The Isekai genre of Anime has seen a significant boom in popularity over the last couple of years. Hence, it’s not surprising why many fandoms are often debating who the best Isekai protagonist of all time really is.
In a genre that is saturated by some of the most generic and unmemorable characters, there are a handful of protagonists who have stood the test of time. These protagonists have remained some of the most popular and inspirational figures in anime.
This list goes over some of the best Isekai protagonists in anime, shedding light on what makes them recognizable figures in a genre that often starts with a truck accident.
The 9 greatest Isekai Anime protagonists of all time
9) Izayoi Sakamaki (Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren’t They?)
While Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren’t They? has three main protagonists, it’s Izayoi Sakamak, who actually steals the show as the narrative progresses. He is one of the more popular Isekai MCs of all time, and much of it has to do with his personality and power.
Izayoi is arrogant and slightly perverted. He has a quirky side to him which only cares about having fun. As he gets whisked away to another world, the only thing he wants to do is to limit test his abilities and have as much fun with it as possible.
The MC has the power that is defined in the anime as Little Garden or “Code Unknown.” He can use it to negate and at times even destroy the gifts that others possess. This makes him fearsome during encounters, and he slowly gains the reputation of being the strongest among the Problem Children.
Izayou also has very high intellect along with strong esper powers like teleportation as well as telepathy.
8) Cid Kagenou (The Eminence in the Shadow)
Cid is one of the more intriguing Isekai protagonists. He earns a spot on the list not because of how OP he is as an MC, but because of some of his personality traits. While Cid wants to lead a low-profile life as a student, his alter ego of the “eminence in shadows” strives for just the opposite.
He wants to make grandiose and flashy entries and usually loves talking in riddles. Shadow is all about style over substance and the same can be seen in his fighting style.
One of Cid’s characteristics traits (which is often used as a tool for the plot) is how he makes up things as he goes along, and the stuff he makes up usually comes true. He often does what he pleases and his actions eventually turn out to be for the greater good even though he did not intend it as such.
This creates an aura of mystery around him often leading to some of the most hilarious situations in the anime.
7) Rudeus Greyrat (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation)
Few in the anime community can say that they do not connect with Rudeus. The once-perverted protagonist of the Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation series has steadily grown to be one of the most beloved characters in Isekai anime.
His experiences during his former life keep him on his toes, preventing him from becoming too arrogant and getting carried away by his immense magical prowess. This makes him self-aware and Rudeus at times is seen to be humble while reflecting on his actions.
Although he comes off as a shy and polite boy who refrains from killing, Rudeus occasionally displays a surprising amount of bloodlust, anytime his family or friends are in danger.
Rudeus’ character arc and how the anime deals with his coming of age set him apart from the rest of the Isekai protagonists out there. While he is prone to a fair bit of shortcomings, both his family as well as the community love him for who he is.
6) Naofumi Iwatani (The Rising of the Shield Hero)
Naofumi isn’t someone that you will like right away. At the beginning of The Rising of the Shield Hero, he comes across as a very colorless personality who is a bit too trusting of those around him. He also had an annoyingly positive mindset which eventually got him betrayed and left penniless on the streets with nothing but a growing resentment.
It was when he bought Raphtalia and grew a fellowship with her and Filo did the Sheild Hero eventually started becoming one of the most dependable characters in the series. The anime was able to masterfully deal with his character arc and Naofumi eventually became one of the best Isekai protagonists of all time.
As the story developed Naofumi soon became a pragmatist who was often coming up with some unconventional means to meet his goals.
Irrespective of how much he has done for the kingdom, Naofumi was always humble and often felt he was unworthy of any praise. This sets him apart from the other heroes in the Isekai, as Naofumi is always thinking about the consequences of his actions and will never put others in danger for his own gain.
5) Sora (No Game, No Life)
Sora is one of the most cunning and manipulative Isekai protagonists you will ever come across in anime. However, that is only when he is with his sister, Shiro, and if the siblings are separated even by a hair’s width, Sora’s confidence takes a nose-dive and he becomes a shriveled husk of his former self.
But when he is with his sister, Sora is incredibly capable and rarely loses his cool, even when the odds are stacked against him. He is often seen to be pragmatic. This outgoing nature of his complements that of Shiro, as she has a plain personality that is deeply rooted in logic and calculations.
