As a type of literature, hard fantasy explores the conceptualized laws and power systems that govern various characters' way of living and abilities. For magic or other abilities to work in Hard Fantasy, there must be a history, rules, and limits. Having said that, there are a lot of animes where the characters' lives are based on rules, ideas, and principles.
Hard fantasy anime brings a lot to the table because it helps viewers see the world from a different point of view and let go of their current ideas. It does this by including important elements like logic, reasoning, limitations, and world-building.
7 Fullmetal Alchemist
When discussing what may and cannot be done in a hard fantasy anime, Fullmetal Alchemist's rules and restrictions list is straightforward. In Fullmetal Alchemist, we follow Edward Elric and his brother Alphonse as they travel through a world where alchemy is commonplace.
The astonishing insights into alchemy that the series reveals might be thought of as a law of equivalent exchange. Edward and Alphonse Elric, when they were younger, attempted to bring their dead mother back to life. Edward had to sacrifice an arm and a leg to link his brother Alphonse's spirit to a suit of armor while his body was destroyed. Now with a prosthetic arm and leg, Edward earned the moniker Full metal.
6 Hunter X Hunter
The fictional universe of Hunter x Hunter is one in which Nen is often used. To have Nen means to be in command of one's own life energy or aura. Since Nen is the show's source of power, the characters are constrained by rules and logic and can't just do extraordinary things without giving an explanation.
The story follows Gon Freecss, a young boy of 12, as he embarks on an epic quest to track down his long-lost father, Ging Freecss. Gon, the son of a famous hunter, must take the Hunter exam and engage in fanciful pursuits with the likes of the aspiring doctor Leorio, the last surviving member of the Kurapika clan, and the former assassin Killua Zoldyck if he ever hopes to track down his father.
5 Black Clover
In the Black Clover series, magic and mana are everyday occurrences. In a society where the vast majority of its inhabitants possess magical powers, some of its citizens will inevitably abuse their access to these powers for their own ends, while others will have the responsibility of thwarting them. The Black Clover series features a wide variety of magical styles, but each character can only master a small subset. Wizards are limited in their power by grimoires and other forms of magical affinity restriction and must gradually overcome these limitations as they advance in skill.
The series portrays the adventures of Asta and Yuno, both orphaned and who dream of becoming the Wizard King, the most powerful mage in the world. As their rivalry pushes them further, they overcome various challenges in the way of their dreams.
4 One Piece
The extensive and carefully considered power structure in One Piece is a perfect fit for the hard fantasy subgenre, as the numerous skills the characters may have are governed by logic and diverse concepts. There are limits placed on even the more outrageous abilities, especially those involving devil fruit (fruits that grant their consumers permanent powers but at the cost of swimming). Major powers in the One Piece series derive from either devil fruits or the application of haki (willpower), and both have their limits.
In One Piece, a young boy named Monkey D. Luffy embarks on a quest to become the Pirate King and locate the legendary treasure known only as 'One Piece.'
3 Jujutsu Kaisen
Throughout the Jujutsu Kaisen series, a unique set of guidelines is established. Despite the potential for confusion, the power system is appropriate for the hard fantasy genre since it adheres to a logical pattern and has a stable set of concepts and constraints that the characters must adhere to. In the show, the characters boost their jujutsu sorcery with cursed energy, which is fueled by negative emotions.
An above-average student named Itadori Yuuji is shown in the series. He ingests a cursed amulet that turns out to be the finger of Sukuna, a powerful demon also known as the King of Curses. Itadori, aided by his friends and teachers, acts as a vessel for the powerful demon.
2 Fate Series
The Fate series portrays magic in a unique and controlled fashion. The series showcases the battle for the Holy Grail, which is said to grant the wish of the winner. In the series, modern mages (masters) summon servants from legend and fiction. The masters have absolute control over their servants as their servants are bound to them by a magic Insignia on their hand. While the masters have magical powers and abilities, the servants possess much more tremendous fighting capabilities.
The various Fate series take place in a setting where servants and masters must compete for the Holy Grail. However, despite the diversity and uniqueness of each character, the magic system put in place is controlled and orderly. The system has limitations as everything characters do is guided by a set of laws that make it possible.
1 Attack on Titan
With set laws and principles guiding hard fantasy anime, the Attack on Titan series fits nicely into the category. The series showcases the fantastical adventures of Eren Yeager in a world where titans are not just fictional but real scary creatures. With certain rules and laws guiding the transformation and appearance of titans, the series follows a logical sequence and explains it to viewers.
The Attack on Titan series showcases the reappearance of titans as they begin to feast on and bring chaos to the people of the Shiganshina District in Wall Maria. Eren Yeager, the protagonist of the story, promises to obliterate all titans until none are left; however, things are not always what they seem.