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Updated January 25, 2023 by Levana Chester-Londt: Overall, Isekai anime has morphed and changed substantially over the years as it spreads its reaches towards different storytelling techniques, welcoming input from other genres such as slice of life, cooking, thriller, and the popular new otome trend.
As a result, the main protagonists also need to be flexible enough to adapt to the content; some anime are pretty heavy-handed with their MC’s transformations, producing some truly unique results. Whether it be their peculiar physical forms or the absurd role they fulfill during their otherworldly adventures, the following main characters have certainly suffered no boredom in their strange new worlds, which creates top-quality entertainment in return!
13 Handyman Saitō In Another World (2023)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Although being a handyman might not be the strangest occurrence, one does not often come across such a specimen during a Sword and Sorcery anime, reincarnated in another world no less! For his entire, short-lived life, Saitō has put a great deal of effort into becoming the jack of all trades, and he is not about to let his precious skills go to waste during the Winter 2023 season!
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Accompanied by a forgetful wizard, a Brienne of Tarth-type warrior, and a money-hungry fairy, Saitō does his best to be of service with his non-existent combat experience. Among these epic adventurers, a meager handyman sticks out like a sore thumb, however, his exceptionally nifty talents quickly become an invaluable resource. Who would have thought a Mr. Fixit would be so efficient at dungeon crawling?
12 Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear (2020)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Yuna was already a high-ranking heroine in the VRMMO called World Fantasy Online. That is until she unsuspectingly accepted a gift that initiated her Isekai experience, accompanied by a dominating kawaii factor! Emerging as a level one cutie pie, Yuna has no choice but to fight in a cuddly bear onesie, arguably winning the word for the most absurdly dressed (yet still overpowered) Isekai protagonist.
Thankfully, her bizarre attire comes with some added perks. Each of her hand-puppet-type mittens represents her oversized bear familiars, named Kumakyuu and Kumayuru, who are willing to fight by her side. In fact, any magic ability with a bear theme is automatically enhanced while wearing this mortifying armor, turning Yuna into the most adorably dominating force around.
11 Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (2017)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
The current trend with Reverse Isekai seems to solely focus on a Demon King (or his/her subordinates). However, the pool regarding anime about reincarnation in another world can go much deeper, revealing the world-dominating dragons within. Even though Tohru has the capacity to level entire planets, she wouldn’t dare do a thing to harm her beloved Kobayashi and has subsequently entered a life of servitude under her paramour’s command.
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Having a Dragon Maid is not all it’s cracked up to be. Even if her saliva is a stain remover, her self-regenerating tale is edible, or her guard dog skills are on point; it’s hard work keeping the excitable Tohru under control! Moreover, new dragons keep popping up with no place else to go, and this alcoholic otaku’s household gets more bewitching (and a little cramped) as the days go by.
10 The Ambition Of Oda Nobuna (2012)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Although Yoshiharu Sagara may not be a literal “Monkey,” he is certainly treated like one by the girls in charge, which is a small price to pay considering he essentially changed the course of the world’s history by initiating Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s death. Thanks to his intervention, Japan is now a matriarchy (well, during this rendition of the Sengoku period, that is), with Oda Nobuna running the show and her eyes firmly set on global domination.
Unlike most Isekai heroes, Sagu sticks to the sidelines while the ladies take the lead, creating a reverse harem with the MC fulfilling the “improper” role. This Monkey is far from being a King. However, his consistent ill-treatment does come with the benefit of being accompanied by the bountiful bosoms of the aggressive girls, a treat this gamer wasn’t often privy to in the past (or, is it future?)
9 Farming Life In Another World (2023)
Where to watch: HIDIVE
After enduring an unbearably cruel life, God takes pity on poor Machio Hiraku and attempts to even things out by giving him a plushy afterlife, with the option to choose his own Isekai Bonus (almost unheard of in reincarnated in another world anime narratives!) Surprisingly, a life of luxury is not the chosen route, as Hiraku wants nothing more than to run a farm in peace and solitude, with a healthy body and a knack for language, to sweeten the pot.
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Over and above all his wishes, this lucky fish receives a versatile magical Farming Tool that can transform into the appropriate hand-held equipment and also eases the strain of the task. Out of all the strange reincarnation transformations, Hiraku is arguably the first farmer to take center stage and makes a great addition to the Agriculture Anime genre and the Winter 2023 line-up.
8 The Saga Of Tanya the Evil (2017)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
This story is about a Japanese man whose face got revealed in the anime’s art book or written works rather than in the anime itself. He was a tall man with dark hair, bangs parted in the middle, and dark green-tinted eyes. After being murdered in 2013, he was the least to expect to be reborn as a young petite blonde with blue eyes. Waking up as a girl named Tanya Degurechaff in an alternate version of Europe in 1914, he had major adjustments to go through to survive.
