Like many anime genres out there, the isekai world is dominated by male characters. Female characters often have little presence and even when they do, they are usually created for two purposes – to serve as a romantic interest for the male lead or to exist as fanservice.
This is why female protagonists in isekai who don’t fit into such boxes are a breath of fresh air. It's especially great if they aren’t Rem From Re:Zero or Asuna from Sword Art Online — who have become two of the most recognizable female characters from modern isekai anime.
Updated on April 21st, 2022 by Olivia Subero: This list has been updated to fix some out-of-date information and address a few other minor errors.
10 Yui Kusanagi Won The Hearts Of Gods (Kamigami No Asobi)
Yui was brought up in a shrine and is excellent with swords. One day she’s whisked to the world of Gods with the duty of making them more empathic toward humans. Even though the task ahead of her is tough, her intelligence and loyalty slowly win the hearts of all Gods. She goes above and beyond her duties to not only teach her new students about human emotions but to also help them bond with each other as brothers.
9 Chihiro Ogino Goes From Selfish To Brave (Spirited Away)
Chihiro was introduced as a selfish young brat whose character did a complete 180 when she realized she was stuck in a fantasy world with no way out. The entire movie focuses on her emotional and psychological growth as she goes from throwing childish tantrums to risking her life in order to save the lives of her friends. Within a short span of time, Chihiro emerges as a brave and confident young girl who leaves the fantasy land unharmed, with her smiling parents by her side.
8 Katarina Claes Is Kind & Considerate (My Next Life As A Villainess)
The new Katarina is far removed from the original Katarina who was sadistic and cruel. The current Katarina is a kind and sweet girl who doesn't mind doing physical labor if it meant making her happy.
She is incredibly helpful by nature, often going out of her way to help people even when they don’t ask for is. Katarina is also quick to forgive people for their mistakes.
7 Tanya Von Degurechaff Is Sharp On & Off The Battlefield (Saga Of Tanya The Evil)
Tanya is quite a complicated character. The anime shows a more sadistic and manipulative side of hers than in the manga and light novels. Apart from displaying some rather concerning tendencies, Tanya is calculating and shrewd — both on and off the battlefield.
She’s brutal and rarely lets anything get under her skin. Despite that, she can easily play the part of the humble subordinate when in the presence of her superiors.
6 Myne Is Brilliant Enough To Come Up With New Inventions As A 5-Year-Old (Ascendance Of A Bookworm)
Myne is a 5-year-old with the memories of the 22-year-old Urano, and she wastes no time making use of her surrounding resources to come up with inventions way ahead of her time. The new Myne was still physically weak, but she didn't let that get in her way. Myne could often be seen smiling and cheering for her friends and family.
5 Sei Takanashi Was Reborn As A Saint Who Saved The Life Of A Knight Commander (The Saint's Magic Power Is Omnipotent)
After this 20-year-old Japanese office worker was transported into a fantasy world where she became a Saint, she did her best to hide her identity and live her life as normally as possible.
However, she came into the spotlight after she saved Knight Commander Albert Hawke's life. Her miraculous potions furthered rumors her she may indeed be the Saint who’ll rid people of all their worries. But this young girl wasn’t sure if she was up for such a mighty challenge.
4 Kumoko Goes From Being Scared To Hopeful & Caring (So I'm A Spider, So What?)
Kumoko starts off as a scared and unsure young spider in a world where she’s at the bottom of the food change. However, the passage of time and a group of new friends start bringing about changes within her. Soon, she ends up genuinely caring for her new friends.
Kumoko remains hopeful, learns how to communicate with people, and often resorts to speaking sarcastically in order to hide her insecurities.
3 Emilia Yusa Is A Smart Angel Who Keeps Satan In Check (The Devil Is A Part-Timer)
Touted as the great Hero and the only person who can defeat Satan, Emilia is successful in pushing back Satan’s army on Ente Isla. However, a certain chain of events results in her and Satan traveling to Japan where the two are forced to get a job and find a new home in order to live in this new world.
Emilia is smart and always suspicious of Satan, going out of her way to warn all his new friends of his ulterior motives. She’s also part angel, which is why she was able to defeat Satan.
2 Ye Jinxuan "Ye Jiayao" Talks Her Way Out Of Sticky Situations (Meng Qi Shi Shen)
The modern Chinese girl Ye Jiayao suddenly finds herself in the body of Ye Jinxuan in ancient China, who was being kidnapped by bandits. As their prisoner, the spunky Jiayao doesn't give in to their threats and intimidation, always using her words and wits to get out of sticky situations. Her defiant and never-give-up attitude wins the heart of the person in charge of her kidnapping, but there’s no way a girl like Jiayao would fall for a criminal.
1 Yuno Gasai Is One Of The Most Well-Known Yandere Ever (The Future Diary)
Fans may be surprised to see Yuno at the top, those who've watched the entire show know the truth. Yuno traveled to not one, but two different worlds, playing by the rules of those worlds to be by the side of her beloved Yuki.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Yuno Gasai was the sole reason Future Diary became as famous as it did, and it was her obsessive personality that made her go down as one of the most famous yandere in anime.