Ah, isekai anime. Nowadays this is probably the most popular subgenre of fantasy among anime overall, at least among the creators. This may be so for a reason though, as the theme itself has a lot of potential in it. Sadly not many isekai products use this potential the right way, and often there are dead ends or carbon copies.
However, today, that is not what we will be talking about. Today’s topic is the most important part of any isekai anime, being reincarnated into another world. In this list of recommendations, we’ll take a look at those anime that have the main character start their life over as a child in some way.
Table of Contents
What really is Isekai?
Isekai by the classic meaning is a form of fantasy, or sometimes even sci-fi anime that is mainly based around the concept of the main character somehow transported into another world. The main character starts their life over in a new world, and usually either gains new, incredible powers, or has to work towards gaining them, along with a higher standing in the world.
Knowing this, let’s take a look at 11 anime series with a main character who restarts their life as a child!
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Table of Content
Anime where the protagonist gets isekai'd as a child (Recommendations)
11. Misfit of Demon King Academy
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10/20 |
8/10 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
38/50 |
After a dark past that left the world in shambles, the former Demon King, Anos Voldigoad gave his own life to end the long running war between humans and demons, hoping for a better, peaceful future.
The demons later created a demon king academy to prepare for their ruler’s rebirth. 2000 years later Anos is reborn, however the world has changed drastically and not in the right direction. People remember him the wrong way, and he has to work hard to regain his former throne, and prove his worthiness to become the demon king once again.
Although the importance is less on Anos as a child, and more on his agenda to regain his throne, it is still true that he has to start out as a child again.
10. Wise Man's Grandchild
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15/20 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
9/10 |
40/50 |
Shin used to be a businessman, who was reincarnated into a fantasy world, and taken in by Merlin Wolford, the greatest mage of the kingdom of Earlshide. Retreating from the rest of the world to a secluded forest to train. Shin proves to be incredibly talented as a mage , while also retaining his old memories.
However, Shin has a severe lack of social skills, which becomes apparent by the time he turns 15. He therefore enrolls in the kingdom’s mage academy to not only hone his skills at magic, but also improve his social skills that are seriously lacking. However, due to him being the grandson of the great Merlin Wolford, he immediately becomes a celebrity.
9. Saga of Tanya the Evil
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15/20 |
8/10 |
10/10 |
8/10 |
41/50 |
Tanya Degurechaff, for her age, is a ruthless and powerful army strategist, and leader of her own spec ops squad. Her ruthless nature and cold, precise tactical sense earned her infamy in a short time. She becomes known as the “Devil of the Rhine”.
However, Tanya used to be a man, who challenged the mighty Being X to a battle of wits and as a result was reincarnated as a child, a little girl to be exact. Tanya’s main goal is to ascend the military ranks and regain the peaceful life her old self had.
However, her skills help the Empire she serves become a major faction in a war, and one of the most powerful nations to have ever existed.
8. Knight’s and Magic
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18/20 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
10/10 |
46/50 |
Kurata Tsubasa used to be a software developer with an infatuation for mecha anime in our world. However, one evening, while heading home from work, he’s hit by a car and dies, only to be reincarnated into another world, that is his dream come true.
He becomes Ernesti, or Eru Echevalier, a child with exceptional magic abilities and a prodigy for piloting large mechs known as Silhouette Knights in this world. He not only becomes a Knight Runner during the story, but also starts designing his own, specialized Silhouette Knights, and becomes the founder of his own knight order.
7. The Eighth Son? Are you Kidding me?!
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19/20 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
10/10 |
46/50 |
Our main hero used to be a 25 year old businessman. One day he fell asleep on his couch only to wake up in not only another world, but also a new body, the body of a child known as Wendelin von Benno Baumeister, or just Wenn for his friends and family.
Wenn discovers that he has incredible magic powers. Being the only one in his new family, and a powerful mage takes him on as an apprentice. In the end however, he has to set out to make a name for himself, and fulfill his destiny in becoming a mighty mage and finding friends.
