If you’re new to anime, then you must be confused about the various genres it has to offer. One of the more upcoming and exciting genres is the isekai anime. If you like fun and adventurous types of shows, then perhaps this is the ultimate anime for you. Here, we will discuss all there is you need to know about this type of anime. So, stay tuned.
What Is Isekai Anime?
Isekai anime revolves around a storyline in which the character lives their normal life but then all of a sudden, they’re teleported to another one. This new world is completely different and the characters are left to figure things out for themselves. The idea is used in a series of shows and movies across the world.
You will find a range of things happening in this genre of anime. A range of isekai anime shows is available for anime-lovers to watch. These follow different adventures and each of them proves to be exciting.
Most of these revolve around the main protagonist trying to find his or her way back home. Since they’re stuck in an alternate universe, they have to come up with ways to survive, make friends, enemies, and understand how they can make their way back home.
This is something that is commonly referred to as world-hopping. It’s a But when did the idea of hoping through different worlds start?
The Beginning
Let’s take a look at the origins of teleporting to different worlds and living a completely different life than they did before. One of the very first isekai anime was about a fisherman and a turtle. He rescues a turtle and then goes on to free it. But this turtle changes into a woman and takes Taro, the fisherman, to a different dimension where they marry.
Once Taro decides to come back is when he realizes how different things are. He wasn’t in a long sleep, he was away in a different dimension living a completely different life.
Moving on, you will find a range of tv shows and movies that revolve around the same aspect of another dimension. While not explicitly stated as an isekai anime, Alice in the Wonderland is often given as an example to explain the concept of this genre. There are plenty more that you will now know to be similar to isekai anime.
One of the main things that you will notice in the shows of this genre is that they mostly revolve around one thing; fulfillment. You will see people living an ordinary life teleported to a completely different world where they are now presumed to be heroes. While it is exciting to watch, it merely reflects upon what any human ever wants.
The recognition, the need to be something else, and the ability to satisfy your desire is prevalent in humans largely. This is where the ideology of the genre stems from.
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Five Isekai Anime You Should Watch
We have compiled a list of five good isekai anime that you must watch. These offer you a unique viewpoint and each of them is different from the other. The storylines are interesting and will surely get you hooked from the get-go.
The Twelve Kingdoms
While the Twelve Kingdoms isn’t particularly famous worldwide, it has a grave meaning attached to it. Once you start watching it, you will realize how true it is as it depicts things that happen in the real world as well. When it comes to anime, most of them will give you a clear picture as to which characters are good and which are evil. This is where the Twelve Kingdoms is different. You will find this to be phenomenally different than the rest. But how is this so?
Well, it showcases how whenever there is a fallout or bloodshed, one of the competing party always loses out. The show goes on to verify that phrase that there are always two sides to a coin. So, what’s the story about?
Well, the story revolves around a girl named Yoko and her fire-red hair that makes her look like the odd one out in her area. Everyone picks on the different person, and the same is life for Yoko. But things take a drastic turn when she is approached by a stranger who explains to her that she is the queen of a country in a parallel universe. Thus, the journey starts and you see Yoko go from being a timid and weak girl to a fair and respectable queen. This is perhaps one of the older isekai anime that many don’t know about. But it is deemed as one of the best isekai anime whenever people watch it.
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
Next, we have one of the best isekai anime that you will ever get to see. It’s not just the anime that is amazing, but the soundtracks that are a part of this are equally mesmerizing. This adventure-filled isekai anime is one of a kind and the creators behind this anime are surely phenomenal as they have created other masterminds as well.
It revolves around Syaoran, an archaeologist who goes on to help the princess Sakura get her memories back. It is filled with a series of mind-blowing and exciting elements. At one point, the princess is lured into finding magic hidden in a cave and that is when she loses all her memories.
Eventually, Syaoran goes on to help retrieve her memories and figures out that her memories are placed in various parallel worlds. He then goes on an adventure trying to retrieve all her memories and ensures to protect her throughout these travels. It’s a riveting and exciting play of events as the two go on to finding the memories of the princess.
What’s more enrapturing is the music and soundtracks added to each of the isekai anime episodes. It makes you feel like you’re a part of their adventure and feels every emotion they feel.
Angel Beats
Angel Beats is one of those isekai anime that will give you goosebumps as you watch. While the start might make you feel like it’s lighthearted, but it is nowhere close to that. It revolves around the story of people being stuck in a part of their lives, unable to move on to something else.
Here, you will find people stuck in a purgatory where they’re told to live their high school lives and overcome a major struggle of their life. Only once they successfully face a troubling situation in their life will they allowed to move onto another new life. This show makes you understand all the things that people go through in their lives.
Here, you will find the protagonist, Yuzuru Otonashi waking up into the purgatory, trying to make sense of things. But one extremely wrong thing is that he doesn’t remember his past life. So, it is extremely difficult for him to move on to a new life. How will he if he doesn’t remember anything from his old life?
He goes on to ask the girl running the show in the purgatory to prove how this is real and whether there is a new world after this as well. This show depicts very troubling moments that many people go through in life. It is highly moving at certain points while also being extremely entertaining to watch. It is a good isekai anime and should be on your watchlist if you haven’t already seen this.
Children Who Chase Lost Voices
This is another one of those extremely different and compelling works in the isekai anime genre. You might not hear about this as often as it should be talked about, but once you watch it, you will understand why we’re talking about it. It’s not about romance and it’s not about lost love. Instead, it revolves around a girl whose father died when she was very young.
The story starts with how Asuna is attacked by a creature and then saved by another boy called Shun. The confusing bit is when the boy tells her that he is from Agartha. Later, the girl finds out from her teacher that the country that boy talked about exists in a different universe. It’s not just any other parallel universe, but it is the land of the deceased. This piques Asuna’s interest in the boy.
Later, the teacher, Morisaki, goes out on an adventure of trying to retrieve his wife from the land of the dead while taking Asuna with him. It’s a different concept than what you normally get to see and is perhaps one of the best isekai anime that you will ever see.
In Another World With My Smartphone
While much isekai anime focus on a more serious aspect, this one is purely entertaining. You will find yourself giggling at the sight of the protagonist Touya Machizuki trying to go about using his smartphone in an alternate universe that he is sent to by god. A really funny story is connected to this. You will surely love it as this show is a good way to pass your time. It’s lighthearted and fun, so you can give yourself a break from all the hardcore anime.
Here, you will find Touya in a conversation with God as he is informed that he was killed by accident. Now, a bolt that was meant for someone else landed on Touya which is why he died and sat in front of God himself. As a way to make up for the issue, god places Touya in an alternate universe and allows him a wish.
Now, this boy goes on to wishing his indefinite use of a smartphone. This wish is granted by God, and you see the boy toying with his phone at all times. It comes with a range of fun and magical features, especially given to him by the almighty himself. The entire anime is fun and adventurous that you will surely enjoy watching.
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Conclusion
Isekai anime is perhaps one of the most popular fantasy anime genres. People all over the world watch it in hopes to get out of their everyday lives and live a life through the protagonists’ lens. Even though a major chunk of this genre revolves around similar topics, there is a range of shows that offer you a different viewpoint. It is seen as a way to cultivate the mind of people that watch this which is why it has become a popular anime that doesn’t seem like it will go away any time soon.