#ol isekai comic

[obstinaterixatrix]

alright, here's the first chapter of ol isekai comic again, but this time it's readable. title and legibility fix courtesy of @swiftactionrecovery, I'll edit in links to the other chapters when I post them

link to all chapters

[tlgtw]

Konosuba... is... the cartoon for basic bitches who think they're hot shit

[draconicace]

fanart for In Another World, Bureaucracy is the Same by @obstinaterixatrix (linked below)! sunshine on

[bergeronprocess]

My Winter 2023 anime reviews! I was waiting to write these until UniteUp! finished its run, which it now has, so...here we go!

Discussed below the cut: UniteUp!, Nijiyon Animation, The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague, Handyman Saitou in Another World, Buddy Daddies, Soaring Sky Pretty Cure

This past season, I actually watched a lot of shows that were primarily about men or boys! That's kind of unusual for me, but I had a good time. I even tried watching an isekai. More on that later.

I'll start with UniteUp! actually. This is my sleeper hit of the season. It was plagued by covid related production delays - which actually led to them putting out some interesting "behind the scenes" episodes to fill the air time that had already been set aside for the show. It's an idol show, but it's different because I feel like they are a bit more realistic about the Idol Business compared to, say, Love Live (which I am also a fan of, I'm not hating). The characters are all really charming, even if sometimes I forgot all of their names lol ensemble cast problems, and the music is really good (especially the Crossfire theme song). The concerts and dancing are animated really well - they're of course using CGI there, but that makes it look really realistic and accurate. I haven't heard much chatter about this show, although Cy from Anime Feminist was effusive in their praise of it, and I just want more people to watch UniteUp!

Since I just mentioned Love Live, I also watched Nijiyon Animation. Cute, super-short length episodes based on 4koma comics. lt was like a fun little dessert every week lol. Nijigasaki is my favorite Love Live, so of course I loved it. It was also a nice farewell to Tomori Kusunoki as Setsuna.

The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague was a big ole nothingburger. Pretty much no character development actually happens and we're never really sure if the titular characters are even dating in the end. Basically the only thing that happens is the passage of a year. Anime Feminist also pointed out the weirdness of the "if Himuro gets a fever, he turns into a little boy" thing, especially that scene where he is in little boy form and then accidentally pins Fuyutsuki to the bed in her hotel room and they have that blushing "ooh, oh no~" reaction that would be just...much less weird...if the guy wasn't literally in a child's body at that moment. At least there was a lot of cat content in this show, but near the end of its run I was just like "ugh, I'm frustrated with the lack of progression here but I feel like I need to see it through to the end."

Another show that had some pacing issues was Handyman Saitou in Another World, the one isekai I watched! It did have a cool premise and I like how Saitou can apply his practical 21st century knowledge of locksmithing and such to the generic medieval high fantasy style premise place. I liked Raelza too (she's played by Ai Fairouz, who is fabulous in every role I've heard her in) and there were some interesting elements. I just feel like we spent too long on the side story with the ninja and the witch. This guy loves this woman so much even though their "meet cute" wasn't so much cute as kinda creepy?! He steps on her shadow so she can't move and then kisses her? Yikes! Their story takes multiple episodes to resolve and I'm just like can we get back to the main quartet PLEASE? I did like the other adventuring parties we meet, especially the big buff dude who has a crush on Saitou. Now, the fact that death can potentially be reversed in this world did lead to some of the "oh no! This character died" story beats feeling hollow since they were always followed by "well hold on, we'll just do a revival spell" or whatever. And there is some fanservice that might as well have come with a big ole "You're not the target audience here, Emma" sign on it. Overall, I am not sorry I watched it, and I think it's a cut above the dime-a-dozen isekais that are pumped out every season, but it had its issues.

I loved Buddy Daddies. It's so much more than just "modern Spy x Family"! Kazuki and Rei are both relatable in very different ways, Miri is probably a more realistic depiction of a child her age compared to Anya (I am not a parent though), it was always fun to play "Which car is this person driving" (Ogino's Chrysler 300 is definitely an odd choice still lol) and I feel like it had a nice ending. It didn't treat its adult women characters super well - when Anime Feminist described Yuzuko as getting fridged, I was like yeah...you're right. And then Misaki was really trying to do better and atone for her mistakes, but she gets hit with the double whammy of cancer and her sudden murder. Damn. At least Miss Anna got out okay. I like to wonder what happens when Rei's dad kicks the bucket. Does he then immediately inherit the organization and the giant estate? He obviously has no interest in it, so what would he do with it all? Probably just burn down the estate and disband the organization, right?

