Isekai | Nerdologists https://nerdologists.com Where to jump in on board games, anime, books, and movies as a Nerd Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:55:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://nerdologists.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/nerdologists-favicon.png Isekai | Nerdologists https://nerdologists.com 32 32 My Top 10 Isekai https://nerdologists.com/2025/09/my-top-10-isekai/ https://nerdologists.com/2025/09/my-top-10-isekai/#respond Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:51:54 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=9806 What are my favorite Isekai? There are a lot of them out there and a lot are just fine. So join with me as I pick my favorites.

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Normally I do board game Top 10’s once a week. But I’m going through the Top 100 Games (of all time) right now. So instead, let’s do an anime Top 10 list. And in particular one genre that I enjoy, though even I admit it’s very much overdone right now, is Isekai. So what Isekai are my favorites? And maybe before that, what is an Isekai anime?

What Is Isekai?

The term iIsekai literally means “another world”. What is most commonly thought of as an Isekai is an anime where the main character comes from one world into another.

There is some debate about one element of Isekai. That element is if the main character, or the character(s) who have been brought to another world can return. An example of this would be Sword Art Online. While the participants in the death game are trapped there, it is more of a virtual setting. So while considered by some to be an Isekai it is debated. For my list, it is eligible.

On the flip side, BOFURI is not going to be eligible for a list. While it takes place mainly in a game, the main character is able to logout. So it does not qualify.

My Top 10 Isekai

10. The Water Magician

This one the first season is actually still ongoing but I am really like The Water Magician. This is not one where there is much reference or connection to the original world. But that is great. The character comes in, gets dropped in a nice quiet safe area and has water powers. Eventually, because there isn’t anything in the area, he has to head out and find the real world. Turns out that he’s extremely overpowered. But he doesn’t let it go to his head. This one is just a feel good/relaxed Isekai.

9. The New Gate

Trapped in a death game, does that premise sound familiar? Well, in this case the main character just beat the death game. And everyone else logged out, but he saw a door that kept him in the world. But now it is several hundred years into the future and those NPC’s whom he knew, some of them are gone. And the world itself is massive changed. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t work for the hero to do in the world. If you want big adventures arcs, The New Gate is good for that.

8. My Instant Death Ability is Overpowered

A whole school bus is taken to another world in My Instant Death Ability is Overpowered. But when they get their powers, those who can’t are left behind. Including a kid who is actually very powerful. His ability is that he can just kill anyone or anything. The crux of the show though is how do you use that power. If you kill everything is that good or does that make you the villain? And how do you keep from becoming the villain?

7. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless reincarnation

Another common anime trope is that some middle-aged person gets a chance in a new world. And they are not dropped in as the hero, but they are reborn into the world. That is how the Isekai plot of Mushoku Tensei works. And it is a fun story with a lot of epic moments in it. It is also cringy at times as the main character is young and grows up. But the main character is also a middle-aged man. You can guess how that is weird anime at that point.

6. Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything with Low-Level Spells

This is the second time that this trope for Isekai shows up on the list. It is the being passed over as part of a group. First it was with an instant death ability. Now it is just some low level spells. But what happens when you level up your ability to paralyze and poison everything? That is a very deadly and powerful combination. What I like about this and the other one is that these aren’t just revenge tours, there are plenty of Isekai like that, but these are decent characters and more developed than just revenge fantasy though it calls itself that.

5. Eminence in Shadow

It is not common for characters to go looking for another world. That is the case of Eminence in Shadow. When the main character maxes out his ability as a human, he needs to find a new world to embark into and gain even more power. It works. I like how this character wants to pull strings but pull them from the shadows. He is not the leader out in front sort. The other thing I like is that he creates his “harem” of assassins with a story. But it turns out that what he says about this story he makes up, turns out a lot of it is actually true.

4. Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill

Now we go from big adventure anime to another laid back one. What if you were dropped into a fantasy world, but the power you asked for was the ability to buy things online. It means that you can bring Japanese cuisine into another world. This anime is more of that laid back feel, like I mentioned, with a main character who just wants to live a normal chill life. But turns out everyone is a fan of his food.

3. Lord of Mysteries

Another new one on the list that is still coming out. Lord of Mysteries feels different than your normal Isekai. Some of that is because it comes out of China versus Japan for the story and animation I believe. But it is a mystery in a world where magic exists, but it’s not your normal fantasy setting. Think of this as a setting that is more parallel to our own past. And it is all about the mystery of beyonders, powers, and secret organizations.

2. Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs

From a mystery we go to something that is very goofy. After beating a dating sim for his spoiled sister our protagonists dies and finds himself in that dating sim. But he is not one of the main characters. He is just a background character, a mob. But in his attempt to keep himself in the background and to keep the story progressing as it should, he all of a sudden finds that he has a more important role, much to his chagrin. It is weird, the main character is annoying but in a way that he is supposed to be, so it works well.

1. Sword Art Online

Finally is Sword Art Online. I think that this is my favorite anime of all time at this point. And while not all of it is amazing, for the most part I just love it. And it is one of those where it borders on that Isekai, like I talk about above. But I think the story is great, and it is interesting to tackle a death world and make it all about the people in the world. It is less about clearing the game, in the first season, and more about how people interact and grow and grow desensitized to what is happening.

Final Thoughts

Just to mention a few just off the list. Tsukimichi, The Devil is a Part-Timer, and The Fruit of Evolution are all ones that I like quite well. And while I love the genre, it is one that you need to think about what you watch. There are a lot of not so great ones out there. And now that the genre is so popular and common there are even more common place ones out there.

You also likely see that I don’t have a few bigger names on my list. Mainly KonoSuba, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Re:Zero, and Overlord being some of the biggest I can think of. And they are some that I have watched. I thought Overlord was fine. And KonoSuba, That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime, and The Rising of the Shield Hero have good arcs but aren’t always consistent. I dislike Re:Zero, I don’t find the main character interesting or the plot consistently interesting. But I know a lot of people do.

What are your favorite Isekai?

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Anime Round-Up (Too Many To Count) https://nerdologists.com/2025/07/anime-round-up-too-many-to-count/ https://nerdologists.com/2025/07/anime-round-up-too-many-to-count/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:25:07 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=9688 It's been just over 6 months since my last anime round-up. What are all 41 new anime that I've watched?

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It’s been way to long since I’ve done an anime round-up. I did one at the end of last year and I have been on the job hunt for a long time so I’ve had a chance to watch a ton of anime. Some of these will get full reviews later on, but let’s talk about everything that I can think of that I’ve watched. And yes, there is going to be a ton of anime to talk about, and yes, I’ll try and give a brief grade or something so you know if they are worth watching. And there are a ton of them, so don’t expect more than a sentence or two on each anime.

Anime Round-Up First Half of 2025

The Apothecary Diaries

The Apothecary Diaries is a slow burn romance with a lot of mysteries thrown in. This one is great because of the main character, Maomao. Even without suspecting that there is a romance of some sort, the story just works well.

I Left my A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths

A fun anime about a hero who is overlooked because of his class. Of course turns out that he’s extremely powerful. It is a trope that works well and in this case, I think it’s done in a more entertaining way than most.

