Isekai’s remain one of the most well-known anime genres out today. With a staggering amount of them popping up every season, it’s become a hot topic of discussion for the community. Even if you don’t like the isekai genre, it seems almost impossible to escape from any mentions of one.

But, what is isekai? Sure, you may have heard of them, but if you’ve never watched one, the hype around the isekai genre may seem odd.

Defining Isekai

Isekai roughly translates to “different/other world”, and mainly involves a character being transported from their modern world to another, usually one with a fantasy setting. The main characters in isekai shows all generally show similar traits as well. Most are shut-ins or NEETs in their original world, or are socially awkward misfits. Being transported to another world allows these characters to get a fresh start in life.

These other worlds generally contain traits found in RPG games, such as a leveling system, an intricate crafting system, or a battle system that relies on a skill mechanic. Not every isekai possesses these tropes — some are completely void of them, and instead the focus is on the lore and history of the world.

With a simple definition like that, it’s already pretty easy to see why it has become a mainstay in the anime industry. Personally, I’ve definitely had dreams of wanting to be a hero in a JRPG — slaying dragons, hunting for treasure in dungeons, and everything that accompanies living in a fantasy, game-like world. Unfortunately, real life is a pretty large barrier to overcome, so it remains a dream. An isekai allows viewers to be transported to another world through the main protagonist, so we can have our wish. It’s easy to imagine yourself in the situation the main character in an isekai is facing, having been reincarnated as a hero in another world, or perhaps as a villain. Escapism is a strong drug. The isekai genre touches upon our imagination, and presents us with a likely story that we can envision ourselves in.

The Popularity of Isekai

When did the isekai genre garner so much attention? To those who have been anime fans for the past decade or so, it feels like the genre just surged in popularity, quickly becoming one of the most saturated genres for the medium. The genre itself has been around for a while, with early examples being .hack and Spirited Away. However, it was the show Sword Art Online in 2012 that brought the genre to a wide, mainstream audience. Opinions on the show may be varied, but there is no doubting the impact the show has had on the industry. Since its release, there has been no shortage of isekai stories, with famous publishers such as Kadokawa even banning any isekai stories in their light novel contest in 2017. Even more isekai show adaptations are coming out this year, and the trend doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.

Even with this saturation, isekai stories have a great amount of variety. There’s a show for just about everybody out there. Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! and Re:Zero are some of the most well known isekai shows, but they could not be any further from each other in terms of their theme. KonoSuba is comedic and focuses on the unfortunate yet hilarious encounters the main characters always find themselves in, while Re:Zero tells a story of a tragic hero protagonist in a dark, often gruesome setting. At the core, the setting for both of these stories are similar — both main characters are shut-in’s, with no noteworthy accomplishments to speak of in their own world, but strive to find a new start once transported to another world. That’s where the similarities end, and each show then explores its themes and characters in their own unique way.

Speaking of unique isekai shows, and how saturated the genre is, it’s often used as a setting for ridiculous stories. Stories such as I Was a Sword When I Reincarnated, I Was Reincarnated as a Hot Spring in an Alternate World, and Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon are examples of stories that aim to poke fun at the over-saturation of the isekai trope. This showcases the flexibility of the isekai genre. The story can take shape however you want, with the simple premise of being born into another world, and can lead to truly unique settings that can catch readers/viewers off guard.

There are plenty of isekai stories for readers and viewers to jump into, with popular, current ones being Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari and Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken being the forerunners of the start of this new year. With the reception of these two shows, the trend definitely is still well and alive. What are some of your favorite isekai shows, and what are some that you are looking forward to getting an adaptation of? Leave your comments below!

Source: SoraNews24