Like video games, anime is often driven by a larger narrative or character arc with high tension and stakes. Isekai is especially replete with works committed to fantastical or futuristic works ready for exploration and combat. Its wish-fulfillment nature even allows viewers to skip the grind and get to the good parts.
However, some works are decidedly laid-back with a focus on a niche that may not be normally exciting. And while some titles get a few fights or tense situations, they don’t displace the overall cozy vibes of the show. Wish-fulfillment is still present, but it’s mostly about characters taking it easy, or achieving goals they could not accomplish in their prior life.
Update June 09, 2025, by Rie Takumi:By definition, isekai means getting swept into another world, typically fantasy worlds or historical events that entail a lot of violence. That’s why the stereotypical isekai involves protagonists with offense-focused skills. Some anime, however, see potential in isekai as a setting for comfy slice-of-life, fish-out-of-water shenanigans.
Anime likeCampfire CookingandFarming Life In Another Worldhave protagonists who use their unique stats to live their fantasies ofa comfortable lifeaway from the capitalism and stress of the modern world. Others, likeI’ve Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years, have fighting in them, but the core value of the anime lies with its comfy slice-of-life moments.
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FUNA, the author ofSaving 80,000 Gold, seems to have hit a nice niche in the slice-of-life isekai genre.I Shall Survive Using Potions!follows Kaoru Nagase, an overworked salarywoman, who wants to take it easy after an incompetent entity accidentally disintegrates her.
Kaoru tries to keep a low profile, but trouble always finds her due toher cheating skills. When she’s not haunted by adventure, however, she makes full use of her cheat abilities and business savvy. Anime viewers who are excited about its release can read its manga or light novel version to get a better idea of its plot.
JP-only
Takumi Kayano is another victim of a common isekai protagonist fatality: gods accidentally killing people from Japan. Sylphyryll, the god of wind, decides to make up for it by sending him to the fantasy world of Etelldia a decade younger and with neat powers. What Takumi didn’t count on was becoming the guardian of two abandoned kids, whom he names Alan and Elena.
A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring’s standard isekai action is broken up by Alan and Elena’s cute antics. They’re definitely on the fantastic end of the anime child scale, which means Takumi gets to enjoy fluffy times withhis adoptive childrenrather than worrying about real kid problems. Viewers may get more context by reading the original light novel, or the adaptive manga.
Dahlia seems to have the perfect isekai life. From her life as an overworked salarywoman, she becamea magic tool artificer, heir to a magic device inventor, and fiance to a typical buff dude. However, her luck turns sour when her father passes away and her fiance Tobias moves in with his mistress, while taking all the credit and profit for her inventions.
Determined to piece her life back together, Dahlia slowly grows a backbone. She proves her rights to her inventions and finds ways around Tobias’ obnoxious schemes, all while solving problems for her friends. Dahlia also somehow remains oblivious to her new friend Wolfred’s overwhelming charisma, leading to some good old will-they-won’t-they.
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Ryoma Takebayashi never had a great life. At 39, he’s completely unfazed that he’s lost it, to the point that the three gods that meet him at death are bewildered. His attitude changes a little when he incarnates in another world and realizes he has a new life ahead of him.
Though given a boatload of overpowered skills, he chooses to focus on slime training, for companionship and comfort. Ryoma eventually gets involved with the Jamil family, whom he’s determined to pay back for their kindness.
Asuza Aizawa, like many unfortunate Japanese workers, died of exhaustion. Unlike most workers, she is reincarnated into a fantasy world as an undying, forever-young witch. Now free of corporate life, she freeloads for 300 years by killing slimes and coasting on their bare rewards.
But, as the titleI’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Levelimplies,Azusa becomes overpowered. Her easygoing life is disrupted by challengers and problems, but she always finds a way to relax. If the anime isn’t enough, there are about 25 light novel volumes out in Japanese and 16 in English as of October 2024.
A lot of working adults can instantly sympathize with this series' stated purpose. Orphan Mitsuha Yamano simply wants to have a comfortable retirement or a retirement at all. Though she is pushed off a cliff, she happily turns the incident around into a profitable venture.
Saving 80,000 Goldis not the first anime to think of selling real-world conveniences to a fantasy world. But it is unique in that the protagonist can convert fantasy gold into real currency, so she can retire in this world and the real one. It also may have too much combat for some viewers, but Mitsuha’s actions are ultimately gearedtoward her retirement dreams.
Keina Kagami’s normal life ceased at 17, when she became the only survivor in a terrible accident that killed her parents.The VRMMORPG Leadalebecame her refuge and the only place where she could exist outside the hospital. Tragically, a blackout turns off her life support.
But in a blink, she awakens within Leadale in the body of her elven avatar Cayna. Now stuck in the VR world, Cayna must discover what transpired in the 200 years that passed between her last memories of the game and the present. There’s plenty of action in her journey, but Cayna has a lot of downtime.
Parallel World Pharmacy’slight novel and anime have an amazing commitment to scientific accuracy—as much as they can have when they areset in a fantasy world. Real-world pharmacology, historical references to medical events, and scientific knowledge of diseases are packed alternately in every episode. The result is an educational anime that is not obnoxious with its research.
The same could be said of its protagonist. Pharma de Médicis is selfless and, like his pre-reincarnation self Kanji Yakutani, never brags about his accomplishments. His temperament helps create a comfortable vibe and heightens moments when he is forced to break his peace.
My Next Life As A Villainesshas action, thanks to its premise and origin world, but it’s ultimately a low-energy show. This romcom anime effectively de-escalates tension with its unique brand of humor, kindness, and oblivious heroine.
Katarina Claes, affectionately nicknamed Bakarina, is a big reason why the anime manages to feel down-to-earth and drama-free. She attempts to be proactive todefy her character’s fate, but her actions are always practical and no-nonsense. Her honest and oblivious nature allows the series to always slingshot back to a comfortable status quo.
Though conceptually similar toRestaurant In Another World,Isekai Izakayahas a pointedly different,but still comfortable, vibe. Its izakaya setting pointedly influences character interactions, the plot, and the main character’s growth.
Owner of Nobu and protagonist Nobuyuki Yazawa’s growth as a business owner and chef is directly influenced by his parallel world customers. He learns to pair alcohol and food better and improves his cooking skills to transcend problems he had in his last job. Meanwhile, viewers are treated to delectable bar food and alcohol that may be available at their local Japanese-style restaurant.
