Best Fantasy Anime With Protagonists Who Are Kicked Out Of A Party

In fantasy anime and manga, there is one plot that appears more often than others and features an adventuring party. In these anime, the party is fairly successful and well-known, but there’s always one member who is dragging down the team, the protagonist. The story really starts once the protagonist is kicked out of the party for one reason or another, starting their journey and making new allies.

The crux of these types of plots is that the protagonist is actually a core member of the party who has irreplaceable skills that the other team members have benefited from, whether it’s simple inventory management or a unique buff. While many of these anime vary in style, the message they convey remains the same: everyone deserves respect.

1

The Healer Who Was Banished From His Party, Is, In Fact, The Strongest

The OP Healer With A Secret Power

• MyAnimeList Score: 5.70
• Episodes: 12
• Aired: 2024
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Studio: Studio Elle

Healers are an extremely important part of every adventuring party, and without one, the team would be in danger. Despite this, Raust is kicked out of his party for being too weak and only being able to cast the basic “heal” spell. He begins canvassing for a new team and meets Narsena, a martial artist he had helped years prior. They form a team and start making a name for themselves by exploring new parts of the labyrinth. His old team, however, isn’t doing nearly as well without him.

It’s that same formula that’s used in all stories like this, but this anime does offer an interesting side plot regarding officials from the Royal Capital. Aside from that, it’s a fairly straightforward story about proving people wrong and learning to be appreciated. However, it does feel rushed, as they’re already facing a doomsday prophecy just days after resolving the plot’s initial conflict.

2

Ningen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don’t Believe In Humanity Will Save The World

Four Loners Work Together To Make Money

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.33
• Episodes: 12
• Aired: 2023
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Studio: Geek Toys

Ningen Fushin is interesting because it isn’t about one outcast; it’s about four. Nick, Tiana, Zem, and Curran are people who have been kicked out, abandoned, and betrayed by people they trusted. As a result, they all developed unhealthy addictions in their grief and a pessimistic view of humanity. After coincidentally meeting in a busy tavern, they decide to form a party to raise money for their addictions with a pact to not betray each other.

Having a party of main characters is what makes this anime fun. Typically, fantasy protagonists monopolize the character growth and screen time, leaving the supporting cast as nothing more than props to the story. At least in this show, all four get their moment to be center stage. With only twelve episodes, however, the story is left with a lot of unresolved plot threads.

3

The Strongest Tank’s Labyrinth Raids -A Tank With A Rare 9999 Resistance Skill Got Kicked From The Hero’s Party-

The Biggest Shield In History

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.12
• Episodes: 12
• Aired: 2024
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Studio: Studio Polon

Although damage dealers get the most attention, the tank is the real face of the party, since they’ll always be at the front of the group. Rud is expelled from the hero’s party despite being an incredible tank and is forced to find a new team. While taking an escort mission to his hometown, he meets a strange girl who can use the skill “identify,” allowing her to see a person’s list of skills. Rud learns more about his abilities, and he regains his confidence as an adventurer.

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Harem is a common feature of these types of stories. After the protagonist is removed from the party, they often meet new companions who appreciate their abilities, and they happen to be women. It’s not a story element everyone enjoys, but some people enjoy it. Aside from that, having a tank as the main character of this story makes this story more interesting, even if it plays out the same way as other anime.

4

Even Given The Worthless “Appraiser” Class, I’m Actually The Strongest

Fantasy World Learns The Power Of Appraisal

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.59
• Episodes: 12
• Aired: Currently Airing
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Studio: Okuruto Noboru

Jobs and classes are huge parts of RPGs and anime that take inspiration from them, and protagonists in anime and manga usually have one that’s deemed useless. In this case, Ein’s job is “appraiser.” However, since it’s not a combat class, he’s constantly belittled and eventually gets used as bait. Left for dead in a dungeon, he only survives by accidentally falling into the World Tree. From there, he’s able to get a special power that allows him to act as a true adventurer.

In most fantasy anime and manga, the “appraisal” skill is mostly used for utility and usable by everyone. Even as a job or a class, characters are usually able to work as clerks who appraise items from dungeons. The way it’s framed here is actually very interesting, stretching the meaning of the word to apply it to an action-oriented story. That being said, only a few episodes have been released so far, so there’s still time to see what the anime is really about.