And finally, it's the Pretty Cure series that finally did it, that finally got me Precurepilled...it's Soaring Sky Pretty Cure! I tried watching Delicious Party episode 1 last year, but between the art style and the "weird magical desert place that the battle happens in," I just couldn't vibe with it. But phew, Soaring Sky is SO good. I love the art, I love the characters, it's all just so much fun and enjoyable. I like to try to watch it first thing on Sunday mornings. It's obviously still running right now and we haven't even been introduced to Cure Butterfly yet, let alone the midseason Cure (an aged-up Ellee maybe?), which means there is a lot still to do. Also I have a theory that Yoyo is the mysterious hero who inspired Sora back in the day. Like she used to be a Cure herself, perhaps. That would be fun.

Other than Skip and Loafer and the second part of G-Witch, spring is looking pretty sparse for me, so...all the more reason to keep watching older Pretty Cure seasons, right? I'm working on Kira Kira and want to watch Star Twinkle after that!

[littleeyesofpallas]

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

YOUNG COMIC[ヤングコミック]

31 years old Quiet glasses Female office worker［31歳地味眼鏡OLさん］

Ikenai Nanako-san［イケナイ奈々子さん］

one-san is invading［おねーさんが侵略中!?］

Omae no Megane wa Machigatteiru!［お前の眼鏡は間違っている！］

A Kukkoro knight's comfortable life in captivity ［くっころ騎士の快適虜囚生活］

Keroyoi! Niigataben Sakaba［けろよい！新潟弁酒場］

Tsubone no Tsubame［ツボネノツバメ］

Fushidarana Tsubomi［ふしだらな蕾］

Maguwai Beya no Kanrinin san［まぐわい部屋の管理人さん］

MAKOTO to Makoto［マコトと真琴]

Amazing Scat in Delusion ［マフラーちゃんの迷妄］

Mayuri san no iro sento［まゆりさんのいる銭湯］

motokano tachito yarenaoshi!?［元カノたちとヤReなおし！？］

Kuwaretagari no AKAZUKIN［喰われたがりの赤ずきん］

Taisho Yotogi Roman(ce)[大正夜伽浪漫]

Tsuma wa Yotaka ka Yasuzume ka［妻は夜鷹か夜雀か］

Oboro［朧］

Kuroi Shigemi[黒い茂み]

Osana najimi a itumo sakibashiru［幼なじみはいつも先走る］

PANTYHOSE LINE OF DIRECTOR HIIRAGI［柊部長のパンストライン］

Hyakumesu Ryouran［百雌繚乱］

Doutei Eshi no Isekai FASHION Kakumei［童貞絵師の異世界ファッション革命］

Let's show what you want to see［見たいもの見せましょう］

inkyakanojyo185cm wa itashitai［陰キャ彼女185センチはイタシたい］

[unofficial-underfell]

Beloved Isekai gets a continuation under a new author. The new season begins with our protagonist once again transported back to the magical world of monsters. HOWEVER, they find this world isn't quite the same as one they remember...

Thank you for announcing my comic like an anime it brought a big ol' smile to my face ^-^

-Avery

[bartoonist]

