Best Fantasy Anime of 2003

In Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric, a prodigious alchemist, endures catastrophic losses at the tender age of twelve. Attempting to resurrect their deceased mother via the forbidden act of human transmutation, Edward and his brother Alphonse suffer terrible consequences: Edward forfeits an arm and a leg, while Alphonse loses his entire physical form, his soul remaining tethered only to a suit of armor through Edward's alchemical ingenuity. A year later, Edward attains the rank of state alchemist, earning the title Fullmetal. Together with Alphonse, he embarks on a quest to locate the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical artifact rumored to enhance an alchemist's power and allow them to circumvent the Law of Equivalent Exchange, which demands a sacrifice equal to the gain. Backed by the military, Edward seeks to restore what was taken, yet as the brothers uncover the truth behind the stone, they become entangled in a sinister, far-reaching conspiracy that threatens more than just their own destinies.

Kino, a 15-year-old traveler, shares a close bond with Hermes, her sentient motorcycle. The two journey across many different lands and countries without any fixed destination, embracing the unpredictability of their travels. Along the way, they encounter a variety of customs—some morally ambiguous, others melancholic or fascinating. They meet people who dedicate their entire lives to work, those who strive to bring joy to others, and others who pursue their own dreams. Each place they visit offers distinct perspectives on how its inhabitants live. Kino and Hermes choose not to judge the values they witness, maintaining their role as neutral observers in this small world. No matter how strange these beliefs may seem, they make no attempt to change or influence the places they visit. They hold a personal conviction that everything exists as it should—"the world is not beautiful; therefore, it is."

In a world on the verge of collapse, an old legend speaks of a paradise that will appear when the end draws near. This utopia is the last hope for the creatures surviving in this barren land, but the story says only wolves can find the way to this mythical place. Though believed to be extinct, wolves still live by hiding among humans using complex illusions. A lone wolf named Kiba is pulled by a powerful scent to Freeze City, a poor town ruled by the cruel Lord Orkham. When he arrives, Kiba finds other wolves—Hige, Tsume, and Toboe—have also been drawn by the same smell. Chasing the faint fragrance of "Lunar Flowers," which are said to show the path to their promised land, the wolves travel across empty lands and crumbling cities in search of their legendary haven. But they are not the only ones on this journey, and enemies with dark goals will stop at nothing to get there first.

Daisuke Niwa is a timid and self-conscious middle school student. On his fourteenth birthday, he finally works up the courage to express his long-held feelings for Risa Harada, but she turns him down. To his shock, Daisuke discovers that whenever thoughts of Risa cross his mind, he transforms into Dark Mousy—a notorious phantom thief. Though Daisuke is bewildered by this strange ability, his mother has been aware of it all along and has been using his transformations to keep the legendary thief's reputation alive by stealing valuable works of art. As Daisuke struggles to understand these new upheavals and how they affect his relationships, he comes to realize that he is not the only one burdened by a family legacy. His toughest ordeal may come from a classmate he never anticipated confronting.

After Inu no Taishou's death, his sons Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha inherited the legendary swords Tenseiga and Tessaiga. But there exists a third blade: Sounga. When Inuyasha visits his friend Kagome Higurashi's era in modern times, he comes across this sword. Discovered by one of Kagome's ancestors in the ancient well connecting present and past, Sounga has been kept as a treasured artifact at the Higurashi shrine. The sword reveals itself to possess a malevolent spirit with an unrelenting desire to cause destruction. Inuyasha struggles to control the sword's destructive power while bringing it back to the feudal era. There, he meets his brother Sesshoumaru, who has long desired the blade. When the sword is lost during their confrontation, the brothers engage in a fierce rivalry to reclaim it, unaware of its true nature and the legacy left by Inu no Taishou.

The Straw Hat crew docks at the harbor town of Anabaru, where the local casino is hosting a race with a massive cash prize for whoever crosses the finish line first. Nami, thrilled at the prospect of riches, eagerly signs up for the competition. But behind the event lies a sinister scheme orchestrated by Gasparde, a former military commander. His true intention is to bait pirates into the military base, where they will be led straight to their doom. To survive this treacherous race, Luffy and his crew must push through countless trials and hardships as they race toward the end of this dead-end adventure.

