Isekai is an extremely popular genre of anime, revolving around characters that have been transported from our normal world into a fantasy or video game world. The characters must survive in their new world and overcome challenges in the form of meddling villains, natural disasters, and powerful demon lords.
Isekai anime can be dark, such as Attack on Titan or Re:Zero, but most of these series are built around escapism and the fantasy of becoming powerful in a world that needs a hero. Western films incorporate elements of the isekai genre into their narratives, transporting the main characters into new and exciting worlds full of fun and danger.
10 Jumanji
A classic in the trapped-in-a-game psuedo-genre, the original 1995 Jumanji follows Alan Parrish, played by Robin Williams, as he is sucked into a board game and released years later by a pair of siblings who must finish the game and stop it from causing any more damage. The recent reboot of the series follows a group of high-schoolers who get trapped in a video game and are forced to complete a quest before a time limit traps them in the game forever.
Being trapped in a game is a common trope in isekai anime such as Sword Art Online. The players don't have to be trapped in the game to make it an isekai anime; some more recent anime simply have the majority of the show take place inside the game world, such as Bofuri.
9 Last Action Hero
Described as a "meta" film, this reverse-isekai is a satire of 90s action movie tropes. The film follows Danny, a kid that is suddenly transported into the world of an action movie starring the hero Jack Slater, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The villain of the movie escapes to the real world, and Danny must team up with Slater to stop him.
Last Action Hero was a box office bomb and received six Golden Raspberry awards, including Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay, but it has some interesting ideas such as fictional characters becoming real, something that has been explored since the movie's release with anime such as Re:Creators.
8 The Wizard of Oz
One of the best movie musicals based on a book, this timeless tale follows Dorothy as she is swept up in a whirlwind and transported to the mystical land of Oz. The film has had a massive cultural impact, with many adaptations being made of it, including the musical Wicked which looks at the narrative from the villain's point of view. As reported by ScreenRant, a new adaptation is currently in the works with Watchmen's Nicole Kassell directing.
The premise of a young girl being transported to a new land—and being viewed as its savior, no less—has been explored in recent isekai anime such as The Saint's Magic Power Is Omnipotent.
7 The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
After being evacuated during World War 2 to the English countryside, a young girl named Lucy discovers a wardrobe that transports her to the world of Narnia, which is trapped in an eternal winter. Lucy and her family try to defeat the White Witch and end the cursed winter for good, with the help of magical creatures such as the lion Aslan and the faun Mr. Tumnus.
Gateways to magical worlds are common in isekai anime such as Isekai Izakaya and Restaurant to Another World, both of which feature restaurants in Japan that are connected to a fantasy world via the front door.
6 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
In this book by Mark Twain, an American engineer named Hank Morgan from the year 1889 is suddenly transported to medieval England where he meets King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. Hank attempts to modernize his new surroundings, bringing capitalism, industrialism, and Victorian-American workplace practices to the feudal setting. The novel is a genuinely fun time and a great read for isekai enthusiasts.
The TV show Once Upon A Time includes an adaptation of Hank's character, calling him Sir Morgan from Camelot. Anime often plays around with timelines and modernization, such as Dr. Stone, which tries to bring ambitious modern inventions into primitive times.
5 Peter Pan
The character of Peter Pan has been adapted many times over the years, but, in every adaptation, he retains his free spirit and immortal youth, as well as his adventures in the mystical realm of Neverland. In the 1953 Disney film, Peter brings Wendy, John, Michael, and Mary Darling to Neverland to battle the nefarious yet somewhat underappreciated villain, Captain Hook.
Anime has expanded upon the ideas of Peter Pan, such as The Promised Neverland, which takes a very dark look at why exactly the kids never grow up. The mythical creatures included in Peter Pan stories, such as mermaids and fairies, are often found in fantasy isekai anime.
4 Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland follows Alice as she falls down a rabbit hole into a magical land full of enchanting creatures. The story has become iconic in pop culture, with many other shows and films referencing it, including many anime such as Cardcaptor Sakura.
Alice is a classic isekai story; a young girl gets swept into a magical land and has to solve their problems while interacting with dangerous villains and wacky companions. Alice as a character is flawed, which makes her relatable, and, through her adventures, she learns how to become a more selfless and decisive person, much like Myne in the isekai anime Ascendance of a Bookworm.
3 Tron
The quintessential trapped-in-a-game movie, Tron (1982) follows Kevin Flynn as he is sucked into the world of a video game that he developed. The sequel Tron: Legacy (2010) follows Flynn's adult son, Sam, who travels into the game to stop the AI from invading the real world.
Tron is a major influence in video game isekai anime, especially Sword Art Online and Overlord. Being trapped in a video game is a dream of many gaming fans—as long as the game has a low probability of the player dying.
2 Space Jam
Michael Jordan is abducted by the Looney Tunes and taken to their cartoon universe in this classic 90s movie. Jordan is tasked with beating the villainous Monstars in a basketball game to save the Looney Tunes from being enslaved. The recent sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy takes the isekai aspect to a new level, transporting LeBron James to many different worlds within the Warner Bros. Universe.
The slapstick comedy and off-the-wall characters are much like KonoSuba and Cautious Hero, although these shows are both aimed at mature audiences. The hero being transported somewhere specifically to save it is a trope found in many isekai series such as The Rising of the Shield Hero.
1 Enchanted
Enchanted is a reverse-isekai that follows Giselle, an animated Disney princess, who is thrown into a fountain and transported to modern-day New York. Giselle finds love and danger in her new world as the Evil Queen tries to ensure Giselle's demise.
An isekai anime that indulges in its romance is My Next Life as a Villainess, which also features a kind-hearted yet clueless main character who instantly charms everyone around her. Giselle is an adorable character played by Amy Adams who turns up her lovability to 11 and immediately endears the audience to her.
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