Isekaiis one of the more controversial genres in anime. While there aresome questionable themesfound in a couple of isekai series, the genre as a whole is so much more than its worst moments. Isekai is defined as a character being transported or reincarnated in another world, usually entirely different from the normal world that they’ve come from.
Isekai as a whole consists of a ton of different subgenres. There are action isekai, adventure isekai, andisekai that place comedy at the topof their list of priorities for great success. Some isekai series can combine action and comedy to createa fun and thrilling experiencefor their entire runtime, allowing certain series to stand out above the rest. Isekai’s diversity as a genre is a strong point, allowing anyone to find the right series within the genre for them.
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasyis one of the easiest isekai anime series to get into. It stars Misumi Makoto as he’s transported to a new world against his will, finding new friends, a great place to live, and obtaining some of thestrongest powers of anyone in the series. It’s a pretty straightforward power-fantasy from start to finish, making it a great series for fans of the power-fantasy subgenre or someone new to isekai in the first place.
There are a few controversial elements toTsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy.The main character hastwo incredible companions who are attracted to him for no real reason.For a power-fantasy series, it’s not the most out-of-the-ordinary plot element. Other than his absurd power level, amazingly loyal followers, and the darker side of his personality that tends to come out sometimes,Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasyis a straighforward isekai series.
Animated By Eight Bit, Based on the Light Novel By Fuse and Mitz Vah
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is an action-adventure isekai anime based on the original novels written by Fuse. Living a standard life with no actual forward trajectory, Satoru Mikami’s humdrum life is thrown into chaos when he is stabbed to death during a daily walk. However, Satoru’s life is spared when he is reborn into the body of an all-powerful slime in a fantasy world where he gets a second chance at living a more fulfilling - albeit bizarre - life.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slimeis a textbook isekai series. It’s a great pick for anyone who loves action, adventure, and humor, andSlimedoes all three very well. Rimuru was a normal person in his past life who was killed for seemingly no reason. When he reincarnates in a new world, he comes back to life as a slime. While he starts as a lowly creature, he quickly becomes one of the strongest in the series.
10 Strongest Women In That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has some of the most powerful women in anime both on the battlefield and off of it
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slimehas a few deep moments, but it’s mainlya fun series from start to finish.It’s entertaining to watch Rimuru’s growth from a deaf and blind slime to the leader of an entire nation. His goal is to create a peaceful, harmonious land where humans and monsters can live equally, and he’s doing very well so far. This series excels for its focus on politics and nation-building, while not forgetting the most exciting aspects of the genre.
Animated By NUT, Based on the Light Novel By Carlo Zen and Shinobu Shinotsuki
Saga of Tanya the Evil
Saga of Tanya the Evil is a fantasy anime series set in a parallel universe during World War I. The story follows Tanya Degurechaff, a young girl who is reincarnated as a soldier in a fantasy world, and rises through the ranks of the Empire’s military to become a powerful mage.
The Saga of Tanya the Evilis truly an unhinged isekai series. The titular Tanya was reincarnated into a new world after blaspheming Being X, the supposed God of her old and new worlds. She doesn’t believe in Being X and will live her new life in an attempt to forsake the god further. Tanya loves battle and war like a dog loves a bone. She’s an absurdly funny character due to how insane she is to her core.
The Saga of Tanya the Evilis one of the best isekai series to watch because of how unique it is.
There aren’t any characters in anime like Tanya, and that might be a good thing. There’s a moment inTanya the Evilwhere she gives one of thebest speeches in anime, telling her troops how they will trample on the realm of the gods and commit the ultimate sacrilege in the name of their own justice. Even watching it, it’s hard to truly understand, and that’s awesome.
The Eminence in Shadowmight be one of the best isekai series for anyone whowants to turn their brain offwhile they’re watching anime. It’s a power fantasy with Shadow, also known as Cid, at the front and center. LikeOverlord,Cid is the perfect person to be reincarnated into his new world. Before he was reincarnated, he was a vigilante fighting crime for the sheer joy of it all. After he’s reincarnated and given a host of incredible abilities,he takes his vigilante persona to the maxand becomes the titular Eminence in Shadow itself.
The Eminence in Shadowis abouta character doing exactly what they wantwhen they want, and that’s what makes it so great. There aren’t many better moments than when another character in the series is doing their best to understand Shadow and his enigmatic intentions, only for Shadow to reveal to the audience that he has no clue what he’s doing and won’t bother to figure it out either.
Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense - Season 1
If there was an award for the most adorable isekai series of all time,Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defensewould win first place. Maple, the main character of the series, is easily one of themost adorable characters in anime. The series is about Maple’s adventures in a new video game. She’s new to the game itself and doesn’t really understand the leveling system. Instead of distributing her points evenly across her stats like most characters would, Maple puts them all in her defense stat and becomes untouchable.
It’s a funny premise that makes the series unique from the start. Maple’s time in her new gameas a nearly mythical creature is hilarious.She’s one of the few people in her game to not understand how overpowered she really is and that makes the show even funnier too.Bofuriis a light-hearted, fun romp from beginning to end, making it an easy and great isekai for anyone to enjoy.
5Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest
Arifureta: From Commonplace To World’s Strongest
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest follows Hajime Nagumo and his high school classmates as they are transported to a fantastical world. Unlike his peers, Hajime lacks powerful abilities and must navigate a monster-infested dungeon, where he faces the challenges of survival through determination and sacrifice.
