Isekai has become one of the biggest genres in anime in the past several years, and there's a chance that anyone who watches anime has seen at least one example of the genre. For many otaku, they simply can't get enough, so the more isekai to watch, the better! Thankfully, various streaming services have answered the call for more adventures in other worlds, offering tons of isekai anime to enjoy.
As one of the biggest streaming giants around the world, Hulu is definitely a common destination for anime fans. It's also got some of the best isekai ever available to be streamed, so anyone who wants to watch reincarnations can do so with the mere click of a button. Here's a list of some of the coolest isekai shows on Hulu, as well as what makes them so good.
Demon Lord, Retry Adds a Bit of Mystery to Isekai
Demon Lord, Retry!, like many on this list, has a man being reborn into the world of a fantasy video game, with Akira Ono being stuck within Infinity Game, his own creation. In the guise of the Demon Lord, he's now both highly respected and targeted by others, making solving the mystery of how he ended up there a lot harder to figure out. As the creator of the game, he's also more methodical and forward-thinking than many isekai protagonists. It's also fairly lighthearted, keeping things from ever getting too serious for the reincarnated game developer.
Overlord Is One of the Best Modern Isekai
Based on a series of light novels, the highly acclaimed Overlord sees a gamer stuck in the world of his favorite MMORPG on the day that its servers shut down. Now trapped in the body of a powerful Skeleton Lord, he finds that many of those who stand in his way were no match for him. Overlord is such a treat because it takes the concept of isekai series being power fantasies and just runs with it, accurately portraying how someone who's a master of a game would just absolutely wreck any opposition once he truly becomes an overpowered boss.
Wise Man's Grandchild
Wise Man's Grandchild tells the story of a young man who's reborn in a fantasy world as a baby that's subsequently adopted by a wizened wizard. Unfortunately, he teaches the lad, now named Shin, everything that he knows besides common sense, leaving him unprepared for the world at large. Attending a school to hone his magical powers, Shin of course catches the eye of the resident females there. Combining elements of isekai, "magical school" fantasy, and arguably harem, Wise Man's Grandchild is able to withstand being completely cliche by combining so many different tropes at once.
Arifureta Shows How Strong a Loser Can Be
Arifureta is a great reversal of fortune for isekai, showing a protagonist who's down on his luck with the world against him. After he's reincarnated into another world, Hajime is bequeathed with only basic blacksmith skills while his classmates are reborn with powerful magical abilities. After being betrayed and left for dead, he vows to escape his current status quo, building weapons that allow him to take on incredible opponents. Along the way, he gains a team of outcast allies, showing how even the seemingly weakest can become the world's strongest.
Kemono Michi Combines Isekai With... Wrestling?!
Kemono Michi is perhaps the silliest and most original isekai in a while, though it's sadly somewhat overlooked. Pro wrestler Genzo is transported to another world by its princess to defeat its many evil beasts, but being an animal lover, he instead beats her up and vows to befriend the wayward animals! The series' plot sounds like a parody of isekai, and given that it subverts things so well, even the most ardent isekai fans should give it a try for something a bit different within the same genre.
KonoSuba Is Chill Isekai Comfort Food
After a rather ridiculous death, Kazuma is reborn in a fantasy world by the goddess Aqua. Though Kazuma, Aqua, and their allies initially plan to defeat the overbearing Demon King, they eventually simply give up on this goal and just try to live their best lives. This is what makes KonoSuba such a comforting and fun isekai, even if things end up forcing the team to fight their grandiose opponent. It also shows how, for as powerful as some isekai characters may be, their dysfunctional can ultimately make battles hilariously challenging.
Sword Art Online Is Still the King of Isekai
You can't really mention isekai without bringing up Sword Art Online, and thankfully, it's on Hulu to watch! SAO follows Kirito and Asuna, two players of the "Sword Art Online" video game. They become trapped inside of the online game where death in the game results in real-life death and are forced to clear its many levels in order to be freed. Sword Art Online has codified expectations and tropes for modern isekai, namely the fact that they're so focused on MMOs. The anime, which itself is based on a light novel series, has had movies and spinoff shows, but it all started with the first season of SAO.
Inuyasha Is Many People's First Isekai
Back before people even knew what isekai is, they likely watched the series Inuyasha on Adult Swim. The series is about Kagome, a teenager who ends up in Japan's distant past. There, she befriends Inuyasha, a human/dog-demon hybrid, as well as a growing cast of others, as they search the land for the fragments of a mysterious jewel that came forth from Kagome's body. Of course, there are tons of both romance and action to be found, and the general narrative is a lot less like modern isekai. Still, it's beloved for a reason, having been the first "adult" anime for many fans, and it's available to stream now on Hulu.
