Summary
- Embrace the uniqueness of Isekai with demonic protagonists for fresh and emotional plot twists.
- Enjoy the wholesome and hilarious portrayal of demon characters in slice-of-life and academy settings.
- Learn from the creative portrayals of powerful protagonists in unconventional roles to add depth to the story.
Who doesn’t love Isekai anime or manga, where the main character isn’t a bland, cookie-cutter archetype but a terrifying demon instead? Such protagonists are definitely fan favorites because of their unapologetically overpowered abilities and a different perspective from the typical heroic one. It’s a given that the fish-out-of-water scenario in Isekai isn’t (generally) going to break new ground.
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Super powerful protagonists capable of anything might feel redundant in an anime plot, but these series are fun to watch despite an OP MC.
However, demonic protagonists are a sub-niche that keeps on giving. The layers of identity and existential crisis for the main leads create surprising plot twists that are frankly unique in the isekai sphere. Their struggle between destruction and redemption often adds emotional weight to otherwise very generic storylines. Plus, if these demon protagonists are unlucky enough to be main characters of a slice-of-life series, the added comical nature of them trying to blend in with normalcy is both hilarious and unhinged.
Some of the Isekai choices might have mature themes and graphic depictions, so caution is advised. Also, minor spoilers ahead.
6 Zilbagias The Demon Prince: How The Seventh Prince Brought Down The Kingdom
Demonic Hero Embracing His Role As A Saboteur
- Released: 2023
- Japanese Name: Dainana Maouji Jilbagias no Maou Keikokuki
- Creator(s): Amagi Tomoaki (Story), Noi Nitora (Art)
Zilbagias The Demon Prince: How The Seventh Prince Brought Down The Kingdom is an excellent Isekai manga adaptation of a light novel of the same name. It provides a well-detailed and compelling art style for readers and a plot with complex layers as it unravels. The main character is a young warrior who dies at the hands of the vicious demon king. The unique Isekai factor here is that he gets resurrected as the very same demon king’s son.
He retains his memories of all that he lost, including his former human family, and vows revenge on his Isekai demonic father. One of the major reasons for the demon king’s constant conquest and subjugation of humanity is to keep the demons busy. Without any united goal, the demons would turn to slaughter their own — Zilbagias seeks to exploit this to exact his vengeance. The challenge of maintaining his disguise puts him in predicaments that become detrimental to humans.
5 Now I'm a Demon Lord!
Slice-Of-Life Vibes, Fun And Hilarious Moments, Well-Developed Characters
- Released: 2017
- Japanese Name: Maou ni Natta node, Dungeon Tsukutte Jingai Musume to Honobono suru
- Creator(s): Daburyuu (Art), Ryuuyuu (Story)
Now, I’m A Demon Lord is a surprisingly pleasant manga that offers wholesomeness on a scale that’s rarely seen in Isekai manga. This is especially true where the protagonist is reincarnated into a demon — in this case, he is also a dungeon master. The bond with his dungeon is a symbiotic one. He needs it to be challenging enough to thwart adventurers from reaching him to survive them. As he grows in power, so does it.
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These reincarnaton stories are anything but ordinary, as the main characters take on unexpected new forms.
But that’s not all there’s to it. In true Isekai fashion, the hero comes across a ridiculously overpowered dragon. He befriends her with chocolate and learns from her to become stronger. Soon, more side characters join him — a vampire, a slime, and a giant wolf. The real charm of this manga is in the antics and close bonds that the demonic protagonist forms with them. It’s like watching an anime version of a soap opera, and one can’t help but feel invested in the lives of these characters.
4 Welcome To Demon School, Iruma-Kun!
A Fresh Take On Isekai Academia Setting With Feel-Good Vibes
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2022
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Bandai Namco Pictures
- Japanese Title
- Mairimashita! Iruma-kun
- Creator
- Osamu Nishi
- Seasons
- 3
- Number of Episodes
- 65
For a very delightful take on Isekai Welcome To Demon School, Iruma Kun! Is the perfect anime. It does a lot of things differently, like the main character, Iruma, consciously going to a new world with demons. He basically gets sold by his parents to a powerful demon, who adopts him as his grandson. Now, on the surface, Iruma is supposedly a human kid who just happened to stumble across the demon world. But the combination of his affinity for magic and his luck may tell an entirely different story.