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongestis the perfect isekai series for someone who wants the peak of power fantasy and harem tropes. Hajime is reincarnated into a new world with his entire class and his teacher. They’re all tasked with defending the kingdom they’re summoned to, but Hajime has an extremely weak class. After he gets betrayed by a classmate, Hajime begins his quest to be one of theedgiest characters in anime.
Arifuretais great becauseit is exactly what it wants to be.It’s not wholesome, Hajime never pretends to be the hero, and the show works perfectly because of it. InDragon Ball,Goku realizes there’s a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, and he acts responsibly because of it. InArifureta,Hajime might realize that there’s a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but he couldn’t care less. He’s going to do what he wants when he wants, and that’s the best part of the show.
Animated By Ajia-do Animation Works and WIT Studio, Based on the Light Novel By Miya Kazuki and You Shiina
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ascendance of a Bookworm is an anime comedy series based on the manga of the same name. Motosu Urano, a book-loving college student, is reincarnated in a medieval world as a frail girl with a voracious appetite for reading named Myrne. In a world where books are scarce and only available to the elite, Myne decides to create her own publishing group and create books to once again bring reading to the masses.
The Ascendance of a Bookwormhas one of the most straightforward premises in isekai anime. Myne is reincarnated into her new world with one goal in mind:to read books. She doesn’t care about getting wealthy, getting her own harem, or acquiring the strongest magical ability her new world has to offer. She just wants to sit back, relax, and read. Unfortunately for Myne, she was reincarnated into a world almost entirely devoid of books.
New Crunchyroll Anime Perfectly Blends Isekai and Reverse Isekai With a Touch of Romance
Combining Isekai and reverse isekai is rare but not unheard of, but Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!’s use of romance makes all the difference.
The Ascendance of a Bookwormhasa wonderfully simple premise that stays entertainingthe entire time. Myne is an adorable, strong-headed young girl who doesn’t give up on her goal in the slightest. Her quest to own and read as many books as possible is simple and understandable. She’s the perfect example of just how far a character will go to get what they want.
Animated By Studio Bind, Based on the Light Novel Series By Rifujin na Magonote & Shirotaka
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation follows a man who, after being reincarnated in a magical world, sets out to live his life without regrets. Adopting the name Rudeus Greyrat, he embarks on a journey of personal growth and adventure, armed with both his past life’s knowledge and newfound magical abilities. The series explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the quest to overcome personal failures.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnationtruly is one of the most controversial isekai anime series of all time. At its core, it’s also one of thebest isekai series of all time. It stars Rudeus Greyrat as he gets a second chance at life. In his past life, he was a shut-in who gave up entirely on the outside world. He was reincarnated into a new world, retaining all of his previous memories from his past life and gaining great magical abilities at the same time.
While there are plenty of reasons to questionMushoku Tensei’smoral standing, the story itself is solid. Rudeus is usually a great character to root for, andhis development into a strong young man is a great watch.Mushoku Tenseiis an isekai series heavily supported by the world it takes place in and the side characters that make it up. No matter which of Rudeus' wives are on-screen, they’re sure to be entertaining, honest, and kind to him and the viewer the entire time.
Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Light Novel By Kugane Maruyama & so-bin
Overlord
Overlord follows a salaryman who, after being trapped in a virtual reality game, assumes the role of an all-powerful skeletal overlord. As he navigates this new world filled with magic and mythical creatures, he seeks to understand the game’s mysteries and conquer its challenges. The series blends elements of fantasy and adventure, exploring themes of power and identity.
Overlordis an anime made great by its main character, Ainz Ooal Gown. He’s a video game lover who is trapped in the world of Yggdrasil with no way of returning to the real world. While this might make other isekai protagonists freak out, Ainz takes it in stride. He sets out to conquer his new world in search for another real person like himself, leaving no stone unturned on the path of domination.
Overlordis a rare isekai series thatlets its main character be the bad guy.Ainz Ooal Gown doesn’t care about things like mercy or holding back on the battlefield. When hekills 100,000+ enemy soldiers at once,Overlordproclaims its status as one of the best, most unique isekai series that deserves a watch from anyone interested in the genre.
Animated By Studio Deen, Based on the Light Novel Series Written By Natsume Akatsuki and Illustrated By Kurone Mishima
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!, commonly referred to as KonoSuba, is a Japanese anime series based on the novels of the same name from writer Natsume Akatsuki and illustrator Kurone Mishima. The series revolves around a man named Kazuma, who is offered a second chance at life on a magical world after he dies.
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!is easilythe funniest isekai series of all time. The story is centered around the reluctant Satou Kazuma as he’s transported to a new world. When he’s transported to a new world, he has the option of bringing anything with him. The goddess transporting him, Aqua, laughs at his predicament, so Kazuma selects her in a hilarious moment of revenge. The premise makes the show great from the start, and it only gets funnier as more characters and more predicaments get introduced to the series.
KonoSubais hilarious for a ton of reasons. It has some of thebest, quick-witted writing in anime,breaks all the rules that make other shows are forced to follow, and has one of the best casts of side characters anyone could ask for. As an isekai series,KonoSubastands out from the competition through its comedy. There isn’t another series that can matchKonoSuba’shumor.