As the Millennium Comet returns to the sky after a long absence, it is believed that anyone who sees it will have their wish granted. Satoshi and his friends are excited to attend the Millennium Festival, where they witness a magic show by the Great Butler. Their curiosity grows when they notice a strange cocoon that Butler possesses, from which Masato hears a mysterious voice. Once Jirachi awakens, Masato forms a bond with the creature, though their time together is limited to the duration of the Millennium Comet's visibility. Determined to cherish every moment with his newfound friend, Masato faces challenges when the Great Butler reveals his malicious plan to use Jirachi to revive the legendary Pokémon, Groudon. With the threat of Groudon’s awakening looming, Masato, along with Satoshi, Haruka, and Takeshi, must prevent Butler from fulfilling his dark wish and save Jirachi from falling into his clutches.

Pacifica Casull, a child of royal blood, is branded the "Scrapped Princess" after a dire prophecy foretells she will bring about the world's destruction on her sixteenth birthday. Rather than being put to death, she is spared by her loving family and protected by her adoptive older siblings, Shannon and Raquel Casull. But when the followers of the deity Mauser learn she still lives, they demand her death, forcing Pacifica to flee for her survival. Facing hostility from the church, the nobility, and ordinary people alike, the siblings struggle to escape the grim fate Pacifica is destined to unleash upon the world, questioning whether her life is worth the potential annihilation of the planet. As Pacifica's sixteenth birthday draws near, the mystery surrounding the Scrapped Princess and the hidden truths of their world begin to come to light.

After safely accompanying Takigakure's timid leader, Shibuki, back to his village, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno are taken by surprise when rogue ninja launch an unexpected assault. With their instructor, Kakashi Hatake, having already departed for Konohagakure, the three must defend themselves without his aid. As they prepare to rescue the captured villagers, they discover that Suien, the attack's orchestrator, is after the Hero Water—a substance capable of temporarily multiplying a person's chakra tenfold. Realizing Shibuki possesses this precious elixir, Suien takes the villagers hostage to force Shibuki to surrender. Despite overwhelming odds, Naruto fights fiercely, inspiring Shibuki to find the courage needed to protect his home.

Shugo and his twin sister Rena win the highly sought-after characters "Kite" and "Black Rose" through a contest held by the developers of the MMORPG "The World." Together with their new companions Ouka, Mirelle, Hotaru, and Sanjuro, they take on a series of quests and challenges within the game. As they progress, strange monsters begin appearing, and encountering these creatures causes players to fall into comas in the real world. Shugo and Rena hold the key to resolving this critical situation, though questions arise about why they are specifically targeted and what secrets remain hidden within the game.

Fourteen years have passed since Kibagami Jubei defeated the immortal warrior Himuro Genma and thwarted the dark Shogun's sinister plans. Jubei now wanders Japan as a ronin. On his journey, he meets Shigure, a priestess who has lived her entire life in her village. When a group of demons attacks the village and kills its people, Jubei becomes a key target because he holds the Dragon Jewel, a mysterious stone. Meanwhile, Shigure travels to the village of Yagyu with the monk Dakuan and a young thief named Tsubute. As two rival demon clans pursue Shigure, Dakuan must rely on Jubei's skills again to protect the Priestess of Light.

Hideo Middle School eighth-grader Ayu Tateishi is a member of the tennis club and comes across as a cool girl admired by her female classmates. In reality, she's just an ordinary girl putting on a cool front because she has a crush on Kachi-kun from the baseball team. Transfer student Nina Sakura absolutely adores Ayu. But Nina has a huge secret—she's actually a young witch who transferred from the magic kingdom, complete with a magic computer and a magical treasure box. Unfortunately, her magic always ends up causing big trouble! As for the boys, there's Tetsushi Kachi, the rising star ace of the baseball team who's very popular with the girls, and his best friend Hiroki Tsujiai, a calm and quiet member of the tennis club, along with many others. This story is a school romantic comedy set at Hideo Middle School, featuring the cool beauty Ayu, the young witch Nina, Kachi-kun from the baseball team, and Tsujiai-kun from the tennis team. Plus, there are original characters that Yoshizumi-sensei designed specifically for the anime, so keep an eye out for them!

The story begins aboard Pirate Zap's vessel, where crew members Bonnie and Max, exhausted and penniless, plot their escape. Overhearing their plight are three captive children. The eldest, Amanda, whose father was a professional treasure hunter, reveals the location of a massive fortune and proposes a bargain: if Bonnie and Max help them flee, the children will allow the pirates to claim all the treasure they desire. The five manage a narrow escape, landing on a small island where they encounter Luffy and his crew. However, the group is pursued, resulting in the capture of both Luffy and Amanda. They are taken before the leader of the Bayan Pirates, who is also hunting for the same prize. Now, Luffy and his nakama must fight against the Bayan Pirates to recover the treasure left by Amanda's father for his offspring. Through this ordeal, Amanda, who had long resented adventure and treasure hunting due to her father's constant absences, finally comes to understand his feelings.

