The fantasy genre has a wide appeal. What used to be limited to fairy tales and folklore now dominates the entertainment market, and for fans of both fantasy and anime, there's plenty to choose from. This includes a whole category of animated shows called isekai anime. This doesn't just refer to the fantasy genre. It refers specifically to a situation in which the protagonist is physically transported to another world. Some of these places are dangerous, even ugly, designed to either repulse the audience or draw them into the story. There are a few anime fantasy worlds out there nice enough to make a wayward fan want to settle down and never return home. Some might prefer a pastoral setting of rolling fields and forests, while others are thrill-seekers who need a constant diet of excitement and adventure. Depending on the taste, there's an isekai anime world out there for everyone.Updated May 2, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: Anime continues to rise in popularity, with virtually every streaming service now having its own serialized animated shows in addition to the ones that appear on regular television. More anime means more fantastic worlds that viewers can dream about inhabiting, which in turn means that this list of the best anime worlds to live in continues to grow. Science fiction makes a contribution, but for the most part, these are fantasy worlds.
13 Aincrad, Sword Art Online
Created by a game engine called the World Seed, Aincard is the nine-layered castle from the first season of Sword Art Online. Like most MMORPGs, the world of Aincrad is as beautiful as it is interesting and perilous.
Some levels of the many-layered floating castle that makes up this world are sanctuaries that have features like personal housing and customized gardens. Others are dangerous areas that contain world bosses or malevolent players who think their chances of survival are better if they attack first.
12 Earth, Dragon Ball Z
There's the part about this version of Earth being more technologically advanced and idyllic generally, with most threats coming from other parts of the galaxy in the form of scheming aliens. Climate change and pollution seem to be a thing of the past, while intergalactic travel is a regular daily occurrence. All great, but that's not all the setting of Dragonball Z has going for it.
When someone dies here, they don't disappear forever. They go to a place called Other World, and can actually be brought back by a variety of means. The most obvious would be to collect all of the Dragonballs and make a wish, though getting friendly with the gods can also help.
11 Death City, Soul Eater
Here's another entry that's not exactly for everyone, but for anime fans that would enjoy living in a city that was designed by Tim Burton and drawn by Warner Brothers, Death City could be the best anime world to live in.
It's a world of its own, although it's connected to real life in a tenuous way that resembles the way most places intended to mimic the Underworld are. The Death Weapon Meister Academy is also a really neat place to go to school, though people have to live in Death City to enroll.
10 The Spirit Realm, Spirited Away
As long as visitors don't all end up living here by eating the magical food meant for the spirits and turning into a pig, or working for Yubaba in the bathhouse, the Spirit Realm would be one of the best fantasy worlds.
Zeniba, Yubaba's kinder and gentler sister, has a quaint abode in a quaint little cottage by the rail line and can probably visit the markets and bathhouse when she pleases. Like most of the fantastic worlds that we see in Studio Ghibli movies, this world is both dangerous and beautiful depending on the perspective.
9 Planet Aqua, Aria
In the 24th century, the planet Mars has been terraformed, colonized, and renamed Aqua. It's unrecognizable from the stark, red hellscape that it used to be, and is now named after its most plentiful resource. In fact, the planet is so pivotal that "Aqua" was the original name of the manga when it was first released in 2001.
From a practical point of view, a place with an abundance of water is going to be one of the best places to live anyway, and an anime fantasy world promises to be even more perfect. What does one do with a lot of water? Train to be a gondolier, naturally, and this story follows the adventures of Akari, the protagonist, and her adventures in Neo-Venezia.
8 Gaea, Vision of Escaflowne
Known as the Mystic Moon by the e=inhabitants of earth, the world of Gaea is either cultivated in piles of flowers and gardens or covered in lush ruins, making it one of the most alluring anime fantasy worlds. Even the parts that have been torn apart by the war with the Zaibach Empire seem to retain some stark, scenic beauty.
The history of Gaea is equally compelling; the inhabitants of Atlantis created it to save themselves when their own country was sinking into the ocean.
7 Pokemon World, Pokemon
It's generally agreed upon by the fanbase that the story of Pokemon takes place in a parallel version of Earth, in the sense that it has similar geography and atmosphere, but with a singular important difference.
This world is filled with magical pocket monsters and we have to travel all over the world to catch them all. So it has everything that the real world already has, plus a lot of cool monsters.
6 Earth-Land, Fairy Tail
For those who prefer a gritty, western-medieval aesthetic reminiscent of D&D, the world of Earth-Land would be the ideal place to live. The Kingdom of Fiore is where most of the action takes place in Fairy Tail but there are several different regions and counties anyone could choose from if they wanted to live there.
No matter what country is the best in Earth-Land, all of them have connections to the various guilds who are all looking for mages to employ. That means adventure, and that's the real reason anyone wants to live here.
5 Stern Bild City, Tiger & Bunny
It would be neat to live in a world where superheroes not only exist, but also appear on television and even have sponsors and merchandise. That's a great start for Stern Bild City, but that's not all that it has going for it, as it also looks like an exciting futuristic town.
As the setting for most of the hottest superhero action trending now, Stern Bild City has to look good on film, and, for the most part, it does even after some regular wear and tear. For those that like a lot of screens, sleek, efficient architecture, and a variety of options for public transit, this is one of the best anime fantasy worlds to live in.
4 The Four Nations, Avatar the Last Airbender
The nice thing about the world of the Avatar is that anyone can choose according to their own personal preference. The lush plains of the Earth Kingdom are nice, the Water Tribe is headquartered in a veritable winter wonderland, the Fire Nation has a nice volcanic island thing going, and if someone is into sweeping, dramatic vistas the Air Nomads are a kind and welcoming people.
There's also a chance to be born with or acquire an elemental-bending power in any one of the Four Nations.
3 Disboard, No Game No Life
Disboard is a world in which stealing, killing, and wart are totally forbidden, and that's a pretty good start. This story is about a group of gamers with an unbeatable record who are actually looking forward to the challenge instead of fearing it.
What makes this a matter of opinion is that everything is decided using games instead, so this wouldn't be a world for everyone but for gamers, it would be a true paradise.
2 Planet Supergrass, Redline
In a universe made up of several planets, the coolest one of all would be the one that sponsors and organizes the notorious Redline race. Planet Supergrass is ruled by a class of sorceresses who love to party.
The atmosphere of the whole planet seems to fluctuate constantly between something like a pool party and a rave, complete with glitter and foam. A great choice for those who like the fast-paced life of cars, photos, and fashionable clothes.
1 Eden, Macross Plus
It's in the name, but it's perfectly apt. Anyone who has feasted their eyes on the Macross Plus anime knows how beautiful Eden is. The effort to create this planet's stunning landscapes paved the way for more daring feats of anime like Redline in later years.
It's not just the lush rolling hills of the wind farm either, but also the sleek, futuristic city in which a lot of the action takes place. The beauty of the setting is one of the things that makes this drama worth watching and is the reason it was a popular show in its time.