To Be Hero X

This one is pretty different. First off a lot of the animation is 3D and it looks amazing. Plus it’s vignettes around a whole lot of different heroes. What if you got your powers not through some accident or something like that, but because people trusted you? That’s the plot and it’s really interesting, this is a very good anime.

I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability

Honestly, this one is just okay. I find that it was solid background noise anime. Not an Isekai, the character is in the same world, but they come back and they are more powerful. Plus they keep on getting roped into things while trying to hide their power. It’s a very common trope now, the “I’m actually really powerful” trope.

The Shiunji Family Children

What would happen to a family if they found out they weren’t really related? That’s the premise of this romance anime, they find out that they aren’t related, and turns out that all the girls might figure out they kind of like one of their brothers. It sounds like a bad anime premise but the show is actually well done and a good romance anime.

Once Upon a Witch’s Death

A witch learns of their death, it’s going to happen no matter what in a year, unless they collect tears of joy. Well, that’s easier said than done, especially when you’re a teenage girl who has an attitude of a 30 year old man. It’s a heartfelt and fun show that uses humor around dealing with big events in a way I wouldn’t expect from an anime.

Witch Watch

An ogre is contracted to be a familiar for a witch. This witch, unknown to her, is slated to die in a year. Now that sounds pretty serious and very fantasy, well, an ogre is just a very powerful humanoid looking creature and it’s set in the “real world.” And the premise comes off more as a slice of life anime than anything else. This is a very cute and great show. Something that feels really different.

The Brilliant Healers New Life in the Shadows

I mentioned the super powerful trope, well here is another anime like that. The healer gets kicked out of the adventuring party her is in and sets up a clinic in the slums. But it turns out that he’s so ridiculously powerful that his life isn’t going to stay as normal as he hoped. It’s a classic trope at this point, but I like this anime as one that doesn’t fall too far down the trope path.

The Gorilla God’s Go To Gal

In a world where everyone gets a blessing our main character ends up with the blessing of the Gorilla God. It’s extremely rare but also makes her stand out and she doesn’t want to standout. This anime is another super powerful trope and is mixed with a nice romance/reverse harem without being a fan service anime. I really enjoy this anime as just a fun one to watch.

Yamada-Kun and the 7 Witches

Yamada-Kun is a tough guy, but when he accidentally switches bodies with the smartest girl in school hijinks, mystery, and romance occur. I think this anime is great because it does such a good job of blending everything. And it tells it’s story in just a short period of time.

Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie

I need to finish watching this one, but I paused because I think my wife will like it as well. But it’s a cute romance anime where the guy is a bad luck magnet and his awesome girlfriend is always there for him. It’s a wholesome romance and one that is just enjoyable to watch with low stakes.

Love Tyrant

Love Tyrant is a harem romance anime with a bunch of comedy in it. I found that there were times and characters who were fun, but overall it’s an anime that just repeats the same jokes over and over again. Love Tyrant is a background noise anime at best.

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

I read the first manga/arc of this a while ago. And I was surprised with how much I liked it, then I dove into the anime and Rascal doesn’t disappoint. This anime surprised me with how genuinely good it is and how it dives into this world of mysteries in an interesting way with great romance. The title doesn’t help it, but check it out.

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom

What happens if you get Isekai’ed into an Otome game, but instead of being the hero you are the villainess? That’s the plot of this anime and it’s one that is fine. It’s all about the main character trying to avoid the “doom flags” for her character that will lead to a bad ending. Of course everything she does changes the plot more than she’d expect. It’s a fine romance/harem/reverse harem anime.

Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World Season 2

I already reviewed the first season at least shortly. This is an action romance anime and it works well. The second season is almost as strong as the first. It takes the classic Romeo and Juliet sort of thing and works with it. I like it for a romance anime that doesn’t try and do too much, plus has some fun fights.

The Unaware Atelier Meister

See the super powerful trope again. This one is probably the most tiring of them that I watched. I am not 100% sure why I watched it all. It’s not bad it’s just really derivative. I want it to add something knew and it doesn’t.

Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill

What would life be like in another world if you could buy stuff and have it show up from your local corner store? Turns out a whole lot more powerful than you’d think. This is just a fun anime. Is it kind of background noise, sure, but it is also different.

Fruit of Evolution: Before I Knew It My Life Had It Made

A loser to winner story where the main character is a nobody and accidentally eats what is known as a Fruit of Evolution in a new world. It’s what you expect from an anime like this. It isn’t bad but also isn’t good.

The Ossan Newbie Adventurer Trained To Death By The Most Powerful Party Became Invincible

This one was way more fun than I expected it’d be. It is still the super powerful trope, but now you take it with an older character who is just starting out as an adventurer. Instead of it being a hot young upstart, he has years and wisdom on his side. So he just takes everything in stride. I love this anime. It’s a lot of tropes, but also just a lot of fun.

Tsukigakirei As The Moon, So Beautiful

Two quite kids fall in love. That is the basics of the plot. But there is more than that, and it’s just a fun time. It’s not really a slow burn romance too of will they won’t they which I really enjoyed.

How Not To Summon A Demon Lord

A person gets summoned to a game world when NPC’s in that world try and summon them. The spell bounces back on them, and now they are under the Demon Lord’s control. It’s not a great anime just one that I thought I should checkout. I think it is decent background noise.

Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything with Low-Level Spells

This one for some reason worked for me as a manga and as an anime. Again a weak to strong story where everyone abandons him but turns out his ability can be turned extremely powerful. I think it’s because he is a less jaded character than some in this sort of story. I this that Failure Frame is a fun anime.

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

Imagine getting stuck in a video game that you are making. That’s what happens to the main character, though it’s not like SAO (Sword Art Online) style of stuck, this is just a standard Isekai. I think that the anime is okay.

Isekai Cheat Magician

You get summoned to another world and you are very powerful. And your friend trying to save you from being summoned gets sent there too. This is a fun Isekai. I don’t know that I’d say seek it out, but I’d recommend it over some others on the list.

Wind Breaker

A tough guy wants to go to a tough school. Turns out that the tough school always has a heart and wants to protect their town. Wind Breaker is not an unexpected twist on what the main character expects but a nice one. I want to watch more of it, I just need to get back to it as Wind Breaker is a solid anime with good fights.

Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki Season 2

You already know that I love the first season. So I love that we got a second season and it didn’t disappoint. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki might be my favorite anime so of course I love it.

I May Be A Guild Receptionist, But I’ll Solo Any Boss To Clock Out On Time

Super powerful, check. But this one again just falls into that category where it is just fun. The premise is that she doesn’t want to be a hero. She wants a nice normal job as a guild receptionist but the adventurers can’t take out the boss monsters. So she keeps on getting roped into fighting just in the hopes of avoiding overtime. I think this anime is fun with a really fun premise.

Solo Leveling Season 2

For me, I think that Season 2 of Solo Leveling might top Season 1. I like Solo Leveling a lot, both as a Manhwa and as an anime. The arc from season 2 I think starts to really create more depth for the main character. I think Solo Leveling is great.

