Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another Worldis a bleak isekai anime starring Natsuki Subaru. Subaru is transported to a new world, and like most isekai protagonists, he gets a new power. Unlike most other isekai protagonists, Subaru’s power is brutal. Called Return by Death, Subaru’s power works exactly as the name implies, as he’s allowed to return to a predetermined point in time once he dies.It allows him to solve a lot of the mysteries within the series, but not without dying each time.
To be a good show likeRe:Zero,a series doesn’t even need to be an isekai. The biggest theme inRe:Zerois how bleak life can be, and thanks to Subaru’s relentless determination, how to overcome that bleakness. The best shows that can be compared toRe:Zerohave to involve a little bit ofdarkness, melancholy, and some existential dread at the same time.
Saga of Tanya the Evil
Cast
Saga of Tanya the Evil is a fantasy anime series set in a parallel universe during World War I. The story follows Tanya Degurechaff, a young girl who is reincarnated as a soldier in a fantasy world, and rises through the ranks of the Empire’s military to become a powerful mage.
The Saga of Tanya the Evilisagreat, dark isekai seriesfeaturing Tanya von Degurechaff. In her former life, she was a salaryman in Japanwho hated the idea of a deity ruling above.When the salaryman died, Being X wanted to test his indignation by reincarnating him into another world as a small child. Tanya is a walking one-man-army in her series, leading her troops on the battlefield to great success.
The Saga of Tanya the EvilandRe:Zeroare bothset in relatively hopeless worlds with the odds stacked against the protagonist.Both Subaru and Tanya have near divine forces working against them, and it’s their job to overcome the nearly insurmountable odds to live the lives they want to live. At least Tanya was reincarnated into a world where she can actually fight her enemies. Without one of his more powerful friends around, Subaru is about as strong as a piece of paper.
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!, commonly referred to as KonoSuba, is a Japanese anime series based on the novels of the same name from writer Natsume Akatsuki and illustrator Kurone Mishima. The series revolves around a man named Kazuma, who is offered a second chance at life on a magical world after he dies.
KonoSubais the one exception to the bleakness rule used to compare shows toRe:Zero. WhileRe:Zerois as dark as anime gets most of the time, there are a few humorous moments in between it all.KonoSubais entirely humorous.It’sthe funniest isekai anime series ever made, and fans ofRe:Zero’sexpert writing and biting characters can expect the same fromKonoSuba. Both protagonists have a decent amount in common as well.
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Neither Natsuki Subaru nor Kazuma Satou asked to be transported to their new world from Japan. When they get to their new worlds, they’re confused and have too much on their plates right away. Thankfully, with the help of some strong friends, they’re both able to find a place in the world. Luckily for Kazuma, his power don’t require him to die over-and-over again, but somehow,he still manages to die all the time, just like Subaru fromRe:Zero.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation follows a man who, after being reincarnated in a magical world, sets out to live his life without regrets. Adopting the name Rudeus Greyrat, he embarks on a journey of personal growth and adventure, armed with both his past life’s knowledge and newfound magical abilities. The series explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the quest to overcome personal failures.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnationis the most controversial isekai series. It’s not as dark asRe:Zero,butMushoku Tenseicertainly has its moments.One of the darkest moments inMushoku Tenseicame when the show airedPaul Greyrat’s death on Father’s Day. Outside the bleak moments,Mushoku Tenseican be a mature series that follows Rudeus around as he learns how to live in a new world with a new body and a host of new abilities.
Mushoku TenseiandRe:Zeroboth featureprotagonists that have divine beings working against them.The witches seem to be working against Subaru inRe:Zero, and Rudeus already has problems with the Dragon God Orsted too. LikeKonoSuba, the pair of main characters are lucky enough to be surrounded by smart, hard-working friends who truly want the best for their companion.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ascendance of a Bookworm is an anime comedy series based on the manga of the same name. Motosu Urano, a book-loving college student, is reincarnated in a medieval world as a frail girl with a voracious appetite for reading named Myrne. In a world where books are scarce and only available to the elite, Myne decides to create her own publishing group and create books to once again bring reading to the masses.
The Ascendance of a Bookwormisa unique isekai seriesthat’s set entirely around books. Main is a small child in her new world. She’s isekai to a seemingly medieval world that has little to no books available to her. She spends her life fighting the fate that put her in this new world, trying her hardest to learn how to read, write, and eventually, make her very own books. While her goal is much more defined than Subaru’s inRe:Zero,both characters are fighting against the world itselfto create the reality they want to live in.
Main’s story is a serious one with few moments of reprieve, just like Subaru’s. She’s also a kind, honest character who doesn’t want to hurt people just to get what she wants, similar to Subaru as well. Unlike Subaru, Main’s new power doesn’t require her to die over-and-over again,but it has brought her close to death several times.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric who use alchemy in a quest to restore their bodies after a failed transmutation. The series explores themes of sacrifice, the consequences of ambition, and the quest for truth in a richly developed world.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis a staple of modern anime. It features Alphonse and Edward Elric as they look to bring their mom back from the dead using human transmutation. Instead of bringing their mom back, Edward lost part of his body and Alphonse lost all of his, forcing the younger of the two to spend his days in a suit of armor.Like Subaru, the Elric brothers look to fight fate itselfwherever they can. They even go after the Philosopher’s Stone so that they can reverse the damage caused by their failed experiments.
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The worlds of bothRe:ZeroandFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodare expansive and mysterious.Protagonists from both series spend most of their days with more questions than answers, adding to the mystique of both shows. Both Subaru and the Elric brothers have to go through a lot of pain if they want to live in peace.
