Games

The Edgiest Protagonists In Isekai Anime

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20 seconds ago

November 24, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Key Takeaways

Table of Contents

Isekai protagonists are typically edgier than shonen heroes, often displaying morally gray actions.
Characters like Kirito, Subaru, Seiya exhibit edgy qualities like cynicism, trauma, and pragmatic responses.
These edgy protagonists, such as Hajime and Naofumi, prioritize survival over heroism in their new worlds.

In many ways, the typical isekai protagonist tends to be very different from the typical shonen hero. When they’re not simply vessels for the viewer’s self-insertion, they’re usually stoic and highly resourceful. Instead of training to become powerful, they’re usually overpowered from the start.

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This means that the average isekai hero is a lot more ‘edgy’ than their shonen counterparts. Even with that said, several isekai protagonists stand out for their edginess due to their snarky comments, unfazed personalities, dark backstories, or morally gray actions. These characters’ approaches to the challenges of their new environments tend to involve pragmatism and moral ambiguity.

7 Kirito (Sword Art Online)

Angsty, Introverted Gamer With Exceptional Skills

Release Date: July 8, 2012
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Creator: Reki Kawahara
Number of Episodes: 96

Kirigaya Kazuto, aka. Kirito, is arguably the most influential and polarizing protagonist in all of isekai. He begins Sword Art Online as a loner gamer who prefers solitude, and further isolates himself after the death game is activated. Throughout the series, Kirito struggles with survivor’s guilt and watching allies, which adds a brooding touch to his personality.

However, despite all that and his choice of dark clothing, Kirito is deeply empathetic and willing to open up to other people, especially his love interest, Asuna. He definitely lands on the lighter end of the ‘edgy’ spectrum, since he is driven by a desire to protect other people rather than by vengeance.

6 Subaru Natsuki (Re:Zero – Starting Life In Another World)

Determined Teenage Boy Who Repeatedly Experiences Pain And Trauma

Release Date: April 4, 2016
Studio: White Fox
Creator: Tappei Nagatsuki
Number of Episodes: 55+ (7 Episodes – Season 3)

Subaru Natsuki is an example of an isekai protagonist who really had to struggle to adapt to his new world. Initially, he is excited about his new life in a fantasy realm, but quickly learns that it is quite unforgiving, due to his ‘Return by Death’ power. It allows him to return to a certain point in time after dying, but it comes at the cost of intense emotional and physical trauma.

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This turns him from an optimistic and cheerful teenager to a more cynical, pessimistic, and angsty individual. He is loyal and protective of his loved ones to a fault, and witnessing their deaths and failures repeatedly pushes Subaru to his emotional limits.

5 Seiya Ryuuguuin (Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered But Overly Cautious)

A Parody Of No-Nonsense, Edgy Isekai Protagonists

Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious

Release Date: October 2, 2019
Studio: White Fox
Creator: Light Tuchihi
Number of Episodes: 12

Seiya Ryuuguuin is designed to affectionately mock the overpowered isekai hero archetype, so his edgy demeanor is played for laughs more than anything else. He rarely smiles and speaks bluntly, giving him a cool, detached vibe.

His overly cautious behavior is rooted in a traumatic past, adding a darker layer to his personality. Like any good edgy protagonist, he appears cold and aloof towards his allies, despite showing glimpses of genuine care for them. Of course, given the type of series Cautious Hero is, all of his edgy traits seem hilariously over-the-top when viewed in context.

4 Hajime Nagumo (Arifureta: From Commonplace To World’s Strongest)

Ordinary High-Schooler Turned Hardened Anti-Hero

Release Date: July 8, 2019
Studio: Asread (Season 1), Studio Mother (Season 2)
Creator: Ryo Shirakome
No. of Episodes: 26
Steaming Services: Amazon Prime, Crunchyroll

Hajime Magumo undergoes one of the most dramatic transformations after being transported to a fantasy world. He’s an ordinary high school student who turns into a cold and ruthless anti-hero after being betrayed and enduring unimaginable pain.

Unlike typical heroes, Hajime has no interest in saving the world; he only seeks to ensure his own survival and to return home. He is unflinchingly brutal toward anyone he considers an enemy, and the only thing preventing him from becoming completely irredeemable is his love interest, Yue.

3 Naofumi Iwatani (The Rising Of The Shield Hero)

Becomes Broody And Cynical After A False Accusation

The Rising of The Shield Hero

Release Date: January 9, 2019
Studio: Kinema Citrus, DR Movie
Creator: Aneko Yusagi
Number of Episodes: 50

Unlike the stereotypical isekai protagonist, Naofumi Iwatani doesn’t immediately become overpowered upon being transported to a fantasy world. Instead, he is bestowed with a shield, considered the weakest weapon to wield in the kingdom of Melromarc. This is just the start of his struggles in his new world.

Shortly after his arrival, the kingdom’s princess falsely accuses him of a heinous crime, destroying his reputation and turning him into a more bitter, cynical, and vengeful character who prioritizes survival over saving Melromarc.

2 Ainz Ooal Gown (Overlord)

Skeletal Lich Overlord Who Uses Ruthless And Morally Questionable Methods To Achieve His Goals

Release Date: July 7, 2015
Studio: Madhouse
Creator: Kugane Maruyama
Number of Episodes: 52

When finding themselves in their favorite game universe, most isekai protagonists choose the heroic path and use their newfound powers to protect the world’s inhabitants. That’s not the path Suzuki Satoru took when he got trapped in the world of his favorite VRMMORPG.

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Embodied as his in-game skeletal avatar and going by his guild name, Ainz Ooal Gown, he embraces his new role as the world’s overlord. His undead nature prevents him from having any real human emotion, and he becomes willing to commit heinous actions to protect his base of operations.

1 Tanya Von Degurechaff (The Saga Of Tanya The Evil)

Emotionally Detached And Arrogant Military Officer

Saga of Tanya the Evil

Release Date: January 6, 2017
Studio: NUT
Creator: Carlo Zen
Number of Episodes: 12

One can’t expect the main protagonist of a series called The Saga of Tanya the Evil to be a wholesome bastion of morality. Tanya von Degurechaff was an extremely cynical and aloof salaryman in her previous life. After being confronted by an omnipotent being for the salaryman’s lack of faith, the being reincarnated him as a young girl in an alternate, war-torn world.

Tanya retains her memories and intelligence from her past life and uses this knowledge to climb up the ranks of the military and live a cushy life. She becomes a cold and calculating leader, one who places survival and efficiency above all else. Her actions on the battlefield, characterized by ruthlessness and pragmatism, earn her the nickname ‘The Devil of the Rhine’ among her enemies.