When Howl's Moving Castle from Diana Wynne Jones' whimsical novel, it proved just how magical the fusion between literature and animation could be. Ghibli took the book's rich inner world and gave it vivid life, adding its own signature charm and environmental themes. Since then, the studio has continued to dabble in adaptations, from The Secret World of Arrietty (inspired by The Borrowers) to When Marnie Was There. These literary-inspired films reflect the studio's lasting love for powerful storytelling across mediums.

But there is still a treasure trove of modern and classic fantasy novels that would thrive under Studio Ghibli’s gentle yet profound storytelling style. These are books filled with wonder, emotional depth, and complex characters, making them perfect material for Ghibli’s animators and writers. If the studio is looking for its next Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke, these books offer a roap to enchanting, meaningful stories that deserve to be animated.

10 Six of Crows

Written by Leigh Bardugo

Bardugo's gritty fantasy heist novel takes place in the bustling, grimy streets of Ketterdam, a place teeming with criminal enterprises, magic, and desperate ambition. The story follows six unlikely outcasts brought together to pull off an impossible job. Each character is deeply layered, and their conflicting motivations drive the plot with pulse-pounding tension. A Studio Ghibli adaptation could take a risk and dive into some of the darker moments while retaining the ensemble dynamic of the six "crows."

What makes Six of Crows a strong Ghibli candidate is its focus on found family and redemption, which are core themes in many Ghibli films. Characters like Kaz and Inej are toughened by trauma but retain a yearning for something more, something better. Ghibli’s mastery of portraying emotional nuance could shine here, especially in visually translating the eerie magic of Grisha powers and the claustrophobic labyrinth of Ketterdam. Imagine Hisaishi’s score behind a heart-racing canal chase. It would be unforgettable.

9 Cinder

Written by Marissa Meyer

This futuristic retelling of Cinderella is set in a world of cyborgs, androids, and a deadly plague, where a young mechanic named Cinder discovers secrets that could upend an empire. Meyer’s world-building is sharp, but what stands out is Cinder’s journey of self-worth and identity. These are themes Ghibli often returns to, from Nausicaä to Kiki’s Delivery Service, making Cinder an ideal candidate for their signature treatment.

Ghibli has never shied away from science fiction, and the Lunar Chronicles' fusion of fairy tale elements with sci-fi dystopia would be a refreshing challenge. The visuals of New Beijing are smoggy, industrial, yet brimming with cultural depth, and would come alive in the hands of Ghibli’s animators. Cinder herself is a strong, relatable heroine whose inner struggle would be a natural focal point for a coming-of-age Ghibli narrative, especially when layered with political intrigue and interplanetary diplomacy.

8 You've Reached Sam

Written by Dustin Thao

Thao's debut novel is a tender exploration of grief, love, and the impossibility of letting go. The story follows Julie, a high school girl mourning the sudden death of her boyfriend Sam, until she unexpectedly s him again through a mysterious phone call. It is surreal and gentle, a quiet narrative that fits beautifully within the Ghibli emotional landscape.

Like When Marnie Was There and Only Yesterday, You've Reached Sam deals with emotional introspection rather than grand fantasy.

Studio Ghibli is unparalleled in animating the intangible nature of memories, spirits, and loss. Like When Marnie Was There and Only Yesterday, You've Reached Sam deals with emotional introspection rather than grand fantasy. Its minimalist yet powerful plot would be ideal for a Ghibli adaptation centered on mood and character. The story’s dreamlike quality could be visually enhanced through shifting palettes and atmospheric transitions, turning a small-town setting into a stage for a profound emotional journey.

7 The Cruel Prince

Written by Holly Black

The Folk of the Air series starts with The Cruel Prince, a fae political fantasy brimming with betrayal, manipulation, and courtly intrigue. Jude Duarte, a human girl raised in the treacherous High Court of Faerie, must navigate a world that sees her as lesser. Her ambition and defiance would offer Ghibli a chance to explore moral ambiguity and power dynamics through a complex female lead.

While darker than most Ghibli fare, The Cruel Prince could benefit from the studio’s ability to layer softness into sharp narratives. Princess Mononoke, a tale both violent and meditative. Faerie’s lush yet dangerous world would give Ghibli’s animators a playground of surreal beauty, from glowing forests to glamoured illusions. The tension between nature and civilization, magic and cruelty, would find a natural home in the Ghibli canon.

6 The Priory of the Orange Tree

Written by Samantha Shannon

This sprawling epic of queens, dragons, and ancient prophecy offers the kind of high fantasy world Ghibli could lavish with detail. Shannon’s novel is rich in global mythology, drawing from East and West to build a narrative where women hold power, secrets run deep, and dragons are not always what they seem. It is a complex, mature story with a large cast and interweaving arcs.

