If you’re anything like me, you are probably constantly thinking about your Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Or perhaps you’re on the other side of the screen racking your brain on making your next character. Good news! Like most creative problems, your answers lie in anime. Anime and D&D have a lot in common and, in some ways, directly influence one another. From early translations of the first edition inspiring Kobolds to look like dogs in Japan to the many modules that wear anime on its sleeve, there’s a long, connected history between the two. Now, take a peek into my DM notes and check out these shows perfect for your next campaign. Record of Lodoss War Record of Lodoss War straight up started as a written transcript of a D&D campaign. Back in 1986, readers of Comptiq would get a glimpse into the story and characters that were in the author’s personal campaign. It was like actual play D&D before shows like Critical Role and Dimension 20 were even a thing! A party of adventurers explore the cursed lands of Forcelia. Together, they face the many monsters and evils that lie in dungeons and forests. You have all your classic archetypes and classes here. A human fighter looking to restore his family’s honor, an ageless elf mage, the bearded dwarf with an axe, you can probably guess the rest. But the setting, villains, and main party are a great example of familiar ideas with excellent execution. Sometimes the classics are a classic for a reason. RELATED: 6 of the Best Anime for Dungeons & Dragons Fans In the series, Parn has a standard fantasy backstory but his personality and determination are what makes him unique. His refusal to give up and willingness to keep going despite the known outcome makes him the definition of a hero. And his natural prowess makes him somewhat of an idiot savant. While there are millions of knight-like fighters in the world, there’s only one Parn. Sometimes commonality can be your defining trait. Among the rest, you’re the contender. Like Parn, you become the hero. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End What better way to set up a campaign than at the end of another? How has the world changed after the heroes saved it? Does the party view the events of the previous like legend? What about those who lived through it? These are the kinds of questions that Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End asks. And why it makes for such a great fountain of inspiration for your campaign. From the side quests they must undertake to help people along the way to the demons and monsters they must face, each episode feels like an encounter from a module. Even the First-Class Mage Exam is a perfect dungeon setting (if you turn that arc into a module, please send it to me). Also, like any good campaign, there’s a mimic. RELATED: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is the Perfect Anime for Dungeons & Dragons Fans Additionally, Frieren has a unique view on the world and humanity. It might be interesting to give your elven character or an NPC her point of view. Maybe, like Frieren, they struggle to understand the passage of time. For the players it’ll make the NPCs more tragic leading them to becoming emotionally attached. Which will make it extra heartbreaking when you kill the NPC off. Banished from the Hero’s Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside Let’s talk about character backstories. What was your character doing before this new adventure? Where did they go? What’s next for the character? Banished from the Hero’s Party, I decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside gives you all those answers right there in the title. Red’s story is the perfect example of a great player backstory. Brother to a great hero gets kicked out of the party by malicious members and is now trying to lay low with a new name and identity. Not only is this a spin on the classic heroic backstory, but it automatically gives your DM character specific NPCs with motivations that they can use. The character also now has a personal mystery for the rest of your party to learn and discover. Even if you’re just looking for D&D vibes, this show has you covered. Different classes, magic systems, orcs, and even an appearance from the iconic owl bear. As for DMs, Season 2’s hero turned villain is a great example of an evil paladin antagonist (I would know, Van inspired the boss of my current campaign). Delicious in Dungeon Image via Netflix If you play D&D and haven’t watched Delicious in Dungeon , what’re you doing? D&D and D-in-D clearly go together. The anime is a perfect example of dungeon crawling and each episode would fit perfectly in any campaign, but especially a survival heavy one. Not only do monsters feel ripped out of the monster manual, but there’s a fun twist to each of them as it shows the biology of the monsters and how it connects to the ecosystem of the dungeon. Something that DMs should take note of from the show is how information is revealed. Let your party learn about the world the further they go into the dungeon, just like Laios and his friends do. Let them make discoveries, like learning you can turn living armors into a stir-fry. For players, it’s also a great example of why it’s always a good idea to give your player characters goals. Each of the characters in Delicious in Dungeon has their reason for going into the dungeon. While Laios and Marcille’s goals are on rescuing Falin, Chilchuck is motivated by professionalism, and Senshi’s goals are more cooking-oriented. Everyone doesn’t have the same motivations; instead, they have intersecting goals. This gives players individual initiative while also giving the party a clear reason to adventure together. An alternative to the classic “You all answered the same quest flyer at the tavern.” The best part of using anime as an inspiration for your campaign and characters is that if any of your players don't watch anime, they’ll think you’re a storytelling genius, and if you’re playing with anime fans, they’ll notice your subtle reference. I hope this gave you some ideas and, more importantly, got you excited for your next session. And as you prep for your next session, maybe throw on some anime and see what inspires you to roll the dice.
