7.5 / 10 (based on 1960 reviews)
Honjou Kaede is invited by her friend Shiramine Risa to play a virtual reality MMO game with her. While Kaede doesn’t dislike games, what she really, truly dislikes is being in pain.
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Main Cast: Jad Saxton, Megan Shipman, Anthony Bowling, Caitlin Glass
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1 season, 12 episodes, 23-minute runtime
Shows Most Like Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu (2020)
Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! (2019)
6.5 / 10 (based on 697 reviews)
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. That life changed abruptly, however, when Misato died trying to aid a little girl and met god. During that meeting, she made an odd request and asked for average abilities in her next life. But few things-especially wishes-ever go quite as planned.
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Main Cast: Claire Margaret Corlett, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Veronica Taylor, Masumi Tazawa
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1 season, 12 episodes, 23.0-minute runtime
Shinchô yûsha ~ kono yûsha ga ore TUEEE kuse ni shinchô sugiru ~ (2019)
7.4 / 10 (based on 2956 reviews)
The goddess Rista summons a hero to help her hard mode video game-like world. The hero, Seiya, is exceptional in every way, but he is incredibly cautious. He does things like buy three sets of armor (one to wear, a spare, and a spare for the spare) and go full power against weak slimes (just in case).
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Main Cast: Yuichiro Umehara, Aki Toyosaki, Anthony Bowling, Jamie Marchi
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1 season, 12 episodes, 23.0-minute runtime
Honzuki no Gekokujou (2019)
7.9 / 10 (based on 1197 reviews)
Urano, a young Japanese soon-to-be librarian, dies in an earthquake. She is reincarnated in another world as a young girl named Mayne, but learns that books are scarce and only provided to prestigious elites. Mayne (retaining her memories from her previous life) decides to create and print her own books so that she can read again.
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Main Cast: Armen Taylor, Reba Buhr, Yuka Iguchi, Lizzie Freeman
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3 seasons, 28 episodes, 23.0-minute runtime
Kami-tachi ni Hirowareta Otoko (2020)
7.1 / 10 (based on 1023 reviews)
Ryoma didn’t have good luck in his former life. But three deities decide to give him a second chance in a fantasy world of magic.
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
Main Cast: Azusa Tadokoro, Daisuke Ono, Yuuki Kuwahara, Marika Kôno
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1 season, 12 episodes, 23.0-minute runtime
The Eighth Son? That Can’t Be Right! (2020)
6.5 / 10 (based on 1073 reviews)
Shingo Ichinomiya, a 25-year-old man working at a firm company reincarnated as the youngest child of a poor noble family living in a back country. He is blessed with a very rare talent, but in his situation it only brought disaster.
Genre: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Main Cast: Junya Enoki, Mao Ichimichi, Mikako Komatsu, Yûna Mimura
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1 season, 12 episodes, 24.0-minute runtime
Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (2019)
7.1 / 10 (based on 3348 reviews)
Seventeen-year-old Hajime Nagumo is your average, everyday otaku. However, his simple life of pulling all-nighters and sleeping in school is suddenly turned upside down when he, along with the rest of his class, is summoned to a fantasy world. They’re treated like heroes and tasked with the duty of saving the human race from utter extinction. But what should have been any otaku’s wet dream quickly turns into Hajime’s nightmare. While the rest of his class are blessed with godlike powers, Hajime’s job, Synergist, only has a single transmutation skill. Ridiculed and bullied by his classmates for being weak, he soon finds himself in despair. Will he be able to survive in this dangerous world of monsters and demons with only a glorified blacksmith’s level of strength?
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Main Cast: Tia Lynn Ballard, Matt Shipman, Toshinari Fukamachi, Minami Takahashi
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2 seasons, 17 episodes, 23.0-minute runtime
Philosopher’s Grandson (2019)
6.8 / 10 (based on 2536 reviews)
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.
Genre: Animation, Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Main Cast: Daman Mills, Lindsay Seidel, Katelyn Barr, Brandon McInnis
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1 season, 12 episodes, 24.0-minute runtime
Welcome to Demon-School, Iruma-kun (2019)
7.7 / 10 (based on 1876 reviews)
A human child is adopted by a demon and sent to a demon school. He must find a way to survive in the dangerous but fun world he has entered.
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Main Cast: Daisuke Ono, Ayumu Murase, Ryohei Kimura, Saori Hayami
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2 seasons, 45 episodes, 23.0-minute runtime
Infinite Dendrogram (2020)
6 / 10 (based on 447 reviews)
In the year 2043, Infinite Dendrogram, the world’s first successful full-dive VRMMO was released. In addition to its ability to perfectly simulate the five senses, along with its many other amazing features, the game promised to offer players a world full of infinite possibilities. Nearly two years later, soon-to-be college freshman, Reiji Mukudori, is finally able to buy a copy of the game and start playing. With some help from his experienced older brother, Shu, and his partner Embryo, Reiji embarks on an adventure into the world of Infinite Dendrogram.
