The Lord of the Rings is a wonderful book series that was adapted into one of the most successful and influential film trilogies of all time. Set in a fantastical world filled with magic, elves, dwarves, and other unique creatures with a captivating and epic storyline, it's obvious why people are drawn to this franchise.
Fantasy is one of the most popular genres in anime for the same reason. It allows people to escape to a new world and experience something more exciting. In fact, there are several fantasy anime that fans of The Lord of the Rings would love for their action, adventure, historical settings, and in some cases, hints of romance.
10 A Group Of Champions Are The Only Thing Standing Between Peace And Darkness (Record Of Lodoss War)
Record of Lodoss War may be an older shonen anime, but it's still an intriguing story. After many years of war, Lodoss and all of its kingdoms are finally enjoying peace. However, evil rises anew in the form of an ancient witch who's awoken from a long slumber. It's up to a party of mixed-raced champions to stand between evil and Lodoss' fall back into darkness and chaos.
With dragons, elves, prophecies, and sword and sorcery elements, Record of Lodoss War is a great fantasy adventure to get lost in.
9 A Princess Seeks The Seven Deadly Sins In The Hopes Of Overthrowing Britannia's Tyrannical Rulers (The Seven Deadly Sins)
During the Middle Ages, Holy Knights used powerful magic to protect Britannia, but a select few of these Knights were betrayed by their homeland and labeled the Seven Deadly Sins. Ten years after this event, the Holy Knights staged a coup d’état and become the new leaders of the Kingdom of Liones — albeit tyrannical ones.
The Seven Deadly Sins is an amazing action-adventure anime that follows the story of Elizabeth, the third princess of the Kingdom of Liones, and her quest to find the Seven Deadly Sins. Her goal is to take back the kingdom and make the righteous once more.
8 Clare Is A Half-Demon Half-Human Hybrid Hunting For Vengeance (Claymore)
Yoma are flesh-eating demons that have been attacking villages across the land and killing many people. The only ones able to stop these demons are known as Claymores, manufactured beings who are half-human and half-yoma.
Clare is one such Claymore. She happens upon a village where a yoma is terrorizing its people and intervenes, but not before it’s killed nearly everyone in one family except for a man named Raki. Unfortunately, she was kicked out of his home and continues her journey. However, Raki and Clare end up traveling together to kill other yoma until Clare can fulfill her need for vengeance.
7 A Prince And His General Must Form Alliances To Take Back Their Kingdom (The Heroic Legend Of Arslan)
In 320, the Kingdom of Pars is at war with the neighboring empire of Lusitania. Unfortunately, however, the king of Pars was betrayed, and his army was destroyed on the battlefield and the Lusitanian army laid siege to the capital city.
Prince Arslan, who was hoping to prove his might on the battlefield, is forced to go on the run with his most trusted general. Together, they must form alliances in order to take back their kingdom while enduring hardships and unraveling secrets that could jeopardize Arslan's claim to the throne. It's a thrilling series with many elements similar to The Lord of the Rings.
6 A Princess Goes On The Run After A Prophecy States That She'll Destroy The World On Her Sixteenth Birthday (Scrapped Princess)
Pacifica Casull is a member of the royal family better known as the Scrapped Princess due to a prophecy that states she will destroy the world on her 16th birthday. As a result of this prophecy, her time on earth is growing shorter by the day until a kindhearted family takes her in. But when the news of her survival reaches the worshipers of God, they order for her to be found and executed.
Pacifica, along with her adopted siblings, flee in an attempt to escape the commoners, royalty, and worshipers who want her killed. However, more information comes to light about the world and the prophecy as her birthday approaches. It's an entertaining and dramatic anime well worth watching.
5 An Ordinary Girl Discovers She's Royalty In An Otherworldly Kingdom (The Twelve Kingdoms)
Yoko Nakajima is a model teenager. She gets good grades, she does what she's told, and she's the class president who always offers assistance to those who ask. However, due to her flaming red hair, she's never really fit in and is seen as a pushover by everyone around her.
On an ordinary day, a man named Keiki bursts into her classroom and bows before her, claiming that she's royalty in his kingdom. But Keiki was followed by a giant demonic bird, and the two escape back to the kingdom with two students accidentally in tow. But when Yoko is separated from the others, she has to find a way to survive in this new world.
4 A Prince Is Sentenced To Die To Save His People, But Is Rescued By A Mysterious Woman (Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit)
The Shin Yogo Empire is on the precipice of widespread famine and the Star Readers are doing everything that they can to find a way to prevent this tragedy. According to myth, if a water demon is slain, it could bring water and salvation to the land.
For Prince Chagum, this is bad news, since a water demon has manifested inside of him. Thus, the Emperor plans to sacrifice his son for his people. But a spear-wielding mercenary named Balsa saves the prince from an assassination attempt and is tasked with protecting him. They set out on a journey to stay alive, all the while growing closer.
3 Aladdin And Alibaba Set Out To Conquer A Dungeon, Claim Treasure, And Change The World (Magi: The Labyrinth Of Magic)
Across the world of Magi, there are several labyrinths with priceless treasures inside. The dungeons, as they're called, are the work of magicians who help guide people through the traps and pitfalls so that they can build their empires. If a dungeon is conquered, Djinns grant the conqueror access to immense power and choose them as a King candidate.
Aladdin, a young magician, journeys across the world along with Ugo, his mentor, and soon becomes friends with Alibaba Saluja. Together, they set off on an adventure to conquer a dungeon and change the fate of the world.
2 A Magician Is Hunted For A Magical Item In Her Possession (Slayers)
Lina Inverse is a powerful sorceress who loves to steal treasures from unsuspecting thieves. However, the last set of thieves that she robbed lie in wait to ambush her so that they can get their revenge. But a swordsman known as Gourry Gabriev, believing that Lina is a damsel in distress, takes out the band of thieves first. He chooses to accompany Lina on her journey to the city and she reluctantly accepts.
She also discovers that, in her latest robbery, she's acquired a magical item. What she doesn't know is that she's now being hunted for it and that the weight of the world rests on her shoulders — a similar situation which Frodo found himself in.
1 Tughril Mahmut Must Find A Way To Make Peace With A Violent Empire (Altair: A Record Of Battles)
Altair: A Record of Battles is a historical fantasy shonen about Tughril Mahmut, the youngest member of the Divan of the Türkiye Stratocracy. Whispers of war are floating through the air due to the threat of a violent empire.
As the Divan is split between those who want peace and those who want war, Mahmut must find a way to ensure peace, no matter what it costs. But the further into the political realm he goes, the more problems that he faces as he discovers new allies and encounters foes while trying to stop a war from breaking out.