Which manga, manhua, manhwa, novel, or anime depict a magical world with good worldbuilding?

O_T_T said:
@ShatteredSans , @Blossom_Tree , the pair of you should probably be aware that constantly adding more and more locations and characters is not good worldbuilding. If anything, it's the exact opposite, prompting inconsistencies and revealing that the author lacks a clear vision for the setting.

O_T_T said:
@ShatteredSans , @Blossom_Tree , the pair of you should probably be aware that constantly adding more and more locations and characters is not good worldbuilding. If anything, it's the exact opposite, prompting inconsistencies and revealing that the author lacks a clear vision for the setting.

Blossom_Tree said:

that’s not even true, and you act like Oda doesn’t give characteristics/characterization to his side cast on each island. every island in One Piece serves a purpose to the story, as do side characters for each island.

Za_Panda said:
If anything the setting of op is an uncharted and undiscovered world which makes way for the author to expand the world as much as he wants without having any inconsistency

In the current saga, majority of areas were mentioned 100s of chapters ago as actual places or places related to an antagonist and now they are being expanded upon similar to asoiaf. If the places weren't shown then that would be called having an unclear vision

O_T_T said:
It is true, he doesn't and they don't.

Worldbuilding is essentially theoretical anthropology. It's about understanding how civilisations function and react, affected by elements such as existing cultural norms and traditions, geographic and physiological factors. Above all else, it is about expressing a storyline by means of a logical and believable setting.

Not that absolutely none of that ahs anything to do with what you described. Even if the One Piece lot do go to a new island with new (allegedly characterised) people, and there they learn some lesson or acquire some (allegedly) relevant item, since this has nothing to do with what worldbuilding means for a work of fiction, the point I think you were trying to make is entirely moot.

No, a "uncharted" world merely allows for mystery. A competent writer would already have a chart of their own, so to speak. Consider a simple example for how this can lead to issues - in One Piece, my understanding is that the cast is travelling equatorially along a specific ocean current. My understanding is also that the world of One Piece has been established as a globe with an established size. Now, since the series seeks to run indefinitely, what shall happen once they have travelled across the entire world? Retcon the size of the planet? Carry on and hope no-one notices? I imagine they'll find some silly reason by which they end up in a new route elsewhere, but that just delays the inevitable. You see, even the simplest of lore details falls apart when you try to piece it together with the narrative of the franchise, something that really should be the most basic thing to get right.

Regarding your second statement, that's really not what you think at all. Mentioning a name and then applying it to a later location doesn't mean said location has been thought up at the time. At most we can presume the intent was to set something precisely to have it there to call back to in order to give the illusion of something long in the works, and, sadly, you've fallen for it.

O_T_T said:
@ShatteredSans , @Blossom_Tree , the pair of you should probably be aware that constantly adding more and more locations and characters is not good worldbuilding. If anything, it's the exact opposite, prompting inconsistencies and revealing that the author lacks a clear vision for the setting.

O_T_T said:
It is true, he doesn't and they don't.

Worldbuilding is essentially theoretical anthropology. It's about understanding how civilisations function and react, affected by elements such as existing cultural norms and traditions, geographic and physiological factors. Above all else, it is about expressing a storyline by means of a logical and believable setting.

Not that absolutely none of that ahs anything to do with what you described. Even if the One Piece lot do go to a new island with new (allegedly characterised) people, and there they learn some lesson or acquire some (allegedly) relevant item, since this has nothing to do with what worldbuilding means for a work of fiction, the point I think you were trying to make is entirely moot.

No, a "uncharted" world merely allows for mystery. A competent writer would already have a chart of their own, so to speak. Consider a simple example for how this can lead to issues - in One Piece, my understanding is that the cast is travelling equatorially along a specific ocean current. My understanding is also that the world of One Piece has been established as a globe with an established size. Now, since the series seeks to run indefinitely, what shall happen once they have travelled across the entire world? Retcon the size of the planet? Carry on and hope no-one notices? I imagine they'll find some silly reason by which they end up in a new route elsewhere, but that just delays the inevitable. You see, even the simplest of lore details falls apart when you try to piece it together with the narrative of the franchise, something that really should be the most basic thing to get right.

Regarding your second statement, that's really not what you think at all. Mentioning a name and then applying it to a later location doesn't mean said location has been thought up at the time. At most we can presume the intent was to set something precisely to have it there to call back to in order to give the illusion of something long in the works, and, sadly, you've fallen for it.

