Love or hate them,isekai anime’s popularity cannot be denied. Using the current year as an example, 2025 will see the release of more than 20 new stories that cover this theme, and that number does not even take into account sequels. Isekai is deeply competitive, to the point that only a handful of series reach mainstream exposure. However, the “forgettable” seasonal shows tend to still attract quite a bit of discourse while they are airing.
Despite there being hundreds of options,obscure isekai animeare fairly difficult to find, at least if the priority is to highlight series that fans of the genre might not have watched yet. Still, there are a handful of fun shows that have slipped through the cracks as their presence gradually faded with time. Let’s spotlight these anime.
To narrow down the selection and help define what can be included, here are a few criteria:
An isekai story about mountain biking,Idaten Jumpscreams “2000s anime” out of every frame, and that is by no means a criticism. While somewhat recognizable in certain regions of the world (India, for example),Idaten Jumpseems to be fairly unknown among Western viewers, particularly since an English version is not readily available on any streaming platform. Coming out long before isekai became a phenomenon thanks toSword Art Online, Trans Arts' series has more in common with other young-teen shonen anime that aired in the early 2000s, especially shows likeBeybladeandMÄR.
MÄRis also a fairlyunknown isekai anime.
Sho, Kakeru, and Makoto are summoned to a world where the main sport is mountain biking, and they must collect emblems to make their way back home. The story follows the trio as they explore this world, build rivalries, and engage in races. Sho is generally presented as the real main character, and he is a relatively typical lead for a sports anime. In fact,Idaten Jumpfollows the shonen sports formula to a T, albeit with the addition of over-the-top powers akin to something likeThe Prince of Tennis. Although nothing special by the standards of the sports genre,Idaten Jumpis very different from modern isekai.
Cut from the same cloth as'90s classicslikeSlayersandOrphen,Those Who Hunt Elvesdoes not quite reach the same heights as either of those shows, but it still offers a relentless blast of high jinks, absurdity, idiot characters, and unpredictable world-building. “Good” is not necessarily the most accurate adjective to describe this adventure, and there is a chance that the show’s aggressive style of humor could grate on a viewer’s nerves; however, if it hits just right,Those Who Hunt Elvescan be wildly entertaining.
Junpei, Ritsuko, and Airi are summoned to another world, only for everyone to quickly realize that this was a mistake. While the elf Celcia tries to send them back, the spell goes haywire and breaks, causing fragments to not only spread across the world but also embed in other elves. Consequently, these four lovable troublemakers head out into the world in search of elves.
Maze: The Mega-Burst Spaceis another ’90s isekai comedy anime that has been mostly forgotten. It is, arguably, not quite as enjoyable asThose Who Hunt Elves, but it is quite similar.
A magical girl isekai anime that, initially, seems to be designed for young children but eventually reveals itself to be a fairly mature dark fantasy,Tweeny Witchesdeserves to be more well-known than it is. Sadly, the anime is not currently accessible on a streaming service in North America, althoughit was once on Netflix.
Tweeny Witchesfollows Arusu, a girl who believes in magic and, to her excitement, finds herself in a world ruled by witches. Once there, she ends up tied to two young witches named Eva and Sheila, both of whom are fascinating reflections of this universe’s social expectations. The Magical Realm is stunning, with Studio 4°C crafting imaginative vistas and locations that are suitably otherworldly. While visually gorgeous,Tweeny Witchesgets surprisingly dark at times, tackling heavy themes like child abuse and even torture.
Isekai, as a concept, has been around for centuries and features in Japanese folktales and novels likeAlice in Wonderland. Manga and anime certainly did not birth this idea, but they defined its present-day interpretation.Sword Art Onlineis probably the most influential “trapped in another world” story of the 21st century, at least when it comes to mainstream anime. However, 1983’sAura Battler Dunbinelaid the groundwork for modern isekai.
Created by Sunrise shortly afterMobile Suit Gundam,Aura Battler Dunbinetells a mecha war story that uses isekai to explore its themes rather than just for wish-fulfillment. The protagonist, Shou, is dragged to another world as he has the potential to pilot a mecha, so he is effectively forced to become a soldier and take part in a war in a world that is not even his own. Forced enlistment is a big part of the story, and it is an interesting concept that has barely ever been explored in isekai anime.
Aura Battler Dunbinetells a pretty mature story that comes close to matching the quality of Sunrise’s other shows from this era. More importantly, themecha are fantastic and completely fit the world.
Magical Witch Punie-Chanis just dumb fun. Thereverse isekai animefollows Punie, a magical girl who is sent to Earth as part of her training to become Magical Land’s queen. While pretending to be the ultimate sweetheart, Punie is prone to violent outbursts, most of which tend to take the form of wrestling attacks. Once on Earth, she constantly has to fight off the efforts of other candidates for the throne, although none of them are remotely as ruthless as Punie.
While far from amazing,Magical Witch Punie-Chanis pretty hilarious and well worth a watch for people who enjoy stuff likeDropkick On My Devil!andGood Luck Girl!Most of the story takes place on Earth, but the sequel season does showcase the Magical Land in a bit more detail.
