The 10 Most Cunning Isekai Anime With Politics [Must Watch]

Political themes in anime are always interesting, as they give great depth to the world-building and the events narrated in the story.

And in fact, there are a lot of isekai that along with their fantasy themes and settings have some strong political themes that make their plots deeper and excellent.

So enjoy this list of the best isekai anime with political themes, written in our personal opinion and experience.

10. The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat

The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat is one of the latest isekai released that manages to present a new and interesting formula.

Lugh Tuatha Dé is a legendary assassin, considered the deadliest in the world. That is until he is killed, and awakens before a goddess who proposes that he be revived in another world as a wealthy aristocrat.

The condition? Killing the hero of that new world.

The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat is a good isekai, putting us in the shoes of the villain of the story.

Its action scenes are also great, accompanied by world building in which politics and aristocracy are central.

9. Ascendance of a Bookworm: Stops at Nothing to be a Librarian

Ascendance of a Bookworm is a decidedly unique and interesting 2019 isekai without romance.

The protagonist is Urano Motosu, a young college student with a great passion for books.

She reads anything she can get her hands on, and has a dream of working as a librarian. But tragically, she dies in an accident just as she’s close to achieving her dream.

Her last wish is to be able to read more books in her next life, and that’s how she reincarnates as Myne, a five-year-old girl living in a medieval era where books were just beginning to be created.

Ascendance of a Bookworm has a unique plot that balances its lack of action with a well-written protagonist and excellent world-building.

Indeed, throughout the plot, as Myne continues to pursue her dream, we will see many uprisings and civil wars happening in the world around her.

8. GATE: Thus the JSDF Fought There

GATE is a 2015 isekai released in 14 episodes from a web novel that later became a light novel.

We are in a modern Tokyo, which one day is shocked by the opening of a mysterious portal from which all kinds of entities emerge, from knights to orcs, and even dragons.

As a countermeasure, Japan decides to send a group of elite soldiers led by Youji Itami to the other side of the portal for a political negotiation, and in case it fails, the use of force.

GATE is a good isekai, with a realistic setting and interesting and well-written characters. We recommend it if you are a fan of these elements.

7. 12 Kingdoms

12 Kingdoms is a 2002 anime released in 45 episodes from the light novel of the same name.

The main character, Yoko Nakajima, is a high school student who is highly bored with her life.

But thus changes when a mysterious man named Keiki enters her classroom, claiming to be her servant and guardian as she is the future queen of his kingdom.

The two are forced to flee from dangerous monsters, and Yoko begins a new life in a world unlike her own.

12 Kingdoms stands out in two things: its excellent early 2000s atmosphere and a wordbuilding based on politics and magic that is nothing short of excellent.

Indeed the world of this anime is divided into multiple kingdoms, all with their own rulers, politics and whatnot, relying on the use of magic for various things.

6. El Hazard: The Magnificent World

El Hazard is an excellent niche isekai released in 1995 with only 7 episodes.

The protagonist is Makoto, a model student that decides to follow his morals and reveals that the newly elected student council president rigged the election.

But while he’s trying to do so, he is transported to mysterious ruins under the school where he meets a mysterious girl who has been waiting for him for 10,000 years and takes him to the fantasy world of El Hazard.

And that’s how, together with the PE teacher, Makoto finds himself in a mysterious forest with special powers.

El Hazard unexpectedly manages in its only 7 episodes to have a complex story, with good worldbuilding based among things on alliances, political and not.

If you are looking for a short but well-made anime, we recommend it big time.

5. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is one of the most popular isekai anime in recent years, released from 2018 onward in multiple seasons and spin-offs.

A 37-year-old man dissatisfied with his life is killed one day by a robber on the run.

But instead of dying, he finds himself reincarnated as a blind slime in a strange fantasy world under the name of Rimuru Tempest.

But don’t be swayed by appearances, because he will be incredibly strong, destroying every enemy that comes his way and soon gathering a long retinue of allies thanks to his charisma and strength.

It must be admitted, minus the incredible OP protagonist, this is a fairly basic isekai.

In fact, what has earned it the popularity it has received in recent years in our opinion is its excellent world-building, which is incredibly complexly structured with strong political elements.

We’ll let you find out by watching it, but we assure you that it is incredibly well done.

4. How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom is a recently released isekai, between 2021 and 2022, in 26 episodes for now.

Kazuya Souma is summoned to another world as its hero, and his adventure begins in a quite strange way. After presenting his wise plan to strengthen the country economically and militarily, the king suddenly hands over the throne to him, putting Souma in a difficult position.

The country is indeed at war with neighboring states and the whole situation is everything but easy. Helped by five generals and his previous modern world knowledge, Souma must save the kingdom for which he is now responsible.

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom is an isekai that starts from classic premises but manages to differentiate itself thanks to its world-building and protagonist.

Indeed, Souma is not the classic sword-wielding hero who must defeat enemies with his physical abilities but will have to use his intellect to lead the kingdom as its ruler.

3. Re:Zero

Re: Zero is definitely one of the best modern isekai, released in multiple hugely successful seasons.

The main character, Subaru, gets transported after being run over by a car to the magical world of Lugunica.

In this new world, he will also be attacked by brigands only to be rescued by a beautiful silver-haired girl named Emilia, with whom Subaru will immediately fall in love.

But after a tragic event that results in both of their deaths, Subaru realizes that he has the ability to come back to life, much like a videogame respawn. This sets the stage for a thrilling mystery to unravel and a lot of plot twists.

Re: Zero is an excellent isekai for several reasons. Its story seems trivial, but it is actually full of plot twists and drama as you’ll see Subaru die over and over again in an attempt to make things go right.

But another excellent aspect of this story is its world-building, which is complex and based on politics and lineages, and which is explained as the story progresses.

2. Saga of Tanya the Evil

Saga of Tanya the Evil is a unique isekai with a villain MC that you cannot miss if you are a fan of the war genre with strong political and isekai themes.

It follows the story of Tanya, a young blonde girl who appears innocent but is actually a merciless and strong warrior on the battlefield, leading the Imperial Army.

Tanya was previously a Japanese bureaucrat, who was reincarnated as a child in a world destroyed by war as a punishment for his cynicism and blasphemy.

But instead of being desperate and humbled, he chose to be a cynical war machine in this world too.

Saga of Tanya The Evil is an excellent isekai, with a great MC and a realistic setting focused on war and politics.

1. Log Horizon

Log Horizon is a criminally underrated isekai anime released in 2013 in 25 episodes that you should watch if you are a fan of political themes. It’s available on Hulu, so you can watch it without any issues if you’re subscribed to the service.

The story revolves around the fantasy world of Elder’s Tale, where all the players get trapped and unable to log out for mysterious reasons.

The main character, Shiroe, along with Naotsugu and Akatsuki, decides to form a guild called Log Horizon to survive in this new world.

Log Horizon, without hiding it, builds on its political themes, and does so incredibly well, with its worldbuilding relying entirely on them, as does almost the entire plot.

But for a better understanding of what we are talking about, we suggest you read this interesting article you can find on Medium, which explains it all exceptionally well and in-depth.