Blossom_Tree said:
your opinion of One Piece is irrelevant and invalid given that you haven’t watched or read the series. check yourself before you speak on something you don’t even consume or have on your lists.

Oda definitely characterizes his side casts and some are on the same level as main cast crew members. Obviously no series is perfect but the islands in one piece are given great detail when it comes to their origin/history, the problems they have, and how they change and develop by the end of arcs. the side casts for islands usually always show back up later and add to the story, connecting islands from the north, east, west blue and islands on the grand line.

until you actually put time and effort into the series you shouldn’t say if it has good world-building or not.

ShatteredSans said:
Yuu Kamiya doesn't just constantly add more locations and characters. We also get good look at how most of their societies function (he takes the time to properly flesh out these locations and characters), information about the 10 pledges, and a lot of information about the end of the great war (the event that practically shaped Disboard into what it is today). Also, while the world gets expanded frequently, with new locations and characters being introduced in almost every volume, there is a main setting. The kingdom of Elkia. Specifically the royal castle.

I'm just generally not good at describing/explaining things, but trust me, the world building in No Game No Life is very good. You just don't get to see very much of it in the anime, because the anime has only adapted the first 3 volumes (which is essentially the series' introductory arc)

Worldbuilding is essentially theoretical anthropology. It's about understanding how civilisations function and react, affected by elements such as existing cultural norms and traditions, geographic and physiological factors. Above all else, it is about expressing a storyline by means of a logical and believable setting.

O_T_T said:
You have no way of knowing if I've read or seen One Piece or not. In the case of the latter, my manga list is private, so you're completely in the dark on that subject, and the former is entirely a result of my decision to display it or not. I could have seen it and decided not to bother counting all of its million episodes, or I could mark it as completed at any point without actually having touched it with a barge pole.

Of course, it benefits your opinion to claim that I know nothing about the series, which is why you have done so. We both know full well that you've just broadcasted your fantasy because you feel it will discredit me and free you from having to make a legitimate counterpoint to my own. Since you have not done so, completely ignoring my explanation of what worldbuilding is and means for works of fiction and instead repeated your beliefs for the third time, I will make the conclusion that - most unlike One Piece - this is a point to close up shop.

@Za_Panda , this shall be the case with you also. In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to discuss the subject at least a little seriously, so I really would prefer you either tried the same or didn't say anything at all, to save time for us both.

And I must say the assertion that I should put "effort" into a series is entirely rude, not just because such a thing has no meaning (how can one watch a show harder, with more willpower?), but also because Oda hasn't held up his end and done the same.

Gwyn223 said:
I bet there are so many options out there that can blow your mind with their magical worlds Let's dive into some recommendations..

Then in Anime I would say Log Horizon is really nice too, especially season 1. (unfortunately S2 and 3 flopped due to getting a new studio Studio DEEN)

O_T_T said:
It is true, he doesn't and they don't.

Worldbuilding is essentially theoretical anthropology. It's about understanding how civilisations function and react, affected by elements such as existing cultural norms and traditions, geographic and physiological factors. Above all else, it is about expressing a storyline by means of a logical and believable setting.

Not that absolutely none of that ahs anything to do with what you described. Even if the One Piece lot do go to a new island with new (allegedly characterised) people, and there they learn some lesson or acquire some (allegedly) relevant item, since this has nothing to do with what worldbuilding means for a work of fiction, the point I think you were trying to make is entirely moot.

No, a "uncharted" world merely allows for mystery. A competent writer would already have a chart of their own, so to speak. Consider a simple example for how this can lead to issues - in One Piece, my understanding is that the cast is travelling equatorially along a specific ocean current. My understanding is also that the world of One Piece has been established as a globe with an established size. Now, since the series seeks to run indefinitely, what shall happen once they have travelled across the entire world? Retcon the size of the planet? Carry on and hope no-one notices? I imagine they'll find some silly reason by which they end up in a new route elsewhere, but that just delays the inevitable. You see, even the simplest of lore details falls apart when you try to piece it together with the narrative of the franchise, something that really should be the most basic thing to get right.

Regarding your second statement, that's really not what you think at all. Mentioning a name and then applying it to a later location doesn't mean said location has been thought up at the time. At most we can presume the intent was to set something precisely to have it there to call back to in order to give the illusion of something long in the works, and, sadly, you've fallen for it.

O_T_T said:
You have no way of knowing if I've read or seen One Piece or not. In the case of the latter, my manga list is private, so you're completely in the dark on that subject, and the former is entirely a result of my decision to display it or not. I could have seen it and decided not to bother counting all of its million episodes, or I could mark it as completed at any point without actually having touched it with a barge pole.

