Top 20 Best Anime Adapted From Novel – Hey guys!. In this post, I’ll be discussing a list of Top 20 Best Anime Adapted From Novel. There are several sources behind the anime storyline, one of which is from the light novel series. Different from the manga, the light novel only contains full written text and there are no drawings on it. Even so, the story of anime based on light novel is no less exciting than the anime adapted from the manga. Most of light novel accompanied by the detail description and some of them completed by some illustration although only few drawings, so that the reader can still enjoy the story without getting bored easily. Well, here are 20 best anime adapted from novel. So, let’s get started.
20. Baccano!
Baccano is a light novel series written by Ryohgo Narita and illustrated by Katsumi Enami. In this series, Narita wanted to write a story with a unique premise and background. He also decided to research and write stories by incorporating fantasy elements into American rules. This series also received a gold prize at the Ninth Dengeki novel award ceremony in 2002. This series has also received an anime adaptation that aired in 2007 which was worked on by Brain’s Base studio and has a fairly high rating on various anime websites. The story of Baccano revolves around the wars between mafia groups in America when it has become common but it’s getting worse.
19. Hataraku Maou-sama!
Hataraku Maou-sama is the title of a light novel series written by Satoshi Wagahara and illustrated by the artist Oniku. The series began to publish in 2011 by ASCII Media Works. A manga adaptation has also been made and launched in Dengeki Daioh Kadokawa’s Monthly Comic magazine in 2011. Not only that, this series also received an anime adaptation in 2013, White Fox studio with 13 episodes in total. The anime received quite a positive response and review. The story itself centers on the demon king who wants to control Ente Isla, but his efforts are blocked by a number of heroes. The demon king was forced to retreat and head to the portal of another world and land on earth. Unexpectedly, a hero named Emilia followed the Demon Lord to earth.
18. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata is a Japanese light novel series written by Fumiaki Marutoand illustrated by Kurehito Misaki. It is published in Fantasia Bunko Kadokawa. The first volume was published since 2012 and this marked Maruto’s debut as a Japanese novelist. The series of the light novel was completed in 2017 and there are 13 volumes in total. The manga adaptation has also been made by Takeshi Moriki and began appearing in Monthly Dragon Age magazine in 2013. The series also got its anime adaptation that was produced by studio A-1 Pictures in 2015 with 12 episodes, and the second season in 2017 with 11 episodes for each. The story centers on a teenager named Tomoya Aki, an otaku who one day meets a cute girl and immediately asks her to become a heroine model in a doujin game that he made.
17. Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo is the title of a light novel series written by Hajime Kamoshida and illustrated by Keji Mizoguchi at ASCII Media Works and published 13 volumes from 2010 to 2014. This series was adapted into manga illustrated by Hoki Kusano, and then serialized by Dengeki G’s Magazine. This light novel has also got its anime adaptation that aired in 2012 and was produced by studio J.C. Staff. The story revolves around a Sakura dormitory which inhabited by trouble makers.
16. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
It is a light novel series from Japan written by Wataru Watari and illustrated by Ponkan8. This series has been adapted into several manga series. OreGairu has also been adapted into an anime series, which aired in 2013, the second season in 2015, and the third season in 2020. This series tells the story of a student named Hachiman Hikigaya, a teenager who is pessimistic, closed-minded, and realistic. He ended up being forced by his teacher to join the service club and cooperate with two girls who have their respective problems. They offer help and advice to others while dealing with their inner conflicts.
15. Saga of Tanya the Evil
It belongs to Japanese light novel series written by Carlo Zen and illustrated by Shinobu Shinotsuki. Youjo Senki series began to be published gradually since 2012 on the Arcadia novel publishing website. Then Enterbrain bought the copyrights of this series and published it into nine volumes since 2013. A manga adaptation of Chika Tōjō’s work began serializing on Comp Ace magazine from Kadokawa Shoten in 2016. Moreover, this series received several anime adaptations, OVAs and several movies. The anime tells story about an atheist office worker. One time, he was killed by his own subordinates and was confronted by an entity that claimed to be God. Being X, the name for entities that call themselves god. Long story short, this man was reincarnated again as an orphaned little girl who lived in the German Imperial war era.
