Kara Dennison
July 9, 2023 
Reincarnation isekai is a messy business—mainly because to be reincarnated, you first have to die. There was a time, not too long ago, when a quick tap from Truck-kun would get the job done. But as time goes on and neighbor-world titles dominate more and more of the anime world, that won’t cut it. Some series went a different route: our hero going out like, well, a hero while saving someone else. But we can go weirder.
While there’s still plenty of anime yet to premiere this season, these three fresh titles have already staked their claims with some of the weirdest and most awkward deaths.
Following a Vending Machine off a Cliff
The unnamed hero of Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon is a vending machine otaku. It’s part of why, when he gets the isekai treatment, it’s as a vending machine. But it’s also not the only reason… not to mention it’s the reason he dies.
The new title‘s first episode clarifies that our protagonist wasn’t just hit by a truck or crushed by a vending machine. In fact, he went out of his way to save a vending machine as it was flying off a truck. It’s a combo of Truck-kun and selfless sacrifice, but on a whole other level.
Crushed by Candy
Before his isekai adventures begin, the hero of Sweet Reincarnation is a master pâtissier about to wow the world with a major contest win. He’s just creative a massive, glorious sugar sculpture… which then falls over and crushes him to death.
You’d think being destroyed by his dream made reality would put a damper on the whole “I want to make enormous sweets” dream. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Reborn as Pastry, the son of a lesser noble trying to keep a fiefdom afloat, he’ll use his wits and his magic to create the delicious world he dreams of.
Dying in Bed at the Age of 15
The heroes of Reborn as a Vending Machine and Sweet Reincarnation went out in big style, ironically destroyed by what they loved most. Technically, you could say that’s the case for Haruto of Am I Actually the Strongest? as well… although what he loved most was staying inside and sleeping. This is what did it, as he wakes up one morning to find he didn’t make it through the night. Fortunately, there’s a goddess who’s going to make everything right. Sort of.
Left to die by his family for having a magic level so high it doesn’t register on their two-digit magic meter, baby Haruto eventually begins to figure things out for himself. But even in a magical world, he’d still prefer to stay in and relax. Will he have that chance? We’ll find out this season.
Check out more fresh fantasy anime—including three with surprisingly modern settings.
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