If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.
Why anime can't resist the allure of the isekai [Popverse Jump]
If you've been following anime for the past few years, you're probably wondering where all these isekai anime come from
It is a truth universally acknowledged that there can never be an anime season without at least one major isekai series coming out. Whether it is Rising of the Shield Hero, Re:Zero, or That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, you can be sure that at least one of the most talked-about anime of the season will be an isekai. But why is that the case? Why do anime studios keep going back to the isekai genre again and again?
The answer is, of course, that we keep watching it.
While isekai itself is a modern term, elements of it can be found going back to at least the 1800s, with books like A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll. Foundational fantasy stories like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Subscribe to Popverse to read this article
Become a member and get first access to tickets and badges to our events, photo ops, exclusive content, and more.
Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news
Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy
Let Popverse be your tour guide through the wilderness of pop culture
Sign in and let us help you find your new favorite thing.
Comments
Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.