10 epic anime series with dragons

Anime series with dragons have always held a special place in viewers' hearts. These mighty beasts capture our imaginations with their immense powers, snake-like bodies, and flying abilities. Many memorable anime feature dragons as important characters or key plot elements, creating epic anime series with dragons.

Dragons come in many forms in anime. Some look incredibly fierce with sharp claws, teeth, armored scales, and massive wings. Others appear more serpentine and graceful. Here are 10 of the most epic anime series with dragons starring these legendary creatures.

10 legendary anime series with dragons

1. Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball gained global popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks in part to its wish-granting dragon named Shenron. This iconic anime series with dragons follows the adventures of super-strong protagonist Goku and his ever-growing band of martial artist allies as they defend the Earth while seeking the wish-granting Dragon Balls.

The seven orange balls each hold a star, and when brought together, they summon the Eternal Dragon Shenron, who can make any wish come true. This begins Goku's epic quest to gather the balls, which are scattered across the world and can be found with the help of the Dragon Radar.

Along the way, the heroes clash with villainous creatures and fighters while gradually growing stronger through intense training regimes, weaving Eastern philosophy into the story. The journey expands into cosmic proportions in later sagas, but Shenron and the Dragon Balls remain a key part of the lore in this anime series with dragons.

2. Blue Dragon

Based on the Xbox 360 video game, this adventure anime follows Shu and his friends who live in a world where everyone has the power to manifest a magical shadow alter-ego with unique abilities. Orphaned Shu longs to spread his wings and explore beyond his small village.

Fate soon sends him on a quest with classmates Jiro and Kluke when strange synthesized monsters invade the world. They are joined by Zola, a mysterious warrior with a secret past carrying the ancient, enigmatic Blue Dragon shadow power.

Shu discovers he can manifest a glowing blue dragon shadow. The group masters their dragon shadows and battles Nene, the ruler of the Grank Kingdom, who seeks to conquer the world with an army of artificial killing machines. Their quest leads to a final confrontation with Nene, which involves complex teamwork and strategy, determining the world's fate in this anime series with dragons.

3. Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World

Re:Zero- Starting Life in Another World (Image via White Fox)

This dark fantasy isekai anime series with dragons follows protagonist Subaru, who gets transported from modern Japan into a fantasy video game-like world. As Subaru explores the new magical land, he learns of the Dragon Volcanica, a legendary figure who is said to protect the kingdom.

While not directly encountered in the early parts of the story, Volcanica's presence is felt through the lore and myths of the world. Subaru soon gets embroiled in a convoluted plot involving the kingdom's royal selection, witch cults, and battles against demon beasts.

Volcanica remains a mysterious background figure of immense power as Subaru struggles against supernatural threats while trying to understand his purpose in the new world. A second season continues his tortuous journey, which is filled with cycles of suffering and death.

4. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Image via 8bit)

When corporate worker Satoru Mikami gets stabbed by a robber, he somehow finds himself reborn as a powerful slime monster in a mystical fantasy world. As a near-invincible blue blob roaming the subterranean caverns, "Rimuru" gradually befriends dragons and gathers allies from other species to create his own independent monster nation.

His first crucial ally is the Storm Dragon Veldora, an immense dragon sealed inside the cave when Rimuru first spawns. After naming and befriending the ornery dragon, Rimuru's powers are enhanced further. While Veldora initially remains sealed, Rimuru works towards freeing him completely.

The grateful dragon then pledges loyalty to Rimuru in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, who continues growing in might and influence as a "Demon Lord" while navigating monster politics, demon invasions and founding a thriving nation of diverse species working together in this anime series with dragons.

5. Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid (Image via Kyoto Animation)

Office worker Miss Kobayashi gets drunk one night and wanders into the mountains, encountering the injured dragon Tohru. Tohru demonstrates her shapeshifting ability by transforming into a maid and servicing Kobayashi's household needs in this delightful anime series with dragons.

Other dragons and mythical beings gradually join the strange makeshift family, leading to a heartwarming comedy blended with fantasy elements. The dragons comically struggle to hide their identities in public while taking life lessons from the kind-hearted Kobayashi.