Ghibli is no stranger to large-scale mythologies, and The Priory of the Orange Tree would allow the studio to stretch its visual and narrative muscles. From sky-sailing dragons to subterranean temples, the imagery begs for animated grandeur. Characters like Ead and Sabran bring emotional gravity and strength to the story, and Ghibli could frame their journey as one of courage and connection. The book’s themes of duty, belief, and the burden of history would resonate with Ghibli’s most thoughtful films.

5 Harry Potter

Written by J.K. Rowling

Yes, the Harry Potter franchise is already a global phenomenon with its own film series, but a Ghibli adaptation would breathe new life into the Wizarding World. Instead of focusing on spectacle, Ghibli could highlight the quieter, more human aspects of life at Hogwarts of friendship, wonder, and the bittersweetness of growing up.

Imagine Diagon Alley as a bustling, whimsical street rendered with Ghibli’s eye for detail, or the Forbidden Forest as an ancient, mysterious presence rather than a CGI backdrop. Ghibli’s approach would give characters like Neville and Luna the emotional space they deserve. Themes of loss, courage, and resistance could be portrayed through a subtler, more heartfelt lens, transforming the familiar into something deeply resonant.

4 Warcross

Written by Marie Lu

In a neon-lit future where virtual reality gaming is a global obsession, a teenage hacker named Emika Chen finds herself thrust into a dangerous game of espionage and corporate intrigue. Warcross has the fast pace and tech-laced aesthetic of a cyberpunk thriller, but it is also about identity, trust, and the power of perception, which are core ideas Ghibli could explore through dazzling animation.

This would be one of Ghibli’s boldest stylistic shifts, blending sleek digital worlds with their traditional hand-drawn charm. Like Paprika or Summer Wars, Warcross would require inventive visual design to navigate between real and virtual realms. Emika’s journey from outsider to reluctant hero mirrors many Ghibli protagonists, and the mystery surrounding the game’s creator, Hideo, offers rich emotional subtext that Ghibli’s storytelling could elevate.

3 Red Rising

Written by Pierce Brown

Darrow's transformation from a lowly Red to a revolutionary leader in a brutal, caste-divided future Mars is the heartbeat of Red Rising. While the violence and dystopia may seem far removed from Ghibli’s wheelhouse, the deeper themes of class struggle, identity, and the question of what makes a just society align with many of the studio’s best works.

The rich world-building of Red Rising, from underground mines to golden palaces, could be beautifully rendered, echoing the contrasts seen in Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

A Ghibli adaptation would be able to explore the harsher edges of Red Rising while still portraying its ideological battles. The rich world-building of Red Rising, from underground mines to golden palaces, could be beautifully rendered, echoing the contrasts seen in Laputa: Castle in the Sky. Darrow’s inner conflict and moral compromises would give the story an emotional heft, appealing to both younger and older audiences seeking something deeper than typical space opera.

2 Eragon

Written by Christopher Paolini

Paolini's dragon-rider saga was already made into a film, but that adaptation failed to capture the heart of the story or the hearts of the fans. In Ghibli’s hands, Eragon could become a sweeping, soulful tale of destiny, mentorship, and magical creatures. The bond between Eragon and Saphira, his dragon, would be key, and a relationship Ghibli could imbue with warmth and grace.

Ghibli has always excelled at portraying the bond between humans and creatures, from Haku and Chihiro to Ashitaka and Yakul. With its forests, elven cities, and ancient ruins, Alagaësia offers the kind of textured, immersive setting that Ghibli animators could bring to life in vivid detail. More than a coming-of-age story, Eragon is about legacy and sacrifice, which is classic Ghibli territory.

1 The Way of Kings

Written by Brandon Sanderson

As the opening volume of Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive, The Way of Kings is a complex, towering epic that mixes political intrigue, mythic history, and personal transformation. Ghibli has never tackled something quite this sprawling, but it could rise to the challenge by focusing on a specific thread with each film or trying its hand at a series instead. If Studio Ghibli chose to go the film route, there could be multiple films with one following Kaladin’s arc, a former soldier turned slave who rediscovers hope and purpose and the others following different characters, but all connecting at the end.

Stormlight-infused weapons, windblown chasms, and spren spirits could be realized in breathtaking style. Like Princess Mononoke, The Way of Kings deals with the cost of war, the fragility of honor, and the possibility of healing. Studio Ghibli would bring poetic depth to the novel’s philosophical undertones, making the world of Roshar feel both massive and intimate. It is ambitious, but the rewards would be extraordinary.