One of the most popular mythical creatures, with their differing mythologies and temperament, Dragons have been a subject of fascination for all. And what could go wrong with an anime about these beautiful and fierce beasts? Due to their significance worldwide, anime creators often come up with unique and intriguing ways of portraying dragons.
Dragons have been an integral part of most cultures all over the world, symbolizing wisdom, strength, and prosperity. The dragons are deities often associated with water and rainfall, and these powerful deities protect mankind from dangers and enlighten us with their knowledge.
You can see a wide variety of characteristics given to dragons in anime, ranging from cute loli dragon girls to fearsome beasts symbolizing destruction. Some anime focus on the friendly and wise side of these mystical creatures, while other anime shed light on the angry and bloodthirsty aspect.
Regardless, dragons are beloved by all, and anime creators have used them to create contemporary and immersive stories. Some anime revolve entirely around dragons with them being on the center stage while in other anime, they appear as side characters. We have curated a list of the 50 best dragon-related anime for viewers who simply love dragons.
1. Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon
Kobayashi is an office worker who accidentally invites a dragon to live with her. She accidentally comes across Tohru after her drunken excursion to the mountains and offers Tohru her house to live in. This marks the beginning of Kobayashi’s new life with her maidservant dragon.
This is a heartwarming slice-of-life anime that deals with complex emotions. The show carries a carefree and endearing air about it and its simple writing makes it much more special.
2. Pokémon
One of the longest-running anime and a childhood favorite of many, every child has dreamt about becoming a Pokémon Master at least once in their life. This anime follows the journey of Ash Ketchum as he strives to become a Pokémon Master with his first Pokémon, Pikachu. The anime features a variety of pocket monsters, including the mighty dragon!
Also read: 50 most powerful Pokémon ranked
3. Highschool DxD
Demon waifus with immense power? Say no more! This anime revolves around a high school student Issei who meets a tragic end on his first date. He is magically saved by the school president, Rias Gremory who is a devil. She reveals that Issei has been reincarnated as a devil by her and now he must serve her faithfully as a servant.
Highschool DxD is arguably one of the best ecchi anime with a coherent plot. It has a complex story, which is quite unusual for a harem anime! It keeps the viewers immersed, with novel characters and tons of fanservice.
4. Majutsushi Orphen Hagure Tabi
When an experiment goes horribly wrong, Azalie gets trapped in the form of a dragon. Her brother, Krylanco is outraged and sets out on his own to revert his sister to her normal form.
This is a unique anime where humans become dragons. The plot is engaging with some great action and makes this anime a believable fantasy.
5. Shingeki no Bahaumat
A laid-back bounty hunter, Favoral’s life is thrown into chaos when he gets caught in the middle of a war between gods and demons. It is now up to a group of implausible heroes to keep the fierce dragon Bahaumat from being unleashed on the world.
The anime has a rather simple storyline but manages to have complex characters with depth to them. It portrays the terrifying side of dragons and manages to express violence, righteousness, and fear.
6. Dragon Ball
Who hasn’t heard of Dragon Ball? This infamous anime narrates the tale of Goku who fights against the villains to protect the earth. Along with his allies, he faces intergalactic creatures to magical beings who threaten the peace on earth.
Dragon Ball has been an integral part of childhood for lots of people. This classic shounen anime depicts the fight of good against evil and has a complex subplot to it.
Also Read: How to watch Dragon Ball in order
7. Fairy Tail
Lucy Heartfilia, a young mage strives to fulfill her dream of becoming a professional wizard. On her journey, she meets Natsu Dragneel who is on a mission to find his dragon foster father Igneel. He invites her to his guild, Fairy Tail where adventure and action await her.
Also read: Top 10 Anime Similar to Fairy Tail
8. Hisone to Maso-tan
If you loved the movie “How To Train Your Dragon”, don’t miss out on this amazing anime! The plot follows Hisone, who encounters a dragon after enlisting in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. She is astonished when the dragon asks her to become his pilot. Hisone embarks on an adventure with the dragon to find out more about the nature of the mystifying dragons.
