The best manga set in magic schools, ranked

Key takeaways

• The school life and fantasy genres in manga are popular due to the relevance and creative freedom for magical stories.
• Unique manga like “Mashle” defy expectations with humor and muscle-oriented heroes.
• “Witch Hat Atelier” offers a unique depiction of witches as artists with sketchbooks and pens for magic.

School life is an incredibly popular topic manga, Because it provides many elements that can help tell a story. The setting is great for creating a diverse cast, and school events can be optimal plot devices. It's also true that a large demographic of manga readers are teenagers in school, which makes these stories and their protagonists relatable to their core audience.

Additionally, fantasy is one of the most popular genres in media because of its flexibility and the creative freedom it affords. Put together, manga writers and artists are able to create magical stories about dreams, transformation, and growth in settings featuring magical schools. These stories are well-loved because they are familiar yet wonderful, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the world.

9 Little Witch Academia

A light story about a young girl chasing her dreams

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.34
• published: From 2016 to 2018
• Genres/Subjects: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, School
• the author: You Yoshinari
• Illustrator: Sato Keisuke

in Little Witch AcademiaWitches use their magic to help and entertain people. After witnessing the display of the witch's dazzling chariot, Atsuko becomes obsessed with becoming a witch herself. When she is accepted into Luna Nova, an academy for witches, her dream comes true. The problem is that he can't actually use magic. Now Atsuko needs to prove she can be a witch.

This lighthearted story has lots of fun characters. Atsuko is everything a manga hero should be: energetic, determined, and kind. Despite her rocky status, she is always looking out for her friends and what she believes is right. Because it's not really an action manga, there are creative and clever solutions to each conflict.

8 Villainy Level 99: I may be a hidden boss but I'm not a demon god

Being overpowered isn't that great, and she knows why

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.40
• published: From 2020 to present
• Genres/Subjects: Fantasy, Romance, Isekai, School, Villain
• the author: from Satori Tana
• Illustrator: Nokomi

In Valschein's kingdom, magic can be measured by a person's hair color and intensity. Yumiella Dolkness was born with pitch black hair, signifying a black type of magic, which made others fear her. When she is five years old, she regains memories of her past life in Japan and finds herself in the world of an otome game where she becomes a hidden boss. To avoid that fate, she tries to stay in the background.

There are many manga that involve reincarnation in otome games, and they all follow similar plots. Villainy level 99 Much is the same, except the main character is different. As long as she can live comfortably she doesn't care about anything. The story is not focused on romance. It's about Yumiela becoming overpowered and living among normal people who fear her.

7 Mashle: Magic and Muscles

When the solution to a problem isn't magic, it's muscle

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.62
• published: From 2020 to 2023
• Genres/Subjects: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Gag Humor, Parody, School
• the author: Hajime Koumoto
• Illustrator: Hajime Koumoto

The Magic School manga are similar to each other, but Masley Defies expectations with a fun concept. Mash lives in the forest with his father training and gaining muscle, but when his everyday life is threatened, he has no choice but to do something. To gain recognition, he is going to use his muscles to change society.

first and foremost, Masley A gag manga that parodies similar stories Black clover or Wistoria. Instead of giving the hero hidden power, the author makes him face everything with pure power. The best parts are when Mash accomplishes the literally impossible, like deflecting a spell with his hands or kicking his legs fast enough to fly.

6 Wistoria: Wand and Sword

An underdog story with some surprising twists

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.79
• published: From 2020 to present
• Genres/Subjects: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, School
• the author: Fujino Omori
• Illustrator: Toshi Aoi

Will Serfort is a student at Raygarden Magical Academy, and his goal is to transfer to the upper academy to be closer to his childhood friend, Alfria. However, Will is unable to use magic, so he spends his days being ridiculed and humiliated by his friends. The only way for him to fulfill his graduation requirements is to hunt monsters in dungeons using a sword.

