Updated November 6, 2022 by Ernie
Table of Contents
Lately, animation studios have been taking inspiration from Light Novels and to be honest, all those anime are just amazing. The original Light Novels have such engaging stories that anime inspired by them are always a hit. So today, we’re here with another recommendation list that includes all those famous anime that have been adapted from Light Novels. Let’s get started!
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BEST ANIME INSPIRED BY LIGHT NOVELS
38. Chivalry of a Failed Knight
| Title | Chivalry of a Failed Knight |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | SILVER LINK, Nexus |
| Premiered | 2015 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
This anime introduces us to a magic user named Ikki Kurogane who has the ability to create weapons from his soul. However, when he starts attending the Hagun Academy, he lacks when it comes to magic. His peers have nicknamed him the “Worst One” because of his lack of magic skills. One day, a very skilled magic user and a princess named Stella Vermillion. She challenges Ikki to a duel and puts forward a condition that the person who loses must obey the winner for the rest of their life. What happens next is something that nobody expected.
37. A Certain Magical Index
| Title | A Certain Magical Index |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 24 |
| Studios | J.C Staff |
| Premiered | 2008 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
A Certain Magical Index takes us to a world where people have supernatural powers. Touma Kamijou is one such guy who has the ability to nullify any kind of magic with his right hand. Touma also appears to have terrible luck because he always lands himself in travel even though he tries his best to stay out of it. One day, Touma comes across a girl hanging from his balcony. It is revealed that the girl is a nun of the Church of England and also possesses Index Librorum Prohibitum, a thing that everybody wants to possess. Will Touma be able to save the girl or will he decide to abandon her?
36. My Next Life as a Villainess
| Title | My Next Life as a Villainess |
| Genre | Comedy, Romance |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | SILVER LINK |
| Premiered | 2020 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
My Next Life as a Villainess introduces us to a girl who gets transported inside a game world and has a new identity of a wealthy girl named Catarina Klaes. She remembers that it was her favorite game that she was playing when she got transported inside it. However, to her dismay, she had been made the villain of the game. She must find a way to avoid her doom at all costs. For that, she forges strong friendships with all the characters, including her competitor. How will things roll out for Catarina?
35. ReLife
| Title | ReLife |
| Genre | Drama, Romance |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Studios | TMS Entertainment |
| Premiered | 2016 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
As soon as Arata Kaizaka graduated, his life became a mess. He was not able to find a stable job and his parents refused to support him as well. They want him to come back to the country because he’s not able to do anything in the city he moved to. He saw his life in front of him and was deeply depressed. Just then, a strange man named Ryo Yaeka appeared before him. He offered to join a rehabilitation program named ReLife. After agreeing to join the program, Arata’s life changes forever because he finds himself in the body of his younger school and in his high school.
34. How a Realist Hero Rebuilt Kingdom
| Title | How A Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Studios | J.C Staff |
| Premiered | 2021 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
This anime tells us the story of Kazuya Souma who gets transported to a fantasy world. There, he is betrothed to the princess of that world and is made the new king after he gave valuable advice to the royal family. How will he survive in a world full of elves, monsters and magic with a huge responsibility on his head?
33. Full Metal Panic
| Title | Full Metal Panic |
| Genre | Action, Comedy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 24 |
| Studios | Gonzo |
| Premiered | 2002 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
Full Metal Panic introduces us to Sosuke Sagara who is working for a secret organization named Mithril. His mission is to protect a girl named Kaname Chidori who is being chased by a lot of people because of the information locked inside her head. For that, he must hide his identity and become a high schooler himself. He will have to deal with many enemies from his past as well as new ones. His main test would be to act like a high-schooler when he had always been on the battlefield.
32. Katanagatari
| Title | Katanagari |
| Genre | Action, Adventure |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | Whitefox |
| Premiered | 2010 |
| Duration | 50 minutes per episode |
Katanagatari introduces us to a swordsman named Yasuri Shichika who fights without a sword. A skilled strategist named Togame seeks to find the 12 Deviant blades that would provide protection to the Bakufu Government. She wants help from Yasuri Mutsune but when she arrives at the island, it is revealed that he’s already dead. He has left a son named Shichika. Togame decides to take him on a journey to find the 12 Deviant Blades.
