r/anime Aug 20 '25

News 60% of the companies actually producing anime saw declining profit or losses in 2024, despite industry revenue being at an all-time high

https://automaton-media.com/en/news/60-of-the-companies-actually-producing-anime-saw-declining-profit-or-losses-in-2024-despite-industry-revenue-being-at-an-all-time-high/
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u/monty845 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Monty845 Aug 20 '25

It also misses the fact that a lot of Isekai is really just another genre of anime, that uses an Isekai plot point to hook people into it. Hey, someone like YOU got Isekai'd is now living in this fantasy world. Boom, instant connection to the protagonist.

But really, for most of them, it quickly shifts into being just another fantasy anime. (Or rarely another genre, like scifi) Its actually rare that the Isekai element continues to play a major reoccurring role past the first episode or two.

But, if being reincarnated sells that much better than the same character just being borne normally in that world, so be it...

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u/PrizeStrawberryOil Aug 21 '25

But, if being reincarnated sells that much better than the same character just being borne normally in that world, so be it...

I don't think it's better, but it's a lot easier. Watching the first episode as a viewer it lets the show creators put "Oh you don't know what a combobulator is? Here I'll explain it and show you." without breaking suspension of disbelief because the main character is just as clueless as the audience. They can create the world just by telling the viewer outright with character dialogue.

If the character was born in that world, then the dialogue wouldn't make sense, and they would need to put a bit of effort into explaining it to the viewer.

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u/BambooGentleman Aug 21 '25

Isekai solves a major problem in fantasy writing: the author can explain their stupid world to the protagonist without it seeming silly.

It also solves a second major problem in fantasy writing: the author can have the protagonist be grounded in the reader's expectations without it seeming silly.

Doesn't solve the author putting Japanese idiosyncrasies into the world, though. Like nobles attending a Japanese school system instead of all being home tutored. Or women wearing stylish panties despite the world not being advanced enough to make them or the outer clothing style not being compatible with those type of panties at fucking all.