A Game of Thrones & 9 Best Fantasy Books Perfect for an Anime Adaptation

Fantasy anime series are beloved by fans due to their incredibly immersive worldbuilding, larger-than-life conflicts and emotional character arcs that mature and unfold as the series progresses. There are plenty of original anime series that have made unforgettable fantasy worlds, but there’s also vast untapped potential in Western fantasy literature that would absolutely shine if given the anime treatment.

One of the most notable examples is George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, which has already been massively successful with its live-action Game of Thrones HBO adaptation. With its intricate politics, morally ambiguous characters and breathtakingly detailed lore, the series feels perfect for a mature, serialized anime format — and an anime could offer plenty of visual storytelling opportunities that the live-action version lacked. It’s not just Game of Thrones that has untapped potential, and there are several wonderful pieces of literature that would go hand-in-hand with Japanese animation.

1. A Game of Thrones Anime Could Lean Into Westeros’ Magic

George R.R. Martin’s Fantasy World Would Thrive in Anime

George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is a sprawling epic novel series that’s full of political intrigue, tragedy and ancient magic, and these are all elements that anime absolutely excels at bringing to life. An animated Game of Thrones series could explore the full depth of Westeros’ mythos, from the Children of the Forest and the Three-Eyed Raven to Daenerys’ deep-rooted connection with her dragons.

The visual flexibility that anime allows would be perfect for the rich dream sequences, prophetic visions, and magical battles that Game of Thrones is known for. An anime series could also reintroduce characters and subplots omitted from the HBO adaptation. These additions would give fans of the original novels an even darker approach, especially when it comes to the realm’s supernatural lore and mysteries.

2. The Name of the Wind Could Be a Visual Masterpiece

Patrick Rothfuss’ Poetic Fantasy Series Would Dazzle in Anime

Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind focuses on Kvothe, a legendary figure who recounts his rise from a struggling orphan to a mythic hero. It’s the first book in the projected Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy (which has yet to release its final book). The series’ layered timeline would thrive if given the anime treatment.

With flashbacks and plenty of metaphorical imagery and dream sequences, an anime version of The Name of the Wind could beautifully showcase Kvothe’s unreliable narration. The series could add levels of mystery and keep things thrilling. However, even with more additions, the series could still explore the novel’s depth and rich fantasy world.

3. The Poppy War Could Push Anime’s Dark Fantasy Limits

R.F. Kuang’s Brutal Tale Blends History With Gods and War

R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War draws from Imperial Chinese history and mythology to create a grimdark story with war, divine powers, and high stakes. Its heroine, Rin, is an orphan who is thrust into a terrifying conflict that brings the wrath of the gods. Throughout the conflict, Rin makes many heavy decisions that lead her to be both a hero and a villain.

Anime would undoubtedly be able to render this story’s vivid combat, spiritual visions, and emotional stakes with the intensity and nuance it deserves. The novel blends reality and myth to tell Rin’s story. A mature shōnen anime series would definitely be able to tackle The Poppy War‘s heavy thematic imagery, including its allegories of genocide and trauma with stark clarity.

4. Mistborn Could Be the Next Great Action Fantasy Anime

Brandon Sanderson’s Series Has Shōnen Energy & a Unique Magic System

Brandon Sanderson has plenty of epic fantasy series worthy of becoming an anime, but the one with the most potential is likely to be Mistborn. It tells the story of a high-stakes rebellion and utilizes one of the fantasy genre’s most creative magic systems of all time. With its dystopian world ruled by a god-king, animation would be the perfect medium to bring Mistborn to life.

An anime studio like Bones or Wit would be able to bring Allomancy to life with stunning cinematic fight scenes that capture the dynamic visuals that the novel describes beautifully. Mistborn expertly blends action, lore and moral tension, and if given the anime treatment, it would shine in a serialized format. Brandon Sanderson is also one of fantasy’s most prolific authors, and his Cosmere universe could provide new fodder for stories for years to come.

5. The Priory of the Orange Tree Deserves an Epic Anime Adaptation

Samantha Shannon’s Queer Dragon Fantasy Has Top-Tier Anime Potential

Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree novel contains a rich world that is divided by myth, politics and prophecy. With its storyline ranging from queendoms to assassins and ancient priests, there’s an incredibly intricate narrative full of queer representation and global influence.

