Japanese Self-Defense Force solider and otaku Youji Itami is in the Ginza district of Tokyo feeding his hobby one afternoon when a gate to another world opens and medieval soldiers flood modern day Japan. While Itami, in conjunction with the local police, manage to save many civilian lives, his hero status forces him to go beyond the gate with his fellow soldiers to explore a mysterious new world filled with swords, magic, elves, and dragons.
Of all the isekai, transported to another world anime series I have subjected myself to at this point, Gate remains my very favorite. It isn’t an especially ambitious anime, but it is fun. Furthermore, you just don’t know how much you wanted to see modern military might against medieval technology until you see it. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like Gate, then head on down below.
Anime Like Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There
For Fans of Transport to Another World
The Devil is a Part-Timer
Right on the verge of taking over the world, evil Demon Lord Satan was foiled by the hero Emilia and was forced to retreat through a dimensional portal. He ends up in this world where he is without powers and without money. In order to pay his way, he gets a part-timer job slinging fast food.
Both series are earlier isekai series before everything became all same-y about it. While Gate is more the isekai your expect, The Devil is a Part-Timer is more of a reverse isekai where the fantasy beings come to Tokyo. What they have most in common are the moments of excellent comedy.
Those Who Hunt Elves
A group of kids are transported to a new world with a Type 74 tank. In order to return home, they must collect five spell fragments that are located on the skin of various elves throughout the world.
Both series combine modern military technology and pit it against fantasy creatures to varying results. However, Those Who Hunt Elves has more of a quest type plot rather than an exploration type plot that Gate has. It also has the disadvantage of being a bit older.
Cop Craft
15 years ago, a gate opened over the Pacific to a fantasy world. In the present day, San Teresa City hosts two million immigrants from the other world and those from our world live side by side. As with any city, crime has started to run rampant, but justice is handed out by a police force combined of cops from our world and knights from the other. This is the tale of one such team.
Like in Gate, a gate opens on Earth and two world combine. In both series, the main characters are part of a time of law enforcers, though Gate is military and Cop Craft has them as police officers. The main characters also grow closer with the people from this other world as well.
For Fans of Slacker Main Characters
Irresponsible Captain Tylor
Ueki Tylor had his life planned out – join the military and land a safe, cushy desk job. However, after wandering into a hostage situation and saving an admiral, suddenly he finds himself the captain of a space cruiser. Of course, his crew is the most rag-tag team of misfits in the universe, too.
If you were a big fan of how Itami was just doing his military service for money in order to buy otaku things and just sort of went with the flow, then Tylor is your boy. He just wants to cruise through his career and ends up being pulled into this huge adventure where the universe hangs in the balance.
Konosuba
On his way back from buying a new game, Kazuma Satou died a pathetic death. However, he awakens before the Goddess Aqua who gives him two choices: go to heaven or reincarnate into an actual fantasy world. Naturally, the gamer picks the fantasy world. Now Kazuma must deal with defeating an evil demon king, useless party members, and paying living expenses.
While Kazuma is much more of a spaz, he and Itami share a similar laid back attitude about the fantasy things going on around them. While Gate does take its plot more seriously, they also share a certain passion for comedy.
Legend of Legendary Heroes
Ryner Lute is a talented mage with the power of Alpha Stigma, special eyes that can analyze all types of magic, but are said to bring destruction. He was once a student in a magic school, but after most of his classmates died in the war, he makes an oath to make the world a more peaceful place. In an effort to do this, he sets out to find relics from legendary heroes with the help of beautiful swordswoman Ferris Eris.
Both Gate and Legend of Legendary Heroes walk a nice balance between comedy and serious fantasy adventure. Furthermore, they share a main character that would really rather be kicking back somewhere instead of being this huge hero, but step up to the plate all the same.
For Fans of Fantasy Girl Harems
Interviews With Monster Girls
Although not completely common, Ajin, or demi-humans, have become a part of society. High school biology teacher Tetsuo Takahashi is increasingly interested in Ajin for research, but having never met one himself, he let it be. He was going to give up until he found out that not only are three students in his school demi-humans, but a fellow teacher as well. As he sets up interviews with them, Tetsuo finds out that they have both human and demi problems to overcome.
Obviously, Itami and Takahashi share the exact same look. However, they also share a similar personality where they carry themselves professionally and often pretty maturely as they are surrounded by a growing harem of fantasy girls.
Outbreak Company
With parents that write light novels and draw eroge, Kanou Shinichi was born to be an otaku. One day, he finds himself transported to a fantasy world full of elves and dragons. In this world he is given a quest, not to fight monsters, but to become a moe missionary to teach everyone on the finer points of being an otaku.
In both series, a standard otaku finds himself sent to a new fantasy world. There they become increasingly surrounded by fantasy girls. However, while Gate has some action, Outbreak Company is more comedy, ecchi, harem, slice of life sort of thing.
Overlord
As the final hour approaches the life cycle of the MMO Yggdrasil, Momonga, a powerful wizard and leader of the dark guild Ainz Ooal Gown, is there to see it off. However, to his surprise, the servers don’t go down and even stranger is that all the NPC characters have come alive with their own unique personalities.
If you enjoyed the occasional moments of big action in Gate as well as some of the more political intrigues, Overlord does all that but bigger, and sometimes better. It definitely has more of that focus on action, but there is still some good comedy as well.
Do you have any more anime recommendations like Gate? Let fans know in the comments section below.