This is a gratifying story about the friendship and the strong between Hisone and the dragon. It was especially endearing to watch Hisone’s character growth as she overcomes her insecurities to become an excellent dragon pilot.
9. Dragon Drive
Reiji Ozora is lazy and a quitter, until one day he is introduced to a virtual reality game, where each person is assigned a dragon based on their personality. Expecting to get a strong and intimidating dragon, he is stuck with a friendly-looking chibi dragon.
The anime provides a fresh outlook on dragons with the huge variety of dragons featured in the story. The characters are charming and have a quaint quality to them.
10. Cross Angel: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo
Angelise Ikaruga is the first princess of the Misurugi Empire who is forced to exile due to her lack of ability to wield Mana. There she must adjust to her new life and pilot mechanical robots called “Parameil” to fend off the monstrous beasts called dragons.
The story touches upon topics like human cruelty, discrimination, torture, and abuse. The best part about this anime is that the characters have actual depth and feel to them which makes it more interesting to watch. It has a heavy mecha influence and would interest mecha fans as well!
Also Read: Mecha Anime Every Tech Fan Needs To Watch
11. Dragon, Ie wo Kau.
In a fantasy RPG world, Letty who is a meek and cowardly red dragon is disowned by his father. He becomes a target for people who see him as a threat but is saved by an elf Dearia, a real estate agent and architect. They embark on a quest to find Letty the perfect abode.
The anime takes a humorous and parodical stance which makes it quite unique. The comedy is perfectly timed and stands apart from other anime with its lighthearted and amusing quips.
12. It’s My Life
Astra Doomsday is finally getting to live his dream life after retiring as a former captain of the royal knights and getting his own house. Soon, his peaceful life is disrupted when a young apprentice witch crash-lands into his house.
This short OVA is based on a manga series of the same name. It is a light-hearted watch with perfectly time cute comedic moments. The characters are enjoyable which makes this 15-minute OVA a perfect watch.
13. Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru
Gayus, a sorcerer joins forces with a cruel Jushiki practitioner Gigina as a bounty hunter to hunt dragons. Their life is disrupted when they are presented with an odd request to serve as security guards for a big festival.
It is a fantasy anime with elements of mystery to it and is rather appeasing for fans of mystery genre. The serial killings make this a thrilling watch for the viewers. The anime is filled with action and it is an adaptation of a light novel with the same name.
14. Kosuke and Rikimaru: Dragon of Konpei Island
Kosuke and Rikimaru are the guardians of Konpei Island and they protect the last alive dragon from any harm. It is their duty to protect the dragon when thieves come to steal a precious jewel from the dragon.
It is a 45-minute-long movie that bears a heavy resemblance to Dragon Ball. The final battle against the antagonists and protagonists has many great action sequences and it is quite enjoyable.
Also read: Best Anime Series Like Dragon Ball
15. Zettai Bouei Leviathan
The peace in Aquafall, a beautiful world abundant with water and greenery is disrupted when it is struck by a meteorite that brought forth evil entities. Syrup, a fairy recruits three dragon girls to protect Aquafall from malicious intruders.
The anime is quite amusing and follows the journey of the three girls as they grow in order to protect their home. The characters possess different abilities and it is intriguing to watch them work together.
16. Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri
A mysterious gate suddenly appears in Tokyo and mysterious creatures clad in medieval armor charge forth destroying everything in their path. Youji Itami, a Japanese Self-Defense Forces officer is tasked to lead a team that will be sent to the world on the other side of the gate.
The premise of this anime revolves around modern-day humans clashing with fantasy creatures. The characters are very diverse ranging from humans to creatures like elves, dwarves, demi-gods, and such. The anime has a unique dystopian plot with great action scenes.
17. Kemono Michi: Rise Up
Genzo Shibata, a professional wrestler has an intimidating and hulking appearance but an affectionate heart for animals. When he is summoned by a princess of another world to protect her world, he runs away and decides to become a beast trainer in this new world.
This anime takes a unique stance on isekai anime with its quirky comedic gags and engaging storyline. The protagonist takes pleasure in taming the beasts, having a soft spot for animals rather than hunting them. It is an enjoyable and laid-back series with stylish humor.
