Summary
An adventure is an epic tale that usually features some sort of journey or quest in which the hero has a definite goal and deals with many challenges on the way. Thiscan be pairedwith so many different genres including isekai.
The isekai craze has taken over the anime community and shows no signs of slowing down. That said, when an epic adventure is fused with the idiosyncrasies of isekai, it can make for a very compelling narrative indeed. There are a fair few shows that capture this feeling in particular, and they should definitely be examined.
When Tsuyoshi Mukouda is transported to another world and then given the power of Online Supermarket, which enables him to buy items from the real world into the fantasy one. The show’s true strength lies in the dynamic in Tsuyoshi’s team which comprises of the powerful Fenrir, Fel, and the cute little slime, Sui.
Tsuyoshi is able to usehis cookingto capture the hearts of the inhabitants of the new world as he tries to make his way through it while preparing for what looks like a looming war. The more slow-paced progression of the story does it a lot of good as fans get to know Tsuyoshi even better and care for his companions. This isn’t always the case with isekai, so having it here is always a good thing.
Grimgar: Ashes and Illusionsis something of a forgotten classic and was something very different to the isekai stories that were being churned out in 2016. Unlike many of those that featured OP protagonists, the team herewas anything but. Faced with the daunting task of surviving in a new world and being abandoned by those who were stronger, the rest of the kids transferred from another world had to band together.
Grimgarreally shines in its realistic depiction of an unforgiving world. The themes of grief, and healing are heavy here and to have such a nuanced take on such a difficult topic was refreshing to see inGrimgar.
One thingGATEdid that was different from many shows was the strength of the normal human world it portrayed. Sure, typically, characters from other worlds are besotted with the things of the modern day. But in raw offensive power, there was usually deference to the other world.
Not so inGATE, as the JSDF, who featured prominently, were more than a match for the otherworlders. It followed the narrative of Youji Itami as he somehow became the leader of humanity’s efforts to communicate with the world on the other side of the portal.
When Makoto is transported to another world, he isso hated by the goddessthat summoned him that she banished him away from humanity and made it so he would not understand their language.
Like with most isekai though, Makoto is able to become OP, but he also wants to create a world for monsters where they can live in peace. Watching Makoto slowly build up his allies and the haven he wants them to live was always a joy and while not uncommon, Tsukimichi handled it really well. While Makoto is OP and has everything one could ask for, he still comes across as a really likable protagonist.
2016 had a lot of cool isekai of whichDrifterswas one. It followed Toyohisa Shimazu, who is brought into a new world to find that it is inhabited by mystical creatures, but that there are also others like him who are also historical figures brought in to defeat an evil overlord.
From the same person who created Hellsing, the art ofDriftersis amazing to look at. Although it is perhaps a lot more action than adventure, the overarching plot still has the protagonists looking to liberate a world from a deadly yoke. The film glories in its gore and depictions of violence, and while that might not be for everyone, it does setDriftersapart from many of its peers.
There are certain tropes in isekai that are common and often repeated, yet, it doesn’t make the shows they are included in any worse. For instance, the idea of a group of adventurers being summoned to another world, but one gets a skill that is considered useless. That is the same story withThe Rising Of The Shield Hero.
After being banished from the land he was summoned to, he journeys with his group to stop the ‘Waves’ that threaten to bring the new world to ruin. Later seasons would drag the story down, but there can be no denying that Shield Hero had a solid debut season of adventure.
The 12 Kingdomsis a rarity in the world of modern isekai as it truly felt like an epic fantasy that did not rely on gimmicks whatsoever in its tale and was mostly grounded within the realistic rules of fantasy.
The 12 Kingdomshas a vast sprawling world that is fully fleshed out. It was well done as the writer was perceptive enough to give the audience a great deal of detail about the life and culture of the most relevant kingdoms without going too deep into other regions that are not really featured in the story. It meant that watchers got only what they needed, and the story of Youko’s rise from a naive teenager to fearsome queen is something that isn’t so common in isekai stories anymore.
Overlordfirst aired in 2015, and it soon became clear that it was not a show like many others. In this one, Ainz, the protagonist, does feel like a threat against the world that he now inhabits. Ainz also seeks to create a utopia for demons and monsters, but as opposed to other shows where the monsters are like an oppressed class, here they arestronger than humansand at odds with them.
WhatOverlorddoes well is its treatment of the lesser characters. It would be easy to simply create characters for Ainz to mow down, but the audience will come to care for them even if they ultimately are helpless in the face of Ainz’s relentless march to glory. Characters like Gazef remain in the minds of fans even long after his demise.
Konosubais popular for its many gags and laughs, but people sometimes forget it is a proper adventure isekai. Kazuma is brought into a new world afterdying in the most ridiculous way. He somehow ensures that the goddess Aqua, followed him.
Together with his other party members, Megumi and Darkness, they traverse the land, getting in trouble, and heading towards of vague goal that should involve a demon lord. Konosuba is effortlessly funny and while most of the main cast are truly deplorable people, they are still characters people want to root for. The chemistry between the team, and the balance in the themes of comedy and adventure make Konosuba a gem of a show.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnationstormed into the hearts of anime fans in 2021 with a story that was compelling to see unfold. Watchers are introduced to Rudeus as a baby as he grows and seeks to be a better person than he was in his old life.
Mushoku Tenseiis a story of two adventures: one in which Rudeus is yanked out of his peaceful life to potentially face a great threat and another adventure which is his journey from an irredeemable individual to a responsible and compassionate adult. In the midst of all this is all the action, romance, and dread anyone could ask for.
