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The Eminence in Shadow is a hilarious isekai series about a character who finally gets his wish fulfilled. While most isekai protagonists go to their new world confused, upset, and missing home, Shadow couldn't have been happier. He's finally able to be the titular Eminence in Shadow himself, leading a covert group of warriors to do his mysterious bidding. It's a hilarious show and one of the funniest isekai series around, and it also features incredible fights and top-tier action sequences that make the show a must-watch.
To be a good isekai series like The Eminence in Shadow, there are a few key traits a show needs to have. It needs to have either a ridiculously powerful main character, a hilarious cast of side characters, or just general themes of hilarity. Not many shows can compare to The Eminence in Shadow, especially when they're narrowed down to just isekai, but there are a few funny and exciting shows that can be considered worthy comparisons.
10 Drifters
Animated By Hood Drifters Studio, Based on the Manga By Kouta Hirano
Cast Mitsuki Saiga , Naoya Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Takahiro Sakurai , Daisuke Ono , Tomokazu Sugita , Akira Ishida , Tatsuhisa Suzuki
Release Date October 7, 2016
Seasons 1
Creator(s) Kohta Hirano
Drifters is a hilariously dark anime from the same creator as Hellsing Ultimate. It features a world of warriors, now called Drifters, summoned to a new world against their will in order to fight their new enemies, called the Ends. It's dark in both its theme and its humor, creating a unique atmosphere not often found in other shows. Where Drifters is most like The Eminence in Shadow is in both its action and its comedy.
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Drifters features plenty of great fights. Just like The Eminence in Shadow, characters in Drifters aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. They're always willing to get into a fight, and they don't really care what happens afterward. It's also one of the funniest anime ever and one of the least safe-for-work shows to watch. One of the funniest scenes in the show comes with a pilot is transported into the world of the Drifters. He's looking at his new world confused and has one of the funniest rants around, cursing like a sailor as he tries to understand this new world around him.
9 Isekai Quartet
Animated By Kadokawa, Written By Minoru Ashina
Isekai Quartet is a crossover anime series featuring characters from four popular isekai franchises: Overlord, Konosuba, Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World, and The Saga of Tanya the Evil. Created by Minoru Ashina and produced by Studio PuYUKAI, the characters are transported to a new world and must navigate their everyday lives in a school setting. The series combines elements of comedy and fantasy.
Cast Aoi Yuki , Jun Fukushima , Rie Takahashi , Saori Hayami , Satoshi Hino
Release Date April 10, 2019
Seasons 2
Isekai Quartet is another great isekai comedy series that features three of the funniest shows in isekai and Re:Zero. If Re:Zero wasn't one of the darkest anime of all time, it would probably be considered pretty funny too, as Subaru, Rem, and the rest of the cast that made their way to Isekai Quartet all have their moments. The other three shows that are the most featured within Isekai Quartet are Overlord, KonoSuba, and The Saga of Tanya the Evil, three incredible series in their own right.
Isekai Quartet might not have the high-flying action that The Eminence in Shadow is known for, but it doesn't need it to be considered a good comparison. They're both very well-written shows with hilariously biting dialogue and a cast of characters who aren't afraid to speak their mind, usually leading to something funny.
8 Misfit of the Demon King Academy
Animated By Silver Link, Based on the Light Novel Series Written By Shu and Illustrated By Yoshinori Shizuma
The Misfit of Demon Academy is a 2020 anime series based on the manga by Shuhei Dojima. The story follows Anos Voldigoad, the reincarnation of the Demon King of Tyranny, as he enrolls in the Demon Academy to reclaim his former glory and power. However, he soon discovers that the academy's students possess inferior magical abilities, prompting him to begin a journey to uncover the truth behind the decline of demonkind.
Cast Yuuichirou Umehara , Tomori Kusunoki , Yuko Natsuyoshi , Takuma Terashima , Nene Hieda
Release Date July 4, 2020
Seasons 2
Misfit of the Demon King Academy is an interesting isekai series in that the main character, Anos Voldigoad, gets reincarnated back into the world he already came from, albeit 2,000 years later. When he comes back to the world he once left, nobody believes that he's the very Demon King they're all studying. It's a funny and somewhat adorable series with an overpowered main character that has a lot in common with Shadow right from the start.
Both Anos and Shadow are easily the strongest characters in their own series, and there aren't any characters even close to them. They're both surrounded by tons of beautiful women who just want to support their main characters as best they can, but even they acknowledge the huge gap in their abilities. While Misfit isn't as dark as The Eminence in Shadow, it's still a great show with funny moments, plenty of action, and one of the strongest characters in isekai.
