Isekai is a genre filled with vibrant worlds, colorful characters, and possibilities that can melt the minds of fans. A good isekai show is not only marked by the cast but also by the art direction. Shows like I Was Reincarnated where the 7th Prince uses art direction to take the show to the next level, showing explosive battles like fireworks. Other shows like Overlord use their dark tones to match the theme of the show. There is nothing more terrifying than seeing Ainz Ooal Gown in his armor, under the pitch black night sky, commanding his evil forces.
The best isekai anime use their art style to highlight every aspect of the show. Whether an isekai show takes place in a desert or in a video game; if the art style is used correctly, every part of the show becomes better.
10 Lords
Dark tones well done
Overlord is a brutal series for anyone not familiar with Ainz Ooal Gown. He is the Overlord of his world and shows his presence when he pleases. As a show, Overlord uses dark tones combined with dark color palettes to create a show with a cohesive theme. As the series takes place inside the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the chapter becomes dark and creepy. There is no light to be seen anywhere, but it is not claustrophobic. Instead, being inside Nazarick is like being inside the mind of a villain.
When Overlord decides to use light, as it does any time Ainz leaves his throne, the world becomes colorful and ironically, full of life. The chapter takes place in a relatively medieval time period and uses its setting very well. The town is cheerful, the market is lively, and the architecture is simple. Overlord is an easy movie to watch because of its art style.
9 Tsukimichi: Moonlight Illusion
A colorful world with interesting ideas
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy follows Misumi Makoto as he navigates his new world. He was forced into his new life by isekai and has been treated badly by the Goddess who rules this world. With the help of the moon god Tsukuyomi, Makoto is not completely out of luck. He gains a lot of power for his troubles and begins to make the new world his own. Makoto's new isekai world is filled with interesting creatures and events around every corner. Whether he's making a pact with an unbeatable dragon, taming an untamable spider, or destroying an entire landmark, Makoto always looks awesome.
One of the most visually stunning moments is when Makoto is ambushed by Lancer and Sofia. In a fit of rage, Makoto fires a giant arrow at the pair, creating the biggest explosion the world has seen in years. The explosion is so big that he creates an entire lake out of nothing. It's a beautifully devastating scene that showcases Tsukimichi's art style to great effect.
8 That Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime
Each character in Slime has a unique feel
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has one of the most diverse worlds for an isekai show. While most isekai take their protagonists to a fantasy world filled with elves and goblins, Rimuru Tempest finds himself in a world with True Dragons, Vampries, and even magical slimes just like him. From an artistic perspective, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime once again stands out from other isekai series thanks to its diversity. When Rimuru gets serious, such as when he uses Megiddo after his friends are killed, the film also has a correspondingly serious tone.
When things are fun, however, the show's art reflects that through silly facial expressions and well-timed one-liners. Slime's art direction is one of its strongest points. Whether Rimuru is gaining new, colorful abilities from Raphael or battling a glowing Hinata, his world is filled with inspired designs thanks to its art style.
7 Greatness in the Dark
Another dark show that uses colors well
Eminence in Shadow is one of the funniest isekai. It stars Cid Kagenou as Shadow, the leader of Shadow Garden and an all-around mysterious guy. When Shadow isn't Cid, he's fighting the strongest people he can. Like Overlord, The Eminence in Shadow uses color very well to enhance itself. Most of the action takes place at night, but the show doesn't keep the characters in the dark. Instead, it uses the night to make Shadow and the rest of Shadow Garden look like the high-level assassins they pretend to be.
Shadow uses dark magic to create stunning effects. His most visually impressive ability, however, is Atomic, where Shadow breaks down his opponents to their core. Every move and ability in The Eminence in Shadow uses the show's art style to create its own identity, making Shadow the Eminence he always wanted to be.
6 I was reincarnated as the 7th Prince so that I could slowly perfect my magical abilities.
Every match is like a visual concert
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince is a unique isekai in that the main character actually comes from the same world he was transported to. While Lloyd was a commoner in his previous life with no real magical abilities, he is the 7th Prince in his new life, with all the knowledge he had before, and a source of mana to support him. Lloyd's spells are varied, powerful, and generally insane. They are perfectly animated every time he uses them in 7th Prince.
