Ever since the isekai premise rose to prominence within the world of anime, the same tropes have been used and recycled on a consistent basis. Most isekai shows see their protagonist die before being reincarnated into an entirely new world. While some become overpowered in their new selves, there are those who have to work from the bottom and aim towards an overall goal.
Having dreams of a better life or achieving a specific thing helps to add to an isekai character’s personality. Most isekai protagonists and recurring characters are there primarily to focus on survival or helping others, but a select few have a compelling reason for going on.
10 Kazuma Wants To Make His Mark As An Adventurer (KonoSuba)
Konosuba is one of the most beloved isekai anime out there and its parodies of isekai tropes provide endless comedy and entertainment. The main group consists of Megumin, Aqua, Darkness, and Kazuma. They make a bizarre mix of flawed personalities that provide a hilarious team dynamic.
Kazuma is the typical isekai protagonist who gets killed in his past life and reincarnated into this new world. He constantly finds himself feeling optimistic about his chances of gaining wealth and a happy life before his team sends these dreams crashing down. While he does get some wins, ultimate happiness and fulfilling his quest of defeating the Demon King seems like a faraway dream.
9 Katarina Wants To Change Her Fate (My Next Life As A Villainess)
My Next Life As A Villainess does well to find its place in the isekai genre with a unique premise. The anime’s protagonist finds herself reborn in a game that she’s familiar with as the villain, Katarina Claes. Her knowledge of Fortune Lover means that she is aware of her own inevitable doom.
Most isekai protagonists who have dreams and aspirations hope to obtain something new, but Katarina is hoping to fight destiny. It makes for an interesting concept as she applies her knowledge of this world while trying to avoid her demise.
8 Myne Wants Her New World To Love Books As Much As She Does (Ascendance Of A Bookworm)
The love of reading has never been such a driving force for an anime protagonist before Ascendance Of A Bookworm’s Myne. Like with other isekai protagonists, Urano Motosu dies before being reincarnated into a new world. Yet in her case, it’s her obsession with books that actually gets her killed, as she’s crushed by her hoard.
Reincarnated as Myne, her love for books persists and fuels her aims and ambitions despite being in a new and unfamiliar world. Myne is a sickly child who defies expectations as she sets out to reinvent books in this world. Her ambition is commendable and inspiring throughout.
7 Genzo Wants To Befriend Animals For His Pet Shop Instead Of Performing Heroic Duties (Kemono Michi: Rise Up)
Kemono Michi: Rise Up doesn’t deserve all the hate it receives. It’s a silly yet hilarious isekai with a pro wrestler named Genzo being summoned to another world. Genzo is faced with classic isekai tropes and refreshingly doesn’t conform with his responses or actions. He’s asked to slay numerous beasts that threaten the land. He refuses due to his love for animals.
Genzo proceeds to pursue these beasts with the aim of befriending them all, instead. His ultimate goal is to own a bustling pet shop teeming with all of his new friends. Not everyone will understand Genzo’s grand goal, but he simply doesn’t care.
6 Eiko Wants To Sing On The Grandest Stages Possible (Ya Boy Kongming!)
Ya Boy Kongming! drives the bizarre yet wonderful concept of the Three Kingdoms military strategist Zhuge Kongming Liang being reincarnated into modern Japan. He quickly applies his wit and knowledge to this new world, helping to support a budding singer named Eiko Tsukimi. Eiko has been devoid of motivation and hope in both her singing and general life.
After seeing Maria Diezel perform, Eiko vowed to become a famous singer with little success. Meeting Kongming changes everything. Kongming’s strategies and general know-how allow Eiko to dream big. She aims to perform at popular events and festivals that she has always wanted to appear at, but has never been at a suitable level.
5 Rimuru Is An Overpowered Slime With An Overarching Goal Of A Peaceful Life (That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime)
Rimuru Tempest is the reincarnation of Satoru Mikami in That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime. As the title suggests, Rimuru starts off as a seemingly useless slime, yet his power and form change considerably as the anime progresses.
This slime has the ultimate goal of creating a convenient world similar to his old life on Earth, where he can sit back and relax. This may seem like a lazy dream with a lack of ambition, but attaining this will actually take a lot of work and effort. Rimuru has a long way to go to make this dream a reality.
4 Rudeus Helps Ruijerd To Imagine A World Where The Superd Are No Longer Feared (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation)
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation quickly became one of the best isekai anime of all time. It has an intriguing and captivating story, but the compelling characters piece it all together. The protagonist reincarnates as a baby named Rudeus Greyrat. Despite his unfortunate perverted tendencies, he becomes an interesting character.
Rudeus continues to defy expectations as he gets older, learning magic that surpasses those more experienced than he is. He ultimately dreams to become a better person than he used to be, which means helping this world however he can. He helps is Ruijerd, a feared Superd warrior, by inspiring Ruijerd to travel the world to clear his race’s tarnished name.
3 Farma Wants To Improve His New World With Modernized Medicine (Parallel World Pharmacy)
Parallel World Pharmacy’s main character proves that dreaming big doesn’t always have to have selfish implications in isekai anime. Kanji Yakutani is a skilled pharmacologist who dies and reincarnates as a 10-year-old child named Farma de Medicis. In this unfamiliar medieval world, he realizes that the state of medicine is terrible and seeks to improve the overall situation.
Armed with the traumatic past experience of losing his younger sister to an incurable brain tumor, Farma doesn’t want anyone else to experience such loss. His goals to revolutionize this world’s medical state are overly optimistic but stem from a well-meaning place.
2 Sora & Shiro Want To See How Far Their Success Can Go (No Game No Life)
Sora and Shiro are the brother-sister protagonists of No Game No Life. They are both shut-ins who pride themselves on being incredibly proficient when it comes to playing video games. When they are transported to another world, their aptitude for gaming is given more purpose and meaning.
Their goals ultimately lie in aiding Stephanie and the world they’ve arrived in and they can do so by doing what they do best. Through consistently defeating others and gaining a reputation, they can feel untouchable and even hold less contempt for life.
1 The Devil Wants To Climb The Corporate Ladder & Gain Influence On Earth (The Devil Is A Part-Timer)
The Devil Is A Part-Timer is a beloved reverse isekai that sees Satan flee to Earth and set up a new life there. Assuming the identity of Sadao Maou, he takes a job as a fast-food employee. He gradually learns to enjoy this lifestyle and vows to climb the corporate ladder at MgRonald’s.
Sadao incorporates it into a grander scheme of gaining power and influence on Earth. It is a much more sophisticated twist on a villain wanting to take over the world. His personality may appear to soften while on Earth, but he still has his devilish urges and ambitions.
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