The Best Anime for The Legend of Zelda Fans

July 16, 2021

It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this. Full of action, adventure and fantasy, The Legend of Zelda has been a household name in games since its first entry in 1986.

From the first area of Hyrule to the blockbuster success of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Zelda franchise is a staple of gaming history. And if you’re a fan of the series, there is plenty of anime out there with the same feelings of adventure, intrigue and discovery.

With The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD making its way to the Nintendo Switch this week, we’ve curated the perfect list of titles to keep your quest going long after the video game adventure has ended.

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom

In The Legend of Zelda, many of the games’ plots are based on the fish-out-of-water archetype. There are several instances where Link finds himself in a whole new world, town or village and is deemed a hero, even when he’s unaware of how he fits into things.

What does it really mean to be the chosen one? In How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, Kazuya finds himself summoned as a hero to Elfrieden, a bankrupt kingdom. He’s got no choice but to fight against the demons who have taken over the northern kingdom, all while using his economics prowess to truly rebuild.

If entries like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are your thing, you’ll love this new series.

Watch How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom on Funimation!

That Time I Got Reincarnated as Slime

that time i got reincarnated as a slime season 2

It’s hard to imagine the Zelda franchise without Link and Zelda and Ganon (sometimes Ganondorf). And in each entry, these characters usually play a part in some form through the idea of reincarnation, albeit loosely.

And Link, well, he’s the “link” that connects you (the player) to the world of high fantasy. It’s kind of like how Rimuru is Satoru Mikami’s link to an alternate world full of monsters, demons and battle.

A story of rebirth, reincarnation and gelatinous orbs, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime follows Mikami, who dies in the real world and is reincarnated as a slime in a fantasy world. Equipped only with his new form and a new name (thanks to Storm Dragon Veldora), he earns the trust of those around him to become their leader.

And while Rimuru is a bit different than Link, this ever-present sense of adventure in another world will keep you hooked.

Watch That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime on Funimation!

Black Clover

Finding hidden power within yourself is a common aspect of The Legend of Zelda. Link himself carries the Triforce of Courage, an immense power that Link learns to wield on his journeys, helping others and evolving as a warrior.

In Black Clover, we meet Asta, who was raised in an orphanage with no recollection of his parents. He’s also one of the only people in the world without magical abilities, and yet, he vows to become a Wizard King.

On his adventures, Asta learns he’s more special than he thought, unlocked new and unknown powers throughout his journey. With his unique five-leaf clover Grimoire in tow, he awakens power despite his lack of magical energy.

Black Clover lends its magic and mystery to an adventure series which proves that you don’t have to be like everyone else to be strong. You can be strong in your own way.

Watch Black Clover on Funimation!

One Piece

If you enjoyed The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker or The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, get ready to set sail for the high seas on the pirate adventure of a lifetime.

In One Piece, follow Monkey D. Luffy as he and his Straw Hat crew embark on a quest to find the ultimate treasure: the One Piece! This ongoing series is filled with action, a unique cast of characters and an adventurous trip around the world.

Encountering evil along the way, One Piece is the perfect blend of quirky comedy and impactful storytelling, all set in a world where pirates rule the seas.

And although the Thousand Sunny or Going Merry don’t talk like the King of Red Lions, you’ll find yourself totally invested in the journey of these ships and the crew aboard them.

Watch One Piece on Funimation!

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon

In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a big focus is placed on collecting items and following a map to unlocking Link and Zelda’s memories. And other games in the series focus on this item collecting too, whether it’s collecting pieces of the Triforce or waking the Divine Beasts.

In Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, Towa, Setsuna and Moroha set off on an adventure to find the answers surrounding their past. Looking to connect the Rainbow Pearls (like their parents once did to find the shards of the Shikon Jewel), the three girls are sleuthing for clues and slaying demons.

If you loved the classic tale of Inuyasha and the timeless adventure of The Legend of Zelda, you won’t want to miss this new series packed with familiar faces.

Watch Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon on Funimation!

Full Metal Panic!

Often at its core, The Legend of Zelda is about Link protecting and working with Zelda to save Hyrule from darkness (usually in the form of Ganon or Ganondorf). Link also spends plenty of time running clueless around villages, using his knack for adventure to get him out of tough spots.

In Full Metal Panic!, Sousuke Sagara is sent to protect Kaname Chidori, a high schooler who is also a “Whispered,” a race of people who understand technology on a deeper level.

The dynamic between these two is a lot like Link and Zelda, where we have one intelligent and strong lady with her not-so-talkative bodyguard. And if you’re looking for a sci-fi take on the themes present in The Legend of Zelda, you’ll find a lot to love here.

It’s a love story mixed with a mecha anime, so if you’re also a fan of giant robots, look no further than Full Metal Panic!

Watch Full Metal Panic! on Funimation!