With the rise of the genre in recent years, there are currently too many Isekaianimepremiering every season for viewers to keep track of. While even casual anime viewers may know aboutseries likeOverlord,Re: ZeroandThat Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, which had widespread to be the flagship of the genre and amassed international recognition,there are many isekai who are known only by a few entrenched isekai enthusiasts.
However, popularity doesn’t always determine the quality of a story, so even after failing to break into the mainstream, there are a number of isekai anime that are a must-watch for viewers looking to dive into a different world without the typical tropes of the genre. Furthermore,these underrated isekai are hidden gems with enjoyable stories that will definitely leave a mark on viewers.
While it failed to make a significant impact during its season,From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!features a refreshing story that goes a little out of the mold. Serving as a parody of the otome villainess subgenre, the anime follows a respectable middle-aged father, Kenzaburou Tondabayashi, who, after a traffic accident, is reincarnated as Grace Auvergne, a beautiful villainess and main antagonist in the favorite game of his daughter.
Kenzaburou has to get used to living like a young princess, but given his own nature, he unintentionally takes a parental role to many of his schoolmates, which ends up derailing the game’s plot in somewhat unexpected and hilarious ways.From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!is a simple yet entertaining story without many of the tropes of the genre, like harem, fanservice, or overpowered characters, in addition to many references to geek culture, endearing familiar bonds, charming characters, and a harmless sense of humor that makes it enjoyable from start to finish.
The Ambition of Oda Nobunais a romantic comedy set in feudal Japan thatgives another view of the period by making famous characters of the time women. The protagonist is a student addicted to strategy games based on the Sengoku period who ends up going to another world as a servant of the all-powerful heir of the Oda Clan, Nobuna.
InThe Ambition of Oda Nobuna, despite having isekai romance tropes like harem, the romance takes a more wholesome route, focusing on one girl. Furthermore, the anime has great character design, and the animation is fluid, especially in the battle scenes, which, in addition to the anime’s military and political intrigues, are perfect for fans of action and history. Additionally,the fact that Yoshiharu knows the future is one of the biggest traits of the story, as it gives him an advantage in overcoming the conflict that arises.
The Dungeon of the Black Company
Cast
Kinji Ninomiya is a NEET who has amassed enough money through real-estate investment to fund a penthouse lifestyle without ever having to work. This changes when a portal suddenly transports him to a fantasy world where he quickly ends up enslaved to a mining company extracting crystals from a dungeon.
The anime is set in a fantasy but industrial world, where the protagonist, Kinji Ninomiya, is not summoned to be a hero by a beautiful princess or goddess but to be enslaved by an evil corporation. Full of satire and with very funny criticisms of the modern labor system, highlighting everything from toxic work environments to worker rebellions, touching on topics such as discrimination and distribution of wealth,The Dungeon of Black Companyis an isekai out of the ordinary.
Likewise, Ninomiya isn’t driven by his sense of justice, but by his desire to accumulate wealth, reach the top of society, and live a carefree life, but his schemes to exploit others always tend to backfire on him, succeeding in making viewers laugh. This makesThe Dungeon of Black Companyone ofthe most innovative isekaiby addressing adventure not from the classic journey of a hero but from the worker’s perspective.
The story ofKnight’s and Magicshows a young genius programmer addicted to mecha who suffers a terrible death but is resurrected in a new world in the body of a child. From this point, Ernesti Echevarria will use his knowledge as a programmer to learn magic and one day be able to fulfill his dream of controlling a Silhouette Knight.
Knight’s and Magic blendsa medieval magic atmosphere with giant robots similar to the underrated isekaiEscaflowne. However, due to its simpler plot,Knight’s and Magicdidn’t achieve as much popularity aside from fans of the mecha genre. However, how the protagonist uses the knowledge he has about his world, relates to it, and learns about his new reality makes him a more compelling character than many other generic isekai protagonists.
While it doesn’t have an outstanding animation quality, which prevents it from reaching more recognition,The Faraway Paladinis one of theisekai anime that deserves more love. The anime follows Will, who, after being reborn in a fantasy world, is raised by three undead who find him abandoned and teach him everything they know to become a wise warrior. But the best part ofThe Faraway Paladinis its marked influence on Tolkien’s works, which turns to create an amazing story with incredible world-building and a similar feeling to high fantasies likeThe Lord of the RingsandDungeons and Dragons.
Having had a fighter, a magician, and a priestess as teachers, Will learns all kinds of skills, and viewers are able to watch him as he grows and perfects them, but he is also on a quest to be a better, more courageous, and thoughtful person to avoid the mistakes of his past life. With many slice-of-life moments,The Faraway Paladinis an isekai that will appeal to fans of more introspectiveanimeslikeFrieren: Beyond the Journey’s End.
Isekai has found more popularity in recent years, causing viewers to not consider some retro animes part of the genre, which is the case with the shōnen seriesIdaten Jump.Mixing the thrill of fantasy elements with mountain terrain bikinginIdaten Jump, Sho Yamato gets sent to another world, X-Zone,where bike racing holds a whole new meaning, becoming a means of survival through high-stakes races.
Sho’s motivation will be to collect 10 golden emblems through several races and win the Idaten Battle, which is the only way to return home. Despite being a sports anime with touches of fantasy,Idaten Jumpdidn’t achieve the popularity of other series likeInazuma Elevenor more realistic ones likeSlam Dunk. However,Idaten Jump’s focus on intense competition and its vibrant characters make it an enjoyable watch for anime sports fansor for those nostalgic about the retro vibes of the early 2000s series.
MÄR: Märchen Awakens Romancefollows Ginta, a young boy who is always dreaming about another world, until one day he is transported to the country of his dreams, Mar Heaven, where he discovers the existence of metal accessories that have special powers, getting a new partner. As a typical shōnen, during Ginta’s incursion into the world of Mar Heaven, he will have adventures while making enemies and allies and increasing his strength, ending up involved in a conflict of great scale.
MÄR: Märchen Awakens Romanceis a classic anime that has been forgotten over time, but that stood out from other shōnen by making the characters' powers come not from them but from magical objects named Arms and by having almost all the characters in the series based on traditional Western tales. As a result,the anime is not only great for fans of action but has many referencesto fairy tales, mythology, legends, or Japanese culture that elevate the viewing experience.
Ya Boy Kongming,also known asParipi Koumei, is one of the most unique reverse isekai, where the legendary strategist, Zhuge Liang, is transported to modern Japan after wishing to be reborn in a peaceful world and meets the young singer Eiko. After this faithful encounter, Konming becomes Eiko’s agent, using his strategies to impulse her artistic career.
The anime with brushes of history is silly and surrealist, and amidst its absurd premise, it’s a story about personal improvement and passion for music, teaching through Kongming’s intricate plans the difficulties in the journey of amateur singers looking to reach a greater stage. As a result,Ya Boy Kongminghas many emotional moments and character growth, elevated by the spectacular animation by P.A. Works and a great soundtrack filled with catchy songs.