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31. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
| Title | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya |
| Genre | Comedy, Mystery |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 14 |
| Studios | Kyoto Animation |
| Premiered | 2006 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
This anime tells us the story of a super-energetic girl named Haruhi Suzumiya who wishes to encounter aliens or any other supernatural thing once in her life. She decides to form a club named SOS Brigade whose mission is to discover the mysteries of the world. Haruhi is ready to unveil the secrets she had always wanted to unveil. She will not stop until she has all the fun she wants.
30. Beyond the Boundary
| Title | Beyond the Boundary |
| Genre | Slice of Life, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | Kyoto Animation |
| Premiered | 2013 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Beyond the Boundary takes us to a world where supernatural beings called Youmus exist. They are hunted by Spirit World Warriors. Enter, Akihito, a half-demon and a half-human. He’s also immortal and his classmate named Mirai loves practicing her skills on him. She is a Spirit World Warrior who can manipulate her blood into a sword. However, she’s extremely insecure about her abilities and doesn’t consider herself fit for slaying Youmus. Akihito will help Mirai to gain some self-confidence and to slay Youmus without being insecure.
29. Orange
| Title | Orange |
| Genre | Drama, Romance |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Studios | Madhouse, MAPPA |
| Premiered | 2016 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Orange tells us the story of a high school girl named Takamiya Naho who receives a strange letter one day. The content of that letter reveals that it was from Naho’s future self. It was mentioned that a guy named Naruse Kakeru would transfer to her school and her class. She must keep a close eye on him. Naho thinks of it as a prank but when Naruse actually transfers to his school, she is shocked and decides to follow whatever the letter says. She’s also wondering why she needs to keep an eye on the strange guy that just got transferred to her class.
28. Arifureta
| Title | Arifureta |
| Genre | Action, Adventure |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Studios | Asread, White Fox |
| Premiered | 2019 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
Arifureta tells us the story of Hajime Nagumo who, along with his whole class, gets transported to a fantasy world. All of them are summoned as heroes in that new world. While most of Nagumo’s classmates are given extraordinary stats and abilities, Nagumo is not given any of that. He happens to go into a monster-infested dungeon with no skills and powers at his hands. He finds himself in a bit of a pickle there but this is nothing compared to the things he’s going to face in the near future.
27. Blue Spring Ride
| Title | Blue Spring Ride |
| Genre | Romance |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | Production I.G |
| Premiered | 2014 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
The story is about Futaba who happens to get reunited with her middle school crush, Kou. When they were in middle school, Kou disappeared, leaving Futaba all saddened. However, Futaba feels like God is giving her a second chance to finally confess to her crush. However, Futaba has noticed a lot of changes in Kou from the time she last interacted with him. Does Kou feel the same about her as well?
26. Durarara
| Title | Durarara |
| Genre | Action, Mystery |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 175 |
| Studios | Brian’s Base |
| Premiered | 2010 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Durarara tells us the story of a country boy, Mikado, who moves from the countryside to the hustling and bustling city of Ikebukuro for a change. He starts attending the same high school as his best friend, Masaomi. Mikado finds it hard to adjust to a big city. He finds everything strange there. He also gets to know about an urban legend involving a black motorbike rider. Soon enough, strange events start happening in the city and Mikado gets himself involved in them. Will he be able to accept all the changes?
25. The Faraway Paladin
| Title | The Faraway Paladin |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | Children’s Playground Entertainment |
| Premiered | 2021 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
The Faraway Paladin takes us to a ruined city where only a young boy named Will lives. It is also a city of the undead where the three undead takes care of will. Mary is a priestess, Gus is a wizard while Blood is a skeleton. Together, the three of them brought Will up. As Will grows up, he starts questioning his identity. He starts uncovering the mystery behind the undead. Once he has unveiled everything and completed his training, he’s ready to go on his journey to become a great Paladin.
24. The Eminence in Shadow
| Title | The Eminence in Shadow |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | Currently Airing |
| Studios | Nexus |
| Premiered | 2022 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
All Cid wants is to become a background character or an NPC who works in the shadows and is a mastermind. One day, he finds himself transported to a fantasy world after getting hit by a truck. He becomes a head of a secret organization and has a bunch of gorgeous subordinates at his disposal. He’ll have a chance to live his dream life but he must keep himself in the shadows and also act like an NPC, not to give away his identity.
