There's no genre in anime that's more popular - or more despised - than that of isekai. Also known as "reincarnation anime," this narrative archetype has overtaken the medium, along with related mediums manga and light novels. Due to how ubiquitous and many times uncreative the tropes involved are, some anime fans have come to dislike isekai. Be that as it is, however, these shows do have merit at an existential level.

Isekai is popular due to the escapist nature of the genre, especially since so many of the main characters are underdogs. Able to live a new life and not be relegated to the sidelines of life, the genre is the epitome of wish fulfillment. Add in the fact that so much of the genre has become tied to video games and similar activities, and it's no wonder why audiences don't mind repetition and regurgitation when it comes to reincarnation.

Isekai Allows Its Protagonists to Start Over

At the beginning of many isekai anime, manga and light novels, the main character reincarnates into their new world and life after having a disappointing run of things in their old ones. Whether they were a relative hikikomori that barely experienced life or a generic salaryman who had become bored with life, their previous existence offered few thrills or areas of excitement. In some cases, the employees are already middle-aged office workers whose prospects seem bleak in terms of truly making something of themselves.

Of course, upon reincarnating, they find that the sky is the limit in their brand-new world. These are usually fantasy-based locales similar to the novels and video games that the protagonist was familiar with in their other life. With knowledge of their previous world and a degree of a concept of their new one, these isekai heroes are able to march forward and have something completely fresh. In the case of the dark fantasy series Overlord, Ainz Ooal Gown quickly acclimates to being in a video game and is able to get used to his new life.

In the series Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon, "Boxxo" is a former vending machine enthusiast who's reborn as the object of his desire. While the result is a much different life than what he was used to, the result is that he gets to experience things that he never dreamed possible.

Isekai Allows Gamers to Experience the Games They Played

Many of the core elements and tropes in the isekai genre are based on classic fantasy video games, namely Japanese role-playing games such as Dragon Quest. These extend to modern online role-playing games, and the adaptation of these concepts is a huge part of why isekai is so popular. For actual fans of video games, it's a way to essentially watch a video game adaptation without doing so.

Whether they be anime, live-action TV shows or movies, adaptations of certain video games (including narrative-based role-playing games) can sometimes leave a lot to be desired. With shows such as Sword Art Online or Overlord, audiences are treated to concepts that are similar to the ones seen in those games, all without the expectation of actually pulling from established franchises and lore. The sense of familiarity makes it enjoyable for those who know what it's like to grind away for hours in order to level up, but there's more to it than just gaining EXP and getting stronger.

Isekai anime can also showcase the comradery seen in online role-playing video games, with clans, parties, teams and guilds, all resulting in bonds that can be as close as those in the "real world." In these shows, such friendships are forged because the struggles that the characters go through aren't merely digital pastimes, with said hardships making them stronger as individuals and a unit.

Thus, the defeats of major bosses and rival groups come off as huge accomplishments, and they can feel the same way if they only involve a few strokes or clicks. Not only is this all relatable to those who enjoy video games, but it's also a glimpse into the hobby for those who've never really engaged in it. Thus, reincarnation anime can be a look at two different worlds at once, depending on who's watching.

While it might seem like a superficial element, the fact of the matter is that, outside of "monstrous" reincarnations such as in So I'm a Spider, So What?, Overlord and a few other titles, most isekai protagonists are far from ugly. This is a big part of the genre's appeal towards male viewers, with veritable losers being reborn as dashing heroes who are both handsome and buff (or at least in good enough shape to engage in battle on the regular).

In most cases, women fall for male isekai heroes far more easily than they did in their previous lives, making them seem more exceptional. Said women are always incredibly beautiful, and there's seemingly no end to such head-turners in these new worlds. Likewise, even the weakest warriors and magic users seem far more extraordinary compared to what the protagonists are used to, making the world at large a lot more interesting and incredible.

These concepts apply to isekai anime with female protagonists, as well. For the most part, even if they become a villainess, female isekai characters are just as beautiful as before, if not far more attractive. The male characters surrounding them are handsome, and their lives as a whole, even when things go south, are now over-the-top and far from mundane.

There's a sense that everything is idealized and played up to an exciting extreme, be it pleasure or pain. These extremes are reflections of the joys and tribulations of real-life, but done in such an overt way that they become far more entertaining. Instead of normalcy and having to settle for "OK," the protagonists of isekai anime are always encountering the everyday taken to the next level. Even the reincarnations play a part in this, with seemingly worthless new forms such as spiders and smiles each having incredible abilities that most wouldn't expect.

Isekai Is Ultimately a Power Fantasy

If there's one prevailing criticism of even some of the best isekai anime, manga and light novels, it's that the genre is full of "male power fantasy" tropes. There's definitely some truth to this statement, but there's also nothing wrong with it. It's the same sort of thematic spectacle that makes many enjoy stories in the superhero or kaiju genres, as these stories create events, situations and heroes that would likely never be seen in real life, at least on the same scale.

The protagonists might not necessarily be the "best" of humanity in a cartoonish or moralistic sense, but their awe-inspiring powers definitely make it easy to look up to them. Many isekai characters learn attacks, spells or other abilities a lot faster and more easily compared to others in their new world, granting them the power to easily survive - if not thrive - in their new environment. For heroes such as Kirito in Sword Art Online, he superficially "struggles" against enemies and situations, but he's also able to simply bulldoze his way to his goal by sheer force of will and determination.

It's similar to how certain shonen anime have characters utilizing "the power of friendship," and the mere fantasy of seeing heroes break through all odds is definitely a prevalent motif in isekai. Likewise, Ainz in Overlord is definitely an overpowered protagonist, mopping the floor with many in his path. At the end of the day, his story and the stories of several other isekai works are ways for the creators and especially the audiences to simply sit back and watch as strong and overly emotional heroes duke it out against anything standing in their way.

This is also why there are so many isekai anime being made/adaptated from books, as the genre is perfect for "easy viewing." In some cases, isekai are borderline episodic and interchangeable given how generic they might be. While this could be a detriment to many viewers, those who simply want a relaxing show that requires little brainpower and perhaps even less consciousness are always down to watch more isekai.

It's the perfect anime comfort food that lets audiences escape their problems, issues or boring day-to-day life. Thus, several people turn to them with full attention or go to bed with them before they doze off. Regardless of the exact reason, it's obvious that the genre, as its premise suggests, is a great way for anime fans to go to completely different worlds.