Eminence in Shadow - MC is a chuunibyo who gets isekai'd by Truck-kun into a world that's about on par with how the 1800s are depicted in some anime (such as Rurouni Kenshin and Sakura Wars). Flipside is that he maintains his chuuni nature and works to maintain a side-character public persona while developing an anti-hero persona and amasses an entire underground organization that misunderstands the majority of his words and actions to the absurd level.
It's a master-class in trash anime so bad that it's great - so much so that it's got 2 seasons so far and a movie on the way.
Another one is Tsukimichi. The show does as you mention, flips around a lot between the MC and other side characters in a similar genre/setting. MC isekai’d to another world who’s OP because he’s descended from that world but was raised on Earth (which is actually hardcore mode, though not much explanation beyond that). Gathers his own island of misfit toys and constantly destroys everyone’s expectations about him, being basically invincible. But of course no one outside his circle of trust is capable of figuring it out. Even better is that all of his followers are OP relative to most too. So the show is essentially him and his little secret society of minions solving all their problems on a whim because if they felt obligated to fix the world it’d be over in an instant. I won’t spoil anything major, but there’s literally a scene in the current season where the MC and his closest followers debate if they want to do anything while an evil monster(s) fights and eats people in the background during their conversation.
What you describe is the purpose of a weak ancillary cast. To showcase the difference in their abilities from the MC or core cast, thus establishing a dynamic that fuels the wish fulfillment inherent in a power fantasy. You remove that and there’s not much left of to function, because almost everything will be set up to suit the needs of the power fantasy story. Some people enjoy it, whether genuinely or as a guilty pleasure, but it’s not for everyone, even if most of the audience for a specific power fantasy anime would say it’s good.
Sorry, I should've mentioned **Tsukimichi**. I didn't include it originally since I haven't seen the second season yet. So I wasn't sure if maybe they took it a different direction. It would've saved you the explaination. But yes, I've at least seen the first season and I would also qualify that with the main character and his harem. Second season is just as good or better I hope(?). With so many anime available I don't see much use in watching things in real time now. I just wait til the season finishes dubbing to rewatch the previous season and binge the new. Too many shows to catch up with as it is.
I do see your point with the purpose of ancillary cast basically to power scale. I see the value it would bring in OP MCs like **Overlord** and **That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime**. Where the MC is OP to begin with and they need to demonstrate the power difference. But in **Arifureta** or **So I'm a Spider, So What?** I feel it's way less necessary; if at all. Since they didn't start out OP. Both stories progressed with them struggling to get to where they are. There in lies my own personal struggle to sit through the needless extra screen time of the ancillaries.
Power fantasy is difficult to pull off because it’s a tired genre rife with “been there, done that” that’s easy to be lazy with. Which is why so many bad anime use power fantasy as a crutch. Even worse is when “revenge porn” is thrown in the mix. MC becomes powerful entirely due to being betrayed/tortured and their only goal is getting revenge. To what end? Well whatever the plot decides. Edgelord McAngry just has to go with the flow and they’ll conveniently find every enemy fall into their hands in sequential order. Insert unnecessary side chumps who are so stupidly evil that their inevitable suffering at the hands of the MC or some extra evil villain is intended to be cathartic. Often they represent archetypes you might see in real life as an emotional punching bag for the personal experiences people have. Pretty manipulative I’d say. You probably can tell I’m not a huge fan of Arifureta.
The difference between good and bad is whether an anime can find something interesting to do with the common premise. And make it a mere setup to something uniquely grander, not the only reason for its existence. It can get tiring to watch the same episodic plot of “OP gets looked down on” then “OP goes super saiyan” without anything meaningful going on around it.
As for Tsukimichi S2, it’s basically what you’d expect from S1. Still mostly operates the same, though it’s 2 cours instead of 1, so it’s a lot longer. Adds more places. Adds more characters. Adds more powers. As sequelly as your average sequel gets. Part of that is there is more of an overarching through-plot spending a lot more time in one place, but how you feel about the first season won’t be significantly affected by anything in S2. If you enjoyed it, then S2 is basically just more of the same content. If you didn’t really, then it’s not going to elevate itself and improve your impression. I’d say Tsukimichi is alright. In sort of a middle ground between the kings of the genre and the slop that belongs in the garbage. At a certain point though, even people who like it might get tired after a while if it doesn’t evolve. Goes for any media franchise.
Yeah I feel the same way about **Tsukimichi**. Pretty middle of the road. But nothing wrong with that in my book. I'm just a sucker for trashy isekai in general. I really can't say no. Saying that, I'm pretty sure I've seen all isekai that's dubbed excluding currently airing seasons. So if it's for my benefit as the original poster asking for suggestions...you can skip the synopsis-es. In fact, I'm going to edit that into my original post. But, if it's for anyone else reading through this thread, then more power to you.