The knee groveling Spider-Subaru: This is my (shall we call it?) Cringe Meme Comic Strip with my own Meta POV portrayal of why I hated Andrew Garfield-Spidey’s Small Knives weakness joke and knee groveling performance that I still think makes this Iteration of Spidey behavior out of character 10 years later, since already think a decade later that Small Knives joke in amazing Spider-Man 1 is still the cringiest joke/performance that this incarnation of Spider-Man has ever done despite being better known as a Sarcastic Quipster for over 60 years now, now that Spider-Man as a franchise superhero is 60 years old these days, I honestly thought that the way Andrew Garfield-Spidey did that cringy small knives weakness joke made him look like he was Dave Lizewski-KickAss pretending to be Spider-Man Subaru Natsuki from the Isekai Anime: Re:Zero if he was pretending to be Spider-Man, only his fear of lethal knives made more sense since I thought it would be more funny to imagine Subaru in Spider-Man Costume grovel on his knees like that getting his ass kicked in that Tom Holland’s 3rd Origin Spider-Man Costume which I’ll admit looked much cooler than ol’ andy’s 2nd origin Spider-Man costume, I also liked Tobey’s 1st origin Spider-Man costume too actually since it actually looked spectacular in the 2000’s back then, but yeah I’m still struggling to understand ten years later why Andrew Garfield did that knee groveling small knives joke that I still think looks more cringy than I remember. I don’t know if some of you Andrew Garfield-Spidey Fans out there specifically ever liked that small knives joke and thought it was funny back then, or if thought it was cringy too as I thought scene did so 10 years ago, but I hope as of 3-22-2022 of this post, if you folks like how this mashup parody comic strip makes fun of both Subaru Natsuki and Andrew Garfield-Spidey as I’ve portrayed them in this strip already of course. #spiderman #andrewgarfield #subarunatsuki #rezero #parodycomic #comicstrip #metareferences (at Inglewood, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbbNhTzJ2Og/?utm_medium=tumblr

[recentanimenews]

Manga the Week of 3/9/22

SEAN: We’re hitting March proper now, so watch out for winds.

ASH: Sound advice.

SEAN: We start with Airship, which has print releases for Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter 4 and Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs 5.

For early digital, they debut Survival in Another World with My Mistress! (Goshujin-sama to Yuku Isekai Survival!). A young man wakes up in a dark forest, finds he can gain resources via a video game menu only he can access, and ends up being protected by a dark elf who says he’s her property. Oof.

We also see the 3rd and final volume of The NPCs in this Village Sim Game Must Be Real!.

Cross Infinite World has another light novel debut with Reflection of Another World (Yugami no Kuni Monogatari). A girl is pulled through a magic mirror into a fantasy world where her plain jane looks are admired and the handsome man she meets is seen as abhorrent.

Dark Horse has a 10th deluxe hardcover for Berserk.

ASH: Glad to see these being released so regularly.

SEAN: Ghost Ship gives us Do You Like Big Girls? 3, Parallel Paradise 9, and Sundome!! Milky Way 3.

J-Novel Club has a light novel debut with Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home! (Kasei Madoushi no Isekai Seikatsu: Boukenchuu no Kasei Fugyou Uketamawarimasu!). We’ve got another Japanese OL who finds herself teleported to a fantasy world. 4 years later, she’s a ‘housekeeping mage’ – and a top adventurer! But can she find romance?

And they also have Dragon Daddy Diaries: A Girl Grows to Greatness 3, Goodbye Otherworld, See You Tomorrow 2 and Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter 2.

Kodansha, in print, gives us Grand Blue Dreaming 15 and When Will Ayumu Make His Move? 4.

ASH: I’ve fallen far behind on the former, but I’m more interested in starting the latter.

SEAN: Kodansha didn’t announce March digital releases till this week, so I missed being able to tell you about two titles already out: Having an Idol-Loving Boyfriend Is the Best! (Otatomo ga Kareshi ni Nattara Saikou Kamo Shirenai) is the first. This shoujo series from Palcy is about a girl who loves to fangirl about idols with her best male friend. Then… said friend confesses to her! The author also did Yen Press’s School of Horns.

They’ve also got, already out, Twilight Out of Focus (Tasogare Outfocus), a BL title from Honey Milk about two roommates who have rules not to fall for each other or get in the way of each other’s dalliances… but can that hold up?

MICHELLE: This one looks like it could be good.

SEAN: Kodansha’s first digital debut next week is Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms (Kuroiwa Medaka ni Watashi no Kawaii ga Tsuujinai), a Weekly Shonen Magazine series about a monk-in-training who can’t have a relationship with anyone… but that’s not stopping the school’s top girl from trying!

They also have Apple Children of Aeon (Sennen Mannen Ringo no Ko), a josei title from Itan which may be of most interest to the Manga Bookshelf crew. A man who marries an apple farmer and moves to her town sees a mysterious apple one day that changes his life. This has won awards.

ANNA: I’m curious about this for sure.

ASH: Yup! Same.

