When it comes to the Big Three of anime, many fans immediately think of shonen, specifically, One piece, Narutoand Bleachwho were deemed worthy of this title by fans due to their massive success as a household name in Japan and abroad in the 2000s. The Big Three is a fan-made term to refer to certain anime series. Anime has expanded its range significantly over the decades, with fans now having a new big three that is more niche and related to the fantasy genre.
Currently, when it comes to the Big Three of fantasy anime of the past few years, some very familiar names often pop up, and they Witch Hat Atelier, Frieren, and Delicious in the dungeon. In a new revival interview, Witch Hat Atelier creator Kamome Shirahama has been officially made aware of this new “big three” title, giving it an official stamp of approval from the author herself.
Frieren, Delicious in Dungeons, and Witch Hat Atelier cement themselves as the Big Three of fantasy anime.
Frieren: Beyond the end of the journey is a sensational anime series that made its grand debut on September 29, 2023. This anime is from studio Madhouse and adapts the manga of the same name by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe. The story follows Friren, an old elven wizard on his quest to reunite with Himmel, who has already passed away. Frieren's world is fantasy and magical, and full of fantasy creatures like elves and monsters.
Not long after Frieren, a hit anime called Delicious in Dungeon debuted on January 4, 2024. Like Frieren, it is set in a fantasy, RPG-like world. It is also full of magic and elves, as seen by Marcel, one of the group's main characters.
Finally, almost two years later in 2026, another major fantasy anime officially began its run, and that is Witch Hat Atelier. On April 6, 2026, the first episode of Witch Hat Atelier was released, and the series hasn't looked back since. With the anime still airing every week, the popularity of the series is still growing. Witch Hat Atelier is a bit more grounded than the other two series, but it's still fantastic, with runes and ink governing the rules of magic. Coco's story has long been anticipated by manga fans, especially due to the many delays in production.
Now that the anime is out, interviews with its creator, Kamome Shirahama, have resurfaced. During New York Comic Con in 2024, he was interviewed by io9 with the help of Kodansha US Publishing translator, Misaki Kido. In that interview, the concept of the Big Three of fantasy anime – Freren, Delicious in Dungeon, and Witch Hat Atelier, was brought up to him. Of course, she was pleased to see her story so highly thought of, and expressed her love for other stories, especially Delicious in a Dungeon. Now, with the anime out after 2 years, fans are even more sure about the title that includes Witch Hat Atelier.
15 Best Anime to Watch If You Like Frieren: Beyond the End of the Journey
If you love Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and want to watch other shows after season 2, here are some great anime options to choose from.
io9: Buzz for the anime adaptation of Witch Hat Atelier has reached a fever pitch in the United States. Some fans also consider it one of the “big three” for fantasy anime series, along with Delicious in Dungeon and Frieron: Beyond Journey's End, such as Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece. How does it feel to have fans appreciate your series like this alongside these other women's manga fantasy series?
Kamome Shirahama: (Laughs) This is the first time I've heard us called the “Big Three”. I actually honestly enjoy reading Dungeons and Dragons, personally. I read manga and watch anime too, so it's quite an honor to have such big titles in the lineup together.
Other anime series deserve to be considered a top-tier fantasy anime
It's clear that fans have come to a consensus that Frieren, Delicious in Dungeon, and Witch Hat Atelier are the Big 3 of fantasy anime, but it's not exactly set in stone like the Big 3 of shonen anime, and anime fans are free to disagree with the choices. After all, all three anime are fairly recent, so recency bias comes into play here as well.
At the same time, there are many other fantasy, but few older works to consider in the magical fantasy genre. For one, Re:Zero is an Isekai fantasy anime that is famous around the world. Like other Isekai series At that time I was reborn as Slim are also huge. In the shonen genre, there are the likes of Fairy Tail, Magi, or Black Clover that would also fit into the category, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
get started
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5 seconds) Medium (5.0 seconds) Hard (2.5 seconds) Permadeath (2.5 seconds)
Of course, deciding the Big 3 of fantasy is difficult, especially defining the category, since it is so broad. Objectively, there is no perfect choice, but at the very least, Frieren, Witch Hat Atelier, and Delicious in Dungeon are definitely anime that define the new generation of fantasy anime.
Source: Gizmodo
Witch Hat Atelier
- Release date
-
April 6, 2026
- network
-
Tokyo MX
- directors
-
Ayumu Watanabe