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Main Cast: Ciarán Strange, Suzie Yeung, Jacob Browning, Krystal LaPorte
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1 season, 13 episodes, 24.0-minute runtime
Mao Gakuin no Futekigosha (2020)
7.3 / 10 (based on 4003 reviews)
A demon mage reincarnates into the body of his descendant hoping to find an era where he can have some peace and quiet. He ends up going to a school run by his significantly weaker descendants.
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Main Cast: Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Tomori Kusunoki, Aleks Le, Yuko Natsuyoshi
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2 seasons, 14 episodes, 23.0-minute runtime
Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku (2018)
6.6 / 10 (based on 2056 reviews)
A computer programmer is transported to a fantasy world where life is an adventure that’s fun and full of girls.
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Main Cast: Hiyori Kono, Kiyono Yasuno, Justin Briner, Brittney Karbowski
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1 season, 12 episodes, 24.0-minute runtime
Maou-sama, Retry! (2019)
6.7 / 10 (based on 933 reviews)
On the night of his favorite game’s shutdown, Akira Oono awakens in the body of his online character: Demon Lord Hakuto Kunai.
Genre: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Main Cast: Josh Grelle, Natalie Hoover, Kristen McGuire, Katelyn Barr
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1 season, 12 episodes, 23.0-minute runtime
In the realm of anime, there’s a treasure trove of series that span across genres, each offering a unique blend of storytelling, animation, and character development. Among these, the isekai (another world) genre stands out for its ability to transport viewers to realms beyond their wildest imaginations. In this vast sea of isekai anime, one show that has garnered attention for its refreshing take on the genre is Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu, or BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense. Released in 2020, this series offers a delightful mix of humor, action, and heartwarming moments, all wrapped up in the world of a virtual reality game.
The Premise
At first glance, the premise of BOFURI might seem familiar to fans of the genre. The story follows Kaede Honjou, who adopts the in-game name Maple, as she ventures into the VRMMO (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online) game NewWorld Online. With no prior gaming experience, Maple decides to pour all her status points into defense to avoid getting hurt. This seemingly naive decision leads to unexpected results, turning Maple into an almost invincible player, defying the game’s conventional wisdom and mechanics.
Breaking the Mold
What sets BOFURI apart from its peers isn’t just its premise, but how it executes its story. Unlike typical isekai protagonists who are often portrayed as overpowered from the start or rapidly gain power through intense training or unique abilities, Maple’s strength comes from her unconventional approach to the game. Her decision to focus solely on defense leads to a series of comedic and awe-inspiring moments as she stumbles upon rare skills and abilities that make her a juggernaut in both offense and defense, much to the bewilderment of fellow players and the game’s developers.
Characters and Relationships
One of the show’s strongest suits is its cast of characters and the dynamics between them. Maple, with her cheerful and carefree attitude, quickly becomes the center of a growing circle of friends, each with their unique skills and personalities. From the dependable Sally, Maple’s first friend in the game, to the creative Chrome and the stoic Kasumi, the series does a commendable job of fleshing out its supporting cast, giving each character their moments to shine.
The relationships between these characters are built on genuine friendship and camaraderie, making their interactions a joy to watch. Whether they’re teaming up for battles or just hanging out in the game world, the warmth and affection they share add a layer of depth to the series, making it more than just a string of battles and quests.
A Refreshing Approach to Conflict
In many action-oriented series, the tension often comes from the threat of death or defeat. However, BOFURI takes a different path. With Maple’s overwhelming defense nullifying the fear of getting hurt, the series finds other ways to introduce challenges and conflicts. From limited-time events to competitions against other players and guilds, the show keeps things interesting by constantly changing the stakes and scenarios, ensuring that Maple and her friends are always facing new and exciting challenges.
Moreover, the series cleverly uses these challenges to explore themes of creativity, teamwork, and the joy of discovery. Maple’s unconventional approach to the game encourages her and her friends to think outside the box, leading to inventive strategies and solutions that highlight the series’ emphasis on fun and adventure over mere survival.
The World of NewWorld Online
The game world of NewWorld Online is another aspect where BOFURI shines. The series goes to great lengths to build a rich and immersive virtual world, complete with diverse landscapes, dungeons, and monsters. The attention to detail in the design of quests and game mechanics adds a layer of authenticity to the VRMMO setting, making it easy for viewers to get lost in the world alongside the characters.
Impact and Reception
Since its release, BOFURI has made a notable impact within the anime community. Its lighthearted tone, coupled with engaging characters and innovative approach to the isekai genre, has won over many fans. The series has been praised for its animation quality, soundtrack, and, most importantly, its ability to tell a compelling story without resorting to the grimdark themes or excessive fan service that often plague the genre.
Conclusion
BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense is a breath of fresh air in the isekai genre. It proves that you can have an engaging and entertaining series without relying on overused tropes or sacrificing depth for spectacle. With its charming cast, imaginative world, and a story that celebrates the joys of friendship and adventure, BOFURI is a must-watch for fans of anime, especially those looking for something light-hearted and uplifting. As the series continues to grow in popularity, it stands as a testament to the idea that sometimes, thinking outside the box—not just in strategy but in storytelling—can lead to something truly special.