The popularity of isekai shows is pretty much a meme at this point among the anime community online. Memes aside, isekai anime continue to be popular in 2022 according to a recent study.
As spotted by Twitter user @kiirobon, there are three times as many isekai anime in 2022 as compared to 2022. This is based on findings in Newtype, a Japanese magazine that specializes in anime.
The info was shared online by ryokutya2089, and it features specific data on the number of isekai anime in different years.
Back in 2012, there were a total of 189 anime releases, and 7 of these were isekai shows. This means that 4% of the anime in 2012 were isekai.
Meanwhile, 2017 saw a dip, with only 5 out of the year’s 243 anime being isekai. That’s only 2%.
But in 2022, 25 out of 211 anime in the first half of 2022 are isekai shows – that’s 12% of the year’s shows so far.
While it’s interesting to see a dip in 2017, it’s clear that the genre is enjoying a high level of popularity.
The anime that arguably kicked off the genre’s rise is Sword Art Online which was released back in 2012.
Since then, we’ve seen lots of anime in the same genre, including shows such as Log Horizon, Re:Zero, KonoSuba, Overlord, and Isekai Ojisan.
Given the increasing number of iskeai anime being released, it wouldn’t be surprising to see even more shows in the same genre next year.
So, why is the genre so popular? While there’s no definitive answer, some fans have theorized that the genre is more relatable to viewers. This is because having a main character from the real world is easier to relate to compared to a fantasy character.
Having a character be transported into a mysterious world can also add a mystery element to the series, not to mention instantly high stakes.
Related: The 10 Best Isekai Anime Coming Out in 2022
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