Summary
Isekai today is a very different sub-genre than it was back in the day, as the storytelling and the things that were considered important have shifted heavily. Ever since isekai became athing from the 80s, each era brought a different vibe from the more serious worldbuilding of the early days to the more comedic and power fantasy roots of the modern isekai.
The 2000s were a great time for anime in general, with several classics coming from that time, and while isekai was not as popular (or common) as it is today, there were some absolute gems that might have gotten lost to the tides of time. This discussion is to dig them up.
2004
Source
Manga
Ecchi has always been a part of anime, and one could argue that with the world becoming a lot more conscious,the ecchi elementsof shows have been toned down a bit. But in the 2000s, it was rampant, andGirls Bravowas a show that ran with its ecchi aesthetic.
Yukinari Sasaki is a boy struggling with gynophobia who is transported to another world where 90% of the population is conveniently female. Here, he meets the kindly Miharu Sena Kanaka, who, when she touches him, does not cause him to break out in hives. The comedy is whereGirls Bravoputs all its effort into, and while people won’t be writing essays about it, it is a fun romp into past anime tropes.
Kibais a show from the mid-2000s following a rebellious boy who is pulled into the grim world of Templar. Due to a mysterious power he possesses, Kiba is now wanted by various warring factions who would use him for their own ends.Kibawas a much darker show, not afraid to talk about war and the horrors of it.
Kibawas a show that harkened back to themore grim days of isekaiwhen shows likeFushigi YuugiandEscaflowneall explored the themes of war and violence with the isekai premise. Kiba isn’t often remembered today, but it was a great show from its era.
Tweeny Witchesis an obscure show from the 2000s that follows Arusu, an optimistic girl who loves and believes in magic. She is taken to another world where magic exists in abundance,but the witcheshere do not do magic for fun, nor is there any real joy in it.
The premise ofTweeny Witchesis hardly groundbreaking, but it features some amazing animation work from Studio 4°C, and it does a great job developing its characters. Unfortunately, the show was a victim of its era when anime was not as popular outside of Japan. But it really deserves more praise and love.
InFamiliar Of Zero, Saito is a young Japanese boy scooped into the world of Halkeginia, where he is to play the role of Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière’s familiar. Louise, who seems initially inept in magic, first resents having Saito around, but then she gets to know him better, and feelings begin to develop.
TheFamiliar of Zerohas a lot of ‘familiar’ isekai harem tropes, and it leans into them unapologetically. Louise is a particularlyviolent tsundere,which might not be for everyone. That said, the character dynamics do mesh really well in this show, and it did solidify some of the more prominent isekai tropes, making it something of an iconic anime for its time.
Arumi and Sasshi are childhood friends whose beloved Abenobashi shopping arcade is about to be torn down. Unfortunately, this change also trips off an ancient charm, and the two friends start being transported to different alternate versions of Abenobashi.
Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is a proper comedy that pokes fun at various tropes and concepts in media. It does this pretty successfully, especially when it talks about otaku culture. While mostly funny, it does examine the nature of change as Sasshi’s deeply held memories of Abenobashi seem to be in danger with the imminent destruction of the place. It also features a lot of the things Gainax is known for, including expressive animation and a penchant for the surreal.
A naive Yuri Shibuya tries to help a classmate in trouble with bullies, but gets bullied instead and finds his head stuck in a toilet, and more surprisingly, is transported to another world. In the new world, he is the ruler of a demon kingdom with tense relationships with their neighbours. Yuri must rule wisely with the help of his trusted retainers.
Kyou Kara Maouis a comedy in the vein ofDevil Is a Part-Timer, and the inclusion of several great characters helps elevate the show. That Yuri gets to go between worlds as he pleases also adds a little something extra, and the romantic aspect with one of his retainers, Wolfram, was ahead of its time.
BeforeSword Art Onlineled to the explosion of isekai popularity,.hack//Signhad already explored the stuck-in-a-game trope. Like in Overlord, Tsukasa, a player of an advanced virtual game called ‘The World’, finds himself stuck in the game world. When a series of events start to occur in the real world connected to the game, Tsukasa and other top players must find the root of it all.
The show presents fans with a unique world with interesting lore and character interactions. It also presented a weaker protagonist in Tsukasa, which stands in contrast with a lot of modern isekai. It also delved into Tsukasa’s loneliness, being the only player who couldn’t log out.
Wataru Mitani thought his life was over. With his father leaving and his mother in a spot of bother, the young man takes on a challenge to try and change his destiny by entering through a mysterious door toanother worldcalled ‘Vision’. Here, he must meet with the goddess of destiny to change his fate.
Brave Storyis all about bravery. The bravery of Wataru to leave where he was, the bravery to try to change his fate, and the bravery to adapt to a new world and meet new people. It is a great movie and well worth the time to see. It isn’t as well-known as some other Gonzo works, but it is an underrated gem of a movie.
Inuyashais one of those shows that came around when anime had just started growing in popularity in the west, and many don’t even realize it is an isekai. It was one of the most prominent shows of the day and followed all the classic shonen tropes, including iconic battles, a side romance, and power leveling.
Inuyashais a long-running show with the initial season spanning over 100 episodes, which gave the anime time to flesh out its protagonists. Inuyasha and Kagome don’t start off on the best of notes, and their quest is one on which they embark reluctantly, but this character dynamic grows and is one of the pillars of the show.
Yoko Nakajima tries to fit in and please everyone. When she is visited by a strange humanoid creature who says she is a queen, she is shocked and whisked to another world. There, she must take over her kingdom, which is in turmoil, and bring peace.
The Twelve Kingdomsfeatures a vast and sprawling world, which is very enjoyable to explore and learn more about. Yoko is also a character who clearly grows over the course of the narrative, and it is really cool to see. The political intrigue and the struggle for a better life do seem a little familiar. When people talk about isekai of the 2000s,The Twelve Kingdomsembodies the best of what that era had to offer.
