Highlights
- Protagonists in isekai anime face tough moral dilemmas, choosing between survival and their original dreams or values.
- World building is key in successful isekai stories, where characters go through hell and back dealing with consequences.
- From forgiveness to sacrifice, these anime characters show resilience and growth in the face of dark and complicated realities.
The Isekai manga and anime trope is quite known by now, but there are cases where harsh, cold reality sips deep between the seams of that fantasy world many people would love to travel to. When things get dark and complicated, protagonists of those tales must decide between morals or survival, and that’s where breathtaking events happen.
These anime and manga protagonists don’t usually take the safest route and the consequences of their actions change the course of the story for better or worse. But all things are permitted when survival is at stake and when the worlds where they got Isekai’d to gave them lemons, they didn’t hesitate to squeeze them dry. This list contains anime and manga characters who went through hell and back and had to deal with the outcome of their choices.
10 Rudeus Had To Let Go Of His Dreams In Mushoku Tensei
- Japanese title (romaji): Mushoku-tensei ~Isekai ittara honki dasu~
- Author: Rifujin Na Magonote
- Nº Episodes Anime: 23 (S1), 12 (S2. Part 1)
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
After being reincarnated and granted a second chance, the Teleportation Incident shattered Rudeus Greyrat’s seemingly perfect life into a million pieces. Beaten by the loss of his family, a near-death experience, and the woman he loved leaving him behind, he got deeply traumatized causing him several personal issues.
His original dreams, and his need to find his missing family members and beloved had to be forsaken, as he enrolled in the academy to look for a way to heal his body and his broken heart.
9 Naofumi Chooses To Forgive In Rising Of The Shield Hero
- Japanese title (romaji): Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari
- *Author: Aneko Yusagi
- *Nº Episodes Anime: 50 (S1 – 4)
- *IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Naofumi is one of those cool and collected characters in anime that every fan has learned to admire. Even after being betrayed by his fellow Isekai drifters and a whole kingdom branding him as a “monster,” he was able to forgive and be better than those who victimized him.
This meant a tremendously difficult choice, as he was being slowly consumed by his rage and grief. Thankfully he had the support and love of the swordmaiden Raphtalia to help him let go and rise again.
8 William Discovers True Courage In The Faraway Paladin
- Japanese title (romaji): Saihate no Paladin
- Author: Kanata Yanagino
- Nº Episodes Anime: 25 (S1 – 2)
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
William G. Maryblood was meant to be a hero from the start: Reincarnated in a dangerous fantasy world, without any knowledge of his past life, and adopted by a family of Undead Heroes, he was raised to be an exemplar to his peers.
He had to let his parents transcend to the afterlife, as he battled against the avatar of the God of Undeath, Stagnate. During this ordeal, William proved that he had true courage and the tools of the trade to be a Paladin.
7 Usato’s Sacrifice In The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic
- Japanese title (romaji): Chiyu Mahô no Machigatta Tsukai-kata: Senjô o Kakeru Kaifuku Yôin
- Author: Kurokata
- Nº Episodes Anime: 13 (S1)
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Ken Usato, transported alongside his friends to a war-riddled world, has to learn Healing Magic to protect them from the war against the forces of the Demon King.
Sacrificing his body, his mind, and constantly on the verge of fainting, he was able to come up as a powerful member of the Healing Squad. He protected his friends from certain death, even at the cost of putting his life on the line, proving that the wrong way to Use Healing Magic is the best way.
6 Misumi Decides To Be Ruthless In Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy
- Japanese title (romaji): Tsuki ga michibiku isekai-dôchû
- Author: Kei Azumi
- Nº Episodes Anime: 37 (S1 – 2)
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Makoto Misumi, after being tossed away by a selfish goddess, decides to survive even despite being cursed by her. Adopting the moniker of Makoto Kuzunoha, this protagonist decides to leave peacefully as a merchant.
However, discrimination is an intrinsic part of the corrupted society of the world he was Isekai’d to, and tired of dealing with the abuse of ruthless people, he decides to mercilessly wipe out whoever tries to hurt him or his friends. A total shift from his originally naive and peaceful nature.
5 Zenjiro Becomes A Hard-working Guy In The Ideal Sponger Life
- Japanese title (romaji): Risō no Himo Seikatsu
- Author: Tsunehiko Watanabe
- Nº Manga volumes: 14 (Translated) 19 total
- Anime Status: Announced in 2023/release date unknown
Zenjiro Yamai was transported to another world, summoned by a beautiful and mysterious queen named Aura, who offered him to be her spouse and live a relaxed “sponger” life with no worries at all.
As the story progresses, Zenjiro, now married to the queen, steadily becomes a reliable person, advisor for Aura, and the loving father of her kids. Then, he decides to throw aside comfort to enter a dangerous contest for power and become a capable monarch worthy of the love of Queen Aura.
4 Irushia Throws Away His Humanity In Reincarnated As A Dragon Hatchling
- Japanese title (romaji): Tensei Shitara Dragon no Tamago Datta – Saikyou Igai Mezasa Nee
- Author: Nekoko
- Nº Manga volumes: 5 (printed)
- Next Volume release: 03/09/2024
The unnamed hero gets reincarnated into another world as a Dragon Hatchling, where he learns soon that he was been sent to a merciless and terrible place.
For the sake of survival, he will constantly toss away tiny bits of his humanity, always fearing to become a monster. When his only human friend who gave him the name Irushia is in danger, he decides to become a fearsome and monstrous Plague Dragon, only to gain the necessary strength to save his beloved friend from death.
3 Satou Stays True To Himself In Tales Of Wedding Rings
- Japanese title (romaji): Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari
- Author: Maybe
- Nº Episodes Anime: 12 (S1)
- IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
Satou’s love for his childhood sweetheart, Hime, is the true moral compass of this story about Wedding Rings, where the protagonist faces an impossible choice between the woman he loves, and the duty to protect her land by becoming the Ring King.
In the face of danger, the cowardly Satou soon becomes a force to be reckoned with but manages to stay true to his ideals as he puts his total trust in the Ring Princesses and his allies, despite all odds pinned against them.
2 Haruhiro Becomes A Leader In Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions
- Japanese title (romaji): Hai to Gensō no Gurimugaru
- Author: Ao Jumonji
- Nº Episodes Anime: 13 (S1)
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Haruhiro and his friends are thrown into the ruthless world of Grimgar, where war and death are the bread of every day. After constantly struggling for survival, his best friend and leader of the group, Manato, dies protecting them all.
The protagonist feels the weight of Manato’s death more than anyone in the Isekai party group and vows to protect them all from certain doom. Haruhiro’s leadership proves that in the face of total annihilation, the power of friendship is the best way to survive.
1 Seiya’s Heartbreaking Sacrifice In Cautious Hero
- Japanese title (romaji): Shinchô yûsha ~ kono yûsha ga ore TUEEE kuse ni shinchô sugiru ~
- Author: Light Tuchihi
- Nº Episodes Anime: 12 (S1)
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Seiya, the Cautious Hero always has a backup plan: Being overly cautious, and training to the max before even trying to face an opponent. For Seiya, being overpowered was never enough, and defeat was never an option.
But a heartbreaking truth lies behind Seiya’s reason for being like this, which was his tragic death as he failed to protect the woman he loved in his past life. Ultimately, he decides to sacrifice himself once more, for love, as he reveals his true self to Ria.
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