Anime and D&D/RPGs :: Online Social Gabfest

**This is not a gaming event.**

Online social event to gab about anime, D&D, and RPGs. Having just binged Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023) (Netflix and Crunchyroll), I loved how the ageless elves are portrayed, something I rarely see during my RPG game sessions. I also loved Delicious in Dungeon (2024) (Netflix) and how I thought it captured so many great RPG elements.

I recalled my discovery of anime in the mid 80's and encountering The Record of the Lodoss War (1990) (Crunchyroll Premium), the first (in my opinion) D&D inspired anime that really captured the essence of D&D. (While I may love the Dungeons & Dragons (1983) American cartoon series, The Record of the Lodoss War it is not. Heck, it isn't even D&D.)

The same way old John Ford Western movies influenced Japanese Chanbara (swording fighting films) and Akira Kurosawa, who made the films The Seven Samurai (1954) and Yojimbo (1961), these films in turn influenced Western film makers to make those Chanbara films back into Westerns in The Magnificent Seven (1960 and another in 2016) and A Fistful of Dollars (1964).

So too did D&D influence anime like Record of Lodoss War (It is basically a novelization of an actual D&D campaign. Back in the 80's it was a thing for Japanese TTRPG games to novelize their games, now we just Live Cast them.) Now, in turn, Anime is influencing RPGs (again). The recent release of Obojima: Tales From The Tall Grass RPG (2025) takes inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Another recent release, Break RPG (2023), has been called, "The best RPG for an Anime show that doesn't exist." I picked up Break just for the art.

Then we have Ryuutama RPG (2016), a Japanese TTRPG also influenced by Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli that has been translated into English. And Record of the Lodoss War spawned it's own RPG system (I'm not sure if it was a video or a paper game.)

Sure, earlier RPGS like Big Eyes Small Mouth RPG (1997) did exist, but they aimed to emulate anime in general, not specifically D&D or Fantasy RPGs.

I haven't even taken into account video game RPG themed anime like .hank//Sign or Sword Art Online or Isekai anime (subgenre where a character is transported to a new world) like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Overlord, or The Rising of the Shield Hero, etc.

Or maybe I have it all backwards or missing some anime and RPGs to consider. Come tell me your thoughts!

This is a casual event, so feel free to drop in, or leave, at any time.

Socialize with other gamers and anime fans. Have drink, tell a story, ask questions, or just relax with your fellow members.

Due to repeated Zoom bombing, all attendees will need to signup for a Zoom account (FREE) to track attendees.

Our events are positive, friendly, and welcoming spaces for all adventurers, regardless of class, race, gender, age, or sexual identity. Any negativity fueled by real-world ignorance, hate, or fear will be met with swift action and possible permanent teleportation to the plane of eternal banishment.

Questions? Post in the comments below!