10 Anime Like ‘Harry Potter’ Every Fan Needs To Watch
If the image on top of this article got your hopes up, we have to disappoint you – this is just an image from a fan video that can be seen on YouTube, which imagines Harry Potter as an 80s/90s-style anime series. We don’t know if a Harry Potter anime is ever going to be made (seeing how Warner is making more and more DC Comics anime works, and how they also own the rights to the Harry Potter franchise, it is not completely out of the question), but regardless of that fact, there are Harry Potter fans who also like anime, which is what inspired this article.
Namely, in this article, we are going to bring you a list of the 10 best anime titles like the Harry Potter franchise, that fans of Rowling’s original works will definitely enjoy and simply must see. The titles are not going to be ranked in any particular order.
1. Mashle: Magic and Muscles
What it’s about: The story takes place in a world where magic exists and is used for any occurrence of daily life. Mash is a boy without magical powers who lives deep in the forest with his grandfather and spends his days engaging in exercises to muscle up his body. One day, however, his life is put in danger: his only alternative to protect his grandfather’s life is to enter the Easton Magic Academy.
Why you should watch it: Mashle: Magic and Muscles is probably the closest thing to a Harry Potter anime you’ll find. Sure, it s a more or less typical shonen title and not a young adult fantasy, but it is a great work with a very similar atmosphere.
2. Blue Exorcist
What it’s about: The one thing that Satan, the deity of demons, lacks is a strong enough vessel in the human realm to hold him. In order to achieve this, he fathered two sons from a human: Rin and Yukio Okumura (but only Rin received Satan’s powers because Yukio was too weak). He gives Rin a dream to become an exorcist and vanquish the god of demons after killing the guardian father, Fujimoto, in an attempt that should have permitted Rin to return to the land of demons.
Why you should watch it: Blue Exorcist is a shonen classic and while the focus is on demons, magic is an essential element of the story. Plus, the main characters are students at a magic school, so you can imagine why we put this title on the list.
3. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
What it’s about: The Elven Mage Frieren manages to defeat the Demon King with Himmel, Eisen, and Heiter. Roughly a century later, most of her old companions are dead and Frieren gathers a new party, consisting of Fern and Stark, so that the might reach the place where sould reside and speak once again with Himmel.
Why you should watch it: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a beautiful and stunning anime series that doesn’t focus on school life, but it does on magic and we think that every Harry Potter fan will absolutely love this series. It is undoubtedly one of the best series in recent years in general.
4. Black Clover
What it’s about: The show centres on Asta, a young child who resides in an orphanage in Clover Kingdom with Yuno, a childhood friend. Since her early years, Asta had aspired to be the most formidable magician in the kingdom—the “Emperor-Mage”—an goal that motivated Yuno as well. Both Yuno and Asta swear to contend for the title of Emperor Mage. Their objective remains the same even when their routes diverge: to become the next Emperor Mage.
Why you should watch it: Another shonen classic, Black Clover is a series that has much more action than Harry Potter and is focused more on magic than on school life, but it is, like Blue Exorcist, a great title for all fans of magic-related fantasy works, so it’s a definite recommendation from us.
5. My Hero Academia
What it’s about: We follow the exploits of Izuku Midoriya, or “Deku,” one of the few humans without a quirk in a world where 80% of people have abilities known as “Quirks.” Izuku nonetheless aspires to become one of history’s greatest heroes by following the super-heroic current of the renowned superhero college. Izuku once got the opportunity to meet All Might, the greatest superhero, who has always been his admiration. Izuku will inherit his quirk—the One For All.
Why you should watch it: My Hero Academia doesn’t have anything to do with magic – it is, in fact, a superhero series – but it does focus on school life and the fight against evil; there are a lot of parallels between these series, so we hope that fans of the series won’t mind the differences when the setting is concerned.
6. The Irregular at Magic High School
What it’s about: The narrative takes place in a world where magic is comprehended by science and used to power Casting Assistant Devices (CADs). The story revolves around the first Magic High School in Japan, which educates people with magical talent. Tatsuya Shiba, the male lead, is skilled in theory magic but lacks practical knowledge. His younger sister Miyuki, who is regarded as the most gifted magician and a perfect student, makes up a compelling team in the narrative.
Why you should watch it: This is a more serious take on the genre, but The Irregular at Magic High School is definitely something that Harry Potter fans will enjoy, since it combines both major elements of the series. It is a shonen work, but it will still provide you with a lot of entertainment.
7. Fairy Tail
What it’s about: The narrative centres on the missions undertaken by a team of the Fairy Tail guild, which consists of Natsu Dragnir (a fire dragon hunter), Lucy Heartfilia (a constellationist), and Happy (an Exceed blue cat with flight, appearance, and speech abilities). Two other members of the renowned guild, Erza Scarlett (a knight mage) and Grey Fullbuster (an ice mage and later an ice demon hunter), will soon join them. Carla, an Exceed white cat similar to Happy, Wendy, the Heavenly Dragon Slayer, and numerous more accompany them on their trip.
Why you should watch it: Fairy Tail is a title that shonen fans will know; it never became a major title, but it was always close to the top. The story focuses more on adventure, but since magic is, indeed, a major element of the plot, we absolutely had to put it on this list.
8. The Witch and the Beast
What it’s about: One day, two strange fellows appear in a city ruled by a witch: the elegant Ashaf, who has a coffin and a group of crows following him, and the unruly, violent and young Guideau with her long fangs. They fight the witch Ione, who cursed the people here so that they would see her as their hero and accept them as their ruler. The witch is known for having lit a hellfire here centuries ago. The couple shows no restraint in battle and hunts witches, who are always the cause of curses and mischief for them, for the Order of Magical Resonance.
Why you should watch it: The Witch and the Beast is a very interesting new series that has a bit of a darker take on the topic, but we still think that you might like it. It has some Gothic and Victorian elements as well, so if you like a more adult atmosphere, The Witch and the Beast is certainly going to be a fun experience.
9. Puella Magi Madoka Magica
What it’s about: A little girl can be granted a wish by monsters, but in return, they will transform her into a Puella Magi (or Mahou Shoujo) who will battle witches and other evil things. One of these creatures, Kyubey, approaches a schoolgirl named Madoka Kaname and her classmate Sayaka Miki, offering them the opportunity to become Magical Girls in return. However, Homura Akemi, a new student in their class, seems to be trying inexplicably to stop Madoka from signing this contract.
Why you should watch it: The story of Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a tragic and emotional rollercoaster that is much more complex than the story of Harry Potter, but since Puella Magi Madoka Magica is one of the best Magical Girl works you’ll find out there, we simply had to put it on this list.
10. The Ancient Magus’ Bride
What it’s about: Chise is a teenage girl from Japan who was bought at auction by an enigmatic wizard named Elias Ainsworth. Upon purchasing her, Elias had two goals in mind for her: first, to become his apprentice, and second, to become his wife. Chise, who was formerly an abandoned and forgotten child, readily accepts her circumstances. She gets a family for the first time from Elias. She gradually rediscovers what a “normal” family is while learning how to harness her skills. As Elias’s trainee, she travels with him on all of his missions.
Why you should watch it: We wanted to end this list with The Ancient Magus’ Bride, a very interesting combination of romance and magic. It has a more personalized approach and focuses on two characters, but it is a lovely tale of magic and love that you will definitely enjoy, which is why we decided to list it here as well.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!