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vole

People who like Iseleve or similar anime, please help me understand the appeal (self.anime)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by drunkensailor to c/anime

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I've tried a few eps of Iseleve and while I like the basic premise of two worlds, a down-to-earth nice guy inheriting a legacy, rpg/fantasy elements, etc and harem/ecchi stuff doesn't bother me at all...

The part I can't get into is the overwhelming OP-ness of it. No, I think I'm doing a bad job describing what it is that is bothering me... I have watched and liked plenty of things with OP characters like One Punch Man, Mob Psycho, (old) Bleach and read a fair number of light novels with OP chars like Mushoku Tensei, Everyone Else Is a Returnee (Korean), Stop! - Friendly Fire (Korean), as well as plenty of wuxia/xianxia stuff...

I think what I don't like is that is feels like the MC is literally handed everything and there is no challenge whatsoever; for me it feels a bit like a story-on-rails feeling and I don't feel really connected to any of the characters, as if they are just cookie-cutter templates with no depth or personality.

I think there have been a few anime over the last couple of years with a similar feel (there was one about a Demon King reincarnated at a school or something I can't remember the name... maybe it was this one?) and a few other isekai's.

So for you guys that like this kind of thing - I'm sorry if I'm coming off as a bit negative towards it, I honestly am not trying to shit in your cup of tea - but any insight into the appeal would be appreciated.

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[–] vole 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not a huge fan of Iseleve, but I found enjoyment in it. For me it was a bit like watching a campy movie for fun, part of the fun was very much jeering at it with others. Everything is so over the top and absolutely ridiculous. Some parts are bananas, but not once does the show acknowledge its ridiculousness -- it plays everything completely straight faced. It made me wonder: was it written this way because the author thought this Mary Sue would be super cool, or was it written this way because the author wanted to absolutely abuse a few tropes to the furthest extent that he possibly can. I don't know what the truth is, it may be a mixed bag, either way the end product is fascinating to watch.

To enjoy the show, I think you probably also have to enjoy the Mary Sue & wish-fulfillment aspect to some extent. There's just too much of it to ignore or jeer at all of it.

I think what I don’t like is that is feels like the MC is literally handed everything and there is no challenge whatsoever; for me it feels a bit like a story-on-rails feeling and I don’t feel really connected to any of the characters, as if they are just cookie-cutter templates with no depth or personality.

Absolutely, this show has little nuance. The characters don't feel like real people. The plot and character development is asinine. The visuals were actually OK, there were a few pretty scenes.

I think the top review on MAL is worth a read if you haven't read it yet https://myanimelist.net/reviews.php?id=490093 ... Though be warned, that review may be more interesting than the show itself.

[–] drunkensailor 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Thanks.

For me it was a bit like watching a campy movie for fun, part of the fun was very much jeering at it with others.

Hadn't consider this aspect. I usually just watch anime solo and purely for enjoyment of the story.

To enjoy the show, I think you probably also have to enjoy the Mary Sue & wish-fulfillment aspect to some extent.

Yeah, that doesn't really describe me that much. I'm fine with OP characters but if there isn't some challenge, some character development... or at least some obvious comedy / "plot" going on, then I tend to lose interest pretty fast.

Binged Yuusha ga Shinda after this which was more of the comedy and "plot" than anything but that was much more up my alley. But even just watching only 1 other anime since then, I feel like I can barely even remember Iseleve at this point, despite having finished out the season only a few days ago... like I honestly had to reread my OP just to draw up enough to remember it at all. I suspect I will have completely forgotten it by the end of the month.

[–] Eatsuki 2 points 1 year ago

I think this stuff just falls into the anime industry thinking they need to have more and more shows every season. It seems like they either take some half baked idea and crank out a show, or they remove all the nuance from something interesting to make it easily digestible. I have noticed a trend of that recently, and I'm really not sure which it is. I watch a LOT of anime (30+ currently airing shows a season) and I may just be more sensitive to it, but the amount of shows that have an interesting premise, and then just turn into "Wise Man's Grandchild" are a lot more than you'd expect. Another one from this season is Sweet Reincarnation, where a pastry chef died and is reincarnated into a wealthy family with a dream to make everyone happy with desserts, but as a 9 year old kid, he's a master negotiator, able to lead in battle, and amazes everyone he meets with his skills and magic. It kinda defeats the purpose of the setup IMO.

I enjoyed the show ok while it aired, but like you I will probably not really remember it after this upcoming season. I am an admitted sucker for isekai trash, so I'll continue watching them, but the trend is concerning for sure.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I wonder if the appeal in this regard may be similar to that of Bofuri, which also has a premise wherein the main character is ridiculously overpowered. In Bofuri, this is played for laughs, with the main character gaining an increasing collection of ridiculously overpowered abilities and everyone else generally going "WTF" at this.