14. Gamers!
Gamers is a series of Japanese light novel written by Sekina Aoi and illustrated by Saboten. This anime has been published by Fujimi Shobo since 2015. This series also received its own anime serialization in 2017 with 12 episodes in total, produced by Pine Jam studio. Gamers story revolves around a student named Keita Amano. He is a video game player and always dedicates part of his life to play various games. Until one day, he met an idol at his school named Karen Tendou, who invited him to join a game club. Keita’s refusal to join actually triggers events and conflicts that will occur in their lives in the future.
13. Free!
Free is a light novel written by Koji Ojiwho has received awards in two Kyoto Animation Award contests in 2011, which was later published in 2013. This series has also received several anime adaptations, and for its first serialization in 2013 with 12 episodes in total. The story of this anime revolves around four boys named Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, and Rin, before they graduate from elementary school. They all participate in a swimming tournament and won it. Even though they ended up seperated. Years later, Haruka, and Makoto rejoin Nagisa, when Nagisa enrolls in high school, a year after Haruka and Makoto. Not long after, Rin, who is thought to be in Australia, showed up and challenged Haruka to join a swimming match. After that, Nagisa had the idea to create a swimming club. Eventually, Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, and Rei create the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club and work together to make the club a success.
12. Toradora!
Toradora is a Japanese light novel series written by Yuyuko Takemiya and illustrated by Yasu. This series consists of 10 novels released from 2006 to 2009 published by ASCII Media Works. A manga adaptation by Zekkyo started to be serialized in September 2007 on shonen manga magazine Dengeki Comic Gao. However, the manga stopped to be published on Dengeki Comic Gao since March 2008 issue, but then, continued its serialization in Dengeki Daioh magazine in May issue 2008. The anime series was also adapted from this series, precisely in 2008 with the number of episodes reaching 25 episodes and produced by J.C. Staff. The story centers on Ryuuji Takasu who feels frustrated when he entered his second year of high school. Unexpectedly, in the midst of this frustration, Ryuuji meets the most dangerous woman in school named Taiga Aisaka.
11. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
It is a Japanese light novel series written by Hajime Kamoshida and illustrated by Keeji Mizoguchi and published by ASCII Media Works since 2014. A manga adaptation has also been made by Tsugumi Nanamiya and published in the Manga Seinen Magazine owned by ASCII Media Works, Dengeki G’s Comic since 2016. An anime adaptation produced by CloverWorks was broadcast in 2018. The story of this anime revolves around Sakuta Azusagawa who went through unexpected life after he met a teenage actress named Mai Sakurajima. Mai dressed as a bunny girl and wandered around the library unnoticed by anyone there. Surprisingly, Sakuta was the only person who could see her while other people didn’t.
10. Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
Re:Zero is an anime adapted from the Japanese light novel series written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Shinichirou Otsuka. This series is originally serialized in Shosetsuka no Naro since 2012, and began to be adapted into an anime series in 2016 which was produced by the White Fox studio. According to the information obtained from the Japanese light novel LN News, this series has sold more than 2 million copies by 2016. The story itself tells about a young man named Natsuki Subaru who was suddenly transferred to another world without knowing who and for what. Subaru himself just realized not long after that he had the ability that which is a curse called “Return by Death” that allows him to return back to life again when he died. This happened over and over again, until he felt frustrated and started to go nuts.
9. No Game No Life
This anime is a light novel series written and illustrated by Yu Kamiya, while the manga adaptation made by Mashiro Hiragi, which was seralized for the Monthly Comic Alive magazine in 2013. Meanwhile, the anime series premiered in 2014 which was produced by Madhouse studios. The story centers on the siblings, Sora and Shiro, where they were very popular Hikkikomori in the game world with the initials ‘Blank’. One day, they received a challenge to play games from people they don’t know. Unexpectedly, this game takes them to another world where the world is full of rules that must be obeyed by everyone who exists.
8. Overlord
Overlord is a light novel series written by Kugane Maruyama and later illustrated by So-bin. The series began to publsihed gradually in 2010. A manga adaptation drawn by Hugin Miyama was also made and serialized for Kadokawa Shoten’s Comp Ace magazine since 2014. An anime adaptation has also been made in several seasons, which was produced by Madhouse studios. The anime began airing in 2015. In total, Overlord has 3 season anime adaptations and also, has several Movies and OVAs too. The story itself centers on a game called Dive Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game also known as DMMORPG. The story of Overlord revolves around a man who is trapped in the game and can’t get out when the server is down.
