While there’s no doubt that 2024 has been a great year foranimein general with instant hits likeDandadanandKaiju No. 8, it also showcased an explosive growth of Isekai adaptations. Although this led to an oversaturation of generic series with absurdly long titles and no substantial story, it brought as a result some of the most unconventional and memorable isekai of recent years.
Additionally,this year marked the long-awaited return of several popular Isekai anime franchisesthat remain unbeatable at the top of what the genre has to offer. With a great diversity of stories, from political displays of strategy in nations at war to self-discovery journeys in unique fantasy realities, what is certain is that these brilliant Isekai animes are the finest of 2024 so far.
Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord
Cast
Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord follows a college student reincarnated as Yumiella, a hidden antagonist in an Otome RPG. Her attempt at a quiet life backfires when she reaches level 99, leading to mistaken suspicions of her being the Demon Lord.
The premise of reincarnating as a villainess in an isekai world has gained popularity in recent years, with many series using as a base the typical otome games. However,Villainess Level 99introduces an early twist that sets it apart from other otome isekai by making the female protagonist, Yumiella, overpowered. Butthis anime really shines thanks to Yumiella’s character, for her layered stoic yet silly personality and growth as a subject of interest amid political intrigues.
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Animation Studio:
Jumondo
The anime balances the comedy and action well and has its fair share of sweet romance, which makes up for its average animation and off-looking CGI. Also, while the anime mostly did a great job adapting the story into the anime, there is a major plot point that has been significantly changed. Still,Villainess Level 99is a must-watch for any fan of the villainess genre.
No Longer Allowed in Another World
No Longer Allowed in Another World is a quirky adventure featuring Osamu, a disenchanted early 20th-century author who becomes an unwilling hero in a fantastical realm. Despite possessing superpowers and attracting charming companions, Osamu’s primary quest remains finding solitude to meet his end, continually interrupted by heroic escapades.
Also known asIsekai Shikkaku,it’s a parody of the acclaimed Japanese writer Osamu Dazai, much in the style ofBungo Stray Dogs,which follows Sensei, a depressive and gloomy writer who, despite being thrown into another world, still doesn’t affect his lack of ambition to live. The anime is a subversion of the isekai genre, and Sensei is a hero with low motivation and a selfish nature who remains indifferent to adventure and just follows his own thoughts, which makes him a unique protagonist.
Atelier Pontdarc
Filled with dark humor and exciting fights, this anime has an appeal that is rarely found in other typical anime, with an original storyline that rewrites classic Japanese literature and fantasy, but with a lot of irony and satire towards life and isekai while handling themes about mortality and existentialism in a ridiculously fun way.
studio MOTHER
Tensei kizoku, Kantei Skill of Nariagaru,is an isekai based on politics and people management rather than directly on a quest for power. One of the best aspects of the series is that it doesn’t make the protagonist absurdly powerful from the beginning, since Ars is reborn in a nobel family as a child, weak in all physical aspects and without powerful magical abilities, but instead, he possesses a unique skill called appraisal, which makes him able to detect hidden talents in people.
10 Best Comedy Isekai Anime That Are Bound To Brighten Any Fan’s Mood
Though isekai is often a very serious genre, there are more than a few isekai series that are absolutely hilarious in their absurdity.
However, it’shis tenacity and his belief in the people he makes his followers that showcase Ars’s natural talent as a leader, proving his true strengths.The anime focuses on themes like social inequality, political tension, and strategy, which is something rare in the genre and will appeal to viewers who crave a different type of story but with the adventure feeling typical of a new fantasy world.
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
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.
Although inKonoSuba Season 3, Drive took charge over Studio Deen, this adaptation still manages to showcase the charm that made its previous seasons so loved by fans, with over-the-top expressions and ridiculous humor, while also delivering a final product that’s more faithful to the light novels. This season also presents new developments both for Kazuma and Darkness, who finally have a character arc that delves into her family and serves to highlight the evolution of the dysfunctional yet endearing dynamic of Kazuma’s Party.
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Drive
Despite the long wait of 7 years,Konosuba Season 3didn’t disappoint fans and does justice to its reputation as one of the funniest isekai animes, all thanks to its light and absurd comedy that transforms even serious conflicts into crazy hilarious situations.
