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Isekai is one of the most popular genres of anime for a good reason. It's a category filled with powerful characters, great friendships, and some of the most interesting worlds just waiting to be explored. Isekai as a whole has a lot of subgenres within it as well, giving even casual viewers a chance to check out their favorite tropes across a myriad of fun worlds. The best isekai series aren't about one thing in particular, other than a character heading to a new world with new rules and new adventures to be had.
Some isekai series treat their plots seriously. These shows feature a character with high stakes at every corner, forcing them to get stronger in order to protect the people closest to them. Other shows are much less serious, featuring a character who is already incredibly powerful coming to a new world to just have a good time.
10 Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defence
Animated By Silver Link, Based on the Light Novel By Yuumikan & Koin
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Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense follows Kaede Honjou as she navigates a virtual reality MMO game. Seeking to avoid pain, she invests heavily in her character's defense, surprisingly unlocking powerful abilities that enable her to embark on various in-game adventures with unique challenges.
Release Date January 8, 2020
Network AT-X
Writers Shingo Nagai
Directors Jun Fukuda , Yuushi Ibe , Yusuke Sekine , Masahiro Hosoda , Ryuta Yamamoto , Masahiko Suzuki , Junya Koshiba , Naoki Hishikawa , Yuta Maruyama
Bofuri is one of the most adorable series in all anime. It features a spectacular cast of characters as they look to build a guild worthy of the top rank in a new video game that everybody is playing. While it's not a traditional isekai in that Maple and her friends aren't transported to a new world, it does qualify as an isekai because the entire plot of the show takes place in another world. To say that Maple and her clan dominate the game that they're in would be a massive understatement.
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Instead of distributing her stats evenly like most video game players would, Maple puts them all in defense. She becomes so strong defensively that no other character or enemy can harm her. It's a wonderfully simple premise that never gets old, allowing Maple and the rest of Maple Tree to cruise around their game without a care in the world.
9 I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince
Animated By Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab, Based on the Light Novel By Kenkyo na Circle and Meru
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I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince So I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability follows Prince Lloyd, who retains memories of being a sorcerer in a past life. Now reincarnated, he navigates the challenges of royal life as a 10-year-old while pursuing mastery of his magical skills.
Release Date April 2, 2024
Network TV Tokyo , TV Osaka , TV Aichi , TVh , TVQ , TSC
Cast Makoto Koichi , Fairouz Ai , Lynn , Akira Sekine , Rie Takahashi , Shun Horie , Yuya Hirose , Akane Kumada , Eriko Matsui , Tomokazu Sugita , Satomi Akesaka , Shunichi Toki , Takuma Nagatsuka
Character(s) Lloyd de Saloum , Grim , Sylpha , Tao , Ren , Albert , Dian , Alieze , Shiro , Galilea , Talia , Babylon , Crow
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince is one of the best isekai series for anyone who loves an obscenely overpowered main character. Prince Lloyd wasn't reincarnated into a different world like most isekai characters. Instead, he was reincarnated back into the world he just came from. This time, however, he was reincarnated as the Kingdom's 7th Prince, giving him access to a huge pool of mana and even more resources to draw upon.
There aren't many other characters within Lloyd's world that can stand up to him, and he's still a child. When he's fighting, he's a walking one-man-army, taking down everyone in his way and making even the strongest demons around loyal to him out of pure fear. 7th Prince's animation is fantastic, the story is simple, and there are plenty of great fights to keep everyone entertained throughout the series.
8 The Ascendance of a Bookworm
Animated By Ajia-do Animation Works and WIT Studio, Based on the Light Novel By Miya Kazuki and You Shiina
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Ascendance of a Bookworm is an anime comedy series based on the manga of the same name. Motosu Urano, a book-loving college student, is reincarnated in a medieval world as a frail girl with a voracious appetite for reading named Myrne. In a world where books are scarce and only available to the elite, Myne decides to create her own publishing group and create books to once again bring reading to the masses.
Release Date October 3, 2019
Franchise(s) Ascendance of a Bookworm
Finale Year November 30, 2021
Cast Yuka Iguchi , Shō Hayami , Mutsumi Tamura , Megumi Nakajima , Fumiko Orikasa
Creator(s) Miya Kazuki
Seasons 1
Writers Miya Kazuki , Mariko Kunisawa
Directors Mitsuru Hongô
Showrunner Mitsuru Hongô
Some of the best isekai series have the most simple premises, and The Ascendance of a Bookworm is no exception. Urano Motosu loves books more than anything. When she's reincarnated as Main, she finds herself in a world devoid of books. Even though she's been reborn as a sickly girl in a medieval-era town where books are incredibly hard to come by, she couldn't care less. She spends her days doing whatever she can to get back to her life of reading her favorite books like a true bookworm should.
While other isekai characters are tasked with saving the world, Main just wants to read. Bookworm's premise is straightforward enough to not over-complicate things and gives Main a great motivation throughout the show. Her friends don't really understand her desire to read, but they'll still support her nonetheless.
