Isekai: Isekai Animes, which ones are they and why are they so popular

Let’s find out why some animes are called Isekai and see if you are one of those who love these titles.

What is isekai in anime?

The word isekai in anime refers to stories based 100% of the time on stories focused on alternate worlds, those where the protagonist or protagonists are sent, teleported, or summoned to other worlds, in most cases without their prior consent.

It should be noted that isekai stories also often begin with the protagonist dying in their real world, that is, the human world, and upon waking up or a second chance we could say, they are already in a world that is not theirs but with all their memories of their past life.

Powers in isekai anime

The protagonists in isekai anime, in most cases, have astonishingly unreal powers that practically make them the most powerful in the world they are currently in.

Sometimes they aren’t very strong but… They have crazy luck so it’s similar to having unreal super powers hahaha.

What are the worlds like in isekai animes

Usually these worlds to which our protagonists are sent or resurrected have rules similar to those of humans or are totally different, customs, values, Everything! So they must adapt, try to survive and choose what they want to do in that world, remembering that they are aware they come from another world, which causes them to have to choose between good or evil.

Example of Isekai anime

Isekai Animes – Names to start watching

If you like how isekai animes sound and you want to watch one or two in your free time or binge-watch those with great epic seasons, well, I present to you these isekai animes that you will love for their story, disruptive trivia, and much more. This is their list:

Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World

Start: Man (Subaru Natsuki). He is mysteriously transported to a fantasy world after leaving a convenience store.
Death: Lots. The protagonist revives at a “save point” every time he dies.
Comedy: No. It is a dark psychological thriller and drama.
Villain: Yes. There are multiple clear antagonists, like the Witch’s Cult.

KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!

Start: Man (Kazuma Satou). He dies a ridiculous death (a scare) and a goddess (Aqua) offers him reincarnation in a fantasy world.
Death: No. The “deaths” are comical and temporary.
Comedy: Yes. It is a complete parody of the isekai genre.
Villain: Yes. There is a Demon King, but he is rarely taken seriously.

Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)

Start: Man (Satoru Mikami). He is stabbed and dies, reincarnating in another world as a slime with unique abilities.
Death: No. It is generally optimistic, although there are serious battles.
Comedy: Yes. It has a lot of light comedy and focuses on nation-building.
Villain: No. The protagonist seeks coexistence; the antagonists change per arc.

Overlord

Start: Man (Momonga). He gets trapped in his video game (Yggdrasil) as his avatar (an undead king) when the servers shut down.
Death: Lots. The protagonist and his subordinates cause massive deaths.
Comedy: No. It is a dark fantasy, although it has dark humor.
Villain: Yes. The protagonist is the villain (or extreme anti-hero) from the world’s perspective.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Start: Man (34-year-old NEET). He dies after being hit by a truck while trying to save someone and reincarnates as a baby (Rudeus) in a world of magic, retaining his memories.
Death: No. It is a life story; there are deaths, but it is not the focus.
Comedy: No. It is a coming-of-age and adventure drama (with moments of comedy).
Villain: No. The story focuses on Rudeus’s journey and growth, not on a central villain.

Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (The Rising of the Shield Hero)

Start: Man (Naofumi Iwatani). He is summoned to another world as one of the Four Legendary Heroes (the Shield Hero).
Death: No. It’s not a gore-fest, but it is a dark drama with serious fights.
Comedy: No. It is a revenge drama (at least at the beginning).
Villain: Yes. The monarchy/church that betrays him and the “Waves of Calamity”.

Youjo Senki (The Saga of Tanya the Evil)

Start: Man (originally). An atheist office worker is murdered and a “God” (Being X) reincarnates him as a little girl (Tanya) in a world of magical warfare to force him to have faith.
Death: Lots. It is a raw war anime.
Comedy: No. It has dark and cynical humor, but it is a military drama.
Villain: Yes. The protagonist is the villain (or anti-hero) and “Being X” is the antagonist.

No Game No Life

Start: Man and Woman (siblings, Sora and Shiro). They are legendary gamers who are transported to a world where everything is decided by games.
Death: No. Physical violence is forbidden in that world.
Comedy: Yes. It is a very colorful strategy comedy.
Villain: No. The “villains” are just opponents in the games.

Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? (So I’m a Spider, So What?)

