Summary
- Light novels are considered canon in the world of anime and manga, as they are published by the same companies and approved by the original creators.
- While some light novels, like Naruto, expand on the main storylines and are recognized as canon, others, like Love Hina, create new stories that don't necessarily contribute to the overall narrative.
- The quality and importance of light novels can vary, and while they may be canon, fans have the freedom to enjoy or ignore them based on personal preference. The ultimate goal is to entertain.
In the world of anime and manga you will find audio dramas, video games, and fan fiction across the internet. It is easy to figure out which of these are official products and which ones are works from fans. In these cases, there is rarely a debate of what is canon to the franchise and what is not.
However, when it comes to light novels, there is a lot of debate among fans who question whether or not these strange books can be considered canon or not. Why do these debates rage though? And what is canon anyway?
9 Light Novels To Read If You Love Mushoku Tensei
Mushoku Tensei fans who want light novels with similar tropes, themes, or characterizations have a feast to look forward to.
What is a Light Novel?
A light novel is a style of written fiction that originated in Japan. It is characterized by its relatively short length (usually ranging from 40,000 to 50,000 words), and is often accompanied by illustrations. Light novels are targeted primarily at young adult and teenage readers, although they can also appeal to a broader audience.
Here are some key features of light novels:
- Length - Light novels are typically shorter than traditional novels, making them quicker and easier to read.
- Illustrations - Many light novels include black-and-white illustrations throughout the text. These illustrations often depict characters, scenes, or key moments from the story (like children's books do).
- Serialization - Some light novels are initially serialized in magazines or online platforms before being published in book form. This serialization allows authors to build a following and receive feedback from readers.
- Adaptations - Successful light novels are often adapted into other media, such as anime, manga, or video games. These adaptations can help further popularize the original story.
Light novels have become a significant part of contemporary Japanese literature and entertainment culture, and they continue to be well-received both in Japan and internationally. The most successful light novels are ones that are based on anime, manga, and video games. Since they started catching on though, there have been questions on whether these books are canon or not.
What is Canon?
Alright...this is a touchy subject, so we're going to try and be as detailed as possible. "Canon" refers to the official body of work or material that is considered part of the authentic and accepted storyline of a fictional work. This can include mediums such as book series, film franchises, TV shows, video games, and other narrative media. In essence, it represents the established and recognized narrative elements, characters, events, and settings that are considered to be the "official" or "real" story within that fictional universe.
Here are some key points related to the concept of canon:
- Canonical Material - Canonical material includes the main storyline, character backgrounds, major plot points, and other elements that are essential to understanding and following the narrative. It is typically created and maintained by the original creators or rights holders of the fictional work.
- Expanded Universe - In many fictional universes, there is a distinction between the primary or core canon and expanded or supplementary material. Expanded universe content, such as spin-off books, comics, video games, or TV series, may contribute to the overall lore and world-building but might not be considered as essential as the core canon (for the record, there are debates about this type of canon as well).
- Hierarchy - In some fictional franchises, there can be a hierarchy within the canon. For example, some elements might be considered more authoritative or central to the storyline than others. This hierarchy is often established by the creators or the official franchise management.
- Canon Changes - Occasionally, creators or rights holders may make changes to the canon, such as retcons (retroactive continuity changes) or revisions to the established lore. These changes typically have a significant impact on how fans perceive the fictional universe.
- Franchise Control - This is a big one: Franchises often have official channels or entities that control and maintain the canon. This can include authors, studios, production companies, or other entities responsible for overseeing the consistency of the narrative. Sometimes disagreements on whether certain entities are entitled to control the canon can lead to debates on projects being considered canon or not.
As you can see, canon helps provide a framework for understanding the narrative and maintaining consistency within a fictional universe (for this reason, it should be noted that fan fiction is NEVER considered canon). However, the extent and strictness of canon can vary from one franchise to another, and debates about what should or shouldn't be considered canon are not uncommon among fans and enthusiasts.
It is here where the debate of light novels have come into the picture. Many light novels are made with the approval of the original authors, yet few of them seem to have any lasting impact on the main story. As a result, some fans believe light novels are a waste of time while others see them as a fun addition to the universe. At the end of the day though, are these truly canon?
Are Light Novels Canon?
Though there is some nuance to this question, the short answer is: Yes, they are canon. To understand why, you must understand that light novels are published by the same companies that publish the manga. Much like the filler episodes in anime series are made by the same directors and producers at the studio, so too are light novels published by the book publishers. What's more, like filler anime episodes, every story idea is approved by the original creator (assuming he or she is alive to participate).
This is because the light novels can not outright contradict the authors vision. If the author isn't available, the bible of whatever franchise is being worked on is consulted to make sure all storylines fit within the authors creative vision. In the case of the Naruto light novels, creator Masashi Kishimoto has actually suggested storylines that he never got to tell in the manga, and the official timeline even points out to fans where the light novels take place in the storyline. Thus, the Naruto light novels are absolutely canon (should fans choose to read them).
On the other hand, you have franchises like Love Hina. In this case, the light novels certainly do nothing to contribute to the overall story, yet Ken Akamatsu's series leaves enough gaps in the main storyline that light novels can easily create new stories during those time gaps. Akamatsu himself approved of all storylines since they didn't contradict anything he wrote himself. It should be noted that while light novels can be canon for either a manga or anime, it rarely can be compatible with both. In such cases, the publisher sometimes alerts the reader in the introduction which adaptation the book is a part of.
One of the reasons the debate has popped up is that most of these light novels are not very good. They may be enjoyable to an extent, yet since few of them include anything of major importance to the franchise, it seems easy to ignore them. In most cases, they are easy to ignore. Yes, they may be canon, but that doesn't mean (like Star Trek V: The New Frontier) you can't easily ignore it if you want to. So enjoy what you want and pass on what you don't; at the end of the day the idea behind everything is to entertain.