Best Isekai Anime That Only Had One Season (2024)

Despite isekai going way back as a genre, it’s only in the last decade that “another world” anime took the medium by storm, gaining the reputation of its most prolific and popular trope. While many believe that isekai is running out of steam, with so many repetitive adventures in generic magical worlds coming out each season, plenty of gems still emerge from the genre, and the demand for this brand of escapist fantasy is high.

Nowadays, isekai shows that attract even a dash of attention get renewed for new seasons, expanding their franchises for as long as possible. However, even in this bountiful climate that favors long-form narratives, some incredible series manage to fall through the cracks, intriguing fans with their promising beginnings only to never receive a continuation. Alternatively, some isekai shows purposefully choose not to drag out their plots, wrapping things up in one conclusive season. Regardless of the reasons, some of the best series in the isekai genre are one-season wonders.

Updated on November 27, 2024, by Sage Ashford: The isekai genre remains massively successful over a decade after its dominance began. Each season fans get several more new isekai shows, yet that also means many more never get a continuation. Still, that doesn't mean they aren't some of the best isekai around. This list has been updated to add more great isekai series with just a single season.

15 Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life Is at Its Best In Its Only Season

12 Episodes Was All Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average Could Manage

Based on another light novel with an absurdly long name, Didn’t I Say To Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life? Features genius Misato Kurihara as its lead protagonist. In her world, Misato was never able to make friends with anyone because everyone was turned off by her genius-level talent. In the new world, she demands to be “average” to make friends but is only made average compared to the most powerful magic beings in the world, making her several thousand times more powerful than most humans.

By the description, it’s clear that Didn’t I Say To Make My Abilities Average is aiming to be a comedy, and it succeeds in being a good isekai parody. In her new life, Misato is reborn as Adele von Ascham and makes friends by forming an adventurer party that gets into all kinds of shenanigans. While it’s sad when most series only last one season, it might not be so bad for this series. It’s unclear how much longer the gimmick could’ve gone on while still being hilarious.

Didn't I Say To Make My Abilities Average In The Next Life?!

TV-14

Anime

Action

Adventure

When she turns ten years old, Adele von Ascham is hit with a horrible headache-and memories of her previous life as an eighteen-year-old Japanese girl named Kurihara Misato.

Release Date

October 7, 2019

Cast

Colleen O'Shaughnessey , Veronica Taylor , Claire Margaret Corlett , Sarah Anne Williams , Azumi Waki , Sora Tokui , Masumi Tazawa , Fumiko Uchimura

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

14 Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia Needed More Seasons to Cover Its Storyline

Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia Stopped After 21 Episodes

Fate/Grand Order’s anime was the result of the video game being massively popular for so long. CloverWorks created an adaptation of part of the game, choosing the arc most beloved by fans. The arc sees Fate/Grand Order’s protagonists, Mash and Ritsu, landing at the dawn of human history and trying to protect it from being wiped out.

Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia is a great adaptation of one of the mobile game’s best arcs. There’s just one issue: it’s the adaptation of one of the last arcs of the first chapter, meaning it’s mostly for the hardcore fans. While they explain things well enough, it’d be easy to do prequel seasons or even sequels based on future storylines.

13 The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen Stopped Just as It Was Getting Good

Heretical Last Boss Queen Only Received 12 Episodes

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen takes the “reincarnated as a villainess” idea to its limit. The protagonist has been reincarnated into the body of Pride Royal Ivy, a villain from the otome game she used to play, Our Ray of Light. While the protagonist is a decent person, Pride is a horrendous monster to everyone she knows. The series shows Pride struggling with self-hatred as she tries to overcome the mistakes of the game version of her character.

Most Heretical Last Boss Queen works as a serious version of My Next Life As A Villainess and is actually one of the best-executed versions of the villainess storyline. That said, the series stops before it can delve into some of the best parts of the light novel. It expands beyond Pride’s issues with her video game self and instead focuses on the flaws of the nation she’s supposed to be governing.

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior

TV-14

Comedy

Fantasy

A girl is reborn as the villainess of a fantasy game she once played, and now seeks to avoid her doom by carrying out heroic deeds.

Release Date

July 7, 2023

Cast

Fairouz Ai , Maaya Uchida , Junya Enoki

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1 Season

Creator

Deko Akao

Production Company

OLM

Number of Episodes

12 Episodes

12 Wise Man's Grandchild Barely Started Its Main Storyline

Wise Man's Grandchild Ran a Mere 12 Episodes

In 2019, Silver Link did an adaptation of the light novel Wise Man’s Grandchild. The series followed protagonist Shin Wolford on his time in high school after years of training under the legendary “sage” Merlin. Shin’s life in the prior world allowed him to understand magic on a level no one in the new world could, meaning he could create spells that others couldn’t even imagine.