7 Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious
Animated By White Fox, Based on the Light Novel Series Written By Light Tuchihi and Illustrated By Saori Toyota
Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered, But Overly Cautious is a fantasy anime series that follows the story of Seiya Ryuuichi, a powerful hero who is summoned to the world of Gaeabrande to save it from destruction. Despite his incredible abilities, Seiya is extremely cautious and meticulous in his approach, often prioritizing safety and preparation over bold action.
Cast Yuuichirou Umehara , Aki Toyosaki , Hibiku Yamamura , Kengo Kawanishi , Aoi Koga
Release Date October 2, 2019
Seasons 1
Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious has a great name that doesn't leave anything up for guessing. When the Goddess Ristarte is looking for a hero to save the world of Gaeabrande from a brutal demon lord, she looks to a group of heroes to summon who might be able to save the day. Seiya Ryuuguuin has incredible stats for an adventurer and might just have what it takes to save the world and protect everyone from the demon lord. Unfortunately for Ristarte, he's about as cautious as it gets.
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Like The Eminence in Shadow, Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious is ridiculous in the best way possible. It's another solid series that features a great main character who is way too strong for his own good, and, like Shadow, preoccupied with his own goals and not too concerned about what happens around him.
6 No Game No Life
Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Light Novel Series By Yuu Kamiya
No Game, No Life follows siblings Sora and Shiro, master gamers who are transported to a world where all conflicts are resolved through games.
Cast Yoshitsugu Matsuoka , Ai Kayano , Yoko Hikasa , Scott Gibbs , Ying Huang , Sara Ornelas , Caitlynn French , Yuka Iguchi
Release Date April 9, 2014
Seasons 1
Character(s) Sora , Shiro , Stephanie Dola , Miko , Chlammy Zell
No Game No Life is a cult-classic, even though only one season has been animated. It's a great isekai series featuring two of the smartest characters in anime in Shiro and Sora. It's also one of the funniest isekai series anyone could watch, drawing direct comparisons to fellow hilarious isekai The Eminence in Shadow. Sora and Shiro are literally too smart for Earth. They're the best video game players by a mile and are bored because of it. When they get transported to the world of games in Disboard, everything changes.
They're able to compete against some of the smartest races in their new world and dominate them every time they do. Like Shadow, Sora and Shiro have a few tricks up their sleeves that the other characters in No Game No Life have no chance against. They're overpowered just like Shadow, but instead of awesome "I Am Atomic" powers, they have extreme intelligence.
5 The Saga of Tanya the Evil
Animated By NUT, Based on the Light Novel Series Written By Carlo Zen and Illustrated By Shinobu Shinotsuki
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.
Cast Aoi Yuki , Saori Hayami , Daiki Hamano , Hochu Otsuka , Nobuo Tobita
Release Date January 6, 2017
Seasons 1
Creator(s) Carlo Zen
The Saga of Tanya the Evil might have a main character who is most similar to Shadow. Like Shadow, Tanya is one of anime's best one-man-armiescapable of taking down entire squadrons of enemy soldiers all by herself. She's just as delusional as Shadow, but somehow, they both make it work. Tanya was a simple salary man in her past life, clocking in everyday boringly, until she was murdered by a disgruntled coworker. In her new life, she's a military leader who wants nothing more than to blaspheme the 'divine' being that brought her to her new world.
Like The Eminence in Shadow, The Saga of Tanya the Evil features high-flying action, explosive set-pieces, and one of the most insane yet intelligent characters in anime. To call Tanya unhinged would be an understatement, and she'd get along perfectly with Shadow. They're two characters with their own plans for the world around them, and there aren't many characters in their series strong enough to stop them.
4 Overlord
Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Light Novel Series Written By Kugane Maruyama and Illustrated by so-bin
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.
Cast Satoshi Hino , Chris Guerrero , Yumi Hara
Release Date July 7, 2015
Seasons 4
Overlord is a top-tier isekai series with another one of the most broken protagonists in anime. Ainz Ooal Gown is the titular Overlord himself, ruling over his friends with authority and over his enemies without impunity. He's responsible for one of the most tragic events of mass destruction in anime, killing hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers in a few minutes.
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Overlord is an incredible anime series, and luckily, fans who want to see more shows like it have plenty of options for their next binge-watch.
