The Best Isekai Anime of 2021
Isekai anime is a beloved genre amongst many fans now. It is evident in the sheer number of Isekai anime being released each season, which includes sequels, brand new ones and at times even prequels. This year of 2021 has been particularly rich with Isekai titles, which have been hyped over the past few years, and fans are ready to jump right into these!
Isekai is a genre of light novels, manga, anime and video games which tell the story of a person from the real human world being sent to or reborn in another world. They can either get teleported to, displaced to or even trapped in this other world. Whether they want to go back to their own world depends entirely on the character however. This other world is typically a fantasy world, a parallel universe or a virtual reality. In this new environment, the fans get to join the protagonist as he or she learns about the new world, its rules, laws, traditions, cultures, philosophies and norms. The manner in which the character adapts to the new world right alongside the viewer or reader is very captivating, especially in the form of Light Novels, as such most Isekai anime hail from a Light Novel. More often than not, the new world is full of magic, fantasy, science fiction and the sort, which feels like a huge leap from the mundane normal human world.
A list of Isekai anime being released this 2021 (or already started) is below, in no particular order.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
What better way to start off this list than “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation”. This epic series was released on January 11th this year and is still ongoing. Brought to fans by Studio Bind, it belongs to the genres of Drama, Magic and Fantasy. Based on the Light Novel of the same name, this story revolves around Rudeus Greyrat, who are originally a NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) in the real world. A thirty-four year old shut-in who got bullied, scorned, insulted and oppressed his entire life gets caught up in a tragic car accident. Despite resolving to change his ways and do something heroic, his attempt to save a person from getting hit by a car ultimately ends in his own death. He is then reborn into a magical fantasy world, while retaining all his knowledge and experience from his previous life. Despite being born to two loving parents as their beloved little baby boy, Rudeus is still a massive perverted otaku.
He adapts to this new world and his new life quite fast due to having the brain of a full grown man and starts boasting potent magical aptitude, exceeding all expectations and limitations. With the help of a mage named Roxy Migurdia he hones his magic skills while mastering swordplay with his father Paul. He soon encounters a girl named Sylphiette whom he becomes close friends with as well. All is well in his new life, but his traumatic past still haunts him from time to time, but he resolves to make the best of this second chance he has been given and hopes to find something he completely missed out on in his previous life, love. But not to forget, almost all of them are huge perverts to begin with! Season 2 is also scheduled from July 2021 onwards, but not much is known about it yet.
My Next Life as a Villainess:
All Routes Lead to Doom!
“My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!” or “Hamefura” for short is getting a Season 2 this year, July onwards. Not much else is known but Season 1 was a massive hit during its run from April to June 2020. Based on a Light Novel following genres of Comedy, Drama, Romance, Fantasy, and School, the story follows Katarina Claes who finds herself reincarnated into an Otome Game she played when she was in the real world. Now, doesn’t that sound ideal, to find oneself in a game one loved. But unfortunately for her, she is reincarnated as the game’s main antagonist, the villainess of the game. While having the memories of her past life, she realizes that her ultimate fate in the game Fortune Lover is nothing more than utter doom. Knowing the game pretty well and its ending, she is determined to use her extensive game knowledge to avoid the impending doom awaiting her at the finale. She is her own one-woman-army fighting to break free of the cursed destiny no matter how tough the path. Easier said than done, she needs to be extra careful to avoid any death flags that will only speed up the onset of the conclusion she is hellbent on avoiding. All her actions have an effect on the other characters around her, and ultimately she hopes that it will all sum up to her own benefit, as a persistent and headstrong villainess.
So I’m a Spider, So What?
“Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka?” or “So I’m a Spider, So What?” also released on January 8th this year. Brought to fans by Studio Millepensee, it is a series based on a Light Novel under the genres of Adventure, Comedy and Fantasy. As the title suggests, it follows the story of an unfortunate high school girl who gets reincarnated as a Spider. One fateful day at a normal high school, while masses of its students are engaged in their normal activities, without any warning or precedence, a major catastrophe strikes the whole school, taking the lives of all in it. But like a rainbow beyond a storm, most of the students get reincarnated into another world as nobles, royalty, and folks of prestigious backgrounds. The protagonist obviously did not get lucky in this draw, and now struggles to survive as a Spider of the weakest type. Despite the many hardships and terrible situations, she is determined to survive through it all. Facing life-endangering threats on a daily basis, she realizes that the world is very RPG-like (Role Playing Game), with a system that allows her to level up and evolve to be stronger every time she hunts down her prey and defeat various monsters. Believing that her hard grind will be rewarded, she wastes no effort every day to become stronger and ultimately strives to get a better draw in life.
