Favorite Fantasy Manga!
Today on the blog, I’m delving into the wonderful world of Fantasy Manga! If you’re interested in seeing my previous post on manga-themed around writers click here!
Makoto Kowata, a novice witch, packs up her belongings (including a black cat familiar) and moves in with her distant cousins in rural Aomori to complete her training and become a full-fledged witch.
Flying Witch gave me instant Kiki’s Delivery Service vibes. The story follows Makoto a witch in training and her daily adventures of trying to hone her skills. It’s a simple slice-of-life manga where fantasy and magic meet a mundane routine. From her daily interactions with family, to unsuccessfully crafting spells, it’s very entertaining to follow Makoto as the main character. She’s got a lot of charm and there’s just something about her that makes her likable and easygoing to others.
Letty is not very good at being a dragon. Actually, he’s so terrible at it that his dad went and kicked him out of the house! What’s a skittish monster of myth to do in a world where everyone sees him as material for their next suit of armor? Why, find a safe place to call home, of course. With the help of a slightly evil elvish architect, Letty’s quest for the ultimate draconic domicile begins!
Though wacky at first glance (or read), I can tell that Dragon Goes House-Hunting has a lot of heart in its narrative. It follows the story of a dragon that feels like an outcast and is trying to find a new place that he can truly call home. With a fearful dragon and a worldly elf, the journey of real estate begins. With each chapter, I could tell just how vast the lands are in Letty’s world. Among the surprises along the way, this is a story about someone trying to find their sense of purpose.
This series revolves around Kimihiro Watanuki, a high school student who is disturbed by his ability to see the supernatural, and Yūko Ichihara, a powerful witch who owns a wish-granting shop. When Watanuki asks Ichihara to remove his ability to see spirits, she grants it on the condition that he pay for his wish by working for her.
CLAMP is an absolute legend in the anime/manga community for sure! One of my favorite series by this talented group of women is xxxHolic. This is a great series looking to dive into a light supernatural fantasy as the main character works a part-time job in a michevious and sometimes a bit eerie wish-granting shop. You get to meet some mysterious creatures and people as Watanuki works to pay off his wish. It’s not too scary and it can be spooky at times but I love this series overall. It is truly the definition of fantasy and I love that Yuko has this aura of suspense throughout the series. You can never really figure her out or explain the weird happenings within the shop.
Ichigo is out on a hot date with her ‘crush’ when suddenly she’s involved in an odd incident in which her DNA is merged with the DNA of an almost extinct wildcat. When four other girls’ DNA is merged with the DNA of four other almost extinct animals, it’s apparent that they’re part of a much bigger plan. Ichigo and her friends have been chosen to become a part of a secret project called the “Mew Project.” Their mission: To protect the planet from aliens who are using the planet’s animals to attack humans.
Lots of people think of Sailor Moon when it comes to magical girl series but, another series I was obsessed with when I was younger was Tokyo Mew Mew which is a super cute series. It has fierce female characters and cool crime-fighting outfits with multiple elements of action and romance. I think it appeals more to younger readers, but I would give it a re-read since it’s so nostalgic. It’s a fun series that features lots of aliens from another world and a friendship that blossoms between the four girls in the Mew Project. It’s lighthearted and a great shojo fantasy read.
Daisuke Niwa is an ordinary middle school student who has inherited an interesting family condition, where the sight of the girl he adores transforms him into a phantom thief.
Thinking back on this series also takes me way back! It also reminds me of another manga series featuring an art thief, Phantom Thief Jeanne (by Arina Tanemura). I think the original manga for this series is much stronger than the anime too. Character development is a strong part of the story as the relationship between Risa, Riku, and Daisuke (main characters with a love triangle) is the overall focal point of the manga. The Niwa and Hikari families have been battling each other for centuries overprized artworks and the suspense of Satoshi (Daisuke’s rival) trying to capture Dark throughout the series adds to the action.
What are some of your favorite Fantasy manga series?
