Top 10 Anime Power Fantasies
Script written by Garrett Alden
#10: “The Irregular at Magic High School” (2014-)
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Tatsuya Shiba is the overpowered titular MC of this power fantasy. Despite initially not appearing strong by his magic school’s standards, Tatsuya is actually obscenely powerful, just not according to their usual metrics. His laundry list of unique magic and skills are all it takes to earn him admirers and suitors wherever he goes. It certainly isn’t Tatsuya’s personality that draws everyone to him, considering he’s usually as emotional as a plank of wood. While the world tends to bend over backwards to highlight Tatsuya’s amazingness, it can still be entertaining to see him dominate everyone who stands in his way.
#9: “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” (2018-)
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Rimuru Tempest is like many isekai protagonists in that he’s reborn in another world after death. However, in his case - he’s a slime. Despite being among the weakest monsters, Rimuru quickly becomes incredibly strong, thanks to his ability to acquire and combine skills and abilities. His meteoric power quickly wins over his fellow monsters, rapidly letting him build a small nation. While “Slime” is a power fantasy, Rimuru and his friends’ ability to flex on others isn’t as focused on self-insert self-aggrandizement and action as others in the genre. Instead, the series presents a world where someone who’s strong and well-intentioned enough can bring people (and/or monsters) together. It’s just a fun, heartwarming show, with entertaining characters and some surprisingly good worldbuilding.
#8: “The Misfit of Demon King Academy” (2020-)
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Anos Voldigoad was the all-powerful demon king. But after dying and reincarnating thousands of years later, Anos finds that not only has magic declined, no one at the academy meant to choose the next demon king seems to remember his real name. They may not connect his name to his power, but Anos quickly and repeatedly demonstrates that he’s the real deal. “The Misfit of Demon King Academy” fits right in among other power fantasies, with Anos’s absurd feats of strength and destruction of his foes’ pathetic ideals often being satisfying to watch. The added mystery component of uncovering why Anos has been forgotten adds another layer of intrigue as well.
#7: “The Eminence in Shadow” (2022-)
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Many kids dream of becoming an all-powerful hero. Cid Kagenou had a different dream - to be an “eminence in shadow,” an overpowered puppet master who manipulates things from the shadows. When he’s reborn into a world with magic, he gets his chance to live out his power fantasy. What sets “The Eminence in Shadow” apart from the rest of the genre is that it’s both a celebration and parody of power fantasies. Cid in his identity as Shadow has a harem/army of beautiful subordinates, wealth beyond dreaming, and influence that enables them to fight against an organization of demon cultists. The problem is, that Cid is so wrapped up in his fantasy, he doesn’t realize it’s real! This contradiction makes for some hilarious misunderstandings!
#6: “Solo Leveling” (2024-)
Based on a Korean webtoon (and novel), “Solo Leveling” follows Sung Jin-woo, one of many Hunters charged with defeating monsters inside portals that have opened up all over Earth. However, Jin-woo is among the weakest - at first. Yet, after most of his comrades are killed inside a dungeon, Jin-woo awakens to find himself able to access a video game-like interface and become stronger more rapidly by defeating enemies and completing “quests.” Although Jin-woo often surprises others with how strong he is, and video game themes are quite common in power fantasies, “Solo Leveling” differentiates itself by having its protagonist work to obtain his overwhelming power. Plus, the fights are just so dang hype!
#5: “Classroom of the Elite” (2017-)
Schools in Japan often push their students towards excellence, but this anime goes the extra mile, depicting a school with a meritocratic points system. Into this cutthroat school is dropped Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, a brilliant student who is nevertheless in the worst performing class. Ayanokouji’s power lies primarily in his mind, as he manipulates things to the benefit of himself and his low-performing classmates to get ahead. “Classroom of the Elite” combines power fantasy tropes with several common high school anime cliches and elements of a psychological thriller. The show doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but the mixture of elements does make for an experience some consider elite.
#4: “The Rising of the Shield Hero” (2019-)
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Naofumi Iwatani, along with 3 other chosen heroes, is isekai’d into a fantasy world. However, Naofumi is stuck with the seemingly useless Shield Hero abilities. Betrayed and ostracized by the people he’s meant to save, Naofumi is forced to start his hero’s journey from the bottom. Initially having elements in common with a revenge fantasy, Naofumi’s adventures take on more power fantasy traits as time goes on. He eventually gains the respect of the people and gets even (and then some) with those who double crossed him. Naofumi is surrounded by girls devoted to him, and constantly shows up his supposedly strong opponents. “Shield Hero” has a more cynical edge to it than most other power fantasies, which has helped its enduring appeal.
#3: “Overlord” (2015-)
Unlike most isekai protagonists, Ainz Ooal Gown is a villain. Once a maxed out VR MMO player, Ainz finds himself in a new world where his skeletal body is real, and his villainous NPCs are fanatically devoted to him. Ainz and the rest of the Great Tomb of Nazarick are all far stronger than the vast majority of their new home’s inhabitants. While this does lead to many curbstomp battles that bring all the usual power fantasy satisfaction, they’re ultimately not the focus of the series. Rather, “Overlord” is more about the political and worldbuilding side of the story. What happens when a fantasy world encounters an overwhelming evil that can’t be stopped? Also, what if that evil overlord was just winging it?
#2: “Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest” (2019-)
Hajime Nagumo is initially just one of several schoolkids summoned to another world to save it. But, after a betrayal sees him thrown into a pit of monsters, Hajime manages to use his weak skill to develop into a badass gunsmith. “Arifureta” ticks a lot of the boxes of most power fantasies. The hero goes through trials after treachery and comes back overpowered, and ready to show up the jerks who turned on him. He also forms his own harem through very little effort. Hajime is exactly the kind of edgelord character most teenagers wish they could be. Still, despite “Arifureta” being in many ways prototypical among power fantasy anime, it didn’t launch many of the genre’s tropes.
#1: “Sword Art Online” (2012-)
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For better and for worse, “Sword Art Online” is one of the most influential power fantasy anime. Kirito is sort of isekai’d into a VR video game (several of them, actually), but thanks to his various broken exploits, he’s so overpowered that the devs should probably look into the balance issues. The edgy protagonist attracts cute girls like moths to a flame, there’s fan service aplenty, and it's set in video games - all standard power fantasy tropes. These days, “SAO” can feel cliched to many, but it’s important to keep in mind that it also pioneered, or at least popularized, many of those same cliches. After all, who among us hasn’t wished that cheating-...er, being “really good” at video games would make us popular?
Is there an anime whose power you get lost in that we lost out on? Overwhelm us with your favorites in the comments!
