There are some true anime gems produce by isekai (for example, Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, 2002). Hence no, isekai is not the worst genre ever. Although you could argue the Western European medieval settings are overdone (I guess if you are Japanese, 14th century Western Europe with elves and dragons is what passes as exotic), and you could argue isekai can be too self-referential (calling attention to the silliness of their situations). That is how isekai’s critics characterize it. Too much content with little emotional impact. Together with their never-ending plots (does anybody want to go home like Dorothy?), isekai is an example of milking a property for profit. Let alone Hogwarts.Īnd yet, perhaps its biggest sin is the huge amount of isekai shows and novels with similar plots and tropes. Inuyasha remains one of the best examples of isekai anime Actually, explain to me why this genre is so popular with girls? Isekai certainly is not Oz, Wonderland or Narnia. If you need to overexplain, perhaps your world-building needs some work.įurthermore, there is your overpowered protagonist (which makes winning to easy), your dumb male protagonists (Really? Do they need to be so dense?), and their ridiculously tragic pasts (no wonder they do not feel rushed to return to their previous lives).Īnd did I already mention they are so handsome all the women want them? Just because it is animated does not make it any less than an infodump. And do not get me started in the over exposition. However, oversexualized females all infatuated with the main male character belongs in harem anime, not isekai. Oversexualized female characters in anime are nothing new. Still, isekai’s tropes are… Problematic, even by anime standards.įor example, the overt fan service. Why all the hate? To begin with, there are the clichés associated with this type of show. Moreover, there are lots of valid reasons behind the dislike this genre inspires. It seems everything that becomes popular also attracts many detractors. Who does not want to escape reality, if only for a few hours? Is Isekai the Worst Genre Ever?ĭeath March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Perhaps it is a response to the dullness of modern lives and the dehumanization of our “always connected” modern society, but we find solace in these medieval fantasy worlds for a reason. Some of these, like Sword Art Online, has inspired films, video games, and live-action series. In truth, isekai’s popularity has spawned so many beloved series, it is impossible to binge-watch them all. They can also meet demi-human creatures.įurthermore, the main character’s appearance in the parallel world may not be through a portal but by actually dying (an afterlife of sorts) with the premise that if certain conditions are met in the secondary world, he can return to his previous life.ĭid I say isekai is popular? I should have said megapopular. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Another key difference is the protagonist can be changed into a different race/species in the secondary world (for reference, see “ That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime“). And yes, characters can level up as in a game. Nevertheless, at close inspection, isekai is about normal people stepping into a secondary world influenced by Japanese role-playing games (for example, Final Fantasy, the Tales series, Persona, Ni No Kuni, etc.). One moment they are here and then, flash, they are elsewhere fighting trolls and monsters.
#YAOI FLASH GAME RIN OKUMURA FULL#
Who would have thought isekai would ever rival shonen and shojo in popularity? People transported to a secondary world full of magic? Where have I heard that before? Oh, yes, a portal fantasy? How is isekai different from portal fantasy?Īctually, there is no much difference at a glance. The term began with Urashima Taro, a folk tale later adapted to one of the earliest animes back in 1918. These are stories in which the protagonists are transported (or reborn) into a secondary world. The term ‘ isekai‘ translates from Japanese as “different world” or “ parallel world“. Isekai anime is an increasingly popular subgenre of anime with particular defined genre expectations.