Dr Stone

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. Dr Stone is half a science show and half an adventure/survival anime. There are great heartfelt moments in it and still a lot of conflict between groups. I wish that some characters stuck around longer as main characters but that’s my main knock. Dr Stone is a good anime.

Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister

I like a lot of romance anime. Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister is a very good romance anime. And it’s not just who will he marry of these shrine maidens. There are good supernatural elements to it as well and you get to learn a lot about all the characters and what motivates them.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2

Another season 2 on the list, Mashle is always just a fun time. I really like it for what it is which is a lot of punching and fighting and crazy powers with a little plot in there as well.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Frieren is a masterpiece. I could stop at that. But the story of an elf who is beyond the main adventure and now is dealing with the mortality of the rest of her party and finding meaning in the world. I love it.

Masamune-Kun’s Revenge

Another not to hot anime. Though this one is a situation where the main character is maybe a bit wrong in what they are doing. After being betrayed for their feelings when they were younger, they wanted to get revenge by making that person fall for them later. It’s an entertaining anime that has a bit more plot than I expect it to. Not a stand-out but not bad.

The New Gate

I’ve read a lot of this manga. So for me this is a fun anime. The game world is over, you and logout now, aka SAO style world, but for the person who defeated the monster to end it all they are given a gate to a new world or so it might seem. It’s a fun but not all that unique anime.

In Another World with my Smartphone

Another Isekai but this time, what you had your smartphone? I heard a lot about this one I was underwhelmed by it. It’s not bad, it is just not all that exciting either.

2.5 Dimensional Seduction

This one surprised me in some ways. It tries to be a bit like My Dress-Up Darling that pulls off a lot of good conversation about cosplay and normalizing it. But this one is a bit more risque, somehow with a bit less plot to it. I think that 2.5 Dimensional Seduction is fun but not worth checking out over My Dress-Up Darling. Warning, lots of fan service.

Chained Soldier

Monsters in another world, a group of women to protect the real world from the monsters, and guys can’t get powers to do that unless they agree to basically become a slave. Doesn’t sound like a great premise, but somehow it turns into a harem anime with some fun fighting and more of a plot than I would expect. This one is fanservice forward like 2.5 Dimensional Seduction. But it’s a better story than I would expect.

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman

The second old man but is actually really powerful anime. I’m not sure I like it as much as the Ossan Newbie Adventurer but it’s in that same line of anime. I really like the main character though, again it’s this wise, humble and kind hearted character that an older protagonist can give you. I enjoy this anime quite well.

Domestic Girlfriend

A romance anime where the guy sleeps with his step sister while being in love with the other step sister. Of course the sleeping with the step sister is before they are step siblings. And he doesn’t realize it’s the sister of his crush who happens to be his teacher. It’s a weird who is in love and what is acceptable anime story that apparently if it were to continue has an ending people don’t like. I thought at the anime was fine.

The Dreaming Boy is a Realist

One final one and it’s another romance. The main character professes his love to his love every day. And she always says no. After getting hit in the head by a ball and having an epiphany of what he’s doing he stops and just is focused on the main girls happiness. But it turns out that when he stops she finds that she might actually have feelings for him. So not it’s a will they won’t they. I think this one is fun and I like the weird premise for it.

Final Thoughts

So let’s count. I think I got them all and I don’t think I watched any one Netflix, which is where I’d likely miss them from. I did skip over Summertime Render which is on Disney+/Hulu because I wrote a review on that one already. That’s just 41 anime. So if you want 5 that I’d recommend:

  1. Frieren
  2. Solo Leveling
  3. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki
  4. The Ossan Newbie Adventurer Trained To Death By The Most Powerful Party Became Invincible
  5. The Apothecary Diaries

They aren’t in order. And I could come up with more that I’d recommend from the list as well. Is there one of the anime that catches your eye?

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Top 10 Anime of 2024 https://nerdologists.com/2024/12/top-10-anime-of-2024/ https://nerdologists.com/2024/12/top-10-anime-of-2024/#respond Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:06:22 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=9320 What anime that I watched this year were my favorites? I bumped the list up to 10 and I even have more that I want to talk about.

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Let’s keep on the anime kick and start my Top lists for 2024. I did plan on doing five like I did last year. But I realized, I’ve watched a lot of anime this year, and a lot of anime that I really enjoyed. So I would likely end up with five on my honorable mentions list. And just a reminder, this list is anime that I watched in 2024, they don’t have to have come out in 2024, though a fair number of them did.

Top 10 Anime of 2024

10. Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

This was one of the bigger anime during the summer season, I believe, because it was a cute romance anime with an interesting premise. Alya has feelings for the protagonist, but she also doesn’t really want to say anything. So she says them in Russian, all of that makes sense from the title, unknown to her, her happens to speak Russian. He had learned it as a kid because he had a childhood friend for a few years who spoke Russian as well, but he can’t remember who it was. Turns out it’s Alya’s older sister, but this is the pretty standard, but cute, high school romance anime.

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
Image Source: Crunchyroll

9. Tower of God

Now, I will caveat this and say, I haven’t caught up on the second season yet. But the first season was really enjoyable. I read the webtoon/manhwa for Tower of God and enjoyed that as well. And I think the story is very well translated to the screen. I’ve heard that the second season maybe doesn’t have as good animation, but the first season is really good. And the premise of this anime, this getting out of the dark and climbing the tower to find the person you care about, it’s well done. The characters have complexity and the whole story is just enjoyable.

8. Oshi No Ko

Now we go to an anime that feels very anime like, but also different. It’s different in that there are elements of this show that’s a mystery. And of course, it’s odd that because the two main characters are reincarnated as the twins of the Idol that they love. I like how the anime and manga don’t really hide from the more questionable sides of the Idol industry and the entertainment industry as it tells the story. And the mystery element is interesting as well and offers some good challenges for the main character.

7. Horimiya

Horimiya is one of my favorite manga that I’ve read. I really enjoy the dynamic between the couple and just how wholesome the whole thing is. And they do a good job of translating at into the anime. They do some odd stuff with the anime in that they condense it and skip arcs and storylines in this teen romance again. But I appreciate that the main characters fall for each other quickly and there isn’t a ton of back and forth of will they won’t they nor is it a harem where all the girls like the main character. It’s just that good wholesome romance.

6. Sign of Affection

A Sign of Affection
Image Source: Crunchyroll

And speaking of a good wholesome romance anime, Sign of Affection is amazing for that. The story is of a deaf girl and her falling in love with a guy, and the guy falling in love with her. But it’s just this heartfelt story for them, and it feels like a real relationship. Yes, there is some jealousy and an attempted love triangle in it, but for the most part it’s just this great story about a wholesome relationship. And the male lead, they do a good job of creating a character who puts in so much effort, like learning sign language, that it’s just even more wholesome.

5. Solo Leveling

Now we move into action with Solo Leveling. I am pretty sure that this was my most anticipated anime of 2024 and it really didn’t disappoint. I like Solo Leveling a lot, but there are a few that make it higher that I watched. The animation for this show is great and it stays true enough to the story. It really gives you some iconic moments from the manhwa and it does a good job with them. I enjoy the premise as well of that weaker character becoming strong, but not becoming an edge lord in the process.

