Underrated Isekai Anime

The rules of the fantasy, sci-fi, and horror universes depicted in many anime can differ from those of the real world in innumerable ways. Sometimes the world presented is an alternate history where only the royal lineages of Europe differ; sometimes it’s an alien ecosystem where even gravity behaves in new and confounding ways.

Isekai anime drop the protagonist into a new and difficult world, allowing the audience to explore and learn through their eyes. This fish-out-of-water tale is a classic format with countless examples, and it’s easy for even high-quality stories to fall through the cracks. There’s nothing wrong with popular successes, but fans of the genre owe it to themselves to sample isekai’s unsung heroes.

Updated December 24, 2024, by Mark Sammut: The Fall 2024 season is basically over, and none of its isekai anime particularly warrant a mention as underrated shows. That said, I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History and Demon Lord 2099 were fun additions to the genre, while As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World had a solid second cour. Re:ZERO and Arifureta are, obviously, not underrated by any means.

Due to the lack of Fall 2024 candidates, an early isekai anime from the year has been added instead. This isekai parody is not for everyone.

Underrated is a vague term; in this case, it refers to series that do not get much love either in terms of actual views or positive discourse. MyAnimeList’s scores and user counts will be used to provide some direction for the picks. To be considered, an anime has to have fewer than 65K users or a score lower than 7.5/10; ideally, both.

14

My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me!

Humor That Is Either Hilarious Or Boring

OK, this is a bit of a strange one. My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! is pretty much a full-blown isekai parody, one that specifically tears down the theme’s overreliance on OP characters. The anime is ridiculous, repetitive, devoid of anything resembling tension, and features surprisingly uninteresting protagonists. Along with all his other classmates, Yogiri arrives in a fantasy world, where he is initially left for dead alongside a girl named Tomochika as they do not seem to receive any powers like the other students. However, in truth, Yogiri is already a Lovecraftian monster that can kill anybody and anything with a single thought.

My Instant Death Ability was one of the most polarizing isekai anime of 2024. Nearly all the humor revolves around a character archetype arriving on the scene, only to be immediately wiped out by Yogiri. He even kills a few powerful characters by accident. As comedy is particularly subjective, this show’s value will vary greatly from person to person. As such, this anime is worth a try, just to see if it falls on somebody’s good or bad side.

13

No Longer Allowed in Another World

Starts Strong, Loses Some Steam, And Ends Strong

Overall, Summer 2024 was a pretty terrible season for isekai anime. Putting aside That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime, which was a Spring 2024 leftover, none of the lineup’s new offerings amounted to much. Suicide Squad Isekai and Dahlia in Bloom are watchable but nothing more. Failure Frame is mostly carried by a handful of “hype” moments and an edgy overpowered protagonist, both of which can be seen as cringe-worthy depending on the viewer. A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring and The Strongest Magician in the Demon Lord’s Army Was a Human are just forgettable and kind of dull. Quality Assurance in Another World has interesting ideas and is worth a watch if somebody is specifically looking for a “trapped in a game” anime.

From the season’s new series, No Longer Allowed in Another World was pretty comfortably the best, despite being far from an all-time great. Frequently funny and surprisingly touching at times, this anime initially starts as a full-blown parody that happens to feature a protagonist very clearly inspired by Osamu Dazai. Poking fun at tropes like truck-kun and the danger of OP otherworlders, No Longer Allowed in Another World has a wicked sense of humor that is carried entirely by its nihilistic MC and his mostly likable supporting players.

While losing some momentum during its middle portion, this series rediscovers its way during the final stretch, especially when it begins to tell more personal stories revolving around other summoned heroes.

12

The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash

Slow & Depressing Start Paves The Way To A Gorgeous & Charming Story

“Underrated” might not be the perfect word to describe The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash, as the anime is well-liked for the most part. However, the series spent most of Winter 2024 just a few steps away from significant momentum, inspiring occasional but inconsistent discourse. By the end of March 2024, this slow-life story had grown into one of the season’s most memorable new isekai anime; more importantly, The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash presents a surprisingly refreshing take on the theme, and it is even a great option for people who have grown tired of the typical tropes.

