Official Site: Japanese
Additional Links: ANN Entry, MAL Entry
Video [Free {Streaming}]: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Viewster, The Anime Network
For the much of its history, a sizable portion of anime made has consisted of manga adaptations. However, the last decade has seen the strong emergence of "light novel" adaptations (stories typically too short to be considered a "novel", but too long to be considered a "novella"). While popular works such as Full Metal Panic!, Slayers, The Twelve Kingdoms, and Boogiepop Phantom preceded it, the trend was truly born in the afterglow of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya's mega-success, followed by a more rapid ascension within the last couple of years. With any such flood (or oversaturation) of works, unsurprisingly, there is a collection of well-received titles (Spice & Wolf, Durarara!!, Toradora!) and a greater glut of titles that range from hidden gems (Kyouran Kazoku Nikki, Brave Story) and divisive entries (Sword Art Online, The irregular at magic high school) to pretenders, dullards, and lazy cash grabs (Rail Wars!, Akikan! Aesthetica of a Rouge Hero).
