10 Isekai anime characters who aren't humans

Isekai anime characters
Holo, Kumoko, Rimuru Tempest (Image via Brain's Base, Millepensee, 8bit)

Isekai anime characters are known for being transported to fantastical worlds, often gaining extraordinary abilities. Most of the protagonists, however, tend to be human. However, some characters completely break away from this norm and take totally different forms. These include several reincarnated monsters, divine beings, and mythical creatures.

These characters are often interesting not because they differ from the typical isekai protagonists but rather due to their unique origins and powers. Whether they are born as slime, wolves, or even an undead lich king, their differences make the isekai world richer since they tend to find themselves dealing with new worlds in ways that a human cannot. Here are ten Isekai anime characters who are not humans.

Disclaimer: This list is ranked in no particular order and contains the writer's opinion and spoilers. Readers' discretion is advised.


Tohru, Aqua, and 8 other Isekai anime characters who are not humans

1) Ainz Ooal Gown (Overlord)

Ainz Ooal Gown as seen in anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)
Ainz Ooal Gown as seen in anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)

Ainz Ooal Gown from Overlord was a human player trapped in the virtual world of Yggdrasil. Upon being transported to this world, he becomes his in-game avatar, an undead lich king. As a lich, he does not have the emotions of a man. There is no need for a lich for sleep or food. Moreover, a lich has tremendous magical powers.

His transformation into an undead creature drastically changes how he interacts with others, especially humans whom he perceives from a detached point of view. Ainz Ooal Gown is among the popular isekai anime characters who are not human.


2) Raphtalia (The Rising of the Shield Hero)

Raphtalia as seen in anime (Image via Kinema Citrus)
Raphtalia as seen in anime (Image via Kinema Citrus)

Raphtalia is a demi-human raccoon-type therianthrope in The Rising of the Shield Hero. She possesses characteristics of both humans and animals, with a very fluffy tail and remarkable physical attributes compared to other humans. Raphtalia fights without mercy with Naofumi because of her demi-human features, which enhances her mobility and powers during battle.

Unlike humans, she ages differently. She matures rapidly according to her experience level. Her unique background and non-human origin play a big role in her development and interactions, making her one of the isekai anime characters who are not human.


3) Rimuru Tempest (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)

Rimuru Tempest as seen in anime (Image via 8bit)
Rimuru Tempest as seen in anime (Image via 8bit)

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime's protagonist, Rimuru Tempest, starts from the position of an ordinary human but is reborn in a fantasy world as a lowly slime monster. However, regardless of their simple form, Rimuru beats incredible opponents and abilities by overcoming the other creatures' powers with their strength and skills.

Over time, they become a powerful leader, evolving into more complex beings while maintaining their non-human identity. Their transformation forms the core of their function, making them one of the isekai anime characters who do not hold human identity.


4) Tohru (Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid)

Tohru as seen in anime (Image via Kyoto Animation)
Tohru as seen in anime (Image via Kyoto Animation)

Tohru is one of the female main protagonists in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid. She is a dragon from another world who can transform into a human form. After encountering Miss Kobayashi, she lives in the human world and serves as her maid.

Even though Tohru appears human, she has dragon-like traits, such as incredible power, fire breath, and the capability of transformation. Her non-human origins and magical abilities make her one of the isekai anime characters who are not human.


5) Zero (Grimoire of Zero)

Zero as seen in anime (Image via White Fox)
Zero as seen in anime (Image via White Fox)

Zero from Grimoire of Zero is a strong witch who possesses a great mastery over magic, unrestrained by the boundaries of a normal human. She has a deep understanding of ancient magic and can cast spells that most characters can't even comprehend.

Due to her origins and powers, she is more of a mystic than an ordinary human, traveling the world searching for a lost grimoire accompanied by her beastly mate. This makes Zero one of the isekai anime characters who are not human.


6) Aqua (KonoSuba)

Aqua as seen in anime (Image via Studio Deen)
Aqua as seen in anime (Image via Studio Deen)

Aqua from KonoSuba is a goddess of water who, despite her divine status, joins Kazuma in the human world after being dragged along during his reincarnation. Her skills include purification for undead creatures and powerful magic healing, though she tends to struggle more often with practical challenges and relies on her status to survive.

This makes Aqua very far from being human, though her personality and antics often make her downplay her godhood, placing her among the isekai anime characters that are not human.


7) Holo (Spice and Wolf)

Holo as seen in anime (Image via Brain's Base / Marvy Jack)
Holo as seen in anime (Image via Brain's Base / Marvy Jack)

Holo is the wolf god in Spice and Wolf, better known in historical folklore as the Wise Wolf of Yoitsu. She appears like a young female human with the ears and tail of a wolf, but in reality, she is an enormous wolf imbued with ancient wisdom and supernatural powers.

She teams up with a traveling merchant, Lawrence, and helps him with her intelligence and cunning skills. Her non-human nature and the ability to change between human and wolf forms make her unique, placing her among the isekai anime characters who are not human.


8) Fran (Reincarnated as a Sword)

Fran as seen in anime (Image via C2C)
Fran as seen in anime (Image via C2C)

Fran is one of the non-human isekai characters in the anime series Reincarnated as a Sword. Since she is a Black Cat, she has cat-like body parts such as ears and a tail, which differentiate her from being human.

While carrying the sword "Teacher," which is a weapon reincarnated to be self-aware, Fran travels to evolve and transcend the sealed fate of her tribe. Her exceptional martial art and uncompromising spirit make her a great warrior.


9) Kumoko (So I'm a Spider, So What?)

Kumoko as seen in anime (Image via Millepensee)
Kumoko as seen in anime (Image via Millepensee)

Kumoko from So I'm a Spider, So What? is one of the non-human isekai anime characters. She is originally a spider monster known as Small Lesser Taratect. Her character has a body covered with white fur and black spots with eight red eyes.

As she grows, she takes various evolutions, such as the Zoa Ele, which has claws more like a scythe, and the Zana Horowa, which has a snow-white body. Then, her final evolution is the Arachne, which takes the shape of a hybrid from her chest up as a young girl, and from the waist down, she becomes one with a gigantic white spider.


10) Boxxo (Reborn As A Vending Machine, I Now Wander The Dungeon)

Boxxo as seen in anime (Image via Studio Gokumi)
Boxxo as seen in anime (Image via Studio Gokumi)

In Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon, the hero Boxxo is an interesting isekai non-human. Having died, he comes back not as a person but as a vending machine in a fantasy world.

This change into an inanimate object brings with it its challenges and advantages for Boxxo as he explores the dungeon, dispensing his items to adventurers. His non-human status brings an unusual twist to the isekai genre, making him one of the isekai anime characters who is not human.


Final thoughts

Isekai anime often makes their protagonists undergo an extraordinary transformation, far from the traditional hero in the human form. These Isekai anime characters, whether slime, dragon, or a vending machine, offer unique insight into the genre in ways human characters cannot navigate the new world. These characters' varied origins and abilities add richness to the isekai narrative and showcase creativity and variety.

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Edited by Shreya Das
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