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While most isekai anime tends to feature male protagonists, there are exceptions to the rule
Isekai anime revolves around the tale of someone being transported to a new world, often with a medieval touch. The majority of these worlds have a hint of the medieval era. The 'victims' or, more accurately, the 'chosen ones,' are usually males who suddenly gain immense power. They then set out on a journey to defeat villains and establish their own harem. Even those originally desiring a normal life, such as Rimuru Tempest in That Time I Got Reincarnated, find themselves entangled in intense battles or facing troubles, as seen in By the Grace of the Gods.
While it's undeniable that isekai tends to favor male characters, there are still numerous high-quality anime that build female protagonists. Similar to their male counterparts, these female characters embark on memorable and exciting adventures.
Spirited Away
When young Chihiro Ogino and her parents move to a new home, they stumble upon an abandoned amusement park. Chihiro's parents decide to explore the area, leaving her dissatisfied at first. However, as they discover an unattended food stand, strange events unfold - magical occurrences and the transformation of her parents into pigs. Chihiro must muster courage to venture into the mysterious world, where she must exert all efforts to save herself and her parents from impending danger.
Spirited Away stands as one of the timeless masterpieces in anime. Despite its short episode count, it is regarded as a high-quality isekai story featuring a female protagonist. The film has garnered numerous awards, earning praise from both audiences and critics alike. Setting itself apart from modern isekai series, Spirited Away vividly depicts the dread of being reincarnated into a new and frightening world.
So I’m A Spider, So What
When a character abruptly meets their demise for various reasons, they find themselves in a fantastical world. Most end up assuming new roles as nobles or royal members. However, in this isekai tale, the female protagonist is reincarnated as a spider monster. Her adventure becomes even more challenging when she realizes she's at the bottom of the food chain. To survive, she must train herself, enhance her strength, and strive to find opportunities for survival.
So I’m a Spider, So What shares many similarities with most isekai anime in the current market. However, the anime still possesses a certain uniqueness to align with the concept of the main character being a spider. The protagonist can evolve powerfully through skill acquisition, but her life is far from easy. The show captivates with humor and the protagonist's ability to cope with any situation.
The Saga of Tanya The Evil
Despite not believing in any supernatural phenomena, a businessman suddenly passes away and has to confront Being X - a powerful entity. Instead of acknowledging this entity as a deity, he completely denies its existence. This angers Being X, who seeks to punish the businessman. Subsequently, the businessman is transported to a war-torn world, transformed into the young girl Tanya. To prove that they can live well, the businessman in Tanya's guise joins the military to continue surviving in a harsh world.
Rising of the Book Lover
After an unfortunate accident at work, a book-loving college student is reborn as the ordinary girl Myne. Despite her frailty, Myne has an insatiable passion for reading. However, in this new world, only the aristocracy has access to books. Undeterred by physical and societal limitations, Myne is determined to fulfill her dream of living in her own book paradise. She strives to bring books closer to the common people.
Unlike other isekai anime, Ascendance of a Bookworm focuses on the struggle against societal prohibitions. Myne is restricted by her commoner status and often treated as a child, despite retaining memories from her previous life. She must apply her knowledge to build relationships and seek opportunities to achieve her goal safely.
Reincarnation as the Villainess
An otaku is reincarnated into the body of the antagonist in their favorite otome game. Despite the initially appealing prospect of living in the game world, everything turns into a nightmare for Katarina. She knows that all game routes end with the character she embodies either dying or being exiled. However, Katarina refuses to give up, determined to change her fate.
Though she's the villainess, Katarina Claes in My Next Life as a Villainess doesn't succumb to fate, much like Tanya in The Saga of Tanya the Evil. Katarina has an optimistic and forgetful mindset, earning her the nickname Bakarina. She's unafraid of hard work and goes to great lengths to ensure a better outcome for herself. Her struggles to avoid romantic entanglements with other isekai characters are truly captivating.
