The Glaring Problem I Have with Isekai (satire)

[LeilaniOtter]

I get it.

Going to another world, another realm, or dimension, or a planet, or some other fabled storybook land filled with fantasy dreams, desirable, scantily-clad aliens, monster girls, elves, humans and other creatures, whether it's a video game come to life, or a D&D campaign right before your eyes, (along with convenient statistics and character sheets), CAN be a lot of fun.

But what bothers me so much, no matter what I read or see in anime is how ACCEPTING everyone is with it.

The lives they knew are done, over, finished.

No more family, no more friends, no more TV, no more video games (unless you wind up in a video game), no more driving in a car, no more watching your favorite sport, no more job, no more career (well, unless you want a career as an adventurer and I really don't understand that either. Your only advancement is leveling up and what do you do when you've reached the last level?! Do you get to go home?), no more spouses, lovers, or sex-friends. (to be sure, you'll have plenty of these in your new environment; it never fails)

No more EARTH.

MCs in these isekai stories come into their new worlds (either summoned or reincarnated; there seems to be only two ways to GET into an isekai fantasy, (and I still don't get the summoning bit, really. if you're facing a terrible evil overcoming your kingdom, do you really want to get your savior from a backwoods planet like Earth anyway?)) and they just act like "Okay, wow, this is new. What should I do first?"

I don't know, cry my eyes out and panic and hyperventilate and wonder how I'm going to get back?! ?

The speed in which the isekai-ee melds with and positively accepts their new environment just doesn't make any sense to me. Maybe it's not supposed to, of course. Maybe the whole point is to make the reader/viewer feel horrible about their own lives and want this fabled one - but then that really doesn't sit right with me either. I've liked my life the last few years, and no fabled, storybook land or hot and sexy man-beast is going to change my mind. (A wolf-man-Viking POSSIBLY might get my attention)

I watch or read this zany fixated genre of fantasy nowadays on the off-chance that MAYBE, sometime, I'll see an MC who magically POPS! into a new world (summoned, or reincarnated) and instead of trying anything else like "adventuring" or killing things right off the bat, start making like Dorothy Gale and find a way to get the hell out!

It's not all that difficult a task, people. Already, a novel is brewing in my mind about a college-aged girl who winds up in this weird aquatic world and goes on a quest across the few islands there to seek a shaman who can bring her home. On her way, she could have many adventures that imitate an isekai adventuring lifestyle, having to kill things, or learn magic, meeting fantasy creatures who can help her, etc..

Yes, yes, it seems a lot like "The Wizard of Oz" but come on, admit it.

It's certainly a well-loved isekai. ??

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

No more family, no more friends, no more TV, no more video games (unless you wind up in a video game), no more driving in a car, no more watching your favorite sport, no more job, no more career (well, unless you want a career as an adventurer and I really don't understand that either. Your only advancement is leveling up and what do you do when you've reached the last level?! Do you get to go home?), no more spouses, lovers, or sex-friends. (to be sure, you'll have plenty of these in your new environment; it never fails)

No more EARTH.

Not gonna lie, as someone who attempted suicide multiple times, the appeal of starting all over again is great for me, even if it's just fiction.

I don't know, cry my eyes out and panic and hyperventilate and wonder how I'm going to get back?! ?

I prolly won't. I wanna get out of Earth. lol

 

[ArcadiaBlade]

I always feel that the most unrealistic thing about Isekai isn't just the acceptance of being isekaied itself, its about how the people being sent there, didn't immediately start pulling up their phones like a goddamned normal modern person.

Like, the moment I don't notice my phone next to me, I would immediately panicked the hell since we are so used to being pampered by 'convenient pocket knowledge(internet)' that being blind in an unknown world and didn't immediately search the hell outta google for questions about the lack of knowledge of being in another place didn't give off the first questions about being sent to another place.

Authors often forgot the basic common knowledge that an average person ISN'T built like a library the moment he is sent there. They often 'think' that how to farm or how to medicine, people would know about everything just because of prior knowledge. Plus their so called 'Modern' knowledge might get them confused since sometimes, the other world might not even register the 'Science' of the other world(basically different world systems).