For many years, former Marine Lieutenant Randolph and his performance troupe have been staging plays aboard his ship. After losing his own family to pirates, Randolph wants to put on shows that give courage to others who have also lost loved ones to pirates. However, Randolph must soon retire, and he is now presenting his final show. Luffy and his crew come to watch the play and somehow end up participating in it themselves. But from Randolph's past, a vengeful subordinate—who has finally risen to the rank of commander—appears with a diabolical plan to capture Randolph. Luffy and his nakama must now prove to the people that not all pirates are scum, and protect Randolph's final farewell performance from the bitter commander. (aired after Episode 174)

Hatsuki is a high school girl who has a massive crush on her older sister Hatsumi. On Hatsumi's sixteenth birthday, a green light surrounds her and she vanishes right in front of Hatsuki. With the help of a creature that looks exactly like a fat baby chick, Hatsuki manages to follow her and ends up in a place called "The Great Library"—a realm filled with countless worlds stored inside books. Hatsumi isn't there, however, so Hatsuki's search for her beloved begins, leading her to travel from one book to another.

In the 22nd century, space travel, planetary colonization, and anti-gravity basketball are everyday realities, but Earth has become too hostile to live on, forcing humanity to reside in colonies on neighboring planets. During a school field trip, a series of unexpected events throws Luna, a newly transferred student, along with her robot companion Chako and six other classmates, into a gravity storm. They crash-land on what appears to be an abandoned planet. Taking charge as the group's leader, Luna, alongside the resourceful Kaoru, the privileged Howard, the timid Sharla, the accommodating Bell, the proud musician Menori, and the gifted Shingo, must struggle to survive. But is the planet truly lifeless, or are there hidden beings or individuals lurking in the shadows?

According to an old legend, anyone who consumes mermaid flesh gains immortality. Five centuries ago, Yuta unknowingly ate a piece of that flesh. For hundreds of years, he wanders across Japan, searching for a mermaid in hopes she might turn him back into a normal human. When he finally locates one, he learns that she and her group have been raising a young girl as livestock so they can devour her and steal her youthful appearance—that is how mermaids preserve their youth. Yuta slays the mermaids and saves the girl, but she has already ingested some of the mermaid flesh. Though he had to destroy the mermaids, Yuta is not too upset. His formerly solitary life is over now that he has found a companion in Mana. And Mana, who was confined to a tiny hut her entire life, finds joy in even the most ordinary things. Together, Yuta and Mana journey onward, seeking more mermaids in their quest to become human again.

In "Someday's Dreamers," Yume Kikuchi, a magical girl, travels to Tokyo to train under the famous mage Masami Oyamada. As she becomes absorbed in the city, Yume focuses on perfecting her magic, assisting people in need, and collecting life experiences necessary for her development into a full-fledged mage. However, she slowly comes to understand that genuine happiness cannot be attained through magic by itself.

Tortov Roddle, a solitary traveler, journeys across a peaceful and unfamiliar terrain, engaging with the people he meets along the way. Riding on his long-legged pig, he moves from one desert settlement to another, taking note of and chronicling the quirky and charming traditions of the locals while reflecting on his own past adventures.

In a pub somewhere inside the MMORPG 'The World', a group gathers in anticipation of an upcoming event. It becomes a reunion of old friends and acquaintances, even those who seldom log in anymore. For some, it's the first chance to build new bonds. United under an invitation from the hacker Helba, they head to the Net Slums, where a celebration is waiting for all of them.

To show appreciation for the heroes from both ".hack//Sign" and the ".hack" game series, Helba has organized a special event tasking all the characters with locating the newly established 'Twilight Hot Springs'. A relaxing soak in the hot springs would give everyone a well-earned break, but there's a catch -- the springs are hidden away, and mysterious player murders have been occurring. Armed with only the clue "GIFT", the race is on to uncover the culprit and the hot springs' whereabouts.

In 2004, Binzume Yousei is a slice-of-life tale about four fairies, each linked to a differently colored bottle. The fairies include the very energetic Kururu, the timid and elegant Chiriri, the tomboyish Sarara who loves samurai, and the quiet yet quirky Hororo. Attracted to the human world, these fairies have traveled from their fairy realm to take part in yearly customs and learn about human life. Though they have little understanding of human society, they receive help and guidance from two humans: a university student called "Sensei-san," with whom they live, and a first-grader named "Tama-chan," whose innocence often mirrors that of the fairies. Even though the fairies frequently come up with unusual ideas and struggle to grasp this new world, they persistently try to embrace the human experience in their own charming ways.

