Best Reverse Isekai Anime (and where to watch them)

One of the most saturated genres of anime is the Isekai which involves the protagonist being transported to another world –thus, the name of the genre. It’s so saturated that finding a new twist to make stories interesting is becoming more and more difficult. 

One solution that writers found –while it’s a less popular version—is creating a sub-genre called “Reverse Isekai”. 

What is Reverse Isekai Anime?

The idea or “reverse isekai anime”  is that, instead of earthlings being transported to a fantasy world, creatures from another world are transported to earth. “Isekai” itself means “another world”.

In reverse isekai, the people being transported are often not the main protagonist. It is more common for them to be the supporting characters. Often the earthling protagonist will have to make a lot of changes in their lives to help the isekai characters. 

Reverse isekai anime gives an interesting take on the isekai genre because it gives off a feeling that there could be creatures from another world blending in our society that we never really know about. The way these creatures adjust to our daily lives here on earth often ends up in a slapstick type of comedy which is refreshing and enjoyable to the audience. 

To give you an experience of reverse isekai anime, here is the list of anime you can watch:

The demon lord is a part-timer (Hataraku Maou Sama)

Hataraku Maou Sama is perhaps the best example of the classic reverse isekai anime.  

The “Devil is a Part-Timer” story is about a demon lord from another world who gets cornered by the hero (Yuusha) Emi. The demon is forced to open a portal to another world to escape. He leaves, along with his right hand, Shirou Ashiya. 

The “other world” in question turns out to be a little place called Earth.

On Earth, these isekai characters realize that their powers are diminished severely.  They have to greatly adjust to live a normal life here on earth, and comedy ensues. 

It is one of the most popular anime in the genre because of how the writers are able to turn the story about demons from another realm into something very funny and almost slapstick.  

Watch here:

The Devil Is A Part-Timer! – Episode 01 [English Sub] – YouTube

Is this a zombie? (Kore wa Zombie desu ka?)

Kore wa zombie desu ka? Is one funny anime that you might really enjoy if you are interested in the “reverse isekai” genre.

 The “Is this a zombie?” story revolves around Ayuma, a human who dies and is turned into a zombie by an armoured girl from the Underworld. 

After becoming a zombie, Ayuma inadvertantedlyvtakes on the magic of the girls he meets from another world. His life turns into a complete disaster –in a hilarious way. He must deal with different creatures as he journeys to find the person responsible for his death. 

Watch here:

is this a zombie? episode 1 (English subbed) – YouTube

Beelzebub

Beelzebub is a beloved classic anime that went on for 60 episodes. It’s a story of a high school boy who is surrounded by delinquents. He inhabits a place where chaos and lawlessness are the normal scenario. 

He is the strongest guy in the entire school and all he faces off with fear him. 

 One day, he goes down to the riverside where he finds a man floating. He picks up the man from the river who split in half! Out comes the baby Beelzebub of the show’s title.  The baby, who happens to be the next demon world that came from the Underworld, attaches himself to the high school boy. 

Oga, the delinquent high school boy, now must learn how to raise baby Beelzebub. All the while, he must also deal with the demons crossing into the human world from the Underworld. 

Watch here

Gate

This anime has a unique take on isekai. It is both an isekai and a reverse isekai. Why? Because the characters of this Anime can move between Earth and the “other world” throughout the entire anime, especially in the second season.

Gate is also both a military and a political fantasy anime. It deals with the political strife of major nations in both worlds while dealing with magical creatures. Expect to see elves, dragons, mages, and demi-gods. 

Main character, Youji Itamai of the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF), goes to a Doujin event when a portal, in the form of a giant gate, appears. It is situated smack in the middle of a city where unknown creatures and horse-riding warriors wreak havoc. Youji springs into action, and sets forth to save all the lives he can. 

Youji is awarded a promotion and a special task. He is given a recon mission in what is called “The special region”. He meets several characters that will change his life as a soldier and an individual citizen. 

Watch on Cruncyroll

Bleach

Bleach is also both an isekai and reverse isekai anime since the protagonists and the antagonists can cross between Earth and the Spirit world. The setting of the story moves from Earth to Spirit world depending on the plot of each arc.

The story revolves around Ichigo, an ordinary high school student, who became a temporary Shinigami. He acts as substitute to the Shinigami assigned to his area, Rukia. 

