Overpowered isekai protagonists are a staple of anime, with each season including at least a couple of otherworlders who can accomplish incredible feats. However, while not completely absent, Winter 2025 is not as enamored with OP MCs as most other seasons.
Multiple shows have characters with either no combat-based powers (Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! And The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World) or relatively weak abilities (Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf! And Re:ZERO). It is kind of refreshing. Still, the lineup does not ignore power fantasies either, so there should be something to suit most people's tastes. Let's highlight Winter 2025's most OP isekai anime MCs.
A few notes and criteria:
- A protagonist's strength will be reviewed within the context of their show, so not just compared to each other.
- Only traditional isekai anime will be considered. Therefore, Solo Leveling and Dragon Ball Daima will not be included, even if the definition of isekai could be stretched to include them.
- Ishura is a complicated case since season 2's closest thing to an MC is not from another world. However, the latter will be included since he is still the protagonist of an isekai anime.
- Only new series and sequels that debuted in Winter 2025 will be considered. Therefore, no Arifureta. Hajime already had his time in the spotlight.
7 Grace/Kenzaburou (From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad's Been Reincarnated!)
An Isekai Villainess Empowered By Kanji
From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad's Been Reincarnated!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- TBS, MBS, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, HBC, RKK, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, tbc, RKB, SBC, KUTV, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC
- Japanese Title
- Akuyaku Reijou Tensei Ojisan
- Studio
- Ajia-do
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Michiro Ueyama
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
Like most villainess isekai anime, From Bureaucrat to Villainess follows a middle-aged protagonist who finds themselves embodying an otome game's villainess. This time around, that person is Kenzaburou, a father who is way out of his depth as he tries to figure out how to convincingly portray a teenage girl named Grace.
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Kenzaburou's greatest powers are his parental experience, kind heart, and dad jokes, which he employs effectively to disarm every other character (and cause a few of them to fall in love with him). However, in terms of magical abilities, Kenzaburou is shown to be stronger than most of his peers, largely due to his knowledge of kanji. In this universe, magic is performed by writing words, and his usage of kanji gives them a notable boost. While he would not put up any sort of resistance against the most overpowered anime protagonists ever, Kenzaburou is well above average in his world.
6 Shion (Magic Maker: How to Make Magic in Another World)
Researching, Creating, And Improving Magic
Magic Maker: How to Create Magic in Another World
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 8, 2025
- Japanese Title
- Magic Maker: Isekai Mahou no Tsukurikata
- Studio
- Studio Deen
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Kazuki Kaburagi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Magic Maker is a bit of a weird case, as Shion is on track to become extremely powerful but is not there yet. Obsessed with magic, the protagonist is disappointed when he seemingly reincarnates into a fantasy world without it. Rather than just accept reality, Shion decides to research magic himself, a drive that pays off as he starts to pull off acts that amaze his family. He even manages to use magic to defeat a goblin, a monster that is considered a major threat within this universe.
By about halfway through the anime, Shion can use lightning and fire magic, along with combining the two to create even more impressive attacks. He also commissioned equipment designed to increase his compatibility with magic, giving him a strong foundation to expand his expertise further.
5 Tougo Asagaki (The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World)
A Sentai Hero Fueled By The Bonds Of Friendship
The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Sentai Red Isekai de Boukensha ni Naru
- Studio
- Satelight
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Koyoshi Nakayoshi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Combining two genres that love OP protagonists, The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World is an isekai sentai anime that parodies both concepts. Tougo Asagaki, aka Kizuna Red, falls headfirst into a fantasy world, and he instantly decides to embrace the absurdity and continue being a Power Ranger who lives to help people. Despite his new surroundings, Tougo can still transform into his Sentai form and even summon five mecha that combine to create the super-cool Maximum Kizuna Kaiser.
On paper, Tougo should be a relentlessly OP isekai anime MC; in practice, that has not been 100% the case. His power is based on the bonds he shares with his friends, be it the other Kizuna rangers on Earth or the party he forms in his new world. When forced to fight using solely his martial arts skills or basic abilities, Tougo has lost nearly every fight, usually only turning things around when somebody else decides to lend a helping hand. His mecha's usefulness is also very situational.
Tougo is strong, but he is undermined by being stuck in a (funny) parody anime that regularly pokes fun at its protagonist.
4 Takumi Iruma (Possibly the Greatest Alchemist of All Time)
Blessed By A Goddess And A Well-Rounded Alchemist
Possibly the Greatest Alchemist of All Time
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025
- Network
- Tokyo MX
- Directors
- Kyohei Suzuki
- Japanese Title
- Izure Saikyou no Renkinjutsushi?