4. Kaguya-Sama: Love is War

The final romance on the list is an anime that’s been out for a little bit, but I love this one. It’s so fast with the characters spitting back and forth insults and romance at the same speed. All because the two most popular and powerful kids in the school are in love with each other. But if either of them breaks and admits it to the other, it’s a sign of weakness and the other will have power, that’s their worry anyways. It’s really fun and funny and Ian Sinclair as the narrator is amazing in this, he goes so hard on being over the top and comedic.

3. Shangri-La Frontier

The top three are all ones that I assumed that I’d like because I like the manga lot for all of them. Shangri-La Frontier is no exception, clearly, and I appreciate this one as a video game anime. I love how the video game is highly developed in this anime as well. It makes it feel more immersive, and you get little bits of the real world and real world elements affecting the game, but it’s much more focused on the game itself.

The main character is fun as well, I appreciate as well that he just wants to have fun. It could be a serious gamer, but not. He is a trash gamer, plays bad games, and now he’s just trying out an amazing game. And his two gaming friends are entertaining as well as they give each other a hard time. Even the NPC companions that he has are great.

2. Dandadan

Dandadan is so close to being my top anime of the year, it was really a coin flip between two for me. But I enjoy how absurd this one is, and then how it had an amazing heartfelt moment in it as well. The premise is just goofy. Ken believes in aliens. Momo believes in spirits. They don’t believe in the thing the other believes in. They both challenge the other to go to spots where aliens and spirits are seen. And, well, they both turn out to be right. And it gets crazier from there. The animation is amazing, and like I said, it has some beautiful moments as well. This is romance, comedy, adventure, supernatural all in one.

Kaiju No 8
Image Source: Viz

1. Kaiju No. 8

Finally, my top is Kaiju No. 8. I love this one because Kafka is a dummy but a great character. He’s washed up just fine with working in kaiju disposal. He takes one last crack at the defense force and, well, with a little bit of help from being infected by a kaiju, he’s able to make it. It’s all about his challenge and striving to be a hero and be able to be at his friends side. Of course, his friend is the most powerful kaiju hunter out there.

The cast of characters is a blast as well in this anime. Kafka, like I said, is a dummy, but he has this heart of gold. Mina is stand off-ish but it’s a tough shell. Reno I love as a character because he wants to be tough and cool. He thinks that he can do it all but develops such a soft spot for Kafka and helping him along and worrying about him, as one of the people who knows he’s infected, it’s amazing. And Kikoru is the prodigy that everyone is chasing down. But also is a character with more depth. It’s just such a fun show with everyone, plus great kaiju fighting action and gross kaiju clean-up.

Final Thoughts

I made it through 10, and I should be able to skip honorable mentions. But I want to talk about a few more that I really enjoyed as well. Both Mushoku Tensei and Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy are fun isekai to checkout. And I found some enjoyable comedy romances with things like The Quintessential Quintuplets, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really Really Really Really Really Love You and My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU. Those three are all just good fun with The 100 Girlfriends Who Really Really Really Really Really Love You having such an absurd premise.

What is your favorite anime that you watched in 2024? Based off of my tastes, at least from this list, are there any that I should really checkout?

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Anime Round-up – Year End Goodness https://nerdologists.com/2024/12/anime-round-up-year-end-goodness/ https://nerdologists.com/2024/12/anime-round-up-year-end-goodness/#respond Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:40:34 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=9318 I've had a chance to watch a bunch of anime. Which ones am I checking out now, and which ones are good?

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So let’s do a quick hit anime round-up again. I’ve had time recently to watch a number of anime. And I want to do a longer review on one of them at least, but let’s talk about all of them quickly because there have been quite a number and see which ones have I been enjoying the most.

Anime Round-up

Shangri-la Frontier Season 2

The second season is currently coming out and I’ve been enjoying it a lot again. I really enjoy the manga so I expected to enjoy this as well. We’ve gotten beyond the first big battle and now are into progressing more of the plot of the game. I still really enjoy that aspect of the story. It seems like the author has put a good amount of thought into that and the anime is staying true to what has been in the manga. If you didn’t like season one, though, of Shangri-la Frontier, this season isn’t going to change your mind.

Dandadan

My favorite that I’ve watched, and I think I wrote about the manga already. But I love the premise of this one. Momo doesn’t believe in aliens. Ken doesn’t believe in ghosts. They both believe in the thing that the other doesn’t and they challenge each other to find out if they are real. The premise is silly, and the whole story is goofy with a lot of Japanese lore thrown into it. It’s a fun coming of age story and experience with some heartfelt moments, a lot of comedy, and of course aliens and spirits and ghosts.

Dandadan
Image Source: Viz Media

Oshi No Ko

The hit two years ago now, Oshi No Ko is an interesting mystery story of the death of an Idol the Idol’s sons attempt to try and track down the person who put the crazy fan up to it. The story is interestingly done and I appreciate how it sheds like on the seedy and hard and corrupt elements of the Idol business but also just of show business in general.

Of course it has weird anime elements like the son actually being the doctor who was supposed to deliver the babies but was killed before that happened reincarnated as one of the idols twins and a kid who the doctor had treated and who had passed away being the other.

Oshi No Ko
Image Source: Weekly Young Jump

Eminence in Shadow

This is another manga that I’ve enjoyed pretty well. The story is an isekai which I tend to enjoy. The main character intentionally trying to control everything from the background, to be a vigilante hero but more than that, to be a puppet master of everything behind the scenes. When he ends up in another world, he wants to continue to build upon that, since there is magic here. And he creates a shadow organization around a story that he makes up. But turns out that the story is way more real than he’d think, and in fact, he struggles with actually believing that it’s real, which is an interesting element to what’s being told.

RE:Zero

RE:Zero is an anime that I’m going to take a pause on, at least for a little while. It’s, honestly, just not that great. The premise is an interesting one and an isekai, but the main character is just frustrating. And the story progresses in okay ways, but generally they don’t use the interesting element or unique element that well. That is that the main character, when he dies, he restarts from a changing save point until h e gets things right. And I like that element of the story and just what that could do to a character. But generally it’s made him more whiny than anything and the story suffers because of that.

Arifureta

Another one that I started to read but then gave up on if Arifureta. I think that the anime is better, though it is also an anime that I find makes good background noise. A character with a seemingly pointless ability is abandoned by his classmates, but turns out that his ability is great. And with the harem that he creates around him, he becomes more powerful than anyone really. He is also not that great a character, though less of an edge lord than it might sound. I wish that this anime was less trope heavy, but because it is so trope heavy, it just makes a good background watching one.

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

Now for something different in the anime realm. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU is a lot of fun and very light hearted. A main character who is just kind of a boring background character with no ambitions in life is sent to get from a club that helps people and he joins the club. He and the other person in the club are very different. But the story is just fun and silly and it’s kind of that odd couple group that is created in the club. And the characters ways of handling the requests for help almost always end up working, but not in a way that is great.

