The beauty of anime lies in its potential to tell virtually any type of story imaginable, allowing viewers to disconnect from reality, which led to the rise ofthe isekai subgenre. Although isekai series found fame mainly thanks to hitanimes likeThat Time I Got Reincarnated as aSlimeorJobless Reincarnation,there are also many films where the adventure is set in a different world, where the protagonists become someone else and rebuild their lives or learn to value their current reality, allowing in a short length to take the viewer to experience an adventure in another realm.
Unlike films that take place in a fantasy setting, likeNausicaä of the Valley of the WindorPrincess Mononoke, or in which the fantastic component is introduced into the daily lives of the characters, like inYour Nameor Suzume, in Isekai movies, the protagonist is the one who travels from the real world to an alternative one.
Isekai films have a great diversity of stories, from sequels, to fantasies that present kingdoms competing for dominance and absurd comedies that parody anime tropes. What is certain is that the bestIsekai anime movies are enjoyable even for those who aren’t fans of the genre.
10 Most Anticipated Anime Movies
From highly anticipated sequels to innovative original stories, these are the most-awaited anime movies releasing in the coming months.
10Drifting HomeIs an Adventure in an Endless Sea
A Studio Colorido Film; Directed by Hiroyasu Ishida
Drifting Homeis a coming-of-age story where a group of children enters an abandoned apartment building and find themselves in a challenging new world, drifting away in a vast ocean where there’s only other empty apartments in sight, floating and slowly sinking. Because of this, the film is not the standard fantasy world but rather uses the concept of an interconnected world separate from reality.
Drifting Homeis a surreal adventure where the kids are weighted by their memoriesand their aim to survive forces them to unite with each other despite their differences. The film also focuses on themes like friendship, family, grief, and letting go of the past, since they will have to grow up in order to return home.
9Saga of Tanya the Evil: The MovieFeatures an Epic Military Showdown
Film by Nut; Based on the Light Novel Series by Carlo Zen
Saga of Tanya the Evilhas become an iconic series within the isekai genre for its manipulative and selfish protagonist who doesn’t mind affecting the lives of others in order to achieve her goals. Because of this, after the success of the first season, studio NUT decided to take the next step with its first film, adapting volume 4 of the light novel, serving as a direct sequel to the story.
Saga of Tanya the Evil: The Movieis full of the highlights of the anime;the fight of Tanya against the designs of the god who wants to see her desperate, begging for help, in addition to having clear references to historical events of World War I and the beginning of the second mixed with themes and dialogues that invite reflection about conflicts in humanity. However, what makes the film a must-watch is that, for the first time, Tanya has a suitable opponent and has to face the most dangerous situation she has been in since being reincarnated.
Saga of Tanya the Evil
Saga of Tanya the Evil is a fantasy anime series set in a parallel universe during World War I. The story follows Tanya Degurechaff, a young girl who is reincarnated as a soldier in a fantasy world, and rises through the ranks of the Empire’s military to become a powerful mage.
8No Game No Life: ZeroIs the Prequel to Sora and Shiro’s Story
Film by Madhouse; Based on the Light Novel Series by Yuu Kamiya
One of the best-known isekai destinations in anime is Disboard, the world to which Sora and Shiro fromNo Game No Lifeare transported by the mysterious god of games Tet. Disboard is a fantastic world in which absolutely everything is decided through games, and the formation of this world is what the prequel filmNo Game no Life: Zerois about, which is not only a great introduction to the series, but also shows the dark part of the story.
Zero’s story,which is narrated by Tet to explain the nature of Disboard, elevates everything fans knew about Sora and Shiro through the lives of their ancestors from six thousand years before, Riku and Schwi. The movie shows a harsh, war-torn world, addressing curiosity of the human heart, as well as hope despite adversity, all conveyed through an endearing love story.