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23. High School DxD
| Title | High School DxD |
| Genre | Comedy, Romance |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | TNK |
| Premiered | 2012 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
This is the story of Issei who wants nothing more than to be surrounded by beautiful girls. He is stoked to join a once-all-female academy named Kuou Academy. He even managed to score a girlfriend there. However, his girlfriend happened to be a fallen angel who killed him with her lance. But he is revived by a demon named Rias who also happens to be his classmate. Her condition for reviving Issei was that he has to be her servant now. Rias’s life is about to be changed forever as he finds himself entangled between beautiful angels and other creatures.
22. Re: Zero
| Title | Re: Zero |
| Genre | Drama, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 50 |
| Studios | White Fox |
| Premiered | 2016 |
| Duration | 25 minutes per episode |
Re: Zero tells us the story of a shut-in Neet named Natsuki Subaru who gets transported to a fantasy world after getting hit by a truck. He’s super-confused after opening his eyes to a world alien to him. He comes across a beautiful silver-haired girl named Emilia. She actually saved his life and to repay her, Natsuki offers to be her servant. Emilia takes him to her mansion and that’s where all the trouble begins.
21. Bungou Stray Dogs
| Title | Bungou Stray Dogs |
| Genre | Action, Mystery |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | Bones |
| Premiered | 2016 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
Nakajima Atsushi is an orphan who was kicked out of his orphanage and was close to dying from starvation when he came across some strange men. Dazai Osamu is one of them who tried to take his own life. The other one is Kunikida Doppo. Both of them are members of the “Armed Detective Agency” which is known to solve cases that not even the police can. Atsushi accompanies the two and that’s when his life changes forever.
20. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
| Title | Rascal Does not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai |
| Genre | Romance |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Studios | Bones |
| Premiered | 2018 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Puberty Syndrome has been affecting teenagers in Japan after they reach a certain age. Sakuta is our main character who starts coming across a bunch of girls who are being affected by it. One day, he sees a strange girl in a bunny girl outfit in a library who claims that nobody there can see her. And that’s true! Now, Sakuta must help her with her issues to get over her traumas.
19. Spice and Wolf
| Title | Spice and Wolf |
| Genre | Adventure, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Studios | Imagin |
| Premiered | 2008 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
We’re introduced to a Wolf goddess named Holo who has been worshiped by the residents of a village named Pasloe. In return, she blesses them with fertile harvests. However, after a while, the residents didn’t need Holo and stopped worshiping her. Holo decided to return to her home up north. As she’s about to start her journey, she comes across a merchant named Kraft Lawrence and accompanies him. This is a story of a beautiful journey of an ordinary man and a wolf goddess.
18. Seraph of the End
| Title | Seraph of the End |
| Genre | Action, Drama |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | Wit Studio |
| Premiered | 2015 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
Seraph of the End takes us to the world where all the adults have been killed due to a catastrophic epidemic. The ones who are left are enslaved by vampires. Yuichiro is one such boy who is locked up with a bunch of others and is considered food for vampires. However, he’s adamant about breaking free and successfully escapes. That’s when his life changes forever and he’s all ready for revenge now.
17. The Rising of the Shield Hero
| Title | The Rising of the Shield Hero |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 25 |
| Studios | Kinema Citrus |
| Premiered | 2019 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Naofumi Iwatani is the main character of this series who is summoned to a fantasy world as one of the four Cardinal Heroes along with 3 other boys. While the other 3 boys are given exceptional powers and weapons, Naofumi is given a shield and is a “Shield Hero”. On top of that, he’s falsely accused of Harassment by the Empire’s princess. He’s banished from the Empire and has to start fresh with no money or skills. That’s when he decides to take revenge on those who humiliated him. Along with a demi-human named Raphtalia and an adorable Filolial named Filo, Naofumi starts his journey to become the best hero ever.
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16. Toradora
| Title | Toradora |
| Genre | Drama, Romance |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | J.C Staff |
| Premiered | 2008 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
Toradora introduces us to Taiga and Ryuuji who have a crush on each other’s best friends. After telling each other their secret, they both decide to help each other. However, Ryuuji appears to be a delinquent due to his dead eyes. And Taiga is small but feisty and quick to get angry. Their personalities don’t match at all. Will they ever get along?
