Lawrence Kraft and Holo the wise wolf’s story has been easily one of the most famous light novel and anime series out there. However, that doesn’t mean everyone knows about it. The story tells of Kraft Lawrence, a young traveling merchant who one day ends up running into a wolf like Deity in the form of a beautiful woman named Holo. Despite them sharing no common reasons to be joined together, when Holo wishes to see her homeland in the north Lawrence obliges and decides to take her there. Along the way they will learn what the world has hidden away behind its beauty and shaping from this adventure is a love story that makes every moment just that more special. Thus the tale of Ookami to Koushinryou or Spice and Wolf is born.

While Grimoire of Zero boasts action and magic, Spice and Wolf looks at more adventure like elements. In many ways the Mercenary from Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho and Lawrence almost mirror each other. Lawrence may not be a large human creature hybrid like The Mercenary, but they both seek the lives of just owning their own business and letting life become simple. Holo and Zero are in many ways similar too, both have been away from the world, albeit different reasons, but are allowed the freedom to explore thanks to their traveling companions. Visually stunning and handled excellently by studio Imagin, Spice and Wolf is a well-known series for a reason, and if you need a great adventure story with some romance embedded, you will find no better alternative than this.

Maybe you like the comedy aspects surrounding The Mercenary and Zero’s tale from Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou Ka, or Danmachi as its shortened to by fans, aims to please in that regard. Bell Cranel has one dream: to be the greatest adventurer. When he meets a goddess named Hestia, Bell finds that maybe he is closer to gaining this title. Thus the two newly formed companions face off inside the “Dungeon” a seemingly never ending place under the city filled with challenges from creatures to the high chances of death. Bell and Hestia are going to indeed find an exciting adventure awaiting in this dark place, as long as they can survive using their newly formed friendship and skills.

Danmachi might be very different than Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho’s more serious tone but both story resonate in a few ways. The first is both Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho and Danmachi have a large adventure like story. Viewers will come to love how the Dungeon acts as its own world and seems to always boast a new threat, this mimics Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho’s seemingly never ending surprise. Also the two main characters are similar. Bell and Hestia, who both share fun banter with and some ecchi like moments, The Mercenary and Zero make their respective series fun by also using a lot of cleverly written banter and dialogue to keep the story rich and free flowing. Studio J.C. Staff has done an incredible job with rich and vibrant animation and cute character designs that Danmachi is a fun anime filled with just the right amounts of action and magical adventure to harken giving it a try. Though we do ask, is it really possible to find a girl in a dungeon?

Typically adventure stories start in the thick of things, however Hitsugi no Chaika starts after the battle between good and evil has ended. Tooru Acura is a former warrior of the great war against the Emperor Arthur Gaz. Now in the peace of a calm world, Tooru is losing his new battle, finding employment. One day Tooru runs into a strange young girl carrying a large coffin on her back. Her name is Chaika Trabant and she wishes to find her father’s remains to give him a proper burial. When Tooru agree to this job, his adoptive sister Akari decides to tag along and the newly formed party ventures forth. However awaiting them is shocking revelations and plenty of action and comedy.

When Tooru meets Chaika, we almost felt instantly reminded of the first meeting between The Mercenary and Zero. Studio Bones once again finds a great way of making strong character designs and animation really pushing Chaika to a great level. The action is also very interesting as similar to Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho; Every character has their own way of fighting leading to some epic clashes in the story when trouble brews. Hitsugi no Chaika may be a story that takes place when the dust has settled, but don’t be fooled. Awaiting those who watch is an engaging story with beautiful handled animation that only studio Bones knows how to do so well. Give it a shot, trust us you will be happy you did.

Let us step away from the usual fantasy world setting of lush forests or dark dungeons and enter Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. Aladdin a young boy wishes to learn more about the world through exploration. Allied with only a Djinn who can be summoned via flute, Aladdin has a large world ahead of him and ends up quickly running into several characters to fill in his lonely start. One of these characters is Alibaba Saluja a traveling merchant. Through a series of events, Aladdin will end up enthralled in a treasure hunt that may hold grander consequences than just what to do with the vast amount of money awaiting to spend after. Aladdin’s adventure will hold a deeper purpose, to see what awaits the world further if he should fail in his newly gained trial.

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is a wonderfully brilliant adventure story of characters who end up thrust into a more important goal. Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho shares the idea that both seem to be so innocent at first but when new characters and threats are found in the story, it takes that darker tone. Aladdin’s story echoes Zero as both are really unaware of the world around them but will find their risk of leaving their comfortable lives for the grand adventure to be enthralling to not just them but to the viewer as well. A-1 Pictures is known for boasting vibrant colorful anime, and Magi stands to be no different; the colors explode on screen leaving some amazing and unique animation worth of the Magi’s setting of the desert like stories from Disney. While we here at Honey’s Anime don’t have a genie to make wishes on, we do wish you’ll give Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic a go once Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho’s adventure ends.

In Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis, wacky characters seem to pour out of studio MAPPA’s creation. In a world where demons and humans intermingle, life has become both tense and interesting. We enter the shoes of Favaro Leone, a guy who loves a good drink and a simple adventure. However, when he runs into a woman named Amira, he finds his simple life toppled as he now enters a world breaking battle between Demons and Gods alike. Favaro will now have to become the hero he was probably never destined to be until Amira entered his life. If he wishes to survive, that needs to be his biggest priority now. The world of Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis is large and full of action and adventure indeed.

Can we say that honestly by now, almost any great adventure anime starts with someone meeting another person and changing their whole lives? Besides that however, Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis is a frenetic action adventure story similar to Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho. While more heavy on constant comedy, lying under Favaro’s constant banter and humor is the reality of a dark tale so don’t be fooled. We won’t say what’s being hidden exactly as that would be spoiling it but we know now we have your attention a bit more. Fans of action, comedy and just a tinge…okay a lot of magic, will enjoy Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis.

Rounding off this magical list is Toaru Majutsu no Index or its English title A Certain Magical Index. In Japan there lies a place called Academy City. Here technology thrives and students with psychic powers thrive to hone their skills further. However, a young man named Touma Kamijou also exists in this city, but unlike his fellow students and users of psychic powers, he himself is cursed with a strange power called imagine breaker. Imagine breaker nulls psychic powers but also nulls Toaru’s own luck making him typically unlucky in many regards. One day Toaru runs into a young priest like girl called Index who is being hunted for having ancient forbidden grimoires inside her very essence. Can this unlucky student keep this girl safe, or will those with the ability of magic and science beat him to a pulp? These answers and more await in A Certain Magical Index.

Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho is an action adventure story of magical proportions and while it may be set in the usual fantasy like world, A Certain Magical Index deserves its place alongside this great anime title. Both of these shows have some cleverly written storytelling and both are visually a treat, J.C. Staff did an amazing job adapting the light novel into such a great visual work. Index and Toaru while not romantically charged at times like The Mercenary and Zero, do share some hints of a romance blooming and it adds to some great comedic affairs. A Certain Magical Index has been a rousing success boasting a movie and having the light novels being currently translated and released in English, so why not enjoy the magical ride that Toaru shares after Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho’s tale wraps up, or even now.