaka's brother Keisuke and his friend Tetsuya Kajiwara promise to help her find Tamahome. Meanwhile, Tamahome is pulled back into the book, where he learns that fifty years have passed since he left and that his former enemy Nakago has taken over his identity. Can Miaka and Tamahome overcome these difficulties and be reunited, or are they destined to stay apart forever? Also, the priestesses Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo, together with the Celestial Warriors of Suzaku and Seiryuu, take a bus trip to a hot spring resort for some relaxation. Despite the long ride, the group stays cheerful with playful tricks, unaware of the surprises that await them at their destination.

In the village of Biaz, the inhabitants are forced to labor for the world-dominating Zein organization. Lina Inverse and Naga The Serpent are hired to drive out the oppressors, tempted by rumors of hidden Elf treasure buried under Biaz. However, they quickly encounter more complications than expected, confronting not only the Zein forces but also dangers stemming from the treasure itself.

This collection of three separate half-hour episodes focuses on Lina Inverse and her companion, Naga The Serpent, as they take on various jobs for quick cash, meals, and safety. In "The Scary Chimera Plan," they face a crazed sorcerer who seeks to create a monstrous being capable of casting spells by using Lina. Next, "Jeffry's Knighthood" has them hired by a worried mother to help her sword-challenged son earn a knighthood by aiding him in driving off marauding soldiers from the region. Finally, in "Mirror, Mirror," Lina and Naga chase a fugitive mage for a bounty after he discovers an ancient relic that can duplicate anything, even foes, resulting in chaos.

In "Garzey's Wing," Christopher "Chris" Senshuu, a carefree man in his mid-twenties who repeatedly fails his college entrance exams, spends his days practicing kendo, visiting the family shrine, and looking forward to his high school reunion. Suddenly, his spirit is transported to the realm of Byston Well, where he takes on the identity of Garzey's Wing, a legendary holy warrior summoned by the Metomeus tribe to free them from oppression. Despite his new role, Chris has no idea how to be a holy warrior and only wields a very dull sword he found on a dead body. Adding to the complexity, another version of Chris remains in the real world, unable to affect events in Byston Well but still linked to the destiny of his alternate self. This young man must navigate a world filled with mystical beings and mysterious outsiders, setting out on a difficult journey to find his way.

In "Shamanic Princess," Tiara, a powerful sorceress accompanied by her familiar Japolo, is dispatched from the Guardian World—a realm inhabited by strong beings tasked with preserving the balance of magical energy—to Earth. Her objective is to recover the Throne of Yord, a vital magical artifact that serves as the Guardian World's power source, and must be secured to prevent it from being misused. While chasing the Throne, Tiara meets Lena, a former acquaintance and fellow sorceress who is also hunting the same relic. The situation grows more complex with the arrival of Kagetsu, a man Tiara once had deep feelings for. Kagetsu, who can negate magic as a negater, shares a significant connection to the Throne of Yord. Tiara now faces a difficult journey, struggling to balance her mission's requirements with her personal ties and emotions.

In the land of Archanea, the kingdoms of Dolhr, Grust, and Gra unite to launch an invasion and conquest, ultimately overthrowing the Kingdom of Altea. King Cornelius perishes in the conflict, but his son, Prince Marth, narrowly avoids capture thanks to the ultimate sacrifice of his elder sister, Elice. With a small band of loyal followers, Marth seeks refuge on the island of Talys, where he spends three years hidden and protected by the local royalty. During this period, Marth leads a tranquil existence, appreciating Talys’s natural splendor and forming a bond with Caeda, the pegasus knight princess. Despite these peaceful moments, Marth harbors anxiety over the impending need to fight again. His fears are realized when Caeda urgently alerts him and his companions to an assault on the castle town. Through a series of intense skirmishes, they successfully repel the attackers and safeguard the city. Acknowledging that his continued presence may endanger Talys, Marth resolves to depart and begin assembling forces to retake his homeland.

The members of this Magic Club are capable of far more than simple card tricks. One year ago exactly, aliens arrived on Earth—though not in the way anyone expected. After descending from space and crushing all resistance, the enormous spaceship named The Bell simply... stopped. For a full year it has hovered silently above the ocean, calmly watching how humans live. Most people have grown accustomed to it by now. But not the Magic User's Club. This small group of oddballs can perform genuine, real magic! Their leader, Takeo, is suspicious that the aliens will remain peaceful. He is determined to fight the alien threat, but that will be a difficult challenge given his club's composition: a lecherous president, a flamboyant vice president, an unreliable princess, a clumsy new recruit, and that recruit's hot-tempered best friend. Can this bizarre team get their act together and rescue the world?