As a pair, Sora and Shiro make a unified whole. The only time Sora was seen to be panicking and struggling with a game was when he was playing against Chlammy. However, he regained his composure as soon as Shiro held his hand and was able to win out.
Sora also displays signs of a misanthrope, who looks down on humanity and feels them to be lowly creatures(including himself). Yet he believes in the potential of humans and considers his sister as a shining example of it.
4) Katarina Claes (My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!)
Katarina is one of the more unique Isekai protagonists out there. Being the lead in a “reverse harem” Katarina was supposed to be the villain of the otome game, Fortune Lover. But she regains the memories of her past life as a Japanese schoolgirl, and Katarina grows up to be a shy and considerate individual who despises high society and etiquette.
Her character arc is also quite hilarious, with Katarina trying to pull every trick in the book to avoid her imminent doom. Fortune Lover has a branching narrative where every decision leads to a specific ending. However, almost each of the good endings leads to the death of the game’s antagonist, Katarina.
So it’s quite hilarious, and at times heart-warming, to see her looking for ways to avoid interacting much with the main NPCs of the game. However, they all end up falling for her quirky and humble nature.
To make things even more complicated, Katarina does not understand romance, and her simple-minded nature leads her to more trouble than she ought to be in.
3) Rimuru Tempest (That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime)
Rimuru’s goal as a slime reincarnate is to create a convenient world where he can just be lazy all day. It’s quite an ambitious goal to accomplish, especially with how the world state really is, with demon kings, monsters, and warring nations.
Hence, while Rimuru might seem naive, immature, and childlike on the outside, he is always analyzing the situation under the surface and coming up with plans and strategies that will give him the best results.
Rimuru is seldom rash or emotional when it comes to making his decisions. He always puts his friends first and is ruthless to those who hurt his kingdom and arouse his fury. At one point in the narrative, to gain the powers of a demon lord (to resurrect his slain subordinates), he wipes out an entire army in the blink of an eye.
Rimuru’s greatest tact lies in how he is able to manipulate his self-image to the rest of the world. He is often seen forging official accounts and erasing memories so as to have an easier time in his quest to create a more convenient world order for himself.
2) Shiroe (Log Horizon)
Shiroe and Log Horizon often go unnoticed by the wider anime community. The anime is one of the least talked about Isekai and was never really able to achieve the same popularity as some of the other series in the genre, like The Rising of the Shield Hero, Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, and Sword Art Online.
Log Horizon is a sleeper hit, and Shiroe is often considered by fans to be one of the best Isekai protagonists of all time. This is due to his cunning nature and how he uses it for the greater good.
Shiroe is a veteran of Elder Tale, the game in which all the characters find themselves stuck. While he is awkward in a more social situation, it’s not because Shiroe hates those around him. Rather, he is independent in nature and is often wary of those who approach him as he constantly feels that they have ulterior motives.
Much like Sora, Shoroe is also manipulative, and much of his cunning comes from his near-encyclopediac knowledge of the game. While he often acts with the greater good in mind, he is misunderstood by others and has therefore earned the nickname “Black-Heart Glasses.”
Shiroe is a genius tactician on and off the battlefield. This, along with his Enchanter skills, makes him ideal for any party composition.
1) Kazuma Satou (KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!)
As far as Isekai protagonists go, calling Kazuma unconventional will be underselling him. While he starts out being quite optimistic about becoming an adventurer in an alternate world, Kazuma soon becomes pessimistic about his lot and is often brutally sarcastic and cynical towards his own party members.
Much of the hilarity in KonoSuba comes from Kazuma’s antics and how he chooses to deal with the various situations. Although painted as an unassuming and useless member of the group, he is often described to be reliable when the situation calls for it.
His cowardice is the greatest source of his wit. His lack of any and all heroic traits makes him a master strategist when there is no more room to run.
Along with his innate cowardice, Kazuma is also quite lecherous and uses the excuse of “gender equality” to attack women (who are often more powerful than him). He also uses this to justify his motivations to be the first one to flee a dangerous encounter.
However, Kazuma can also be very kind, and he will, at times, put himself in harm’s way if it means saving the life of another. While he is not the ideal Isekai protagonist, he is often considered the best out of the lot when it comes to characterization and relatability. The Isekai’s treatment of Kazuma ensures that he is anything but one-dimensional.