In a world where somebody’s value is determined by their stars, which essentially refers to their skill level, Ivy’s starless nature makes her worthless. Knowing that death awaits, the young girl runs away from her village, and she sets out to survive while living in the wilderness and making the most of her weak tamer ability. Intense as its early sections are, The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash eventually slips into a relaxing slice-of-life rhythm that allows Ivy’s warmth and innocence to shine through. Studio Massket’s animation is also shockingly good.

11

Ishura

Once The Action Gets Going, It Is Fantastic

In a fantasy world that has its share of visitors with ridiculous powers, wars are decided by a select few people rather than expansive armies. With tensions reaching a boil, two states prepare for battle by accumulating their chosen visitors, some of whom have motives that do not fully align with their chosen group.

Ishura takes a very big risk by essentially starting with five “first” episodes. Rather than fixate on a protagonist, the anime roll calls its entire lineup, giving each of them the spotlight throughout its opening episodes. This decision results in a confusing opening act that seems to be spinning its wheels, and the pieces do not start to fall into place until around episode 6, which is when the war begins and the visitors start to face off in battle. After that point, the anime consists of nothing but entertaining fights pitting overpowered characters with peculiar abilities against each other.

Although never terrible, Ishura is initially off-putting due to its story structure, and many people might have moved on before the show hit its stride.

10

Now And Then, Here And There

A Cult Classic That Handles Heavy Themes Well

Helping strangers is important. Altruism is an admirable trait. Going out of one’s way to save a strange girl from the machines trying to kidnap her is still above the call of duty for most people. Not so for Shuu Matsutani.

It turns out that’s exactly the kind of impulsive heroism that gets one whisked away to a desert world, attacked by soldiers, and accused of stealing a magical, water-making pendant. Though the animation is a little dated, Now and Then, Here and There has more than enough to make up for it. The themes are sometimes darker than its childish appearance would suggest, but those comfortable venturing into a grim world will be grateful for the journey.

9

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast For Spirits

A Calm & Comforting Snack

Whether the ability to see spirits is a blessing or a curse depends very much on the story. For college student Aoi, it’s a little bit of both. Aoi is walking past a shrine when a spirit sitting there asks her for food. She feeds him, only for the spirit, an Ogre named Odanna, to kidnap her and take her away to the Hidden Realm where all spirits dwell.

It is there that Aoi learns that her grandfather owed the Ogre a debt, and Odanna intends to take Aoi’s hand in marriage as compensation. Instead, Aoi convinces the Ogre to let her work at his inn. It might not have the depth of a great psychological anime, but Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits is still among the finest isekai around.

8

El Hazard: The Magnificent World

Early Isekai Anime That Holds Up Pretty Well

An OVA series that produced two seasons, El Hazard is not always great, but it is consistently entertaining. Makoto and Jinnai do not get along, largely thanks to the latter being jealous of the former; during a school confrontation, the two students find themselves dragged to a magical world by a mysterious woman, and they are accompanied by two other people.

El Hazard offers silly over-the-top nonsense. While not for everyone, the show’s comedy regularly hits the mark, provided a viewer does not mind its unabashedly “1990s” presentation. Nowadays, this underrated isekai anime is difficult to find, but it is worth watching if someone stumbles across it.

7

Brave Story

A Rare Isekai Anime Movie

A forgotten mid-2000s anime movie, Gonzo’s Brave Story is an isekai adventure that follows a young boy as he heads to the magical world of Vision in order to alter the trajectory of his family life. The latter has taken a terrible turn in recent days, forcing the innocent and good-natured boy to see change from an unlikely source.

Brave Story is a pretty good film that does not quite achieve excellence, mostly as the adaptation struggles to condense a fairly long story into roughly two hours. While the CGI is somewhat dated, Gonzo’s animation is generally solid, and the main characters go through a proper arc throughout the story.

6

High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even In Another World

High Production Value Elevates A Somewhat Inconsistent Series

What do a magician, multi-millionaire, genius inventor, swordswoman, Prime Minister, doctor, and journalist/former ninja all have in common? They’re the seven high school prodigies who survive a plane crash and end up in a world of medieval fantasy.

High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even in Another World might have a weird premise, but it’s exceptionally well-made, with quality animation, music, and writing. The prodigies are experts in their fields on earth, but how will those skills benefit them in a world of swords and magic? Answering that question is what this series is all about.