My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered

Final anime is one that is an isekai as well. though, the possibility to return to Earth seems to remain open. It’s a story of a character is again extremely over powered. His ability is instant death. He is somewhat hesitant to use it though. But I feel like in every episode he does. He just wants to get back home. And the world has these evil gods in it too. And the rest of his classmates are there, most with powers. The story is oddly complex for something that is generally a lighter hearted show.

Final Thoughts

Out of all of these I do like Dandadan the best, though Shangri-la Frontier is still a lot of fun for me as well. Some of them we’ll see if I continue. But ones like My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, Oshi No Ko, and My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered I’m likely to keep watching. I find them to be a lot of fun still.

What anime should I check out next? The nice thing is a new season starts soon. And with that Solo Leveling is coming back. So I am excited to watch more of that one. But what’s a good comedy anime I should checkout?

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Review https://nerdologists.com/2024/05/mushoku-tensei-jobless-reincarnation-review/ https://nerdologists.com/2024/05/mushoku-tensei-jobless-reincarnation-review/#respond Fri, 17 May 2024 14:14:24 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=8941 What does Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation offer as another Isekai anime? And is it worth watching in a lot of Isekai out there?

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I think it is clear now that i love my Isekai anime. That’s a genre of anime that I’ll watch almost anything in, or at least give it a try. And today’s flavor is Mushoku Tensei, a horny, sometimes heartfelt, and interesting walkabout through another world. But let’s talk a bit about the premise of Mushoku Tensei and what works and doesn’t work about this show.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

It’s a pretty standard Isekai as far as the main elements of the storyline goes. Our protagonist was a nobody in the real world. Due to events in his life he lives basically as a shut in never going out. One of the rare times he goes out he sees that a girl is about to be hit by a truck, pushing her out of the way, he gets hit, dies, and is given another chance in another world.

Being reborn into the other world he starts out as a baby, but a baby with the memories of a man, and well, that leads to some weird situations as he does things that a normal baby and kid wouldn’t do. It also means that he’s able to pick-up on magic in the world surprisingly easy from a young age.

His adventures do follow a plot, which I won’t dive too deep into here. But also track along with his life and his growth as he’s trying shake his past from the real world.

A Bit Too Horny

I made light of this in the beginning, but Mushoku Tensei is a very horny anime. And that does mean fan service. It also means that some of the plots are really led by that idea. It’s a bit of a mess at times because of that. And it can at times detract from the story that the anime is trying to tell. There are some real heartfelt moments in there, some of them even the horny moments.

It is one of those things that is very worth knowing about the anime, though. The first episode really gives the tone for the whole show and it does continue throughout the whole thing. It tones down at times, but like I said, there are plots about horniness or sex in the anime that continue for multiple episodes.

Simplicity of Plot

Another thing to note is that this overall plot is not that complex. They weave in some elements that bring a bigger narrative into it. But even that is not that complex and is not consistently a major part of the show. Mushoku Tensei is almost more of a slice of life adventure anime than a grand epic story. But there is an epic story hanging out in the background. It is just not something that is touched on all that often.

This, I think, makes Mushoku Tensei a good popcorn anime or a good half paying attention anime to watch. If you miss part of an episode, it isn’t that big a deal. If it’s just kind of on in the background, again, not that big a deal. And I like for some anime to slot into that range.

Earnestness of Characters

I say that about the plot and the characters often have pretty simple motivations as well. But the characters are enjoyable, which is important for an anime like this one. If they are annoying, unless that it done with a specific goal in mind, it’s harder to just keep watching.

Because of the earnestness of the characters, you feel for them. Even when they are doing dumb things, or when their main motivation is sex, there is an earnestness about it that makes you want them to succeed at their goals. It isn’t to say that they provide a lot of emotional depth and punches, but more that it just feels good when they succeed. Sometimes that is what you want, especially for the plot type and depth of Mushoku Tensei.

Final Thoughts on Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

This is a fun anime. It reminds me of the level of depth that I expect from something like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. That one has more action and more plot arcs to it, but it’s that lighter fluffier side of things with a nice mix of comedy in it. However, Mushoku Tensei is not going to be one that I highly recommend to people. There are better anime out there to watch.

But, if what you are looking for is a lighter anime to just sit back and enjoy the ride, multitask, and get a fun story, sure, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation does a good job as that time of anime. And when I started watching it, that is what I assumed it would be, and I definitely enjoy it for that. So know what you are getting into, and it’ll probably be a fun time. Also, once I’m done, probably not one that I’ll revisit, but sometimes you just want popcorn, nothing wrong with that.

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Rising of the Shield Hero – Review https://nerdologists.com/2022/10/rising-of-the-shield-hero-review/ https://nerdologists.com/2022/10/rising-of-the-shield-hero-review/#respond Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:03:46 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=7443 We know I like my isekai, but how does Rising of the Shield hero stack up against others I have watched or read?

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I don’t normally give anime a second chance or a show in general. If it doesn’t catch my attention or I stop watching it for some reason, I don’t tend to go back. Rising of the Shield Hero, however, is an exception t the list. Mainly because it is a genre of anime, Isekai, that I really enjoy. And because I had a lot of people tell me it is really good. So now that I’ve watched the first season, where do my thoughts land.

The Plot – Rising of the Shield Hero

Naofumi is just a normal person, well, maybe not so normal in the real world, but a quiet and reserved person. He likes to spend his time reading manga and not doing really all that much. He is off to grab another book when he finds a light novel about four heroes, the sword, bow, spear, and shield hero. But the section on the shield hero is oddly blank. With that, he is transported into another world where he and three others from their own worlds have been transported in to be the heroes this new world needs.

However, Naofumi, is as the shield hero isn’t looked up to like the other heroes. His weapon, the shield can’t really be used on offense. And the people of that land and other heroes look down on him for that. But that isn’t it that is going to make his life hard.

General Thoughts

I always repeat myself with this, but this is mainly to cover some plot things. Or some choices that you need to consider with anime that aren’t really a good or bad thing, but more a personal choice.

Mainly, what is the fan service like in the show? The fan service is actually very tame for Rising of the Shield Hero. It doesn’t mean that they won’t stoop to immature jokes, those definitely exist, or “adult” situations. But it is not a show to lean into that too heavily.

Rising of the Shield Hero Characters
Image Source: Crunchyroll

I think the last thing I want to talk about is the tone of the show. Isekai can often deal with heavier things. I don’t know that I would call Rising of the Shield Hero a heavy show, but it does deal with some heavier topics. And because of how things unfold, the main character is often “edgy”. It reminds me a bit of Kirito from Sword Art Online, where he isn’t a bad guy, but puts on a front. However, the show starts out with the feeling that he’ll be an edge lord throughout.

An edge lord being the protagonist who mainly does dark and edgy things, often times bad, who is treated just like a normal protagonist, not an anti-hero. Or from other stuff that I’ve read, it’s a character living into and fulfilling those bad tendencies, like raising an army of the dead to overthrow a land. And the book still treats it like a good thing. It often feels like the writer trying to live out a fantasy.

What Doesn’t Work?

The opening act, I think doesn’t work that well. I’m sure a lot of people would disagree on that, but it feels out of place. And, having gotten past the first episode, 40 minutes whereas others are shorter, it sets a different tone. The show, as a whole, is one thing, but the first episode implies this darker more adult show. Once you get into the show, it’s fun, but the first episode tries way to hard to make it edgy.