Nobita and his friends set off on a space voyage aboard a mysterious train heading toward a cosmic amusement park. Their adventure takes a dangerous turn when they are ambushed by an alien virus species that intends to use their bodies as hosts.

Cinderella is the only daughter of a fairly wealthy family. After her mother dies, her father marries a widow with two daughters and then goes away on business. Cinderella gradually becomes a servant to her stepmother and stepsisters. Meanwhile, the prince leads a dull life in the castle; one day he escapes and disguises himself as a commoner. Cinderella meets him when they accidentally bump into each other, and she becomes his best friend without realizing he is actually the prince. There are additional twists, including another villain in the form of the king's right-hand man, who is plotting to seize the throne after eliminating the prince. Following a series of events and recounted stories, the castle holds a royal ball so the prince can choose a wife. Every maiden in the kingdom receives an invitation. When Cinderella's cruel stepmother prevents her from attending the royal ball, she receives unexpected help from her pets—a dog, mice, a cat, and birds—as well as from her Fairy Godmother.

Take two stunning women armed with whips, include a magician and a muscle-bound fighter, then tie everything together with a lusty young man who flirts with anything that breathes, and what do you get? Simple: the most hilarious, steamiest adventure series around! That's right—Chocolate, Tira, Carrot, and the rest of the Sorcerer Hunters crew return for three tantalizing episodes. When Carrot attempts to charm a lovely older woman (while Chocolate tries to charm Carrot), a steamy hot springs getaway becomes even hotter... and more comedic. Next, our heroes dive into battle against the Death Master, an evil necromancer who has turned an entire town into his willing zombie thralls! Finally, an ancient tree with legendary matchmaking powers turns a relaxing picnic into a love-mad free-for-all! Can even the Sorcerer Hunters withstand this level of heat?

Trouble strikes the town of Staccato when demons suddenly appear and unleash chaos upon its citizens, spreading suffering across the entire land. The root of the crisis lies in the weakening of the "barrier" that has long kept the demon world from crossing over into the human realm. For years, the one who has held that barrier steady has been Queen Sforzando of Horn, but her strength is fading as she fights to maintain it. Meanwhile, Hell King Bass is determined to shatter the barrier and free the one known as their "supreme leader," Kestra (also called Orchestra), whose immense power remains sealed away somewhere within the human world, waiting to be released.

On the eve of the grand millennium celebration in the Kingdom of Guardia, as humans rest in eager anticipation, monsters emerge to have their own fun. Nuu and Mamo, a pair of enthusiastic but not too bright young monsters, are determined to launch their own cross-time-and-space adventure crew, Nuumamonjaa. They set off to find new members, but their lack of sense leads to a string of blunders—including a drinking contest, running into a robot cat, and a wild ride in a vehicle. Their journey proves far more exciting than they ever expected!

Lady Sheru is plagued by recurring dreams of her past life as Pirotesse. In these visions, her beloved Ashram is being tortured by the soul of Barbas, who is masquerading as their former king, Beld of Marmo. Interpreting this as a desperate call for aid, Sheru sets out to rescue him by using the Chaos Ring to enter the realm of chaos. Meanwhile, Redon and his companions are once again summoned to fight as ancient creatures, sealed away for centuries, begin to reappear. Their paths will intersect anew, and the fate of Crystania will rest upon their shoulders.

Amid a war-torn world ravaged by deadly conflict, a small band of heroes fights the forces of darkness, wielding only two tools—their steadfast commitment to righteousness and the superhuman fighting style called the Shadow Skill.

In the OVA "Maze: The Mega-Burst Space OVA," Maze's travels across time and space grant her immense power, but with an odd side effect—every night, she turns into a highly amorous man. Her task is to rescue a lustful princess from a hidden warrior cult, yet her male form seems more interested in chasing romantic encounters than in completing the rescue.

While taking a stroll in Tokyo, Linn Suzuki discovers a strange device buried in the ground. She is suddenly attacked by assailants but rescued by an enigmatic, handsome stranger who quickly defeats them. Linn had fled from Deep Kyoto to escape her abusive guardian and journeyed to Edo in search of her missing brother, who is rumored to work at the Kuon Detective Agency. The stranger is revealed to be Miho Kuon, who invites Linn to stay with her and gives her the nickname Kotetsu, a diminutive of Tetsu, after Miho's sibling Tetsujin. As events progress, a secret organization called the Syndicate begins pursuing Miho, drawing Linn further into their dangerous chase.