SEAN: Also digital next week: Abe-kun’s Got Me Now! 8, Ace of the Diamond 36, Guilty 9, Lightning and Romance 2, My Darling, the Company President 4, Peach Boy Riverside 10, Police in a Pod 10, and Vampire Dormitory 8.

MICHELLE: I really, really need to get caught up with Ace of the Diamond.

SEAN: Seven Seas has two debuts. The Case Files of Jeweler Richard (Housekishou Richard-Shi no Nazo Kantei), a josei title from Comic Zero-Sum, a mystery series based on a just-licensed novel that got an anime recently. A college student rescues a man who turns out to be a jeweler. Adventures ensue.

MICHELLE: I’m looking forward to this one!

ANNA: Me too!

ASH: I’ve heard great things; I’m excited to read it.

SEAN: The other debut is The Girl in the Arcade (Gesen no Kanojo), a Shonen Ace Plus series about a nebbish guy who works at an arcade and the hot girl who needs his help to beat one of the games… and also asks him out?

We also see Drugstore in Another World: The Slow Life of a Cheat Pharmacist 4, The Kingdoms of Ruin 4, and Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn 15.

SuBLime has Black or White 2, but more importantly they have Dick Fight Island 2!

ASH: The first volume of Dick Fight Island was absolutely ridiculous, but in a good way, actually?

SEAN: Viz Media has Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2, Fly Me to the Moon 10, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 3, Kirby Manga Mania 4, MAO 4, and Pokémon Journeys 2. That’s a weird tie-ins to normal manga ratio.

Yen On has King of the Labyrinth 3.

Lastly, Yen Press debuts New York, New York, a BL manga from Hana to Yume back in the pre-Fruits Basket days when it was a lot darker and gayer. A police officer keeps the fact that he’s gay very well hidden… but when he falls in love with a man with a troubled past, will he be able to keep things at arm’s length? This is an omnibus of the first two volumes.

MICHELLE: Looking forward to this, as well! A good week.

ANNA: I’m intrigued.

ASH: I’ve got my eyes out for this one, for sure.

SEAN: And Yen Press has Delicious in Dungeon 10, Hakumei & Mikochi: Tiny Little Life in the Woods 9, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, Chapter 4: The Sanctuary and the Witch of Greed 3, and Toilet-bound Hanako-kun 0 (the volume number is deliberate).

ASH: Huzzah, more Delicious in Dungeon! And more Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, even if I still have a backlog.

SEAN: There’s actually quite a variety there. What are you interested in?

By: Sean Gaffney

[starlightgakuen]

Early Spring 2018 ranking

Amanchu Advance - It’s Amanchu, good ol’s slice of lifey yuri goodness, and I love everything about it.

Steins;Gate 0 - I missed Suzuha. I missed everything about this series. Too bad that this is the world that Kurisu no longer exists in, but hey, I’m sure she will be back.

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii - Early dark horse of the season, pretty good RomCom thus far, with fun characters and actually funny jokes. Giving me LoveCom vibes, to be honest.

Full Metal Panic IV - It has been a long time coming, and now that FMP has returned, I don’t really know how to feel. FMP has long been one of my favourite mecha series, and it’s return kinda makes me feel nostalgic, albeit gives the feeling if digging up old memories that should have remained as such (see CCS below as well). That said, Seeing Sousuke, Chidori and Tessa again is great.

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Hen - My feelings for this sequel are clear, in that it should never have existed. I’m a huge fan of the original, and I feel this sequel spoils the amazing ending of the original by giving in filler plot, and repeated plot points from the original season. That said, I still love seeing all the great characters the series has to offer, from the every lovable lesbian Tomoyo to the tsundere Meiling.

Tada kun wa Koi wo Shinai - Early episodes show a pretty decent RomCom/SoL combination, and I’m really digging the character dynamics.

Comic Girls - Generic 4 cute girls SoL anime, with similar dynamics as all other 4 cute girl SoL anime. So far, nothing has stood out, but it’s a fun watch. Koyume reminds me a little of Hidamari’s Miyako (even though their personalities are totally off).

Gun Gale Online - Decent MMO action anime, not a must watch, but decent.

Aikatsu Friends - Gotta say my hopes for the new season of Aikatsu isn’t high, with how poor AS was, and the fact that the characters seem even less interesting than the AS counterparts. At least there is an increased focus on unit dynamics, which was totally non-existent in AS.