 

[Fallion]

Most of the problems are most certainly glossed over, but honestly you severely underestimate how many people, especially the type to read these stories that would enjoy leaving their lives behind. Also, there are a lot of stories where they in fact do have trouble with them but where it's only an occasional mention because it's quite frankly not a very fun read to have multiple pages of a MC with some sort of existential dread.
Some stories circumnavigate around that part by starting some time after the MC arrived in that world and others do it by explaining that some sort of calming spell was cast on them to let them adjust better.

Also, the summoning "heroes" from Earth is usually justified either with Earth humans somehow being more talented or getting a blessing from a god/goddess during the summoning and many of the usual mental issues are explained away by stating that the summoning circle/god/goddess picks those most suitable to be summoned.

And if you're reincarnated and not summoned you'd have plenty of time to adjust considering you can't do much else but think the first year of your new life as a baby.

I always feel that the most unrealistic thing about Isekai isn't just the acceptance of being isekaied itself, its about how the people being sent there, didn't immediately start pulling up their phones like a goddamned normal modern person.

Like, the moment I don't notice my phone next to me, I would immediately panicked the hell since we are so used to being pampered by 'convenient pocket knowledge(internet)' that being blind in an unknown world and didn't immediately search the hell outta google for questions about the lack of knowledge of being in another place didn't give off the first questions about being sent to another place.

Authors often forgot the basic common knowledge that an average person ISN'T built like a library the moment he is sent there. They often 'think' that how to farm or how to medicine, people would know about everything just because of prior knowledge. Plus their so called 'Modern' knowledge might get them confused since sometimes, the other world might not even register the 'Science' of the other world(basically different world systems).

I definitely agree on the authors (specifically Japanese ones) being way too quick to make the MC a walking encyclopedia, but if you panic from not having your phone next to you for a couple days you should honestly try to do something about that. Try to go camping with a satellite phone or something where all it can do is call, you'll have the safety of quick access to help without constantly being hounded by social media and so on. It's not healthy constantly carrying around all of our lives and stress in our pockets.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I always feel that the most unrealistic thing about Isekai isn't just the acceptance of being isekaied itself, its about how the people being sent there, didn't immediately start pulling up their phones like a goddamned normal modern person.

Like, the moment I don't notice my phone next to me, I would immediately panicked the hell since we are so used to being pampered by 'convenient pocket knowledge(internet)' that being blind in an unknown world and didn't immediately search the hell outta google for questions about the lack of knowledge of being in another place didn't give off the first questions about being sent to another place.

Authors often forgot the basic common knowledge that an average person ISN'T built like a library the moment he is sent there. They often 'think' that how to farm or how to medicine, people would know about everything just because of prior knowledge. Plus their so called 'Modern' knowledge might get them confused since sometimes, the other world might not even register the 'Science' of the other world(basically different world systems).

Actually, wait, I do recall an anime isekai where someone pulled up his cell phone and was "magically" able to access Earth's literature and history to win battles. I can't recall the title but it must have been that forgettable lol.

 

[Senx1l]

I get it.

Going to another world, another realm, or dimension, or a planet, or some other fabled storybook land filled with fantasy dreams, desirable, scantily-clad aliens, monster girls, elves, humans and other creatures, whether it's a video game come to life, or a D&D campaign right before your eyes, (along with convenient statistics and character sheets), CAN be a lot of fun.

But what bothers me so much, no matter what I read or see in anime is how ACCEPTING everyone is with it.

The lives they knew are done, over, finished.

No more family, no more friends, no more TV, no more video games (unless you wind up in a video game), no more driving in a car, no more watching your favorite sport, no more job, no more career (well, unless you want a career as an adventurer and I really don't understand that either. Your only advancement is leveling up and what do you do when you've reached the last level?! Do you get to go home?), no more spouses, lovers, or sex-friends. (to be sure, you'll have plenty of these in your new environment; it never fails)

No more EARTH.

MCs in these isekai stories come into their new worlds (either summoned or reincarnated; there seems to be only two ways to GET into an isekai fantasy, (and I still don't get the summoning bit, really. if you're facing a terrible evil overcoming your kingdom, do you really want to get your savior from a backwoods planet like Earth anyway?)) and they just act like "Okay, wow, this is new. What should I do first?"

