It goes without saying that the current anime landscape is dominated by the isekai genre. That's especially the case for fantasy anime, in which more "mainline" fantasy has been almost entirely replaced by isekai, despite high fantasy being a major genre in the '80s and '90s. The latter decade produced one of the best examples of fantasy anime that's still highly regarded to this day.
While more modern anime fantasy may not recognize it, Slayers is a classic fantasy series that spawned a vast multimedia franchise. Though it isn't isekai, it shares a lot of the same creative DNA that isekai fans will enjoy. While the first season may be pushing 30 years old, Slayers is still the perfect anime for those who love isekai fantasy -- and those who couldn't be more tired of it.
Slayers Combined Epic Fantasy With Uproarious Comedy
Like most isekai, Slayers got its start as a light novel series, which began publication in 1989. Created by Hajime Kanzaka, it would go on to receive a manga adaptation in the mid-1990s, followed by an anime adaptation and multiple OVAs. Other forms of the franchise include animated movies, radio dramas and even video games. Kanzaka also created the series Lost Universe, a science fiction franchise that's set in a parallel universe to Slayers.
The world of Slayers is a high fantasy universe in which two powerful entities have been warring for eons. Fragments of this mighty god and demon have been dispersed and reincarnated in everyday people. Throughout this world are four different types of magic, all of which have different effects on humans and demons. Despite how grandiose this might sound, the antics of the main characters tend to be a lot less serious. The main character is Lina Inverse, a powerful young sorceress whose magical prowess is matched by her infamy. Though her reputation is sometimes less than agreeable, Lina traverses the land with her growing horde of companions on a number of adventures that range from harrowing to hilarious.
Slayers Is an Isekai Fantasy Without the Isekai Element
Viewers who have seen their fair share of isekai anime will likely feel right at home with the world of Slayers. After all, there's all manner of magic, demon lords and other elements commonly present in fantasy isekai anime. Lina is also very adept at magic, making the sorcery prodigy similar to some of the overpowered protagonists of isekai. Thankfully, for those who'd rather not repeat what modern fantasy anime do, Slayers succeeds in departments where most isekai fail.
World-building is a huge problem for a lot of isekai, as those shows instead focus too much on comedy or harem hijinks to really dive into their respective fantasy worlds. Slayers doesn't have this drawback, as its world boasts plentiful backstory and mythology surrounding its gods and monsters. Much of this stems from its inspirations, which include the works of Tolkien and other fantasy legends. On the other hand, isekai anime are typically inspired by the fantasy video games of those authors' worlds, with making fun of these games' tropes used in the place of actual world-building.
Some viewers have complained about isekai being a "male power fantasy," although female protagonists have become more prominent in recent seasons. Nevertheless, Slayers definitely stands out among general fantasy anime for having a female main character who's extremely powerful. At the same time, Lina's power is balanced out by her occasionally ditzy manner and the ridiculous situations she finds herself in, making things a bit more believable than someone who reincarnates and suddenly masters their new powers. For fantasy fans who are tired of seeing these reincarnations, Slayers is available to watch through both Funimation and Crunchyroll.