This Isekai anime is the near-perfect example of its genre (and it’s not Re: Zero)

The last 10 years have seen a steady rise in the Isekai anime genre. Anime about protagonists dying or simply waking up to find themselves transported to, or reincarnated in, a fantasy world has become common. Of course, not all of these have been commercial or even artistic failures.

However, in most of these, the isekai aspect is often simply a set-up, an easy way to endow a character with a convenient new home without actually dealing with the ramifications of such a narrative decision.

One isekai anime sets itself apart from this glut of series by wholeheartedly embracing its premise, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the opinions of the writer.

Mushoku Tensei: A definitive example of staying true to the isekai anime core

In stark contrast to mainstream isekai anime like Re: Zero, KonoSuba, or That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, which ultimately transition to psychological thriller, comedy, or power fantasies respectively, Mushoku Tensei primarily remains true to its isekai roots amid its entire narrative.

The series does not turn its back on its main concept for the sake of more traditional genre elements.

Rather, it employs the reincarnation model as the key to character development, plot advancement, and the thematic treatises of the whole story. Mushoku Tensei‘s brilliance consists of the application of the reincarnation character’s clever selection.

Rudeus Greyrat, the once lonely and socially awkward NEET, is not just a part of the story.

Also read: 10 Isekai anime characters who should have been reverse Isekai’d

Instead, he is the story. His past mistakes, issues of socialization, and ethical doubts form the basis of a character who truly needs the almighty reincarnation to reconstruct his life. In comparison to this, most of the ever-invoked isekai protagonists in the genre appear to have been picked at random for their trips to the other world.

The series asks a fundamental question that has been poorly dealt with by many isekai anime: what makes this specific anime, either be reincarnated or not, deserving of it, or be in need of it in the first place? The world-building in Mushoku Tensei is yet another clear demonstration of proper isekai storytelling.

Unlike other series that use the fantasy world simply as a backdrop for the adventures, the show creates a well-developed, believable universe with fixed laws, a rich history, and a complex political system.

Every element of this world is linked to Rudeus’ growth and development, from the multitudes of magic systems that he is required to learn about to the different social rules that constantly displace his premises. The world is not a mere playground for power fantasies; rather, it is a tool for character development.

Also read: 10 Isekai anime heroes loved by all fans, ranked in terms of strength

A most crucial point is that Mushoku Tensei exhausts its isekai premise to the utmost to convey the thoughtful messages of personal development, forgiveness, and second chances.

The series does not deny that growth is often difficult and hurtful, and people typically fail before they succeed, nor does it claim that true transformation requires both an internal push and external aid.

These ideas only work because Rudeus is an isekai protagonist. His journey from being a social failure to being a normal functioning human being is only possible with the network dynamics of the life reset that reincarnation entails.

Also read: 10 Isekai anime set in video games

Unlike such series as Overlord, KonoSuba, and Re: Zero that are extremely successful in their respective genres, they eventually merely use isekai as a vehicle of storytelling rather than as a focal narrative component.

With minor refinements, they might as well be set in different realms. Mushoku Tensei, on the other hand, breathes the air of isekai- without the reincarnation, the whole story collapses.

Final thoughts

Mushoku Tensei proves that the isekai genre can be more than mere fantasy, escapism for wish-fulfillment purposes. The results are powerful narratives about human nature, personal growth, and redemption if isekai’s basic ideas are applied with respect and are interwoven into all storytelling elements.

In a genre that often faces criticism for not delivering, Mushoku Tensei serves as the exemplary show of how it is properly done, illustrating the expansive room for growth that this increasingly popular storytelling framework has.

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