He succeeds, and if that wasn’t enough, he also gains the hand of one of the most powerful magic users in the country to become his wife, and forms a party with friends everyone would be jealous of.
6. Didn’t I say to make my abilities
average in my next life?!
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16/20 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
46/50 |
Mile is your average young girl with the aim to become a hunter, an adventurer fighting monsters to make a living. However, what not many know of her is that she used to be a girl in our world who was hit by a truck and offered a new life by a god.
She chose to have average abilities to be able to live a nice, quiet, and average life like anyone else, and her wish was partially fulfilled. She did receive average abilities… for a dragon.
Join her, and her friends, the Crimson Vow, on adventures of discovering the secrets of the world, growing together as a team, and funny shenanigans, that are all caused by her retaining her old memories.
5. Mushoku Tensei
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18/20 |
10/10 |
9/10 |
10/10 |
47/50 |
After a hopelessly bad life with abuse and oppression, the 34 year old shut in dies in an accident, and is reborn as Rudeus Greyrat. Although Rudeus is still just a child, he retains his old memories and with them his perversion.
However, thanks to his old memories, he’s able to adapt to his new life much quicker. He learns numerous incredible skills with both a sword and magic, and makes friends, which is already a great change in his life.
Although still the same pervert as he used to be in his previous life, Rudeus tries his best to make the most out of the new life he gained and works towards the one thing he never had the chance to experience: Love.
4. By The Grace of the Gods
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20/20 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
10/10 |
48/50 |
Deep in the forest lives a human child, Ryouma Takebayashi. He has slimes as pets, and has an affinity with magic unlike not many. He endured a lot of abuse in his former life, and therefore was allowed to be reborn in a new world.
Being blessed by three gods, Ryouma lives his life for the sake of savoring all the joys of life. After living alone for three years however, he meets people, who drastically change his life. He’s convinced by a group of soldiers to join them. Ryouma accepts this chance and sets out to discover the world he barely saw anything of until then.
3. My Next Life As A Villainess:
All Routes Lead to Doom!
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20/20 |
8/10 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
48/50 |
Catherina Claes is the villainess of the game, Fortune Lover. However, as a child she realizes who she really is, and what she’s destined for. She used to be a normal schoolgirl in our world, who was also a fan of the game, and if she doesn’t do something soon, she’s destined to die as the villain.
Catherina therefore sets out to do everything in her might to stop the ultimate disaster from happening, and although unwittingly, actually causes people who would want her dead by the end, to become friends of hers, or fall in love with her.
2. The Faraway Paladin
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19/20 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
49/50 |
Will is reborn after a stagnant, aimless life into a world where his guardians are actually undead. They teach him everything they know and can, but ultimately has to set out to find his goal in life and discover the world he lives in.
Will prepares for the day he has to set out for his lifelong adventure and to vow allegiance to a god of his choosing, for he will receive a blessing based on which one it is. He must make a vow, which he can not break, and must fulfill, whatever it takes.
1. Ascendance of a Bookworm
| Child MC | Plot | Character Writing | Art | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20/20 |
9/10 |
10/10 |
10/10 |
49/50 |
Motosu Urano, a librarian at heart, who would’ve just started her dream job, tragically passed away in an earthquake, ironically crushed by books. She is reincarnated into a world with books only available to nobles.
She’s reincarnated as Maine, the daughter of a soldier, but her desire to read and keep books, like a good librarian, is still strong. Sadly there are barely any books for her to access and decides to start making her own books. She retains her old goal of becoming a librarian, no matter what it costs.
No room for underestimating a child here!
And that would be it for this list. Keep in mind that every last one of these anime series is a small jewel of its own, and they’re basically equally good. Just because the points were distributed as they were, doesn’t mean that one is that much better than the other.
Have you seen any of these yet? Which one was your favorite? Or if you haven’t seen them, which one do you plan to take on? Let us know in the comments!
YOOOOOOOOOOOO dis kinda sussy my “ninja”
Sup bro! which part is sus?
bro the pic of number to is wrong
Yoooo my ninja, I think that’s a volume cover of the manga