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And to think, the author is now a politician.
That was actually the only thing I knew about it lol, because the back cover mentioned he wrote Love Hina. Overall it's pretty mellow. Do you like tits and ass but not to a nuclear degree, with a bit of magic sprinkled in, and very early 2000's asthetitcs? Negamai is what you're looking for. It's pretty non offensive as Harems go, most of it being silliness.
 
That was actually the only thing I knew about it lol, because the back cover mentioned he wrote Love Hina. Overall it's pretty mellow. Do you like tits and ass but not to a nuclear degree, with a bit of magic sprinkled in, and very early 2000's asthetitcs? Negamai is what you're looking for. It's pretty non offensive as Harems go, most of it being silliness.
The gimmick of Negima was the sheer number of potential girls, over 100. It's about what you can expect from Ken. If you like Love Hina, and I do, you'll like most of his stuff. I must say, Negima is a blast of nostalgia, I miss some things about the 2000s.
 
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The gimmick of Negima was the sheer number of potential girls, over 100. It's about what you can expect from Ken. If you like Love Hina, and I do, you'll like most of his stuff. I must say, Negima is a blast of nostalgia, I'm miss some things about the 2000s.
100??? Holy crap lol. Really I'm just having a lot of fun, and yes, nostalgia. Getting to see some booba that somehow doesn't seem gratuitous is something you don't get anymore. And yes, general nostalgia. Looking at the laptops, phones, hell, bendy straws and talking about parfaits just speaks of a different time- my time as a kid. Not to mention the art is smashing.
 
The gimmick of Negima was the sheer number of potential girls, over 100. It's about what you can expect from Ken.
I thought the story was his editor made him do another harem manga but Ken wanted to do a battle shounen and managed to sneak it in to the plot?
 
I don't know these at all but I'll say it with complete confidence: they're shit.
It's funny you type that because Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari (Tales of the Wedding Rings) is about as close as the "old" isekai you praise about, as in, adventures in an unknown world to defeat a great evil, and get stronger along the journey. As the title implies, it has harem elements. It's also made by the same duo behind the Dusk Maiden of Amnesia.
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Isekai Izakaya Nobu is a chill and comfy food manga in an isekai setting. It's mainly slice-of-life but there is enough plot and tension to keep things interesting, as well as a world that is progressively building up as the manga goes on.
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Genkai OL-san is a GL/yuri work where the MC, an office lady, is summoned in the world setting of a game she likes. She serves the female antagonist by pretending to have clairvoyance powers (she just knows the plot of the game that this world is based on) but the OL's continuous involvements keeps derailing the plot further and further from its original path.
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I dunno why someone who seems so averse in trying out things, and with a surface-level knowledge, can say anything in confidence but you do you after all.
I'm not saying to be forced to like something, such as the examples above, but at the very least gaining a sense of curiosity.
The manga industry is so ridiculously huge over there, with so many different works, that I feel like I'm merely scratching things in spite of my best efforts to discover new titles.

Picked up a used #1 Negamai omnibus at a weeb store yesterday for $8 bucks. After getting thru two volumes out of the three... I like it lol. Not usually a Harem guy, but it gives me a lot of those early 2000's feels that I miss, from the tech to just the slang. It's refreshing reading a old series, even if it's a bit trashy.
Ken Akamatsu's previous work, Love Hina, were on sale in the Kindle section of Amazon JP, with the first five volumes handed out for free and the rest at 200-300 yen per volume. Sometimes, it feels nice to revisit old mangas.
 
Rayearth is just isekai Sailor Moon, Escaflowne is much better.

But do note that Rayearth is included in the caveat about older isekis.
It's fine, I liked it well enough.

Speaking of older isekais, did Fushigi Yugi age well, in comparison?
 
I believe you are talking about Ruin Explorers Fam & Ihrie or just Ruin Explorers.

Slayers is a solid, if not goofy, fantasy series. The Japanese take on fantasy . . .

I go like the armor design but most of it fits in this odd blend of European and Japanese culture that got repetitive at the end of the 1990s.

