The theological and philosophical concept of reincarnation stipulates “that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death.” This is not so frequent in the Western tradition as it is in the East, which is why it makes sense that many great anime series focus on that concept. They appear in different shapes and sizes, and in this article, we will rank the 30 best reincarnation-themed anime series you need to watch.
30. In the Land of Leadale
Keina Kagami, after an accident that put her on life-support, finds herself in the virtual world of Leadale, taking on the persona of her game avatar, Cayna. In this new realm, her past worries fade away, but she discovers that Leadale has changed from what she remembered.
29. I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level
Azusa, after a life of overwork, is granted a wish by a goddess to be reborn into a peaceful existence. Reincarnated as an immortal witch at 17, she vows to lead a stress-free life in a new world. Living on a plateau, she cultivates her field, hunts slimes for crystals, and joins the Adventurer’s Guild. After three centuries, she becomes the powerful “Witch of the Plateau,” attracting adventurers and powerful beings who seek to challenge her, disrupting her once-serene life.
28. Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody revolves around Ichiro Suzuki, a video game programmer, who finds himself transported into the game world he was editing, now known as Satou Pendragon. Discovering his newfound abilities, he uses Starfall or Meteor Shower to defeat lizardmen, reaching level 310 and amassing wealth. Choosing to conceal his high level, Satou aims for a peaceful life, meeting various characters like Zara, Pochi, Tama, Liza, Arisa, and Lulu as he embarks on his journey.
27. The Strongest Sage With the Weakest Crest
A powerful mage, limited by a seal, reincarnates into six-year-old Matthias Hildesheim. His new seal aids in magical combat, but the world has shifted away from magic, relying on weapons and machines. In a changed world, Matthias must adapt, facing challenges like training his brothers, mastering the evolution of magic, and overcoming the shifts in society before pursuing his ultimate goal.
26. Skeleton Knight in Another World
After dozing off during an online game, the protagonist awakens in another world as his gaming avatar—a Skeleton Knight. Concealing his skeletal appearance, he plans to use a role-play biography, portraying himself as a cursed knight seeking a cure while traversing the new world.
25. The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?
The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me? presents us with the story of Shingo Ichinomiya, a Japanese salaryman, who awakens in a magical fantasy world as Wendelin von Benno Baumeister, the eighth son of the impoverished Baumeister family. Due to his low chances of inheriting family wealth, Wendelin discovers his magical abilities and, with the guidance of Alfred, a former court mage, hones his skills in secret. As Wendelin grows, he attends the Academy, forms an adventurer group with classmates, and embarks on heroic adventures, navigating the challenges of his new world.
24. Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!
Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! is an anime series based on the light novel of the same name written by FUNA. The story revolves around a high-achieving girl named Kurihara Misato, who dies in a traffic accident. Upon meeting a goddess in the afterlife, she requests to have average abilities in her next life, hoping for a more normal and relaxed existence.
23. My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
In My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Catarina Claes, the only daughter of Duke Claes, suffers a head injury at the age of eight and regains memories of her previous life as an otaku girl. Realizing she has been reincarnated into the world of the otome game “Fortune Lover,” where she is the antagonist and rival of the heroine, Catarina strives to avoid the doom flags that lead to her character’s demise in the game. Determined to change her fate, she navigates the challenges of being a villainess while unintentionally gathering a harem of potential love interests. The series blends elements of fantasy, romance, and comedy as Catarina attempts to rewrite her destiny.
22. Seirei Gensōki: Spirit Chronicles
In Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles, Rio, an orphan seeking revenge for his mother’s murder, is the reincarnation of Haruto Amakawa, a modern Japanese student. Endowed with Haruto’s memories, Rio discovers a special magical power that could improve his life. After rescuing Princess Flora, he gains entry to Bertram’s Royal Academy. However, false accusations force him to flee, leading him to his mother’s homeland in the eastern region. There, he learns about his royal lineage and later adopts a new identity to return to the Western Kingdom, determined to seek vengeance on those who wronged his parents.
21. The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody
Demon Lord Varvatos, bored with his immense power, decides to reincarnate as Ard with calibrated normal magical strength. Unforeseen in the modern world, everyone is weaker than bugs, allowing Ard to effortlessly take control. With women adoring him, the royal family urging him to be the next king, and a former subordinate seeking revenge, Ard remains focused on his single-minded goal to conquer the world once again.
