Best Isekai Anime That Are Finished And Tell Complete Stories

As the world has progressed and anime has become more mainstream, a much more common theme is the drip-feeding of stories to fans in seasonal clumps than as one cohesive story. For this reason, it isn’t uncommon for anime seasons to end with no true resolution of the story for years on end.

In the isekai genre, this is also quite common and there are a lot of great shows today where the end isn’t even in sight. This doesn’t work for everyone as some people just want to start and finish their isekai stories. The good news is that there are also a lot of shows that are done and dusted and should be given a chance.

11

Aura Battler Dunbine

Before Gundam There Was Dunbine

For many, Aura Battler Dunbine was perhaps the first isekai anime as it is understood today. Released in 1983, it was created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, who is best known for his work with the Gundam series. Therefore, this show has its fair share of mecha action.

It follows Shou Zama who is whisked to another world to fight a war for his new principal, Drake Luft. Aura Battler Dunbine is a fascinating story with a lot of the things Gundam fans will be used to including political intriguing, backstabbing, and epic battles.

10

Marchen Awakens Romance

Another Spiky-Haired Protagonist Must Save An Isekai World Once Again

One of the staples of shonen was the main character’s hairstyle which was usually spiky and impossible to imagine in real life. This time, the spiky hair belongs to Toramizu Ginta who is summoned into another world to…fight in a war.

MÄR was also an early isekai premiering in 2005 during the heyday of the big 3 in those days. The story is decidedly 2000s anime, with all the tropes of that era including filler episodes, tournament arcs, and so on. The action is nice and having a war story that references Chess is always a plus. With 105 episodes, there is a lot for a watcher to sink their teeth into.

9

Kiba

Zed And His Friend Noah Brave An Unknown New World

Kiba is a show also from the early 2000s that many might not have paid attention to. It follows Zed and Noah who wind up in a new world where he is chosen by Amil Gaoul, a key spirit, to gather the other 5 key spirits and obtain a power that could save or destroy the world. Zed seeks to live in peace, but that will never be easy.

Kiba is an anime original which means there was no Manga source material to rely one. Therefore, at the end of its 51-episode run, it can be considered complete. The art, soundtrack, and everything really, is a throwback to that era of anime.

8

The Familiar Of Zero

Saito And Louise’s Romance Carries On For Several Seasons

The Familiar Of Zero is something of an old-school harem anime which just happens to have an isekai element. Saito is a normal Japanese boy transported to a new world to serve as the familiar of the magically inept Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière.

The series last four seasons and while unfortunately, the author of the work, Noboru Yamaguchi, died, the story itself had a conclusion with its 4th season. There is some action and story to look forward to, but Familiar Of Zero leans into its comedy and for fans of the violent tsundere brand of comedy, they will love this.

7

Magic Knight Rayearth

CLAMP Were At Their Best With Rayearth

From magical girlf to magic knights, CLAMP, a coalition of talented mangakas, created some truly memorable shows with Magic Knight Rayearth being one. Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki, and Fuu Hououji started off as strangers who were whisked to another world, Cephiro, to save it.

The story intially seems straightforward, but saving Cephiro is anything but. The manga is relatively short, and it produced two anime seasons that tell a tale of love, war, and personal growth for the protagonists. The story takes risks and will not always go the way it is expected to.

6

Re:Creators

What Happens When Fictional Favorites Come Into The Real World?

Strictly speaking, Re:Creators is a reverse Isekai, but in all honesty, that’s basically the same thing as an isekai. Re:Creators asks the question: what if the strong fictional characters in media could come to earth?

It is told from the point of view of Souta Mizushino, an aspiring writer, who finds himself surrounded by all these characters. But, the true star is the terrifying villain, Altair. Re:Creators is an underrated gem with a short run (22 episodes) and a satisfying ending that makes it something of a must-watch for isekai fans.

5

Now And Then, Here And There

Bleak, Depressing, But An Excellent Story Regardless

Shou was a normal kid who just loved having fun. Unfortunately, while trying to save a mysterious girl called Lala-Ru, he is taken into a barren wasteland of a world called Hellywood. Here, Shou is privy to some great atrocities as he tries to find a way to escape the hands of the crazed ruler, Hamdo.

The story is a hard one to stomach and is an unflinching look at the horrors of war. Thankfully, it is only 13 episodes long and therefore, doesn’t drag out the suffering for too long.

4

Fushigi Yuugi

Miaka Has To Gather Seven Celestial Warriors

Miaka and Yui stumble on a strange book and somehow find themselves in a strange new world. Miaka is said to be a promised priestess who is instrumental to the fate of the world and must gather seven celestial warriors.

A classic tale from an earlier and more straightforward time in anime. At 52 episodes, Fushigi Yuugi exhausts its story and fans get to see Miaka grow into a capable character who is able to take on the unenviable responsibility of saving the world.

3

The Vision Of Escaflowne

Another Excellent Fusing Of Isekai And Mecha

A lot of isekai back in the day were shoujo and a fair few had a lot of mecha elements. The Vision of Escaflowne is one of those as Hitomi is pulled into another world along with the mysterious boy Van, whom she had helped only a little while ago.

Escaflowne is a tale that also talks about war, and as Hitomi follows Van who is bent on securing revenge for the destruction of his home, she grows exponentially. Escaflowne was an underrated gem back in its day and recently more and more people have returned to it to discover its charm.

2

The 12 Kingdoms

Youko Nakajima never felt like she fit in and seemed to be playing a role to meet everyone’s expectations. When she is whisked away to another world on the idea that she is a queen who must come and take her place, she is introduced to a harsh new world that was also unwilling to accept her.

Youko meets with allies and has to battle powerful foes as she seeks to rule her people. The 12 Kingdoms’ strength is in its world-building as watchers are introduced to a well-developed mythical world with its own rules, creatures, customs, and legends. The story is an epic in every way and tells a terrific tale that should be experienced.

1

The Boy And The Beast

This Father And Son Tale Has A Lot Of Valuable Lessons

This 2015 movie is about a boy, Ren, who finds himself in the world of beasts where he is trained by the difficult Kumatetsu. The two grow a sort of bond as they each help each other in various ways.

As a movie, the story of The Boy And The Beast is self-contained and is shorter than any other show in this piece. It delves into the meaning of identity and the nature of kindness. The ending was painful for some, but all in all, it was quite satisfying.