18. Dragon Crisis!
Ryuji’s quiet life is disrupted when he and his cousin Eriko steal a relic box from a black broker. The box contains a red dragon girl Rose who Ryuji swears to protect with his powers.
The anime has a mellow and cliché storyline but it’s a good one-time watch, especially if you like cute dragon girls!
19. Seikoku no Dragonar
Ash Blake, a first-year student at Dragonar Academy is marked as the next greatest dragon master with his star-shaped brand but has nothing to show for it. His troubles just begin when his dragon evolves into the form of a beautiful and feisty girl who informs him that she is his master and he is her servant.
It is a classic harem anime with eccentric characters and an enjoyable storyline. It has some intense battle scenes which make it likable for viewers who like action mixed with romance.
20. Dragonaut: The Resonance
Jin Kamishina, an orphan boy gets chosen as the pilot of Dragonaut to combat the evil dragon-like creatures on the earth and destroy the asteroid threatening to wipe out humanity. He is joined by Toa and many more companions as they delve deeper into the mystery of the dragon.
21. Legendz: Tale of the Dragon Kings
Shu’s life is turned upside down when he receives a crystal known as a “soul figure” from the father. The employers at the Wiz company start hunting him down for the special crystal in an attempt to revive the Legendz, fine crystals that contain monster DNA.
Legendz features a unique art style that looks childish at first glance but features a plethora of beautiful and emotional moments. The characters evolve strongly throughout the series and each and every character is adorable and likable.
22. Oraa Guzura Given
This anime follows the story of a young chubby dragon named Guzura who hatches out of a huge egg erupted by Mt. Bikkura. We get to see his adventures, or rather misadventures, as he tries to interact with humans, animals, and even other creatures.
23. Zero no Tsukaima
A young mage Louise earns the nickname “Louise the Zero” with her inability to cast spells properly. One day when a summoning spell goes horribly wrong, a boy named Saito Hiraga appears. He becomes her familiar, and is forced to act as her slave. It is a romantic comedy anime that makes for a charming and pleasurable watch.
24. Blue Dragon
Shu and his friends acquire a mysterious ability when their village is attacked by an unknown enemy. The ability allows them to transform their shadows into fierce monsters and Shu receives the strongest monster called Blue Dragon.
This is a classic anime with love and friendship as key points as they fight together to defend their home. It is quite humorous and resembles Dragon Ball to quite some extent.
25. Tales from Earthsea
This Studio Ghibli production follows the tale of Ged, a wandering wizard, and Prince Arren, a distraught teenager who investigate the bizarre phenomenon occurring across the Kingdom
With its beautiful animation and heartfelt scenes, this movie makes for a feel-good watch. The story is based on the Earthsea book series written by the author Ursula K. Le Guin.
26. Ryuu no Haisha
Nonoko is a newly appointed dentist who becomes responsible for protecting the dragon, the guardian of the country from tooth-decaying bacteria. After a fierce battle, Nonoko finds a boy soldier named Bell in the dragon’s tooth who is believed to have been resurrected there.
This anime sets itself apart with its unusual set of characters and its peculiar portrayal of the storyline. It is a great watch for anyone who loves dragons.
27. Kuutei Dragons
An unusual group of dragon hunters called “Drakers” set out on an arduous journey to hunt dragons and fierce aerial battles. The anime has an incredibly detailed set of the world and goes in-depth about the system of hunters, how the dragon parts are used, and also about the flying mechanism. The story also features delicious dishes made from different dragon parts!
28. Serendipity the Pink Dragon
Kona is washed up at the isolated Pure Island with a big pink egg after an accident. The pink egg hatches into a pink dragon named Serendipity who along with Kona and the mermaid Lola work together to keep the peace of the island.
It is a childhood favorite of many people with the strange and cute pink dragon Serendipity and his friends Lola and Kona. The characters are cute and chibi-like with a juvenile animation, making it fit for younger audiences.
29. Inuyasha
Kagome Higurashi’s life is turned upside down when she gets pulled down the well in her family shrine by a demon. She finds herself in feudal Japan and teams up with a half-demon boy Inuyasha to fend against the demons who are after her and the Shikon jewel she possesses.