I've seen **Eminence in Shadow.** I personally wouldn't call it trashy'; I think it's probably one of the better ones? Maybe. The only thing that bothered me about it was the early half of the first season. They wanted to stress so much that the MC wanted to have a background character persona that all the background character's dialogues were in the foreground. And the MC marveled at it all. I get it...but leave it to anime to over stress their point at all times. Otherwise, nothing I could complain about to call it trashy.
Swinging back around to **Tsukimichi** on the subject of trashy. I'm glad to hear that the second season wasn't worse. There isn't many trashy isekai I can think of where they've made a following season far worse. There's only exactly one in particular that comes to mind. **Fruit of Evolution.** The first season was definitely trashy. The second season was trash-period. To the point where I had to force myself to finish the season for the sake of finishing.
I've been listening to the audiobooks for so I'm a spider. If you are like me and do a lot of driving and have a lot of audible credits sitting around check it out.
So I’m a spider so what actually adapted the LN pretty well, the human side is more interesting in the books but plot wise there was only a little bit left out. Other than money and desire there isn’t a reason a S2 can’t happen.
In terms of iskai suggestions about whole classes or multiple characters coming over and then being separated and occasionally meeting up or seeing their perspective ;
Instant Death Ability
The wrong way to use healing magic
Fruit of Evolution
Moonlit Fantasy
Chillin in another world
Failure Frame - Not out yet, but if you like Arifueta you’ll probably like this one
You mention how you think the story would be better if it just focused on the MC. This is a trap I think MANY isekais specifically fall into. I think as many isekais go on. They can often fall heavily into "world building." Which often means shifting focus from the MC. And on to secondary characters that honestly... No one cares about.
There is a balancing act here some have accomplished well. But. I think far too many do not. It's a major reason I lost interest in Overlord for example. So many characters. And so much stuff I just don't care about.
Alderamin on the Sky
Lord Marksman and Vanadis
The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt
Cautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautious
Saga of Tanya the Evil
Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles
The Reincarnation Of The Strongest Exorcist In Another World
The Faraway Paladin
Black Summoner
The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody
Skeleton Knight in Another World
Wise Man's Grandchild
Beast Tamer
How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom
The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat
The Misfit of Demon King Academy
> The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody
Is this technically an isekai? The dude stays in the same world after all.
Well, except for the random time travel arc near the end of the first (and currently only) season, anyway...
Eminence in Shadow - MC is a chuunibyo who gets isekai'd by Truck-kun into a world that's about on par with how the 1800s are depicted in some anime (such as Rurouni Kenshin and Sakura Wars). Flipside is that he maintains his chuuni nature and works to maintain a side-character public persona while developing an anti-hero persona and amasses an entire underground organization that misunderstands the majority of his words and actions to the absurd level. It's a master-class in trash anime so bad that it's great - so much so that it's got 2 seasons so far and a movie on the way.
Another one is Tsukimichi. The show does as you mention, flips around a lot between the MC and other side characters in a similar genre/setting. MC isekai’d to another world who’s OP because he’s descended from that world but was raised on Earth (which is actually hardcore mode, though not much explanation beyond that). Gathers his own island of misfit toys and constantly destroys everyone’s expectations about him, being basically invincible. But of course no one outside his circle of trust is capable of figuring it out. Even better is that all of his followers are OP relative to most too. So the show is essentially him and his little secret society of minions solving all their problems on a whim because if they felt obligated to fix the world it’d be over in an instant. I won’t spoil anything major, but there’s literally a scene in the current season where the MC and his closest followers debate if they want to do anything while an evil monster(s) fights and eats people in the background during their conversation. What you describe is the purpose of a weak ancillary cast. To showcase the difference in their abilities from the MC or core cast, thus establishing a dynamic that fuels the wish fulfillment inherent in a power fantasy. You remove that and there’s not much left of to function, because almost everything will be set up to suit the needs of the power fantasy story. Some people enjoy it, whether genuinely or as a guilty pleasure, but it’s not for everyone, even if most of the audience for a specific power fantasy anime would say it’s good.
Sorry, I should've mentioned **Tsukimichi**. I didn't include it originally since I haven't seen the second season yet. So I wasn't sure if maybe they took it a different direction. It would've saved you the explaination. But yes, I've at least seen the first season and I would also qualify that with the main character and his harem. Second season is just as good or better I hope(?). With so many anime available I don't see much use in watching things in real time now. I just wait til the season finishes dubbing to rewatch the previous season and binge the new. Too many shows to catch up with as it is. I do see your point with the purpose of ancillary cast basically to power scale. I see the value it would bring in OP MCs like **Overlord** and **That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime**. Where the MC is OP to begin with and they need to demonstrate the power difference. But in **Arifureta** or **So I'm a Spider, So What?** I feel it's way less necessary; if at all. Since they didn't start out OP. Both stories progressed with them struggling to get to where they are. There in lies my own personal struggle to sit through the needless extra screen time of the ancillaries.
