Fantasy shows usually follow one hero into their quest, but the newest isekai anime on Hulu has plenty of them, and instead of straightforward awe, the people they save hold unexpected emotions to the power they wield. Ishura starts with this– its first few episodes are dedicated to introducing each hero, or Shura, that would fight against each other, and possibly take over the world. Through this approach, Ishura has plenty of spectacular action, as each of the heroes have to prove themselves somehow, and has plenty of fantastical powers that look great on-screen, even when the CGI sometimes falters in certain moments. It’s a wild ride, and some deaths can certainly be brutal for some viewers, but it’s an interesting approach in building a fantasy world that values strength above all else. Ishura is a great start to fantasy anime this year, if you can stomach the gore.

At first glance, Ishura seems to be the type of anime that’s more focused on spectacular battles rather than its characters, but the isekai anime has such an interesting world and framing that makes it stand out from other shows in the genre. The fantasy world is one where strength determines political control, so after the Demon King has died without a hero to claim victory, the fates of those not embued with power are up in the air. For one of them, Yuno the Distant Talon, she’s interested in getting rid of the Shura that saved her, Soujiro the Willow-Sword, for his nonchalant attitude that didn’t save her best friend. This makes for a fresh perspective on the fantasy battles, and creates unique stakes we’ve haven’t seen before.