Isekai animehave become inescapable.Sword Art Online,Overlord,Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, andKonoSubaare just a handful of the shows that cemented the subgenre as a staple in the industry. The core premise of someone being whisked to a fantasy world to start anew is innately intriguing and leaves a lot of room for creators to play around with unique settings, quirky characters, and tones.
A human beingsent to an MMOis pretty common, but the same cannot quite be said for the direct opposite. Reverse isekai involves a character from another world coming to Earth, and while these anime are not impossible to find, they make up a tiny portion of the overall isekai genre. From the ones that fit the bill, which are thebest reverse isekai anime?
A few points worth noting:
Updated June 19, 2025 by Mark Sammut:TheSpring 2025 anime seasonis underway, but does it have areverse isekai anime?
Does Spring 2025 Have Any Reverse Isekai Anime?
Spring 2025 is underway, and the season has far fewer isekai anime than usual. The lineup’s only reverse isekai isYandere Dark Elf: She Chased Me All the Way From Another World!, which is a 100% adult show similar toPlus-Sized Elf!Available on HIDIVE, the series follows a hero after he completes his isekai adventure and goes back to Earth. While attempting to return to normal, Hinata is soon visited by Mariabelle, a yandere elf who very much wants to keep her love nearby.
Except for the absolutely biggest shows from the era, most early 2000s anime have been largely forgotten to time, andMirmo Zibang!is a prime example. This anime lasted for over 150 episodes, producing four seasons across a three-year span. Kaede is a likable girl who is desperately in love with a boy who doesn’t particularly notice her.
Long story short, Kaede winds up summoning a fairy, Mirumo, from another world. While Mirumo is meant to help Kaede find love, the fairy is way more interested in wasting time while making sure he stays as far away from his fiance as possible.Mirmo Zibang!isn’t anything to write home about, but it is a cute, lighthearted anime with mostly enjoyable characters. The type of show that works well as a distraction.
Sasaki and Peepsthrows everything at the wall to see what sticks, and while not everything works, the ride is certainly entertaining. The story has a talking bird, magical girls, a secret government organization, a world-hopping protagonist, and supernatural powers.
Sasaki, a fairly ordinary office worker, decides to adopt a Java Sparrow to add some spice to his life, and this decision ends up paying off in a far bigger way than expected. Pii-chan, the bird in question, is a reincarnated sage from another world, and he grants Sasaki the ability to visit his homeland. While there, the protagonist finds success by selling items and gradually develops magical powers, although he also gets involved in a war. Sasaki also spends plenty of time back on Earth, and he winds up being recruited by an organization that targets people with supernatural abilities.
Sasaki and Peepsis constantly on the verge of reaching diminishing returns due to its penchant for blending themes and general wackiness; however, the anime just about manages to stay on the acceptable side of unpredictability. While perhaps not a traditional example of the concept, the story’s ridiculousness is triggered through a character who has beenreverse isekai’d, and Pii-chan is as central of a figure as Sasaki.
Severalreverse isekai animestart with a human summoning a being from another world, usually to ask for some assistance. So, in terms of premise,Dropkick On My Devil!is about as predictable as they come; however, the show is anything but typical.
Dropkick On My Devil!is a slapstick comedy that generally involves Yurine, a human, deep-frying Jashin-chan, a demon, in quite graphic displays of violence. It’s gloriously over-the-top, and the anime also expands its cast to include other mythological beings. Although repetitive at times,Dropkick On My Devil!works well as an unhinged alternative to an anime likeGabriel Dropout. At times, Jashin and Yurine’s routine feels like something from an old Warner Bros cartoon or something likeTom and Jerry, which is a positive comparison.
An OVA series that came out in 2006 and 2007,Magical Witch Punie-Chanis a parody of, as its name suggests, themagical girl genre. Inline to rule Magical Land, Punie heads off to spend a year in Japan, enrolling in a high school in the process.
Punie might seem like an angel at first glance but the magical witch has a temper, and she does not hesitate to get gleefully violent when necessary.Magical Witch Punie-Chanis a short and funny anime, even if it generally reuses the same punchline a bit too often.
Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!is also a special case since it qualifies as both a traditional and reverse isekai. When he sleeps, Kazuhiro visits a medieval-style fantasy world filled with elves, monsters, and dragons. Despite having this ability since childhood, he never thought these trips were anything more than elaborate dreams; however, that changes when he dies while touching an elf named Mariabelle. When he wakes up, he discovers that she has made the return trip with him.
Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!is pleasant, exclusively due to Marie. The elf’s enthusiasm for Japanese culture is infectious, and her excursions have a delightful slice-of-life tone. Episodes are split evenly into sections set on Earth and in the fantasy world, with both of them opting for a slow-life rhythm. While watchable, the latter sequences are pretty typical for the genre, especially since the world is quite nondescript. Conversely, the sequences on Earth are fantastic and wholesome, and they allow Marie to shine.
Otaku Elfis awholesome animeabout a shrine maiden and an immortal being. Hundreds of years prior to the story’s commencement, Elda was summoned to Earth, where she grew to be seen as something of a goddess due to her immortality. Living at Takamimi Shrine, the elf is taken care of by the Koganei family, with a new shrine maiden taking charge when she turns 16 years old. Koito has just assumed this responsibility, and while she finds some of Elda’s eccentricities frustrating, the teenager cares about her charge. Also, as the show’s title suggests, Elda is heavily into otaku culture, and she also generally tries to avoid interacting with people as much as possible.
Otaku Elfis a slice of life that just happens to be built upon a reverse isekai situation, although Elda has been on Earth for so long that she is almost fully acclimatized to her new home. The anime still has a fish-out-of-water element, but it primarily stems from the elf’s reluctance to leave her shrine rather than her world-traveling origins. Although not the most existing show out there,Otaku Elfis relaxing and charming.
Although not as inescapable as some other battle shonen properties,Zatch Bell!was quite popular during its initial run. The anime holds up reasonably well too, provided a viewer enjoys these types of shows. Unbeknownst to humans, the Mamodo world exists alongside Earth. Every so often, this realm sends over a couple of its strongest fighters to Earth so they can take part in a tournament to determine their world’s next ruler. To compete, they must partner up with a human who will be granted a book with the Mamodo’s spells.
Zatch Bell is one such candidate, and he winds up teaming with the reluctant Kiya.Zatch Bell!follows an enemy of the week format during its opening chapters, before eventually expanding into longer arcs. Packed with humor and battles, the series does a solid job of balancing comedy and action.
While overshadowed by another anime with a similar premise that came out a year before it,Isekai Izakaya: Japanese Food From Another Worldis nevertheless an intriguing take on the reverse isekai formula. The anime centers around a restaurant that welcomes guests from other worlds, and the focus is chiefly on the food.
With no action or tension,Isekai Izakayais a delightful and relaxing fantasy show with likable characters, gorgeous meals, and a chipper attitude. The episodes are also on the short side, so this is a pretty quick watch that can provide a relaxing escape from reality. Although not ignoring its characters, this anime is first-and-foremost about Japanese food, and it will make viewers hungry.
Released through Netflix,Kuromukurohas robots, aliens, and pretty good animation. Following the discovery of a dormant giant robot, humanity built a research center that eventually constructed afew mecha. As it so happens, these mecha prove to be valuable when alien ogres attack Earth. Also, the main character is a samurai who travels hundreds of years into the future through a cube.
Kuromukurois an entertaining action show that incorporates plenty of anime conventions in satisfying ways. At 26 episodes, it does feel a touch stretched at times, but the content is of high quality.
Even if they are largely seen as their own thing, plenty of magical girl anime are essentially reverse isekai.Ultra ManiacandMagical Girl Lyrical Nanohaboth have reverse isekai elements, but the best of the bunch isSugar Sugar Rune. Aclassic 2000s show, this anime follows two witches competing for the Witch World’s throne.
In order to pick a winner, they head to Earth and engage in a contest to see who can collect more human hearts. Rather than action, this shoujo series focuses primarily on the friendship between the two leads, Chocolat and Vanilla, and some romance. Clever, hilarious, and featuring a great art style,Sugar Sugar Runeis a blast.