Persona 5 - There just aren’t that many good JRPGs-to-anime adaptations, and I do not believe this will break that trend. That said, it’s still a pretty decent watch, from what I’ve seen. (note: I have yet to play P5).

Hugtto Precure - I like the characters, I really do, but every time I hear Hana give one of her *shudders* cheers, it annoys me to no end, and it’s keeping me from enjoying the show for what it is. Whose bright idea was it to have a series themed around cheering of all things?

Uma Musume - Horse Girl Idols sets the bar as the weirdest anime I have watched in a while. I have no idea where this is going. Not the worst anime in the world, but still weird.

Isekai Izakaya Nobu - Isekai Shoukudo, without the charming world building. In other words, it’s a simple (albeit kinda poor) food porn anime.

Tachibanakan to Lie Angle - What is this abomination? I’m usually a fan of anime shorts but this is god awful.

[mangafeeds]

Lonely Attack on a Different World.

Alternative : Hitoribocchi no Isekai Kouryaku,Isekaibocchi,ひとりぼっちの異世界攻略

Lonely Attack on a Different World summary: The strongest doesn’t need any cheats!<br><br>Haruka, who spends his high school life a loner, was suddenly summoned to another world one day along with all his classmates.<br><br>When ol’ God enters the picture, Haruka believes he can just choose whatever cheat skill he wants to help him survive in the new world...<br>But, contrary to his expectations, that list of cheat skills works on a first come, first serve basis. And so, his classmates pick out all the cheat skills.<br><br>His choices now limited to leftovers, Haruka finds himself incapable of assembling a party due to his own “loner” skill.<br>Even though it’s a different world, it seems his adventuring days will be, as per usual, a solitary affair…<br><br>After becoming aware of a crisis looming over his classmates, Haruka makes a silent vow to save them. No relying on cheats!<br>He will walk a heretical path of strength that transcends the need for them.<br><br>The curtain rises on the strongest loner’s otherworld strategy guide! #MangaFeeds.com, #ReadFreeMangaOnline MangaFeeds.Com: Read manga online the latest manga comic book, updated daily: https://mangafeeds.com/post/lonely-attack-on-a-different-world_1585722685

Read more.

[obstinaterixatrix]

commissioned @lemon-wedges to draw my gals!!!! LOOK AT THIS

MY GALS!!!!!!!!!

[smokeybrandreviews]

Spirited Away

Isekai has become kind of a bad word in the anime culture. I find this highly dubious because there are some excellent shows that feature the whole “In another world” motif. SAO kind of killed the entire genre with it’s ridiculous Weeb popularity, causing the market to be overly saturated, but even so, there are a few gems. Before everyone became aware of it’s cash-grabby nature, isekai was more a niche genre, producing great content, not just anime. Alice in Wonderland and Coraline are definite Isekai stories. Harry Potter is essentially an Isekai series. A kid, born with a special nature, get’s whisked away to a world full of magic and shenanignas? How much more Isekai can you get?

Kingdom Hearts is kind of an Isekai game franchise and it’s popular the world over. There’s a show airing stateside call Reveries that is getting pretty legit ratings and it’s basically a live action, A-spec, isekai series. There’s a plethora of comics and that immediately spring to mind. Booster Gold, Mile Morales, The Exiles; all of them world displaced and trying to find their way. Hell, Gwenpool, one of the most popular characters Marvel has ever created, is an Isekai protagonist, not to mention all of the refugees from the Ultimate Marvel universe. Isekai can be outstanding when you actually put effort into narrative. This genre lends itself to world building, character development, and is wide open for creative growth. I wanted to put a list together of a few shows that, i think, are worth taking  look at that happen to follow the whole “Alice in Wonderland” motif.

Overlord

I wrote at length about my love for this thing a few days ago. Of all the new shows in this Isekai boom, Overlord is my favorite. It has an interesting spin on the whole “defeat the Demon Lord” motif that plagues these kinds of shows in that Ains Ool Gown IS the demon lord. He’s Skeletor if Skeletor was actually competent. The world itself is growing and expanding, giving us brand new details with every season aired but it’s the characters that make this show so endearing. They’re all so rich and developed. I love everything about this show and highly recommend checking it out.

.Hack//Sign

Before SAO, there was Sign. I’m not going to spoil the plot, which is both engaging and emotional, but it’s basically the first “trapped in a game” type of narrative that really got traction here in the states. This anime was actually a companion piece to a quadrilogy of excellent, real life,PS2 games. While i’m partial to the sequel games and it’s accompanying media, .Hask//G.U., i’d be remiss not to give credit where credit is due. If you liked SAO, check out Twilight. It did it first and much, much, better.

Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World

Rem is best girl. That’s off top. Re:Zero would easily be my favorite Isekai show, if not for Overlord. This thing is kind of incredible in terms of world building but, just like my beloved Supervisor Skeletor anime, it’s the characters in Re”Zero that sell this show. They’re all so real, so human. The main protagonist,Subaru, because of certain circumstances, has the ability to return from death and that sh*t takes a toll on him. He has seen some sh*t. He has experienced some sh*t. And while he grows in strength, it’s at a horrific cost. The emotional turmoil of these resurrections are ridiculous and you feel it in Subaru’s evolution as a protagonist.

The Familiar of Zero

This one is more cutesy fun. It feels like if Harry Potter was a harem protagonist, you’d have this show. It’s not terrible, by any means, and relies heavy on sight gags and comedies but, considering it has 4 seasons, is mad popular. I haven’t watched through all of them but i did enjoy the first two and understand exactly why it’s so popular. This is another one that came out long before the boom so it has more of a richer narrative overall.

No Game No Life

No Game No Life is a personal favorite. I love this goddamn show! It’s kinetic, silly, fun, and quietly brilliant. A world where all conflicts are solved with games? A dual set of protagonists who are perfect compliments to each other in strength and weakness? An absurd premise that raises stakes to genocidal levels? Bro, No Game No Life is a goddamn classic and you NEED to check this thing out at least once. It’s more than worth. Also, Jibril is best girl

The Vision of Escaflowne

I kind of forget this thing is an Isekai series because of the mechs but it is. This one is more of a romance-y type of show but it’s still crazy good, It’s still worth a watch. It’s one of the first to gain popularity in the states, even if the one we originally was truncated and edited to all hell,that aired on a Saturday morning cartoon block. I think, now, Funimation has the rights so you can get a decent version, uncut, and dubbed, yo check out. I loved Escaflowne. It was emotional, beautiful, and brilliant. The content was a little heady but as an adult, i can’t recommend this one more.

Tenchi Muyo! War for Geminar

Kind of in the same vein as Esclafowne, mechs over isekai so to speak, we have Tenchi Muyo! War for Geminar, one of my personal favorites. It’s actually part of the Tenchi franchise but follows another charcter like GXP. This time, we have Tenchi’s little brother, Kenshi, as he makes his way through a brand new world. Just like his big brother and friend, Sena, dude kind of develops a harem while figting to save the universe. This thing is a Tenchi show, through and through, and lord knows i’m a sucker for Tenchi, Still, bias aside, this thing is fun, beautifully animated, and choc full of action with just a hint of eechi. Also, Doll is best girl.

KonoSuba

Yo, Konosuba is wildly popular and for good reason.This thing deconstructs the entire genre and gives you one of the best comedy animes in decades. It takes nothing seriously and gives you a lighthearted tale, full of absurdity and shenanigans. The characters are all awesome and their relationships always bring a smile to your face. This show is mad good and i highly recommend this one for everyone. It’s just a good ol’ time in general!

Re: Creators

Re:Creators is kind of a flip on the Isekai situation. What happens when the characters from those other worlds, find their way into ours, with all of their OP abilities and powers? epic goddamn destruction, that's what! Yo, i was surprised by how much i loved this goddamn show! Definitely check this thing out.

Gate: Thus the Japanese Self-Defense Force Fought There

Gate gets a lot of sh*t for being a mediocre anime overall. To be honest the community is kind of split on this one. As a cat that has been watching anime for a long ass time, i can recognize that this is  weaker entry on this this list but, i think the world building makes up for that. This thing is littered with cliche tropes; Loli Goth goddesses, tsundere Dark Elves, Dandere wizard girls, etc. but it you can look past all of the harem-y nonsense, you kind of have a pretty legit political thriller. What happens when an overwhelming, modern, military force invades a country with the technology level of medieval times? How do those carrying swords and shields defend again those wielding assault rifles and mortars? It’s actually very interesting to see. I think those questions make this show compelling enough to check out.