7 Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Animated By Studio Bind, Based on the Light Novel Series By Rifujin na Magonote & Shirotaka
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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation follows a man who, after being reincarnated in a magical world, sets out to live his life without regrets. Adopting the name Rudeus Greyrat, he embarks on a journey of personal growth and adventure, armed with both his past life's knowledge and newfound magical abilities. The series explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the quest to overcome personal failures.
Release Date March 29, 2022
Network Tokyo MX , KBS Kyoto , BS11
Cast Yumi Uchiyama , Tomokazu Sugita , Amber Lee Connors , Ai Kakuma , Daisuke Namikawa , Ai Kayano , Konomi Kohara , Toshiyuki Morikawa
Creator(s) Rifujin Na Magonote
Producers Takahiro Yamanaka , Tomoyuki Ohwada , Sho Osuga , Takurou Hatakeyama , Ryousuke Imai , Mitsuteru Hishiyama , Nobuhiro Oosawa , Fuminori Yamazaki , Sou Yurugi , Takumi Morii
Seasons 2
Writers Kohei Urushibara , Atsushi Takayama , Hirohisa Saito , Muneo Nakamoto
Directors Sayaka Tsuji , Yoshitsugu Kimura , Ayumu Uwano , Yui Kanbe , Takahiro Tamano , Chihiro Kumano , Ouri Yasukawa , Mihiro Yamaguchi , Michiru Itabisashi , Kento Shintani , Nao Miyoshi , Shingo Fujii , Asahi Oka , Fumiaki Kataoka
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is one of the more controversial anime series. It stars a jobless, middle-aged man who gives up on life as he dies and reincarnates as Rudeus Greyrat in a new world with magic and monsters. He's given a second chance at life with a huge pool of mana to draw from and an immediate affinity with magic. He still has all of his old memories as well, so he's able to be years ahead of the people around him emotionally and intellectually.
While there are some questionable moments in the show, there's no denying how great a couple of its key qualities are. The animation is consistently good, Rudeus has one of the most thorough character arcs in anime, and the world of Mushoku Tensei only gets more interesting as the story progresses.
6 Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World
Animated By White Fox, Based on the Light Novel Series By Tappei Nagatsuki & Shin'ichirō Ōtsuka
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Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- follows the story of Natsuki Subaru, a young man suddenly transported to a fantasy world. Struggling to understand his new environment, he discovers he has the ability to return from death, allowing him to change past events. With each resurrection, Subaru forges alliances and confronts the challenges of this alternate realm, endeavoring to protect those he grows to care for while unraveling the mysteries surrounding his predicament.
Release Date April 3, 2016
Network TV Tokyo , AT-X
Cast Yûsuke Kobayashi , Rie Takahashi , Yumi Uchiyama , Chinatsu Akasaki , Yuichi Nakamura , Inori Minase , Rie Murakawa , Takehito Koyasu , Satomi Arai , Kōhei Amasaki , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Kaori Nazuka , Aimi Tanaka , Maaya Sakamoto , Marika Kouno , Mugihito , Kenta Miyake , Hibiku Yamamura , Koki Koyasu
Character(s) Subaru Natsuki (voice) , Emilia (voice) , Puck (voice) , Felt (voice) , Reinhard Van Astrea (voice) , Rem (voice) , Ram (voice) , Roswaal L. Mathers (voice) , Beatrice (voice) , Otto Suwen (voice) , Garfiel Tinsel (voice) , Frederica Baumann (voice) , Lewes Meyer (voice) , Echidna (voice) , Petra Leyte (voice) , Rom (voice) , Kadomon (voice) , Kadomon's Wife (voice) , Roswaal B. Mathers (voice) , Patrasche (voice) , Rachins (voice) , Crusch Karsten (voice) , Ferris (voice) , Wilhelm Van Astrea (voice) , Anastasia Hoshin (voice)
Producers Yoshikazu Beniya , Sho Tanaka , Kazuo Onuki , Aya Iizuka , Eriko Aoki
Seasons 3
Writers Yoshiko Nakamura
Directors Hiroyuki Tsuchiya , Kazuomi Koga , Yoshito Mikamo , Masaharu Watanabe , Yoshinobu Tokumoto , Masahiro Shinohara , Hideyo Yamamoto , Manabu Okamoto , Takashi Sakuma , Daisuke Takashima , Naoko Takeichi
Re:Zero is one of the most brutal series in anime. Within isekai itself, Re:Zero is an incredibly unique series with themes of loss, fighting fate, and surpassing your own limits. Natsuki Subaru is transported to another world when he dies and finds himself in a new world with magic, monsters, and so much more. While other isekai heroes get great powers in their new world, Subaru's power is Return by Death, one of the most bittersweet powers in anime.
When he dies, he's transported back to a previous point in his life. It seems like a good power on the surface, until Subaru realizes that he's going to have to die over and over again to use it, feeling the excruciating pain from every death constantly. He somehow finds the courage and bravery needed to live and die time and time again, finding new ways to beat death, save his friends, and find out more about his mysterious power.