Every battle in I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince is a visual spectacle. Lloyd's spells can also come with their own rainbows when he uses them. Even the supporting characters are capable of incredible feats, like Lloyd's personal maid Sylpha, who can wield her sword like an artist wields a paintbrush. I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince benefits greatly from its art style and is a top anime in terms of art direction.
5 The Rise of a Bookworm
Bookworm makes the old world look new again
Ascendance of a Bookworm is one of the cutest isekai anime out there. The film stars Urano Motosu as Main (written as Myne in the manga). In her previous life, Main was a bookworm who only cared about collecting books and reading them for her own enjoyment. Unfortunately, she was reincarnated into a world without any books! Although Main's new world has no literature, it still has a lot of color to admire. This is a vibrant world, set in medieval times, offering a lot of visual interest.
The main character stands out the most in his world with a dark blue color scheme covering his entire character. Ferdinand is another character that contributes to the show's art design. His calm blue color scheme reflects his overall demeanor and helps viewers know who Ferdinand is even before he speaks.
4 Stories of Evil Tanya
Desert combat has never been so fun
Saga of Tanya the Evil has one of the funniest premises any isekai work has ever had: What if an old salaryman died and was reincarnated into the body of a little girl? It's a comedic idea that the show executes perfectly and thanks to its art style, the series looks great the whole time. Tanya is a bloodthirsty kid who wants nothing more than to lead her battalion of mages to victory. When she fights, the colors are vibrant and the battles are intense. The majority of Tanya the Evil takes place in the desert, and while it may sound boring and monotonous, it's actually not.
The story of Tanya the Evil makes desert battles exciting. Tanya dashes across the sand in pursuit of her enemies, soaring into the blue sky to find perspective. Tanya the Evil is a cute yet brutal isekai with a unique art style that feels fresh every time it hits the screen.
3 KonoSuba: God's Blessing to This Wonderful World
Megumin's Explosion Was Amazing
KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World is a comedic isekai starring one of the laziest protagonists in anime. Kazuma Satou just wants to hang out, relax, and definitely doesn't want to fight the demon king. Luckily for him, the world he's being isekaid into is also gorgeous thanks to KonoSuba's amazing art style. This is a show that doesn't take itself too seriously and its art reflects that perfectly. There aren't many dramas that can pull off humor as well as KonoSuba, and a large part of that is thanks to the show's art direction.
Some of the funniest moments in the series come from the cast's ridiculous facial expressions. Other great moments include Megumin collapsing after an explosion, Darkness jumping up to get trampled, or Aqua performing. No matter what the main cast does, KonoSuba uses its art style to make the show stand out.
2 Re:Zero – Starting life in another world
When Subaru isn't dead, he's enjoying his beautiful world.
Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World is another show that uses its art style effectively. It’s a serious and scary show that is interspersed with fun, light-hearted moments. Re:Zero uses art direction to bring to life the scale of the show, one of the anime's greatest strengths. Re:Zero is a show that takes place on a grand scale, larger than most isekai. It's a story set across time, continents, and even lives. To pull off such a complex endeavor, the series needed an art style that complemented it well.
Luckily, it has one. When Subaru impresses Emilia-tan, the colors are as light as the tone of the chapter. However, when he is dying, the colors become harsher and more black appears on the screen. The downward angle makes Subaru look and feel even more desperate.
1 Mushoku Tensei: Unemployment Rebirth
Rudeus brought Isekai into a beautiful world
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is a gorgeous anime thanks to its overall art style and direction. The world of Mushoku Tensei is incredibly diverse, and it seems like the animators can't wait for Rudy and company to discover new lands just so they can show them off. Every land Rudeus travels to is filled with something worth seeing. Whether he's on the Demon Continent, in school at Ranoa Magic Academy, or in the depths of a labyrinth, Rudy's new world is stunning.
Mushoku Tensei isn't afraid to show off its beautiful art style. The characters are drawn in sharp blacks to contrast with their colors, making them stand out whenever they appear on screen. The spells also look exceptional in the series, as their realistic feel even adds to the overall style. The world of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation comes to life when animated, and it's partly the show's striking art style that has made it so popular.