I don't know, cry my eyes out and panic and hyperventilate and wonder how I'm going to get back?! ?

The speed in which the isekai-ee melds with and positively accepts their new environment just doesn't make any sense to me. Maybe it's not supposed to, of course. Maybe the whole point is to make the reader/viewer feel horrible about their own lives and want this fabled one - but then that really doesn't sit right with me either. I've liked my life the last few years, and no fabled, storybook land or hot and sexy man-beast is going to change my mind. (A wolf-man-Viking POSSIBLY might get my attention)

I watch or read this zany fixated genre of fantasy nowadays on the off-chance that MAYBE, sometime, I'll see an MC who magically POPS! into a new world (summoned, or reincarnated) and instead of trying anything else like "adventuring" or killing things right off the bat, start making like Dorothy Gale and find a way to get the hell out!

It's not all that difficult a task, people. Already, a novel is brewing in my mind about a college-aged girl who winds up in this weird aquatic world and goes on a quest across the few islands there to seek a shaman who can bring her home. On her way, she could have many adventures that imitate an isekai adventuring lifestyle, having to kill things, or learn magic, meeting fantasy creatures who can help her, etc..

Yes, yes, it seems a lot like "The Wizard of Oz" but come on, admit it.

It's certainly a well-loved isekai. ??

I think it’s just because most people do fantasize about leaving their home behind on earth and going to another world which is mainly fictional (I happen to be one of them lol). You also to consider if the people in the story are a common consumer of the Isekai genre. If they are it’s almost always a 100% chance they revel in the thought of being reincarnated/reborn in a different world.

One manhwa I think does this brilliantly in the way you mentioned it is … (I forgot the name). A reader of a certain story is placed into the body of a villainess, cool stuff, right? No. She’s miserable and it’s always made a point that she wants to go back home. So that’s what she strives for. she cuts off the marriage with the scum prince and moves on. She eventually does figure out a way to go back home and that is.. to die. So she spends time frequently trying to kill herself and eventually it works with the help of Anakin, her body guard. She goes back home to her family and her bodyguard even gets sent back with her?? I didn’t really understand this part but it was cute in a way.

The point is only authors who want to make it a point where the reader doesn’t accept the new world, new people, and above all new family is only if that author is aiming for the story to go that way. Most Author’s only cater to the stereotypical isekai story is because it works, almost always works, or it’s their fantasy they want to act out in their work.

Theres also this one story, Murim Login, where the MC is placed into another persons body but they don’t lose their body. As long as they wake up and/or log out they can reside in their body again. It’s a fun Manhwa of mines I check in on every once in a while.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

One manhwa I think does this brilliantly in the way you mentioned it is … (I forgot the name). A reader of a certain story is placed into the body of a villainess, cool stuff, right? No. She’s miserable and it’s always made a point that she wants to go back home. So that’s what she strives for. she cuts off the marriage with the scum prince and moves on. She eventually does figure out a way to go back home and that is.. to die. So she spends time frequently trying to kill herself and eventually it works with the help of Anakin, her body guard. She goes back home to her family and her bodyguard even gets sent back with her?? I didn’t really understand this part but it was cute in a way.

igh, I know that story. I can't remember the title either. There's at least 10 "villainess" titles that popped up on a Google search. lol

 

[beast_regards]

Not all isekai protagonists are comfortable with their new assignment.

There are quite a few protagonists which are annoyed by the new world and want to go back, even in anime and manga, and do so despite the fact he magical world they found themselves in works in their favour.

Of course, there are just as many who embrace their new life, fully and without regret.

However, audience of the web novels, like ones found on Scribble Hub and Royal Road, have quite a love-hate relationship with the anime, or rather the trope they embody.

They also like the protagonist to do something, and do something fast, before they (the audience) change the accounts to down vote the story.

Feelings usually stand in the way of executing the plot.

