Anime fans have some of the highest standards and participate in the most critical fandoms in modern television history. In recent years, an influx of hatred directed at the isekai genre has become increasingly prominent, leaving the genre on the receiving end of more hatred than it deserves.
On the contrary, the shonen anime genre remains largely unscathed, even though it contains so many flops. Hating isekai anime shows starts to seem rather extreme when you consider how much undeserved praise is freely given to their shonen anime counterparts.
Hating Isekai Anime Suddenly Became Popular
Despite the success of series like That time I was reincarnated as a Slime And Mushoku Tensei, One of the newest and most negative trends in the modern anime community is the hatred for the isekai genre. What was once considered a unique take on an anime inspired by the fantasy genre has fallen victim to merciless scrutiny from picky anime fans, eager to criticize any new isekai anime like My status as an assassin obviously exceeds that of a hero simply for daring to exist. On social media and social media-adjacent venues where anime fans congregate, isekai anime is constantly criticized for its repetitive formulas that include overplayed tropes like overpowered protagonists and fantasy power formulas that have essentially become narrative pillars of the genre.
As other genres of anime grow in popularity, there remains little room to appreciate the presence of the isekai genre in the realm of pop culture amid increasingly popular criticism. The rise of hatred towards isekai anime seems baseless, almost as if some anime fans just want to be part of the latest trend. Anime is no stranger to intense or powerful debates over trivial matters like who is stronger, which anime is better, and who deserves to be called the best girl in a series. However, there is surprisingly little pushback against the hatred of isekai anime that has become generally accepted – and perpetrated – by anime fans.
There are few propositions to justify why hating isekai anime is such a popular act. Personal taste in pop culture is completely subjective, although it’s surprising that the anime community is largely united in disliking a certain subset of anime. For some, this may position them as having a more sophisticated or socially acceptable taste in anime, although overlooking isekai anime’s contribution to how anime has become mainstream as a whole seems a bit disingenuous. Isekai anime can rightly be criticized for its uninspired storytelling and inability to move beyond conventional tropes, but nothing about the genre has given way to a reason for it to be so hated online.
Bad Shonen Anime Is Worse Than Generic Isekai Anime
Despite all the praise and adoration that Shonen anime gets, from the Big Three to the so-called modern masterpieces of series like My Hero Academia to the latest films of Demon Slayer And Chainsaw manIt’s wise to remember that not all shonen anime are created equal. Even the “best” shonen anime still suffer from avoidable problems, but bad shonen are often worse than even the most generic isekai anime. Although the reputation of isekai anime has blunted the genre to give it a certain look and feel, the specific type of anime can still play to its strengths, even at its most predictable.
The Isekai anime is so comfortable with itself that its similarity appeals even to fans. As a result, there is little room to deviate from these expectations, meaning that disappointment or underperformance is no greater risk than being generic. Shonen anime relies on emotional storytelling and character-driven narratives to remain successful and engaging. This urgent need for shonen anime to pair a nuanced plot with impeccable animation and compelling voice acting means that not all of them will be inherently good and are doomed to subject themselves to greater scrutiny if they can’t exceed increasingly lofty expectations.
Generic isekai has been looked down upon due to its stagnation, but perhaps going for an aggressive anime is more interesting than having to contend with an atrociously bad shonen anime series. Anime fans don’t drag themselves through hollow filler arcs or wade through an intense story that pretends to be smarter than it actually is. The worst shonen anime series have been harder to defend online, making it increasingly obvious that not all shonen anime are created equal. However, with an average shonen anime, it’s easier to sit through a boring 12-episode series and walk away without needing to eternally dissect its flaws on a granular level. Bad isekai anime are incredibly easy to dismiss, while bad shonen anime are truly heartbreaking for some fans.
Fans Still Fail to Honestly Review Shonen Anime
Despite how often shonen anime fans attack the isekai genre, anime fans cannot fully criticize shonen anime in an honest manner. There is the denial that even the most mediocre shonen anime needs to be adored on an international level. Shonen anime’s cultural dominance doesn’t stop it from being forced to confront its flaws, although fans of shonen anime are a little more hesitant to admit that their favorite genre deserves to be criticized to the same extent as isekai anime.
One piece And Dragon Ball have been idolized as groundbreaking series, but even these so-called shonen anime masterpieces still have their flaws. Most shonen isn’t as great as the internet wants to make it out to be. Nostalgia can easily blind fans of shonen anime, making it difficult not to defend fan-favorite series despite their flaws. Despite all the hate that isekai anime gets, it’s past time for fans to hold shonen anime accountable for its shortcomings.