20. The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat
In Nidome no Jinsei wo Isekai de, the protagonist, an elderly retired assassin, meets an unexpected end when a sabotaged plane crashes. Resurrected by a goddess, he’s given a new life in a fantasy world of swords and magic as Lugh Tuatha Dé. Tasked with saving the world from destruction by a hero, he resolves to savor his newfound existence and refuses to be exploited as a mere tool by anyone.
19. The Rising of the Shield Hero
In The Rising of the Shield Hero, Naofumi Iwatani is summoned to a new world alongside three others to become the “Legendary Four Heroes.” Equipped with the “Legendary Shield,” Naofumi, lacking charisma, ends up betrayed and falsely accused by his only teammate. Disgraced and persecuted, he embarks on a solo journey filled with thoughts of revenge and hatred in a world where he must progress alone.
18. Mushoku Tensei
In Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, a 34-year-old Japanese NEET is reincarnated in a fantasy world after saving a teenager from a truck. Embracing his new life as Rudeus Greyrat, he excels in magic, befriends diverse characters like Roxy, Sylphiette, and Eris, and serves as a mentor. Guided by mysterious advice and forming bonds, Rudeus embarks on a journey with Eris, determined to restore the honor of his friend Ruijerd Speldia.
17. So I’m a Spider, So What?
In So I’m a Spider, So What? students from a classroom are reincarnated into a fantasy world during a fierce battle between the hero and demon king. The protagonist, the most antisocial of the group, is reborn as a spider in a dangerous dungeon. At the bottom of the food chain, she navigates survival challenges using her human knowledge and unyielding positivity against formidable creatures, determined to adapt and thrive in this unfamiliar world.
16. Ascendance of a Bookworm
In Ascendance of a Bookworm, Motosu Urano, a book-loving student, dies in an earthquake and expresses a desire to be reborn in a world where she can read books forever. She wakes up in the body of a girl named Myne in a world where books are rare. With memories of her past life intact, Myne strives to create and print her own books, determined to bring the joy of reading back into her life.
15. The Ambition of Oda Nobuna
In The Ambition of Oda Nobuna, Yoshiharu Sagara, a high school student immersed in video games about feudal Japan, is mysteriously transported to the Sengoku era during a battle. Saved by a man who becomes Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Yoshiharu attempts to alter historical events. However, he discovers that the story has changed, with Nobunaga Oda now portrayed as a young girl named Nobuna Oda. Yoshiharu strives to navigate this altered timeline and restore order.
14. By the Grace of the Gods
Ryoma Takebayashi, a man with a challenging and unfulfilling life, meets an unexpected end due to a sleep-related accident. Three benevolent gods decide to give him a second chance, reincarnating him as a child in a world of swords and magic. Grateful for this divine opportunity, Ryoma chooses to live a peaceful life in the forest, utilizing his knowledge and skills, along with the gods’ blessings. He immerses himself in magical studies, hunting, and his newfound passion for researching and training various slimes, unveiling a fantasy of a serene second life in a world filled with kind-hearted individuals.
13. Wise Man’s Grandchild
An overworked employee meets an untimely end after a traffic accident, only to be reincarnated in a fantasy world with his memories intact. Surviving a massacre as a baby, he is adopted and raised by the powerful wizard Merlin Wolford. Renamed Shin, the protagonist discovers his innate magical abilities and gains tremendous power under Merlin’s guidance. However, lacking common sense due to his secluded upbringing, Merlin suggests that Shin attend the Academy of Magic. As Shin ventures into the capital, he saves two girls, Maria and Sicily, eventually forming a club with new friends and navigating his life in this magical realm.
12. Dog & Scissors
High school student Kazuhito Harumi dies while protecting a woman during a robbery and is reincarnated into the body of a dachshund. The woman, Kirihime Natsuno, can telepathically communicate with him and is revealed to be his favorite author, Shinobu Akiyama. Kazuhito, now a dog, experiences both Kirihime’s sad*stic tendencies and her jealousy. Despite the bizarre circ*mstances, he learns about Kirihime’s peculiar life, including encounters with his sister, who is convinced the dog isn’t her brother.
11. Knight’s & Magic
In Knight’s & Magic, Tsubasa Kurata, an otaku genius computer scientist, dies in a traffic accident and is reincarnated in a fantasy world where giant robots called “Silhouetted Knights” are the primary fighting force. Reborn as Ernesti Echevalier, a noble boy with retained memories, Tsubasa is passionate about mechs and aims to create his own Silhouette Knight to protect his kingdom from various threats. The world utilizes these mechs and magic as medieval knights battle against formidable foes like beasts, demons, and devouring creatures.