5

The Twelve Kingdoms

An Absolute Classic That Should Be Watched By Any Isekai Fan

For those who value thoughtful world-building, this series is an exceptional anime. To no one’s surprise, The Twelve Kingdoms features twelve kingdoms, each with a distinct culture and government. While it isn’t a realistic anime like Higehiro, the series explores its world in a rewarding way.

The kingdoms feel authentic and lived-in in a way that most anime settings simply don’t. The character development is excellent, and the series doesn’t shy away from asking hard questions to tackling grand themes. Dated animation doesn’t hamper the power of the story or the nuance of the characters’ relationships. On most levels, The Twelve Kingdoms surpasses expectations.

4

Outbreak Company

Embrace Geek Culture

An odd mashup of harem, comedy, and parody anime, Outbreak Company is about the protagonist’s quest to spread the news of otaku culture in a fantasy world where it doesn’t exist. Treating such a doomed and pointless mission as worthy of a series is hilarious in itself, and Outbreak Company capitalizes on its own absurdity at every opportunity.

Shnishi is a missionary for otaku culture in a world with zero interest in his passion. Because of this, the plot of Outbreak Company may ring true for otaku viewers who can sympathize with a hero who just wants to share their love for a beloved fictional something. This relatability may be the series’ greatest strength: it’s a geeky show, the entire mission of which is to demonstrate that geekiness is valid.

3

Didn’t I Say To Make My Abilities Average In The Next Life?!

Fun Female Lead

Genius can be isolating, separating someone from those who are less capable, something Misato Kurihara knows well. When Misato is given the opportunity to reincarnate in a fantasy world, all she wants is to be like everyone else. Unfortunately, the magical powers with which Misato is gifted are the average of all of those in the entire world, making her exceptionally powerful.

Like Sword Art Online and similar anime, Didn’t I Say To Make My Abilities Average In The Next Life?! is funny and self-aware but capable of delivering on serious moments. While it differs significantly from the light novels upon which it is based, the anime has its own strengths. As an isekai with an engaging female protagonist and plenty of in-jokes and references to other anime, Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life achieves its goal.

2

A Salad Bowl Of Eccentrics

Reverse Isekai Comedy That Goes To Some Inspired Places

Spring 2024 was a great season for isekai anime, with KonoSuba, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and Mushoku Tensei all airing new chapters that (for the most part) maintained their relatively high standards. None of those series can remotely be described as “underrated,” and the same can largely be said for the season’s new isekai anime. Re:Monster is largely rated appropriately, while As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World and Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers attracted fair attention for their level of quality. The New Gate was harmless but forgettable.

However, Spring 2024 had one other isekai anime that was generally overlooked, to the point that it might not even register as a member of the theme. A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics flips the script and teleports powerful girls from their fantasy world to Earth, with one of them literally falling on a private detective while he is in the middle of a case. A princess on the verge of meeting a harsh end, Sara uses her magical abilities to escape to Tokyo, and her guard (Livia) follows soon after. While the latter spends her first days on Earth as part of the homeless community, Sara quickly teams up with Sousuke, a former cop turned PI.

So, A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics shares a few similarities with Hinamatsuri, one of the best reverse isekai anime. The first few episodes are quite derivative of the more popular show, but the anime eventually succeeds in refining a unique identity. Sara and Sousuke’s dynamic is wholesome, but Livia’s storylines generally steal the show. The knight finds herself elevated to a deity by a cult, a bizarre plot that produces most of the anime’s biggest laughs. While hardly a masterpiece, A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics is just a fun little show.

1

KamiKatsu: Working For God In A Godless World

An Unabashedly Bizarre Comedy

Overall, 2023 was a solid year for isekai anime, with The Eminence in Shadow and Mushoku Tensei taking center stage. Series like The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen, Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke’s Mansion, and Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill are also pretty good and could arguably qualify as underrated shows; however, KamiKatsu deserves a mention since it has a higher entry barrier.

Studio Palette’s anime leaves a confusing first impression as it features terrible CGI animation, a stylistic and comedic decision that might just seem “bad” initially. Only after a few episodes does it become clear that KamiKatsu has a peculiar sense of humor, one that grows more absurd and deranged as the season progresses. At the end of the day, this anime is the definition of an acquired taste, but if someone likes it, they are likely to love it.