15. Sword Art Online
| Title | Sword Art Online |
| Genre | Action, Drama |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 25 |
| Studios | A-1 Pictures |
| Premiered | 2012 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Kirito is super-excited about the release of an online MMORPG game named Sword Art Online. It’s a kind of Virtual Reality game and is highly realistic. He’s one of the beta testers for the game along with other 10000 players. However, all the players find themselves unable to log out of the game. It is revealed that they have actually been transported inside the game world. They’re given their weapons and special abilities that will let them fight the monsters inside the game. They must beat the 100-level Tower Boss in order to go back to their world. However, if they die in the game, they’ll die in reality too. Kirito must survive in that game world and be at the top.
14. So I’m a Spider So What?
| Title | Chivalry of a Failed Knight |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 24 |
| Studios | Millepensee |
| Premiered | 2021 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
This anime introduces us to a normal high school girl who gets transported to a fantasy world and guess what? She was reincarnated as a spider monster! As soon as she opened her eyes, she found herself in a dungeon full of monsters. She’s given no special powers. It’s just her brain and her spider web traps against her powerful opponents. How will she survive in this world?
13. Danmachi
| Title | Chivalry of a Failed Knight |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Studios | J.C Staff |
| Premiered | 2015 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Danmachi takes us to the fantasy world of Orario where adventurers look for treasure together and slay monsters. Bell Cranel is one such adventurer who is not very fond of money but is fond of the girls surrounding him. But for that, he must be popular and strong. He’s neither of them. This is a survival story of Bell who gets in trouble all the time.
12. Seven Deadly Sins
| Title | Seven Deadly Sins |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 24 |
| Studios | A-1 Pictures |
| Premiered | 2012 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Seven Deadly Sins takes us to the Kingdom of Liones where the Holy Knights have been manipulated and corrupted into turning against their own King. Princess Elizabeth sets out on her journey to find the Seven Deadly sins who are the only hope left to save the Kingdom from its demise. She finds them one by one and realizes that they’re just a bunch of oddballs. However, they know when to get serious.
11. Oregairu
| Title | Oregairu |
| Genre | Romance, Comedy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | Brian’s Base |
| Premiered | 2013 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Oregairu tells us the story of an antisocial guy named Hikigaya whose dead eyes make others repel him. One day, after coming across his controversial views in an essay, Hikigaya’s teacher makes him join a service club that helps other students. He reluctantly joins the club. There, he meets an ice-cold Yukinoshita Yukino and a warm and cheerful Yui Yuigahama. The three of them have pretty different personalities. How will they get along with each other?
10. 86
| Title | 86 |
| Genre | Action, Drama |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | A-1 Pictures |
| Premiered | 2021 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
86 is a story about a war between the Republic of San Magnolia and the Giadian Empire. The Republic fights with their auto-machines that they claim to operate on their own. However, these auto-machines are piloted by young men and women whom the Republic considers as their tools, nothing else. There’s one girl from the Republic who wants to fight for their rights. She will do it no matter how many hurdles are in her way. There’s no backing down because she is emotionally attached to them now.
9. Konosuba
| Title | Konosuba |
| Genre | Comedy, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Studios | Studio Deen |
| Premiered | 2016 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
Kazuma Satoru opens his eyes to a strange realm after getting hit by a truck and dying. There, he meets a goddess who gives him a choice that he can take anything with him to the new world he’s going to reincarnate into. He decides to take Aqua, the goddess, with him to the new world. There, they struggle to survive because of the lack of money. However, Satoru soon forms a party with a bunch of oddballs. They also have to defeat the Demon King who is a constant threat to them.
8. Saga of Tanya the Evil
| Title | Saga of Tanya The Evil |
| Genre | Action |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | Nut |
| Premiered | 2017 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
The story is about a man who got reincarnated into another world after challenging the Being X to a battle of wits. He was reincarnated as a little girl named Tanya. However, Tanya is a military personnel and is known for her deadly attacks and extraordinary power. She’s ready to climb up the ranks of the military no matter what happens and prove herself to be the best of the best.