When Rukia temporarily loses her power, she passes on her responsibility to Ichigo. She draws out his spirit from his body so that he can harness the power of the Shinigami.

His struggle to save people along with his high school friends makes this reverse isekai anime one of the top anime of all time. The series went up to 80 episodes in total excluding the movie releases. 

Watch here:

Bleach Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

Restaurant to Another World (Isekai Shokudou)

If you like a wholesome and easy type of anime, Isekai Shoukudou might be a good anime for you! 

Its slice-of-life type of vibe gives off a relaxing feeling without the need to overly think about the plot.

The anime is mainly about a restaurant called “Western Restaurant Nekoya” located at the corner of the shopping district of Tokyo. On ordinary days, this restaurant is just like any other fine restaurant you can find in Japan. 

What makes this story interesting is that every Saturday when the restaurant closes to the public of Japan, it opens its magical door to people from different worlds. The door appears in different places allowing various types of people to enjoy the service of the restaurant. 

The show features new characters coming to the restaurant regularly, so you never really run out of plot diversions watching the anime. 

watch here:

Restaurant to Another World – Watch on Crunchyroll

Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl)

Hell Girl is a classic that many people love and relate to.  An old proverb says that if you would take revenge, you need to dig two graves: one for your grudge and the other for yourself. This couldn’t be truer when you hire an agent from hell to execute your revenge for you. 

Every day at exactly midnight, the “hotline to hell” website becomes accessible online.Here you can enter the name of the person you want to have vengeance on. This will trigger the “hell girl” Enma to visit the said person you want revenge on. Enma will drag the person back to her hellish home. The downside to this is that once the requestor dies, he/she will also go to hell.

It’s the back stories behind the revenges that make this series great. You are genuinely made to feel sorry, happy, or sad with every vengeance fulfilled. It makes you ponder the nature of vengeance itself and its validity.

Watch here:

Jigoku Shoujo Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

Kekkai Sensen

A gateway opens in the middle of New York.  The gateway forms a kind of bubble separating the space within the city from the rest of the world. The bubble becomes the middle ground between Earth and the beyond, where supernatural creatures aplenty dwell. 

Three years later, a city is established called Hellsalem’s Lot in place of New York.  Supernatural creatures such as vampires, fish people, and super sonic monkeys live together with humans, some of which eventually mutate and get superpowers. 

The whole plot revolves around the adventures and antics of Leon who acquires the “All-seeing Eye of the Gods” in exchange for his sister’s sight, which has been lost during the collision of the two worlds. He joins the ranks of “LIBRA”, which deals with supernatural problems. Together they strive to save the world from destruction.

Kekkai Sensen is a shounen reverse Isekai Anime that will make you think about the importance of family and friendship. 

Watch here:

Kekkai Sensen Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

How amazing would it be to meet a dragon during a mountain excursion? 

One drunken night, Kobayashi decides to visit the mountains. On her way there, she finds a huge green dragon that seems kinda lost. In her drunkenness, she offers the dragon a place to stay in her apartment. 

The next morning, she is about to leave her house for work when the dragon surprises her on her doorstep with a giant roar. What’s even more surprising is when the dragon transforms into a busty girl in a maid costume (pretty much any man-otaku’s wet dream). 

At first, Kobayashi is hesitant to let the dragon lady stay. She eventually gives in when the dragon lady cries when about to leave. The dragon, thus allowed to stay, shows her gratitude by becoming Kobayashi’s maidservant (the perfect continuation of the man-otaku’s wet dream). 

She throws herself into her new calling but her unorthodox methods of taking care of Kobayashi lead to more problems than solutions. Nonetheless, her help turns Kobayashi’s life into one of endless fun and diversion. 

World Trigger

World Trigger Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

World Trigger – Watch on Crunchyroll

World trigger is another shounen reverse isekai anime hit (trying saying that 10 times as a tongue-twister…. 

World Trigger is filled with action, sci-fi, and supernatural stuff that will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

It starts when a gate from another world appears (familiar, huh?) on earth and monster-like creatures called “neighbours” begin to wreak havoc. To combat the unwanted interlopers, the Border Defense Agency is created.  They fight the new “neighbors” using special weapons called “Triggers”. 

After several years, the “neighbors” are still able to come to earth intermittently to cause mayhem and destruction. The Border Defense Agency is always on its toes to keep these monsters at bay. In order to do this, they keep recruiting people and putting them in training. These trainees are not allowed to use their Trigger weapons outside their base. 

