What is Isekai? Learn about the Isekai genre

If you have just learned about Japanese culture through manga and anime, you have probably heard the term Isekai. So what does Isekai mean in Japanese manga and anime culture? Let's learn about it in detail with TipsMake.com.

What genre is Isekai?

Isekai (異世界 in Japanese) can be roughly understood as Another world or another world, another dimension . In isekai, the main character is an ordinary person transported to another world. The new world is always different from the main character's original world. The new world can be ancient, magical or futuristic. The main characters of Isekai also have a quest or goal to complete by exploring the fantasy world.

Isekai is now noticed by many viewers and has become recognized as a genre in the Japanese anime industry. Some anime/manga series of the Isekai genre that you may have heard of include: Digimon: Digital Monsters, Spirited Away, The Familiar of Zero, No Game No Life, Re: Zero - Starting again in another world , Overlord, At that time I reincarnated into Smile and Rise of the Shield Hero.

Main characteristics of Isekai

Isekai's universe often exists in many different worlds and includes some main worlds as follows:

1. The main character's real world is located in a fantasy universe, or a place in the virtual world (like in a game, for example) becomes the real world in which the main character will live.
2. A completely new world, where the main character will be reincarnated into another character, who may or may not possess his previous memories.

The ways for the main characters to travel to other worlds are also quite diverse. Most of the people brought to the unusual world will come from NEETs, hikikomori or gamers, the rest are normal people and die due to the following reasons:

Sudden death

1. Due to overwork (Death March Kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousou Kyoku, Isekai Yakkyoku, Slime Taoshite 300-nen, Shiranai Uchi ni Level Max ni Nattemashita)
2. Encountering animals that suffered severe pain and died (Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka?)
3. Death from constant shock (KonoSuba)

Accident

1. Traffic accident (Isekai Kenkokuki, Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu)
2. Stabbed to death (Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken, Isekai no Meikyuu Toshi de Chiyu Mahoutsukai Yattemasu)
3. Death by shipwreck (Yondome wa Iya na Shizokusei Majutsushi)
4. Tripping down the stairs and falling to death (Akuyaku Reijou wa, Shoumin ni Totsugitai!!)
5. Death: (World Teacher: Isekaishiki Kyouiku Agent)

Some typical works of the Isekai genre

There are many different Isekai works that you can refer to, TipsMake.com will classify them according to the ways the main character appears in Isekai for your convenience.

Incarnate into works

1. Gamer: Sword Art Online, Overlord or Death March Kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousou Kyoku
2. Anime: Buta Koushaku Ni Tensei Shitakara, Kondo Wa Kimi Ni Suki To Iitai

Summoned to a new world

1. Become heroes who are knights like Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari
2. Become an adventurer like Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou
3. Transform into a slave like in Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu

Regeneration

Reincarnated in another form instead of a human

1. Transformed into a water drop-shaped Slime with special abilities. At that time, I was reincarnated into a Slime.
2. Transform into a goblin (goblin) in Re:Monster.
3. Transformed into a sword in the Tensei Shitara Kendeshita series.

Reincarnated into another person

1. Become a child like Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu or Knight's & Magic.
2. Possessed another person in sekai Yakkyoku, Isekai Kenkokuki

Reincarnated as their old selves

1. There are additional special super powers in Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni
2. There are no powers like in KonoSuba

Hopefully the above information can help readers understand more about the Isekai genre that is very popular today.

Jessica Tanner

Update 04 April 2024