Best Original Isekai Anime That Are Not Adaptations Of Anything, Ranked (2024)

While most of the genre’s animated series are based on light novels or manga, a few fantastic original isekai anime are out there.

Isekai anime is perpetually chasing behind light novels and, to a lesser extent, manga. For instance, anime only started to embrace villainess isekai stories around 2020, lagging years behind the movement’s light novel peak. Due to the theme’s overwhelming popularity, studios have hundreds of tales they can adapt, eliminating the need to craft original stories to try and take a piece of that otherworldly pie. Still, considering the concept’s inescapable nature over the last decade, there should be way more original isekai anime.

The exceptions that exist combine to create a surprisingly eclectic bunch consisting of both shows and movies. Some of them are modern delights, while a few are classics that arguably helped shape the theme’s overall success. Let’s take a look at the best isekai anime that are not based on any source material.

Here are some criteria to keep in mind:

  • To qualify, an anime’s production must have started before any other version of the story was released. However, the show would be considered if the manga adaptation was published first.
  • Even if it tells a unique story, an anime will be disqualified if it is part of an existing franchise (Digimon).
  • No virtual worlds (Summer Wars)

5

Children Who Chase Lost Voices

MyAnimeList: 7.51

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Children Who Chase Lost Voices

AnimeAdventureDrama

Release Date

May 7, 2011

Director

Makoto Shinkai

Studio

CoMix Wave Films

Streaming Service(s)

The Criterion Channel

Over the last decade, Makoto Shinkai has cemented himself as one of the best anime movie directors of the modern era. Your Name is his most famous work, but Weathering With You, Suzume, and 5 Centimeters per Second are all beloved in their own right. While not quite held in as high regard as those movies, Children Who Chase Lost Voices nevertheless serves as a demonstration of Shinkai’s immeasurable talent, even if the author’s voice was not quite fully formed in 2011.

Best Original Isekai Anime That Are Not Adaptations Of Anything, Ranked (1)

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In the simplest terms, the story follows three characters who travel from Earth to Agatha, a gorgeous but dangerous underground world considered by many to be just a fairy tail. After meeting the brother of a friend who passed away, Asuna – a young girl – embraces this journey, one she takes alongside a teacher who is desperate to gain control over life and death.

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Children Who Chase Lost Voices touches upon grief, legacy, and obsession, and it deals with these heavy themes reasonably well. However, the movie does not have enough time to fully flesh out its characters, causing them to come across as fairly superficial. While visually striking, Agatha is not explored that thoroughly. On the one hand, this strengthens its otherworldly nature; conversely, its essence is somewhat undefined.

4

El Hazard: The Magnificent World

MyAnimeList Score: 7.29 (1995 OVA Series)

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El Hazard: The Magnificent World

IsekaiFantasyAdventure

Japanese Title

Shinpi no Sekai El-Hazard

Release Date

May 26, 1995

Studio

AIC

Number of Episodes

11

El-Hazard is a cult classic that had a fruitful run in the late ’90s. The franchise produced 11 OVA episodes (El-Hazard: The Magnificent World), a 26-part TV series (El-Hazard: The Wanderers), and a sequel (El-Hazard: The Alternative World). All of these are entertaining in their own right, but The Magnificent World is the best of the bunch and the ideal entry point for newcomers craving a chaotic trip to another world filled with humor, action, and nonsense.

In 1995, isekai was hardly a staple of manga or anime, and that would remain the case for more than another decade. While not as influential on modern stories as Sword Art Online or That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, The Magnificent World helped establish the blueprint that would come to define isekai, albeit with a heavier focus on Earthlings (multiple characters make the trip to El-Hazard, and they do not instantly forget where they came from). The first OVA season is particularly creative and over-the-top, and it has aged quite well as long as a viewer does not mind old-school animation (which was decent for the era).

3

Sonny Boy

MyAnimeList: 7.79

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Sonny Boy

IsekaiMystery

Release Date

July 16, 2021

Studio

Madhouse

Number of Episodes

12

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll
, Hulu
, Funimation

Sonny Boy is ambitious and strange. Although producing a couple of cerebral entries, the isekai genre tends to play things very safe, with most stories happy to retread well-worn ground with a new gimmick. Along with not being an adaptation, Sonny Boy is also the definition of an original isekai anime, in the sense that it tells a singular story with no direct comparisons. Consequently, it is likely to be divisive with viewers, especially those who enjoy the theme’s traditional escapism.