Enter the "smart protagonist". He is not there for the harem of cat-girls of questionable age, and he is not here to bemoan the loss of plumbing or microwave heated dishes. He is there to execute the plot, and he will do it fast, dashing through it all as the Dark Soul player, dodging danger and collecting power-ups like he has a guide. Because he probably does. The "smart protagonist" are the types who throw themselves down the skyscraper because they know that exactly 11.2 seconds before hitting the pavement they would collide with teleporting meteor that gives them superpower to survive the fall, and do it 20 times over with perfect precision. One would call this perfect precognition, but on this site (and that another) they call it "smart". With this level of foresight, they probably knew they were going to be isekai'd anyway, and made arrangements.

 

[Senx1l]

igh, I know that story. I can't remember the title either. There's at least 10 "villainess" titles that popped up on a Google search. lol

Something along, “the villainess wants to die” or “kill the villainess”. I’ve consumed WAY tm of those types of stories so I usually get the titles mixed up. It’s either of those

Actually, wait, I do recall an anime isekai where someone pulled up his cell phone and was "magically" able to access Earth's literature and history to win battles. I can't recall the title but it must have been that forgettable lol.

If what ur talking about I think I know it. This dudes able to have his phone in the world. But generally that anime followed the stereotypical isekai tropes of him just basically accepting the new world since he spoke to god and got hitched a deal (him being able to keep his cellphone). And him basically have a harem and marrying a 12 year-old thats weirdly justified by it being okay by that worlds standards. But aye Mushoku Tensei did the same thing (cue the awkward pedo noises).

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Something along, “the villainess wants to die” or “kill the villainess”. I’ve consumed WAY tm of those types of stories so I usually get the titles mixed up. It’s either of those

If what ur talking about I think I know it. This dudes able to have his phone in the world. But generally that anime followed the stereotypical isekai tropes of him just basically accepting the new world since he spoke to god and got hitched a deal (him being able to keep his cellphone). And him basically have a harem and marrying a 12 year-old thats weirdly justified by it being okay by that worlds standards. But aye Mushoku Tensei did the same thing (cue the awkward pedo noises).

If I could choose a favorite isekai that actually made me smile, it would have to be "I Love My Mother and her Double-Damage Attacks" or something like that, where a boy is thrust into a gaming world and his mother goes with him. It's hilarious, zany, and actually makes us think a lot about motherhood. ?

 

[Senx1l]

If I could choose a favorite isekai that actually made me smile, it would have to be "I Love My Mother and her Double-Damage Attacks" or something like that, where a boy is thrust into a gaming world and his mother goes with him. It's hilarious, zany, and actually makes us think a lot about motherhood. ?

Is it an anime, manga, or a story on sh? Sounds extremely tame for the average isekai story.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Is it an anime, manga, or a story on sh? Sounds extremely tame for the average isekai story.

I saw it as anime, but I'm pretty sure it's a manga also.

Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I don;t mind tame. =P

 

[Senx1l]

I saw it as anime, but I'm pretty sure it's a manga also.

Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I don;t mind tame. =P

Felt like the title was mad familiar and it was, I have it in my “anime’s to watch” list. Since it’s confronted me again I might as well stop making excuses and watch it already. ;)

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Felt like the title was mad familiar and it was, I have it in my “anime’s to watch” list. Since it’s confronted me again I might as well stop making excuses and watch it already. ;)

??
Go for it! I thought ti was the 'dorbz. ?

 

[Fox-Trot-9]

Yes, yes, it seems a lot like "The Wizard of Oz" but come on, admit it.

It's certainly a well-loved isekai. ??

Yaaaaaaas! It's one of the greatest isekais of all time.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Yaaaaaaas! It's one of the greatest isekais of all time.

I think it pretty much set the standard for isekai that followed. I mean, I'm trying to wrap my head around what was an older book with that type of stroyline, and it's not coming to me. ?

 

[Fox-Trot-9]

I think it pretty much set the standard for isekai that followed. I mean, I'm trying to wrap my head around what was an older book with that type of stroyline, and it's not coming to me. ?

The only other ones I could think of are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll. Besides those, there's Guliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift and The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. These are the only ones I can think of that precede Baum's Oz books.

 

[EphemeralEmperor]

Well yeah, but people who watch isekai aren't really looking for that realism of humanity, its mostly a fulfillment of what-if? Would improve the genre as a whole if they added that though. Very few of the isekai I have read or watched have stuck because of that glaring hole