Following the release of *The Lord of the Rings* and Sola Entertainment’s *The War of the Rohirrim*, several classic fantasy works may find a new life through Japanese animation. Here are four notable titles that could benefit from this creative adaptation.
The Resurgence of Fantasy in 2025
The fantasy genre has experienced a significant revival in recent years. While it has always attracted fans through comics and novels, the world of television and film has seized upon this endless demand. After the success of *The Lord of the Rings* in the 2000s and the rise of *Game of Thrones* in the 2010s, the genre continues to grow, fueled by spinoffs like House of the Dragon and the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, as well as adaptations such as *The Witcher*, *The Rings of Power*, and *The Wheel of Time*.
This surge in popularity, which has been evident since the late 2010s, has been further bolstered by video games like *Elden Ring* and the two-part saga of *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* and *Tears of the Kingdom*. With recent announcements of adaptations, such as Alan Moore’s *The Grand When* for television and James Cameron’s interest in adapting Joe Abercrombie’s *The Heroes* for film, it is clear that interest in the genre is far from waning. Furthermore, the appeal of transferring these tales to Japanese animation presents a promising avenue for Hollywood studios, tapping into the growing enthusiasm for anime. However, early attempts, such as the spinoff of *Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim*, have revealed significant challenges in adapting Western mythology into an Asian technical framework, indicating that this crossover is fraught with potential pitfalls. Nonetheless, with the door now open, possibilities abound for what literary masterpieces may soon join this trend.
Potential Adaptations: *Game of Thrones* and Beyond
With Warner Bros. Discovery holding the rights to *The Lord of the Rings* and opting for an animated approach, it raises the question: why shouldn’t they consider a similar strategy for the *Game of Thrones* saga? Warner holds the audiovisual rights (with HBO as a subsidiary) to George R.R. Martin’s monumental works. The franchise is poised for continued expansion, planning not just a second season of *House of the Dragon*, but also a series of other projects, some confirmed and others still under wraps. Given the richness of the setting and the plethora of narrative threads to explore, it seems likely that an anime adaptation focusing on events in Westeros or the less-explored Essos could be on the horizon. Moreover, since anime production is generally more cost-effective than live-action series laden with special effects and extensive filming locations, this possibility becomes all the more appealing.
*Gagner la Guerre*
Jean-Philippe Jaworski has garnered a reputation as the king of French fantasy. His works, including *Even Not Dead, The Iron Feeling, The Knight of Thorns,* and *Kings of the World,* have established him as a prominent figure in the genre. However, none of his novels hold quite the same potential for a Japanese anime adaptation as *Gagner la Guerre*. The story follows Benvenuto Gesufal, an assassin, spy, and master strategist, set in an intricate world reminiscent of Ancient Rome, complete with political intrigues, betrayals, and various guilds. This richly woven narrative, filled with sword duels, is ripe for adaptation.
*L’Assassin Royal*
*L’Assassin Royal* is a cornerstone of fantasy literature. Spanning twenty years from 1996 to 2018 and comprising nineteen volumes divided into trilogies and even tetralogies, it has sold approximately four million copies in France—an impressive feat that even *Game of Thrones* cannot claim. The saga of Robin Hobb and her protagonist FitzChivalry Farseer has captured the imagination of readers, and even the author is enthusiastic about the prospect of a television adaptation. Having previously transitioned to comics, this richly detailed universe could also find an audience within Japanese animation.
*Elric*
Dark fantasy is a genre particularly suited to cross borders from literature to other forms of media. Titles like *Elden Ring* and *The Witcher* in gaming, as well as *Berserk* in anime, suggest that the darker side of fantasy could see a significant rise in popularity through an anime adaptation. Michael Moorcock’s work, filled with sorcery and curses, resonates well with anime fans. The tragic anti-hero Elric of Melniboné, a fallen albino emperor wielding the powerful sword Stormbringer, is not only deeply nuanced but also embodies a “badass” persona that would undoubtedly captivate viewers.
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