Tania was enlisted in the Empire’s Imperial Armed Forces to fight in this magical war. Her ruthlessness, cold exterior, and calculating mind helped her rise through the ranks rapidly, and she quickly became the infamous “Devil of the Rhine.”
7 Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (2021)
Where to watch: Funimation, Hulu, and Crunchyroll
A 34-year-old Japanese man has lived all of his life being an oppressed and bullied shut-in. However, the moment he decides to take control of his destiny and change things for the better, Rudeus Greyratgets hit by a truck and passes away. Luckily, he doesn’t move on to the afterlife and gets a second chance at life by being reborn as a child in another world.
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Having his past identity, thoughts, and experiences from the very start of this new adventure managed to help him set himself apart from the others with his magical abilities. Unlike his past life, he now has friends and loving parents, so the hope of finding true love and living his best life is not far off either.
6 Reborn As A Vending Machine, I Now Wander The Dungeon
Where to watch: Crunchyroll (Release Date TBD)
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon was first published in 2018 and focuses on the story of a middle age man who has been obsessed with vending machines all of his life, and it’s also the way he dies – crushed by one of them. However, his life didn’t end there. He was reborn as a vending machine in a dungeon packed with dangerous monsters.
As a sentient object, he cannot move on his own and can only communicate with typical vending machine phrases such as “welcome” and “Get one free with a winner”. His new life seemed doomed from the very get-go until the heroine, Lammis, finds him and gives him the name of Boxxo. Having the strength of six men, Lammis carries Boxxo around on her back and goes out for quests while he provides her with any items bought from vending machines in his previous life. The two make an unlikely pair of heroes, but nevertheless, this light story has captured the attention of many fans. Crunchyroll announced during the 2022 Summer season that this story will join their anime line-up soon, with no official release date revealed (so far.)
5 Reincarnated As A Sword (2022)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
A 30-year-old man dies in a car accident and is reborn as a particular object, a sword. He finds himself in another world, one full of fantasy, monsters, and magic, and must find a way to survive, despite not remembering his name.
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He encounters a fleeing slave girl known as Fran, who once belonged to the tribe called the Black Cats, but after years of abuse and mistreatment, she ran away. After being saved by the sword, she named him Shishou, and the two adventurers team up to fight for justice within this world. This isekai series was met with stellar reviews from many expectant fans in Summer 2022 and has become a worthwhile contribution to the strange reincarnation in another world anime experience.
4 So I’m A Spider, So What? (2021)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
A Japanese high school girl named Kumoko died along with many other students when an unforeseen event killed everyone at her school. Fortunately, many of these students reincarnated as people of various social statuses in another world. From nobles to princesses and princes, everyone got a second chance at living their best life except Kumoko.
She was the only one to be reborn as a spider monster and one of the weakest specie too. Like many of her favorite games, she realizes that by increasing her stats and leveling up by defeating fellow monsters, her quest for survival and her chance to improve her life will be easier than expected.
3 The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn As A Typical Nobody (2022)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Varvatos, an extremely powerful human has maxed out the potential of gaining any more magical strength, and no one is remotely close to his status. After being nicknamed the Demon Lord by civilians and getting alienated by them for being overpowered, he feels lonely and seeks companionship.
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He decides to try his quest for friendship again three thousand years later when he is reborn as a typical nobody from a normal family. However, his past self is still there, and so are his powers. Keeping his powers in check is hard, especially when his former immortal friends are unbeknownst to his real identity and forces his hand or threaten his life. How will he manage to get his life on the right track when he’s still the most powerful being out there living in secret?
2 My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom! (2020)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Catarina Claes, the only daughter of Duke Claes, remembers everything about her past life and how she was reincarnated into this person when she hit her head at the age of 8 years old. She remembers the night of her death clearly. She was playing this otome game called “Love Fortune”– the exact same game she is now trapped in as the villainess.
With her knowledge of the game, she knows the tragic fate that awaits her, and she must try everything in her power to survive. She also must make the right choices that will not send her to her impending death with the help of her friends.
1 That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime (2018)
Where to watch: Crunchyroll and Funimation
A thirty-seven-year-old man named Satoru Mikami loses his life by being fatally stabbed in the streets of Tokyo. He awakens in another world and after finding out he has been reincarnated as a slime, he learns he can change its appearance and gain unique abilities depending on what he devours during his journey.
As a lonely slime with no name and friends, when he finally gains Veldora as a companion, he gets named Rimuru Tempest. Rimuru and Veldora embark on a quest to destroy a magical seal, becoming increasingly more powerful along the way, and racking up a substantial fanbase in the process!
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