Wise Man’s Grandchild was unique in that Shin wasn’t particularly interested in lording his power over everyone else. Instead, he chose to train his friends and girlfriend, making them into mages nearly as strong as he was. As the Ultimate Magic Research Society, they were able to protect the people they cared about from threats both within and outside their kingdom. Unfortunately, season one ended not long after the Research Society was formed, meaning viewers never saw what came next.

Wise Man's Grandchild

TV-14

Action

Adventure

A recently deceased young man is sent to another world and is taught magic by master Merlin. He quickly masters everything he is taught. However he has one fatal weakness, common sense.

Release Date

April 10, 2019

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1 Season

Characters By

Daman Mills, Lindsay Seidel, Katelyn Barr

Creator

Tatsuya Takahashi

Producer

Takashi Tachizaki, Tomoyuki Oowada, Kazusa Umeda

Production Company

Silver Link

Number of Episodes

12 Episodes

11 Knight's & Magic Could've Spent Several More Seasons on Its Mecha Arms Race

Knight's & Magic Lasted A Short 13 Episodes

Knight’s & Magic is one of the better isekai of the modern era. When a computer programmer with a mecha obsession is reincarnated into another world, he soon finds his dreams of piloting a mecha can now become a reality. Now Ernesti Echevalier works tirelessly to prove himself as a Knight Runner to get the opportunity to build a mecha of his own.

Though the mecha anime genre has never been a stranger to isekai, Knight’s & Magic is one of the few times mecha has been used in the current isekai landscape. Watching Ernesti design and re-design his mecha was a fun experience, and it felt like the series was just getting started by the end of the first season. There was so much worldbuilding left, as the character had essentially started a mecha arms race.

10 Drifters Never Delivered on Its Promised Second Season

Drifters Only Had 15 Total Episodes

Created by Kouta Hirano of Hellsing fame, Drifters stands out as one of the darkest and most conceptually unorthodox isekai series that, for all of its fame, never got to complete its story. In the dark fantasy universe of Drifters, heroes from all across history get transported to fight against the Ends — another group of historical warriors that wants to take over the magical land.

Consisting of 12 episodes and 3 OVAs, Drifters ended its first season with a promise of seeing fans again in an upcoming continuation. Yet, with the last special episode, which was indicated to be a sneak peek into season two, being released in 2018, the Drifters anime project went silent, fans’ hopes for it ever getting a proper renewal becoming fainter with each passing year.

Drifters

TV-MA

Anime

Action

Adventure

Various historical fighters are summoned from across time to wage war on each other, with the fate of the world in the balance.

Release Date

October 7, 2016

Creator(s)

Kohta Hirano

Cast

Mitsuki Saiga , Naoya Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Takahiro Sakurai , Daisuke Ono , Tomokazu Sugita , Akira Ishida , Tatsuhisa Suzuki

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

9 The Vision of Escaflowne Was the Best Isekai Original Anime of the ‘90s

26 Episodes Was All Fans Got From The Vision of Escaflowne

A beloved cult classic of the genre that masterfully blends isekai, mecha, and romance tropes, The Vision of Escaflowne was a passion project of the industry legend Shoji Kawamori. A tense story of fate and destiny that follows a high school girl, Hitomi Kanzaki, and her suspenseful adventures in the unorthodox fantasy world of Gaea, Escaflowne was always intended to have one season.

While the series has multiple multimedia spin-offs, including manga and light novel adaptations, the original anime blows them all out of the park, capturing the vision of their creators perfectly. The epic fantasy tale found relative success in Japan, yet it’s the international success of The Vision of Escaflowne that ensured the franchise a place in history, the show going on to become the definitive mecha isekai of its decade.

The Vision of Escaflowne

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Hitomi is a girl with psychic abilities who gets transported to the magical world of Gaea. She and her friends find themselves under attack from the evil Zaibach empire, and the Guymelf Escaflowne provides the key to it all.

Release Date

April 2, 1996

Cast

Kirby Morrow , Kelly Sheridan , Brian Drummond , Paul Dobson , Michael Dobson

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Studio

Sunrise

Creator

Hiroaki Kitajima, Shōji Kawamori, Ryōta Yamaguchi, Akihiko Inai

Producer

Yumi Murase, Masahiko Minami

Production Company

BEI, Bandai Visual Company, Sunrise

Number of Episodes

26

Network

TV Tokyo

8 Kemono Michi: Rise Up Was a Unique Comedy Isekai That Never Got Big Enough for Season 2

Kemono Michi Received Just 12 Episodes

With how many quirky isekai comedies get released every year, coming across a real gem in this overcrowded subgenre has become a rarity. Kemono Michi: Rise Up is a hilarious isekai comedy that fully leans into its whimsical concept, crafting a tale that, while not revolutionary, would make anyone laugh out loud. Genzo Shibata, a professional wrestler, finds himself transported to a fantasy world to rid it of beasts.

