Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and usually inspired by mythology and folklore. The term "fantasy" can also be used to describe a "work of this genre", usually literary.
Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and drama. From the twentieth century, it has expanded further into various media, including film, television, graphic novels, manga, animations and video games.
Alternate terms for the genre include phantasy, although this is rarely used, xuanhuan (for Chinese fantasy works with a strong emphasis on magic), and qihuan (for Chinese fantasy novels that take place in fantasy worlds that combine elements from European and Chinese fantasy).Fantasy is distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by the absence of scientific or macabre themes, although these can occur in fantasy. In popular culture, the fantasy genre predominantly features settings that emulate Earth, but with a sense of otherness. In its broadest sense, however, fantasy consists of works by many writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians from ancient myths and legends to many recent and popular works.
