Why Isekai is Trash
π§Ά Tags:: #ACCESS01 #Script
π Resources:: Reddit
2024-05-18 - 00:50
Reasons Why Isekai is Trash
Stale genre
Overused tropes and clichΓ©s
- Discuss the repetitive nature of isekai plots: ordinary person transported to another world, often with OP abilities.
- Examples: "Sword Art Online," "Re:Zero," "The Rising of the Shield Hero."
- Mention common character archetypes: OP protagonist, harem of love interests, generic fantasy settings.
If you've watched many isekai then guess this anime -
- A otaku loser gets isekai'd into a new world, but oh no he's bugged and can only be level 1! But he's also doubled-bugged, so he has infinite stats anyway.
- Now he is OP and all the girls want to jump on him!
Now, guess which anime I'm talking about? You can at least find 10 anime with the same plot.
Predictable Plotlines
- Highlight how many isekai series follow a formulaic structure with little innovation.
- Discuss the reliance on familiar story arcs: hero's journey, collecting a harem, defeating the demon lord, etc.
Here Are Some Common Things
- Overpowered protagonist > bugged out stats or starting weak and then very rapid growth.
- Harem element > princess/adventurer/some strong clan or >>
- Animal or Demi-human companions > cat/fox/elf girl.
- Game-like world > stats and powers / sometimes only MC can see these.
- Adventure Guild > Ranks with different class adventurers.
- Reincarnation or summoning > truck-kun or sudden transportation because other world summoned them.
- Modern knowledge advantage.
- Villainous Nobility or corrupt kingdom > or born as a noble and needs to fight some demon lord.
Lack of Character Development
- Explain how many isekai protagonists lack depth and development.
- Point out the tendency for characters to remain static and one-dimensional.
- Although it is easy to watch these kinds of shows when you just need some cheap entertainment after a hard day, but after the show ends you don't feel anything, there's just numbness.
- This makes you hate any overpowered characters, there should be a way to write overpowered characters as well, but most isekai anime don't do it well.
Wish Fulfillment Fantasy
- Explain the genreβs focus on escapism and wish fulfillment, which can lead to shallow storytelling.
- Mention how this often results in overpowered protagonists with little struggle or meaningful conflict.
Poor World-Building
- Critique the often lazy or generic world-building in many isekai anime.
- Discuss how poorly defined worlds fail to engage viewers or add depth to the story.
Why is This the Case?
Cause and Effect
- People are buying it, so the signals writers that it is working, and if it is working then why should they change anything about it!
- Think why are there stupid anime like, reincarnated as a sword, reincarnated as a vending machine, reincarnated as a goblin? It's because someone out there is dying to watch this kind of anime, and the numbers show that!
- This creates cause and effect and promotes more writers who think that they can make a few changes and create a different anime that people will enjoy as well. And the cycle continues...
What I think will eventually happen is people will slowly get bored with the genre and stop watching these shows, or they will just stop watching anything that has isekai in it.
When will that happen is hard to say, though, as right now that doesn't seem to be happening.
Until and unless that happens, you'll keep seeing many such anime released every season.
But regardless of what happens, the quality of anime people watch and experience is going down, in the end the only message we see is that money and attention makes the world go around. > Make an Attention = Money Slide.