The Creative Culture of Japan is one of the most popular things in the country. Anime and Manga are almost known to all, but do you know about light novel.
People all across the globe are pretty much aware of the fascinating and creative cultural aspects of Japan.
You have undoubtedly heard of anime. Maybe you are even a fan of some manga series. But light novels are a more underrated and less-known facet of Japanese art and literature.
And if you are interested in this vibrant and imaginative land in Asia, you are in the right place. With this comprehensive guide on light novel, along with some of its popular picks, you will discover a whole realm of fun and adventure.
1. Enter a New World of Japanese Culture:
If you are an anime fanย and follow a couple of manga series, you have most likely stumbled across the name of the light novels. However, if you are a newbie to the world of Manga and anime, you are surely wondering by now.
Simply put, a light novel is a form of short literature accompanied by manga-style illustrations. While they differ from Manga and anime, many light novels are a significant source of adaptations for these kinds. Examples of such anime and manga adaptations include Clockwork Planet, Goblin Slayer, Sky Wizards Academy, and Tokyo Ravens.
The birth and origin of light novels started when Japanese pulp magazines sought a way to bring back their popularity to the readers preferring to buy Manga.
And just by adding a bit of art to the pages filled with words, the world of Japanese literature was revolutionized.
The fundamental difference when compared to Manga is the form of narration. Even though light novels have plenty of artwork, they are primarily prose literature. Unlike Manga which resembles comic style, light novels have an average count of fifty thousand words.
So, in a way, they are just short novels featuring artwork and light novels feature illustrations along with words.
Japanese Light Novels are often compared with contemporary YA or Young Adult Fiction, and you canโt deny that there are some strong similarities between these two popular forms of fiction.
In both cases, the target audience or readers are teenagers โ most high schoolers and middle schoolers. Along with that, the style, narrative, characters, and plot are constricted and creative similarly.
But as you can grasp from the name itself, the keyword is โlight.โ And that is the main characteristic of this genre. It provides the reader with an entertaining and enjoyable experience that some cannot find in lengthy, heavily worded novels.
2. How Japanese Light Novels are Different from Anime and Manga
Another issue that often comes to light when learning the answer to what is a novel is that they are often confused with Anime and Manga.
Now, all three of them are a considerable part of the creative Culture of Japan but are most definitely not the same thing. Each of them is defined by its very own aspects and elements that make them so appealing to readers and audiences all across the globe.
So letโs clear up a bit on what exactly each of these forms of fiction means. Because even though all three of them may sound confusing and similar to some extent, they are completely different forms of fiction.
2.1) What is Anime?
Anime is a form of Japanese animated films or television shows that audiences of all ages love. They are hand-drawn and computer-based and are characterized by extraordinarily stunning visuals.
You will find Studio Ghibli, CoMix Wave Films, and Kyoto Animation, among the most well-known anime production companies.
Whether you are an anime fan or not, this genreโs influence is too significant for you to have missed it completely. Even if you have not heard of One Piece or Death Note, very few people worldwide are unaware of the existence of anime such as Pokรฉmon, Dragon Ball Z, and Naruto.
2.2) What is Manga?
Manga is closer to light novels because they are published as books.
In short, Manga is just the Japanese version of what you know as comic books and graphic novels in English. Like light novels, they are notable for their vibrant art and unusual plots and are often the source of the anime adaptation.
For instance, all the popular anime mentioned earlier, like One Piece, Naruto, and Dragon Ball, are all based on the popular Manga of the same name.
2.3) What is meant by Light Novel?
As mentioned, a light novel is a form of fiction that presents prose and illustrations. They are lighter and shorter than regular novels, generally about fifty thousand words. The target readers are school students, teenagers, and young adults.
The Light Novels combine the best aspects of manga and YA novels and give the readers a new and unique reading experience.
The tropes of light novels are often of varied ranges. You will find fantasy, science fiction, adventure, over-the-top violence, mystery, and all other popular subgenres of Young Adult Novels.
So to sum it up, it can be said that anime refers to animated movies or series, and Manga is equivalent to comics and graphic novels. Finally, Light Novels are just shorter novels featuring art.
3. 6 Best Picks That You Have to Read
So as you already might have gathered by now, light novels are a popular form of Japanese fiction that features stories and artworks. They are lighter, less lengthy than general novels, and are focused on young adult themes and matters.
And now that you know all about light novels, it is time to discover the best and most famous of such books for you to read next!
3.1) Sword Art Online
This light novel series, authored by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by Abec, is one of the most-read books of this genre.
Set in multiple virtual reality realms, SAO centers on the characters of Kirito and Asuna in their dark and fantastical game.
The novel processes from simple fun and games to a chilling reality where the characters are trapped in the virtual world without any means to escape.
Losing is not an option because โgame overโ now means death in both virtual and natural existence.
3.2) Goblin Slayer
Illustrated by Noboru Kannatsuki, this dark fantasy work of literature by Kumo Kagyu features a soldier who saves a priestess, and together, they go on an adventure to fight goblins.
This work has many versions in all three mediums โ light novels, Manga, and anime. Graphic and brutal with action and violence, this fantastic adventure is a perfect way to start your quest into the land of light novels of Japan.
3.3) Spice and Wolf
Rather than the typical elements of fantasy like magic and mayhem seen in most light novels, Spice and Wolf by Isuna Hasekura follows themes such as economy, business, and trading.
Fittingly called โunique fantasy,โย this light novel centers on the journey of a peddler named Kraft Lawrence and his wolf-deity partner Holo who appears as a teenage girl.
The novel follows the lonely life of Lawrence as he travels from one to another doing his routine business. Everything changes when he stumbles upon a wolf goddess sleeping on his cart.