Mars, now colonized, is a world where robot servants known as 'dolls' have taken the place of children. Layla, a formidable fighter carrying a tragic past, wanders the planet with her companions: Nei, a strange and one-of-a-kind doll whose connection to Layla remains shrouded in mystery, and Speedy, a doll breeder. The founders of Mars view the trio as a threat to their world, and with each attack they launch against Layla and Nei, more of their hidden past and destiny is gradually unveiled.

Jesse, James, and Meowth reveal their brand-new Team Rocket headquarters and intend to host an extravagant gala to win favor with their boss. But their idea of a celebration involves compelling multiple Whismur, each holding a maraca, to dance against their wishes. After Pikachu, Torchic, Mudkip, and their friends sneak into the base and find the captive Whismur, they resolve to set them free. During the breakout, both friends and foes are unexpectedly caught up in spontaneous group dances that break out all over the building.

The seal that held the fallen angels Kirin no Yuda and Houou no Ruka has been shattered, and the two decide to take revenge on the God who cast them into Hell by destroying the Heavens they once belonged to. Soon, guardian angels on Earth start vanishing, with no one in Heaven able to explain the disappearances. However, a vengeful animal spirit is suspected to be behind it, leading to the summoning of the four Saint Beasts to investigate. The 4 Gods of Beasts attempt to rescue the missing guardian angels while uncovering the true nature of this malevolent animal spirit.

Di Gi Charat (also known as Dejiko) journeys to Earth alongside Petit Charat (also known as Puchiko) and Gema as part of her training to become a fully-fledged princess. Their spaceship crash-lands in a small Japanese town, where they encounter the Omocha brothers—who spend most of their time thinking about how adorable Puchiko is—and Mr. and Mrs. Ankoro, an elderly couple that makes traditional Japanese sweets.

In a certain place, there lived a young man with a kind heart who adored animals, yet the worst luck seemed to cling to him. The business he worked for went bankrupt, and he'd bump into signboards while walking the streets. He was simply weighed down by misfortune. His life took a complete turn when he encountered a fortune teller. Channeling the fortune teller's power, "Guardian Angels" are summoned through a mobile phone, and a group of cute girls appears. These Guardian Angels, who come from another world, are actually the reincarnations of pets the young man had once cared for. They have returned to repay his kindness. Set one year after the previous series, this sequel goes back to the time when the 12 Guardian Angels come to Goro Mutsume. Reassembled once more are the voice talents of Nogawa Sakura, Chiba Saeko, Kawasumi Ayako, along with a whole extravaganza of other voice actors and actresses. Let's see how the Guardian Angels grow up!

During the chaotic period known in Western astrology as the Aquarian Age, Earth is attacked by the extraterrestrial ERASER fleet, which levels cities across the globe. In response, the four rival factions—ARAYASHIKI, WIZDOM, DARKLORE, and E.G.O.—that had been fiercely competing for control over the planet set aside their differences and unite to repel the ERASER invasion. After their victory, the factions form a single ruling body called the POLESTAR EMPIRE. Yet this peace does not last, as the EMPIRE begins to use forbidden magic. That dark sorcery tears open dimensional rifts worldwide, plunging Earth back into chaos and conflict.

Pinon is a boy who carries the blood of three races—Dragons, fairies, and humans—within him. He is the child of Pietro, the Courageous One. When Pinon meets a strange creature named Pap, it marks the beginning of an adventurous journey. Along the way, he makes friends with Luna and Marco. But when he discovers that his journey will decide the fate of PoPoLoCrois, Pinon becomes resolute and separates from his companions. Unbeknownst to him, this is only the start of a greater adventure, and he will eventually understand that he must address the larger crisis threatening PoPoLoCrois.

The animated form of the Korean manhwa.

In the universe of Croket!, the legendary Forbidden Treasure is a remarkable item capable of fulfilling any desire. Treasure hunters called Bankers pursue this coveted reward, and the protagonist, Corokke, is one such Banker setting out on this adventure.

The realm of Neverland is a place where humans, demons, and dieux coexist in peace. However, the Lord of the Kingdom of Bjor seeks to conquer the entire world. This story is based on the online game Kingdom of Chaos (K.O.C.).

The story of "Ark" unfolds on a barren alien world devastated by a worldwide conflict between two technologically advanced human factions. This war has left the planet a deserted, lifeless expanse. The only chance for humanity to endure is to awaken the Ark, a colossal ancient robot that can sustain a human city as it journeys through space.

