This is a world of skies where islands are adrift in a sea of clouds. Gran, a young boy, lives on the island of Zinkenstill. One day, he happens across Lyria, a girl that had escaped the militarily powerful Erste Empire. When they come after her, Gran gets pulled into the middle of it and they both flee the empire by taking to the skies with one destination in mind, the Island of the Stars.
Based off a Japanese mobile game, I’m pretty sure we lost a little connection because we never played it in the west. Despite that, if you liked its sweeping JRPG journey, we have more anime recommendations for you.
Anime Like Granblue Fantasy
For Fans of Game Adaptions
Tales of Zestiria the X
Sorey is a human that was raised among the seraphim, spiritual beings that are not visible to normal humans. However, one day when a human princess-knight wanders into their territory, he finds himself drawn to the human capital. This eventually leads him to become the new Shepherd, the one destined to defeat the Lord of Calamity and prevent the ruin of the world.
Both series, as they are adapted from games, feel a lot like games. However, unlike Granblue that is a little more open with its plot, Zestiria actually does its plot better than the game it is based on because it allows for smoother transitions between events.
Ragnarok the Animation
As evil sweeps over the land, a young swordsman Roan and his companion Yufa decide they must face it head on. They set out on a journey across the land towards their noble end.
With Granblue based off a mobile game and Ragnarok based off an MMO you can expect a certain lacklusterness of plot. Really what these series thrive on is bringing locations and little nods to life for those that have played the game.
Valkyria Chronicles
In the neutral country of Gallia, they are known for a bountiful reserve of the versatile mineral ragnite. However, when the Empire decides to invade in order seize the resource for itself, Welkin, the son of a former war hero, and the town watch of Bruhl rise up as Gallian militia group Squad 7 to defend their country.
Both series are based off games and tell the stories of those games. However, Valkryia Chronicles, because it follows a war, is a little more mature in tone, but still has that RPG feel to it.
For Fans of Journeys
One Piece
With his dying breath, legendary Pirate King Gol D. Roger let the world know about his treasure, setting in motion the Grand Age of Pirates. Among the many crews that set out to look for the legendary One Piece treasure is Monkey D. Luffy, a young man that has assembled a rag-tag crew to sail the Grand Line and hunt down One Piece.
While one takes place in the sky and the other on the seas, they tell a similar sweeping adventure story. Both series start with a goal. A destination or treasure they want to find. From there on, reaching that destination is not a straight line and takes quite awhile.
Erementar Gerad
After a routine sky raid, the sky pirate Coud finds a special being named Ren in the cargo hold. Ren is a member of a special race of humans that grant special combat powers to their partners. However, Ren is more powerful than any of them could have expected and hunted by those who want to possess her. Now Coud finds himself tasked with her protection.
Alongside being adventure series, both series take place in the skies. The only difference is that the main character in Granblue yearns for the sky while the main character in Gerad is already an establish sky pirate.
Katanagatari
In Edo era Japan, Shichika Yasuri practices one of the most unique sword styles among a culture of unique sword styles, a technique that uses his own body as a blade. As the seventh head of the style’s school, he lives in exile with his sister Nanami until the ambitious Togame barges into his life. Togame tries to recruit him on her mission to collect the twelve unique swords known as the Deviant Blades for the shogunate. Interested by the girl more so than her mission, Yasuri accepts, only to later find the challenge in collecting these swords is defeating the legendary swordsmen that wield them.
Both series feature the characters going out into the world with a purpose. They are searching for a destination or artifacts and that is all the overall plot that is needed. A boy and girl pair travel together and tackle obstacles as they come.
For Fans of Mysterious Girls
Seven Deadly Sins
In this feudal world, the realm is protected from those who seek to spread their evil by the Holy Knights. However, in the kingdom of Liones, a small group of Holy Knights known as the Seven Deadly Sins sought to overthrown the king only to be driven off. Now, ten years later, the world hunts for the Seven Deadly Sins, but the Holy Knights have now turned their blades on the king and taken control of the kingdom. Now it is up to his third daughter, Elizabeth, to find the Sins and help them take back control.
It is a tale as old as time. Boy meets girl. Boy decides to go on a grand adventure because he thinks girl is pretty cute and literally knows nothing else about her. This is the tale that is told in both these series. As they go on, the characters finally learn about each other as they overcome various obstacles.
Rage of Bahamut
Thousands of years ago, ancient dragon Bahamut terrorized the world. However, when gods and demons allied themselves to prevent the world’s destruction, they sealed him away, splitting the key among them so he would be eternally imprisoned. After the dragon was sealed, humanity returned to normal. However, things are about to get very abnormal for bounty hunter Favaro when he meets a mysterious women that holds half the key to Bahamut’s seal.
Both series have that distinct “JRPG” feel to their plot where the characters get pulled into a much grander adventure because some mysterious person invades their life. However, Rage of Bahamut has a distinctly more mature feel to it.
Do you have more anime series like Granblue Fantasy? Let fans know in the comments section below.
