Popular media outlet Livedoor News conducted a survey to find out which isekai anime is the most popular among its readers. The question was: “What is your favorite isekai anime in the reincarnation genre?”. With over 500 votes submitted, the results showed that That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime took the top spot.
The isekai genre, which literally translates to “other world,” has become incredibly popular in recent years, both in Japan and internationally. The concept of isekai typically involves the protagonist being transported to a parallel or fictional world where he or she experiences extraordinary adventures that would not be possible in the real world. Although the genre has seen a recent surge in popularity, its origins date back long before the term “isekai” was used.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, several works appeared that can be considered precursors to the isekai genre. Aura Battler Dunbine (1983), created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, is one of the first examples of a series in which the main character is transported to another world.
Another notable work is Fushigi Yugi (1992), a manga by Yuu Watase in which the protagonist finds himself transported to an ancient Chinese book that acts as a portal to another world. These stories have contained many of the genre's defining elements: a lost protagonist, adventures in an unknown world, and a search for purpose or mission in that new environment.
The term “isekai” began to gain popularity in the 2000s, especially with the rise of light novels. The seminal work in this process was Sword Art Online (2009), written by Reki Kawahara. Although technically a VRMMORPG (virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game), the series shares many of the characteristics of isekai, featuring characters transported to a virtual world where they must survive and adapt. The series helped popularize and further define the genre.
Over the past decade, isekai has seen a significant boom, with many titles becoming extremely popular. Works such as Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World, No Game No Life, and The Rising of the Shield Hero have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide with their compelling storylines and intricate fantasy worlds.
Below is a list of the highest ranked isekai anime according to Livedoor News's poll:
8. The Eminence in Shadow (Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!)
7. Ascendance of a Bookworm (Honzuki no Gekokujou)
6. Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill (Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi)
5. OVERLORD
4. KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! (The Sun is shining brightly!)
3. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World- (Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu)
2. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu)
1. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken)