Truck-kun

Truck-kun is an internet meme and recurring trope prevalent in Japanese isekai anime and manga, and by extension, other forms of online fiction. It refers to a truck (often a box truck, but not always) that is used to kill a character, thus triggering their reincarnation or transportation (isekai) to another world.

While the presence of a truck as the instrument of death is not new to fiction in general, Truck-kun is specifically associated with the isekai genre and has become a self-aware and often parodied element within it. The truck's appearance is typically sudden and unexpected, often occurring when the soon-to-be-isekai'd character is performing a mundane task like crossing the street or saving someone from the truck itself. The character's death is often quick and decisive, sometimes even humorous due to its absurdity.

Truck-kun has evolved from a simple plot device into a recognized character in its own right, complete with its own perceived motivations and even personality. It is jokingly referred to as a recruiter for other worlds or a gatekeeper to isekai adventures. Its popularity stems from its frequent use in isekai stories, making it a familiar and easily recognizable element of the genre. The trope is often used ironically, with characters expressing fear or awareness of the potential danger posed by passing trucks. It also serves as a commentary on the perceived laziness or predictability of some isekai narratives, where dying in a mundane way and being reborn into a fantasy world is a common starting point.