In the year 2403 AD, a young student named Satoru receives a visit from a time traveler from the future—a cute girl named Alisa. Together, they journey back in time to explore the 21st century, but a malfunction sends them hurtling through seemingly random episodes of religious and potentially historic significance. Japan's answer to Scientology, Kyoufuku no Kagaku (幸福の科学, also known as The Institute for Research in Human Happiness), returns with its third animated feature.

In "Super Kuma-san," Mr. Super Bear, a massive, studded bear carrying a drum and drumstick, progresses slowly through his surroundings with a completely blank expression. Despite his stoic nature, he once saved Maa-kun from a bank robber while drumming busily. Later, Maa-kun encounters Mr. Super Bear again, this time performing alongside a clown who is entertaining a group of children. Just who is this mysterious Mr. Super Bear?

Long ago, an ancient civilization known as the Kingdom of Spheres existed on Earth, though humanity recorded nothing of it. Its people possessed abilities that today would be called psychic powers. However, like many other societies before it, the kingdom grew increasingly divided between social classes, and those hungry for power brought turmoil—eventually leading to its collapse. After the fall of Spheres, a mysterious girl named Na Yeon was discovered in Antarctica. Asten, the chairman of Sphere Union, harbors a fierce ambition to dominate the world. He dispatches his agents to keep Na Yeon under surveillance. Na Yeon and her companions strive to prevent three artifacts—the keys to global conquest—from falling into the hands of Sphere Union.

A girl named Kim pursues a group of thieves known as the Black Hammer Gang. One day, both the Black Hammer Gang and Kim end up stranded on an island inhabited by fairies and guarded by Michel. The Black Hammer Gang attempts to steal the island's life source, the Tree of Life. Their actions damage the land and they kidnap the fairies, forcing Michel and Kim to fight against the Black Hammer Gang and retrieve the fairies.

In the third season, fourth-grader Kasumi Haruno heads to Kasumi Town to bid farewell to her zoologist parents, who are leaving for a research trip to Africa. She takes up residence in the sprawling Kasumi family mansion, which sits at the center of town and is surrounded by a dense forest. As she steps through the mansion's gates, Kasumi senses an unsettling presence emanating from Kasumi Forest. Once inside, she discovers that the household appliances can talk. It turns out the Kasumi family members are actually youkai known as Henamon. Living alongside a houseful of Henamon was nothing like Kasumi had imagined. In exchange for staying there, she handles household tasks such as cooking, laundry, and cleaning. Surrounded by these mysterious companions, how will Kasumi's new life unfold?

Son-Goku is a monkey born from a stone, possessing magical abilities. He loses control and goes on a destructive spree until Buddha ultimately confines him inside Mt. Gogyo. Rescued by Sanzohoshi, Son-Goku joins him on a pilgrimage to India. However, monsters lurk in wait for them along the path.

Yorang is a fox living in heaven with important duties, but she prefers to spend her days playing pranks and seeking amusement. One day, heaven holds a festival to celebrate the completion of the "Book of Wishes," a prestigious work capable of breaking the black fox's seal. During the festival, the mischievous Yo-rang carelessly discards the valuable book. Heaven becomes threatened by the black fox's dark magic. Blamed for the disaster, Yo-rang sets out to find the book and meets a boy named "Kang-hyun," who lost his mother at a young age and moved from Seoul to the Fox Village with his father. Kang-hyun and Yo-rang search for the book together. However, the black fox attempts to sabotage their efforts, and the pair faces various hardships. In the end, they forge a strong friendship.

No synopsis has been added for this series yet. Click here to update this information.

Through the wickedness of Baikinman and his cohorts, Doremifa Castle—the home of Princess Doremi, who loves singing and dancing—is transformed into a gloomy haunted house called Baikin Doremifa Castle.

On-chan and his companions from the planet Parade in space encounter Kenta and Haruka in a pasture, as the two are traveling from Tokyo to Sapporo. On-chan and his friends join them on their journey to help them find a new home in Sapporo, but they encounter numerous obstacles along the way. Initially, Kenta is defiant, but he is gradually swayed by the strength of On-chan's dreams.

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The narrative follows a mayfly who develops romantic feelings for a human girl. This story is based on a children's picture book created by Mitsuru Nakamura, also known as 326.

This sci-fi comedy series, a Korean-Chinese co-production from 2002-2003 (Sunwoo Entertainment/KBS/Shanghai Animation Film Studio), takes place in a tranquil universe composed of numerous asteroids. The simple-minded yet immensely strong Hip Hop Duck, the toy-obsessed Prince, and their faithful robot friend Aligu work odd jobs as fixers, but their assignments always result in massive property destruction, earning them a reputation as walking disasters pursued by the space police.