5 Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest
Animated By Asread, Based on the Light Novel Series By Ryo Shirakome & Takayaki
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest (2015)
Writers Ryo Shirakome
Penciler(s) Takayaki
Inker(s) Takayaki
Colorist(s) Yakayaki
Publisher(s) Overlap
Arifureta is a great power-creep revenge anime for fans of edgy anime. The series stars Hajime Nagumo, a normal high schooler from Japan who gets transported to a new world with his entire class and teacher in order to fight the demons for humanity. After he gets betrayed by one of his classmates, Nagumo finds a new strength within himself and becomes one of the strongest characters in the series, fighting for his friends in an attempt to find a new way back home.
While there are some issues with Arifureta that can make it an uncomfortable watch at times, there are a lot of great aspects that make it an insanely popular series. Nagumo is beyond overpowered, using guns and modern military weaponry in a world with swords and magic. He's also surrounded by a harem of women who are each absurdly strong as well, using their unique gifts to support Nagumo throughout his journey.
4 That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Animated By Eight Bit, Based on the Light Novel By Fuse and Mitz Vah
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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.
Release Date October 5, 2018
Cast Brittney Karbowski , Alexis Tipton , Anthony Bowling , Apphia Yu , Brandon Potter , Brittany Lauda , Bruce DuBose , Charles Campbell , Chris Rager , Colleen Clinkenbeard
Creator(s) Yasuhito Kikuchi
Seasons 3
Writers Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
Directors Yasuhito Kikuchi
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is one of the lighter isekai series in tone. It stars Rimuru Tempest as he finds himself reincarnated into a new world as a lowly slime. While most slimes are the lowest level of creature, Rimuru gets an ability that allows him to gain the powers of whatever he consumes. This allows him to quickly become one of the strongest characters in Slime, giving him the power to decimate thousands of enemy soldiers with a single spell when needed.
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Slime also features one of the best worlds in isekai. There are multiple governments with their own agendas, and Rimuru is finding the best way to create his own nation within the world. While the third season is aptly named 'That Time I Got Reincarnated in a Meeting' for its massive exposition dumps, the rest of the series has great characters, solid fights, and tons of great jokes.
3 Overlord
Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Light Novel By Kugane Maruyama & so-bin
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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.
Release Date July 7, 2015
Finale Year September 27, 2022
Cast Satoshi Hino , Chris Guerrero , Yumi Hara
Seasons 4
Overlord is a unique isekai series in that the main character, Ainz Ooal Gown, might not exactly be a hero. He's certainly a hero to his loyal followers within the Tomb of Nazarick, his home, but the people outside of it might not agree. Overlord allows its main character to be the titular Overlord himself, ruling through power and fear. While other isekai protagonists might be worried about how they're perceived, or do their best to protect the world at large, Ainz couldn't care less.
He's killed hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers in the blink of an eye in one of the best moments of mass destruction in anime. He's on the search for another real player trapped in the world of Yggradsil, but until he finds one, he's perfectly happy dominating the world using his absurd powers and finding the inner workings of his new home at the same time.
2 The Saga of Tanya the Evil
Animated By NUT, Based on the Light Novel By Carlo Zen and Shinobu Shinotsuki
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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.
Release Date January 6, 2017
Cast Aoi Yuki , Saori Hayami , Daiki Hamano , Hochu Otsuka , Nobuo Tobita
Creator(s) Carlo Zen
Seasons 1
Like Ainz from Overlord, Tanya von Degurechaff couldn't care less about how she's perceived. In her past life, she was a normal salaryman, murdered by a disgruntled coworker. She blasphemed Being X as she died, the purported creator of her universe. In order to get revenge and teach the salaryman a lesson, Being X reincarnated him as a small child named Tanya in a world at war.
To say that Tanya has thrived in this new environment would be an understatement. She's an incredible leader, a one-man army, and not someone any of her enemies want to meet on the battlefield. She mows down her enemies quickly and brutally like a true warrior and continues to forsake the Being that brought her to her new world with every chance that she gets. Maybe one day she'll repent for her sins, but until then, her enemies had better be on guard.
1 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
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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.
Release Date January 13, 2016
Main Genre Adventure
Finale Year June 19, 2024
Cast Jun Fukushima , Sora Amamiya , Noucky Andriansyah
Creator(s) Natsume Akatsuki
Seasons 3
Writers Natsume Akatsuki , Aoi Akashiro , Touko Machida , Kojiro Nakamura , Makoto Uezu , Alexander Von David
Directors Takaomi Kanasaki
KonoSuba is the funniest isekai series ever made. While other series have moments of great humor, KonoSuba is surrounded by laughs. It's hilarious from its premise to the end of each episode, and it never lets up. The story is set around Kazuma Satou, a normal guy from Japan who finds himself reincarnated into a new world and tasked with destroying the Demon King. When the goddess Aqua laughs at him while telling him he's allowed to take anything with him, he chooses her, leading to a series of hijinks.
Everyone in Kazuma's group is a misfit. His mage Megumin can fire the most powerful spell in the world of KonoSuba, but only once a day. His front-line tank, Darkness, can take a ton of damage, but she can't damage anything in return. And even the goddess Aqua has more party tricks than she does intelligence. KonoSuba is a hilarious series filled with a ton of funny moments that any isekai fan will fall in love with.
English (US) ·