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7. Goblin Slayer
| Title | Goblin Slayer |
| Genre | Action, Adventure |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | White Fox |
| Premiered | 2018 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
A priestess had just formed an adventurer party and was excited to go on her first adventure. She goes into a dungeon but a bunch of goblins brutally kill all her companions. They’re about to kill her too but she’s saved by a man named the “Goblin Slayer”. She then forms a party with the Goblin Slayer and a bunch of other people. Goblin Slayer will leave no goblin behind and will take his revenge on them brutally. After all, they did our Goblin Slayer dirty in the past.
6. Fullmetal Alchemist
| Title | Fullmetal Alchemist |
| Genre | Action, Adventure |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 51 |
| Studios | Bones |
| Premiered | 2003 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric are two brothers who spend their days practicing alchemy. One day, they decide to revive their dead mother by using the forbidden spells in alchemy. As a result, Edward loses his left leg and Alphonse loses his entire body. Edward gives up on his right arm in order to bring Alphonse back. He bound his soul to armor. The brothers are willing to bring their limbs back no matter what.
5. Classroom of the Elite
| Title | Classroom of the Elite |
| Genre | Psychological |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Studios | Lerche |
| Premiered | 2017 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka enrolls at an Academy which claims to have their jobs confirmed for the future. Kiyotaka is smart. He is exceptionally intelligent but purposefully becomes part of Class 1-D. The Academy is not an ordinary one, as they make their students follow some extremely weird rules. Kiyotaka is very observant of his surroundings and never lets his guard down. He forms relationships with other students and uses them as their tools. What is the mystery behind Kiyotaka’s personality and what does he want.?
4. Violet Evergarden
| Title | Violet Evergarden |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Studios | Kyoto Animation |
| Premiered | 2018 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
Violet had always been used by the military as a tool because of her extraordinary fighting skills. The only one who treated her like a human being was Major Gilbert. Violet also felt happy in his company only. However, Violet’s world turned upside down after Major Gilbert died and she got wounded in a battle. Violet then decided to become an auto-memory doll, a person who transcribes the feelings of others in words in the form of letters. Throughout her journey, she will meet many people who will affect her emotions in one way or another. She truly yearns for the day she will be able to know the meaning of “true love”.
3. Overlord
| Title | Overlord |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Studios | Madhouse |
| Premiered | 2015 |
| Duration | 24 minutes per episode |
Momonga is crazy about playing a famous MMORPG game named Yggdrasil. However, one day, he finds himself inside the game as an actual player. He found himself to be his favorite character, Ainz Ooal Gown. Overpowered and lethal, Ainz gets quickly bored inside the game and wants to conquer the entire world in order to feel some excitement. Will there be anyone who would challenge Ainz without being afraid of his insane power?
2. Mushoku Tensei
| Title | Mushoku Tensei |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Type | TV |
| Episodes | 11 |
| Studios | Studio Bind |
| Premiered | 2021 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
This anime introduces us to a shut-in Neet who got reincarnated to a fantasy world after saving the lives of two high school students and taking a hit for them. He finds himself as a baby born to loving parents. They named him Rudeus. As Rudeus grows up, his father trains him and even arranges a magic teacher, Roxy, for him. A lot of adventures and unknown threats wait ahead for Rudeus and his life is going to be changed forever.
1. That Time I Reincarnated as a Slime
| Title | The Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime |
| Genre | Action, Adventure |
| Episodes | 24 |
| Studios | 8bit |
| Premiered | 2018 |
| Duration | 23 minutes per episode |
Satoru was hanging out with his colleague and his girlfriend when he was stabbed by a guy. Instead of dying, he opened his eyes to a new world as a slime. He struggles in his new goopy body and figures out how to survive. One day, he comes across a dragon named Veldora Tempest who had been sealed away for years. Satoru takes pity on him and promises to unseal him. Veldora gets delighted and blesses him with his divine protection as well as a name, Rimuru Tempest. Rimuru is now all set for his journey!
Conclusion
We have mentioned some of the best anime that have been adapted from their light novel counterparts above. I’m pretty sure you guys have already watched most of these anime already. If not, then this is a sign. See you guys in the next recommendation blog!