I also think that the incompetence of other characters doesn’t work always. Yes, sometimes it makes sense, but often times characters are more blind than they should be. They play some of it off as plot, but a lot of it is just characters ignoring what is happening to further the plot when it doesn’t make as much sense.

What Works?

The situation is interesting that the main character, Naofumi, is brought into. It is different but the same as other Isekai. It’s the same that it’s another fantasy world, but unlike most, he is summoned into it. I feel like most of the time a character is just dropped into the world. Here, Naofumi is summoned by characters in the world. Rising of the Shield Hero is different from other Isekai because of that piece of the premise.

Rising of the Shield Hero Naofumi
Image Source: Crunchyroll

I also think that Naofumi’s character progression works. They lean into him being an edge lord too long at the beginning. But even with that, he progresses as a character more than many other protagonists. What he wants to start is very simple, but it grows as he finds out more about the world. If he just remains as an edge lord the whole time, it’d have felt like a waste and I would have stopped.

The world is also interesting as well. Mainly how it can explore some things because it is a fantasy world. I don’t think that Rising of the Shield Hero is a more mature anime in a lot of ways. But some of the topics it covers are most definitely more deep. It takes advantage of the fact it’s fantasy to touch on some historical issues without focusing on it. Whether intentional or not, it manages it quite well.

Who Is It For?

This falls into the category that I think is for fans of the genre. Rising of the Shield Hero is not going to work as an introductory isekai, in my opinion. You likely will feel like it is a bit much and the edge lord tendencies of Naofumi will be a turn off. The whole first episode might seem like a miss when starting.

But if you enjoy isekai, I think it’s one of those step up anime. It’s for the people who know a genre and then it tries to build upon that. This doesn’t mean better, it is just an anime that expects you to have previous knowledge on how a genre works.

Final Thoughts on Rising of the Shield Hero

I have mixed feelings about season one. Mainly, I think that it is very enjoyable in some ways. As the shield hero builds up his team, it’s fun. But then they try and pull heavy drama into it punctuated with dumb jokes. The combination of the two doesn’t land a lot of the time.

But when they allow it to be some fun battles, fun adventuring, or even more serious adventuring, it works. I even think the new plot hook, enemy, for the main character works. It is just that the first one, where Naofumi is an edge lord often, it doesn’t work for a main plot nearly as well. It’s more of a convoluted mess with childishness thrown in there.

That said, I do want to continue it and watch more. There are elements that definitely work. And finding good isekai is not always the easiest. So to find an enjoyable Isekai works juts fine for me. I would give Rising of the Shield Hero a solid B- grade. Good, not great, but one that I’d definitely come back for.

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Book’em Nerdo – That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime https://nerdologists.com/2022/08/bookem-nerdo-that-time-i-got-reincarnated-as-a-slime/ https://nerdologists.com/2022/08/bookem-nerdo-that-time-i-got-reincarnated-as-a-slime/#respond Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:26:27 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=7282 I like Isekai and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is one I hear about a lot. I finally checked out the manga, and is it good?

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Continuing going through Manga, I recently picked up the Isekai, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. This one follows a lot of standard tropes, but it does a few things that I could call different for an Isekai. It isn’t just about the adventures that the main character goes on. And while I’m not sure it sets it apart from other Isekai that much, it does feel a bit different. I’ll get into that in the story.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime – Plot

So as the title suggests, the main character dies right away in the books and gets transported to this world. In this world they are not a human, but instead are a slime. As he goes out and starts to explore the world, he finds different races, and ends up being a leader of the monsters. And finds ways to build up the monster society.

But it isn’t just about the town building and society building but there is a plot going on in the background as well. Even at a level where as a reader we know that, but the main character is still fairly ignorant of everything that is going on.

General Thoughts

In terms of an Isekai, this is a little bit different. Because it is not a normal human or humanoid fantasy race protagonist. And because the character is more at the edges of society versus being a part of the main adventuring society. Granted, the main character become humanoid, or can be, pretty quickly, but the story is never your classic fantasy through what I’ve read.

I also like to mention fan service in this section. Just so you have an idea about it. It is certainly an Isekai where it happens fairly often. It isn’t really explicit and often played more for laughs. But it is part of the manga that you should be aware of. Though, the further you get in, the less there really seems to be.

What Doesn’t Work?

I think the fan service is a bit absurd in this one. It doesn’t really add to the story, which I mean, most of the time it doesn’t. And I believe that I’ll run across some more as I go on, if what I know about the anime is right. This is a time where it is for the audience, as it always is really, but detracts from what this story could be.

I also think that the story is just okay. Now, I’ll talk more later about how it does subvert the standard expectations somewhat. But the whole building up of the society piece is not too bad, it just isn’t always the most compelling. I think that is the best way to put it. It’s not that the story is bad, it is just not always compelling.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime 16
Image Source: Fuse

What Works?

That said about the story, I do appreciate that it is doing something different. I’ve read a LitRPG book where the author clearly draws on this for much of his inspiration. But the whole building up of a society is fun and unique. It offers a fantasy story that is really told from a different perspective, that of the monsters. Right now, I feel like that hasn’t too heavily played into the story, but it is an element.

I also talked about the fan service, but even with that, the manga is nice. It is a manga that isn’t about punching everyone in the face. The fan service is there, but it doesn’t come across as something that makes it so much for a certain gaze or taint the wholesomeness that you get through the story. It is a protagonist who generally does a good thing and who isn’t trying to take over everything or isn’t about being an edgelord. The main character genuinely just wants to improve things for the monsters.

Who Is It For?

I think that if you enjoy Isekai you will enjoy That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. It is a fun romp that feels a bit different than a lot of other Isekai out there. And I think it is even a decent jumping in point. If you don’t want something that is too crazy, though, this is crazy in other ways, it’ll work well. And while it is out there with a slime as the main character, the story is compelling enough and makes clear enough sense that I think more casual manga fans would enjoy it.

Final Thoughts on That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

This is a fun read, and it’s one that I will continue to get the books over time. I don’t feel like it’s quite to the level of some that I’ve read recently, The New Game and Shortcake Cake, where I want to pick up more immediately. And some of that is that there is a lot to catch up on. Not an insane amount, but enough.

I think that is the best way to describe it. This is just fun to read. And I want to know how everything is continued to be built up. It even makes me want to go back and try and anime again. The anime is not bad, it just didn’t grab my attention quite as much immediately. But reading it has, I think because it can move a little bit faster, and you kind of appreciate the main character more.

Overall, this is one that I’d call fun. It might not be great manga, but it is a fun one. And I believe it was adapted from Light Novels to be a manga, which maybe the light novels would catch my attention more.

Have you read or watched That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime?

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Book’em Nerdo: The New Gate https://nerdologists.com/2022/07/bookem-nerdo-the-new-gate/ https://nerdologists.com/2022/07/bookem-nerdo-the-new-gate/#respond Wed, 20 Jul 2022 13:48:11 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=7190 I dove into a new manga recently, The New Gate. How interesting is this isekai and how does it stack up to others that I've read or watched?