However, as an animal lover at heart, Genzo rebels against his destiny, beginning his quest of befriending every monster in the land and opening up his own pet shop. Despite being fairly well-received, Kemono Michi never got big enough to receive a second season. Yet, Genzo’s story continues in the original manga by Natsume Akatsuki, the adaptation of whose previous isekai comedy, KonoSuba, is still going strong.

Kemono Michi: Rise Up

TV-14

Action

Adventure

A pro wrestler is summoned into a fantasy world, with a destiny to slay monsters inhabiting the realm. But he loves animals, so he rejects that destiny and takes to raising the monsters as pets.

Release Date

October 2, 2019

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1 Season

Characters By

Katsuyuki Konishi, Tyson Rinehart, Mie Sonozaki

Creator

Touko Machida

Production Company

ENGI

Number of Episodes

12 Episodes

7 The Hope for the Dungeon of Black Company’s Return Is Small But Not Nonexistent

The Dungeon of Black Company Stalled Out at 12 Episodes

An unorthodox isekai series about a wealthy NEET getting transported to another world only to immediately lose his cushy lifestyle and become a slave for a mining corporation, The Dungeon of Black Company follows Kinji Ninomiya as he uses any means necessary to reestablish his fortune. By rejecting the genre’s stereotypes and crafting a unique story filled with lovable, charismatic heroes, Black Company swiftly became a niche favorite for fans of “another world” tales that go against the flow.

Yet, Ninomiya's rags-to-riches story was, regrettably, cut short after the first season. While there were some rumors of Black Company receiving a second season, they never came to fruition. However, with the series being relatively new, there’s still hope for its return to the screens.

The Dungeon of the Black Company

TV-14

Animation

Comedy

Fantasy

Kinji Ninomiya is a NEET who has amassed enough money through real-estate investment to fund a penthouse lifestyle without ever having to work. This changes when a portal suddenly transports him to a fantasy world where he quickly ends up enslaved to a mining company extracting crystals from a dungeon.

Release Date

July 9, 2021

Creator(s)

Yasumura Youhei

Cast

Misaki Kuno , Katsuyuki Konishi , Hiro Shimono , Satomi Sato , Wataru Takagi , Megumi Toda , Mao Ichimichi , Christopher Escalante

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

6 Now and Then, Here and There Is a Dark Isekai That Doesn’t Waste Its Time

13 Episodes Was Not Enough of Now and Then, Here and There

Despite only being one season, Now and Then, Here and There manages to fully deliver its poignant message in the span of 13 episodes by treating every second of its screen time with purpose. One of the darkest entries in the genre, the series begins with a relatively conventional premise of a boy, Shuu, transporting to another world in an attempt to save Lala-Ru, a strange girl he randomly encounters.

Yet, the world he enters ends up being a post-apocalyptic warzone where Shuu endures many horrors no child should witness in an attempt to rescue Lala-Ru. Endlessly impactful and hauntingly soul-crushing, Now and Then, Here and There proves that a series doesn’t need to be long to have substance.

Now and Then, Here and There

TV-14

Action

Adventure

A young boy named Shuzo rushes to the defense of a stranger who is being attacked for her magic pendant, only to find himself transported into another world where water is a scarce commodity and he is forced to join an army of children.

Release Date

October 14, 1999

Cast

Crispin Freeman , Dan Green , Lisa Ortiz , Akemi Okamura , Kaori Nazuka

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

WOWOW

Number of Episodes

13

5 So I'm a Spider, So What? Is an Endearing Isekai Many Would Love to See Return

Fans Really Liked So I'm a Spider, So What's 24 Episodes

The underdog tale of Kumoko, an average girl who, upon dying in a horrible catastrophe, gets reborn in a fantasy world as a low-level dungeon spider, is one that resonated with many isekai fans due to its hopeful messaging and unique premise. Yet, So I'm a Spider, So What? ’s blooming personality and intriguing plot weren’t enough to outweigh some of its glaring flaws, namely the lackluster CGI animation and poor direction.

Even if the series still managed to gain substantial popularity, its shortcomings held it back from being considered truly great. Be it due to the backlash directed at the animation or something completely unrelated to the anime’s reception, So I'm a Spider, So What? is yet to release any news regarding a potential continuation.