Like Shadow, Ainz is in a league of his own within his series. They're both also surrounded by incredibly strong characters, but even their allies don't hold a candle to them in terms of strength.Overlord is a dark series thematically. If a character isn't on Ainz's good side, they probably don't have long to live. The Eminence in Shadow isn't as dark as Overlord, but they both feature funny, biting writing, great fights, and unbelievable set pieces.
3 The Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Animated By Eight Bit, Based on the Light Novel Series Written By Fuse and Illustrated By Mitz Vah
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.
Cast Brittney Karbowski , Alexis Tipton , Anthony Bowling , Apphia Yu , Brandon Potter , Brittany Lauda , Bruce DuBose , Charles Campbell , Chris Rager , Colleen Clinkenbeard
Release Date October 5, 2018
Seasons 3
Writers Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
Directors Yasuhito Kikuchi
Creator(s) Yasuhito Kikuchi
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is a great isekai series that features another broken main character who only gets stronger as the series progresses. Rimuru Tempest comes to the world as a lowly, blind slime before becoming both the leader of an entire nation and a benefactor of the entire world. He's building roads, forging alliances, and doing what he can to protect his friends. He's also incredibly powerful, as he's able to kill all the soldiers from Falmuth with a single spell.
He might not be the strongest character in his own series like Shadow is, but that doesn't make him a pushover. He's one of the strongest characters in his series, and he's pretty smart too. Like Shadow, Rimuru wisely surrounds himself with people smarter than him that can help him make the right decisions. The Eminence in Shadow and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime are two great series with more in common than they have differences.
2 KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!
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!, 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.
Cast Jun Fukushima , Sora Amamiya , Noucky Andriansyah
Release Date January 13, 2016
Seasons 2
Writers Natsume Akatsuki , Aoi Akashiro , Touko Machida , Kojiro Nakamura , Makoto Uezu , Alexander Von David
Directors Takaomi Kanasaki
Main Genre Adventure
Creator(s) Natsume Akatsuki
KonoSuba is easily the funniest isekai series around. It has some of the best writing in anime in general, an incredible cast of total misfits, and a main character who can avoid responsibilities better than anyone. Satou Kazuma is probably the worst person to be picked to defeat the Demon King. He really just wants to hang out and relax, but the goddess Aqua has other plans for him. Unlike Shadow, the people around Kazuma couldn't be more useless, but somehow, they're always able to find a solution to whatever problem they're facing.
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KonoSuba is an incredibly well-loved isekai anime series with a wide cast of characters that vary wildly in terms of power and strength.
The Eminence in Shadow and KonoSuba have great dialogue between their characters. Watching two characters in either series having a conversation can be just as entertaining as a good fight sequence. While Kazuma could learn a thing or two from Shadow about getting things done, Shadow could learn from Kazuma and perfect his ability to kick back and take it easy for a while.
1 Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy
Animated By C2C and J.C. Staff, Based on the Light Novel Series Written By Kei Azumi and Illustrated By Mitsuaki Matsumoto
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy follows Makoto Misumi, an ordinary high school student who is transported to another world as a hero but is quickly abandoned by the goddess of the new world due to his appearance. Resigned to living on the fringes, he starts to explore his new environment, meeting various non-human races and gaining extraordinary powers. The series chronicles his adventures and challenges in a fantastical realm.
Cast Natsuki Hanae , Ayane Sakura , Akari Kitō , Saori Hayami , Yukiyo Fujii , Shinpachi Tsuji , Yurika Kubo , Aiko Ninomiya , Reina Ueda , Tomoaki Maeno , Yuuki Shin , Yuna Kamakura , Saika Kitamori , Kazuhiko Inoue , Masaharu Satô , Taku Yashiro , Lynn , Minami Tanaka
Character(s) Makoto , Tomoe , Mio , Emma , Rona , Beren , Toa , Rinon , the Goddess , Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto , Hazal , Louisa , Ranina , Patrick Rembrandt , Morris , Lime Latte , Aqua , Eris
Release Date July 7, 2021
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy is the best anime for fans looking for something to watch just like The Eminence in Shadow. Both series have much more in common than they have differences. When Misumi Makoto is transported to his new world, he has an incredible mana pool that rivals even the Goddess herself. He quickly finds a helpful group of allies that also turn out to be some of the strongest characters in the series.
Like The Eminence in Shadow, Tsukimichi features a combination of high-powered action sequences and funny moments. Shadow and Makoto are both way too strong for their own good and often have a hard time understanding how other people perceive them. They're both two awkward characters who get away with their own quirks thanks to their insane abilities, creating hilarious moments in each of their series.
English (US) ·