7. Goblin Slayer
Goblin Slayer is a Japanese light novel series with the Dark Fantasy genre written by Kumo Kagyu and illustrated by Noboru Kannatsuki. A manga adaptation was also made by Kosuke Kurose and serialized for the Monthly Big Gangan magazine, then received a second adaptation by Masahiro Ikeno which is included in the same magazine. The anime adaptation was also aired in 2018 which was produced by the White Fox studio. The story sets on a fantasy world, where there is an adventurous man known as the “Goblin Slayer”, whose goal is to finish off the goblins.
6. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
This anime adapted from a light novel series written by Fuse and illustrated by Mitz Vah. Then, this series was acquired by Micro magazine, which published its first volume in 2014. This light novel series was recorded to have been printed for more than 4.5 million volumes and of course, it is one of the best-selling titles of 2018 with sales of more than 500,000 copies. Don’t forget that this series also got an anime adaptation in 2019 which was produce by the 8bit studio. Because of the success of the anime, the second season will be released in 2021. The story revolves around a 37-year-old mannamed Satoru Mikami, a very hard worker with a monotonous life. The death of Satoru brought him reincarnated back into another world. But in reality, he didn’t become a fully human, but in the form of a slime monster. From here on, Satoru’s life as a new slime began.
5. Log Horizon
Log Horizon light novel is the final version of the web novel series written by Mamare Touno and published by Enterbrain in Japan since 2011. The series is licensed by Yen On for the English release and began publishing with 11 volumes as of January 29th, 2019. This novel has got 4 manga adaptations. Meanwhile, the anime adaptation has already released 2 seasons; the first season was released in 2013 with 25 episodes and the second season was released in 2014 with 25 episodes. And FYI, the third season of Log Horizon will be released in 2021 which had 12 episodes in total. The series itself tells about a strategist named Shiroe and the MMORPG Elder Tales players who are trapped in the game.
4. Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
It is adapted from a Japanese comedy novel series created by Natsume Akatsuki. Starting from a web novel series published on Syousetsuka ni Narou from 2012 to 2013, the series was eventually converted into print media in the form of light novel with Kurone Mishima as the illustrator. This novel began to be serialized in October 2013. Also, the manga adaptation started its serialization in 2014, and illustrated by Masahito Watari in Monthly Dragon Age magazine. The story itself centers on a young man named Satou Kazuma who was sent to the fantasy world after experiencing an embarrassing death. After being resurrected, Kazuma, along with a useless goddess named Aqua, began his adventure to be able to defeat the demon king in that world. The anime itself has already released 2 seasons of anime series, several movies, and OVAs.
3. Violet Evergarden
This anime itself was adapted from a Japanese light novel series written by Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Akiko Takase. This series won the main award in the novel category at the fifth Kyoto Animation award in 2014, making it the first work to win major awards in three categories at once, including the best novel, scenario, and manga. Kyoto Animation published the first volume of the Light Novel in 2015. It tells the story of a girl named Violet who was considered as a tool and weapon in the battlefield. Fortunatelly, the war was over and Violet’s goal was to find her identity and become a writer to reveal the other side of human heart. The anime adaptation itself aired in 2018 with 13 episodes. Violet Evergarden also got several movies adaptation.
2. Fate/stay night
Fate/stay night is a Japanese visual novel produced by Type-Moon and created by Kinoko Nasu and illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi. For the story about Fate/stay night, it started from Shirou Emiya who suddenly was dragged into the fights for the holy grail which was considered capable of fulfilling all the wishes of its owner.
1. Sword Art Online
The Sword Art Online Light novel series was written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by Abec. Until now, this novel has more than a dozen volumes. Initially, Sword Art Online was written as a web novel under the pen name “Kunor Fumio” since 2002, and finallly, it has been published since 2009. The story itself revolves around a young man named Kirigaya Kazuto who was trapped in the latest game called Sword Art Online. This novel series has also received its anime adaptation, OVA, and several movies.
That is it from today’s post on Top 20 Best Anime Adapted From Novel. If you do not agree with the points in the post and have some of your own opinions, share them with us in the comments section down below. Keep visiting Animesoulking for more information about Anime and Manga.
Also, Read:
- Top 5 Shinobi Who Should Have Been Reanimated In The War
- Top 10 Strongest My Hero Academia Characters
Chandan is the writer of “Top 20 Best Anime Adapted From Novel”. Also, Connect with me on youtube and Facebook.