4 Sonny Boy Tells a Complete Story Unlike Anything Else in the Genre

Sonny Boy Only Received 12 Episodes

An introspective, experimental tale of a school traveling between dimensions, Sonny Boy is a marvel of avant-garde mystery storytelling that, despite technically qualifying as an isekai, doesn’t resemble its conventional image in the slightest. Introducing a group of students thrown into a void-like realm, Sonny Boy follows its heroes as they uncover the new world’s mysteries, build new hierarchies to survive, explore the superpowers that awakened within them upon the drift, and, ultimately, search for a way to return home.

An anime original by Shingo Natsume, Sonny Boy is a convoluted yet fully completed narrative told in its entirety over 12 episodes. While short, the series achieves unbelievable feats in its one-cour run, fully submerging the viewers in its thought-provoking, enigmatic story.

Sonny Boy

TV-14

Mystery

Release Date

July 16, 2021

Creator(s)

Shingo Natsume

Cast

Derrick Snow , Luci Christian , Tia Ballard , Daman Mills , Siddhartha Minhas , Ry McKeand , Lauren Landa , Patrick Seitz , David Mataranga

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Writers

Shingo Natsume

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Directors

Shingo Natsume

3 The Twelve Kingdoms Is Based on an Ongoing Fantasy Novel Series of Massive Length

45 Episodes Is Hardly Enough to Tell The Twelve Kingdom's Epic Story

The world of The Twelve Kingdoms is one of isekai anime’s densest and most multifaceted, which earned the series a reputation as an outstanding fantasy work celebrated even outside the “another world” genre. Following the adventures of high school girl Youko Nakajima and her classmates in the titular fantasyland, The Twelve Kingdoms pays close attention to making its world feel alive by exploring its culture and history in great detail.

The novel series The Twelve Kingdoms is based on is still ongoing, with 9 volumes being published since its debut in 1992. Despite spanning 45 episodes, the anime adaptation of The Twelve Kingdoms only covers the contents of 4 books, all while implementing substantial changes to make the grand story more streamlined.

The Twelve Kingdoms

Anime

Adventure

Drama

High school student Youko Nakajima is approached by a strange man who claims he's been searching for her and that she is the rightful ruler of his kingdom.

Release Date

April 9, 2002

Cast

Mari Devon , Kate Higgins , Houko Kuwashima , Aya Hisakawa , Mela Lee , Dorothy , Elias-Fahn , Ai Satô , Kappei Yamaguchi

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

2 Fans Have Been Dreaming of No Game No Life Season 2 for a Decade

No Game No Life's 12 Episodes Still Aren't Enough for Fans

When it comes to spectacular anime that never got a season 2, No Game No Life always gets mentioned as the one show countless fans want to see continue. A visually vibrant, suspenseful tale of two genius siblings’ conquest in a fantasy world ruled by games, No Game No Life, despite having its controversial moments, remains beloved and extremely popular even a decade after its conclusion.

The first season of Sora and Shiro’s adventures ends with a clear promise of more to come. Yet, outside of a prequel movie released in 2017, no official information about a second season was ever confirmed. Nevertheless, the discouraging facts don’t stop the show’s devoted community from hoping.

No Game No Life

TV-14

Adventure

Comedy

Siblings Sora and Shiro make up the most feared team of pro gamers in the world, The Blank. When they manage to beat God himself in a game of chess, they are sent to a world where all disputes are settled with games.

Release Date

April 9, 2014

Cast

Yoshitsugu Matsuoka , Yoko Hikasa

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1 Season

Creator

Jukki Hanada

Producer

Yōhei Hayashi, Shō Tanaka, Mika Shimizu, Satoshi Fukao, Asako Shimizu

Production Company

Madhouse

Number of Episodes

12 Episodes

1 The Community’s Love for Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions Didn’t Result in the Show Getting a Continuation

12 Episodes Seems to Be All Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions Will Ever See

Gritty, dramatic, suspenseful, and visually stunning, Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions, while following a pretty basic isekai premise, left a notable mark on the community. The world of Grimgar, where a group of people with no memories get transported with no choice but to fight for survival, is one where death is ever-present.

This haunting cruelty, paired with the riveting character development the heroes must undergo to cope with it, resonated with many fans tired of the isekai genre’s obsession with wish-fulfillment power fantasies. Despite being dearly beloved and critically acclaimed, Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions was never renewed for a second season, leaving the fans dissatisfied, as the story of Grimgar was only starting by the end of the first series.

Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Drama

Fantasy

Release Date

January 11, 2016

Creator(s)

Ao Jumonji

Cast

Haruhiro , Manato , Yume , Shihoru , Ranta , Moguzo , Mary

Main Genre

Fantasy

Seasons

1

Writers

Ao Jumonji

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu , Prime Video

Directors

Ryosuke Nakamura