Start: Woman (originally). Her classroom explodes and she reincarnates as a monster spider in a giant labyrinth.
Death: No. It’s survival; the protagonist kills a lot, but it’s not “gore”.
Comedy: Yes. The protagonist’s internal monologues are pure comedy.
Villain: No. The main goal is survival and evolution.

Otome Game no Hametsu Flag… (My Next Life as a Villainess)

Start: Woman (Catarina Claes). She hits her head and remembers that she reincarnated as the villainess of an otome game (dating) who is destined to die or be exiled.
Death: No. Zero deaths, it’s “slice of life”.
Comedy: Yes. It is a very light romantic comedy (reverse harem).
Villain: No. The protagonist avoids being the villainess, and there is no real antagonist.

Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious

Start: Man (Seiya Ryuuguuin). He is summoned by a goddess (Ristarte) to save a high-difficulty world.
Death: No. The hero is so cautious that he avoids or destroys all danger.
Comedy: Yes. The main plot is the comedy between the frustrated goddess and the overly prepared hero.
Villain: Yes. There is a Demon King and his generals.

Log Horizon

Start: Man (Shiroe). Thousands of players get trapped in an MMORPG (Elder Tale) after an update.
Death: No. Players cannot die permanently (they revive).
Comedy: No. It is an anime focused on politics, strategy, and society-building.
Villain: Yes. There are antagonist factions and players (PKers).

Sword Art Online (SAO)

Start: Man (Kirito). He gets trapped in a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Game) where if you die in the game, you die in real life.
Death: Lots. The risk of permanent death is the driving force of the plot.
Comedy: No. It is an action and romance drama.
Villain: Yes. The game’s creator (Kayaba Akihiko) and other villains per arc.

Ascendance of a Bookworm

Start: Woman (Urano). A librarian who dies crushed by books and reincarnates as a sickly girl (Myne) in a medieval world where books are scarce.
Death: No. It is a “slice of life” about daily life and business.
Comedy: No. It is a calm and detailed world-building drama.
Villain: No. The “villain” is the class structure of society and the protagonist’s illness.

Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions

Start: Men and Women (group). A group of young people wakes up in a fantasy world with no memories, forced to become adventurers to survive.
Death: Yes. It is a very realistic and grim isekai; death is impactful.
Comedy: No. It is a slow and melancholic survival drama.
Villain: No. The “villain” is the cruelty of the world and the need to kill to live.

Isekai Ojisan (Uncle from Another World)

Start: Man (Uncle). Wakes up from a 17-year coma and reveals to his nephew that he was in a fantasy world that whole time.
Death: No (in the present).
Comedy: Yes. It is a “reverse comedy” that mocks isekai tropes and 90s otaku culture.
Villain: No. The focus is on comedy and flashbacks.

The Eminence in Shadow

Start: Man (Cid Kagenou). Dies after being hit by a truck while trying to be a “hero” on Earth and reincarnates in a fantasy world where he can live out his fantasy of being a “shadow mastermind”.
Death: Lots. The protagonist is a brutal anti-hero.
Comedy: Yes. It’s a parody where the protagonist believes everything is fake, but it turns out to be real.
Villain: Yes (the Cult of Diablos), although the protagonist acts like a villain.

Drifters

Start: Man (Toyohisa Shimazu). A samurai is transported to a fantasy world just before dying in the Battle of Sekigahara, along with other historical figures.
Death: Lots. It is an all-out war, very raw and violent.
Comedy: No. It has dark humor, but it is a dark war drama.
Villain: Yes. The “Ends” (other historical figures who seek destruction).

Isekai Shokudou (Restaurant to Another World)

Start: (Multiple). A restaurant in Japan has a door that connects to a fantasy world once a week.
Death: No. It’s a relaxing “slice of life” about food.
Comedy: No. It is relaxing and heartwarming.
Villain: No. There is no conflict, just customers enjoying food.

How Not to Summon a Demon Lord

Start: Man (Takuma Sakamoto). He is transported to a fantasy world that resembles his game, ending up in the body of his avatar (a Demon Lord).
Death: No. It is a “power fantasy”.
Comedy: Yes. It is an ecchi (fanservice) and harem comedy.
Villain: Yes. There are villains per arc, but the focus is on the protagonist’s “roleplay”.

As you can see, there are great titles within the isekai world, so if you’ve already decided, tell us what you thought of this list and if you would add any more. Visit our anime page.