Of course, it benefits your opinion to claim that I know nothing about the series, which is why you have done so. We both know full well that you've just broadcasted your fantasy because you feel it will discredit me and free you from having to make a legitimate counterpoint to my own. Since you have not done so, completely ignoring my explanation of what worldbuilding is and means for works of fiction and instead repeated your beliefs for the third time, I will make the conclusion that - most unlike One Piece - this is a point to close up shop.

@Za_Panda , this shall be the case with you also. In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to discuss the subject at least a little seriously, so I really would prefer you either tried the same or didn't say anything at all, to save time for us both.

And I must say the assertion that I should put "effort" into a series is entirely rude, not just because such a thing has no meaning (how can one watch a show harder, with more willpower?), but also because Oda hasn't held up his end and done the same.

Bidoof_PMD-EOS said:
I know I'm coming into this discussion abruptly, but it is clear that you have probably not read over 200 chapters of One piece. It does start where each place is just a stepping stone, but then as the main characters get stronger, they get to impact the locations they visit more, and as we stop by some places, we meet characters that we can follow on misadventures everywhere. I find the cover series story of One Piece is a great example of world building.

You make the argument that the world doesn't hold because One Piece will run indefinitely. What? It will end around the time they reach the One Piece. It's been established that we're entering the final arc, around last year (though that doesn't mean it'll be small).

If ever they want to add to One Piece, then exploring other important characters in depth would be the way to go. We haven't seen any of the 3 blues that aren't East, so that's something (in which Luffy would certainly not be involved). And given that you can make these additions for quite a lot of characters (although quite a few do have established backstories), does mean that the setup is all there; it's a real world. Good world building.

From this claim alone, I do believe that you have not watched One Piece. Quite often, when they visit an island, they don't come out of it with an item, or a lesson (Edit: Ah, you mean, like Haki or stuff. That happens, but very rarely). They come out with (at times) a crewmate, (always) by making an impact on the location, changing how they live (as was established when they get there, and is seen afterwards by the repercussions; of course the pirates themselves can't just come back to check, and they wouldn't anyways), and (at times) information about the world.
I do believe, with all that One Piece has to offer, that you have not read it. Might have started it, but certainly haven't gotten very far (in relations to the length of the manga/anime). Not basing myself on your list, but on your claims. I won't say that there are arguments that can be made for which One Piece is not a representation of good world building. However, you have not made those arguments.

MeltingSky said:
Making a properly comprehensive list would take forever so I'm just going to list a few off the top of my head.

Made in Abyss
Ancient Magus Bride
Ascendance of a Bookworm (Preferably the novels)
Heavenly Delusion
Shinsekai yori
Land of the Lustrous (Good anime adaption but horribly incomplete. Manga is great.)
Dragon Dentist
Moribito
Kino's Journey
Yona of the Dawn (Preferably the Manga since anime is woefully incomplete.)
Other Side Picnic (Novels or possibly the manga. Never the anime.)
Princess Mononoke
Mushishi
Dennou Coil
Girl's Last Tour (Anime is very good, but the story's last arc and conclusion is manga only. Manga is excellent.)
Baccano!
Hinamatsuri (Good anime adaption, but incomplete. Manga is better.)
Machikado Mazoku (Believe it or not this mahou shoujo comedy has very good world-building.)
Ghost in the Shell Original Movie and Stand Alone Complex
Kemono no Souja Erin
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Manga)
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (Only a few anime OVAs, Manga is a masterpiece.)
Aria
Dead Dead Demons dedede Destruction (Manga)
FMA (People love to hate what's popular but the world-building was top-notch for a shounen.)

And I'm out of time and motivation for now. I tried to pick a wide selection of genres. If anyone seriously wants a proper list including more manga let me know and I will put in some more effort. Those I've listed I would personally recommend.

VardhanD said:


So, do u have any recommendations for good world building? U gave a really nice explanation there, so I am curious abt which anime/manga/novel u consider to have good world building.

I digress, I am a huge fan of pompo movie too!

O_T_T said:

I direct you, as I did to another previously, to the comment I made earlier. Though you quoted it, you evidently did not understand it.

Characters impacting locations is not worldbuilding. Said locations being internally consistent and logically feasible irrespective of those characters, is. This, you are not arguing for.


You've missed the point I made. It's not that without an ending, One Piece's worldbuilding suffers, but that because it's already been stretched to excess (due in no small part due to the simple fact of being a shounen, a format that effectively demands this) any potential ideas Oda may have had have been changed and contradicted in order to pump out more issues. Look up older interviews with him, there's a clear point where he completely upends the plans he claimed to have and extends the story by another - at the time - half's length.