Ancient tales speak of a Dark Tower where a legion of dragons slumbers, awaiting the signal to rise and bring devastation. Kyle once dismissed these as mere myths—until the Black Dragon abducts his beloved Alita. Forced into an uneasy partnership with Blau, a blue dragon, Kyle must race against time to save her before she becomes the key to the Dark Tower's ultimate directive: the annihilation of the world itself.

Baba Lamunade is followed home by two unusual peddler girls who hand him a CD-ROM game. After he clears "The Legend of Lamuness," the girls emerge from his computer and transport him to DokiDoki Space. He is the third descendant of the hero Lamuness, tasked with preventing Don Genosai from reviving the great evil Abraham. Alongside PQ, his advisor robot, and companions Parfait and Cacao, he must pilot the Kaizer Fire mecha. However, he requires a second pilot, and Da Cider is selected for that role.

For centuries, the worlds of magic and humans have coexisted peacefully, though they remain physically divided by a magical gate. However, when the powerful magic spheres are stolen and descend to Earth, the king of magic dispatches Boss, a fighter; Lime, a master transformer; and Poogie, a master morpher to recover them. With limited time, the trio must retrieve the spheres, which, upon contact with the human world, absorb the negative emotions of household objects and transform into BEMs, Bug Eyed Monsters!

The land of Zer'lue is thrown into chaos, ravaged by the technological supremacy of Chairman Sana'ku and his oppressive, militaristic Zul'earth forces. Amid a rapidly escalating tale of treachery, deceit, and betrayal, only one boy holds the strength to overcome such insurmountable odds—a boy named Lue'der, who carries a mysterious red eye and the ability to harness the power of the wind. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Lue'der must learn to unlock his legendary powers and fight against the evil threatening to consume his planet.

While seeking to defeat the Demon King, the party made up of Hamel the violinist, Raiel the pianist, Flute the magess, and Sizer the warrior reaches a tiny kingdom. There, they pacify a monster that has been terrorizing the area, and the locals hail them as heroes. The king and queen reveal that their daughter was kidnapped by a beast dwelling in a neighboring castle. The group agrees to save the princess and destroy the monster, but they discover that the enemy’s stronghold is heavily guarded.

The adventures of Arus's childhood.

On the day of Robot School's graduation, Dorami's friends and classmates, along with Doraemon, are suddenly swept away by a strange current. In response, the Doraemons intervene to unravel the mystery and uncover those responsible for the disappearance.

In the movie "Magical Circle Guruguru," the hero Nike and magic user Kukuri discover the "Pickle of Happiness," an object that bestows wishes upon anyone who eats it. Together with their old companions, they set out on a journey to get to the Pickle ahead of the monsters, while also persuading the dragon guarding it to give up the treasured item.

This pilot episode appears as a bonus feature on the Magic Knight Rayearth Memorial Collection Blu-ray set. It originally aired at FanimeCon on February 14, 1996, and was later given an official release as part of the Blu-ray set released on October 29, 2014.

Tetsushi, Ryouchin, and Shiina are a trio of young troublemakers. When they step into a shop called Jigokudou, rumored to be a gateway to Hell, they encounter a peculiar shopkeeper. He shares a story with them and gives them a mysterious token. Using this artifact, they begin searching for the restless spirit of a murder victim, aiming to bring her peace, which launches their venture into the realm of the supernatural.

End of the series.

An omnibus film featuring three tales by Kenji Miyazawa: "The Coat of a Glacier Mouse," "The Cat's Office," and "The Twin Stars."

Double feature with Sore Ike! Anpanman: Baikinman to 3-bai Punch.

Based on L. Frank Baum' novel: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.

Double Feature with Sore Ike! Anpanman: Soratobu Ehon to Glass no Kutsu.

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Based on the fairy tale novel series by Akimi Ozawa (小沢昭巳).

The anime brings to life stories from the popular children's book series by Akiko Sueyoshi and Mako Taruishi, which has sold 1.3 million copies. Featured tales include "Ram the Mummy," "Obatan the Witch," "The Childish Goblin," and the ghostly kittens Goo, Soo, and Pea.