I refuse to say this next suggestion is great but try Ys OVA.
Yeah that was it. I just remember laughing a lot from it and I wanted to wear that armor with the huge Pauldrons. I just really like dungeon delving anime because it reminds me of when I was playing Warcraft or elder scrolls as a kid.
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Ken Akamatsu's previous work, Love Hina, were on sale in the Kindle section of Amazon JP, with the first five volumes handed out for free and the rest at 200-300 yen per volume. Sometimes, it feels nice to revisit old mangas.
Dang man. It's especially nice when you haven't read any of them. Suddenly there's hundreds of chapters ahead of you with a ending and everything when diving into something old.
 
Speaking of older isekais, did Fushigi Yugi age well, in comparison?
Yep, rewatched it recently. It's still so much better than your average seasonal anime. I recommend the manga though - much funnier.

Probably a really dumb question but aren't most of these isekai stories just low brow (i.e. just dumb fun or amusement)? And if they are, why do people have a problem with that (other than simply wanting something else)?
Because for the most part they aren't 'dumb fun' either. Dragon Ball was 'dumb fun' - watching isekai nr 5735 just makes me yawn.
 
I thought the story was his editor made him do another harem manga but Ken wanted to do a battle shounen and managed to sneak it in to the plot?
I didn't mean to say the 100+ girls is why he made it. I recall that story. His editor explained the difficulties of switching genres and the pay downgrade that comes with it.
There are 31 main girls, Negi's class. I remember reading in one of the polls in Weekly Shonen that the sheer number of girls is what made it different but I think that comment undersales the manga. Ken Akamatsu tends to like to put cool and exciting ideas in his work and he's got the talent to make people want to read.

There is a spinoff - Negiho, but I know very little about it but it's preschoolers and creepy.

I remember their being bio pages on the girls in the classroom (measurements included). In fact, a sketch Ken did is my go to when I need to explain cup size to others.

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I don’t get the point of complaing that character has faults. There was a short series on message board I went on back in 2009-ish about a racist investigator being hired to try to solve a murder mystery that he only took because his code of ethics over rode his racism. The inner monologue of a guy calling people niggers and feeling absolute disgust is great when juxtaposing his desire to see Justice.
Was this an anime?
 
I remember their being bio pages on the girls in the classroom (measurements included). In fact, a sketch Ken did is my go to when I need to explain cup size to others.
A lot of people forget (or don't know) that Ken Akumatsu started out as an erotic doujinshi author.

Just like any other thing, there are enjoyable current isekai titles (to one's liking) if you search well enough.
If you're looking for good modern isekai, I have some much better titles for you. They are listed in this video here (yes, an actually GOOD anime recommendation video):

For convenience's sake, I'll list them here as well for those who don't want to watch the vid:

Mezametara Saikyou Soubi to Uchuusen-mochi Datta no de, Ikkodate Mezashite Youhei Toshite Jiyuu ni Ikitai: Yes, that's the actual name. Full name in English is "When I Woke Up, I Got the Strongest Equipment and a Starship, so I Went and Became a Mercenary in Order to Live as I Please while Aiming for a Detached House". The manga is an adaptation of a light novel series whose author was a huge Elite: Dangerous fan, and the series is basically an (un)official adaptation of Elite: Dangerous with the serial numbers filed off. The main character was a normal 27 year old salary guy who liked playing his world's Elite: Dangerous ripoff, only to fall sleep at his computer one night and suddenly find himself transported to a world identical to the game, inside a powerful starship identical to the one he piloted in game, which was one of the best ships in said game. Thus, its a sci-fi isekai with a protagonist who is rather ordinary himself, but has an awesome ship to compensate for it. Its a harem series as well, where the protagonist actually fucks his harem (though the manga tones down the blatant sexiness of the light novel), and the harem aspect is an in-built part of the setting, with the haremites being members of the main character's crew.

