10 Weird Things About the Isekai Genre That Everyone Ignore

There are some weird tropes in a lot of isekai anime that deserve more attention than they get.

The isekai anime genre has really boomed in popularity, and it's not hard to see why.

Anime itself can be used as a form of thrilling escape from the daily lives of fans, allowing them to be completely enthralled in a beautiful and well thought out world that makes them think and sparks their creativity.

The Isekai series takes this to a whole different level, as even the main characters in the show escape their 'boring' lives to usually live out their dreams or power fantasies in a much more interesting fantasy universe.

However, not all about the genre is a magical step above everyday life. In fact, there are a lot of tropes that most isekai series tend to incorporate that are considered quite odd, and it seems like fans never tend to not pay attention when they should.

1. Every Secondary Character Arc Must Revolving Around the Protagonist

Isekai — at least, one that doesn't poke fun at the genre itself — is usually a power fantasy revolving around a protagonist who doesn't become a hero.

They form relationships with other characters and tend to help them develop themselves, or save them from dangerous situations.

However, it feels as though every side character that the protagonist interacts with in the genre falls victim to it.

It gets pretty stale when it feels like no one can get past their problems or conquer their goals without a protagonist, especially when the leader usually lived a bland and reclusive life before being moved on and doesn't seem to bed has the personality to help others in such a way.

2. Has Main Setting For Be A High School Series

The high school setting is one of the most used settings in all of anime, mainly because it's one of the easiest ways to bring together many different types of characters.

This is especially true in the romance, comedy, and slice-of-life genres, and is largely forgivable in shows that are based on reality.

However, that is inexcusable when it comes to the isekai genre.

For a genre that has an infinite number of mystical settings to work with, it feels pretty lazy to put the protagonist in another high school.

3. Trope "Evil Rich Noble In Power Enough So Heroes Can Win Over Them" Too Exaggerated

Nobles in power and using those positions to act corrupt and fill their own pockets, while ignoring the plight of the commoners, is something that sounds right in the fact that people can relate to it.

However, with isekai involving a distant fantasy world, it raises the question of why this trope should be used so often.

This was especially true considering that many of these nobles ended up feeling the same way.

They have powers and use them in corrupt ways, have absolutely no character beyond this, and are only there to make the protagonist look better when he finally takes them down.

There is no real room for any creative growth within the tropes.

4. Much Of The Universe Is Ordinary With Slavery

While there are series that involve a main character rescuing others from slavery after being transported, it feels very strange that slavery is so prevalent in this genre.

Many of these universes had incredible magical powers that were never possible in reality, but were also somehow so out of date that slavery was unquestioned for the most part.

What's worse is that in many series where the protagonists don't save those trapped in slavery, they instead use the system to their advantage.

5. For such a creative genre, the main way characters get Isekai is boring and redundant

There are many ways that a character can potentially be transported to another world.

It's especially true that many systems in isekai don't have the most concrete explanations, unlike methods that must make sense for fans to enjoy them.

Nonetheless, there were two methods that were too redundant in this genre that they became the famous memes of today.

The most famous of which is having the protagonist die from being hit by a truck, but bringing a NEET character into a video game is one that is overly reliable as well.

6. For Genres About Outer Fantasy Worlds, Many Of Them Look And Feel The Same

The isekai genre - with the exception of reverse isekai - is all about being taken into a new, different and fantastical universe.

Nonetheless, many of them end up looking and feeling the same way, whether it's a shot of a hero walking down the street or a scaled-down view of the entire setting.

For a genre that tends to incorporate a lot of magic systems and creative character designs out there, it's a shame not to see the same level of creativity put into the universe in which the story takes place.

7. In Some Worlds, It Feels Like No One Has Power Except The Ultimate Leader

The isekai genre is more or less built around power fantasy, aside from those that take a more comedic approach.

Given this, it makes sense that fans of the protagonist spent the following series will also become the most powerful character in the universe.

However, strangely many of these universes feel like they don't have any noteworthy powers until the protagonist arrives.

This is especially true in universes where tyrant kings are all too powerful or mass hoards of dangerous monsters roam around.

8. The Protagonist Usually Inspires Hope But Was Totally Desperate In His Previous Life

Before being reincarnated or sent to a different universe altogether, the isekai protagonist is often the most desperate character out there.

Whether it's being a closed NEET who doesn't have the necessary skills to talk to people or being stuck in a job they find too monotonous, they are often unable to make positive changes in their normal lives.

However, once transported, they tend to be a major source of hope for most of the other characters in the series.

This is true even for characters who don't get a significant power-up in their new lives, which begs the question of why it was so difficult for them to do so before.

9. Main Characters Get Harems - Even If They're Related

Trope of main characters - usually male, and more often than mediocre - getting some kind of "harem" is nothing new.

Watching a large group of girls flirt with each other and fight over the affections of the same protagonist might be a powerful fantasy, but it's an overused fantasy.

Not only that, but this can even apply to characters who have relationships within the canon, as is the case with Kirito from Sword Art Online.

It could be upsetting to see a handful of other girls tease or offend him when his canon girlfriend Asuna was usually there with them.

10. Mature and Inappropriate Humor Is Usually Aimed At Younger Female Characters

Adult jokes played in the name of humor are nothing new in the anime world, but the isekai genre can blur some rather questionable boundaries in this department.

It feels as though no female character is safe from this form of humor, even if they're at an age where they shouldn't be.

One of the biggest offenders of this was how Kazuma treated Megumin from Konosuba.

Scenes that involve the two taking a bath together or the protagonist using stealing skills to gain access to his underwear play out as funny but can feel downright disgusting to watch.