What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any *good* isekais out there?
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Cross-posted from "What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any good isekais out there?" by @[email protected] in [email protected]
It seems like every manga or anime adaption nowadays are isekais with absurdly long titles. As someone who hasn't read that much manga for the past few years but just started again, it's kinda crazy to see all these pop up. Are there actually any good ones out there? Or are most of them just "guilty pleasures"? The only one I've been reading is Ascendance of a Bookworm which is kinda interesting.
Restaurant to Another World. Rather than the modern person going out to explore the medieval fantasy world, the fantasy world patrons enter a magical door to a modern restaurant, experience food cooked to modern excellence, and then go back to their own time inspired with a broadened worldview
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- One is a stereotypical suburban liberal / Bernie Sanders supporter (surprised me)
- Another is Indian
- One is a soccer mom, super conservative.
Just 3 I can think of that'd be against something like Konosuba.
Two of those are the expected problem children, but that first one kinda brain broke me. I suppose bernie has supporters of all stripes, but I'd still expect better.
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Two of those are the expected problem children, but that first one kinda brain broke me. I suppose bernie has supporters of all stripes, but I'd still expect better.
No Fap is more of an internet phenomenon that far left and far right alike have fallen for.
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4 humans of "reality" becoming Kings and Queens of a fantasy world after meeting the god of that world? With Judeo-Christian slop words thrown around to sound deeper?
Definitely an Isekai.
"That Time I was Just a Connecticut Yankee but then I Appeared in King Arthur's Court?!!"
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If I had to pick just one, what would it be?
The OAVs: Etranger and Leda are concentrated 80s anime goodness, so go with those first.
It takes some dedication to watch the whole TV shows.
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Cross-posted from "What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any good isekais out there?" by @[email protected] in [email protected]
It seems like every manga or anime adaption nowadays are isekais with absurdly long titles. As someone who hasn't read that much manga for the past few years but just started again, it's kinda crazy to see all these pop up. Are there actually any good ones out there? Or are most of them just "guilty pleasures"? The only one I've been reading is Ascendance of a Bookworm which is kinda interesting.
Isekai are popular and relatively easy to write; you don't need to come up with elaborate settings, magic systems etc., you can just handwave it as 'guy enters generic videogame world'. This attracts a lot of untalented writers trying either to make a quick buck or pour out their power fantasies, oversaturating the genre with a lot of shit.
But amidst that shit there are some nice gems, I recommended Hametsu Flag, I Favor the Villainess, The Magical Revolution and This Isekai Maid is Starting a Union.
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Isekai are popular and relatively easy to write; you don't need to come up with elaborate settings, magic systems etc., you can just handwave it as 'guy enters generic videogame world'. This attracts a lot of untalented writers trying either to make a quick buck or pour out their power fantasies, oversaturating the genre with a lot of shit.
But amidst that shit there are some nice gems, I recommended Hametsu Flag, I Favor the Villainess, The Magical Revolution and This Isekai Maid is Starting a Union.
Basically, isekai is the result of manga culture consuming itself. Mangaka like to write based on their life experiences. Some pull from their daily experiences growing up, their hobbies, and other things. In the past, this meant experiences were quite varied. However, now that most newer mangaka grew up with manga and video games as their primary cultural consumption, we have arrived at a cultural ouroboros where the isekai genre is consuming itself. The premises and titles will become increasingly elaborate until the genre implodes.
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Cross-posted from "What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any good isekais out there?" by @[email protected] in [email protected]
It seems like every manga or anime adaption nowadays are isekais with absurdly long titles. As someone who hasn't read that much manga for the past few years but just started again, it's kinda crazy to see all these pop up. Are there actually any good ones out there? Or are most of them just "guilty pleasures"? The only one I've been reading is Ascendance of a Bookworm which is kinda interesting.
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Cross-posted from "What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any good isekais out there?" by @[email protected] in [email protected]
It seems like every manga or anime adaption nowadays are isekais with absurdly long titles. As someone who hasn't read that much manga for the past few years but just started again, it's kinda crazy to see all these pop up. Are there actually any good ones out there? Or are most of them just "guilty pleasures"? The only one I've been reading is Ascendance of a Bookworm which is kinda interesting.
Alice in Wonderland.
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There are good isekai, but it's littered with slop.
Some I enjoyed:- Re:Zero
- Konosuba
- Ascendance of a Bookworm
- My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom
- No Game No Life (though note that it's been a looong time since I've seen that one..)
- Youjo Senki
- Overlord
- Re:Creators (mostly interesting because it's a reverse isekai, but has lots of boring exposition)
These are mostly the big hits of isekai. (Note #5 has a lot of little sister sexualization, ran from that asap)
I think Overlord is one of the most unique anime I've seen.
