Anime adaptations have become popular in recent years but due to time constraints or fewer resources, the source from which they are adapted, the light novels, provide more in-depth and nuanced portrayals of characters.For anime protagonists, this becomes extremely true. Due to these reasons, characters can be portrayed differently in the anime series than in the light novel.
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Often anime adaptations have to condense and streamline a story to fit into specific episode counts. It will not be surprising if a character is more complex in the light novels than they are in the anime series. This list is subjective and people may have different opinions on which characters are better in light novels.
10Kirito - Sword Art Online
The anime mostly focuses on his relationship and his actions in the virtual world ofSword Art Online. The light novel dives deeper into his past, his background as well as his motivation.Sword Art Online’s light novel also provides more context to the decisions Kirito makes, which means that the character is more complex and nuanced.
The light novel has provided more insight intoKirito’s character development, his past as well as his relationship with his family, which essentially makes him a relatable character. He is a far more likable protagonist in the light novel than he is in the series.
9Sadao Maou - The Devil Is A Part-Timer!
The character is more well-rounded and fleshed out in the light novels than he is in the series. Sadao’s past and his motivations are explored in the light novels as he is a demon king trying to survive in the human world. The light novels make his struggles andgrowth as a charactermore prominent than it does in the series, leading him to be an interesting character.
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His relationship with other characters like Emilia and Chiho is explored in the novels, adding to the story and providing it with more depth. Meanwhile, in the series, he is portrayed as a villain trying to get his kingdom back which has a more comedic spin to it.
8Kyon - The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya
Kyon’s portrayal in the light novel is more compelling and relatable than it is in the light novel. The light novel provides a better explanation of his thoughts and perspectives and readers will understand him better.
In the light novel,The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Kyon’s background and how he has changed over time were explored in-depth.
7Tatsuya Shiba - The Irregular At Magic High School
The anime adaptation ofThe Irregular at Magic High School,especially Tatsuya Shiba’s portrayal can be considered more action-packed and fast-paced. It focuses more on his abilities as a magician and his role in the story. Whereas, in the light novel, Tatsuya’s past, his abilities, and his deeper thoughts have helped give an in-depth understanding of the character.
Other than that, Tatsuya’s motivations and his relationship with other characters are also highlighted in the novel which adds to the character and makes him more interesting.
6Issei Hyoudou - High School DxD
In the light novel, Issei Hyoudou’s character development is far superior to what is in the series. The light novel also goes in-depth with the character’s personal growth. On the other hand, the series is inclined toward a comedic and light-hearted portrayal of Issei.
The anime is also more focused on the ecchi and harem aspects of the story, which makes Issei’s character more of a comedic relief.
5Kamijou Touma - A Certain Magical Index
The light novel explores Touma’s mental and emotional state as it delves into his thoughts and feelings as the story progresses. However, the anime adaptation focuses on his magical abilities and his role in the events of the story.
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The light novel will help fans understand moreabout the character’s personality, but the anime series does attempt to adapt these in a more symbolic way. Both the light novel and the series have successfully portrayed Kamijou Touma as a strong-willed, and compassionate character.
4Eugeo - Sword Art Online: Alicization
The anime series portrays Eugeo as someone whose past does not affect them. However, the light novel reveals the character has a deeper connection to his past, his friend Kirito and his goal of becoming a sword master.
The novel also shows more details about Eugeo’s abilities and how he developed them. In contrast, his portrayal in the series is much more simplified as itfocuses on the actionand the plot of the story.
3Koyomi Araragi - Bakemonogatari
The light novel,Bakemonogatari,gives fans access to Koyomi’s inner monologue, allowing them to understand his thoughts and actions. It also reveals his internal struggles and character development more in-depth than it does in the anime series.
Not only that,the light novelhas a different narrative structure which allows fans to know more about Koyomi’s character and the story. Meanwhile, the anime adaptation has a more episodic structure, making it difficult to portray the character’s personality and inner thoughts.
2Eren Yeager - Attack On Titan
The light novel,Attack on Titan,provides more emphasis on Eren Yeager’s background, his past, and his motivations. It helps fans see the reason behind every decision, giving an overall better understanding of the character. The light novels also focus more on Eren’s relationship with Mikasa and Armin, giving more depth to his character development.
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However, the anime series mostly focuses on the action and the plot of the story. There is less emphasis on character development and Eren’s backstory, making him a character just to move the story forward. In the light novels, he is more human-like and relatable.
1Katsuki Bakugo - My Hero Academia
Bakugo’s relationship with Midoriya is emphasized in the light novel, which explains his competitive and aggressive nature. Fans will also get in-depth knowledge about his past, and the events that shaped his personality, which is missing from the anime series so far.
Bakugo can be deemed as an empathetic and relatable character in the light novels, however, in the anime series, the character is portrayed as a hot-head and aggressive individual. Hisdevelopment as a heroand his growth as a person are the focus of the series.
Characters' past and motivations and their inner thoughts can be understood better with light novels, which in turn makes them compelling and relatable. While anime series have done a great job of capturing the story and the characters, the light novels provide more depth to these characters, making them better versions than they are portrayed in anime series.
