What is the most popular anime genre in recent years? When asked this question, most anime fans would probably answer that the genre that is currently attracting the most attention is reincarnation in another world. In fact, many recent anime works begin with a protagonist who is not doing well in the real world and is reincarnated in another world due to a strange incident. This type of work is generally called reincarnation in another world or reincarnation work, but why have so many anime works in recent years become reincarnation in another world? In this article, I would like to summarize the characteristics and history of reincarnation in another world works based on the reincarnation in another world work "Reincarnation as a Sword" which will be animated this year. It is a genre that is particularly noteworthy in the long history of Japanese anime, so be sure to check it out!
What are the roots of reincarnation?
So, let's take a deeper look at the roots of the works known as reincarnation. What process did the many works of reincarnation in other worlds that we see today go through to become what they are today? I think it will be useful for understanding the appeal of the genre, so let's take a closer look.
Stories about going to another world have been around for a long time
Stories about "visiting another world, living in a place different from your everyday life, and going on adventures" have existed since ancient times. In particular, Japanese folk tales have stories of Ryugu Castle and Onigashima being located far from the everyday world, and the idea that another world exists a little away from the world in which humans live can be seen.
Even the real world was unexplored in ancient times
That's because, not only in Japan but in the world before the modern era, even stepping outside the city was a great adventure fraught with danger. Therefore, places where humans do not normally live were not explored at all, and it was thought that an unimaginable world was spreading out there. Works such as "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" are a typical example of this.
There are no more unexplained things in the real world
However, in modern times, there are almost no places in the real world that humans have not reached. Until now, humans could believe that there was a "Laputa" in the clouds, and they could not doubt if they were told that there was a race of dwarfs somewhere in the world, but since modern times, it has become difficult to draw such works.
From the 21st century to the present
So, in modern times, instead of drawing the usual otherworldly stories like "Urashima Taro" and "Gulliver's Travels," they have no choice but to draw works with new modern arrangements.
A new unexplored world called the cyber world
Then, the next thing that caught attention was the "cyber world," a new frontier that humanity had never experienced before. In modern times, the existence of the cyber world began to be discussed as a further evolution of the Internet, which has developed at an astonishing speed. At that time, the genre was still committed to the ancient rule that another world exists somewhere in reality.
Unexplored worlds are interesting! !
However, as many works depicting these cyberspace worlds were released, readers became fascinated by the interactions between people and the progression of the story in an extraordinary world. The attraction of the "romance of the unexplored frontier" that humanity once felt there gradually disappeared.
Works that focus on the activities and drama in an unexplored world have appeared
As people's interest has shifted to the drama between characters, the realism of the other world itself is no longer necessary as it was before. Therefore, what is important is the result of being reincarnated into another world, and the appeal of the characters in the other world is becoming more important than the appeal of the other world itself.
Mainly developed by amateur writers
In this way, in modern times, works about reincarnation in another world have come to emphasize the drama within it, rather than depicting a utopia that may exist somewhere in the world. As a result, it has transformed into a genre that even amateurs can easily write.
No need to gather a huge amount of material
Normally, when drawing a work, if it is set in a foreign country, you have to do a lot of research on that country, and if you are drawing a swordsman, you need to spend a lot of time analyzing medieval knights, but if the setting is a different world that has no connection to the real world, there is no need to be faithful to historical facts.
What is the most time-consuming task in creating a work?
As a result, there is no need to do preliminary research, which is the most time-consuming and labor-intensive task in creating novels, manga, and anime, and these works have become something that amateur writers who usually have time for work or school can easily draw. Even if there are some differences from historical facts, it's not a big deal because it's a story from another world.
A genre that is easy for amateurs to get into
In this way, works about reincarnation in another world have become the genre that is easiest for amateur writers to get into. For example, rather than writing a novel with a shogi player as the motif, it is easier to write a work about a shogi player in another world without having to research the real world of shogi.
High competition means good works are more likely to survive
And it's not a bad thing that it's easy to get into. As a result, it's easier for amateur writers to get into the genre, which has led to increased competition and allowed the otherworldly reincarnation genre to heat up into the Warring States period, where more interesting works survive. From the reader's perspective, it can also be said that they can now enjoy higher quality works.
The division of the vast "otherworld reincarnation empire"
However, as is the way of the world, there are good and bad sides. With the sudden increase in otherworld reincarnation works, it can be said that this genre, which is currently at its peak, is on the path to extinction.
Expanding countries split up
Think of reincarnation in another world as one large country. In order to become bigger, a country grows by increasing its population and invading other countries, but eventually, because it becomes too powerful, ethnic divisions occur and it falls apart. Might reincarnation in another world follow a similar fate due to its power?
Unique works about reincarnation in another world
Currently, reincarnation in another world works are evolving to become more unique works by making efforts to differentiate them from other works. For example, what if you could die as many times as you want after being reincarnated in another world? There is always a demand for something extra in the setting.
Eventually transforming into a new genre
"I Was Reincarnated as a Sword" is not just a story about reincarnation in another world, but it uses the novel setting of being reincarnated as a "sword" instead of a human. Although it is a story about reincarnation in another world, as it pursues detailed settings that are not found in other works, it is quite possible that it will eventually transform into a different genre that is not about reincarnation in another world.
Will reincarnation in another world stories disappear?
So, does that mean that otherworldly reincarnation stories will disappear altogether? You might wonder, but I don't think that's the case. Just as otherworldly reincarnation stories used to be set in remote areas of reality, the genre is always changing to meet the needs of the times. The diversification and division of otherworldly reincarnation stories that we are currently witnessing is simply an extension of the changes that have taken place in otherworldly reincarnation stories up until now.
The Position of This Work
Looking at the historical flow and characteristics of reincarnation in another world in this way, you can understand the position and significance of the existence of "I Got Reincarnated as a Sword," which will be broadcast this year, as a reincarnation in another world story.
The cutting edge of otherworldly reincarnation works
This work is at the forefront of otherworldly reincarnation works, which have become extremely diverse in recent years, and at the same time, it is the first work in history in which the sword itself plays the main role. It is a work that makes the most of the diversity of the work.
Reflecting the future of reincarnation in another world
Perhaps, due to the influence of this work, works with inorganic objects such as swords and tools as the protagonists like this work may increase. If that happens, a new genre independent of reincarnation in another world may be born. Regardless of whether the theme of this work will remain, in recent works of reincarnation in another world, unprecedented and innovative settings like this work have appeared, so one day a new genre of work may be born based on those works.
Summary
What did you think? In this article, we have briefly explained the history and future of reincarnation in another world works, using the work "I Was Reincarnated as a Sword" as an example. There may seem to be a lot of similar works in the world of reincarnation, but if you look at each one individually, you will see that they are by no means monotonous, so please try out this work and other works about reincarnation in other worlds!
