Summary
Some anime shows set themselves apart from all others due to their sheer size. This has nothing to do with the number of episodes, but how expansive the stories feel. One of the best examples of this isOne Piece,which, in addition to amind-boggling number of episodes, features a huge cast and an even larger world where the fate of the protagonist has affected everything.
There are shows that do this in almost every genre, and isekai is no exception. Isekai lends itself well to this premise, as the very idea of being in another world introduces the potential for very high stakes in an expansive, detailed setting.
Knight’s And Magicis a 2017 anime in which anotaku programmerwho loves mechanical robots, dies and is reincarnated in a new world where the people fight using giant robots called Silhouette Knights powered by magic.
Now known as Ernesti Echevarria and blessed with impressive magical abilities, the protagonist looks to fulfill his ambition of being able to build mechs. The world of Fremmevilla starts out small, but as the episodes go on, it expands as more kingdoms are introduced and the shadow of war looms over everything.
Now And Then, Here And Thereis one of the older isekai series, and came out before the genre became as popular as it is today. It tells the story of Shuu, who finds himself in another world in a bid to save a girl he has just met, Lala-Ru.
The show uses Shuu to take the viewer into aworld ravaged by war, suffering, and scarcity. Watchers experience Shuu’s torture, pain, and resilience with him while also realizing the large-scale consequences of his actions. The sense of feeling small and helpless in a world that isn’t fair to anyone, is somethingNow And Then, Here And Theredoes beautifully.
Some might object to callingFate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babyloniaan isekai. However, it meets the genre criteria in the same way thatInuyashadoes, andInuyashais considered an isekai in many circles. As part of theFatefranchise,FGOalready has a sense of scale that spans across multiple timelines.
The show looks to immerse viewers in the world of 2655 BC Mesopotamia where Gilgamesh rules and is looking to protect his city. Throw in some demonic beasts threatening the peace of Uruk, and everyone gets an epic showcase.
Mushoku Tenseiis one of the most popular isekai currently airing, and part of its appeal is its vast sense of scale. Viewers follow Rudeus literally from the day he is born in the new world. While the early episodes ofMushoku Tenseisuggest a small-scale story of an overpowered character growing up in a small town, it shifts rather suddenly.
Rudeus has to leave home, and then travel to different parts of the world withdifferent races and powers. This givesMushoku Tenseian amazing sense of being a small part of a huge tale. The involvement of powerful entities, such as the Dragon god, also add to the scale of the story.
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slimestarts off simply enough: a salaryman winds up murdered and transported to another world where he is now a slime. While gimmicky on the surface,That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slimeslowly builds up to an incredible climax.
Slowly, Rimuru Tempest (the name the slime assumes) starts building his own society. Soon, he comes into conflict with other empires and societies.The political intrigue, drama, and intrigue develop over time, immersing up the viewer as they see this expansive world Rimuru inhabits come to life.
Tsukimichi is also an isekai with some of the common tropes that everyone is used to now. The protagonist is transported to another world, imbued with a useless power, but is somehow able to become overpowered, and all the ladies fawn over him.
However, Makoto is a much more likable main character than most. As he begins to build an empire where outcasts like himself can dwell in peace, the second season comes along and raises the stakes. It introduces other heroes from Makoto’s world and more empires, kingdoms, and races, all slowly coming to grips with the growing influence ofMakoto and his empire.
The 12 Kingdomsuses its simple isekai premise to craft an intricately detailed world. When Youko Nakajima is whisked away from her mundane life to become the queen of a kingdom in another world, she feels out of her element.
Youko’s path to becoming queenis not a simple one, and she is soon embroiled in a conflict that involves the most powerful forces in the country she is to rule with some intrigue from the other kingdoms. However, the story doesn’t focus entirely on Youko. Viewers get to see the world through the eyes of other individuals, some in completely different empires located in the same world. This goes a long way in creating a grand sense of scale for the series. The series is fondly remembered as one of the most well put-together isekai shows of the generation.
