Overpowered protagonists are a staple of isekai stories, but these types of characters tend to be male. In truth, isekai anime with female leads are rare in general, with each season containing maybe one or two shows that fit the descriptor. While nearly always competent, these heroines usually rely on their wits or pre-existing knowledge of their new worlds. Alternatively, they slowly build up their strength rather than being immediately powerful.
That said, exceptions exist, and themost OP isekai anime MCsare just as strong as their male counterparts. They feature protagonists who regularly show off their overwhelming might, destroying strong enemies in the process.Power fantasiesare not just for men, and these shows are an all-around blast.
Here are a few criteria and things to mention:
Considering its title,The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotentnaturally includes a powerful protagonist with capabilities well beyond the norm for her world. However, the anime is not a conventional power fantasy and might struggle to scratch a viewer’s itch if they are specifically seeking action. As one of two girls summoned to become saints, Sei is fairly quickly presented as a force to be reckoned with, especially due to her potential to cast holy magic.
While she gets plenty of moments to showcase her powerful abilities, Sei needs time to cast her magic, so she is pretty much always supported by a few characters who act as her shield and sword. Without them, she would not survive most encounters with monsters.The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotentis an enjoyableslow-life isekai animewith plenty of romance and splashes of tense action.
In her previous life, Misato’s brilliance led to isolation; consequently, she yearns to start fresh as an average person. Unfortunately, that does not happen, and she finds herself living as Adele, a girl who has magic that is so overwhelmingly powerful that she can demolish multiple dragons at the same time. Annoyed by her circumstances, Adele decides to become a hunter and, more importantly, hide her OP nature. Naturally, the latter proves to be quite difficult.
Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!is 100% a comedy, with the show following a group of girls as they go on different quests and mini-adventures. Although action is not the priority, Adele’s ridiculous abilities are ever-present and a frequent source of humor, to the point that the anime can almost be described as a parody of OP isekai protagonists. While nothing too amazing,Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!can be pretty funny and works well as acute girls doing cute things-type story.
Another comedic isekai anime,Kuma Kuma Kuma Bearis a full-blown parody of the genre, and a pretty hilarious one at that. Yuna ends upstuck in an MMORPGwhile dressed in the expensive bear equipment she purchased. While she cannot take the onezee off, the costume boosts her stats so much that she can pretty much one-hit kill nearly every opponent, be it powerful wizards with a vendetta or giant squids.
For the most part, thebest isekai anime with OP girl protagonistsdeliver low-stakes escapades and, typically, follow an episodic structure where not much changes from chapter to chapter. They are meant to be relaxing fluff, andKuma Kuma Kuma Bearis about as fluffy as they come. Yuna is pretty charming, and seeing her demolish dumbfounded enemies never gets old.
Coming out of nowhere due to being an anime original that was not advertised as isekai,Zenshufollows Natsuko, a genius animator suffering from burnout. Long story short, she wakes up in the world of her favorite anime movie, which is infamous for ending on a depressing and confusing note. Along with meeting characters she has always loved, Natsuko also gets an opportunity to save them as she develops a god-like power that lets her create drawings that come to life.
While subject to a few requirements and restrictions, Natsuko’s imagination is her power and, at times, seems limitless. Seriously, she creates a mecha out of thin air at one point.Zenshudoes a fantastic job of tying Natsuko’s abilities to her character growth and mental state, allowing for the story to ramp up in tension during the final act. The animation is also top-notch, comfortably among the best in the isekai genre.
My One-Hit Kill Sister
While not the greatest show ever,My One-Hit Kill Sisteris pretty much the isekai equivalent ofOne-Punch Man. Following her brother to another world, Maya’s reason for existing is to ensure her sibling remains as safe as possible, an adoration that bestows her with so much power that she is basically untouchable.
My One-Hit Kill Sisteris (primarily) a comedy that revolves most of its laughs around the power discrepancy between Maya and Asahi, especially since the latter is notably weak for an isekai protagonist. That said, Maya is not just strong compared to her co-lead, as she can take out any threat without much issue.
Mamako Oosuki fromDo You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?is very similar to Maya, just with the former’s abilities being fueled by parental rather than sibling love.
Starting anew after being worked to death, Azusa wants to enjoy a simple (and endless) life in a fantasy world. So, she mostly sticks to herself and tries not to attract any attention, while also killing a few slimes per day. Although they might not provide much of an experience boost in isolation, 2 million slimes killed over 300 years add up, culminating in Azusa becoming the most powerful person alive. At that point, keeping a low profile is not an option.
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Leveldelivers pretty much exactly what its title advertises, and Azusa is by far the best part of the show. Funny, kind, and capable of impressive magical feats, she is an absolute delight, and she is not the show’s only fun character. The anime becomes an ensemble slice of life comedy fairly quickly, as Azusa begins to live with a bunch of other girls.
While exceptions exist, manyvillainess isekai animeare set in otome games, with the protagonist reincarnating as the story’s main baddie. These MCs are consistently powerful, but they are usually not that much stronger than the other major characters (and they are occasionally weaker than the game’s heroine or the main love interest).
Villainess Level 99’s Yumiella is a big exception. Not only is she reincarnated as the game’s post-story optional boss who is stronger than even the Demon Lord, but Yumiella also spends her childhood grinding in a high-level dungeon, ensuring that she is even more powerful than her character should be. Yumiella is so OP that she resembles some sort of eldritch horror to the heroine, Alicia. Yumiella is so OP that she creates a black hole for fun.
Despite being so powerful, Yumiella is still quite a relatable and empathetic character, largely due to her social awkwardness and general inability to read other people’s emotions.
