I’m not too enthused with isekai as a concept, as I typically think of them as “fantasy with extra steps”, but what anime are good because it is an isekai?
Good because it is an isekai? It’s when they address the isekai-ed character’s previous life and make it an actual plot point.
It’s probably no coincidence that some of these isekais are all-time favourites of anime fans:
- Mushoku Tensei / Jobless Reincarnation
- Re:Zero
- Saga of Tanya the Evil
- Konosuba (plot point not adapted into anime yet; not much of a spoiler on second thoughts)
Personal favourite:
- Isekai Office Worker (actively worked on getting back to original world)
I am confused. Aren’t there 3 seasons of Konosuba with 4th being announced?
The anime hasn’t reach the point where the fact that Kazuma was isekaied was brought up.
But noted; edited original comment for clarity.
spoiler
Later on, Kazuma
- revealed that he was not from that world
- had to choose between staying in that world and returning to his original world
(in hindsight, it’s not really as impactful as, say, Mushoku Tensei, but it is still something 🤷)
You’re confusing me even more with this. It’s clearly shown in the very first episode and Aqua (and Iris) know it the entire time.
Why add spoilers and why make the fact special? Do you count an anime as isekai only when the MC tells it to the entire cast?
I like “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” its the anime equivalent of a survival crafting game with cheat codes. Not a lot of depth but fun watch.
I have a huge soft spot for Slime Time because while I recognize it’s trashy and extremely heavy on the power fantasy, there’s a sense of altruism – that is, the main goal of the MC is just wanting to make life better for the monsters whether they’re his subjects or not – that makes it more enjoyable than other isekai I’ve been introduced to. The early arcs around Shizu and then the Orc Disaster Geld were so touching that they made me cry.
Escaflowne: Wouldn’t work quite as well without Hitomi’s decision at the end of which world she really belongs in.
The Twelve Kingdoms: Portions of the plot wouldn’t work without the bit with new arrivals not understanding the language and culture.
(Basically, if it predated the coining of the term “isekai” and has stood the test of time well enough that people still remember it, it’s probably good.)
There are also some shows whose plot depends on being able to invert part of the trope, like Eminence in Shadow, or, for the dark and serious version, Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road/The Executioner and Her Way of Life (although I think that one was too tragic and unfinished for most people’s tastes).
I’ll add “Now and Then, Here and There” to those two classics. Not an easy watch, but worth it.
Ribdiculous Reincarnation is just so zany it’s good and the entire concept is basically poking fun at Isekai.
When it’s good, it’s my second favorite genre, so I consume a lot of it. Sadly, it’s mostly bad. Most of the time, it’s just a crutch for the author to explain the world to the reader/watcher in modern terms and as blatant self-insert pandering. It’s very seldom that the isekai aspect has actual ramifications on the plot. Most isekai would just as well work as a fantasy where the main character just so happens to be born with a special power. The Earth knowledge of most MC’s doesn’t really play into the narrative.
As for good examples, I would recommend Ascendance of a Bookworm. I have problems with the anime adaptation (a whole different can of worms, and once I start, I won’t stop again), but it’s the opposite of a power fantasy (she nearly dies from climbing a flight of stairs), and her modern-day knowledge is her only superpower and her motivation. Without her Earth knowledge, she wouldn’t have the motivation that drives the entire plot, and she wouldn’t have the means to rise above her station.
Grimgar was really good. I think ReZero was also really good about exploring what it’s like to actually use these “cheat abilities” that most isekai-Protagonists have (in this case, the protagonist travels to the past after dying, like a video game savepoint), though it overstays its welcome IMO.
Zenshu super stands out to me! The perfect length, great progression, and high stakes.
Tsuki Michi. The anime skipped a big chunk of the LN and manga, to the point where the manga is behind the anime.
"What anime are good becuase it’s an isekai? That’s, like, your opinion man… 😬
That being said I’ve been enjoying Reincarnated as a Sword english dub. The story isn’t revolutionary. But I play a lot of games; And “the rules of the world” get covered just enough that my curiosity is sated.
I have no idea what season 2 is like though.
Gate is probably my favourite.
Drifters
Some of the Isekai I thought was more unique and haven’t been mentioned here already.
So I’m a spider so what?
The Isekai drives the main plot for this one, a class is reincarnated into another world. The anime mainly follows one of the characters who has been turned into a spider monster but also flips to some of the other students who are humans and their teacher who is trying to round them all up to protect them.
The Isekai point is more important later on in the Light Novels (after the anime) as you learn more about the world, what the teacher has been doing over the years and the motives of the most powerful people in the world. If the reincarnations were not introduced into the world it would have gone differently.
No longer allowed in another world
This wasn’t an anime I found particular interesting but I feel it is unique. It follows a writer who has been reincarnated into a world that has lots of other reincarnations already. He ends up using his skills to get rid of reincarnations that are causing havoc on the world.
Another similar anime is The Executioner and her way of life
Miss Kobayashis dragon maid
Reverse Isekai? Dragons coming to earth and living as humans.
A fun anime that shouldn’t be taken serious but is entertaining.
Saving 80000 gold in another world for retirement
What would you do if you had the ability to travel between worlds?
Use it to try and make enough gold that you can retire?
With out the Isekai / travelling between world aspect it just wouldn’t work.
Uncle from another world
The story is uncle telling stories from his time in another world.
Without the Isekai aspect is just an uncle telling his poor nephew his coma dreams.
Late answer but Re:Zero probably fits. I don’t think it’s impossible, but I’m not sure how I’d make the story work without the isekai element.