Inuyasha is a classic shounen anime with charismatic characters and a great plot with multiple arcs. Throughout the series, we see the characters develop as the circumstances change.
30. Spirited Away
This is arguably one of the best studio Ghibli production and it follows the story of a young girl Chihiro who has to protect her parents captured by the evil witch Yubaba. Set in a magical world, we get to see a lot of amazing characters with astounding character designs and personalities.
The art is amazing with rich colors and animation. It has an outstanding soundtrack that has been used by many artists since its release. The beauty of Spirited Away is in its simplicity and the calm way the story proceeds.
31. One Piece
One piece is another classic shounen anime that narrates the tale of Luffy who strives to become the King of all pirates. Along the journey, he meets a lot of bizarre characters and together they sail to an unknown island in the search of One Piece.
This anime is filled with sensational action sequences and focuses on the theme of friendship. Although it sounds a bit cliché, this anime has captured a lot of hearts and remains a favorite of a good majority to date.
Also read: What episode does Rorona Zoro lose his eye in One Piece
32. Hitsugi no Chaika
Tooru Akura is hired by a white-haired wizard named Chaika to help her scatter her fathers remain. Tooru and his adoptive sister Akari are thrown into turmoil when the Council of Six Nations dispatches men to apprehend Chaika, the late cruel tyrant Gaz’s daughter.
Chaika is a straightforward anime with its phenomenal cast of characters and a rather simple storyline. It pays a lot of attention to the details and yet manages not to be overly complicated for an average viewer.
33. Bleach
Ichigo Kurusagi was born with the ability to see ghosts. He becomes a “soul reaper” when his family is attacked by a malevolent soul – “Hollow” and strives to protect the innocent.
It is one of the biggest shounen anime to have aired and has an intense plot with varied characters. It has a lot of emotional depth along with a ton of action.
34. Akatsuki no Yona
Yona, a sheltered princess is forced to run for her life with her bodyguard Hak when an act of treason threatens her safety. She is joined by four other mystical beings who have sworn to protect her.
The side characters in this anime are well-developed and the protagonists, especially Yona, is pretty relatable. It has a great art style and color scheme, and the overall theme is quite unique and entertaining.
35. Tower of Druaga
In a world where the evil monster Dragua returns to the tower after sixty years of having been defeated, the “Summer of Anu” acts as a savior for everyone.
During this time, the demons lose their powers which makes a perfect time for hunters and adventurers who want to defeat Dragua and claim the treasure that lies on the top floor. After getting kicked out of his brother Neeba’s team, Jil, a rookie climber decides to find other teammates and climb the tower to defeat Dragua.
36. Battle Spirits Saikyou Ginga Ultimate Zero
Rei, a card quester is in search of a treasure called Ultimate Battle Spirits with his friends and a mini dragon Mugen. The anime follows the adventure of Rei as he settles disputes throughout the galaxy, makes friends with other outlaws, and engages in combat with the Guild which controls space.
37. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
Who doesn’t love the world of Arabian Nights? Magi is set in the Arabian Nights with a gripping narrative with dark turns. Aladdin, a young Magi is on a quest to find his true self. He is joined by his mentor Ugo, his friend Alibaba and a djinn that was summoned by Aladdin using his flute.
38. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime
One of the best-liked Isekai anime of 2018, this anime tells us the story of Satoru Mikami who is a 37-year-old corporate worker. After getting stabbed by a random assailant, Satoru wakes up in another world as a goop of slime. He discovers his newfound powers to mimic anything he devours and begins his new journey filled with adventure. It is a wholesome Isekai anime, deviating from the norm and providing a new take on the genre.
Also Read: Top 9 Underrated Isekai Anime
39. Demon King Daimao
The righteous Akuto Sai has sworn to make this world a better place along with his friend Junko Hattori at the Constant Magic Academy. However, his life is turned around when he is unexpectedly prophesied to become the “Demon King”.
This is a classic harem anime with come cliché themes but the ending of this anime is unpredictable. It has good comedy punches and makes it a good watch for people interested in fantasy harem anime.