One day, a mysterious new student in one of the trainee’s high schools is dragged into the “forbidden area” by bullies.  The fighting parties find themselves attacked by what suddenly appear to be “neighbors”.  Osamu Mikumu does what he thinks is right and fights the “neighbor” using his Trigger. Little does he know that a kid he tries to save is a humanoid neighbor in the form of a young boy. The boy is able to finish the neighbor monster in one go.  

Their adventures continue as they try to save the world from being taken over by the “Neighbors” from the other side. 

Gabriel DropOut

What happens when a self-proclaimed “all-mighty angel” lives on Earth and learns about earthly pleasures? 

Wonder no longer.

Many centuries ago, heaven decided to send off young angels to earth to understand earthlings and their way of life.  Gabriel White Tenma is one of those young angels and learns about the unbridled pleasure that is to be found in the video game. She turns into a hikikomori (a Japanese-style shut-in person). 

Her friends, including a demon she has befriended in her early days on earth, decide to help her get out of the gaming rabbit hole she has shut herself in. Along with 2 other angels, the trio try their best to turn Gabriel back into her old self, but Gabriel seems adamant not to give up her current lifestyle. 

The four eventually realize what it means to be both demon and angel in a land full of temptations. 

Gabriel DropOut – Watch on Crunchyroll

The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated! (Jahy-sama wa Kujikenai!)

Once the second strongest being in the dark realm, Jahy was forced to live in poverty in the human world fighting not the heroes and the side of goodness but the difficulties of living without money, AC, and even a simple bath. This happened after the magic crystal that holds together the dark real was destroyed by an unknown magical girl.

This anime will get you rolling on the floor as she tries to make ends meet through her part-time job and struggles to keep her landlord away every month without paying the rent. But her huge ego and overwhelming pride keep her from living such a pitiful lifestyle as she vows to bring back the dark realm to its former glory and find a way to bring back the mana crystal that was once destroyed. 

Watch here:

Jahy-sama wa Kujikenai! capítulo 1 – YouTube

Jahy-sama wa Kujikenai! Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

Royal Ortigia Magic Academy (Kinsou no Vermeil: Gakeppuchi Majutsushi wa Saikyou no Yakusai to Mahou Sekai wo Tsukisusumu)

Vermeil in Gold Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

If you like the archetype of the “Bitchy” character who seduces innocent boys, this might be a good anime for you! 

Royal Ortigia Magic Academy focuses on the master-familiar relationship of a magic student and a succubus demon. Their goal is to find a way to achieve main character Alto’s dream of becoming one of the top magicians in school.

It all starts when Alto accidentally summons a succubus demon trapped in a book when he is wandering around the library looking for a way to summon a familiar in order to pass his class. 

Since demons are hated entities, character Vermeil decides to disguise herself as a “human” familiar of Alto. As Vermeil’s feelings for Alto grow, she continues to help him achieve his dream. She protects him from everything he has to go through in his everyday life as a student of a magical academy. 

So, what makes this anime a reverse isekai? Well, demons in this anime live in another realm. They cross to the human world in order to prey on magical humans to suck all their “mana”. Vermeil is one of those demons, albeit that she was one trapped in a book.

Fate Series

The Fate series has the most controversial fans there is in the Otaku community. You tend to either hate or love the show. Because of how the Fate series utilizes the mythologies of ancient civilizations here on earth, some of its fans even go as far as using the anime as a reference for their “knowledge” of ancient mythologies.

The Fate series have different stories in each season or movie but use the same characters throughout. And they never run out of stories!

This is why a lot of anime fans don’t stick too much to the Fate/stay series. The story just keeps on going. It gets confusing and you can lose track. 

But I have to admit, the Fate series characters are one of the most recognized and iconic characters in the Otaku community, especially “Saber”.

Just make sure to get the order right if you want to watch the entire series including the movies.

Fate Stay Night Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

I quit Heroing (Yuusha, Yamemasu)

Ever wonder what happens when a hero gets tired of saving people? 

It’s a pretty intriguing set up.

“I quit Heroing” offers a different take on the reverse isekai genre. It offers a hero, who after being ostracized by humans for being too strong, sides with demons from another world. He decides to help a lady-demon lord build her kingdom again, but struggles to receive her acceptance.

His attempt to save the demons despite being a “hero” is what drives the story. 