5

Arifureta: From Commonplace To World’s Strongest

The First Introduction Of Firearms In A Fantasy World

Classroom isekai are fun stories that incorporate more people into the adventure, but they often focus on one character who is split from everyone else. In Arifureta, that person is Hajime. After being recruited by the kingdom to challenge the labyrinth dungeon, the students begin training their newly acquired skills. During an expedition into the dungeon, a trap is triggered, and in the chaos, Hajime is hit off the ledge by someone from his class. Now at the lowest floor, he must find a way to survive.

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While this is more of a betrayal, the plot of this anime is very similar to the ones with adventuring parties. Hajime receives a production ability during the summoning, and while it can’t be used in battle, it can be used to make weapons, which allows him to create his iconic firearms. Many people like this anime solely because Hajime has a gun. Other than this, however, the plot doesn’t offer much more than an edgier-than-normal protagonist who is extremely determined to go home.

6

Beast Tamer

The Power Of Taming Unique Animals

Tamers and summoners are rarely seen as main character material, and most of them appear as extras in the background. In this anime, Rein is part of the hero’s party, working as a supporter who carries the equipment and scouts using animals he’s tamed. However, he’s fired for being a burden on the team, leading him to start his own life as an adventurer. That’s when he meets Kanade, a member of the cat race, and soon they agree to team up.

Beast Tamer is one of the better anime in this genre that has smoother animations and coloring and an interesting protagonist. Unfortunately, most of the “taming” that happens is with members of the superior races, like Kanade, who happen to appear as teenage girls. It’s a little uncomfortable, but many people are able to enjoy the show for its fun characters and dynamic fight scenes. There are even interesting uses for real taming portrayed in the story.

7

I Left My A-Rank Party To Help My Former Students Reach The Dungeon Depths!

A Teacher Starts Adventuring With His Students

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.93
• Episodes: 24
• Aired: Currently Airing
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures

In this anime, the protagonist isn’t kicked out of his party; he quits of his own accord. Yuke is a red mage who specializes in supporting his team, but after four years of work, none of his teammates recognized or appreciated the effort he put in. As he goes to find other work, he reunites with students he taught in the past, Marina, Silk, and Rain, and they decide to form their own party named Clover.

This iteration of the “removed from the party” plotline is refreshing because Yuke isn’t a complete doormat. He knows his value and prioritizes himself, which is why he quits. In other anime, the protagonist has zero confidence despite being able to do amazing things. It’s also interesting that Yuke is special because of his experience and knowledge, not a secret ability. It makes his character more relatable and easier to identify with.

8

Banished From The Hero’s Party, I Decided To Live A Quiet Life In The Countryside

Slow Life Away From The Hero’s Party

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.93
• Episodes: 13
• Aired: 2021
• Genres/Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
• Studio: Studio Flad, Wolfsbane

Normally, it’s the hero who removes the protagonist from their party, but in this anime, Gideon is kicked out of the party by the sage, Ares. Despite wanting to support the hero, his sister, in battle, he knows that his lacking ability would hold the team back, so he doesn’t fight the termination and retires to the countryside. There he’s known as Red, the local apothecary. However, not long after, he meets an old friend by the name of Rit, and the two decide to live together.

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Contrary to a normal hero’s party story, this one transitions from adventure to slice of life instead. Red spends most of his time settling small disputes and caring for the sick and injured. He does his best to hide his abilities to maintain his slow life, as well as hide his whereabouts from the hero’s party. It’s a comfy anime with some great romance scenes and just enough action to keep it exciting without changing genres.

9

Chillin’ In My 30s After Getting Fired From The Demon King’s Army

Life After Retiring From The Demon Lord’s Army

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.01
• Episodes: 12
• Aired: 2023
• Genres/Themes: Comedy, Fantasy
• Studio: Encourage Films

While it’s not quite the same as being kicked out of a party, being fired from a job feels very similar, especially when that job is being in the Demon King’s army. Dariel is fired for not having any magic power, which puts his identity as a demon into question. After saving a woman named Malika and registering as an adventurer, he learns he’s actually human. Now he’s living in Malika’s village, trying to make a life for himself.

Chillin’ in My 30s is a fun slice of life anime that has a good mix of light-hearted humor and interesting characters. Dariel isn’t unique himself, but he is a kind and caring person who tries to balance his human and demon lives. It’s a comfy story of how he tries to bridge the gap between the two races and end a centuries-long feud. There’s also a bit of romance in the show, but it’s mostly used for comedic effect.

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