6The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash
Based on the Light Novel Series Written by Honobonoru500 and Illustrated by Nama
The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trashis one of the most pleasant surprises in the isekai genre, not only for its amazing artistic direction with beautiful landscapes, but also because of its unexpected heartwarming story. The anime has a soothing atmosphere despite Ivy’s life being wrapped in misfortune, and after being chased out and struggling to survive, which makes her develop trust issues, she starts a journey of self-discovery with her slime companion Sora.
Studio Massket
Even though its title may suggest it is a power fantasy, this isn’t an action-packed anime, but a slice-of-life about overcoming grief and trauma and finding reasons to keep forward, which certainly keeps viewers hooked as it is easy to root for her and expect her to find good allies and her place in this new world.
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy
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.
Tsukimichi season 2starts by adapting the parts that were left out in the first installment of the series and presents the other heroes who were summoned by the goddess. This way, along with a renovated studio,Tsukimichi Season 2not only has an improvement in animation quality but also in world-building, following the same path as animes likeTensuraand focusing more on showing the political aspects of their worlds by introducing new factions and developing the conflict with the demons.
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J.C. Staff
Also, the new season is about how Makoto is still striving to make a place for himself, because of which he faces situations that force him to evaluate his way of thinking. This ties along with how Makoto is a unique Isekai protagonist, as he continues to be a morally gray character that acts in unexpected ways, which keeps the series refreshing.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
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.
WhileTensura season 3faced backlash upon airing as it temporarily separated from action-packed developments to focus on politics, this is one of the biggest traits of the anime that has made it stand out from other generic isekai. The season starts with action, and it takes a shift into political discussion, which properly develops the functioning of a nation and fits the story, as the anime delves more into the world-building aspects of Isekais rather than battles.
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8Bit
The anime seeks to adapt faithfully the light novels, which gave, as a result, a more slow-paced season. Because of this,Tensura Season 3may work better by binge-watching than upon weekly release for some viewers. However, it still showcases a great buildup before the most exciting events to come in the upcomingTensura season 4.
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Shin-Ei Animation, Studio Add
In a genre with many detractors for their overused tropes,The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magicshowcases the right way to make an isekaiwith a refreshing spin by making the healer the center of the story, who uses his abilities in combat in ingenious ways. However, what makes this anime so interesting is its protagonist, Usato, who isn’t the typical Isekai hero who is rejected for being weak, betrayed, and seeking revenge, but he realistically portrays what it feels like to be in an Isekai world and come to terms with his situation.
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Even with the oversaturation of the genre, there are still plenty of excellent isekai anime shows that every fan should consider streaming.
Additionally, the anime stands out by not making Usato overpowered out of nowhere, but instead, he undergoes hilarious hellish training to be strong, featuring one of the coolest and fearsome teachers, Rose, with whom he builds up a great dynamic of master and apprentice.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
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.
Mushoku Tenseiis one of the biggest modern isekai,always sparking criticism of its protagonist, Rudeus, who starts by no means as an admirable or completely likable character. However, Rudeus undoubtedly doesn’t fall into the specter that harms many isekai of one-dimensional protagonists, and in part 2, he had a massive character progression compared to the previous seasons of the series.
Bind
Even though this season was less focused on the world-building that stood out in Part 1, it was also much more emotional, with unexpectedly intense developments for Rudeus. Part 2 was a wild ride from beginning to end, featuring one of the most controversial scenes and also one of the most heartbreaking episodes in 2024, which only increases anticipation for theupcomingMushoku Tensei Season 3.
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-
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.
Re:Zero Season 3had the best comebackof the yearwith an impressive premiere with a duration of an hour and a half, and it hasn’t slowed down at any moment after that, providing an incredible experience for viewers so far in Part 1. Although this part is characterized by building up the story, the most exciting part of this season has been Subaru’s character development.
White Fox
Despite that he has experienced a lot of suffering and trauma throughout the series,Subaru has been a frustrating Isekai hero at times, butRe:Zero Season 3has skyrocketed his growththanks to the threat of the mysterious Witch Cult, preparing the ground for the hyped-up moments to come in the Counterattack Arc. This makesRe:Zero Season 3a must-watch for any Isekai fan for its unique story twists and flawed yet interesting characters.