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So, what is Sonny Boy about? Well, the students of a classroom are trapped in a world cut off from reality. Once surrounded by nothingness, they must fend for themselves while also unlocking new powers, including a world-hopping ability that drives most of the plot forward. Naturally, something of a power struggle emerges, forcing the kids to quickly mature or risk creating a society that eats itself from the inside.

Ultimately, Sonny Boy is a coming-of-age story that, perhaps, spreads itself a bit too thin. Due to having a pretty big cast, most of the characters must settle for short bursts of relevancy, with most receiving the spotlight for an episode or two. The anime also covers multiple worlds, most of which come and go too quickly to fulfill their potential.

Issues aside, Sonny Boy deserves respect. Shingo Natsume crafted a demanding, confusing, and (at times) incomplete tale that touches upon philosophical and adolescent themes without settling for obvious answers. Visually, Sonny Boy has a distinct style that showcases Madhouse’s technical brilliance and Natsume’s vision.

2

The Boy And The Beast

MyAnimeList: 8.24

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The Boy and the Beast

IsekaiActionAdventure

Release Date

July 11, 2015

Director

Mamoru Hosoda

Studio

Studio Chizu

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll
, Funimation

Honestly, Mamoru Hosoda’s The Boy and the Beast probably deserves to be crowned the best original isekai anime; if nothing else, it is the most well-known and popular. However, the film did not have a notable impact on the isekai genre as a whole, which is why it sits in second place.

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Looking for an escape, the orphan Ren stumbles his way through Shibuya and discovers the Beast Kingdom, a realm that exists unbeknownst to humans. Once there, the troubled boy strikes up a volatile friendship with Kumatetsu, an obnoxious but charming monster who struggles to connect with other beings. Despite not getting along at first, Kumatetsu agrees to take Ren as a disciple, teaching him the basics of kendo while also striking a bond that will help both characters mature.

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A movie of two halves, The Boy and the Beast shines the brightest when Kumatetsu and Ren’s odd parent-son dynamic takes center stage during the first hour. Although slow-going, the relationship gradually transforms from endless arguments to reluctant respect; along the way, their scenes produce quite a few laughs as well. At the midway point, the movie takes a drastic left turn as Ren tries to reintegrate into the human world, putting his relationship with Kumatetsu on the back burner. This messes with the story’s pacing, culminating in an exciting but emotionally weak final act. Despite issues aside, The Boy and the Beast is generally an engaging watch.

1

The Vision Of Escaflowne

MyAnimeList: 7.67

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The Vision of Escaflowne

IsekaiAdventureRomance

Japanese Title

Tenkuu no Escaflowne

Release Date

April 2, 1996

Studio

Sunrise

Streaming Service(s)

Funimation

Number of Episodes

26

While Shoji Kawamori’s manga came out before the anime, the latter was already in production when the former was created and released.

More so than even El-Hazard, The Vision of Escaflowne is one of modern isekai’s defining grandfathers. Surviving a troubled production, the series sought to combine Sunrise’s specialty (mecha) with a classic fantasy setting, a marriage that not only proved successful but was also renewed multiple times over the next few decades.

Telling a quintessential isekai story that starts fairly simple but gradually expands through its well-defined universe and three-dimensional characters, The Vision of Escaflowne is almost the full package. Compared to the theme’s many nondescript settings, Gaea impresses in its political, social, and visual complexity, crafting a one-of-a-kind world with a clear identity. The same can be said for its dynamic characters and the challenging relationships they build along the way. Even the action is fantastic and sits comfortably among Sunrise’s best efforts of the ’90s. If it was not for a rushed final act, The Vision of Escaflowne would be an all-time great anime rather than just a very good one.

Best Original Isekai Anime That Are Not Adaptations Of Anything, Ranked (3)

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Fuente: successacademy.edu.vn
Categorías: Anime

Best Original Isekai Anime That Are Not Adaptations Of Anything, Ranked (2024)

FAQs

What is considered the best isekai anime? ›

Best isekai anime series ever
  • I'm In Love With The Villainess | MyAnimeList: 7.40. ...
  • KamiKatsu: Working For God In A Godless World | MyAnimeList: 6.75. ...
  • Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions | MyAnimeList: 7.65. ...
  • King From Now On! ...
  • Uncle From Another World | MyAnimeList: 7.81. ...
  • Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play | MyAnimeList: 7.61.
Apr 22, 2024

What is the OG isekai anime? ›

The concept of isekai started in Japanese folktales, such as Urashima Tarō. However, the first modern isekai works were Haruka Takachiho's novel Warrior from Another World and Yoshiyuki Tomino's television series Aura Battler Dunbine.