The Rising of the Shield Hero
“Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari” Season 2 or “The Rising of the Shield Hero” Season 2 is set to be released this year. Studios Kinema Citrus and DR Movie are gonna release this Light Novel based series featuring the genres of Action, Adventure, Drama, and Fantasy. Season 1 was a huge hit in 2019, which ran from January to June. This is one of the titles featured in the Isekai Quartet. The story looks at the Kingdom of Melromarc, a country wrought with many catastrophes, wave after wave which has left the land ravaged and its citizens in dire straits over centuries. Four Cardinal Heroes are summoned here from modern real-world Japan (Isekai-ed) to become its heroes. These ordinary men turned heroes have bestowed a sword, spear, bow, and shield (one weapon per person) in order to save the Kingdom.
Naofumi Iwatani is yet another person who gets the short end of the draw, reincarnated as the “Shield Hero”. Previously an otaku with a lacklustre personality, now he is armed only with a Shield having weak offensive abilities. He is thus ridiculed and insulted by his fellow Cardinal Heroes and even the normal folk. So while the other heroes got resources and allies to train with, Naofumi finds only one person willing to accompany him, Malty Melromarc. But as ill fate would have it, she betrays him and falsely accuses him of sexual assault. His situation worsens as he gets discriminated against and hated by the people. With bitter feelings of anger, pain and mistrust boiling inside, he resolves to someday become strong and accepted on his own. But the journey proves too tough to solo, he buys a demi-human slave named Raphtalia, whom he thus saves from the verge of death to accompany him. Despite the people’s ill will towards him, Naofumi fights difficult battles of Catastrophe waves to save the kingdom and its people.
Log Horizon: Entaku Houkai
“Log Horizon: Entaku Houkai”, which is the third season of the Log Horizon series began airing on January 13th 2021. Presented by Studio Deen, it belongs to the genres of Action, Gaming, Fantasy, Adventure and Magic. Based on the Light Novel, it looks at a group of real world people seemingly trapped in a world very similar to a video game they played in real life. After around one year following the events of season 2, Protagonist Shiroe and his guild “Log Horizon” face new threats as they continue to adapt to the new world. The problems stemming from the new type of monsters called Genius and the power struggle between the Eastern and Western aristocrats worsening by the day make their situation much more difficult. To add to the mix, the once united Adventurers of the Round Table start growing apart from each other. This system Shiroe worked hard to implement in order to unify and build order among the split up adventures is now headed for doom in the latest season. An underrated anime, Log Horizon is a great series featuring a variety of video game elements, great world building, interesting plot, and vivid characters. A must-watch this season, especially for Gamer Otakus.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
The best selling Light Novel of all time, “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” Season 2 is also bestowed upon fans this season. The series began airing on 12th January 2021, presented by Studio 8bit, it falls under the genre of Comedy and Fantasy. This season is split into two parts, with Season 2 Part 2 set to release in July 2021. This season follows beloved protagonist Rimuru Tempest (by both characters and fans alike) as his Jura Tempest Alliance grows even more. With plans set to meet with the Animal Kingdom of Eurazania and to reunite with King Gazel, it’s never a dull moment with this overpowered Slime. However, the gap between the monsters and humans of this Isekai world continues to widen and now Rimuru must prepare to face off against the strongest foe yet in this epic sequel series. “TenSura” is an absolute masterpiece of an Isekai anime, with great comedy, epic battles, lovable characters, solid world building and a flowing plot with intermittent mystery and darker aspects. The Isekai of Isekais, it is a must watch and is well worthy of its throne as the Best Selling Light Novel Series.
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
“Re: Life in Another World from Zero” 2nd Season Part 2 started airing on January 6th 2021. A masterpiece presented by studio White Fox, it is one of the most popular Isekai anime. Based on the Light Novel, it belongs to the genre of Psychological, Drama, Thriller and Fantasy. The sequel to its Season 2 Part 1 which aired from July to September in 2020, Subaru learns more behind the Death Loop and the Witches of Sin. Following this, he resolves to save Emilia and his friends from even further doom.
In Part 1, after his fateful encounter with Echidna, the Witch of Greed, Subaru is thrown into spirals of the past and future. Once again at the brink of hopeless despair, the strength of his resolve to save those dear to him is tested once again, in a battle of endurance and strength. This season will feature everlasting contracts, past sins and unrequited love which will all clash and continue to drown in a pool of blood, characteristic of Re: Zero’s style.
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord Ω
“How Not to Summon a Demon Lord Ω” which is the series Season 2 is set to release on April 9th 2021. The series is done by Studios Tezuka Productions and Okuruto Noboru and follows the genres of Harem, Comedy, Magic, Ecchi and Fantasy. Based on the Light Novel, this season will follow Diablo as he rescues a holy woman who was being pursued by a Paladin. This woman turns out to be the most important person in the Church and the trio consisting Rem and Shera end up escorting her to the Zircon Tower after befriending her. This tower however, is deep in Demon Lord territory and on the way they arrive at a new town which poses new challenges, including the appearance of an aggressive gargantuan monster attacking them. The irony is once again set in motion as the self-proclaimed Demon Lord is now protecting a holy follower of the gods.
Thus ends this list of the most hyped Isekai anime being released this year. There are plenty more, much more than what could be contained in one post, so keep your eyes peeled for any and all updates on what else is in store for Isekai fans this eventful year!
