It parodies more than just isekai, and comedy in it doesn’t always rely on making fun of the tropes.
Summary:
- Some people think KonoSuba is hard to get into before watching any other isekai series.
- It was very popular since its release, despite isekai not being a popular anime genre back in 2016.
- It’s primarily a comedy, but it adds some serious moments, too.
KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! (Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!) is considered one of the best isekai anime out there. There are many reasons why it’s praised, but the most common one is how it parodies isekai tropes and makes fun of them.
As such, many fans are wary about starting it. After all, if it parodies isekai tropes, you should know them before you watch them, otherwise, you won’t understand anything, right? Well, not exactly. In the case of KonoSuba, it’s perfectly watchable even if you haven’t seen many (or even any) other isekai.
People Watched It as One of Their First Isekai Anime in 2016
In fact, KonoSuba instantly became popular when it was released — and that was back in 2016. At that time, there were barely any “generic” isekai out there that are so widespread now. The tropes KonoSuba was parodying weren’t even adapted into anime.
Despite that, KonoSuba quickly rose to mainstream appeal. It felt like the parody aspect of it wasn’t even that important — it’s just funny in its own regard. It was popular because of its comedy, and only was reassessed as a series that parodies other isekai way later.
Why It Works Even for Those Unfamiliar With Isekai
Many people watched KonoSuba without being familiar with the isekai genre at all and still liked it. While the parody aspect makes the series what it is, it’s not really that important for enjoyment in the end. The characters’ antics make KonoSuba good, after all.
Interestingly enough, the KonoSuba comedy doesn’t only parody isekai tropes: it also parodies anime tropes in general. As such, it’s quite easy to recognize it as a parody, or at least as a more comedic take on usual anime clichés.
Overall, while KonoSuba is not a perfect anime for beginners — it’s a bit too random at times and definitely too otaku-centric — it’s still good even if you aren’t familiar with many anime.
It’s not like Lucky☆Star or Nyaruko: Crawling With Love! (Haiyore! Nyaruko-san), both of which are pretty much impossible to understand without watching hundreds of other anime. KonoSuba has a wide appeal, and that’s what makes it so good.
It’s More Than Just a Comedy
It’s also not just a parody. For a comedy focused on a dysfunctional group of adventuring friends, it has surprisingly many tense or even touching moments.
Overall, KonoSuba is primarily a comedy, but it has enough serious moments to make itself likable even for those who don’t enjoy the genre. If you feel like diving into this comedy, the anime is currently available on Crunchyroll.