Re:Zero ‐Starting Life in Another World‐ (light novel, English) Add a review

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World (Japanese: Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活, Hepburn: Ri:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu), often referred to simply as Re:Zero and also known as Re: Life in a different world from zero, is a Japanese light novel series written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Shin'ichirō Ōtsuka. It started serialization as a web novel on the user-generated website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2012. 42 light novels, as well as six side story volumes and thirteen short story collections have been published by Media Factory under their MF Bunko J imprint. The story centers on Subaru Natsuki, a hikikomori who suddenly finds himself transported to another world on his way home from the convenience store.

The series' first four arcs have been adapted into separate manga series. The first, by Daichi Matsue, was published between June 2014 and March 2015. The second, by Makoto Fugetsu, has been published by Square Enix between October 2014 and January 2017. The third, also by Matsue, was also published between May 2015 and September 2019. The fourth, by Haruno Atori, with composition by Yu Aikawa, has been published since September 2019. Additionally, Media Factory has published two anthology manga with stories by different artists. An anime television series adaptation produced by White Fox aired from April to September 2016, starting with an hour-long special. Two original video animation (OVA) episodes were released in October 2018 and November 2019. In March 2017, game developer 5pb. released a visual novel based on the series. A second season aired in a split-cour format, with the first half airing from July to September 2020, and the second half airing from January to March 2021. A third season also premiered in a split-cour format, with the first half airing from October to November 2024, and the second half airing from February to March 2025. A fourth season is set to premiere in April 2026.

The novels and all three manga adaptations are published in North America by Yen Press. The anime adaptation has been streamed by Crunchyroll outside Asia, which released the anime on home video through Funimation in the United States and Anime Limited in the United Kingdom. In Southeast Asia and South Asia, the series is licensed by Muse Communication.

The overall series (light novel and manga volumes) had over 13 million copies in circulation by March 2023 (including digital versions), while the anime series has sold more than 70,000 copies on home video. The light novels have been praised for their fresh take on the "another world" concept, fleshed-out characters, complex world and lore, and thought-provoking topics and themes. The series received awards at the 2015–2016 Newtype Anime Awards and the 2017 Sugoi Japan Awards, and was nominated for Anime of the Year at the Crunchyroll's inaugural Anime Awards.