7EscaflowneIs a Retelling of a Classic Isekai Anime
Film by Bones; Directed by Kazuki Akane
A classic Isekai film isEscaflowne, which is a re-telling of the 26-episode anime that has become a cult series. The film is quite different fromThe Vision of Escaflowne, but keeps the essence of the story by showing how Hitomi is transported to the fantastic world of Gaea where she meets Van, who she has seen before in her visions, the young prince of the kingdom of Fanelia and the pilot of the only weapon capable of stopping the war against the Zaibach Empire: the Escaflowne.
Despite lacking in the dimension of the characters for its short length,Escaflowneis an enjoyable movie, with a beautiful art direction and soundtrack, much darker than the series, as the characters are linked by loneliness, torment and the desire to put an end to the world and their own existence. The film also could serve as a great introduction to the series, which wasgroundbreaking for its original mix of a medieval fantasy world with mecha.
The Vision of Escaflowne
The Vision of Escaflowne follows Hitomi Kanzaki, a high school student who is transported to the mystical world of Gaea, where she becomes entangled in a struggle between warring factions and discovers her latent psychic abilities. The series combines elements of fantasy, mecha, and romance as Hitomi navigates her newfound role and destiny alongside Van, the young king of Fanelia, and the mysterious Escaflowne knight.
6Children Who Chase Lost Voices
Film By CoMix Wave Films; Directed By Makoto Shinkai
Children Who Chase Lost Voicesis inspired by the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice and follows Asuna and Morisaki on their journey to discover Agartha, the land deep beneath the planet where is believed to be the connection between life and death, this being the central theme of the story, the mourning process after the loss of a loved one.
The dream world of Agartha is a beautiful place full of color where time seems to have stopped in an idyllic middle age, with a symbolism that reminds the books of C.S. Lewis,Chronicles of Narnia. Also, inChildren Who Chase Lost Voices,the influence of Studio Ghibli is evident compared to Shinkai’s later filmswhere he mastered his own style. However, its unique take on grief and stunning animation is enough to recognize it as one of the best modern Japanese anime films.
Children Who Chase Lost Voices
Children Who Chase Lost Voices is a Japanese animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai. The story follows Asuna, a young girl who embarks on a journey to a mysterious world called Agartha after receiving a crystal radio from her deceased father. Along the way, she encounters danger, mystery, and a diverse cast of characters, all while exploring themes of loss, love, and the everlasting human spirit.
5The Cat ReturnsShows a Self-Discovery Journey Through a Feline World
Film by Studio Ghibli; Directed by Hiroyuki Morita
The Cat Returnsfollows Haru, a young girl who saves a cat and discovers that she helped a prince from a feline world. Although Haru is amazed that cats can talk, her selfless action unknowingly turns her into the prince’s fiancée. To avoid her imminent marriage, Haru seeks the help of Baron Humbert von Gikkingen and Muta, starting an adventure in the wonderful Cat Kingdom.
Since it’s impossible not to be amazed by the distinguished Baron,The Cat Returnswas born as a spin-off ofthe movieWhispers of the Heart, representing the story written by the protagonist Shizuku.
The Cat Returnsis not a deep film, as it’s mainly aimed at a child audience likeMy Neighbor Totoro. However,Haru’s visit to the Cat Kingdom is full of that magical atmosphere that characterizes Studio Ghibliand is also a journey of personal growth reminiscent of the one that Chihiro goes through inSpirited Away.The Cat Returnsis also the perfect film for cat lovers.
Film by J.C. Staff; Based on the Light Novel Series by Natsume Akatsuki
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!, commonly referred to as KonoSuba, is a Japanese anime series based on the novels of the same name from writer Natsume Akatsuki and illustrator Kurone Mishima. The series revolves around a man named Kazuma, who is offered a second chance at life on a magical world after he dies.
