The isekai protagonists no longer try to return to their world

Anime enthusiasts in Japan have embarked on an intense debate about the evolution of the isekai genre, noticing a significant shift in the narrative that distinguishes new series from old ones. The central theme of the discussion revolves around the tendency of the isekai protagonists not to attempt to return to their original world, in stark contrast to other iconic series of the past.

Netizens lament that the modern isekai is losing its distinctive essence, with many pointing out that after the first episode, the plot tends to veer into a generic fantasy story because the protagonist immediately forgets his previous world. This sea change has led to questions about whether the new series still deserve to be considered isekai.

A key point in the controversy is the definition of isekai itself, with constant references to past works such as ".hack" and "Sword Art Online." Although these series established the norms of the genre, a debate persists as to whether they actually qualify as isekai. Some argue that the simple fact that the protagonists don't die to enter another world contradicts the fundamental principles of isekai. However, others argue that this is not a prerequisite for classification within the genus.

In short, the debate over the isekai genre is in full swing in the Japanese anime community, with opinions divided on the direction new series are taking and the true nature of iconic works:

"Because isekai has become the utopia of otaku."
"It doesn't seem like the creators want to go back to reality."
"There are so many isekai stories today that it's impossible to know them all, but I'm sure Mushoku Tensei set the standard today."
"An isekai where the protagonist manages to return to his world seems to me to be the most appropriate for the genre."
"There's no need to go back. If the world were as bad as it is now, I wouldn't want to go back either."
"Although Sword Art Online is not about a 'different world' but about a 'virtual world', this second category did not exist back then. It wasn't until several years later that purists started pulling rankings out of their asses."
"You can't help it that they don't want to go back to this shitty world."
"Wasn't the guy from Re:Zero trying to get back into his world? I feel like it was, even though I don't remember it well."
"If I had gotten there through a reincarnation, I wouldn't really want to go back."
"It's like the cliché that he becomes the hero who has to defeat the Demon King, isn't there anyone else who threatens the peace?"
"More than anything, it sickens me that the current cliché is 'reborn as an aristocrat', does anyone really care about that setting?"
"You wouldn't want someone to show up in front of you and say, 'I'm the one who died the other time, I was finally able to come back!'"
"In the end, it saddens me that most isekai become a fantasy RPG story where going back to their original world is simply forgotten."