Underdog stories are always popular, but love manga My Hero Academia Showed how much fun they can be. Wistoria: Wand and Sword A story about adversity takes a darker approach, allowing Will to show his bravery and perseverance. The story is further strained by prejudice and discrimination against those who cannot use magic.

5 blue ghost

A teenager struggles to cope with the demonic side of his family

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.87
• published: 2009 to present
• Genres/Subjects: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural, Mythology, School
• the author: Cashew nut
• illustrator: Cashew nut

In a world where two dimensions are in balance, ghosts defeat demons to keep humans safe. Rin is the son of Satan, the god of demons, and when his adoptive father is murdered, he has no choice but to become an exorcist himself. To that end, he attends True Cross Academy's cram school, a school for trainee demons. To become a disciple, his origins must remain a secret.

blue ghost It begins like many other fantasy school manga, but the story shines as each character has their moment in the spotlight. It shows each character's growth and expansion into the world outside of school. It is a great coming of age story with lots of action and exciting moments.

4 Soul Eater

Adventures of Meisters and living weapons

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.09
• published: From 2003 to 2013
• Genres/Subjects: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
• the author: Atsushi Okubo
• Illustrator: Atsushi Okubo

Soul Eater Death Weapon takes place at the Meister Academy, a school founded by Death to train meisters and demon weapons. Maka Albarn is a student at DWMA, and with her partner Soul Eater, she aims to become a great master like her mother. By feeding the soul with 99 evil human spirits and one witch spirit, he can become a weapon of death, worthy of sharing with death itself.

Soul Eater Best known for its unique art style and premise. The wide variety of characters help carry the story by showcasing their individual personalities and fighting styles. The school setting helps with world building, as background characters also show off their skills.

3 Excellence in shade

An Isekai Manga that is unlike any other

• published: From 2018 till present
• Genres/Subjects: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai, Reincarnation
• the author: Daisuke Aizawa
• Illustrator: Enri Sakano

Excellence in shade is a great subversion of traditional isekai that pokes fun at overused archetypes and plot devices. It follows Sid Kagenu, an ordinary-looking child from an aristocratic family, as he attends the Midgar Academy for the Dark Knights. But that's just a face. He is also Shadow, the leader of the Shadow Gardens, an organization created to prevent the resurrection of Diablos.

What makes this manga so enjoyable is the blurred line between what Sid believes. Her presence at the academy puts her at the center of much conflict, which makes sense for her identity as Shadow. But, really, it's all a coincidence. His interaction with the Shadow Garden also appears as complex roleplay. It makes the story more fun than it should be.

2 Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun

An unfortunate boy's new life as a monster

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.33
• published: 2017 to present
• Genres/Subjects: Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai, Mythology
• the author: Osamu Nishi
• Illustrator: Osamu Nishi

Many heroes find themselves in strange situations, but Iruma Suzuki's situation is peculiar even by manga standards. Iruma is forced to be adopted as the grandson of the demon Sullivan after being sold by his parents. At her insistence, Iruma begins attending Babels, a school for ghosts, where she must hide her identity as a human to avoid being eaten.

Unlike many popular manga heroes in recent years, Iruma is not born skilled or talented. He begins the story as a push-over, and many of his actions are products of accident and nepotism. However, that's why so many people love this manga. Iruma's growth and development is brilliantly written through fun adventures.

1 Witch Hat Atelier

An award-winning manga about young witches

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.64
• published: 2016 to present
• Genres/Subjects: Imaginary
• the author: Kamome Shirahama
• Illustrator: Kamome Shirahama

Ateliers are studios and workshops for artists, and in this manga, witches are more akin to artists or inventors than traditional spellcasters. Coco, the protagonist, has always been fascinated with magic, but when an accident leaves her homeless, a wandering witch invites her to become her apprentice.

Witch Hat Atelier is a fantastic manga that boasts incredibly unique depictions of witches. Instead of wands and tomes, these witches carry sketchbooks and pens. By drawing certain symbols, they can activate their magic. However, it's not all fun and games. The story has many dark themes and ideas which makes the plot more interesting.