I would also recommend The Eminence in Shadow. Also a very unique show, and pretty light hearted and fairly mid on "anime bullshit"
Tsukimichi is also fairly solid, though higher on tge anime bullshit list (stab a giant metal rod in a dragons ass to make her cum...)
Skeleton Knight is also decent with a likable main character and low stakes fun.
My personal favorite is The Faraway Paladin. Such a great wholesome story with amazing characters.
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Cross-posted from "What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any good isekais out there?" by @[email protected] in [email protected]
It seems like every manga or anime adaption nowadays are isekais with absurdly long titles. As someone who hasn't read that much manga for the past few years but just started again, it's kinda crazy to see all these pop up. Are there actually any good ones out there? Or are most of them just "guilty pleasures"? The only one I've been reading is Ascendance of a Bookworm which is kinda interesting.
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Basically, isekai is the result of manga culture consuming itself. Mangaka like to write based on their life experiences. Some pull from their daily experiences growing up, their hobbies, and other things. In the past, this meant experiences were quite varied. However, now that most newer mangaka grew up with manga and video games as their primary cultural consumption, we have arrived at a cultural ouroboros where the isekai genre is consuming itself. The premises and titles will become increasingly elaborate until the genre implodes.
Pretty sure it has more to do with light novels than manga. You need some level of talent to draw a manga, after all. Anyone can write a shitty novel.
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Cross-posted from "What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any good isekais out there?" by @[email protected] in [email protected]
It seems like every manga or anime adaption nowadays are isekais with absurdly long titles. As someone who hasn't read that much manga for the past few years but just started again, it's kinda crazy to see all these pop up. Are there actually any good ones out there? Or are most of them just "guilty pleasures"? The only one I've been reading is Ascendance of a Bookworm which is kinda interesting.
Some of my favorite isekais are:
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A Kid in King Arthur's Court
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Space Jam
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Jumanji
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The Wizard of Oz
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Army of Darkness
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Last Action Hero
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Futurama
And they're not even anime.
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These are mostly the big hits of isekai. (Note #5 has a lot of little sister sexualization, ran from that asap)
I think Overlord is one of the most unique anime I've seen.
I would also recommend The Eminence in Shadow. Also a very unique show, and pretty light hearted and fairly mid on "anime bullshit"
Tsukimichi is also fairly solid, though higher on tge anime bullshit list (stab a giant metal rod in a dragons ass to make her cum...)
Skeleton Knight is also decent with a likable main character and low stakes fun.
My personal favorite is The Faraway Paladin. Such a great wholesome story with amazing characters.
If you liked the Eminence in Shadow anime I highly recommend giving the manga a look. It does several things differently, and I personally found it even funnier.
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I think parodies and deconstructions of the isekai genre are fun:
- Villainess Level 99
- The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautious
- My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered
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If you liked the Eminence in Shadow anime I highly recommend giving the manga a look. It does several things differently, and I personally found it even funnier.
Same! I've read most of the manga for shows I've enjoyed and now I've been getting into light novels!
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- One is a stereotypical suburban liberal / Bernie Sanders supporter (surprised me)
- Another is Indian
- One is a soccer mom, super conservative.
Just 3 I can think of that'd be against something like Konosuba.
Enh. Anime isn't for everyone. There's nothing that is for absolutely everyone.
And that's fine.
Just enjoy talking about anime with those who do like it.
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Cross-posted from "What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any good isekais out there?" by @[email protected] in [email protected]
It seems like every manga or anime adaption nowadays are isekais with absurdly long titles. As someone who hasn't read that much manga for the past few years but just started again, it's kinda crazy to see all these pop up. Are there actually any good ones out there? Or are most of them just "guilty pleasures"? The only one I've been reading is Ascendance of a Bookworm which is kinda interesting.
-
Cross-posted from "What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any good isekais out there?" by @[email protected] in [email protected]
It seems like every manga or anime adaption nowadays are isekais with absurdly long titles. As someone who hasn't read that much manga for the past few years but just started again, it's kinda crazy to see all these pop up. Are there actually any good ones out there? Or are most of them just "guilty pleasures"? The only one I've been reading is Ascendance of a Bookworm which is kinda interesting.
For ones that are playing now, I'm enjoying Magic Maker. The idea that magic hasn't been invented yet and needs to have tons of research done makes it kind of fresh. The whole "half the population can't see it" thing is annoying though.
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Cross-posted from "What's up with the isekai genre? Are there any good isekais out there?" by @[email protected] in [email protected]
It seems like every manga or anime adaption nowadays are isekais with absurdly long titles. As someone who hasn't read that much manga for the past few years but just started again, it's kinda crazy to see all these pop up. Are there actually any good ones out there? Or are most of them just "guilty pleasures"? The only one I've been reading is Ascendance of a Bookworm which is kinda interesting.
