February 15, 2024 10:21 am
It seems like even in Japan, the definition of isekai is very much under debate.
Summary:
- A new collaboration anime has been revealed, and it's supposed to be a crossover between 5 isekai series.
- Despite that, only 2 of the anime involved are actually isekai, sparking more debates about the definition of the term.
- Still, fans are cautiously optimistic about the project.
Collaboration anime aren't a very common thing. It's understandable, why: they require you to have watched all the series involved, and even then are often hit or miss. As they mostly exist as comedy and fanservice, they often are often a miss in the eyes of the target audience, who might consider them a cash grab.
Isekai Quartet, one of those, received 2 seasons and a movie — and viewers weren't initially fond of it after the joke of the initial premise wore off.
In a perhaps surprising announcement, another isekai collaboration anime has been revealed — That Time a Lot of Isekai Anime Aired in 2024 (2024-nen ni Isekai-kei Anime ga Ippai Housou Sareru Ken). This project is a crossover between 5 anime, and it seems to acknowledge just how abundant isekai series are right now.
Most of the anime involved aren't even isekai
The title of the anime is self-aware, indicating that the intent behind the anime is most likely a comedic one. That said, it's still somewhat puzzling: out of the 5 series involved, only 2 are actually isekai — which only adds fuel to the fire that is the discussion about the definition of the genre.
The anime involved are That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken) — the third season is airing in April, As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World (Tensei Kizoku, Kantei Skill de Nariagaru), I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability (Tensei shitara Dainana Ouji Datta node, Kimama ni Majutsu wo Kiwamemasu), Quality Assurance in Another World (Kono Sekai wa Fukanzen Sugiru) and Wistoria's Wand and Sword (Tsue to Tsurugi no Wistoria).
Of these 5 series, only the first 2 are isekai by the strict definition of the word: the third involves reincarnation into the same world, the fourth is a VRMMO fantasy (akin to currently airing Shangri-La frontier), and the last is just your usual fantasy series. It seems that not even Japan can figure out what “isekai” actually means.
Fans are curious about it, at least
Since none of these anime have aired yet, it's hard to predict how the anime will do. The key visual at least indicates that the anime will not use the same chibi-style as Isekai Quartet did. That said, otaku seem amused that such a thing got an announcement in the first place — they always appreciate self-aware humor.
It seems like even in Japan, the definition of isekai is very much under debate.
Summary:
- A new collaboration anime has been revealed, and it's supposed to be a crossover between 5 isekai series.
- Despite that, only 2 of the anime involved are actually isekai, sparking more debates about the definition of the term.
- Still, fans are cautiously optimistic about the project.
Collaboration anime aren't a very common thing. It's understandable, why: they require you to have watched all the series involved, and even then are often hit or miss. As they mostly exist as comedy and fanservice, they often are often a miss in the eyes of the target audience, who might consider them a cash grab.
Isekai Quartet, one of those, received 2 seasons and a movie — and viewers weren't initially fond of it after the joke of the initial premise wore off.
In a perhaps surprising announcement, another isekai collaboration anime has been revealed — That Time a Lot of Isekai Anime Aired in 2024 (2024-nen ni Isekai-kei Anime ga Ippai Housou Sareru Ken). This project is a crossover between 5 anime, and it seems to acknowledge just how abundant isekai series are right now.
Most of the anime involved aren't even isekai
The title of the anime is self-aware, indicating that the intent behind the anime is most likely a comedic one. That said, it's still somewhat puzzling: out of the 5 series involved, only 2 are actually isekai — which only adds fuel to the fire that is the discussion about the definition of the genre.
The anime involved are That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken) — the third season is airing in April, As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World (Tensei Kizoku, Kantei Skill de Nariagaru), I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability (Tensei shitara Dainana Ouji Datta node, Kimama ni Majutsu wo Kiwamemasu), Quality Assurance in Another World (Kono Sekai wa Fukanzen Sugiru) and Wistoria's Wand and Sword (Tsue to Tsurugi no Wistoria).
Of these 5 series, only the first 2 are isekai by the strict definition of the word: the third involves reincarnation into the same world, the fourth is a VRMMO fantasy (akin to currently airing Shangri-La frontier), and the last is just your usual fantasy series. It seems that not even Japan can figure out what “isekai” actually means.
Fans are curious about it, at least
Since none of these anime have aired yet, it's hard to predict how the anime will do. The key visual at least indicates that the anime will not use the same chibi-style as Isekai Quartet did. That said, otaku seem amused that such a thing got an announcement in the first place — they always appreciate self-aware humor.