- Studio
- Studio Comet
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Kogitsunemaru
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Sometimes, the title gives the game away, and the greatest alchemist is (naturally) among the most overpowered isekai anime protagonists of Winter 2025. The thing is, Takuma is OP but not extraordinarily strong, at least in terms of fighting ability. Blessed by a goddess to grow his skills quicker than the average person, Takuma's decision to focus on alchemy means he rapidly becomes capable of creating items like weapons and armor using only a few ingredients and a lot of mana. This ability is very useful and potentially lucrative, but he is still a work in progress in most other areas.
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Just to be clear, Takuma can hold his own in battles against mid-tier monsters. During fights, he can use fire, water, wind, and earth magic, along with alchemy skills like Decompose. He is also a pretty great healer. Due to the goddess' blessing, he levels up these abilities easily and quickly, so he is constantly getting stronger.
3 Liam Hamilton (I'm a Noble on the Brink of Ruin, So I Might as Well Try Mastering Magic)
A Talent For Magic That Eventually Receives A Dragon-Themed Power
I'm a Noble on the Brink of Ruin, So I Might as Well Try Mastering Magic
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 6, 2025
- Japanese Title
- Botsuraku Yotei no Kizoku dakedo, Hima Datta kara Mahou wo Kiwametemita
- Studio
- Studio Deen, Marvy Jack
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Nazuna Miki
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Winter 2025 has two isekai anime featuring MCs who focus on studying magic, both of whom start relatively weak but quickly receive power boosts. Compared to Magic Maker, I'm a Noble on the Brink of Ruin, So I Might as Well Try Mastering Magic is closer to a conventional power fantasy, with the anime speed-running its protagonist's growth. Due to being able to use magic without a grimoire, Liam instantly has a leg-up on most other characters, although he is only impressive rather than OP during the first few episodes.
However, Liam receives a substantial boost in power during episode 3, when he agrees to absorb a dragon named Radon. This moment transforms him from a competent MC to a notably powerful one, eclipsing most other humans. Liam can use various magic types (fire, ice, wind, just to name a few), form contracts with multiple familiars, summon Radon's children or salamanders, and summon special boxes that seem to exist outside time and space. At one point, he beats Dracula (aka, a powerful vampire).
2 Kuuro the Cautious (Ishura Season 2)
A Pretty Powerful MC In An Isekai Anime Filled With OP Characters
Ishura
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Passione, Sanzigen
- Based On
- Novel & Light Novel
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
Ishura seems to be allergic to traditional protagonists. Both seasons 1 and 2 cycle through big casts, with most episodes focusing on different characters, most of whom are extremely powerful and some of whom are visitors from another world. Soujirou the Willow-Sword was the closest thing to a protagonist in season 1, and he would be by far the most OP isekai anime character of Winter 2025; however, so far, he has appeared in only one scene in season 2. Consequently, he cannot qualify for this discussion.
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As the sequel's poster child and relatively frequent participant, Kuuro the Cautious is season 2's main character, even if he is not necessarily Ishura's strongest fighter. Gifted with clairvoyance, Kuuro can, essentially, see the future, analyzing an enemy's action to pick the best possible response. The latter is particularly impressive since it happens through instinct, meaning he does not need to think things through. While he has lost a step in recent history and suffers from a broken-down body, Kuuro's ability can make him nearly undefeatable.
Kuuro is technically not an isekai MC since he is not from another world; however, he is still the protagonist of an isekai anime. While a borderline case, he was included as a representative for Ishura.
1 Natsuko Hirose (Zenshu)
A God-Like Power With A Few Limitations
ZENSHU
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Zenshuu.
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Creator(s)
- Kimiko Ueno, Mitsue Yamazaki
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Due to being an original anime, Zenshu's isekai qualification was kept under wraps until its first episode, as was its protagonist's incredible power. An accomplished animator suffering from writer's block, Natsuko winds up in the world of the anime movie that inspired her love for animation. As A Tale of Perishing ends on a rather depressing note, Natsuko wants to change the story's direction, a desire that triggers an ability that allows her to bring to life her drawings. Armed with a magical pen and a liberated mind, she constructs wondrous entities that are the definition of magical. As long as she can draw it, she can create pretty much anything.
As OP as this power sounds, Natsuko does not have full control over it. She can only use this ability when the pen allows her, meaning she is always at its mercy. She cannot rely on her past creations either, as every drawing must be new. Lastly, this power takes a lot out of Natsuko, usually leaving her exhausted to the point of collapse.
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