The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV series has been a game-changer in the 2022 fantasy scene. Love it or hate it, you can’t escape conversations about it. Although some feel that this particular franchise shouldn’t be expanded in this manner, plenty of fans enjoy the new series. And there will inevitably be more demand for similar things in the near future. Bear in mind that, as a non-Western medium, anime tend to be governed by different tropes and fantasy conventions, meaning that you can’t find a 100% perfect fit. While there are plenty of anime based on classic literature, you have to be imaginative to find similarities between modern anime and classic Western books or series. This is not to say that it’s impossible to find anime that share at least one element with the The Lord of the Rings. Here are some examples: Plot-wise, the anime doesn’t have much in common with The Lord of the Rings. It features a magically gifted orphan girl, Chise, who is taken in by an ancient magus in the English countryside, where she experiences friendship and belonging for the first time. There’s much in common between the hobbit lifestyle and the English countryside in the Victorian and Edwardian era. Chise’s encounters with magic in the English countryside are a bit more contemporary, but the vibes are occassionally similar. It’s admittedly much darker and it paints a bleaker picture of humanity, and certain elements will be considered far too dark today. Still, Berserk does a good job of portraying a Western-like medieval fantasy world with fights between knights and monsters, so it has a place on our list.
As we’ve established, there’s no such thing as a perfect correlation between anime with LOTR but, once the main characters of The Twelve Kingdoms step into the magical world, similarities in the setting might be found. LOTR might not be a portal fantasy - as it takes place entirely in a secondary setting - but the hobbits start off knowing little about the wider world, and the same can be said for the characters of The Twelve Kingdoms. The anime is based on a 1980s Japanese high fantasy novel series, but magic isn’t all there is to know about it; battle strategy also plays a key role. The Heroic Legend of Arslan explores a war between two opposing nations, and it features a character’s journey to take back his home. This character is meant to be king, but due to his circumstances, he’s not quite there yet. The above all contribute to giving Arslan a spot on this list. The Lord of the Rings focuses on the main character’s effort to get rid of an evil artifact. On the other hand, Fullmetal Alchemist follows two characters who look for a restorative artifact that turns out to be more sinister than they suspected. Both works feature themes of self-sacrifice and the importance of hope, courage, and friendship.
But some fans of both have noted the timeless feel of Golden Kamuy, as well as the fact that the characters travel together and try to fulfill a quest. While Frodo and Sam travel to destroy the ring, the characters of Golden Kamuy embark on a journey to find treasure. So, the quest plot, which is so integral in many fantasy works, is definitely there. These topics are also violently explored in Princess Mononoke, one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli films. The world of The Lord the Rings is changing, and even though the narrative ends with hope, some things of old will never return. The setting of Princess Mononoke is different, but it also features an old, glorious world that crumples under the pressure of man-made technological development, demonstrating both hope for the future and grief for what will not return. However, both works feature enchanting high fantasy settings and a character who is being hunted by those in power. Moreover, if you enjoyed The Lord of the Rings but would prefer your next fantasy watch to focus on female characters in positions of power, Moribito: Guardians of the Spirit is great in that regard. It came out back in 2007 but it still holds up well and is definitely worth a try. As is the case with LOTR, Record of Lodoss War focuses on a war-torn world, where an old evil is resurfacing. If you’d like to see another group on a quest, the anime feature a party of six who belong to different fantasy races, including a high elf and a dark elf, among others. Plus, it was made back in the 1990s, so it will look a bit different from what we’re used to these days, which can be refreshing. That being said, both works show an understanding of lonely journeys which others cannot follow. Moreover, since some LOTR characters are immortal and some aren’t, the idea of death and being the only one not dying while losing loved ones is explored. If this is a topic that resonated with you in The Lord of the Rings, give To Your Eternity a go. Overall, The Witcher is more violent than The Lord of the Rings, and occasionally much darker. However, there are common elements, as they both feature a fantasy world with different fantasy races, including individuals with magical abilities, elves, humans, and others. Both The Witcher and The Lord of the Rings began as fantasy books. If you enjoy the content of one, you are likely to at least find the other interesting.
At first glance, it might seem futile to look for anime like The Lord of the Rings, but there is actually going to be an anime movie that’s based on it. The focus of this movie will be on a legendary king of Rohan. Miranda Otto will reprise her role as Eowyn, and she will also be the story’s narrator, so we’re reasonably excited for it to come out!
