Summary
- Modern isekai tends to focus on power fantasies, lacking meaningful male friendships.
- Iconic and wholesome male friendships exist in isekai anime like Rimuru and Veldora.
- Examples like Garf and Otto, Shin and August, Will and Meneldor showcase deep bonds.
Modern isekai has become more akin to power fantasies with overpowered protagonists with huge harems. There are a lot of romantic inclinations and this has meant that other meaningful relationships seem overlooked especially those between male characters.
12 Isekai Anime That Are Unapologetic Power Fantasies
While power fantasies can be found in other forms of media, they are notably common in anime, including the isekai genre of narration.
It is a lot more common to find female friendships in isekai, and there are some iconic friendships in other genres of anime, but isekai does seem lacking a bit in this department. Thankfully there are some excellent examples of wholesome male friendships in isekai anime. These aren’t romantic, nor are they superficial, but a deep bond which usually has a tangible effect on both characters.
8 Rimuru Tempest and Veldora Tempest (That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime)
The Very First Friendship Of The Overpowered Demon Lord
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 5, 2018
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- 8bit
- Japanese Title
- Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
- Based On
- Light Novel & Manga
- Creator
- Fuse
- Number of Episodes
- 72
There is very little that a slime and a Dragon have in common, but somehow, Rimuru Tempest and Veldora made it work. Veldora was the first major character Rimuru met after being transported to the new world and the two became fast friends.
Rimuru absorbed Veldora and would later set him free after figuring out how to undo Infinite Prison. The two are so close they basically share a surname and while Veldora is feared as a king of chaos, he considers Rimuru his best friend.
7 Garf Tinzel And Otto Suwen (Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World)
Enemies Turned Brothers
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2025-00-00
- Seasons
- 1
- Japanese Title
- Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Tappei Nagatsuki
- Number of Episodes
- 65
In the unforgiving world of Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, having someone to call a friend is an important characteristic. This friendship was not even between the protagonist and someone else, but two side characters— Otto and Garfiel.
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Garfiel has a tragic backstory and was initially hostile towards Otto, but with time, the two would come to respect each other. This is one of those examples of a friendship developing over the course of a show. Now, the two have a brotherly bond with Otto supporting Garf and finding him somewhat akin to his own younger brother, Regin.
6 Shin Wolford and August von Earlshide (Wise Man's Grandchild)
A Rare Look Into A Proper Bromance
Wise Man's Grandchild
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2019-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Silver Link
- Japanese Title
- Kenja no Mago
- Based On
- Novel & Light Novel
- Creator
- Tsuyoshi Yoshioka
- Number of Episodes
- 12
Wise Man’s Grandchild was a 2019 anime that would have flown under the radar for many as on the surface it feels like a generic harem title with an OP protagonist. Yes, Wise Man’s Grandchild is not without its problems, but it did the male friendship theme well.
Shin is a powerful character with little common sense. He has one love interest and a best friend in August von Earlshide who is the crown prince of the kingdom. The two share a close bond with August typically pranking Shin and ensuring he winds up in awkward situations.
5 Will Maryblood And Meneldor (The Faraway Paladin)
Their Friendship Was Born From Adversity
The Faraway Paladin
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2023
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- OLM, Sunrise Beyond
- Japanese Title
- Saihate no Paladin
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Number of Episodes
- 24
Will was transported into another world where he was raised in an abandoned city by three powerful beings. He will eventually leave his home to face the world outside with all its problems and fears.
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For such a perilous journey, anyone would need a friend, and Will finds one in Meneldor. The two share a kinship with an understanding of what it is to be an outcast. Menledor is loyal to Will, and the two go through so much together, including battles. Menel is Will’s first-ever friend, and seeing something like that is so wholesome.
4 Kirito And Eugeo (Sword Art Online)
It Was Brief, But So Worth It
Sword Art Online
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2012 - 2020-00-00
- Seasons
- 4
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Reki Kawahara
- Number of Episodes
- 96
Kirito and Eugeo’s friendship was a brief one, only featuring in the Sword Art Online Alicization Arc. In the world of Underworld, Kirito and Eugeo are childhood friends and are tight with one another along with their other friend, Alice.
Eugeo is completely loyal to Kirito and the two experience great adventures together, are branded criminals and grow strong together. It is unfortunate that the friendship couldn’t last longer as Eugeo would later die at the hands of Quinella. The battle between Kirito and Eugeo was emotional and was one of the high points of the anime.
3 Iruma Suzuki And Asmodeus Alice (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun)
Iruma Can Make Anything Work
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2022
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- Bandai Namco Pictures
- Japanese Title
- Mairimashita! Iruma-kun
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Osamu Nishi
- Number of Episodes
- 65
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun has a very premise in which the protagonist is sold off to demons by his less-than-stellar parents. The demon he is sold to just wants a grandson and sends him off to demon school where he thrives.
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This is another of those shows that might look like it is all about shallow themes, but it is actually a funny watch. One of the things that make Iruma-kun such a great show is the friendship between Iruma and Asmodeus. They start off on the wrong foot (as so many often do), but soon, they share an unbreakable bond. Asmodeus adores Iruma and is ready to defend him at all costs even though Iruma is actually a human and not a demon.
2 Sadou Maou And Shirou Ashiya (The Devil Is A Part Timer)
The Dynamic Between The Two Is Hilarious
The Devil Is a Part-Timer!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2013 - 2023
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- White Fox, Studio 3Hz
- Japanese Title
- Hataraku Maou-sama!
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Satoshi Wagahara
- Number of Episodes
- 37
Sadou Maou is actually Satan who is now in the human world working at a version of McDonald's. Along for the ride is faithful sidekick Alseil, who goes by the name Shirou. The two should be master and subordinate, but they act anything but.
Sadou works hard while Shirou is the one who typically keeps the house and is like a mom to Sadou, and later ‘Lucifer’ when he joins up with them. The two’s friendship isn’t perhaps as fleshed out as they are usually in several comedic situations, but it does reveal a deep dynamic of mutual trust, respect, and care.
1 Haruhiro and Manato (Grimgar Of Fantasy And Ash)
A Most Tragic Friendship
Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2016
- Directors
- Ryosuke Nakamura
- Writers
- Ao Jumonji
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Japanese Title
- Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Ao Jūmonji
- Number of Episodes
- 12
Grimgar Of Fantasy And Ash is one of those shows that has a cult following and might never see a new season despite its great writing, story, and characters. One of the central relationships was between Manato and Haruhiro, the protagonist. Manato dies early on in the show after leading the group of so-called ‘weaklings’.
It falls on Haruhiro to take his place, a task that weighs heavy on the protagonist. Flashbacks show the depth of friendship the two shared and what the party was missing by having Manato unable to lead them anymore. While short-lived and tragic, the friendship between Manato and Haruhiro added a lot of depth to the show.
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