Overlord
Overlord follows a salaryman who, after being trapped in a virtual reality game, assumes the role of an all-powerful skeletal overlord. As he navigates this new world filled with magic and mythical creatures, he seeks to understand the game’s mysteries and conquer its challenges. The series blends elements of fantasy and adventure, exploring themes of power and identity.
Ainz Ooal Gown is the opposite of Natsuki Subaru. While Subaru was isekai’d to his new world with the powers of an ordinary person, bar his Return by Death ability, Ainz is basically a God. He can do just about anything, and commands an army of side characters that are all stronger than any of Ainz’s enemies. While the protagonists of both series are fairly dissimilar in their abilites,the worlds they live in are equally bleak, except Ainz is a little more responsible than most for the bleakness.
Ainz and Subaru are both trying to better understand the new worlds they find themselves in. With the help of their friends, they’re able to navigate their new lives as well, learning about the world they’re in, and their place in it. While their places in their worlds are different,their honest pursuit of their goals unites the two.
Erased
Erased is a Japanese anime series based on a manga by Kei Sanbe. The story follows Satoru Fujinuma, a young man with an ability known as “Revival,” which sends him back in time moments before a life-threatening incident to prevent it. After a personal tragedy, Satoru is sent back 18 years to his elementary school days to solve the mystery of a classmate’s disappearance and prevent future tragedies.
One ofRe:Zero’smost defining aspectsis its Return by Death ability.It’s a useful, albeit brutal, power that Subaru can use to rewrite the events that happen around him.Erasedis a similar series in concept. Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling mangaka trying to make ends meet in Japan when he gets a new ability called Revival. It allows Satoru to send his consciousness back in time to a moment right before a life-threatening incident, giving him the power to rewrite reality.
The show’s concepts are where they’re most similar.Erasedis a much more grounded series thanRe:Zero, asRe:Zerotakes place in an alternate world with magic, beast people, and some of the cutest demons in anime.Erasedis a much more realistic show that takes place in the late 1990s and early 2000s of Japan.
Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions
In Grimgar Ashes and Illusions, a group of strangers finds themselves in a picturesque but perilous fantasy world with no memories of their pasts. To survive, they must learn basic skills like fighting and magic as they become volunteer soldiers.
Grimgar, Ashes and Illusionsis one ofthe most realistic isekai series around.It takes a group of seemingly normal people and transports them to a new world without their knowledge, taking away their memories in the process. While other isekai series likeThe Eminence in Shadowdon’t have any real stakes thanks to the protagonist’s overwhelming strength,Grimgarcouldn’t be more serious. The characters aren’t trained, they’re scared, and they never asked to be subject to violence.
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LikeRe:Zero, Grimgar’scharacters are based in reality. Neither Subaru nor Haruhiro inGrimgarhave exceptional powers that will turn the tide of battle. Eventually, Haruhiro gets some nice powers, but his first few weeks in Grimgar are about as unforgiving as a new life can be.With the help of their friends, both sets of protagonists are able to overcome the challenges placed in front of them and work hard to live the life they want.
Berserk
Based on the manga series created by Kentaro Miura, Berserk was an action-fantasy series initially released in North America in 1997. The series acts as an adaptation of the first portion of the manga, covering the origins of Guts the Black Swordsman, a powerful warrior who joins a mercenary group known as The Band of the Hawk.
BerserkandRe:Zeroare two of thedarkest anime series in general.While their main characters handle their struggles much differently, they have much more in common than anyone would think. Both Subaru and Guts are fighting against near-Godlike entities. They’re both fighting to free their love interest from the powers that be, trying to create a free life on their own. While the Black Swordsman would rather fight his enemies head on, Subaru is no stranger to strategy.
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Guts hasn’t died numerous times like Subaru, but he’s been at death’s door more than once. BothBerserkandRe:Zeroareno strangers to gruesome momentsand use them to convey the dark themes of their shows effectively. Like most dark shows, Subaru and Guts rely on their friends to get through the toughest of times, and they’ll both do anything to protect them.
Steins;Gate (2011)
Steins;Gate follows Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist, and his friends as they accidentally discover a method of sending messages to the past. Set in Akihabara, Tokyo, the series explores the profound consequences of their time-manipulating experiments, blending science fiction with psychological thriller elements to reveal the impacts on their lives and relationships.
Steins; Gateis another time-traveling show with very dark themes that can pop up out of nowhere. Most ofSteins; Gate, likeRe:Zero, feels more like a Slice of Life series than the intimidating show it really is. Rintaro Okabe is a self-proclaimed mad scientist who makes up the people he’s supposedly working against, who later turn out to be real. One of the biggest plot points inSteins; Gateis very similar toRe:Zeroas well, as it involvesRintaro going back in time over-and-over againto prevent his friend’s death.
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Watching Mayuri die multiple times takes a toll on Rintaro,a toll Subaru fromRe:Zeroknows all too well.They’re both two kind-hearted, somewhat delusional protagonists who only want the best for their friends. Thanks to their time-travel abilities, they’re able to do what’s right for their companions, but they’ll have to go through hell to make it happen.
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- follows the story of Natsuki Subaru, a young man suddenly transported to a fantasy world. Struggling to understand his new environment, he discovers he has the ability to return from death, allowing him to change past events. With each resurrection, Subaru forges alliances and confronts the challenges of this alternate realm, endeavoring to protect those he grows to care for while unraveling the mysteries surrounding his predicament.
