That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is considered to be one of the greatest isekai anime franchises in recent history. Fans of the genre often put it in the same tier as other isekai titles like Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Overlord, and Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World. The isekai fantasy series started out as a light novel series written by Fuse and illustrated by Mitz Vah in 2013, and it received an anime adaptation produced by Eight Bit studio in 2018. Since then, the success of the anime led to three full seasons of the TV anime, a spin-off anime series, OVA specials, and a feature film. The series also received a manga adaptation published by Kodansha along with five manga spin-offs.
Now, Riichiro Umetsu, the editor behind the original light novel series, recently spoke to ComicBook during Anime Expo 2024, and according to him, the popularity of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime anime is due to how the emotional sway of the narrative has been expanded upon in the anime adaptation for both the old and new viewers thanks to how it's adapted from the original source material.
Why is That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime popular?
Here's what Umetsu told ComicBook on why That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is so popular:
Firstly, going from an anime to a manga adds in movement and voices as well as sound effects and music. This means on the emotional side of things, what you feel from watching along is a lot robust than reading. At first, the story started with just words in the novel and then you added the art in the manga. Now, with anime, you add sound and more. The story may still be familiar, but there is a bigger emotional sway as you watch it on screen. I feel that is why That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime resonates a lot with viewers.
If you're wondering what That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is about, the isekai fantasy begins with a 37-year-old salaryman named Satoru Mikami, who's stabbed by a robber and wakes up in another world. However, the hero is reincarnated as a Slime, one of the weakest Monster classes in this fantasy world.
Here's Crunchyroll's description of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3:
Rimuru has officially become a Demon Lord after defeating Clayman. Following Walpurgis, the Demon Lords’ banquet, Rimuru’s domain is expanded to include the entire Great Forest of Jura. Anticipating a flood of representatives from all races showing up to pay their respects, Rimuru decides to throw a festival to commemorate the opening of Tempest, using it as an opportunity to gain new citizens and present Demon Lord Rimuru to the world. Meanwhile, in the Holy Empire of Lubelius, home base of the monster-hating cult of Luminism, Holy Knight Captain Hinata receives a message from Rimuru. But the message is actually a fabricated declaration of war sent by some unknown party. Upon learning that Hinata is heading for Tempest, Rimuru makes a decision… Thus begins a new challenge for Rimuru, striving to distinguish friend from foe in a pursuit of the ideal nation where humans and monsters can prosper together.
The first two seasons and the ongoing third season of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime are now streaming on Crunchyroll. You can check the preview of this week's episode (Season 3, Episode 19) in our article here.