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Not long ago I said that I had started reading some more Manga. My wife and I went to one of our local comic book, board game, and generally all around nerdy stuff stores. They have a massive manga section there, and while a lot of the series are missing the first book, because people, like us, buy one to try it, there were some series that we’ve grabbed a chunk of. One of them being The New Gate. And I only bought a book there, let’s just say, now I own nine of the ones out.

The Plot – The New Gate

The story actually starts out a whole lot like SAO (Sword Art Online), there is a death game and all the players are trapped in it. But instead of starting at level one, we follow the player in the midst of the final battle against the boss. Shin, the hero, defeats the final boss and the log out button is enabled for the players. He watches as the world empties out and then sees a portal open.

He goes through that and wakes up in a new world, but not really a new world, just the video game world, 500 years later. Things are different, and while some of the world rules are the same, much has also changed. What has happened, how will he cope in The New Gate and maybe, eventually, get back to the real world, if that is even possible.

General Thoughts

Let’s just start out with some general thoughts on this, this won’t be my final opinion. But I think it’s worth chatting about because this might seem like a pretty standard Isekai manga, and well, it is. Now, I say that but also it’s a trope that is used a lot because it isn’t always a bad trope. And in this case, I would say it is a trope that works. This is not a manga that promises deep surprises and decisions. It is one where it’s meant to be fun action adventure reading and it is that.

Also, because it is for action and adventure and generally written for a male audience, it does have some fan service. It’s less of a put someone in a compromising position or someone walking in on them. It just is going to be images drawn where cleavage is very prominent, things like that. It is over the top at times and could be done less without affecting the story at all. But compared to some it is not that egregious either. It’s just more of the trope than anything.

What Doesn’t Work?

The writing or story is a bit like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. And for me this is not a major complaint to it. Generally you get one session or one arc in one of the manga collections, so about five chapters. Some chapters do more to set-up future chapters. And other collections generally stand on their own. But the cohesive story that is being told isn’t that cohesive. It’s more vignettes that make some sense, but often times don’t as much. It might all come together, but I’m not caught up yet.

I also will say that while I don’t mind the tropes and that The New Gate is what I’d qualify as summer reading, it is not deep. This ties in some with that Dungeons and Dragons campaign feel, I wish I could see more of the story developing. I think I know some ways it might go, I’d just like to know more of them or to see some more plot lines being weaved through everything.

The New Gate vol 8
Image Source: One Peace Books

What Works?

The main character is likeable and the side characters work. Some of the side characters are even more interesting than the main character. I think that the writing, as a whole, is solid, and I don’t really have a complaint about it. Which, I think is a mark for this manga. It could lean into some levels of absurdity that it doesn’t. It could spend more time on the male gaze than it does easily, but instead it creates nice characters that you enjoy reading about.

I also think it matches up it’s tone well. I just talked about how it isn’t that deep, but I picked it up not because I wanted something deep. You know what you are getting into with this manga. So while I do have it as a negative that I’d like the through storyline to be a bit more visible or even for there to be one, I don’t mind that it isn’t trying to deal with weighty topics. The manga is what it sets out to be and is what it advertised itself as which is why I picked it up.

Who Is It For?

I don’t think that I’d recommend it as an Isekai that someone starts out with, but it could be one that you grab shortly there after. I have no reason to say that except that I think it leans so heavily on the tropes and knowledge of them, that it might need that tiny bit of explaining. But if you like Isekai, you’ll likely enjoy this one, knowing that it takes a genre of manga that is already fairly popcorn and makes it more so.

Final Thoughts – The New Gate

This is a fun series. I own nine books now and I know I will get more. Sometimes I read a manga and I enjoy it, I enjoy most that I read, but I don’t care enough to continue. In fact, I am almost caught up, book 10 of The New Gate came out in June of this year, so as far as I can tell it’ll be continuing.

This is what I wanted to read when I got the book. And that is really the main thing about it. It is not the best Isekai that I’ve came across. I prefer Sword Art Online to it, though that is more an story with Isekai elements. Or The Devil is a Part-Timer is better as well. But I wanted to read a story that is just a fun adventure romp. That is what I got, and that is why I will continue reading it.

Have you read The New Gate?

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Best Board Game That’s Like…. Anime https://nerdologists.com/2022/04/best-board-game-thats-like-anime/ https://nerdologists.com/2022/04/best-board-game-thats-like-anime/#respond Fri, 22 Apr 2022 14:00:52 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=6939 There are a lot of games out there, but some themes don't have as many. Anime is big but what board games give that feel?

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You can find a board game with almost any theme out there. When I was doing my Should It Stay Or Should It Go on Monday, one of the games I talked about and kept for Sword Art Online: Sword of Fellows. That is not a good game. But I like the theme, and I really love Sword Art Online, so it stays in my collection. And I’d love a good game, which is why I started designing one that I need to get back to working on. That lead me to think, there are a lot of categories of movies, TV shows, books, and more out there. What board game gives you the feel of Anime?

I could go through and do different ones all at once, but I want to spend more time talking about why a game works for that theme. And some of are going to be more specific than just a category, like anime, but I’ll get to those in the future.

Board Games That Feel Like Anime

So this is an interesting category to talk about. There are a number of games based off of Anime or Manga, and a lot of them are Japanime Games. The issue with that is Japanime games tend to be pretty hit or miss for me. And they are the ones who put out Sword Art Online: Sword of Fellows. But the point of this list isn’t that the game needs to be based on an anime, it needs to have the theme. So I went looking for other games that maybe feel more like an anime.

Middara: Unintentional Malum

First one that I thought of and this one was easy. Middara gives you that Anime art style and theme for sure in the game. This is a big dungeon crawl game where you are a person who was taken from Earth and through a connected portal brought to a new world. This world has magic, weapons, and you’re being trained to go out and adventure. It’s a dungeon crawl game with definitely an Anime flare to it. Very straight forward with how Middara connects.

Middarra
Image Source: Succubus Publishing

Clank Legacy

Clank Legacy is a bit more of a stretch. But one thing about anime is they often are a bit goofy. And Clank Legacy is going to be that, as it is based off of Acquisitions Incorporated D&D Campaign. This is very goofy and a lot of fun to watch. And the situations they get into, while definitely fantasy based, tend to lean into that absurd that you see in Anime.

Super Fantasy Brawl

This is an Anime fighting game. Your team of characters transport in from another time and face off against each other. There are humanoids, animals, and basically all sorts of cool and epic creatures. Then the game itself is a tactical battle where you try and knock out your opponent and complete objectives. This will give you the feel of moments like in Dragonball Z where there is the tournament or My Hero Academia.

Forgotten Waters

Forgotten Waters is a goofy pirate game with voice acting for the story. If you want an epic high seas adventure, this is going to be it. And I think that gives it some of that Anime sort of feel to it, the whole epic pirate adventure but with humor added in as well. Plus, it uses I believe some of the crossroads system from Dead of Winter, so adds in some good choice.

