(L+CR) Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu Anticipation

[Marcus H.]

It's because they actually like the genre but the lack of effort from writers make it a terrible investment.

[The Green One]

*chuckles* But aren't all Isekai's just clones of each other? That's the complaint I generally hear.

[Marcus H.]

That's not the fault of the fans. It's mostly because the authors end up writing based on older works instead of working on their own original idea. Compare that to urban fantasy or anything that's stuck in web novel limbo and isn't republished as a light novel series.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by AB079

Please white fox save this genre with re:zero s2.

You mean Madhouse make No Game No Life S2 (never will. It's been so long that NGNL isn't even considered present day isekai genre anymore)

[shmaster]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

You mean Madhouse make No Game No Life S2 (never will. It's been so long that NGNL isn't even considered present day isekai genre anymore)

At least it had that amazing movie and is not at risk of getting discontinued due to bad sales like a certain other series...

[Newprimus]

Originally Posted by The Green One

I often find it funny that people who supposedly don't like Isekai stories sure do go out of their way to read them anyway and comment about them.

Well you can't legitimately criticize something if you don't understand it.

In my case, I used to like reading isekai when I read maybe a couple of them. The first in my case was Shieldbro, iirc. But as I kept reading them I started to feel an irritation that I couldn't really put into words.

It was only when I was a few hundred chapters into the Kumo-ko web novel, and after reading the Arifureta manga adaptation and then willfully spoiling myself to that novel's future plot details that all the reasons why I was feeling irritated at isekai stories began to crystallize and make sense to me.

It's different from people who criticize a genre but have never read or watched anything from it. They're only doing it because so-so is popular and began against it makes them feel like a rebel.

[Yui Is My Wife]

Originally Posted by Newprimus

Isekai just pushes all the right buttons with the socially-isolated otaku base.

- Get whisked to a fantasy world away from the drudgery of real life. Check.
- Fantasy world operates like a game. Check.
- Main character almost inevitably has cheat skills. Power fantasy in progress, check.
- Main character is looked down on by inhabitants of world, until he shows off his cheat skills. Power fantasy full power, check.
- Main character always gets a harem of girls, with often lots of sex involved (at least in the original web novels). Power fantasy in overdrive, check.

In terms of "making the Isekai Battle Harem Genre the way it is today", which series can be attributed / blamed for that accomplishment?

Arguably, thinking back far enough, it seems the fist one to "tick all the boxes" seems to be "Zero No Tsukaima / The Familiar of Zero", which also rode off popularity of the Harry Potter franchise, when kids/teens/young-adults were all gobbling up the "magic school" craze up like popcorn.... but Harry was just too darned perfect for the Japanese Audience to relate to....

... and hence "Zero" offered an alternative that gave readers the chance to live out their fantasies of literally sharing the bed with Hermione (just look at Louise's character design and tell me she is modelled on Emma Watson's Hermione ) as a more-relatable but still better-than-Harry Ron.

Zero No Tsukaima worked because the concept was still fresh, the characters were warm-likable-and-relatable, with believable feelings goals and motivations; plus the Uniforms were slightly more sensual yet still charming variants of Hogwarts' robes, unlike the often cringe inducing sluttiness of the Isekai Uniforms that followed.

And it was wonderful.

RIP Mr Yamaguchi Noboru, you did good.

[LoweGear]

I really just miss the days when Isekai also tended to have mecha in them, i.e. Escaflowne, Rayearth, El-Hazard, etc. (I think it's why I liked Knights & Magic).

[Yui Is My Wife]

Originally Posted by LoweGear

I really just miss the days when Isekai also tended to have mecha in them, i.e. Escaflowne, Rayearth, El-Hazard, etc. (I think it's why I liked Knights & Magic).

And sweeping majestic orchestral scores; Escaflowne and El-Hazard are particularly unforgettable in that regard.

[MisaoFan]

Isekai stuff that takes place in actual historical settings are also enjoyable too, generally. There's even a new, upcoming one that had Jeanne d'Arc in it.

[Newprimus]

This is a nice video (kinda lengthy, about 16 minutes long) that discuses the isekai genre and why it became so popular:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFR2nvw19h4

[Stark700]

Premieres Summer 2018.

http://isekaimaou-anime.com/

Preview (teaser)

[zztop]

Originally Posted by GreyZone

BTW, and this may surprise a LOT of WN/LN readers out here:
The author of "Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu", i.e. this series, is also the author of "Altina the Sword Princess", with it's incomparably better writing.

