Interest Stacks

INNOVATIVE Worldbuilding (1)

Manga
bySpicyShakes
Oct 02 2024, 2:15 PM | Updated Jul 7, 2025 5:55 PM
I LOVE LOVE LOVE worldbuilding, especially if it revolves around a specific and unique gimmick or theme. It’s so fun to explore, and I really want to see more anime/manga that have a unique worldbuilding gimmick, instead of the same old high fantasy medival-whatever world.

DISCLAIMER: I haven’t read most of these mangas on this list, so prepare for my BIAS.

Anyways, let’s get into it! ^^
Undead Unluck
Manga, 27 vol, 2020 Me:- Author:-
Each one of these characters have superpowers by contradicting a certain subject. It has to be one of, if not, the most creative power system I’ve ever seen.

Like for example, Andy’s power is Undead, which means that he can’t die.
Katekyou Hitman Reborn!
Manga, 42 vol, 2004 Me:- Author:-
So it’s basically like a magical girl anime, but shounen + hitmen.
Mob Psycho 100
Manga, 16 vol, 2012 Me:- Author:-
Some people in this world have these special psychic powers. I really recommend you watch the anime, it's has a really unique and ridiculously cool visual representation of magic/superpowers.
Enen no Shouboutai
Manga, 34 vol, 2015 Me:- Author:-
Magical firefighters
Kimetsu no Yaiba
Manga, 23 vol, 2016 Me:- Author:-
These slayers with katanas have the job of hunting down and killing demons.
Boku no Hero Academia
Manga, 42 vol, 2014 Me:- Author:-
Superhero academy
Kaijuu 8-gou
Manga, 16 vol, 2020 Me:- Author:-
It’s basically Attack on Titan but with kaijuu instead of Titans.
Shingeki no Kyojin
Manga, 34 vol, 2009 Me:- Author:-
Gigantic disfigured human-monsters that attack villages and eat people.
Gachiakuta
Manga, ? vol, 2022 Me:- Author:9
The specific objects called “Jinki” that the characters weld have “souls” in them which gives them special magical functions based on how the welder can imagine the object doing.
Dandadan
Manga, ? vol, 2021 Me:- Author:9
Characters can obtain the powers of yokai/ghosts by getting possessed by them or absorbing them. Also ALIEN INVASIONS, yay.
Naruto
Manga, 72 vol, 1999 Me:- Author:-
Ninja jujitsu
Fullmetal Alchemist
Manga, 27 vol, 2001 Me:- Author:-
Alchemy magic
Hunter x Hunter
Manga, ? vol, 1998 Me:- Author:-
Nen powers
Zom 100: Zombie ni Naru made ni Shitai 100 no Koto
Manga, ? vol, 2018 Me:- Author:-
Zombie apocalypse, but put into a positive perspective + the blood of the zombies in the anime are rainbow-colored and not just red.
Houseki no Kuni
Manga, 13 vol, 2012 Me:- Author:-
Agender humanoids made out of gemstones
Dr. Stone
Manga, 27 vol, 2017 Me:- Author:-
The entire world has been reset back into its primitive state, so it’s up to the genius scientist MC to restore it!
One Piece
Manga, ? vol, 1997 Me:- Author:-
Pirates with superpowers traveling across the sea to find the “One Piece”.
One Punch-Man
Manga, ? vol, 2012 Me:- Author:-
According to what I’ve heard, characters get their special magical abilities according to what they think of themselves; whatever they believe they are is what they are, whatever they believe they can do is what they can do.
Beastars
Manga, 22 vol, 2016 Me:- Author:-
Humanoid animals (basically furries) who live almost the same as humans, except they still have the same functions/instincts as wild animals, causing them a lot of problems.
Baki-dou
Manga, 17 vol, 2018 Me:- Author:-
Believe me, this is more Bizzare than JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Characters are absurdly buff and strong, and also the logic in this world is nonexistent DON’T QUESTION IT-
Chainsaw Man
Manga, ? vol, 2018 Me:- Author:9
In this world, there are these creatures roaming around called “Devils”, which each manifest from different phobias.
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 2: Sentou Chouryuu
Manga, 7 vol, 1987 Me:- Author:-
The Pillar Men are a humanoid species related to vampires, who are regarded as the ultimate life forms. To defeat these guys, there’s also a thing called “Hamon” — an essence manipulation ability controlled by breathing techniques.
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 3: Stardust Crusaders
Manga, 16 vol, 1989 Me:- Author:-
Many characters are called “Stand Users”, as they have these guardian spirits called “Stands” that are a manifestation of their souls, and which grant them reality-bending superpowers. The rest of the entire series after Part 3 revolves around this concept as a reoccurring theme.
Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
Manga, 3 vol, 2011 Me:- Author:-
Magical girls, but with a dark, psychological horror twist.
Death Note
Manga, 12 vol, 2003 Me:- Author:-
These demonic spirits have a tradition where they chose a specific someone to have a notebook called the “Death Note”. As long as you write down the real name of your chosen target into the Death Note, whatever you write down about them will control how they will die.
Toriko
Manga, 43 vol, 2008 Me:- Author:-
FOOD!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, the shounen MC is really into food idk
Kiseijuu
Manga, 10 vol, 1989 Me:- Author:-
There is this parasitic alien species called “Parasytes”, which invades Earth. The Parasytes all have the abilities to disfigure and shapeshift the biological bodies of their earthly organism hosts, often for combat such as blades.
Ajin
Manga, 17 vol, 2012 Me:- Author:-