40. Bakugan Battle Brawlers
When mysterious cards appear one day capable of summoning creatures, teenagers and children soon get encapsulated playing with them. One day when Vestoria has invaded the White Dragon Naga and his servants and they are locked in a battle of domination. Danma Bakugan after getting caught in the middle of one such fight between the two dimensions swears to restore balance in this world.
41. Metal Armor Dragonar
In order to seize control of the planet and bring about the “rebirth” of the human race, the United Lunar Empire Giganos launches a war against the Earth Federation Military in the year 2087. Three ordinary individuals come upon three top-secret Metal Armor units nicknamed “Dragonars” and pilot them to battle the adversaries
42. Mon Colle Knights
Professor Hiiragi and Count Collection, two crazy scientists succeed in opening a portal that leads to the Sixgate world, an alternate reality where myths actually do exist. In order to get six magical items before Count Collection does, Professor Hiiragi enlists his daughter Rokuna and her friend Mondo to be the Mon Colle Knights.
43. Fafner in the Azure
The peaceful Tatsumiyajima, a central island in the middle of a cluster of islands is suddenly transformed when the fate of mankind falls on their shoulder. As the last line of defense, Kazuki and his friends work together with the giant robot Fafner and the dragon that guards the final treasure that can save the world.
44. Planet With
The anime follows the story of Souya Kuroi who wakes up from a nightmare about a dragon destroying everything in its path in a flash of rainbow light. The waking world turns into a new nightmare for him after learning that he lost his parents and memory in a mysterious event.
is left with little choice but to be cared for by his two odd guardians. When strange aliens attack Japan, Seven Heroes who transform into deadly weapons in a flash of light start defeating them. Souya soon finds himself in between the battle, fighting against the Seven Heroes rather than the aliens.
45. Tenkuu no Escaflowne
Hitomi Kanzaki is a typical 15-year-old student interested in fortune telling when one night, Van Fanel and a dangerous dragon appear out of nowhere. Van kills the dragon swiftly, due to a prophecy from Hitomi, but they are both engulfed in a pillar of light that then appears.
As a result, Hitomi is carried away to the mystical planet of Gaea, where the Earth hangs in the sky. The characters start out as the usual shoujo tropes but gradually develop into incredibly engaging characters.
46. Dragon Half
Mink, a half-human half-dragon teenager falls in love with the charming dragon slayer Dick Saucer. She is heartbroken when she realizes that her love is not reciprocated due to her hybrid nature. Mink, along with her friends, set out on a journey in the quest for a potion that would make her fully human.
This comedy anime takes a parodical take on the adventure genre with its comedic quips. It is laid-back anime with a simple story and humorous scenes that would make anyone laugh.
47. Mysteria Friends
Mink, a half-human half-dragon teenager falls in love with the charming dragon slayer Dick Saucer. She is heartbroken when she realizes that her love is not reciprocated due to her hybrid nature. Mink, along with her friends, set out on a journey in the quest for a potion that would make her fully human.
48. Legend of the Millennium Dragon
Who doesn’t love a good time travel story? A 15-year-old boy named Jun journeys back in time to the Heian era, more than 1,200 years ago, when he encounters a battle between Oni and humans in Kyoto. With the fierce dragon Yamata no Orochi, he must resolve the conflict between the Oni and the humans. Soon he realizes that the reality may not be what he has been told.
49. Taro the Dragon Boy
This is an adaption of Japanese mythology from a dimly remembered time hundreds or perhaps thousands of years ago when humans lived much more closely in harmony with nature and interacted with local magical creatures.
Taro is a lazy young boy who lives in an extremely poor village when he is given strength equivalent to hundred men on the condition he uses it for others’ benefit. Upon learning that his mother was turned into a dragon, Taro begins his journey to save his mother.
50. Burn the Witch
Alternate reality is a subject of fascination for many and this anime manages to work with that perfectly. Ninny is a member of a popular girl group in “Front London” and works as a Witch in “Reverse London”, which is the alternate dimension of London invisible to the naked eye. She works for Wing Bind, a group that sends out operatives to use magic to kill the dragons that wreak havoc and defend the people of both Londons.