Shinju no Nectar: Also known as Nectar of Dharani, its a fantasy isekai, but its not set in a medieval fantasy world, but one currently going through an industrial revolution, so things like guns and sarin gas are present. The main character is summoned by a princess on the run from enemies of her country, just as she's being cornered by them. The princess meant to summon a great hero, but she summons the main character instead, and he's just some normal, low wage slub from Japan. Thinking all is lost, the princess is suddenly taken over by a split personality who powers the main protagonist up...by feeding him her breast milk. Yeah. For those who don't know, this story is from the creators of Seikon No Qwaser (Qwaser of the Stigmata). Apparently, our main character, Kai, only gets this power up because he's human (humans are rare in the world this story is set) and the princess suffers from some kind of curse, and Kai is one of the lucky few who benefit from this curse by consuming the main heroine's breast milk while in her cursed "Ambrosia" state. The interesting part of the manga is the complex politics at play, as its a fantasy world turning towards science and technology, and away from magic, leading to political upheaval among the nations of the setting. Magic itself has been disappearing, leaving Ambrosia as one of the few sources of magic left. Also a harem series and has beautiful art.

Nigoru Hitomi de Nani wo Negau - Highserk Senki; Also known in English as "What Do You Wish For With Those Murky Eyes: Record of Highserk War". Notable in that it takes the basic isekai plot and rams it through a woodchipper. The main character was a normal Japanese salary man who died on Earth and reincarnated in a medieval fantasy world. But not as some overpowered hero destined to save the world. Oh no. He came back as a normal, run of the mill foot soldier fighting on the frontlines of a brutal war. The main character has no cheat abilities whatsoever, and while magic exists in this world, its far weaker than in a high fantasy setting. The best word to describe this manga is gritty. There is no light fighting the darkness here; its a dirty, dangerous world. The main character doesn't gain levels and become OP. He gets better the old fashioned way; by surviving on the battlefield a little bit longer and gaining the necessary skills to continue, which only allow him to survive on the battlefield just a little bit longer the next go around. Basically, everything an isekai is supposed to be (bland power fantasy wish fulfillment) is balled up and thrown out the window.

And since I brought up that video, I will heartily recommend the two other manga it mentions:

Rebuild World: A science fiction manga (adapted from a light novel) taking place in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk setting, starring a young man trying to make it as a relic hunter in order to survive on the streets. While traveling though some ruins, he meets a "friendly" AI who offers to help him find success, and in exchange, he will ultimately do something for her. A very interesting, dark story with beautiful artwork.

Ningen Fushin no Boukenshatachi ga Sekai o Sukuu Youdesu: Known in English as "Apparently, Disillusioned Adventurers Will Save the World", this is a traditional fantasy story (adapted from a light novel) with a unique twist. The main characters are a bunch of rejects who were all thrown out of their previous parties or organizations for various unfair reasons and betrayals that leave the cast with a massive amount of emotional baggage. They decide to form a party together because they literally can't trust anyone else due their pasts causing them to lose faith in people, but since they all understand what it means to be betrayed, they decide to party together so they can earn some honest coin together.
 
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Was this an anime?
No, this was just something on a forum because the site operator got pissy about No Mutants Allowed.

I think it might’ve been those “anyone can write about the character, but if it’s not good we are gonna cyber bully you”.
It was hilarious because you got shit like people learning what Black Israelites were so the character would say that they might be right about the Polish being nigger pig men.
 
Probably a really dumb question but aren't most of these isekai stories just low brow (i.e. just dumb fun or amusement)? And if they are, why do people have a problem with that (other than simply wanting something else)?
Isekai have a couple of major issues:
1. The anime industry isn't a zero sum game, and a season for generic isekai will come instead of a series that might actually be original and good.
2. They represent a very degenerate outlook on life of "I fucked things here, so I might as well die and reroll".
3. They are criminally unoriginal and badly thought of. The west at least has the benefit of starting with the parodies and deconstructions, but after those were over we're left with an endless abyss of small variations on what came beforehand that don't even try to build a world.
 
Isekai have a couple of major issues:
1. The anime industry isn't a zero sum game, and a season for generic isekai will come instead of a series that might actually be original and good.
2. They represent a very degenerate outlook on life of "I fucked things here, so I might as well die and reroll".
3. They are criminally unoriginal and badly thought of. The west at least has the benefit of starting with the parodies and deconstructions, but after those were over we're left with an endless abyss of small variations on what came beforehand that don't even try to build a world.
The first one is really important. For every good iseaki, there's like 10 bad ones. And it's usually not even on the studios, who've put out good shit in the past. They've just been given trash, and it shows from the animation to the script because they don't care. There are a few mold breakers, but most follow the same formula because it's easy.
 
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