There are a ton of others that come to mind; Saga of Tanya The Evil, Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody, Digimon, Drifters, Now and Then, Here and There, Magic Knigh Rayearth, Log Horizron, How Not To Summon The Demon Lord; There is a ton of content t watch. It can be overwhelming but the ten i listed above, are all excellent in their own rights and give you a decent swath of what you can expect throughout the genre.

[smokeybrand]

Spirited Away

Isekai has become kind of a bad word in the anime culture. I find this highly dubious because there are some excellent shows that feature the whole “In another world” motif. SAO kind of killed the entire genre with it’s ridiculous Weeb popularity, causing the market to be overly saturated, but even so, there are a few gems. Before everyone became aware of it’s cash-grabby nature, isekai was more a niche genre, producing great content, not just anime. Alice in Wonderland and Coraline are definite Isekai stories. Harry Potter is essentially an Isekai series. A kid, born with a special nature, get’s whisked away to a world full of magic and shenanignas? How much more Isekai can you get?

Kingdom Hearts is kind of an Isekai game franchise and it’s popular the world over. There’s a show airing stateside call Reveries that is getting pretty legit ratings and it’s basically a live action, A-spec, isekai series. There’s a plethora of comics and that immediately spring to mind. Booster Gold, Mile Morales, The Exiles; all of them world displaced and trying to find their way. Hell, Gwenpool, one of the most popular characters Marvel has ever created, is an Isekai protagonist, not to mention all of the refugees from the Ultimate Marvel universe. Isekai can be outstanding when you actually put effort into narrative. This genre lends itself to world building, character development, and is wide open for creative growth. I wanted to put a list together of a few shows that, i think, are worth taking  look at that happen to follow the whole “Alice in Wonderland” motif.

Overlord

I wrote at length about my love for this thing a few days ago. Of all the new shows in this Isekai boom, Overlord is my favorite. It has an interesting spin on the whole “defeat the Demon Lord” motif that plagues these kinds of shows in that Ains Ool Gown IS the demon lord. He’s Skeletor if Skeletor was actually competent. The world itself is growing and expanding, giving us brand new details with every season aired but it’s the characters that make this show so endearing. They’re all so rich and developed. I love everything about this show and highly recommend checking it out.

.Hack//Sign

Before SAO, there was Sign. I’m not going to spoil the plot, which is both engaging and emotional, but it’s basically the first “trapped in a game” type of narrative that really got traction here in the states. This anime was actually a companion piece to a quadrilogy of excellent, real life,PS2 games. While i’m partial to the sequel games and it’s accompanying media, .Hask//G.U., i’d be remiss not to give credit where credit is due. If you liked SAO, check out Twilight. It did it first and much, much, better.

Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World

Rem is best girl. That’s off top. Re:Zero would easily be my favorite Isekai show, if not for Overlord. This thing is kind of incredible in terms of world building but, just like my beloved Supervisor Skeletor anime, it’s the characters in Re”Zero that sell this show. They’re all so real, so human. The main protagonist,Subaru, because of certain circumstances, has the ability to return from death and that sh*t takes a toll on him. He has seen some sh*t. He has experienced some sh*t. And while he grows in strength, it’s at a horrific cost. The emotional turmoil of these resurrections are ridiculous and you feel it in Subaru’s evolution as a protagonist.

The Familiar of Zero

This one is more cutesy fun. It feels like if Harry Potter was a harem protagonist, you’d have this show. It’s not terrible, by any means, and relies heavy on sight gags and comedies but, considering it has 4 seasons, is mad popular. I haven’t watched through all of them but i did enjoy the first two and understand exactly why it’s so popular. This is another one that came out long before the boom so it has more of a richer narrative overall.

No Game No Life

No Game No Life is a personal favorite. I love this goddamn show! It’s kinetic, silly, fun, and quietly brilliant. A world where all conflicts are solved with games? A dual set of protagonists who are perfect compliments to each other in strength and weakness? An absurd premise that raises stakes to genocidal levels? Bro, No Game No Life is a goddamn classic and you NEED to check this thing out at least once. It’s more than worth. Also, Jibril is best girl.

