Alright, Isekai Fans! Let's Talk 2020.
2020, remember that year? Feels like a lifetime ago, right? Well, it was also a decent year for getting yeeted into another world. Specifically, via anime.
Let's dive into some isekai that hit our screens back then. Prepare for some (probably) controversial opinions!
I'm Standing on a Million Lives: A Love-Hate Relationship
This one... oh boy. I'm Standing on a Million Lives sounds epic. But honestly? It was kinda clunky.
Our protagonist, Yuusuke Yotsuya, is a total loner. Suddenly he's transported to a game-like world. With some classmates. Sounds familiar?
I know it tried to be different. But the animation could be, let's say, "unique." And the story felt a bit all over the place. Anyone else feel this way? Maybe it's just me!
Ascendance of a Bookworm: Season 2!
Okay, okay, this is where I get happy. Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 2 came out in 2020. And it was glorious!
Myne, our book-loving heroine, continued her quest. You know, the one where she tries to recreate books in a world without them. Genius!
This is an isekai that focuses on world-building and character development. Not just endless battles. Finally! Someone gets it!
Kemono Michi: Rise Up: Wrestling in Another World?
This one is just plain weird. But in a good way! Kemono Michi: Rise Up is about a wrestler. He gets summoned to another world.
His mission? To defeat the beasts. But instead, he wants to open a pet shop. I'm not kidding.
The absurdity is what makes this isekai so entertaining. It's a ridiculous premise. Executed perfectly. I chuckled a lot, sue me!
Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!: A Late Bloomer
This actually premiered in Fall of 2019, but continued into Winter 2020, so it qualifies! Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! is about a girl who... well, wants to be average.
Reincarnated into a fantasy world, she accidentally wishes to have "average" abilities. Compared to the strongest AND the weakest. Which makes her ridiculously overpowered. Go figure.
This isekai is fluffy, fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously. Perfect for a lighthearted watch. Even if the title is a mouthful.
My Unpopular Isekai Opinion for 2020
Here it is. My hot take. Brace yourselves.
2020's isekai offerings, while decent, weren't groundbreaking. There were some gems. But a lot of them felt…familiar.
Don't get me wrong, I love a good trip to another world. But I crave originality. Fresh takes. Something that really surprises me. Maybe 2021 would bring that... (spoiler alert, some did!).
So, what were your favorite isekai anime from 2020? Did you love something I trashed? Let's argue about it in the comments!
