The Best Anime from 2016 to 2020: How the Isekai Plague Spread Like Wildfire Through Japanese Animation

Just a decade ago, fans of Japanese animation could never have imagined the dramatic transformation that was about to sweep through their beloved medium. What started as a promising narrative device quickly evolved into what many critics and longtime enthusiasts have come to call an epidemic — the seemingly unstoppable rise of isekai anime that would fundamentally reshape the industry’s creative landscape between 2016 and 2020.

The term “isekai,” which literally translates to “another world” in Japanese, describes stories where protagonists are transported, reincarnated, or otherwise displaced into parallel universes, fantasy realms, or video game-like worlds. While the concept itself wasn’t new — classic works like “Spirited Away” and “The Vision of Escaflowne” had explored similar themes decades earlier — the mid-2010s witnessed an unprecedented explosion of this genre that would come to dominate seasonal anime releases. The catalyst for this phenomenon can be traced back to the massive success of “Sword Art Online” in 2012, which demonstrated the commercial viability of combining gaming mechanics with fantasy world-building.

Between 2016 and 2020, the anime industry experienced what many consider both a golden age and a period of creative stagnation. On one hand, production values reached new heights, streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix invested heavily in anime content, and the global audience for Japanese animation expanded dramatically. On the other hand, the sheer volume of isekai productions began to crowd out other genres, with each new season bringing dozens of titles featuring protagonists being hit by trucks, falling into wells, or simply waking up in medieval fantasy settings with overpowered abilities. Industry analysts estimated that by 2019, isekai-themed light novels and their anime adaptations accounted for nearly 40% of all new fantasy anime productions.

Despite the overwhelming flood of formulaic isekai content, this era did produce genuinely innovative and critically acclaimed works within the genre. “Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World” (2016) subverted expectations by presenting a genuinely vulnerable protagonist whose ability to return from death became a source of psychological trauma rather than empowerment. “Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!” offered a comedic deconstruction of isekai tropes, while “The Rising of the Shield Hero” (2019) explored themes of betrayal and social ostracism. These standout titles demonstrated that even within an oversaturated market, creative storytelling could still flourish when writers approached familiar conventions with fresh perspectives.

The proliferation of isekai anime during this period was largely driven by the economics of the light novel industry in Japan. Publishers discovered that isekai stories consistently performed well on web novel platforms like “Shōsetsuka ni Narō” (Let’s Become Novelists), where amateur writers could publish their work and gauge reader interest before pursuing official publication. The success of titles like “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” and “Overlord,” which both originated from web novels, created a template that countless aspiring authors attempted to replicate. Animation studios, eager to capitalize on pre-existing fanbases and proven commercial appeal, increasingly turned to these light novel adaptations rather than investing in original projects with uncertain returns.

Beyond isekai, the 2016-2020 period still managed to produce remarkable anime across various genres that reminded audiences of the medium’s creative potential. “My Hero Academia” reinvigorated the superhero genre with its earnest exploration of heroism and perseverance. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” became a cultural phenomenon with its breathtaking animation and emotional storytelling. “Mob Psycho 100” delivered thoughtful commentary on self-improvement and human connection, while “Violet Evergarden” showcased the artistic heights anime could achieve through its stunning visual craftsmanship. These titles proved that quality and originality could still capture massive audiences, even amid the isekai deluge.

As the decade drew to a close, industry observers began questioning whether the isekai trend showed any signs of abating. The answer, unfortunately for those hoping for diversification, appeared to be no. Production committees continued greenlighting isekai adaptations at an unprecedented rate, and the pipeline of source material from web novels showed no signs of slowing. However, there were glimmers of hope as some studios began experimenting with hybrid genres and more nuanced takes on familiar formulas. The legacy of the 2016-2020 anime era remains complex — a period of tremendous growth and global expansion for the medium, tempered by legitimate concerns about creative homogenization and the industry’s increasing reliance on safe, formulaic content over artistic risk-taking.