There is this category of humans called “Ajin”, who can’t die. Because of their differences with normal humans, Ajins are discriminated against and are abused as test subjects.
Mairimashita! Iruma-kun
Manga, ? vol, 2017 Me:- Author:-
An isekai where the human protag Iruma-kun is sent to demon school.
Dorohedoro
Manga, 23 vol, 2000 Me:- Author:-
Dai Dark
Manga, ? vol, 2019 Me:- Author:-
Made in Abyss
Manga, ? vol, 2012 Me:- Author:-
There’s this really large hole in the Earth called “The Abyss”, which has a lot of valuable treasures hidden within it that children are sent to find. However, The Abyss has many dangerous monsters, and the conditions of The Abyss get more and more dangerous the deeper it goes down.
Mashle
Manga, 18 vol, 2020 Me:- Author:-
The world is basically Harry Potter, where the magic users all have these special black line markings on their faces. But the MC has no magic, but gets around and even breaks physics by being extremely physically strong and intimidating.
Soul Eater
Manga, 25 vol, 2003 Me:- Author:-
Meisters and Demon Weapons are people who take on the form of a weapon, with the ultimate goal of creating a "Death Scythe" worthy of being wielded by Shinigami. To achieve that ultimate goal, their weapon partner must consume the souls of 99 wicked humans and one witch.
Kagurabachi
Manga, ? vol, 2023 Me:- Author:-
The MC is on the quest to retrieve his father’s seven enchanted but deadly katanas from corrupt organizations. The characters pretty much use jujitsu and have these other magical abilities that they mostly use for combat.
Shaman King
Manga, 32 vol, 1998 Me:- Author:-
There are these special individuals called “Shamans” who can communicate with ghosts, gods, and spirits, which normal people can’t see. Every 500 years, the Shamans from all over the world hold a tournament, and whoever wins it is crowned “Shaman King”, allowing them to call upon the “Great Spirit” the shape the world how they so desire.
Yu☆Gi☆Oh!
Manga, 38 vol, 1996 Me:- Author:-
The “I SUMMON BLUE EYES WHITE DRAGON” magical card game, you already know ;)
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Manga, 10 vol, 2007 Me:- Author:-
Gintama
Manga, 77 vol, 2003 Me:- Author:-
Alien invasion set in Medieval Japan
Fire Punch
Manga, 8 vol, 2016 Me:- Author:-
The elusive Ice Witch has ravaged the world with ice and snow, corrupting humanity as they've been trying to resist the cold climate. The MC Agni and his sister Luna are blessed orphans with regenerative powers who are trying to make the best out of their living situation, but then the army commander Doma arrives and burns down the village they were seeking refuge in, and OH MY GOD AGNI IS ON FIRE NOW. HE CAN’T STOP BURNING. ALSO HIS SISTER DIED IN THE VILLAGE FIRE. So now Agni’s goal is to kill Doma in order to avenge his sister’s death.
Devilman
Manga, 5 vol, 1972 Me:- Author:-
The pure-hearted MC, Akira, merges with the demon named “Amon” to become Devilman, and Akira does this in order to help his childhood friend, Ryou Asuka, save humanity.
Niwatori Fighter
Manga, ? vol, 2020 Me:- Author:7
A supernatural action-adventure manga starring a rooster as the main character, along with other various animals as the supporting characters. The rooster MC fights these disfigured humans that were turned into gigantic kaiju-like demons, with the MC’s main goal being to kill the demon who ate his sister.
Fate/Zero
Manga, 14 vol, 2010 Me:- Author:-
People can magically summon “Servants”, who are combatant avatars of real-life historical figures as well as characters from some of the most influential tales in history (like the fictional character “Frankenstein” for example).
Ranma ½
Manga, 38 vol, 1987 Me:- Author:-
The male MC named Ranma has the magical transformation ability to turn female when splashed with cold water, but can can turn back male when splashed with hot water. There are other characters in the cast that can magically transform just like Ranma — except instead of transforming into a woman, they can transform into other kinds of creatures. Like for example, Hibiki can transform into a pig.
Yakusoku no Neverland
Manga, 20 vol, 2016 Me:- Author:-
This “orphanage” doesn’t let the orphans venture outside of it, as the establishment is holding a big dark secret…
Medaka Box
Manga, 22 vol, 2009 Me:- Author:-
A parody of every anime ever.
Jigokuraku
Manga, 13 vol, 2018 Me:- Author:-
The immortal ninja, Gabimaru the Hollow, is put on death row. But since he cannot die from any of the execution methods they tried on him, he is appointed to join an expedition to an island in search of the elixir of life in exchange for a full pardon by the Shogunate. But however, every person that has been recorded to be sent to this island prior has never returned back home alive.
Tokyo Ghoul
Manga, 14 vol, 2011 Me:- Author:-
“I DON’T WANNA BECOME A GHOUL! 😭😭” *turns into an emo ghoul ⛓️🖤*
Uzumaki
Manga, 3 vol, 1998 Me:- Author:-
Lovecraftian horror revolving AROUND spirals (lol get it?)
Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
Manga, 21 vol, 2012 Me:- Author:-
A mysterious alien makes a devastating crash into the moon, then he takes a classroom and becomes the teacher because that’s the only way the government knows how to conserve him from destroying Earth. So now the class’s students are given the seemly impossible task of assassinating the alien, and while the alien gives them lessons on both assassination and academia.

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