6 Best Classic Isekai Anime Series

Isekai stories have been told for more than a hundred years, dating as far back as 1865 with Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland. For anime, it is also one the oldest genres in the medium. Over the years, these stories evolved and morphed to fit current audiences, and Isekai anime changed as well, but these are the best classic series that still hold up. To ensure this is properly “retro,” our cut-off is the year 2000!

6: Those Who Hunt Elves

Weird that 1996 was a long time ago, right? In Those Who Hunt Elves, Japanese citizens Junpei Ryuzouji, Ritsuko Inoue, and Airi Komiyama find themselves in another world. It seems their only way to get home is to find five spell fragments. However, these five spell fragments are imprinted on the skin of elves. While this comedic isekai leans heavily into the fan service, the outlandish characters entertain us with their “antics”best” attempts to see the spells on elves’ skin.

5: The Vision of Escaflowne

Another one of the best, classic isekai anime series is also from the 1990s! Gaea is a world ravaged by war with the evil Zaibach in Vision of Escaflowne, and it turns out Earth is its moon. Hitomi Kanzaki is a teenage girl from our world and a psychic who finds herself transported there after encountering a young man named Van. As her psychic abilities blossom, she discovers that she is the key to stopping Zaibach.

4: Fushigi Yugi

Miaka Yuki and Yui Hongo are two high school girls and best friends who are transported to the world of a novel known as The Universe of the Four Gods in Fushigi Yugi. However, their experiences very much differ. While Miaka becomes the Priestess of Suzaku when summoned and gets the chance to build a harem of warriors for her cause, Yui has a far worse time when she also enters the book to save Miaka. As such, they end up on opposing sides.

3: Now and Then, Here and There

Now and Then, Here and There is a fascinating take on an isekai anime, which aired in 1999, due to the fact that the other world the lead may be transported to might just be a future version of his own home. A young man named Shu, after failing at a Kendo match, takes action to help a young woman who is in danger. As a result, he finds himself in a dystopian world. Note that this is a series that gets incredibly dark, and there is graphic content and mature themes.

2. Inuyasha

Inuyasha just makes it in under the wire, due to this isekai anime airing in 2000. Kagome Higurashi is 15-year-old middle school student living with her family at a shrine, and she ends up warped to the year 1546. There, she meets a half-demon pinned to a tree named Inuyasha by his love Kikyo for stealing the sacred jewel called the Shikon Jewel. However, the jewel, now in Kagome’s possession, is shattered. After freeing Inuyasha from bondage, they embark on a journey to gather the scattered Shikon Jewel fragments.

1. Digimon Adventure

You absolutely can’t beat the original Digimon Adventure, and it is one of the best classic isekai anime out there. (The follow-ups are great too!) Seven children (later eight) are whisked away to a world with dangerous monsters waiting to attack them at every corner. The children befriend a few of these beings called Digital Monsters, aka Digimon, as they try to find their way home. The children face their flaws and fears while saving the place known as the Digital World.