So Many Elsewhere Stories, So Little Time
While it’s fantastical otherworldly aesthetic, you would have thought Konosuba for any other run of the mill “hero falls into new world and gets harem” anime, collectively known as the Isekai genre. That turned out to be the furthest thing from the truth, since the vulgarity and approach to many of the tropes we had come to expect were flipped on it’s head in the funniest way possible. As such, it’s landed itself an upcoming movie set for 2019. Here’s hoping that it can recapture the now iconic hilarity from the past two seasons!
#5: “Drifters†(2016)
From the beautifully, batshit mind that brought us Hellsing, this unorthodox gorefest sees prominent historical figures brought together by an omnipotent being in order to fight against some of time’s deadliest villains. One moment you’ll see famed swordsman Toyohisa Shimazu slicing through guards to protect a group of elves, and the next you’ll have Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid gunning down all orcs while escaping from a burning city. Oh, and they’re main foe is someone who could potentially be Jesus Christ. You have to experience this incredible insanity for yourself.
#4: “No Game No Life†(2014)
Unable to be apart for a single moment without breaking down, spending every hour of every day owning people at video games, siblings Sora and Shiro really didn’t have that many career prospects going their way. That is, until they find themselves transported to a fantasy world where gaming literally decides everything. With their unparalleled skills, the two soon find themselves leading the remnants of humanity to reclaiming its former glory as its new monarchs. Guess NEETS do have it in them to change the world.
#3: “Overlord†(2015; 2018)
Make no mistake, this isn’t the story of a hero. This is the rise of the most powerful villain in all of creation. After finding himself trapped inside his in-game Avatar, player turned unbeatable undead Ainz Ooal Gown decides to employ his overwhelming power in the best way possible; rule over everything and anything. Watching him employ his unbeatable power and a host of dynamic monster guardians, Ainz’s conquest is beyond the pale of entertaining. He may be far from hateable, but the Ruler of Nazarick would rather see humanity bend the knee to his will than protect the innocent. Yet we still love him for it.
#2: “KonoSuba†(2016-17)
The world is vibrant. The lore is entrancing. It looks like it would be an adventurer’s paradise. At least it would…just so long as you don’t end up joining this particular party. After suffering a less-than dignified death, resident lovable douche Kazuma finds himself being transported to an RPG World, where he soon finds himself embroiled with three ladies who are more hindering than helpful. A goddess who is all but useless. A knight with an extreme masochistic edge. A mage who only knows how to make things blow up. Needless to say, this is the antithesis of your average fantasy anime, and it is bloody hilarious.
#1: “Re;Zero ~Starting Life in Another World~†(2016)
Death may not be the end of everything, but that doesn’t make it any less unpleasant. Stranded in a world with danger literally around every turn, our unfortunate hero Subaru finds himself intrinsically intertwined with the fate of the land and its inhabitants. Just one little problem. Every time he dies, he is brought back in time right to the moment where he first arrived. Spoilers, he dies a lot. While the medley of gruesome deaths aren’t exactly pleasant to witness, seeing Subaru overcome his suffering in order to save his new friends still makes for one hell of a watch. Plus, this show has Rem, what more do you need?
Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Anime for Comedy Fans.