Yes, you read this correctly. These two series actually have the same author!

I'm guessing Murasaki Yukiya's writing Isekai Maou for fun, the less serious series which he relaxes with and is less strict with his writing quality.
Altina is likely meant as his more serious, better quality one.

Something like a 5-star gourmet chef who likes to take a break by making common level junk food from time to time.

[Kuroageha]

I want Latina cough I mean Altina to be animated.

[zztop]

Originally Posted by Marcus H.

That's not the fault of the fans. It's mostly because the authors end up writing based on older works instead of working on their own original idea. Compare that to urban fantasy or anything that's stuck in web novel limbo and isn't republished as a light novel series.

Aren't most of these isekai authors novices at writing though?

I recall reading some author's notes that essentially amounted to profuse apologies for the writing quality, usually asking for forgiveness at how half-baked their writing and plot is, but that it's their first time so please give them a chance to prove their worth and improve themselves.
(Kawahara Reki and his apologies for SAO's early pacing and the Alfheim arc come to mind.)

Provided they're open to criticism though - I'd heard of one WN author who disabled their user comments section because"their feelings were very fragile like glass...reading it makes me feel like I'm gonna break into pieces".

[black prince]

PV english version

also the main cast:
Azumi Waki as Rem Galleu
Yū Serizawa as Shera L. Greenwood
Masaaki Mizunaka as Diablo

http://4NN.cx/.130641

[Liddo-kun]

Originally Posted by The Green One

I often find it funny that people who supposedly don't like Isekai stories sure do go out of their way to read them anyway and comment about them.

It's not exactly the Isekai genre... it is specifically the isekai genre where a guy get sent to another world to become an overpowered being that I got tired of.

Liked both Konosuba and Re:zero, because Kazuma and Subaru had to work hard for things instead of being OP right from the start. Have spent a good deal on money for merchandise of both anime.

[dniv]

Originally Posted by bakato

The bar continues to lower.

This one actually wasn't half bad iirc. It sounds much worse than it actually is. Edit: I agree with the people who are saying this is good. This was actually pretty good. Not great, but good. I enjoyed it. Lol, well if the fanservice isn't too much it'll be fine I guess. It'll be fine either way, but yes, if there's too much more casual fans won't be able to stand it.

[Random Wanderer]

It may be just me, but I've actually found this series enjoyable. It's not a genre-defying masterpiece that will instantly change everyone's minds about the whole concept of isekai series, but in my opinion it puts the pieces together in a way that is entertaining and fun to read.

Regarding the isekai discussion, I don't have much to say, but I'm disappointed no one has brought up one of the very best isekai series from back before "isekai" was even recognized as a genre: The Twelve Kingdoms. While folks hate on isekai a lot now, it can sometimes be good to rememebr that the concept of people traveling to another world has been around for quite a while, and some of the very best series ever made make use of it.

[kari-no-sugata II]

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

It may be just me, but I've actually found this series enjoyable. It's not a genre-defying masterpiece that will instantly change everyone's minds about the whole concept of isekai series, but in my opinion it puts the pieces together in a way that is entertaining and fun to read.

Yeah. Though it's a shame it's not deeper or better developed. It's not really the sort of series that'll be remembered much a few years from now I suspect - either in a good way or in a bad way.

Regarding the isekai discussion, I don't have much to say, but I'm disappointed no one has brought up one of the very best isekai series from back before "isekai" was even recognized as a genre: The Twelve Kingdoms. While folks hate on isekai a lot now, it can sometimes be good to rememebr that the concept of people traveling to another world has been around for quite a while, and some of the very best series ever made make use of it.

Yep, there's not much new under the sun. I have fond memories of The Twelve Kingdoms and there's other isekai from the period like Fushigi Yuugi, El Hazaard, Escaflowne...

I think the first time I had a discussion about the over-use of "templates" (cliche plot developments etc) was about 20 years ago, regarding shoujo manga.

The take-off of web novels and the frequency of them being isekai had caused a bit of a glut of poorer quality novels but this will naturally fade with time. Personally I hope the authors learn from the better examples and carry on with isekai since it can be a very interesting genre.