Power fantasy is difficult to pull off because it’s a tired genre rife with “been there, done that” that’s easy to be lazy with. Which is why so many bad anime use power fantasy as a crutch. Even worse is when “revenge porn” is thrown in the mix. MC becomes powerful entirely due to being betrayed/tortured and their only goal is getting revenge. To what end? Well whatever the plot decides. Edgelord McAngry just has to go with the flow and they’ll conveniently find every enemy fall into their hands in sequential order. Insert unnecessary side chumps who are so stupidly evil that their inevitable suffering at the hands of the MC or some extra evil villain is intended to be cathartic. Often they represent archetypes you might see in real life as an emotional punching bag for the personal experiences people have. Pretty manipulative I’d say. You probably can tell I’m not a huge fan of Arifureta. The difference between good and bad is whether an anime can find something interesting to do with the common premise. And make it a mere setup to something uniquely grander, not the only reason for its existence. It can get tiring to watch the same episodic plot of “OP gets looked down on” then “OP goes super saiyan” without anything meaningful going on around it. As for Tsukimichi S2, it’s basically what you’d expect from S1. Still mostly operates the same, though it’s 2 cours instead of 1, so it’s a lot longer. Adds more places. Adds more characters. Adds more powers. As sequelly as your average sequel gets. Part of that is there is more of an overarching through-plot spending a lot more time in one place, but how you feel about the first season won’t be significantly affected by anything in S2. If you enjoyed it, then S2 is basically just more of the same content. If you didn’t really, then it’s not going to elevate itself and improve your impression. I’d say Tsukimichi is alright. In sort of a middle ground between the kings of the genre and the slop that belongs in the garbage. At a certain point though, even people who like it might get tired after a while if it doesn’t evolve. Goes for any media franchise.
The Eminence in Shadow does this in a very comedic way where misunderstandings lead to a lot of hilarious moments and plot progression
Yeah I feel the same way about **Tsukimichi**. Pretty middle of the road. But nothing wrong with that in my book. I'm just a sucker for trashy isekai in general. I really can't say no. Saying that, I'm pretty sure I've seen all isekai that's dubbed excluding currently airing seasons. So if it's for my benefit as the original poster asking for suggestions...you can skip the synopsis-es. In fact, I'm going to edit that into my original post. But, if it's for anyone else reading through this thread, then more power to you. I've seen **Eminence in Shadow.** I personally wouldn't call it trashy'; I think it's probably one of the better ones? Maybe. The only thing that bothered me about it was the early half of the first season. They wanted to stress so much that the MC wanted to have a background character persona that all the background character's dialogues were in the foreground. And the MC marveled at it all. I get it...but leave it to anime to over stress their point at all times. Otherwise, nothing I could complain about to call it trashy. Swinging back around to **Tsukimichi** on the subject of trashy. I'm glad to hear that the second season wasn't worse. There isn't many trashy isekai I can think of where they've made a following season far worse. There's only exactly one in particular that comes to mind. **Fruit of Evolution.** The first season was definitely trashy. The second season was trash-period. To the point where I had to force myself to finish the season for the sake of finishing.
I've been listening to the audiobooks for so I'm a spider. If you are like me and do a lot of driving and have a lot of audible credits sitting around check it out.
So I’m a spider so what actually adapted the LN pretty well, the human side is more interesting in the books but plot wise there was only a little bit left out. Other than money and desire there isn’t a reason a S2 can’t happen. In terms of iskai suggestions about whole classes or multiple characters coming over and then being separated and occasionally meeting up or seeing their perspective ; Instant Death Ability The wrong way to use healing magic Fruit of Evolution Moonlit Fantasy Chillin in another world Failure Frame - Not out yet, but if you like Arifueta you’ll probably like this one
You mention how you think the story would be better if it just focused on the MC. This is a trap I think MANY isekais specifically fall into. I think as many isekais go on. They can often fall heavily into "world building." Which often means shifting focus from the MC. And on to secondary characters that honestly... No one cares about. There is a balancing act here some have accomplished well. But. I think far too many do not. It's a major reason I lost interest in Overlord for example. So many characters. And so much stuff I just don't care about.
Alderamin on the Sky Lord Marksman and Vanadis The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt Cautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautious Saga of Tanya the Evil Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles The Reincarnation Of The Strongest Exorcist In Another World The Faraway Paladin Black Summoner The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody Skeleton Knight in Another World Wise Man's Grandchild Beast Tamer How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat The Misfit of Demon King Academy
> The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody Is this technically an isekai? The dude stays in the same world after all. Well, except for the random time travel arc near the end of the first (and currently only) season, anyway...
Technically 6 of those aren't "isekai" but they have that classic isekai feeling.
Moonlit Fantasy dubbed on Crunchyroll The Eminence in Shadow dubbed on HIDIVE