While otherfantasy isekai animesstrive to present and develop their worlds seriously or offer a power-scaling journey,KonoSubathrows the expectations out the window and instead shows an amusing story where the characters are not only absurd but represent the worst of the genre’s clichés. This is what makesKonoSubaso loved by fans, and is a thematic that continues inLegend of Crimson, whichadapts the fifth volume of the light novel, covering the Kouta Village Arc and featuring the origin of Megumin and her family.
The film offers theKonoSubaexperience, with all the hilarious moments that entails, in a self-contained story that, although it’s a direct sequel to the second season of the anime, is perfect for fans of the franchise and those looking for a fun comedy or just want to test if the type of humor in the series is to their liking. Roger Avary, the screenwriter of the acclaimed filmPulp Fiction, evenpraisedLegend of Crimsonin his X’s account.
Easily one of the best experiences in a cinema I’ve ever had. I would go as far as saying it’s the reason cinema was invented - Roger Avary.
3The Boy and the BeastIs a Story About Finding a Place To Belong
Film Written and Directed by Mamoru Hosoda
The Boy and the Beasttells the story of Ren, a little boy who, when his mother dies, escapes from his home and his future guardian and meets Kumatetsu, an angry bear, who will take him to a magical world known as Jutengai. In Jutengai, humanized animals from popular Japanese folklore live in relative harmony and can cross into the human world. However, humans are prohibited there for their propensity to be possessed by darkness.
Fans ofThe Boy and the Beastmight also enjoy another film by Mamoru Hosoda,Belle, which offers a refreshing twist onBeauty and the Beastin a virtual world.
Ren, now called Kyuta, ends up living and training with his unconventional master, Kumatetsu.The Boy and The Beasthas all the characteristics of an Isekai, in addition tobeing one of Mamoru Hosoda’s best films, which not only shows an intimate relationship between mentor and student, but also a message about family and finding your place in the world.
2The Boy and the HeronIs the Peak of Miyazaki’s Work
Film by Studio Ghibli; Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
10 years after announcing his last movie,The Wind Rises, whose motto based on a Paul Valéry poem was “we must live,” Hayao Miyazaki releasedThe Boy and the Heron, a more personal and symbolic film that instead asks in its original name: “How do you live?.” The film is a dreamlike journey which main theme is growth, as Mahito must learn and accept his feelings and the inevitable events of life through an adventure to a magical world.
The Boy and the Herondeals with previous themes from Miyazaki’s work, from the premise that Mahito’s trip serves as a form of therapy, just as Chihiro’s visit to the bathhouse was, in addition to its focus on nature and criticism towards war conflicts, the destruction caused by human beings, the family, and the acceptance of the departure of a loved one. Not only is it Miyazaki in its purest form, but it’s a film that teaches how to live and move forward.
The Boy and the Heron
Billed as the final work of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron is a drama-fantasy film that follows a young boy named Mahito who contends with grief following the passing of his mother during World War II. Forced to evacuate to the countryside amid the war, Mahito struggles to fit into his new environment and contend with his new stepmother. However, Mahito’s life is changed after meeting a strange talking Heron - setting him on a journey of self-discovery filled with magic.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away, a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki, is an animated fantasy film that follows the enchanting journey of a young girl named Chihiro. Trapped in a mystical world after her parents are transformed into pigs, Chihiro must navigate a realm filled with spirits and peculiar creatures to save her family.
The worlds created by Miyazaki are globally famous, but there is no other like the Spirit World, a supernatural and secret space that hides hundreds of creatures from Japanese folklore and others likethe enigmatic No-Face. The plot ofSpirited Awayfollows Chihiro, who ends up in this Spirit realm and must work in a bathhouse owned by Yubaba to return to her own world with her parents.
All kinds of debates can be opened regarding the symbolism behindSpirited Away, but since Chihiro accesses a fantastic and incredible world and ends up maturing and understanding her surroundings better, the biggest theme of the film is the passage from childhood to adolescence. Even more than two decades after its release, the movie is stillStudio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s best fantastic adventure, makingSpirited Awaythe best isekai film to watch.
