With more and more anime characters getting transported to a world different from their own, the market has a steady supply of isekai anime titles. However, not all of those series can be considered great, and the good stories can get easily drowned out by the dozens of lackluster ones.
For newcomers and veteran anime fans alike looking to dive into a story from a different world, here are the best isekai anime that are available to stream on Funimation right now.
Start At Birth In Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
When a 34-year-old man steels himself to finally do something heroic in his life, his enthusiasm ends in tragedy. He gets reincarnated to the body of the infant Rudeus Greyrat, yet retains his memories from his previous life. Rudeus starts his new life with the perspective of an old man and ventures to make the most out of this second chance.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation quickly established a fanbase when it aired in 2021, though it was also accompanied by a variety of controversies regarding its content. Nevertheless, the anime has great moments to offer and a loyal following that supports it -- some of which are especially charmed by its lascivious content.
Guild Management In Overlord
In the tale of Overlord, protagonist Momonga is determined to see the last moments of his favorite RPG before it shuts down all of its servers. However, the moment the timer hits zero, he awakes in the body of his character. Stuck with his lich character, Ainz Ooal Gown decides to assume the role, expand his empire's influence and take care of his subordinates.
Unlike most isekai anime starring the story's hero, Overlord puts the spotlight on its great evil. Momonga is the leader of monsters and acts as such. He has no issue permitting human experiments or exterminating entire species if it means growing his dominion. The anime also features a varied cast who seem to love humorously dragging each other down.
A Monstrous Protagonist In That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime
When an office worker unfortunately gets attacked on the streets and loses his life, he wakes up in the body of a slime. His luck turns a complete 180 degrees when he meets, befriends and frees a sealed dragon. The slime -- now called Rimuru Tempest -- befriends more races and builds his own city.
Unlike most isekai anime, That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime has a monster as a protagonist. Even so, Rimuru's morality remains that of a human. He does not discriminate against any race and protects everybody under his command. While Rimuru is the highlight of the anime, this isekai boasts a wide variety of characters with unique abilities and personalities.
Sword Art Online: Blurring the Lines Between VR & Reality
Sword Art Online is set in a world where game characters can already be controlled through thought alone. However, the initially happy launch of a new virtual reality game turns into a nightmare when the players get trapped inside -- and if they die in the game, they'll die in real life as well.
Despite being released a decade ago, Sword Art Online remains one of the most renowned titles in the genre. It's one of the most influential isekai anime that ushered droves of others and deserves the praise it gets. The anime has built a beautiful world that still captivates viewers as its story continues today.
The Devil Is A Part-Timer!
When it comes to isekai anime, the humans of Earth are usually the ones sent to a fantasy world. In The Devil is a Part-Timer!, however, Satan himself is sent to modern-day Japan. But before he can take his revenge, he must figure out how to make ends meet.
This anime effectively breaks the isekai mold, resulting in a quirky and comedic reverse isekai where the all-powerful evil succumbs to the harshness of corporate life. Needless to say, The Devil Is a Part-Timer! is a fun anime that easily earns a spot on many isekai fans' list of favorites.
Log Horizon Shows The Strength Of A Scribe
Log Horizon follows Sword Art Online's footsteps but manages to distinguish itself from the former. After tens of thousands of players become unable to log out of the game, protagonist Shiroe embraces his new situation and takes it as a challenge. The anime focuses on politics but even so, it doesn't lack the blood-pumping action most isekai fans are constantly seeking, showcasing intense fight scenes at appropriate times.
Unlike Sword Art Online, Log Horizon's world is bound by clearly defined rules, which Shiroe uses to his advantage. This anime's intelligent writing sets it apart not only from SAO but many other isekai anime as well.
Death Is Inevitable In Re: Zero - Starting Life In Another World
In Re: Zero, Subaru Natsuki mysteriously finds himself in another world after buying some items in a convenience store. Initially delighted with the prospects of living in a world of fantasy, he quickly realizes it isn't all fun and games. Poor Subaru gets killed on his first day, then continues to die some more.
Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World may seem to offer its protagonist a world-defying power but the reality is far different. Subaru's time-regressing ability has a huge cost, and the anime fully explores the effects of him repeatedly experiencing death and witnessing the deaths of the people close to him. Needless to say, his experiences are nowhere near pretty in this gritty isekai series.
All Fun And Games In Isekai Quartet
Isekai Quartet transports characters from renowned isekai anime to another world -- and that world is a modern-day school. The cast are forced to do school activities, wherein their varying personality quirks shine the brightest.
Featuring renowned isekai anime like KonoSuba, The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Overlord and Re:Zero, Isekai Quartet adds humor to the serious characters. Needless to say, this anime should be viewed as more of a comedy rather than a typical isekai anime, but it remains to be a good anime that isekai fans would love. Since the series has also progressed, more isekai characters, including some on this list, are joining the fun.
Grimgar: Ashes And Illusion Offers Realism To Fantasy
Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions starts just like any other isekai series, with a group of teenagers transported to a new world. This time, however, they have no recollection of their previous lives, but they do know death is permanent -- and that banding together will increase their chances of survival.
This isekai anime's charms lie in adding realism to the otherwise fantastical theme. Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions highlights the gravity of taking another person's life, more realistically showing that killing isn't as easy as many other anime in the genre show it to be.
