How do you feel about anime with no manga/light novel?

I've been watching Gnosia lately. It's interesting, but a little cheesy, until episode 8. Woof, I haven't finished the series yet, but becoming very invested. Are there any other solid animes with no manga/light novel?

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Commentaires

N7CombatWombat2026-01-08 05:23

>Are there any other solid animes with no manga/light novel?

Yes, they're called anime originals and are usually better because they're made from the start to be a contained story.

beerantula2026-01-08 05:25

Recommendations?

Runedexx2026-01-08 05:26

cyberpunk edgerunners. To Be Hero X and Link Click both are Donghuas not technically anime

N7CombatWombat2026-01-08 05:30

Cowboy Bebop

Evangelion

Samurai Champloo

Code Geass

Kill la Kill

Lycoris Recoil

Gurran Lagann

Serial Experiments Lain

Little Witch Academia

Macross

Megalo Box

Carole & Tuesday

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Nadesico

Terror in Resonance

Xam'd Lost Memories

BNA

Space Dandy

FLCL

oldeuboiii2026-01-08 06:39

I like the anime that you mentioned, do you have a MAL or AniList so I can see what can I add to my PTW?

N7CombatWombat2026-01-09 00:54

I don't really, I only ever got started with my MAL but never got around to finishing it. I do keep a text file of my particular favorites that I could paste for you.

Hooked13G2026-01-08 05:35

The ones I watched and liked a lot are
\- Little Witch Academia
\- Nagi no Asu kara (A Lull in the Sea)
\- BNA
\- Tsuki ga Kirei
\- SSSS.Gridman
\- SSSS.Dynazenon
\- Gridman Universe
\- Plastic Memories
\- Deca-Dence
\- The Aquatope on White Sand
\- Dusk Beyond the End of the World

\*Note that some of these may have spawned manga/light novel or game spin-offs, but these are all anime original shows/movies\*

Edit: Look up a list of P.A. Works' Original shows, they tend to be really good in my experience

Knee_High_Cat_Beef2026-01-08 06:17

Gnosia is based off a game.

All of my favorite animes are originals.

The entire Gundam series is anime original, along with most of the mecha genre.

Macross is really good if you like music and action. Music can't really be conveyed through novels or Manga, so anime is the only acceptable medium.

The [Symphogear ](https://streamable.com/ayign) series is also really big into spectacular music and action.

Psycho-Pass is a really good sci-fi crime thriller with a theme similar to Minority Report.

ID Invaded is another pretty good sci-fi crime thriller with a concept similar to Inception.

Zenshu is a recent original anime that draws a lot of inspiration from traditional Isekai and references a lot of classical anime.

beerantula2026-01-08 06:18

LOVE psycho Pass, I've seen all of it. So good

Knee_High_Cat_Beef2026-01-08 07:13

Have you see[ID Invaded](https://youtu.be/nc7Y0BvEYQk?si=OH5IO6GL-wHz_2pn)? It gave me some vibes similar to Psycho-Pass.

beerantula2026-01-08 16:25

I haven't, I'll have to check it out

ali941272026-01-08 05:28

Gnosia is based off a visual novel, which many anime are adaptations of.

Vivy

A Place Further than the Universe

Psycho-Pass

Klinicalyill2026-01-08 05:28

At the very least you can be sure there will be no filler.

affnn2026-01-08 05:34

Anime-originals are a fairly regular occurrence. Sometimes they’re good, sometimes they’re a trainwreck. I like them because usually the writer will plan for an ending and work toward it, whereas with manga/LN adaptations the source material author might mot have planned the ending yet.

Some of the more famous and popular anime are anime originals (they may have had manga adaptations later, but they started as anime) including Madoka, Evangelion, Gurren Lagann and Utena.

timpkmn892026-01-08 05:35

I have no strong feelings one way or another

mjf3142026-01-08 05:36

There are a lot of good anime originals that aren't based on anything. Here are a few suggestions:

[Cowboy Bebop](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1/Cowboy_Bebop)

[Gurren Lagann](https://myanimelist.net/anime/2001/Tengen_Toppa_Gurren_Lagann)

[Odd Taxi](https://myanimelist.net/anime/46102/Odd_Taxi)

[Mononoke](https://myanimelist.net/anime/2246/Mononoke)

[Madoka Magica](https://myanimelist.net/anime/9756/Mahou_Shoujo_Madoka%E2%98%85Magica)

[Neon Genesis Evangelion](https://myanimelist.net/anime/30/Shinseiki_Evangelion)

[Revolutionary Girl Utena](https://myanimelist.net/anime/440/Shoujo_Kakumei_Utena)

[Serial Experiments Lain](https://myanimelist.net/anime/339/Serial_Experiments_Lain)

Gnosia is actually based on a game, so it's not an original. If you're looking for anime based on games then I recommend [Steins;Gate](https://myanimelist.net/anime/9253/Steins_Gate), [Clannad](https://myanimelist.net/anime/2167/Clannad), and [Cyberpunk: Edgerunners](https://myanimelist.net/anime/42310/Cyberpunk__Edgerunners).

RaDiOaCtIvEpUnK2026-01-08 07:42

I wouldn’t put cyberpunk edgerunners in this category really. Its lore is based in a game world, but the story is completely original, and not from the game at all.

So yes while it’s technically based on a game it’s actually an original in a games world.

Askhai2026-01-08 05:37

Buddy Daddies

I prefer Anime Originals, mostly because the story is complete (usually).

Calwings2026-01-08 05:38

I *absolutely love* anime originals, and I actively look for them every season. They're often more unique and creative compared to adaptations, I don't have to deal with cheeky source material readers dropping spoilers, and (most importantly) they usually have conclusive endings instead of a "fuck you go read the source material for more" non-ending. A lot of my all-time favorites are originals.

Fisonnra2026-01-08 05:46

Original animes? There is a ton! 91 Days, Evangelion, Psycho-Pass, and the legendary Madoka Magica who caught everyone off-guard.
As for the modern ones, my personal favorite is A Place Further Than the Universe. That anime changed my life and may even change yours!

Deliriousious2026-01-08 06:17

My general consensus of recent ones is… not great

So far: Giant Beasts of Ars, and Pirate Princess were both ones I was hyped for… and got so throughly disappointed by the time they finish.

Giant Beasts of Ars seemed like it was meant to be much longer, and possibly had so much more to do, yet it ended, and literally no questions I had were answered. Hell it even finished and felt unfinished.

Vivy and Lycoris Recoil however, phenomenal.

It really varies, but so far, like half of them have pretty clear issues in writing or general pacing, you get some terrible ones, but you also get gold ones have such high reputation that they fall onto people’s recommendations or top lists.

oldeuboiii2026-01-08 06:34

Besides the ones that are already mentioned:

Sonny Boy

Ergo Proxy

Flag

Psycho-Pass

Princess Tutu

Kemonozume

Kaiba

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-08 08:14

Well Gnosia does have source material (a game) so it's not exactly the game..

But I DO love anime originals. It's nice to know that everyone theorizing is ACTUALLY theorizing (and not just spoiling).

Plus, anime originals are often passion project (given they're not just trying to sell a manga), or they try to sell on their own merits, so sometimes they feel better than the other stuff.

Flysand2026-01-08 11:23

code geass and psycho pass.