Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World

is a Japanese light novel series written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Shinichirou Otsuka. The series was initially serialized as a web novel on the website Shōsetsuka ni Narō from 2012 onwards. Eleven volumes have been published by Media Factory since January 25, 2014, under their MF Bunko J imprint. The series has more than 11 million copies in circulation through 2021 if digital sales are included.

The series first three arcs have been adapted into separate manga series, where all three and the novels have been licensed in North America by Yen Press. The first, by Daichi Matsue, was published by Media Factory between June 2014 and March 2015. The second, by Makoto Fugetsu, has been published by Square Enix since October 2014. Matsue launched the third adaptation, also published by Media Factory, in May 2015. Additionally, Media Factory published an anthology manga in June 2016.

An anime adaptation by White Fox aired from on April 4 to September 19, 2016, starting with an hour-long special. It has been licensed by Anime Limited in the United Kingdom, eventually selling more than 60,000 copies on home video. The light novels have been praised for its fresh take on the "another world" concept, but have been criticized for awkward dialogue and redundancy. However, the anime series has been praised by critics for its "culturally complex world" and for the actions of its characters. The series received several awards (and many, many nominations) through the years including 2015–2016 Newtype Anime Awards (Best Anime Top 10, Best Male Character Top 5, Best Female Character Top 5, Best Mascot Top 5, Best Theme Song Top 5, Best Soundtrack Top 10, Best Director Top 5, Best Screenplay Top 5, and Best Character Design Top 5), IGN Summer Movie Awards 2016 Best Anime Series, Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2017 Best Girl (Rem), 2017 Sugoi Japan Awards (Anime and Light novels), Anime of the Winter Season 2021 from Anitrendz, Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2021 Best VA Performance (Yusuke Kobayashi for Natsuki Subaru), and Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2021 &amp; 2022 Best Antagonist nominee.

The second season was announced to be in a split-cour format, with the first half airing from July 8 to September 30, 2020, and the second half airing on January 6, 2021.

In August 2016, game developer 5pb. announced plans for a visual novel based on the series which was released as Re:Zero -DEATH OR KISS- in Spring 2017. A turn-based RPG mobile game by Tianjin Tianxiang Interactive Technology Co. and published by Black Tea Rabbit Studio called Re:Zero -INFINITY- released in China on January 14, 2020, it is a retelling of the first three arcs of the Re:Zero series with a Japanese expansion and release expected sometime in 2022. A mobile free-to-play, gatcha mobile game Re:Zero Lost in Memories by SEGA was released on September 9, 2020. Another visual novel, Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- The False Royal Election Candidate, known in English as Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World: The Prophecy of the Throne, is a console/PC game by Chime and published by Spike Chunsoft released January 28, 2021 ( in Japanese) and January 29, 2021 (in English). An action RPG, gatcha, browser game called Re:Zero Forbidden Book and the Mysterious Spirit by DMM Games was released on July 14, 2022, but ended service exactly 1 year later.

Plot
When Subaru Natsuki leaves the convenience store, the last thing he expects is to be wrenched from his everyday life and dropped into a fantasy world. Things aren't looking good for the bewildered teenager; however, not long after his arrival, he is attacked by some thugs. Armed with only a bag of groceries and a now useless cell phone, he is quickly beaten to a pulp. Fortunately, a mysterious beauty named Satella, in hot pursuit after the one who stole her insignia, happens upon Subaru and saves him. In order to thank the honest and kindhearted girl, Subaru offers to help in her search, and later that night, he even finds the whereabouts of that which she seeks. But unbeknownst to them, a much darker force stalks the pair from the shadows, and just minutes after locating the insignia, Subaru and Satella are brutally murdered.

However, Subaru immediately reawakens to a familiar scene—confronted by the same group of thugs, meeting Satella all over again—the enigma deepens as history inexplicably repeats itself.