Far too often these days, fantasy settings in anime are just fodder for power fantasies. However, some fantasy anime prefer to travel down a darker path. These series feature characters who’ve been horrendously wronged and become singularly driven by revenge.
Fantasy anime series focused on revenge often take place in dark fantasy settings, allowing viewers a break from the usual high fantasy featured in most series. While these can occasionally veer into being needlessly edgy, the best series are cathartic. Great revenge storylines push fans to think about the downsides to giving oneself over to such an all-consuming emotion, or at least offer the enjoyment of seeing a target of revenge finally get what they deserve.
10 Kaze no Stigma Sees a Mage Return to His Family After Being Exiled
Stream Kaze no Stigma on Crunchyroll
Казе но стигма follows the story of Kazuma Kannagi, a member of a clan of powerful fire wielding mages who has no talent for flame spells. After being defeated by his cousin, Kazuma is banished from his family and vanishes for several years. When he returns, it’s as a wind mage so powerful he surpasses many of the very mages who once mocked him. Unfortunately for him, his arrival happens just as many members of the Kannagi family start being murdered by an assailant with wind powers, causing all eyes to turn to him.
Казе но стигма was a minor favorite in the late 2000s, featuring a protagonist who enjoyed getting back at all the family members who once mocked him. Kazuma frequently battles against other members of his family, eager to reveal his superiority after finally finding a style of magic he excels in. Still, the revenge storyline isn’t nearly as all-encompassing here as it is in other fantasy anime.
