Summary
In recent years, the isekai genrehas become a major part of the anime and manga sphere. Stories of reincarnating or teleporting to another world and living out a dream life have become incredibly commonplace, and every anime season has been accompanied by at least one or two new isekai series.
Of course, traveling to another world is far from a new concept, and there are tons of classic manga that feature a similar kind of story. While these stories were not called isekai during their initial publication, in hindsight, it’s clear they share similar traits and archetypes. Here are some classic manga that most likely had a big influence on modern isekai.
8Those Who Hunt Elves
A karate master, actress, and military otaku get stranded in a fantasy world. The elf Celcia Marie Claire offers to send them back, but a mishap sends the fragments of her spell all over the world. The spell fragments are tattooed onto elf women, so the three decide to travel the world stripping elves until they can obtain all the fragments necessary to go home.
Despite the suggestive concept,Those Who Hunt Elvesis mostly a comedy, with the focus being more on the trio’s various shenanigans as they attempt to retrieve the spell fragments rather than the stripping itself. The series is recommendedfor fans of silly comedythat doesn’t take itself seriously in the slightest.
7.hack//Legend Of The Twilight
Twin siblings, Shugo and Rena Kunisaki, win two avatars designed after the legendary Kite and Blackrose and decide to use them as their avatarsin the virtual reality MMOThe World. Once there, Shugo receives the Twilight Bracelet from a mysterious AI called Aura. Wanting to unravel the bracelet’s mysteries, the two set out to find Aura.
.hack//Legend of the Twilightis part of the .hack multimedia franchise, a series that pioneered the virtual reality isekai concept. While this manga has little connection to either the anime or the video games, it remains a vital part of the series and a classic example of early isekai.
6Brave Story
Wataru Mitani stumbles onto a mysterious world called Vision while investigating an urban legend. In Vision, he finds a fantasy world where magic is real and wishes can be granted. As Wataru’s home life falls apart and his parents decide to divorce, Wataru runs away to Vision to find a way to save his splintering family.
Initially a novel written by Miyuki Miyabe,Brave Storywas eventually turned into a manga series spanning 20 volumes.Brave Storyitself has become quite the franchise over the years, making it a classic of early isekai.
5Marchen Awakens Romance (MAR)
Ginta Torimizu is as geeky and nerdy as can be, but his life changes when he arrives in MAR Heaven, a place he has seen before in his dreams. He soon encounters the mystical ARM Babbo and becomes wrapped up in a struggle for the peace and prosperity of MAR Heaven.
Marchen Awakens Romanceis a classic fantasy action seriesfull of shonen action-adventure tropes. It has a large focus on fairy tales and folklore, so fans of those subjects will certainly get a kick out of this series.
4From Far Away
Normal high school girl Noriko Tachiki is thrown into a world of swords and magic, during a time when everything is in chaos due to the Awakening, a mysterious being that can control a mighty creature known only as the Sky Demon. Rescued by the handsome prince Izark Kia Tarj, who speaks a language she does not recognize, Noriko has no idea that she is the Awakening, a fact that will plunge her and Izark into danger at every turn.
From Far Awayis a classic shojo fantasy manga with elements of isekai. It is a story that abounds with both fantasy conflicts and romantic tensions. Fans of both will certainly get their fill from this manga.
3Fushigi Yugi
Miaka Yuki and her best friend, Yui Hongo, discover a mysterious book titledThe Universe of the Four Gods. To their surprise, they are transported to the novel’s universe the moment they look at the pages. Though Yui is sent back almost immediately, Miaka stays behind and becomes the Priestess of Suzaku in order to obtain a wish from the legendary beast. To do so, she’ll have to gather the Celestial Warriors and protect the country of Suzaku from outside threats.
Fushigi Yugiis a classic isekai story from the 90s, and one that remains incredibly popular to this day. It has received several follow-ups and spin-offs, each one focusing on a different part of the world’s history.
2Inuyasha
High schooler Kagome Higurashi finds herself thrown into the world of feudal Japan, where magic abounds and demons walk the land. Befriending the half-demon Inuyasha, Kagome sets out to recover the shards of the mystical Shikon Jewel before the evil Naraku can do so himself.
Inuyashais a classic 90s mangafrom the legendary Rumiko Takahashi, one that most anime fans are aware of. While it remains a popular staple in anime and manga, it can claim itself as an early example of isekai as well.
1Magic Knight Rayearth
While on a field trip to the Tokyo Tower, three middle school girls are teleported to the mystical world of Cephiro. There, they learn that they are the Magic Knights, and that it is their duty to awaken their powers, find the Rune-Gods, and save Cephiro from destruction.
Magic Knight Rayearthis a classic mangafrom the prolific author collective CLAMP. While the series certainly displays aspects of magical girl stories, it also has a lot in common with Isekai. Fans of both genres will certainly enjoy this iconic work.