Completely irrelevant to the matter at hand. How you imagine One Piece spinoffs is not important here, at all.

And I repeat what I've said in this thread several times already, good characters - if we pretend One Piece has those for the moment - aren't good worldbuilding.


This again needs only what I said at the top of this comment, what you're arguing in favour of is irrelevant to the question at hand.

As for your attempts to judge how much of it I have read or seen, I find that it's the same half-baked excuse already made earlier in this thread; "I disagree with you about [X], therefore I will decide you haven't seen [X] which I believe makes you immediately wrong."

Kaylorz said:
One Piece really does a great job in term of puttin 100 stuff in it for sure.

But it's crazy that people reply here with "you've only seen 200 episodes" yes, okay, 200 episodes isn't enough to see the quality of a work...?
Nah people don't want to see 1000 episodes of Luffy shouting about becoming king of the pirates and catching power up on power up after losing the fight 3 times, I know, it's shocking, but generally people with a bit of taste can't do it.

Now, I've read the whole manga, 200 to 450 episodes is more than enough to see what One Piece is all about (Skypea and Alabasta are in the best arcs anyways)
-> One Piece is undeniably one of the best in terms of WorldBuilding, that's just undeniable. If we take the first part of the manga, the second part is just lore stuffed into the story (and I won't spoil, but the last chapters clearly show that we're more on lore stuffed with anything than worldbuilding).

Oda has created a world, with a government, a history, geopolitics (well it's not code guess either, I won't sell dreams), mythology, legends...Each place is an opportunity to see how the inhabitants live there, how Luffy, the government or the other pirates influence them, I'm sorry but let's be honest few manga have done as well.

What Oda clearly didn't do (and which is purely overrated) ? 

-> Good character development, now if you have a minimum of taste, you can't seriously claim that characters are One Piece's strong point, and yet I see many here defending worldbuilding with that (it's not even related, by the way).

Phosphophyllita said:
I just stopped by to say that expositional dialogue is not world-building, so Mushoku Tensei is not good even in that aspect.
Have a great week, everyone.

Bidoof_PMD-EOS said:
Just regarding the 'only seen 200 episodes'.
I'm assuming you're partly commenting on my 'not read over 200 chapters'. By that, I mean, haven't gotten through Alabasta, which you agree is a must-watch before commenting on the worldbuilding of One piece. Alabasta ends at chapter 217, episode 130. 
You say yourself 200-450 episodes. That's more than what I asked. I would say Wano probably has the best worldbuilding, but Alabasta is enough.
Oh, also, for characters relating to worldbuilding, Robin is pretty much the go-to for that. Her character is what worldbuilt the void century, which is already big. Then you have Jimbe, with the whole thing with the Sun pirates. It's not that we're exploring the character, we're exploring the world around the character, which is worldbuilding, no?

Kaylorz said:
I'm sorry but Wano is an absolut mess and one of the worst arc in the manga, especially his second part, that's not worldbuilding, that's exactly what haters call out One Piece for -> a messy lore dumping. 
It was cool at the beginning then they start puttin 1000 flashback to explain everything and destroyin the worldbuilding for nun


Nah, how to kill your worldbuilding. 

Robin is not even a character I'm sorry but she is just a plot device lmao that's not "worldbuilding" let's be serious now. In fact it's prolly the worst thing you can have to build your world, that's just laziness.
Her purpose is literally "oh look at that HUGE stone lemme read it....damn so yeah back in the days Joy Boy was crazy !!" Nah fam that's not worldbuilding  like you ain't showing nothin you just stating.  
Robin pullin out lore out of her ahh, in my opinion it's not worldbuilding. 
But that's just me tho.

-> In fact, poneglyph is, in my opinion one of the LAMEST thing to build your world, it's screamin lore dumping. Like you just gon state random lore like that ? Nah that's crazy...Skypea was aight tho cuz you actually SEE the ancient civilization or whatever. 

That's why I said, the first part of One Piece was something.

And I don't even know what's the point with Jimbe, I can see the vision but I'm sorry, I think most people actually don't care about the Sun Pirate, like they not THAT important, in the same arc you got the whole thing with JoyBoy and the promise, Noa or whatever that boat is + See how fishmen are treated, how they live etc. Sun Pirate is very minor to me... They said "yeah so fisher tiger was very impactful" yeah okay your people are still enslaved lmao.