Summary
There are rare examples of a single anime that can be credited with a genre’s surge in popularity:Re:ZERO - Starting Life In Another World -is one of them, and withits third season on the way,there’s never been a better time to pick it up. Isekai is a battle-tested genre, with a major growth in its influence after the release ofThe Familiar of Zero. Since then, the proliferation of lighthearted series and redundant premises has often led to the genre not being taken seriously.
There’s nothing at all wrong with taking simple pleasure in a simple work, butRe:Zerohas a specific charm that has made it unique among isekai. Its die-hard fanbase has been elated since the new season’sannouncement at AnimeJapan 2024, becauseRe:Zerois a series that scratches an impossibly special itch.
Incorporating the suspense, tension, and time-traveling intrigue of psychological sci-fi classicSteins;Gate,Re:Zeroboth subverts and celebrates isekai’s conventions, as the trailer above shows. It’s able to fascinate the entire spectrum of anime fans - even those who hate isekai.
Strange New Isekai Ends in a Bizarre Way That Completely Rejects Its Own Genre
A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics ends in a way that would have been perfect if this were a regular series, but this isekai is anything but regular.
Re:ZeroStarts Strong And Stays That Way
From The First Episode,Re:ZeroProclaims Its Position Among Isekai
Commencing with protagonist Subaru Natsuki’s unexpectedly thrust into a parallel world, the story would seem to start off like any other isekai. By the time the first episode’s extended runtime of around 50 minutes is over, the singular appeal of the anime is entirely visible. Whenever Subaru dies, time resets to a given pointì, figuring out how to manipulate these jumps is a pulsing mystery. Subaru eventually winds up in the castle of Emilia, a royal candidatewho bears a striking resemblance to a notorious witch.
As Subaru integrates into his new world, he starts to care for the surrounding cast. But the high-stakes game of royal progression combined with growing confusion about the connection between Emilia and the witch she resembles inevitably throws everybody Subaru loves (and he, himself) into mortal danger. Subaru starts using his time reset ability to protect those around him, but in the meantime, he experiencesthe emotional pain and fatigue of watching loved ones repeatedly dieand having to relive days on loop. What results is a heartbreaking yet inspiring journey featuring one of isekai’s freshest concepts ever.
Re:ZeroShows Isekai’s Potential — And Revived The Genre
Re:Zero’s Undeniable Appeal Brought Isekai To New Audiences (And New Ideas)
Combining time travel, psychological complexity, and unrelenting heartbreak, it’s jettisoned from isekai’s conventional world, becoming a fish out of water like Subaru himself.
It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to say thatRe:Zerowas instrumental to the robust library of isekai series today. It’s true that it made isekai more popular, but its inimitable combination of influencesalso made the genre more interesting. It paved the way for more complexity in isekai anime: for example,That TimeI Got Reincarnated As A Slime.The success ofRe:Zero(and, of course,Steins;Gate) would also lead to a warm reception and popularity for series incorporating time-travel and isekai elements (likeErased,Tokyo Revengers, andSummertime Render) despite not being isekai themselves.
There’s a reason thatRe:Zerois consideredone of the best isekai of all time. Looks can be deceiving, and prospective viewers shouldn’t be fooled byRe:Zero’s cutesy cast of characters. Combining time travel, psychological complexity, and unrelenting heartbreak, it’s jettisoned from isekai’s conventional world, becoming a fish out of water like Subaru himself. Like Subaru, too,it learns to breathe and thrive.
With its third season coming so soon, it’s clear why anime fans, even those who are usually not enticed by isekai, should tryRe:ZERO - Life In Another Worldand join in on the anticipation.