6. Dragon Goes House-Hunting

Dragon Goes House-Hunting (Image via Signal.MD)

Letty the green dragon just wants a nice cave to live in, but suitable options keep getting snatched up by more powerful magical beasts and obnoxious heroes. Fed up with the housing drama, Letty decides to inquire about some prime real estate owned by the demon lord Dearia.

This leads to a spirited negotiation between the slick demon lord and persnickety home-seeking dragon debating the value of Dearia's creepy (but renovated!) former castle lair.

Their amusing debate highlights the daily modern struggles of finding affordable housing, even in the magical world. The low-stakes comedy provides a fresh, grounded tale contrasting typical epic anime series with dragons.

7. The Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins (Image via A-1 Pictures / Studio Deen)

When a tyrannical group of knights seizes control of the kingdom of Liones, Princess Elizabeth seeks help from the legendary Seven Deadly Sins, a disbanded group of powerful knights considered villains by the usurpers.

She gradually locates each member of the Seven Sins, including the Dragon's Sin of Wrath, Meliodas. Despite his boyish looks, Meliodas harbors immense strength and rage inherited from his demonic heritage.

He also can access his Assault Mode, a temporary demonic power-up mode enveloping him in dark energy. Together, the quirky band of powerful knights - demon, fairy, giant, human, and more – quests to liberate the Liones kingdom from corruption while uncovering secrets of a 3000-year-old holy war between multiple races in this anime series with dragons.

8. Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail (Image via A-1 Pictures / Satelight / Bridge)

The wizard guild Fairy Tail accepts all kinds of members with magical abilities. Fire mage Natsu is trained by the dragon Igneel and has dragon-like fire combat and fire-eating powers. Natsu undergoes quests alongside celestial spirit mage Lucy and others, forming lasting bonds between wizards who come together as a family.

Several dragon slayer wizards play key roles, having been trained by dragons to master dragon-based magic. Natsu seeks clues to Igneel's mysterious disappearance alongside dragons who vanish one day under odd circumstances.

Second Generation Dragon Slayers also gain powers through embedded dragon lacrima crystals rather than learning directly from dragons. Over many arcs and sagas, Natsu and his wizard cohorts fight threats from dark guilds of evil mages, demons, immortal dark wizards, and rogue dragons hiding in human society in this anime series with dragons.

9. Yu-Gi-Oh!

The original mega-popular card battle anime series with dragons features dragons as pivotal monster cards essential to the Duel Monsters game dominating the series. Powerful dragon cards possess special abilities that make them exceptionally valuable and rare to collect.

The anime's hero, Yugi, utilizes notable cards like the Dark Magician and the Buster Blader. Still, his rival, Seto Kaiba, is most closely associated with the iconic Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Other notable dragon cards include the Red-Eyes Black Dragon and the Five-Headed Dragon.

Their climactic battles often involve hard-won dragons facing off in tactical card duels packed with magical effects and trap cards, turning the tide of battle. Special dragons even factor into the magical shadow games, determining major plot developments. Later Yu-Gi-Oh! series expand the vibrant gaming world brimming with mystical dragons and monsters to collect and control.

10. Sword Art Online

Sword Art Online (Image via A-1 Pictures)

In the virtual fantasy world of Sword Art Online, an anime series with dragons, Kirito and his guild confront various powerful boss monsters, including dragon-like creatures, as they progress through the game's levels.

One such formidable enemy is The Gleam Eyes, an extremely high-level boss requiring flawless teamwork between frontier guilds for even a chance at victory. These intense battles against powerful monsters are pivotal moments in the story, often pushing characters to their limits and revealing important plot developments.

As Kirito and his allies face increasingly difficult challenges, they must overcome not only the game's monsters but also the machinations of other players with sinister motives in this anime series with dragons.

Conclusion

From wish-granting eternal dragons to powerful dragon slayers and monster allies, many great anime series with dragons feature iconic dragons used in exciting ways. They represent formidable allies or fearsome foes protecting treasures in dungeons.

Some threaten villages, while others form life-changing friendships with human protagonists. Their immense strength and magical qualities establish dragons as epic staples of fantasy anime full of adventure, alongside deep explorations of loyalty and belonging.