In animation, Shannon’s distinct dragons could take flight like never before. The novel’s length and magical lore would also have enough content for a multi-season anime. The longer form of a series could help fans to truly get into the story as the situation gets more dire, following the tradition of series like Attack on Titan that tell stories of escalating threats and geopolitics.

6. The Blacktongue Thief Could Deliver Grit & Comedy

Christopher Buehlman’s Twisted Fantasy Is Built for Animation

Christopher Buehlman’s The Blacktongue Thief is a sharp and irreverent novel that has plenty of humor to go along with its dark fantasy tale. Its rogue narrator, Kinch Na Shannack, has a voice that almost reads exactly like a hilarious anime protagonist. Kinch foul-mouthed at times and strangely poetic in others.

The novel’s gritty setting, which is full of both intense danger and bizarre magic, would absolutely shine in an anime format. The series could lean into the novel’s horror and comedy elements, much like Dororo or Made in Abyss. Also, its grotesque goblin monsters and old gods would give the animators plenty of opportunities to make a unique visual style that fans would devour.

7. The Inheritance Trilogy Blends Divine Intrigue & Emotion

N.K. Jemisin’s Fantasy World Is Perfect for an Anime Studio to Adapt

N.K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy takes place in a world where the gods walk among the mortals. A human woman named Yeine becomes entangled with the gods and discovering romance, mystery and plenty of drama. Jemisin crafts a rich world with numerous godly races and human species, all with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Anime would be able to capture Jemisin’s surreal world with striking clarity, whether it’s the floating palaces, chained gods, explosive divine powers, or just the sheer visual scale of the land itself. With such a beautiful setting, this anime deserves a stylized direction, something like Mononoke or Ergo Proxy that could blend its poetic narration with its layered, fantasy themes.

8. The Shadow of the Gods Delivers Brutal Norse Fantasy

John Gwynne’s Saga Is Perfect for Battle-Heavy Anime Lovers

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne is the beginning of the Bloodsworn Saga. Gwynne draws heavily from Norse mythology to create a brutal, monster-infested landscape. Characters range from mercenaries, outcasts and hunters, all living in a society filled with blood oaths and wicked vengeance.

With constant tension between its morally ambiguous characters and plenty of visually stunning battles, The Shadow of the Gods delivers peak anime-style narrative. A proper adaptation could both echo the realism of Vinland Saga and the monstrous scale of Attack on Titan. The fresh Nordic aesthetic would feel visually rich and exciting for fans as well.

9. An Ember in the Ashes Balances Rebellion With Romance

Sabaa Tahir’s YA Epic Could Shine as a Shōnen Anime

An Ember in the Ashes is Sabaa Tahir’s young adult fantasy romance series inspired by Ancient Rome. It follows a girl named Laia who spies for a group of rebels in the hopes that they will rescue her captive brother. An alternating point-of-view tells the story of Elias, a young boy struggling to break free from his role as an enforcer in the regime that’s crushing Laia.

Their dual perspectives offer a really rich look at survival in a world dominated by military oppression, and the shifting narrative would shine in an anime format, building tension similarly to how the novel does. A shōnen anime series could cover the novel’s peaks, including its action sequences, magic, and romantic subplots. With four novels in the series, anime fans would be treated to multiple seasons of greatness.

10. The Green Bone Saga Blends Features Magical Martial Arts

Fonda Lee’s Urban Fantasy Is Perfect for an Anime Adaptation

Fonda Lee’s Green Bone Saga, which begins with Jade City, has all the elements that a successful anime series would require. Its story mixes familial loyalty, political conflict and martial arts action and juxtaposes it with an urban fantasy setting. It takes place in a fictional Asian-inspired city where jade is a rare element that grants superhuman abilities, with rival factions fighting for control over it.

With a focus on honor, tradition, and longstanding feuds, the Green Bone Saga takes inspiration from classic yakuza films and wuxia stories, and it would feel right at home if given the anime treatment. The novels’ cinematic action scenes and sleek worldbuilding would be nothing short of greatness when animated, and the story’s morally complex leads would quickly have anime fans waging their own epic fan wars.