《I’m Quitting Heroing》#1 (ENG sub | JP dub)【Ani-One】 – YouTube

Yuusha, Yamemasu Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

Re:Creators

Re:Creators Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

What happens when your favorite anime characters come to life? 

Wouldn’t it be a dream come true to live among the characters you adore in anime and video games? Or is it?

Re:creators is an anime that deals with characters from manga, anime and video games. It is such a fantasy type of anime. The story is jam-packed with action and fight scenes. Despite this, it is also filled with sorrow and despair. The fictional characters from another world struggle to accept the truth about themselves. 

The story starts when a high school boy dreams to become an author. As he does his best to make illustrations for his manga, he watches anime to get inspiration. A glitch happens which transports him to the world of the anime he is watching. 

After barely surviving a fight between the hero and her enemy, he comes back to earth. He is surprised to find out that the hero character has also come with him. Several characters from different manga, anime, and video games start to show up on earth wreaking havoc a-plenty.

The Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok (Matantei Loki Ragnarok)

While many comic lovers are man-crushing for Marvel’s Loki, Tom Hiddleston, some otakus are going bananas for this anime take on the God of Mischief Loki. 

In this anime, the Norse god of mischief is banished to the human world by the Gods themselves. He turns into a little boy. The only way for him to be able to return to the realm of Gods is by collecting the darkness that takes over human hearts. To do this, he decides to run a detective agency and is eventually joined by a mystery-loving teenage girl. The girl becomes his assistant in solving mysteries. 

As he goes on his journey solving crime, his situation becomes more and more perilous. Gods start to appear one by one. They try to assassinate him for unknown reasons.

Matantei Loki Ragnarok Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

Hinamatsuri

Hinamatsuri is one heck of an anime. It’s the kind of show that could make you pee your pants in laughter. 

It’s an anime that gives off a slice-of-life kind of vibe. But Hinamatsuri has a lot of color and deals with several ridiculous scenarios.

The story mainly revolves around three little girls: Nita whose origin is unknown but possesses an immense amount of power; Anzu, a less powerful psychic who is broke; and l Hitomi, a smart overachiever who can’t say no to anyone. She finds herself becoming a bartender, despite being not mature enough to work legally in a bar. She serves drinks to various Yakuza groups, and her homeroom teacher. 

Despite the craziness and the antics of the trio, it’s a story of a found family. Nita and the Yakuza leader who adopted her grew closer to each other. Hitomi develops a bond with her regular clients in the bar.  Anzu discovers a family in the homeless community in the area. 

This anime is gold. It is a highly underrated story full of side-splitting gags, along with moral messages and great character development. 

Highly recommended. 

HINAMATSURI – Watch on Crunchyroll

Hinamatsuri Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero (Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica)

Another hero based isekai-reverse anime. 

The story is about a rogue hero who decides to bring home the daughter of a demon king from another world. They try to hide in a school called “Babel”. Bebel is a specialized school for those who have gone to another world and acquired special abilities. The students have returned home only to have to deal with the hostility of a student council.  

Note that this is an R-18 anime with mild nudity. 

Hagure Yuusha no Estetica Episode 1 – AniMixPlay

Dropkick on My Devil! (Jashin-chan Dropkick)

Jashin-chan Dropkick is another anime full of out-of-this-world, mildly brutal, references to  other anime. It is a comedy. The show never runs out of craziness, despite trying to be cute. It’s a really off-the-wall anime dealing with supernatural beings and magic.

It begins with Yurine summons the half-serpent demon Jashin-chan to earth. While Yurine is skillful in the occult, she doesn’t know how to return Jashin-chan to where she came from. Jashin is forced to live with Yurine in her tiny apartment.

When Jashin-chan finds out that the only way for the summons to be undone is for the summoner to die, she tries to kill Yurine. But this is easier said than done. Jashin-chan has an inexhaustible regeneration power. Yurine tortures her in every way you can imagine. 

Jashin is often visited by two of her close friends from the other world tripling the craziness in the anime.

Reverse Isekai Anime in conclusion

In conclusion, reverse isekai anime are becoming more popular, and for good reason. They offer a fresh take on the isekai genre that is sure to please fans of regular isekai anime. If you’re looking for a new and exciting anime to watch, I suggest checking out some of the reverse isekai anime titles here that have been released recently. 

Contributor

Article by John Salinas.

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