A deal is made โ the wolf deity promises increased profit if he agrees to make her his traveling companion. And just like that, new events are set into motion as a peddler and a goddess begin a wild adventure.
3.4) Book Girl
With over 16 volumes, this series by Nomura and Takeoka is about Konoha Inoue, who joins the high school literature club with only one member โ Tohko Amano.
But Tohko is not just the president of the club; she has another quality โ eating stories on paper like they are the most normal snacks in the world. And yes, a weird dynamic between a short report writing student and a demonic being who devours the stories is precisely as extraordinary as it sounds!
3.4) No Game, No Life
Extraordinarily, Yu Kamiya is both the writer and illustrator of the popular series called No Game No Life.
The story follows two young and clever gamers โ 18-year-old Sora and 11 years old Shiro, who have never been defeated. The adventure continues when they are brought to a different realm called Isekai, where they must play and fight in many special games.
3.5) Monogatari Series
Based on the standard of content and fame, many light novel fans believe the Monogatari Series to be the best of all time. Authored by the famous writer Nisio Isin, there are more than twenty titles with twenty-six volumes in the novel series.
The plot centers on the high school student Koyomi Araragi, a vampire attack survivor. After that, he becomes a helper to girls facing supernatural troubles in the form of beasts and spirits.
One of the best things about this light novel is the rapid and fast-paced dialogues between the complex and colorful characters, each with a unique individuality. The story is simple yet filled with complex themes and elements that ensure you will not experience a dull moment while reading the book.
The Monogatari has everything to love about light novels โ an exciting plot, a quick progression of the narrative, and lovable characters all wrapped in a perfect story of fantasy and adventure.
This light novelโs anime adaptation was released in 2009 as Bakemonogatari. Then it continued for ten years until the final season aired in 2019.
And if you are looking for more light novels to add to your collection, there are plenty more to choose from. Apart from the works mentioned above, some more books of this kind include Haruhi Suzumiya, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, Heavenโs Memo Pad, Date A Live, Perfect Blue series, and Durarara!!
The world of literature is vast and never-ending, and light novels are a significant part of this world. And with this detailed guide about light novel and what are the top books of this kind, you can finally start your exploration of this colorful new world.
4. FAQs
Do you still have further queries regarding this fascinating world of Japanese Culture?
4.1) What is meant by a Light Novel?
Before you read light novels and experience a whole new world of art and literature, first, you should know about light novel.
Light novels are a popular kind of Japanese fiction featuring prose and art. They are generally about fifty thousand words and focus on young audiences โ typically teenagers and young adults.
It is the perfect form of fiction for readers looking for something with more dialogue than comics but a little shorter than typical novels. Light novels bring you the best of both genres in a brilliant blend of art and prose.
4.2) How are Japanese Light Novels different from anime and Manga?
While anime and Manga primarily focus on visual illustrations, Light Novels are more prose-like. They are like regular novels with the further bonus of stunning artwork.
Anime are films or television series that are hand sketched and computer generated. Manga is the equivalent of comic books and graphic novels, focused more on art and less on dialogue. And finally, Light Novels feature stories and art though they are similar to YA books and Manga.
Light Novels are generally the core source of manga and anime movies; you will find plenty of brilliant adaptations. Sword Art Online, Tokyo Raven, and Goblin Slayer are a few light novels for manga and anime adaptations.
4.3) What are some of the best Light Novels you can read?
You can choose from endless titles when entering the land of light novels. There are vast and never-ending names among such literatureโs top titles for manga fans and newbies.
Popular light novels include Goblin Slayer, KonoSuba, Spice and Wolf, No Game No Life, ย I am Blue, Pain and Fragile, and Monogatari Series.
And the best thing about these light novels is most certainly the large number of copies that are published. There is volume after volume of beloved sagas that will satisfy the cravings of even the most diehard fan. Moreover, once you manage to complete one series, there multitude of versions of that light novel as well โ in the form of manga or anime!
4.4) How are Light Novels different from regular novels?
The two most distinguishing points of light novels are their length and artwork. Compared to light stories, regular novels are much longer in volume and size and are generally without any illustration.
However, that is not the case in every scenario. There are instances where a regular novel might be shorter than a light novel and may even feature art. But the artwork technique in light novels is always done in the Manga style, a rare occurrence in any regular novel.
But in the end, light novels can be recognized only by their label and mixed marketing strategy โ that is, how the books are branded and marketed during publication.
4.5) What are some of the most popular light novels adapted to anime and Manga?
Light novels are believed to be the most significant source from which Manga and anime are adapted. As you already know, light novels appear in prose form along with illustrations.
Once they are selected for a manga adaptation, the artist converts the prose into comic panels with dialogues from the story. They resemble graphic novels in style and format. In the case of anime, light novels are used in making animated movies based on the story and pictures in the books.
Goblin Slayer, Clockwork Planet, Overlord, No Game No Life, and Monogatari Series are some of the best and most well-known manga and anime adaptations based on light novels.
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ย Final Notes: Discovering a Lighter Land of Fiction
A trip to the fantasy land of fiction is always a welcome respite from the realities of dull and daily life. They help you escape the hard times of the natural world and have much-needed fun adventures full of unique storylines, colorful characters, and brilliant illustrations.
Light novels fall somewhere in a place between manga and YA novels. While the plot is similar to that of a Young Adult Novel, the visual representation is like that of Manga โ it gives you the best of both these worlds.
Light novels are the perfect choice for readers who find it challenging to finish lengthy books. Similarly, if the short lengths of a manga or comic frustrate you and make you want something more, these fast-paced novels are a no-brainer answer for you.
A perfect blend of words and art and a unique mix of story and picture, light novels present a new world of exciting adventures. And by reading this guide on light novel along with the most popular picks of its kind, you will be ready to begin a new and magical journey in the land of fiction.
Last Updated on by NamitaSoren
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