10. KonoSuba
Kazuma Satō, a Japanese hikikomori teenager, faces an untimely death but is given the chance to reincarnate in a parallel world with MMORPG elements by the goddess Aqua. Given the option to choose a divine item or ability, Kazuma selects Aqua as his companion and ventures to Axel’s town. However, he soon discovers that Aqua’s lack of judgment may not be as beneficial as he hoped in this new adventure-filled world.
Aikawa Ayumu, a normal high school student, faces an unexpected fate when he is murdered by a serial killer. However, he is reborn as a zombie by the necromancer Eucliwood Hellscythe and becomes her servant. Things take a quirky turn when he accidentally absorbs the powers of a “masō-shōjo” named Haruna, turning him into a masō-shōjo himself. Now, Ayumu must juggle his duties as a masō-shōjo, his studies, and the quest to find his assassin, all while living with Eucliwood, Haruna, and a vampire ninja named Seraphim.
8. Punch Line
In Punch Line, Yūta Iridatsu, a resident of Koraikan pension, undergoes a peculiar transformation after a bus hijacking incident. He is thrust out of his body, becoming a spirit. Guided by a cat named Chiranosuke, Yūta learns that to return to normal, he must find the Nandala Gandala book. However, before doing so, he must protect his roommates—Mikatan, Ito, Meika, and Rabura—from various challenges. Complicating matters, as a spirit, Yūta must avoid seeing two or more parties in a row, or else the Earth faces destruction by a meteor.
7. World Break: Aria of Curse for a Holy Swordsman
The story takes place at Akane Academy, where students called Saviors harness powers divided into Shirogane and Kuroma. These abilities, originating from past lives, equip individuals with superpowers. Shirogane utilizes weapons, and Kuroma employs defensive magic to fend off monsters known as metapsychics. Moroha Haimura, the protagonist, possesses both Shirogane and Kuroma powers and enters Akane Academy, encountering characters like Satsuki. As he joins the elite team, the tranquility of school life is disrupted by the sudden appearance of monsters attacking the community.
6. Angel Beats!
In Angel Beats!, the characters are deceased teenagers with troubled pasts who find themselves in an afterlife realm. This place allows them to live anew and strive to fulfill their unfulfilled dreams before moving on. However, Yuri, a young girl, harbors resentment toward God for the hardships they faced in the real world. When Otonashi enters this realm, he becomes involved with Yuri and her group as they attempt to uncover the mysteries surrounding the afterlife, including the enigmatic girl with white hair and their quest for revenge against God.
5. In Another World with My Smartphone
In In Another World with my Smartphone, 15-year-old Tōya Mochizuki is unexpectedly killed by lightning and receives an apology from God. God grants him a new life in a fantastical world with enhanced physical, mental, and magical abilities as compensation. Tōya decides to bring his smartphone along for the journey. Throughout his second life, Tōya befriends various individuals and embarks on adventures, traversing different worlds with the unique opportunities granted by his newfound abilities.
4. The Saga of Tanya the Evil
In Saga of Tanya the Evil, an arrogant Japanese salaryman insults God and, upon his sudden death on February 22, 2013, is reborn in a universe resembling Europe in the 1910s. Reincarnated as an orphan girl named Tanya Degurechaff, she rises to the rank of second lieutenant in the Imperial Army by the age of 9. God, referred to as “Being X,” informs Tanya that unless she experiences a natural death or believes in Him, her soul will face eternal damnation in Hell for the sins committed in her previous life.
3. Erased
In Erased, set in 2006, Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling mangaka and pizza delivery boy, possesses the ability to go back in time a few minutes before accidents occur. After a sudden event, he is transported 18 years into the past, when he was in elementary school. This unexpected journey gives Satoru a chance to prevent a crime and save three classmates from being kidnapped and murdered by a criminal.
2. Death Parade
Death Parade unfolds as individuals wake up in a mysterious bar with a dark atmosphere, unaware of how they got there. Bartender Decim and his assistant reveal that they are participants in a deadly game. The individuals must engage in bar games, such as darts, bowling, or billiards, risking their lives to uncover the truth behind their situation.
1. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Satoru Mikami, a 37-year-old single salaryman, leads a monotonous life in Tokyo. During an encounter with his younger brother and his fiancée, a chaotic event unfolds as a knife-wielding assailant threatens the crowd. While intervening to protect others, Satoru is fatally injured. In his final moments, a mysterious “voice” listens to him and interprets his last words.
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