Shousetsuka ni Narou (en: Let’s Become a Novelist), the largest self-publishing web novel platform in Japan, announced on May 26 that the number of commercial anime titles produced based on novels it hosts has exceeded 200 (including anime scheduled to air by the end of 2026). This milestone comes as the platform celebrates its 22nd anniversary.
Known for hits like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Mushoku Tensei, and Re:Zero, Shousetsuka Ni Narou is the platform where the so-called “narou-kei” genre originated. Playing on the site’s name, the term is associated with popular fantasy tropes like isekai, reincarnation/transmigration, and overpowered protagonists, which many of the platform’s popular works adopt.
Given the worldwide popularity of isekai titles throughout the past few years, it’s not surprising that the number of narou-kei novels adapted into anime has already exceeded 200. To commemorate the achievement, the platform has launched a website that documents anime titles released every year from 2013 to the present.
According to the announcement, Shousetsuka ni Narou continues to receive numerous inquiries from companies hoping to commercialize novels hosted on the platform through print publication and anime adaptations. However, the increased interested has also led to more frequent issues between authors and third parties, so the platform is planning to launch “Narou Partner Program,” a support program meant to help authors through the process of commercialization, as well as to hook up companies with high-quality source material for media adaptations. The program is planned to start running in June 2026.
Interestingly, Shousetsuka ni Narou has also addressed the issue of AI-generated or AI-assisted works. To prevent any risks from arising when web novels are adapted into commercial products, the platform will now require a mandatory disclosure of AI use. Authors will need to label their work based on the degree to which they used (or did not use) AI, ranging from: Direct Use (final text directly generated by AI), Indirect Use (AI generated draft replaced by author’s own text), Auxiliary Use (AI spell check, research or brainstorming) and Not Used.
