Isekai anime to look forward to in 2023

Isekai is a subgenre of fantasy, and a highly popular one at that. When a series is categorized as isekai, the audience automatically knows to expect to see the main character transported into a fantastical world, whether by a magical portal or via reincarnation.

Despite what some might think, this genre is not exclusive to anime. In fact, Japanese light novel authors were the ones responsible for popularizing the genre in the 2010s, and from those came manga and anime adaptations. Of course, original isekai anime also exists out there, but they’re typically less known.

Due to the genre’s popularity, every year, new series inevitably grace the anime community — and 2023 is no different. Plenty of isekai stories will receive anime adaptations this year, and a few will even rise from the ashes for a second season. For those in desperate need of some magic in their life, here is a list of the isekai anime scheduled for 2023.

I’m in Love With the Villainess

Like all other Villainess series, this one tells the story of Oochashi Rei, a normal woman who is transported into an otome game, reincarnating as Rae Taylor. The twist? Rae has no interest in the game’s male characters, thus, she sets out to romance the villainess, Claire François. For them to get a happy ending, Rae must use her knowledge of the game to navigate events, which proves much easier said than done.

I’m in Love With the Villainess is planned for a 2023 release, but at the time of writing, no exact date has been confirmed.

My One-Hit Kill Sister

We’re used to seeing male fantasy protagonists be the strongest characters in a series, often shielded in plot armor for good measure. When Asahi finds himself in a strange world, however, the opposite happens. The boy soon discovers he is incredibly weak, and can’t seem to find a way to remedy that. His sister, on the other hand, becomes the most powerful character in this new world, saving him from trouble time and again.

My One-Hit Kill Sister will be available for streaming on Crunchyroll starting April 8.

I Got a Cheat Skill In Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too

Adapted from a light novel of the same name, this anime is scheduled to premiere on April 6. The story centers around Yuya Tenjo, a teenager who is bullied by schoolmates and family alike, all due to his appearance. The only person the protagonist can trust is his grandpa, who leaves his house to Yuya before he passes away. The boy quickly realizes that this is no ordinary house, as it contains a portal to a different world, which sets Yuya on an unexpected journey.

In Another World With My Smartphone season two

In Another World With My Smartphone tells the story of Touya Mochizuki, a teen who gets killed by god — accidentally. To make it up to Touya, the deity has him reincarnate in a magical world and allows him to take his phone with him. What’s even better is that god enhances Touya’s abilities, which he fully takes advantage of.

The series premiered on Crunchyroll in 2017 with 12 episodes, and for years, fans were left hanging. Now, though, the anime is coming back for a second season on April 3.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation season two

Jobless Reincarnation’s first season saw a man in his 30s struggling with the feeling of a meaningless life. In a selfless act, the protagonist intercepts a truck to save a group of people and gets himself killed in the process. Fortunately, he gets another chance at life, being reincarnated as Rudeus Greyrat and growing up in a fantasy world, where magic is the norm. However, not even that makes life free of trouble, and Rudeus must face several hurdles on his journey toward a happy life.

Crunchyroll will bring the anime’s second season to our screens sometime this year.

Fluffy Paradise

Nema is a young girl reincarnated by god into a world where humans reign over other species, considering themselves superior to demons, elves, and beasts. God grants Nema the power to be loved by all non-human beings, but in turn, she has the burden of deciding whether this selfish world should be destroyed or not.

Fluffy Paradise will premiere in 2023, but no exact release date has been announced.

The Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure

Animated by Magic Bus and EMT Squared, this series will focus on a teen boy who passes away and is reincarnated as Cain Von Silford, the child of a noble family. But of course, as if that’s not unusual enough, the protagonist’s new body belongs to an alternate universe, in which fantasy reigns supreme. The gods in this world quickly task Cain with helping improve it by using his past life’s knowledge, but the boy soon finds that nothing is exactly as it seems.

The anime will be coming to Crunchyroll in April, but an exact date is yet to be announced.

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion

Unlike most anime in this list, Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion has its roots in a Korean web novel, but will be adapted by Typhoon Graphics, a Japanese studio. In it, Eunha Park takes the central stage, being reborn as Raeliana McMillan, a character from a novel she knows. While that sounds pretty cool in theory, trouble awaits, as Raeliana’s fate is to be murdered by her own fiancé. In an attempt to avoid this, the protagonist comes up with a plan, which promises its own share of hijinks.

Raeliana arrives on Crunchyroll on April 10.

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear season two

When one spends way too much time invested in an online game, the outcome is hardly ever positive, however, things turn out pretty okay for Yuna. One day, the teen girl receives a bear suit as a reward for playing her favorite game nonstop and soon finds herself transported into that very universe — suit included. While this is an extremely sudden change, it’s one that Yuna eventually welcomes, living her life to the fullest in a new setting.

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear’s first season ran in 2020 and Yuna’s journey will continue on Crunchyroll starting April 3.

My Unique Skill Makes Me OP Even at Level 1

When Ryouta Satou is reincarnated into a world of magic and monsters, he’s pretty happy to at least be alive, but that doesn’t last long. His satisfaction is quickly dampened by the fact that he is stuck at level one in this world, with no way to advance in life. Luckily, Ryouta’s ability to use cheat items allows him to increase his stats, proving it’s possible to become powerful even without advancing levels.

While an exact release is yet to be confirmed, the anime is set for a July premiere.

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior

Animated by OLM studio, this will be an adaptation of Tenichi’s novels of the same name. The series tells the story of Pride, who has been reincarnated as the villainess character in an otome game. Instead of embodying her role, the protagonist makes use of her powers for good, helping those around her who have been hurt by her character in the original game timeline. While doing so, however, the other characters start catching glimpses of their past.

With no exact date yet confirmed, From Villainess to Savior is scheduled to release sometime this July.

Dead Mount Death Play

Based on Ryohgo Narita’s manga of the same name, Dead Mount Death Play is a story about Rizdilusia Redrazalf the Corpse God, a being from the Other World in possession of the Evil Eye. After returning from war, the protagonist is stabbed by his own father with a cursed dagger but escapes death by reincarnating as Polka Shinoyama, a boy from Earth who has just been murdered. Now, the Corpse God must deal with whatever dangers await him in this world.

The series will premiere sometime in April on Crunchyroll.

Am I Actually the Strongest?

At 30 years old, Haruto’s life comes to an end, and he is reincarnated as the baby of a noble family. Now named Reinhard, the protagonist is abandoned by his parents as an infant, due to their belief that he has no magical powers. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth, since Reinhard actually possesses an immense amount of power, which will help him navigate life in this new, strange place.

Adapted from Sai Sumimori’s novel of the same name, Am I Actually the Strongest? will be released sometime this year.

Sweet Reincarnation

After living as a pastry chef in our world — and dying on the job — the protagonist wakes up in another world. As Pastry, the son of a noble family, he is forced to grapple with this world’s problems, which often involve magic and sword fighting. Despite his desire to stick to his culinary talent, Pastry will have to find a way to survive in this new setting.

Sweet Reincarnation is planned for a July release, with SynergySP and Studio Comet in charge of the animation.

Heat the Pig Liver

Anime has given us some very weird scenarios over the years, and this is one more. The series tells the story of a man who passes out while eating pig liver, only to later wake up in the body of said animal. As a pig, the protagonist is accepted into the life of a girl who can read minds and can thus understand him. In all honesty, the girl plans to sink her teeth into the animal at some point, but when danger finds her, this piggy puts all his new abilities to good use.

Heat the Pig Liver will premiere sometime in 2023.