Anime enthusiasts are known for their discerning tastes, often making up some of the most critical fan communities in television history. In recent times, the isekai genre has found itself at the center of an increasingly vocal wave of criticism, receiving more backlash than it arguably warrants.

By contrast, the shonen anime genre largely escapes such scrutiny, despite having its share of lackluster series. The intense dislike aimed at isekai seems disproportionate when compared to the unearned praise frequently heaped upon shonen anime.

Even with the popularity of shows like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and Mushoku Tensei, the modern anime community has seen a troubling rise in disdain for isekai. Once celebrated for its fresh spin on fantasy-inspired storytelling, the genre now faces relentless criticism from exacting fans. New entries like My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s are often rebuked simply for existing. Across various online platforms where anime aficionados congregate, isekai is frequently lambasted for its reliance on repetitive tropes, such as overpowered heroes and power fantasy narratives, which have become synonymous with the genre itself.

Hating Isekai Anime Suddenly Got Popular

Despite the success of series like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and Mushoku Tensei, one of the latest and most negative trends in the modern anime community is the hate for the isekai genre. What was once seen as a unique take on anime inspired by the fantasy genre has fallen victim to the merciless scrutiny of picky anime fans, eager to criticize any new isekai anime like My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s simply for daring to exist. Across social media and social media-adjacent places where anime fans gather, isekai anime is consistently criticized for repetitive formulas that include overplayed tropes like overpowered protagonists and power fantasy formulas that have essentially become narrative pillars for the genre.

As other anime genres gain more popularity, there’s little room left to appreciate the isekai genre’s presence in the realm of pop culture amid increasingly popular criticisms. The surge of hate for isekai anime feels baseless, almost as if some anime fans just want to be part of the latest trend. Anime is no stranger to intense or powerful debates over trivial questions like who’s the strongest, which anime is the best, and who deserves to be called the best girl of a series. However, there’s surprisingly little pushback against the isekai anime hate that’s become generally accepted — and perpetrated — by anime fans.

There’s little offered to defend why hating isekai anime is such a popular act. Personal taste in pop culture is completely subjective, though it’s astounding that the anime community unites to a significant degree over disliking a certain subset of anime. For some, it may position them to have a more sophisticated or socially acceptable taste in anime, though overlooking isekai anime’s contribution to how anime has become mainstream as a whole feels a bit hypocritical. Isekai anime can rightfully be criticized for its uninspired storytelling and inability to move past conventional tropes, yet nothing about the genre has given way to a reason for it to be so hated online.

Bad Shonen Anime is Worse Than Generic Isekai Anime

For all the praise and adoration shonen anime gets, from the Big Three to so-called modern masterpieces from series like My Hero Academia to the newest films from Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man, it’s wise to remember that not all shonen anime are created equally. Even the “best” shonen anime still suffer from avoidable issues, but bad shonen is often worse than even the most generic isekai anime. While isekai anime’s reputation has dulled down the genre to look and feel a certain way, the specific type of anime can still play to its strengths, even at its most predictable.

Isekai anime is so comfortable with itself that its sameness pleases even fans. As a result, there’s little room to deviate from these expectations, meaning that disappointment or underperformance isn’t a greater risk than being generic. Shonen anime relies on emotional storytelling and character-driven narratives to keep itself successful and engaging. This dire need for shonen anime to pair a nuanced plot with flawless animation and mesmerizing voice acting means that not all will be inherently good and are doomed to subject themselves to greater scrutiny if they cannot surpass increasingly high expectations.

Generic isekai has been looked down upon due to its stagnation, but perhaps opting for an aggressively mid anime is more worthwhile than having to power through an excruciatingly bad shonen anime series. Anime fans aren’t dragging themselves through hollow filler arcs or wading through an intense story that wants to be smarter than it actually is. The worst shonen anime series have been more challenging to defend online, making it increasingly obvious that not all shonen anime are created equally. However, with a middling shonen anime, it’s easier to sit through a boring 12-episode run and walk away without the need to forever dissect its flaws on a granular level. Bad isekai anime are incredibly easy to dismiss, while bad shonen anime are truly heartbreaking for some fans.

Fans Keep Failing to Criticize Shonen Anime Honestly

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Despite how frequently shonen anime fans attack the isekai genre, anime fans cannot fully critique shonen anime to an honest extent. There’s the denial that even the most middling shonen anime must be adored on an international level. The cultural dominance of shonen anime doesn’t shield it from being forced to face its faults, though shonen anime fans are a bit more hesitant to admit that their favorite genre deserves to be criticized to the same extent as isekai anime.

One Piece and Dragon Ball have been idolized as groundbreaking series, yet even these so-called shonen anime masterpieces still have their faults. Most shonen aren’t as great as the internet wants to insist upon them being. Nostalgia can easily blind shonen anime fans, making it hard not to defend fan-favorite series despite their flaws. For as much hate as isekai anime gets, it’s beyond time for fans to hold shonen anime accountable for its shortcomings.