We have vending machines, swords, and slime. But do we have good stories? It's time to admit the genre is eating itself alive.
Every season, I look at the new anime chart. And every season, I see the same thing.
"Reincarnated as a Level 99 Farmer." "Reincarnated as a Microphone." "I Was Kicked Out of the Hero's Party So I Started a Cafe in Another World."
It has to stop.
The Isekai genre, which gave us masterpieces like Re:Zero and Mushoku Tensei, has become the fast food of anime. It's cheap, it's everywhere, and it leaves you feeling empty.
The issue isn't the portal fantasy concept. Digimon was an Isekai. InuYasha was an Isekai.
The problem is the laziness. Most modern Isekai shows are just video game let's-plays disguised as stories. The protagonist gets a cheat skill, buys a slave (why is this still a thing?), and faces zero real challenges.
Where is the struggle? Where is the culture shock?
Studios are pumping these out because they are safe bets. They sell merchandise. But they are clogging up the pipeline.
Imagine if the budget for "My Cheat Skill is Too OP" went to an original sci-fi series or a sports drama?
We don't need to kill the genre. We just need to raise the bar. If your main hook is just "I have a smartphone in the medieval era," maybe leave that draft in the drawer.
Hot Take Verdict: Watch Grimgar or Konosuba. Skip the rest until the industry learns to write again.
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