Some of the most popular and critically acclaimed anime series have their roots in light novels. The best anime adaptations of light novels are collected here.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
There’s a reason why Isekai is synonymous with light novels in the minds of most readers. The phenomenon’s dominance of the ranobe scene in the early 2010s was a major catalyst for the subsequent Isekai boom. Mushoku Tensei is the best novel to illustrate this change.
As an online novel, the series has been incredibly successful since 2012. The plot of Rifujin na Magonote and the artwork by Sirotaka worked together to codify the conventions of the Isekai subgenre into a model that subsequent works would emulate.
Fate/Zero
The Fate series, a multimedia behemoth created by Type-Moon, began life as a graphic novel.In Fate/Stay Night, we were first introduced to the thrilling battles that ensue as magi and their fabled servants compete for control of the Holy Grail.
Gen Urobochi teamed up with Type-Moon to write a prequel light novel that was as successful as the original. He was also in charge of the Fate/Zero anime, making sure that the creative team stayed true to the original source material.
Spice & Wolf
Light novels, which are akin to anime in tone, are typically devoted to action-packed fantasy adventures, so the art of economic trading may sound dull. Spice & Wolf, however, demonstrates that in the hands of a skilled author, even the most mundane subject can become fascinating.
Most people are familiar with the tale of a young merchant and his wolf deity companion because of the popular anime version. While the program ends suddenly, Kraft and Holo’s pursuit for profitable trading opportunities in ambient towns is continued in the ranobe.
Toradora!
Romance is another evergreen subgenre of light novels, if it is written well. Originally a phenomenally popular light novel series, Toradora! by Takemiya Yuyuko and Yasu garnered even more followers with its anime adaptation.
However, the original version of the story is the only one that adequately portrays the tumultuous connection between Taiga and Ryuuji.Toradora! depicts theatrical yet endearing adolescent love in vivid color and gorgeous art.
The Monogatari Series
For all the people who think of light novels as trash, NisiOisiN is the undeniable exception. His masterpiece, the Monogatari series, is a fascinatingly offbeat exploration of ranobe.
NisiOisiN takes a story about a half-vampire named Koyomi Araragi and his experiences with supernaturally-powered young women and transforms it into a convoluted, self-indulgent web of wordplay, humorous criticism, and lyrical prose. Even for fans of the series’ anime adaptation, there are fresh layers to discover in this film.
