Favourite Isekai Anime (30 Days of Anime – Years 1 to 5) – Day 17
Isekai anime has undoubtedly been growing of late. Every season there are at least a handful of new additions, often with similar premises. However, they certainly aren’t all bad. In fact, some are amazing. Here are a few of those!
Favourite Isekai Anime (30 Days of Anime – Years 1 to 5) – Day 17
I know that some people are getting tired of the Isekai wave, but I love it. I’m a huge fan of fantasy stories and more often than not, Isekai stories are set in a fantasy world. Sometimes, you’ll get a flip where the story focuses on someone coming back from a fantasy world or a fantasy character coming to our world, but those are not the norms. Isekai anime, when done well, will use both worlds as a way of explaining what the protagonist is going through or exploring the new world. It certainly makes it easier to handle exposition as the protagonist is often learning about things at the same rate as the audience. Anyway, let’s look at my favourites from the last five years.
Year 1 – Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions (Season One)
I first watched Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions as part of an Anime A to Z challenge and instantly fell in love with its unique approach to Isekai anime. In this story, a large group of characters are summoned to this fantasy world at once. They arrive with no memory of their previous life and are quickly told how they can make a life for themselves here – it’s not going to be easy. Then, we follow the weakest group as they try to survive in this harsh world. I loved how melancholy this series was with one episode focused almost entirely on the group shopping for supplies. It never managed to lose my attention. It’s definitely a show I want to revisit soon!
Year 2 – Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Season One) – Part 1
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is a very polarising series due to the nature of the main character as he lives out his second life after being reincarnated into a fantasy world. With all of his memories of his past life intact, Rudeus goes about making amends for the mistakes he made and trying to overcome the trauma that came with them. He’s not exactly a sympathetic character, but his journey is fascinating. The first part of the first season was full of wonder and excitement and wonderfully set the stage for the rest of the story. It was enough to make me start reading the light novels too. I absolutely loved this season.
Year 3 – Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Season One) – Part 2
The second part of season one of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation took the wonderful work laid down by the first part and took it to another level. The characters are all brilliantly flawed which makes watching them break, recover, and then push on to grow incredibly satisfying. The way this series was able to deliver a fantasy adventure while dealing with Rudeus’ trauma from his past life was incredible. These are hard subjects to deal with normally, but doing so while the adventure continues around them was even more impressive. Everything about this series is captivating.
Year 4 – The Eminence in Shadow (Season One)
I took a step back from episode reviews for a period of year four and The Eminence in Shadow is one of the shows that I trialled a new set of posts with. I had a season review, a list post, and an analysis post. All were a lot of fun to put together, however, on reflection, I wish I had done the episode reviews too. In fact, I can almost guarantee that I will go back and do them at some point. I have already followed up the first set of posts with episode reviews of season two, so it would make sense to complete the set. Anyhow, this story is incredible. Cid Kagenou is not a reliable narrator. It’s hard to tell if he really knows what is going on or is so focused on his own insane fantasy that he’s oblivious to the world that seems to be shaping around his every thought. There’s so much more to this than just some cool fights (there are some very cool fights, though). I loved it and have been keeping up with the manga too.
Year 5 – The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic (Season One)
Oh, look! It’s another show where I only did a season review. Like the others on this post, I need to go back and rewatch The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic. This series was absolutely fantastic and has such an incredible hook. The title alone should make you want to watch it to discover what is the wrong way to use healing magic. On top of that, it was captivating. The characters are all wonderful and engaging. I loved every second of the show and would be delighted to have the time to revisit the show and put together some thoughts on an episodic basis. One of my favourite shows of the year.
Final Thoughts!
I’m starting to notice a pattern here. I just seem to be highlighting all the shows that I loved but never got around to doing episode reviews. To that point, I’ve started to put together a long list of shows to revisit, which is great because why wouldn’t I want to watch the shows that I loved again? This has been a fun way to reflect on the amazing shows that I’ve watched over the last five years and also a way to clean up some unfinished business. I just need to make sure that I make time to watch new shows too, otherwise, next year’s challenge could get a little repetitive!
Drama is another of those categories that I don’t necessarily seek out. I get enough of real life from my real life so I like my fiction to be fantastical and exciting. Still, there appear to have been some great shows that fall into that category. Come back tomorrow as I look at my Favourite Drama Anime in my 30 Days of Anime challenge. Just don’t make a scene! Thanks for visiting.
Other Posts in the Series
30 Days of Anime (Years 1 to 5)
As much as I have a love-hate relationship with Isekai subgenre, I’ve got some of my faves being of said subgenre. My top 5 (not in particular order) is Overly Cautious Hero, Executioner & Her Way of Life, Campfire Cooking in Another World, Instant Death Ability, and Konosuba (despite the third season felt lacklustre to me).
Probably I often prefer how it subverts or makes fun of itself. I mean I don’t mind wish fulfilment stories that are emphasized in this subgenre, but I like how my personal fave Campfire didn’t feel superficial and hopefully there won’t be shoehorned writing where the protagonist becomes OP himself because seeing his skill being the catalyst in having OP companions suits the series’ SoL theme. 🙂
I really enjoyed the third season of KonoSuba, and while I have seen a fair few “bad” Isekai anime, there have been some really good ones of late. Chillin’ in another world with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers was great. Like all other genres, there are going to be good ones and bad ones, and lots in between.
I’m always going to check them out just in case it is one of the great ones. Like you, some of my favourite shows are Isekai so they are obviously doing something right.
This is not a shameless plug about my previous post, but I did write my favorite isekais before the 2000’s
https://myanimeroom.wordpress.com/2021/08/12/4-old-isekais-that-i-liked-before-isekai-became-overly-used/
Don’t worry. There’s no shame in sharing something relevant. So, thanks for sharing!
:3
“Grimgar…” was ace, I’d watch that one again, for sure. Really stands out amongst a crowded field.
Agreed. Grimgar was special. I’m definitely planning on rewatching it again soon.
I haven’t watched Grimgar, but I might have to put it into my watchlist!
Definitely do. It’s fantastic. I’d love to see what you think.
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