The Vision of Escaflowne

I kind of forget this thing is an Isekai series because of the mechs but it is. This one is more of a romance-y type of show but it’s still crazy good, It’s still worth a watch. It’s one of the first to gain popularity in the states, even if the one we originally was truncated and edited to all hell,that aired on a Saturday morning cartoon block. I think, now, Funimation has the rights so you can get a decent version, uncut, and dubbed, yo check out. I loved Escaflowne. It was emotional, beautiful, and brilliant. The content was a little heady but as an adult, i can’t recommend this one more.

Tenchi Muyo! War for Geminar

Kind of in the same vein as Esclafowne, mechs over isekai so to speak, we have Tenchi Muyo! War for Geminar, one of my personal favorites. It’s actually part of the Tenchi franchise but follows another charcter like GXP. This time, we have Tenchi’s little brother, Kenshi, as he makes his way through a brand new world. Just like his big brother and friend, Sena, dude kind of develops a harem while figting to save the universe. This thing is a Tenchi show, through and through, and lord knows i’m a sucker for Tenchi, Still, bias aside, this thing is fun, beautifully animated, and choc full of action with just a hint of eechi. Also, Doll is best girl.

KonoSuba

Yo, Konosuba is wildly popular and for good reason.This thing deconstructs the entire genre and gives you one of the best comedy animes in decades. It takes nothing seriously and gives you a lighthearted tale, full of absurdity and shenanigans. The characters are all awesome and their relationships always bring a smile to your face. This show is mad good and i highly recommend this one for everyone. It’s just a good ol’ time in general!

Re: Creators

Re:Creators is kind of a flip on the Isekai situation. What happens when the characters from those other worlds, find their way into ours, with all of their OP abilities and powers? epic goddamn destruction, that's what! Yo, i was surprised by how much i loved this goddamn show! Definitely check this thing out.

Gate: Thus the Japanese Self-Defense Force Fought There

Gate gets a lot of sh*t for being a mediocre anime overall. To be honest the community is kind of split on this one. As a cat that has been watching anime for a long ass time, i can recognize that this is  weaker entry on this this list but, i think the world building makes up for that. This thing is littered with cliche tropes; Loli Goth goddesses, tsundere Dark Elves, Dandere wizard girls, etc. but it you can look past all of the harem-y nonsense, you kind of have a pretty legit political thriller. What happens when an overwhelming, modern, military force invades a country with the technology level of medieval times? How do those carrying swords and shields defend again those wielding assault rifles and mortars? It’s actually very interesting to see. I think those questions make this show compelling enough to check out. Also, Rory is best girl!

There are a ton of others that come to mind; Saga of Tanya The Evil, Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody, Digimon, Drifters, Now and Then, Here and There, Magic Knigh Rayearth, Angel Beats, Log Horizron, How Not To Summon The Demon Lord; There is a ton of content t watch. It can be overwhelming but the ten i listed above, are all excellent in their own rights and give you a decent swath of what you can expect throughout the genre.

[obstinaterixatrix]

ok I'm not waiting until I'm done sketching out each chapter. get this in batches.

note: pg 1 add abacus; pg 2 frame obscure faces of cultivator + demoness, emphasis on form/silhouette for ambiguity + have cultivator above demoness; pg 4 rephrase to reduce close repetition of ‘but’

[obstinaterixatrix]

ok so like. I was flying out from japan once and putting my carryon through whatever and something gets dinged so the search through my luggage and take some stuff out and try to run it through again. and then it happened again. and then it happened again. and of course since I was visiting japan, what they are taking out of my luggage was. a ludicrous amount of kamen rider merch. my kamen rider fourze clip. my kamen rider beast figurine. several kamen rider keychains. chip was on the other side of security looking increasingly bewildered. I just endured the experience, feeling increasingly dead inside as the hapless airport security employee unearthed yet another kamen rider figurine that may or may not be flagging the machine. it ended up being a belt buckle that I had wrapped up but anyway all this is to say that I’m sure at one point in their lives, meihui and yuki have the worst possible time they could ever have while going through airport security

[obstinaterixatrix]

@rotten-dan drew this. dan I would die and kill for you