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Over the past 15 or so years, isekai has emerged as a powerhouse genre in the anime industry. Though its biggest shows aren't and will likely never be quite as popular as the biggest names in battle shōnen, the sheer number of isekai titles released each anime season is proof enough of the genre's immense and ever-growing popularity. And as time passes since isekai's major 2010s breakthrough, the genre is beginning to see some evolution.
A number of subgenres falling under the isekai umbrella have risen in prominence over the years, and one currently-airing show is aiming to lead the way in another. The Forsaken Saintess and Her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, based on the novel series of the same name by Yoneori and Nana Kogami, is a 2026 anime series produced by EMT Squared that began airing on July 6th as part of the summer anime lineup.
Though the title and premise are nothing new to isekai, The Forsaken Saintess is taking a bit of a different approach than many of its peers, forgoing much of the action and other typical tropes and instead fitting itself snugly into the cozy isekai subgenre. One that series director Atsushi Nigorikawa believes is exactly what audiences are looking for at the moment.
The Forsaken Saintess' Director Believes the Series Is What Viewers Are Looking For
In a sit-down with Atsushi Nigorikawa and Ayumu Hatori at Anime Expo 2026, the director and producer of The Forsaken Saintess spoke with ScreenRant and touched on the growing cozy isekai subgenre, a trend that began to surface only a few short years ago but has rapidly risen in popularity with fans of differing tastes in regions all around the world. On why they feel The Forsaken Saintess is what viewers are looking for, Nigorikawa and Hatori said:
Nigorikawa: "In both Japan and America, technology and society are advancing so quickly that daily life can feel exhausting. People are mentally tired. So entertainment that lets you relax and slow life down hits exactly what audiences are looking for right now."
Hatori: "I feel the same. People in Japan are very tired these days. That’s why anime like this, where characters take things slowly, enjoy food, camp, and have fun together, are becoming more popular. It’s therapeutic."
The cozy slice-of-life genre, also known as iyashikei, which translates to 'healing', is not new to the popular anime scene. For decades, shows have made the gentle and relatively low stakes of their narratives the main point. Titles like Laid-Back Camp and Mushi-shi, despite belonging to two very different genres, both fit the iyashikei or cozy label, prioritizing their slow-paced, healing qualities over anything else.
Now, in the midst of isekai's seemingly unending rise in popularity, shows like Campfire Cooking in Another World and the now-airing The Forsaken Saintess and Her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World are attempting and succeeding at bringing cozy anime to the isekai genre. A genre which, until recently, most often prioritized action and adventuring.
The Isekai Genre Continues to Evolve as Its Popularity Grows
Isekai has a large and growing number of subgenres underneath its wide umbrella, the term translating to 'other world'. Though it's a relatively simple concept, there are quite a few ways the genre can be approached. Some stories involve reincarnation, others involve transportation, some focus primarily on romance, and others lean into the power fantasy of their action. Some shows themselves are a parody of the genre to which they belong. And in recent years, cozy slice-of-life isekai has risen as a serious subgenre of its own.
The Forsaken Saintess and Her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World began airing this July and is currently available to stream on HIDIVE. Fans of the genre will want to check out why its creators believe the series is exactly what audiences are looking for.
