Introduction
Isekai anime has always had a reputation of being predictable as the usual themes don’t change much. However, in the last few seasons we’ve noticed isekai shows gaining some popularity, probably because of clever narratives with unique OP characters. We had some high hopes for a few isekai series this Spring 2019 season, but were our expectations too much? Its time to find out in our Expectation Vs. Reality: How Isekai Anime in Spring 2019 Faired article!
1. Hangyakusei Million Arthur (2nd Cours)
- Genres: Isekai, Game, Fantasy
- Air Date: April 4, 2019
The Holy Sword, Excalibur. It’s a special sword that ascertains whom will become the king of Britain and unite the country. The one who pulled it out was called ‘Arthur’ and he gained an immense power.
However, it was not just one person who pulled Excalibur from the rock. Because of the large amount of power born from it, suddenly there was an inundation of legends and this distorted history! In order to right this wrong and correct history, six different ‘Arthurs’ called Danchou, Tekeen, Yamaneko, Kakka, Renkin, and Rurou, all travel back to the Britain of the past.
Their mission is to break all of the Excalibur that are distorting history.
They are over 1,000,000 in number.
What the Arthurs are doing is rebelling against the past.
And, fighting to protect the future.
What We Got:
Legends have always shown only one warrior was able to wield the mighty sword known as Excalibur. The age-old legend has found itself distorted though after a strange phenomenon occurs, bringing with it millions of Excalibur blades. Now with several wielders of the ancient sword, those who know this legend must be kept in check have taken it upon themselves to destroy the fake weapons of lore and fix this altered world. With over a million swords though, the path to this task won’t be a simple one…
Based on the hit mobile game, Hangyakusei Million Arthur 2nd Cour continues the first season of the anime adaptation with more isekai goodness! While we weren’t huge fans of the first season, we didn’t dislike it and actually enjoyed the theme of using an altered legend of Arthur plotline. We anticipated the second season wouldn’t do much more than the first and, in the end, our thoughts weren’t wrong. Check out Hangyakusei Million Arthur 2nd Cour if you loved the first and you’ll find it won’t do you wrong.
Hangyakusei Million Arthur (2nd Cours) Official PV
2. Isekai Quartet
- Genres: Isekai, Parody, Comedy, Slice of Life
- Air Date: April 10, 2019
One day, a mysterious button appears.
By pushing it, our characters are transferred to yet another world!!
Apparently in this new world, other characters from other worlds are appearing too...!?
What characters? Why it’s characters from Overlord, Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!, RE: Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Sekatsu, and Youjo Senki!
What We Got:
Buttons aren’t always meant to be pressed; they can lead t o dangerous consequences. Unfortunately, several warriors/heroes from other worlds are about to push a button —not always by choice— that will lead them to a new journey in a world they are only semi familiar with. Can these heroes face their greatest challenge yet? Returning back to school! Find out in Isekai Quartet!
Collaboration series have always been hit or miss in the anime/gaming world. Yet, when you take the worlds of Overlord, RE: Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu, Youjo Senki and Kono Subarashi Sekai ni Shukufuku wo, you’re bound to have a blast of a time. Isekai Quartet is the isekai series of a lifetime and we knew from day one it was going to make us laugh out loud and die from fits of comedy induced awesomeness. Our expectations for Isekai Quartet were met nicely and if you haven’t checked this series out yet, please do. Seriously, please do!
Isekai Quartet Official PV
3. Kenja no Mago
- Genres: Isekai, Fantasy
- Air Date: April 10, 2019
A young boy who is working in modern day Japan is killed in a traffic accident before being reborn as a baby in another world! He’s saved by a man simply known as “the Sage” who then raises him as his grandson while teaching him magic. This grandson’s name is Shin!
Shin has all of his memories from his previous life and has a shockingly large amount of magical strength leading him to be recognized as exceptional. Fifteen years pass and for a moment, his grandfather who had been enjoying seeing Shin grow up, utters some shocking words to him... ‘I forgot to teach you common sense!’
Shin, who has learned nothing about the world, only magic, decides to enter into Earlshide Magical Academy in order to gain common knowledge and form friendships!