Say Bye to the Villains

Say Bye to the Villains is a Japanese themed game. You play as different Samurai or Ninja who know of villains they will be facing. You have ten days to prepare to face off against the villains, researching their tactics, preparing your skills, and helping others. This is a really hard cooperative card game, in fact, I still want my first win. But it gives you the Japanese theme, and the villains and Samurai or Ninja are larger than life, so definitely an Anime vibe.

King of Tokyo
Image Source: Board Game Geek

King of Tokyo

I doubt this one is too much of a shock for the list. King of Tokyo is all about giant monsters and mechs fighting. While some of it feels more like Godzilla and King Kong than anime, the whole cartoon look and giant things fighting, easy choice for me to add to the list. The game it also really accessible for new gamers, so one that’d be easy to get to the table with Anime fans.

Village Attacks

Sometimes you just want an Anime about an edge-lord, and Village Attacks is going to give you a bit of that in a board game. You all play as the bad guys, the monsters who terrorize the village. And now, you want a peaceful evening, but the village is there with pitchforks and torches ready to destroy the heart of your castle. A dark themed game but plays fairly absurd.

Under Falling Skies

Under Falling Skies is a solo board game where a player defends against waves of aliens attacking. The small ships come down all the time the mothership is making it closer and closer to landfall. Can you research a way to stop the mothership and scramble the jets to blow the smaller ships out of the sky. The game is a ton of fun, but the whole aliens or something crazy coming to earth, that happens in a lot of Anime, or at least a number I’ve watched. So this gives me some of the anime vibe as well as Space Invaders and Independence Day.

Spires End
Image Source: Greg Favro

Spire’s End

Spire’s End is pretty new to my collection but one that I think has an Anime feel to it. The whole premise, a spire popping up out of the ground is weird. Then you add in Mushroom Men, keys that are alive, and trying to rescue townsfolk who have been taken away into the tower. That seems like an Anime plot. And while the game is dark it is a lot of fun to play, and a good solo game.

Sleeping Gods

Finally, Sleeping Gods. It and Spire’s End you can watch game play of on Malts and Meeples. But this game is a bit crazy. Sleeping Gods plays as an Isekai. You are the crew of the Manticore going from Hong Kong to New York. One day, as a storm clears, you find yourself in an unfamiliar land and are told you need to wake up the Sleeping Gods who once were active. Then you go off and explore and adventure. Definitely an Anime feeling plot for the game.

Final Thoughts

I’d have loved to put some games that are based off of actual Anime on the list. Cowboy Bebop Boardgame Boogie is one that I own and should play. I’ve played Sword Art Online: Sword of Fellows, and honestly, I just want better games based off of Anime. Give me a dungeon crawler set in Aincrad, let me play as a random character trying to clear that world and death game.

If I were to pick others, besides Sword Art Online. I think a good pick-up and deliver epic game for Cowboy Bebop would be fun. Demon Slayer as a one versus all fighting game could be cool. My Hero Academia and Dragonball Z with their tournaments would both make nice one versus one games. I mean, My Hero Academia Dice Throne, I’d be all over that.

What anime would you like to see a good board game of, and what type of game would it be?

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Top 5 Anime – 2021 Edition https://nerdologists.com/2021/12/top-5-anime-2021-edition/ https://nerdologists.com/2021/12/top-5-anime-2021-edition/#respond Thu, 09 Dec 2021 16:23:14 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=6443 What anime made my Top 5 that I watched this year. It isn't as many as last year, but there were some good anime to checkout.

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It’s time for another Top 5 list. This time we’re looking at anime. And I do think that I got five anime at least started under my belt, but I’m not sure that I actually got through five but I’ve checked out at least five. I didn’t have as much time working from home, thankfully, like I did last year, but let’s get onto the list.

5. Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

This is a slice of life, kind of, isekai anime. It’s a weird one, the basic idea is that a girl gets stuck in a video game, isekai. It’s a secret part of the game, and we have no idea what is happening with her in real life. The world is almost a new game, and she doesn’t know what she is doing. But she has a bear suit that is extremely powerful and extremely adorable. It’s kind of the opposite of fan service for the main character, though there is fan service.

This would be higher on the list, but it falls down with some of the arcs. It’s very slice of life, but there is a whole arc about getting chickens to an orphanage. It isn’t a great arc, but then where it starts out, it starts out strong. If it comes back to adventuring more, I’ll keep watching it. If it’s more chickens, probably not.

4. Edens Zero

This one does have a ton of fan service, and a bunch of reused characters. It’s from the creator of Fairy Tale, and you’d never know because some of the characters look identical and it’s completely absurd. In fact, the whole anime is completely absurd. The main character has grown up on a planet of only robots. And they need to trick him to get him to leave the planet so that he can fulfill his destiny. And there’s this great space being, and space dragons, and it’s a whole thing.

This one has a ton of fan service, so if you’re not okay with that, skip this one. I’m just meh on the fan service, but the story is stupid and fun, it doesn’t try and be serious at all. And I like that about it. There are B-Tubers, basically YouTube celebrities, and planets that have had time rolled back on them, and it’s all in the same universe as a planet where there is a robot amusement park that is defunct.

Edens Zero
Image Source: Konami

3. Our Last Crusade or Rise of a New World

Our Last Crusade or Rise of a New World is not my normal type of anime. It is technically a romance anime, but it’s also kind of a political anime or Romeo and Juliet to it as well. The two main characters are on the opposite side of a war that has been going on for generations. And they are very important people to either side. And of course, they fall in love, though, they’ll never admit it.

But they keep on having the unfortunate situation where they are both at the same place at the same time. This is generally in neutral areas, but whenever there is a battle, they’ll be on opposite sides. The whole question of the show is how will these two end the war, and will they ever admit that they are in love (and both survive)?

2. Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town

And the award for longest anime name goes to… well, I’m not typing that out again. This is what it says it is, just a normal kid from a town that guards the last dungeon in this world, it’s a world not a game, decides to move to the starter town. He’s not that special in hiw town and assumes he won’t be here. But of course his power levels are off the charts compared to everyone else.

It’s a good comedy because you have a main character who is self deprecating and too oblivious to everyone around him. It has a bit of a “Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon” vibe to it as well. And it works because the main character is likeable, they can solve everything, but they don’t always do it on their own.

1. Bottom Tier Character Tomozaki

Bottom Tier Character Tomozaki
Image Source: Funimation

Finally, my number one is an amazing anime. I watched half of this by myself, stopped, and then watched it again and watched it all with my wife. This is a sweet anime about two nerds figuring out how to navigate high school and not just be a nerd who if off to the side and how different they are about it.

Aoi takes Tomozaki under her wings. She’s popular, but she’s the #2 TakFam (think Smash Brothers) in Japan. She finds out that her nerdy classmate who no one talks to and who just hangs out by himself is the #1 player. Aoi doesn’t get how he can put so little effort into the game of life. It’s a fun gamification of high school and to see how they both teach each other.

While I’ve enjoyed the others, Bottom Tier Character Tomozaki is the one that I’d really recommend. I don’t actually have any honorable mentions. I’ve started That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime, but not far enough in to say. And that’s the same case with a few others. I have a list of ones that I want to catch up on. What anime did you watch this past year?

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