The eccentric nature of the demons, like Sullivan (Iruma's Grandfather) and the characters in the demon school, make this anime spectacular. There is a huge cast of characters with quirky personalities, and they play off of each other brilliantly. Despite Iruma’s attempts to blend in and not draw attention, everyone gets enamored by him.
3 Demon Lord, Retry!
Wholesome Themes With The Main Character Getting Thrust Into The Role Of A Parental Figure
Demon Lord, Retry!
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- 2019 - 2024
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Kurone Kanzaki
- Seasons
- 2
Although the recurring isekai theme of overpowered protagonists has become a bit stale at this point, Demon Lord, Retry! Is one series that can be overlooked. It starts off as a generic story with the main character morphing into a demon lord in an MMORPG game that he himself created. He's overpowered, arrogant, and occasionally sarcastic, with a penchant for showing off his powers to command more respect.
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But what makes this particular series deviate from convention is the vague 'found-family' trope it features. The main character is forced into a guardian role when he gets isekai-ed into his game and comes across a rogue demon chasing a little girl. He saves the girl and decides to bring her along on his journey to figure out what the heck is happening to him. That's where their wholesome father-daughter bond begins.
2 The Betrayed Hero Who Got Reincarnated As A Demon Lord
Retro Shonen Tropes Will Hit The Nostalgia Notes For Veteran Manga Fans
- Released: 2020
- Japanese Name: Manadeshi ni Uragirarete Shinda Ossan Yuusha, Shijou Saikyou no Maou toshite Ikikaeru
- Creator(s): 10mo (Art), Rokushima, Asa (Story)
To seasoned manga readers, The Betrayed Hero Who Got Reincarnated As A Demon Lord will take them all aboard the nostalgia express. This particular series is a blast from the past flavor among a sea of Isekai manga with reincarnated demon protagonists. Even the art style of the manga has a throwback feel to it. It stars Fried, a valiant hero who vanquishes the demon king. But before the final blow, Fried is literally stabbed in the back by his trusted student and is Isekai-ed as the demon king himself.
Understandably, Fried is furious at the betrayal and gets his revenge, but that’s not the extent of the story. Fried tries his hardest to establish peace between humanity and the demonkind. He fights for a just cause and doesn't hesitate to throw hands when needed, but he never flaunts his power. Even as a demon king, he retains his humanity.
1 Overlord
The Protagonist Acts The Part Of The True Villain, With Power Beyond Compare
Overlord
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- 2015 - 2022
- Creator
- Kugane Maruyama
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Seasons
- 4
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Number of Episodes
- 52
Overlord switches things up by giving fans a protagonist who isn’t a demon or a reincarnated devil. He’s an Elder Lich — a kind of creature that might even go far beyond the power realms of a normal demon or even an overpowered demon lord. He commands demons and other powerful races under the banner of his guild. Momonga was initially an average middle-aged company employee who played the MMORPG, Yggdrasil religiously. He coincidentally logged in one last time on the day the servers shut down — only to find himself stuck in the game as his character. From there, he takes on the name of his guild, Ainz Ooal Gown, and begins figuring out how to survive and dominate in this strange new world.
He uses his vast army and resources to search for other players like him and protect the legacy of his guild. His guardians are extremely powerful generals with unflinching loyalty toward him, and their unique attributes make them highly compelling characters. Ainz’s only loyalty and interest are toward the betterment of his guild. This aspect becomes abundantly clear as Ainz shows little interest in intervening as a hero unless it benefits him and his people. Overlord gets a lot of things right by making a cold, calculating, and even cruel villain the protagonist. The consequences of his actions have a drastic impact on the world.
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