What We Got:
In modern day Japan, a young boy has found his life ended when he is involved in a traffic accident. Reborn in a new world unlike his own, the boy is taken in by a sage who wishes to teach him magic! With supreme control of magical gifts within him, the boy named Shin has his past memories and also has powers that make a true magician! However, the sage forgot one very important thing to teach his apt pupil Shin. Never did the sage teach Shin common sense! Now enrolled in the Earlshide Magical Academy, can Shin make friends and gain knowledge never taught to him prior?!
Kenja no Mago kind of seemed like a step backwards for isekai when we read the synopsis. An OP mage from another world, a strange affinity for being ignorant of his world, and a situation to make for new friends and comedic moments? Kenja no Mago just screams isekai and that was a fear of ours going in. Luckily, Kenja no Mago didn’t make us sigh in disgust and actually made us smile at offering an okay isekai series! This one time our expectations were pretty off, and we’re okay admitting that.
Kenja no Mago Official PV
4. Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Isekai
- Air Date: April 2, 2019
Takuya Arima lost his mother when he was but a child. He also lost his father, a historian, two months ago in an accident. He’s lost all will to do anything and is in the last summer break of his high school career.
Then one day, a small package is delivered. Inside, is a round mirror which appears to serve no purpose, and a glass orb with some strange object inside of it. Also in the package is a letter that makes him wonder if maybe his father is still alive…?!
“Tonight at 10pm, go to Ken no Misaki (Sankakuyama) and bring the glass orb.”
Following the orders he was given, he heads there and finds a mysterious young girl collapsed. There, he found the head of his school and the figure of a mysterious transfer student.
Instantly, the earth tremors and he is surrounded by light. His journey around another parallel world begins now.
What We Got:
Takuya Arima has found himself wondering what happened to his father who disappeared suddenly when he was off doing historical research. When Arima goes on vacation, he’s surprised to receive a letter and package from his now missing dad. Arima learns that his father’s work was about discovering the reality that multiple parallel universes exist and can be traveled to! Despite his disbelief in such a possibility, Arima gains a device that allows him to fly through other dimensions, and he realizes this might be the only way to find his dad…
Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO was one of those unique isekai stories we mentioned previously. Instead of having a male who just dies and ends up in another world, our Arima is able to go through different dimensions via his device, creating a new landscape for the usually trope-filled isekai genre. Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO’s only fault was it wasn’t the best story ever and ultimately it didn’t meet all of our hopes we had for it initially. That being said though, Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO still is a good show, and it has some truly dramatic moments that kept us on the edge of our seats while watching it. Maybe it wasn’t what we wanted, but Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO gets a solid pass from us, and that means you should check it out at least.
Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO Official PV
5. Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (2nd Cours)
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Isekai
- Air Date: January 9, 2019
His dignity, honor, money, objective…
The hero of the shield had lost everything. What awaits him as he rises from the depths of his despair?
What We Got:
Naofumi Iwatani is a college student who gets through life without much trouble due in large part to helping his younger brother avoid a possible dark future. One day, when Naofumi enters a library and happens upon a strange book about heroes from another world, he finds himself taken into said world and becoming the Shield Hero, one of four legendary saviors. Unfortunately, the Shield Hero is looked upon as trash by many in this world, and Naofumi will soon find his life in constant peril and filled with pain as he embarks on saving a world who sees him as an enemy…
Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari was a series we knew was destined for isekai greatness before it even began. Reading some of the light novels, Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari just screamed isekai but done in a truly different way. With a focus on characters, narrative and drama over the usual clichés of isekai, Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari was just a home run when it began... and even when it concluded recently. If you disliked isekai before, check out Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari and you might find your interest changed for the better!
Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (2nd Cours) Official PV
Final Thoughts
Isekai anime this Spring 2019 season were quite solid overall. While there was one clear cut winner in our minds (Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari), the other shows did some solid work at keeping our love for the genre alive. So, what isekai shows did you like this 2019 spring season? Let us know via the comments below as we always love hearing from our readers! Be sure to keep stuck to our hive here at Honey’s Anime for even more expectation vs reality articles!
Author: Aaron
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