Is there isekai without harem? ›

Not all isekai anime are harem-filled escapades; some offer nuanced plots and unique characters for a refreshing watch. From princess protagonists to transmigrated chefs, isekai stories can deviate from the typical harem tropes for a more engaging experience.

What is the big 4 of isekai? ›

Isekai Quartet (Japanese: 異世界かるてっと, Hepburn: Isekai Karutetto) is a Japanese anime series that serves as a chibi-style crossover between the light novel series KonoSuba, Overlord, Re:Zero, and The Saga of Tanya the Evil, all published by Kadokawa Corporation.

What was the first big isekai? ›

While the isekai genre has garnered a lot of discussions recently, it's been around for a long time in anime and manga. 1983's Aura Battler Dunbine is often considered one of the earliest isekai anime, showing a young man named Shou pulled into the medieval world of Byston Well after a serious car accident.

What is reverse isekai? ›

Reverse isekai refers to when a main character is reincarnated or teleported from a fantasy world to the “real” world. The isekai genre is a fan-favorite, and most isekai and reverse isekai titles enjoy immense popularity and love from the fandom.

What are the 4 types of isekai? ›

The series are divided into four types (portal-quest, immersive, intrusion, and liminal). A detailed survey was performed on the 427 series identified as “portal-quest” stories (the most common type of isekai stories).

Who is the godfather of isekai? ›

According to many light novel readers, Mushoku Tensei is considered the grandfather of Isekai. It popularized a lot of themes, including the idea of Truck-Kun. You may also be familiar with its reputation as revolutionizing the modern isekai web/light novels.

Who has the most harem in anime? ›

The 10 Biggest Harems in Anime
  • 4 Kamijou Touma Won the Affection of Mikasa Mikoto & Her 9,969 Clones. ...
  • 3 Dakini Commanded a Harem of 10,000 Fanatical Lovers. ...
  • 2 Reito Mizuhara Was Pursued by the World's Entire Female Population. ...
  • 1 Yukinari Has a Planet-Sized Itch He Couldn't Quite Scratch.
Dec 13, 2023

Is there an isekai with a female protagonist? ›

Series like Slime 300, Next Life as a Villainess, and Fushigi Yuugi offer refreshing female-led isekai stories. Isekai series like So I'm a Spider, Saga of Tanya the Evil, and Ascendance of a Bookworm challenge genre expectations with unique premises and female leads.

Is isekai not a genre? ›

Isekai is not a formal literary genre in the same vein as fantasy, mystery or romance -- it's an unofficial subgenre of fantasy and sci-fi, most often the former.

What is the most famous isekai? ›

With the departure of many popular series, plenty of hidden isekai gems on Netflix have finally have their space to shine.
  • 5 The Twelve Kingdoms (2002) ...
  • 4 The Eminence in Shadow (2022) ...
  • 3 Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World (2016) ...
  • 2 That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime (2018) ...
  • 1 Spirited Away (2001)
Jan 14, 2024

What is the top 10 best isekai anime? ›

Here, we'll detail some of the absolute best anime in the Isekai genre.
  • 7 Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World. Studio. ...
  • 6 That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime. Studio. ...
  • 5 Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. Studio. ...
  • 4 Log Horizon. ...
  • 3 Konosuba - God's Blessing On This Wonderful World! ...
  • 2 The Eminence In Shadow. ...
  • 1 Drifters.
Apr 18, 2024

Who is the strongest isekai character? ›

10 Most Overpowered Isekai Anime Protagonists, Ranked
  • 4 Cid Kagenou Gets To Control Everything From the Shadows. ...
  • 3 Seiya Ryuuguuin Is A Powerful Hero With a Slight Problem. ...
  • 2 Sora and Shiro Are The Ultimate Sibling Power Pair. ...
  • 1 Ainz Ooal Gown Is One Of The Most Renowned OP Isekai Protagonist.
Mar 24, 2024

What anime made isekai popular? ›

While the rise in popularity of the isekai genre can be credited to Sword Art Online, it wasn't the first.

What is the best isekai anime where the main character is overpowered? ›

  • No Game, No Life. Close. No Game No Life. ...
  • Reincarnated as a Sword. Close. ...
  • I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World. Close. ...
  • The Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist in Another World. Close. ...
  • The Rising of the Shield Hero. Close. ...
  • The Devil is a Part-Timer! Close. ...
  • Wise Man's Grandchild. Close. ...
  • The Misfit of Demon Academy. Close.
May 1, 2024

Which isekai main character is overpowered? ›

Isekai characters like Dr. Stone's Senku Ishigami and SAO's Kirito are extremely overpowered, making them fearsome forces in their new worlds.

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