Continuing on from my top ten Anime recommendations to check out whilst we stay home and stay safe, this week’s top ten is something I bet we all wish we could do right now, Isekai Anime. So what is Isekai? Isekai is the name given to anime and manga where the story revolves around the main protagonist being plucked from their life and whisked into a new world. In most cases this is usually a normal person being summoned to a fantastical world or the character will die only to be resurrected in a new world, on occasion the protagonist may be from a fantastical world brought into the world as we know it. So with definitions out the way. on to the top ten:
10) Isekai Quartet
Bringing together a cast of characters from your favourite Isekai Anime, join Re:Zero,Overlord, KonoSuba, Saga of Tanya the Evil in whole new world once more, to experience school life.
I love Isekai Quartet, it’s just silly, its fun and funny, putting together so many great characters from so many of the great Iskei Anime that I love, how can you not enjoy it. The episodes are roughly ten minutes long, so its quick and easy to watch but each is episode is littered with little Easter eggs for true anime fans.
9) The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar
When looking to test an Urban Legend regarding a local shrine, Highschol student Yuuto Suoh is transported into another world, or could it be the past as he finds himself in a land full of Norse Mythology. Now only armed with his knowledge he learnt at school and his Solar-powered phone to help guide him through this world, towards a new future. He sets out to help the Wolf Clan gain prominence whilst also earning the adoration of all the beautiful, magical maidens as he looks for a way home back, to his waiting girlfriend.
On some levels this is very basic Isekai Anime, full of the worst tropes and cliches seen in a thousand other Heram style Isekai, what makes this series stand out for me was the use of Norse mythology. I have always been a fan of shows that relate to my other interests and Norse mythology has always been one of my favorites so for that reason it does make my list.
8) No Game No Life
Siblings Sora and Shiro are online gamer shut ins, who have become legendary as the unbeatable gamers known only as Blank, the pair one day receive a strange e-mail claiming to know who they are. The strange e-mail is sent by someone claiming to be the god of games Tet, he asks the pair if they are willing to challenge him to game of Chess. The pair accept the challenge and transported to new world filled with many races, promising them that if they are able to conquer this world, they will be able to play him in a game.
No Game No Life is a classic, the quintessential Isekai anime if you like, there are certain parts of this series that are just little wierd at times and it may make you cringe. However this really is a must watch at least once if your new to anime, the overall story is good and the series is fun as well as being on the comedic side. Also if you are gamer this anime should appeal to you, and although the series was cut short, it is another series that amassed a cult following.
7) Digimon
Whilst away at camp, during a freak storm, a group of young teens are are mysteriously transported to the Digital world. There they find they must team up with digital monsters known as Digimon, if they are able to survive and save this world..
I will always love the Digimon series, I stand firmly on the side that Digimon was a superior show to Pokemon, and because of my love of this show it was going to make one of my top ten lists at some point. Even now seeing the new Digimon Tri movie series just brought back all the memories of watching the original series and it was awesome to see the original digi- destined all grown up. Now we have one last season recently released which I cannot wait to start watching.
6) Overlord
When a popular MMORPG is scheduled to be shut down permanently, veteran player Momonga refuses to log out. As he does so he finds himself trapped in a new world in the body of his character, the NPCs begin to develop personalities and minds of their own, he decides to put his skills to use as the worlds new overlord.
One of the things I really like about this series is our main protagonist is actually Villain and not the hero as with most shows, it does a great job of showing that absolute power corrupts. This is a fresh take on your typical stuck in MMORPG series and it does a great job at building an incredible world with many characters and races.
5) How not to Summon a Demon Lord
In online community of the MMORPG Cross Reviere Takuma Sakamoto is a legend, famously known as the Demon Lord, in the real world he is shy, nervous shut in. One day he is summoned to another world in his video game characters body, by a couple of girls looking to use his power as demon lord. They attempt to place an enslavement spell on him so that they are able to control him, however due to his in game magical abilities, the spell back fires enslaving the two girls to him, nothing he can do now but pretend to be the character he portrays to save face.
This one is definitely a little on the crazy side, a mix of Sci Fi MMORPG and Fantasy, when our protagonist is summoned to new world not as himself but as his MMORPG character that he had created, so I felt this was unique take. There is plenty of action and comedy throughout the series as well as maybe just a little too much fan service but don’t let that spoil what is great story.
4) Arifeuta from Common Place to Worlds Strongest
Hajime Nagumoe and his entire high school class were mysteriously summoned to a fantastical word of magic and heroes, each student is given powerful abilities to be heroes in this world, some more powerful than others. Hajime is unfortunately on the weaker side when compared to most of class mates abilities, on a mission into the dungeons, Hajime is betrayed and whilst trying to save a class mate he ends up tumbling down into the pits of the dungeon. He’ll have to do what ever he can do to survive the dark abyss and reunite with his class mates and discover what is truly going on.
Another series that I thought put a new twist on the typical isekai series, as rather than one person being summoned an entire class of students and their teacher were and that just added a new dynamic. The series has got a darker tone it, despite the amount of comedy and fan service but the overall story will have you hooked and on the edge of your seat.
3) Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World
When Natsuki Subaru is suddenly transported to another world he is dissapointed to discover that he has no special ability that people normally get when transported to new world, however he would end up finding the horrific power he actually has. Subaru cannot die, or rather he cannot remain dead, instead every time he dies he experiences a reset. Determined to protect his new friends and woman he loves, he will face any danger that’s in front of him, despite what it does to his mind set having to remember exactly how he died each and every time.
So I am going to say it again here I thought Re Zero was another show that had it’s uniqueness and it was another show that had a distinctively darker tone, our protagonists special skill is not something I would wish for, if was transported to another world. The characters in this show is what makes it a particularly good series, from the protagonists to all his supporting characters, you will want to root for them with all your heart. With the first series released in 2016 the second series is finally ready to air this summer and I am so looking forward to it.
2) That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime
There is nothing remarkable about Minami Satoru, he is your average 37 year old salary man, whilst protecting his friend from a man with a knife he is unfortunately stabbed and killed. Reincarnated in a new world as nothing more than a slime, things seem pretty grim, until he is able to use his two special abilities “Predator” and “Great Sage” with these abilities he is able gain more power renaming himself Rimuru Tempest, he sets out in this new world to make new friends, but not everyone wants to mank new friends in this new world.
This one is on a much lighter side, it is much more of a fun fantasy not counting the first few minutes of episode one. The world created for the show is complex with a variety of races each distinctive and unique, there's a nice blend of action and comedy, with some slice of life elements.
1) Rising of a Shield Hero
Naoufumi Iwatani is your typical geeky university student, whilst studying in the library he comes upon a strange book, The Shield Hero but all the pages are blank. When he is suddenly transported to a new world that is like a computer game, he is one of 4 heroes summoned to save the Kingdom. However he ends up being betrayed and belittled and he does not know why, now he must choose if he is even willing to save this world.
Many shows do not get a second season re-newel, Rising of the Shield hero did just that in fact not only were they given 2nd season but 3rd season as well, so you know it has to be good. I would honestly put the story telling of the series akin to likes of Fullmetal Alchemist, a truly gripping series that has you locked to your seat from the first episode. Again the world and it’s history has been thoroughly thought through the characters of the show are incredibly fleshed out in particular the main protagonist and his female companions. This is great series and if you are looking for anime that has drama, comedy, action, high stakes, romance this is series has the makings of a classic.
As you can see I like my Isekai to have a more unique twist to them rather than the basic story line of regular person brought to another has incredible and unbeatable power, as this leaves little room for character development. I also like the mix action and comedy, but do enjoy a more drama based darker show if the series is story driven and not just edgy for sake of being edgy. So there you have ten great isekai anime recommendations you can check out whilst your at home, or any time its so easy, with so many streaming services providing great content you have no excuse as to why your missing out on all this great anime. You can check out most of these series through the Cruchyroll app for original dub and English subtitles, some of these series are available in English Dub on the Funimtation App some shows are even available on Netflix and for awesome deals on both Anime and Manga you can check out www.ebay.co.uk/str/kurucollections
The Great British Otaku
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Kuru Collections
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