Sword Art Online is an unforgettable isekai that paved the way for many of the series that came after it. Although the series had a major cultural impact since its release in 2012, it wasn’t the first of its kind. Many isekai came before it.
Isekai is a genre that has existed throughout both international and Japanese literature and folk tales since ancient times. Since then, the genre of isekai has expanded to include many films, video games, novels, televised series, and much more. Sword Art Online is the first series that comes to mind for most anime fans when discussing influential isekai. However, there are other series that are just as, if not more, captivating. The early 2000s was a great time for isekai.
10 Battle Girls: Time Paradox, An Isekai World Where No Boys Are Allowed
The televised anime, Battle Girls: Time Paradox, based on the similarly titled pachinko game series, premiered in 2011 and aired for 13 episodes. The anime is centered around Yoshino Hide, a normal teen, who winds up strangely shipped to a land that seems, by all accounts, to be Feudal Japan.
However, it turns out to be an alternate world only inhabited by women. Yoshino winds up stumbling upon the medieval ruler, Nobunaga Oda and helps her on her journey to assemble the bits of a Crimson Armor to conquer all of Japan.
9 Dog Days, An Isekai That Takes Place In A Dog-Eat-Dog World
After the series premiere in April 2011, Dog Days ran for three seasons and concluded in March 2015. The series follows Shinku Izumi, an athletic boy who studies at Kinokawa International School in Japan. He is randomly summoned by Princess Millhiore of the Biscotti Republic to become a fighter and protector of her country.
Once appearing in this incredible world, Shinku rapidly assumes the job of a fruitful saint. However, shortly after his arrival, he learns that he is unable to return home to Earth and leave this alternate world filled with dog-like citizens.
8 Tenchi Muyo! War On Geminar, An Isekai Spin-Off Of The Iconic Tenchi Muyo! Series
The Japanese OVA Tenchi Muyo! War On Geminar was a spin-off from the Tenchi Muyo! series. It aired for exactly one year, from March 2009 to March 2010. The story takes place in the alternate world, known as The Land of Geminar.
In this world, countless wars were waged using Seikijin, bio-mechanical weapons constrained by Seikishi utilizing enchantment power called Ahou. 15-year-old Kenshi Masaki, the half-brother of Tenchi Masaki, is summoned to Geminar for unknown reasons and turns out to be an incredibly talented Seikishi.
7 The Familiar Of Zero, An Isekai About An Outcast And Her Strange Familiar
From 2006 to 2012, The Familiar of Zero was adapted into an anime that ran for four seasons. The plot of the isekai focuses on Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, a self-consumed mage in a universe of wands, shrouds, and eminence. Despite her studies, Louise isn’t great at magic, procuring her the moniker of “Louise the Zero” from her classmates.
When tasked with performing a summoning ritual, Louise’s calling brings about a calamitous blast. However, when everything settles down, a kid named Saito Hiraga shows up. Presently Louise’s familiar, Saito learns to deal with his new life as Louise works to prove herself.
6 Kiba, The Trading Card Game Tie-In Isekai
The 51 episode anime series Kiba was broadcast from April 2006 to March 2007. The isekai produced by Aniplex and Madhouse was highly successful and went on to air in North America on Toonami Jetstream from 2008 to 2009. The series takes place in an overbuilt world, where 15-year-old Zed longs for growth and opportunity.
While escaping the authorities of his reality, he is transported to a world run by nature rather than machines. There, he meets a young Shard Caster named Roia. Not long after his arrival, Zed learns his dearest companion, Noah, traveled to the new world as well. Together, they become caught up in the methods of their new world while growing into their new roles.
5 Marchen Awakens Romance (MÄR), The Game-Like Isekai That Later Became An Actual Video Game
Officially abbreviated to MÄR, Marchen Awaken Romance is an anime series that began airing in April 2005. Upon its release, viewers were introduced to Ginta, a Japanese secondary school kid who regularly dreamed about a land known as Mar Heaven. Unexpectedly, he is transported to the fanciful land.
Upon his arrival, he learns of amazing weapons known as Arms. Alongside his newly made companions, Ginta sets out to obliterate the Chess, a group driven by Phantom, committed to achieving Mar Heaven’s Ultimate Demise.
4 King From Now On!, An Alternate World Inhabited By Demons
Commonly referred to by its original Japanese title, Kyou Kara Maou!, King From Now On! is an anime that originally ran from 2004 to 2006. Unlike the second and third seasons, the first season of the series followed the story of the light novels it was based on fairly closely by focusing on Yuri Shibuya and his normal life that got completely flipped upside down.
Following a bullying incident, Yuri is mysteriously transported to another world where he is crowned the demon king based on his physical appearance.
3 .Hack//Sign, The Virtual Reality Isekai That Rivals SAO
A unique anime that explores psychological and sociological concepts, .hack//Sign was a brand new take on isekai. The series aired for 26 episodes in 2002 and centered around Tsukasa, an introverted young man who wakes up in an online role-playing game known as The World.
After becoming a character in the RPG, he learns that he is trapped in the online universe. Strangely enough, he still has human senses and emotions. Tsukasa quickly befriends other characters who help him understand his surroundings and figure out a way to eventually log out of the game.
2 Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, The Perfect Blend Of Isekai And Parody
During the spring of 2002, Gainax and Madhouse co-produced the series Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi. In the anime, beloved companions Arumi and Sasshi are occupants of the Abenobashi business area in Abeno-Ku, Osaka.
After a mishap, they end up moving to an alternate world of swords and witchcraft. In their endeavor to return to reality, they wind up traveling through a series of unreasonable universes based on sci-fi, war, fantasy, dating sim games, and American motion pictures.
1 The Twelve Kingdoms, A High-Fantasy Isekai For Medieval History Buffs
Also known as Record of 12 Countries, The Twelve Kingdoms is an isekai based on a series of Japanese fantasy novels. The anime premiered in April 2002 and ran for 45 episodes until its conclusion in August 2003. In the series, Nakajima Youko, a normal, fairly shy secondary school honor student meets an odd man named Keiki, who swears loyalty to her.
Before she could appropriately assess what was occurring, devil-like animals assault Youko and her companions. After which, they are transported into an alternate world. Isolated from Keiki, Youko and her companions do whatever they can to make do.
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