Overpowered or “OP” becomes a dreaded term when used to describe a protagonist of any story. Why bother exploring the story of a character already at the top of their game, right? Fortunately, some anime that feature OP main characters still shine thanks to ridiculous shenanigans or overwhelming threats that will make any audience root for the protagonists.
10 Classic Anime That Fans Want Sequels For
Some of these shows left unanswered questions, or didn’t tell their source material’s full story. What classic anime still need sequels?
For viewers who just don’t have the time to experiment, some anime with overpowered main characters feature powerful first episodes that could grab anyone’s attention. Fortunately for anime fans, many great anime with OP MCs already exist.
Anime with powerful protagonists who have clear weaknesses or equals will not be included, and the same applies to shows that do not emphasize their leads’ overpowered nature. Shows like Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Rurouni Kenshin will not be included.
Also, Chinese Donghua shows have been omitted; that said, The Daily Life of the Immortal King is well worth a watch for anybody craving an OP MC animated series. The show is available on Crunchyroll.
Updated on October 29, 2025 by Mark Sammut: The Fall 2025 anime season is well underway, and there are a couple of options for overpowered protagonists. Akira Oda from My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s has to work for every improvement and is not absurdly OP, but he can scratch the same itch. Hero Without a Class and The Banished Court Magician Aims to Become the Strongest are fine but bland, and One-Punch Man Season 3 has been underwhelming.
We have added one Fall 2025 anime to the list: A Wild Last Boss Appeared!
39
Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells
Touka Mimori
Failure Frame has plenty of issues. The animation is inconsistent, and that is rather kind. The story can get very repetitive, with quite a few encounters revolving around Seras (the main female partner) acting as bait so that Touka can step in and do everything. Despite aligning the protagonist with a few strong allies, they are rarely allowed to do anything substantial. The villains are very one-note, with the only exception being the goddess who serves as the final big bad. She is not complex or nuanced, but she is quite entertaining.
Still, for all its flaws, Failure Frame works well as an edgy OP fantasy about a bullied guy who gets overwhelming power and goes on a revenge tour against the goddess who summoned him to this world and left him to die. Touka’s skills revolve around status ailments, which notoriously have poor accuracy in this universe; however, his attacks always hit, a cheat that allows him to overwhelm every monster and quickly level up. Touka is not a conventional “good” guy, in the sense that he shows no mercy to enemies who do not deserve it.
38
My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me!
Yogiri Takatou
This anime is a bit of a strange case. Frankly, My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! is not very good, at least compared to the light novel source material. The story is unfocused, the characters are one-note, and the animation is nothing to write home about. There are plenty of better isekai anime with strong leads out there.
However, My Instant Death Ability pushes the concept to its absolute limit, reaching the point of absurdity. In a sea of OP anime protagonists, Yogiri stands as arguably the most broken. He is so powerful that he kills a world-level threat by accident. This show parodies isekai and fantasy tropes by unleashing a cosmic monster upon archetypes that would be considered powerful in other universes. The humor does not always land, but the concept is fun.
37
Clevatess
Clevatess
Clevatess is a different type of OP MC anime, as the protagonist (Cleavatess) self-imposes a few weaknesses when he takes on his human form. A powerful demon feared by humanity, Cleaeatess wipes out a batch of heroes who were set to kill him, and he responds by laying siege to their castle and destroying everything. However, the long story short is that he becomes the parent of a young child of royal blood. Alongside a zombie hero and a milkmaid, Cleveatess travels through the land, trying to determine whether humanity is worth saving or not.
Clevatess very much falls in the dark fantasy side of things, bringing to life a world that is unwelcoming to pretty much anybody. Cleveatess is not exactly a force for good either, as he is primarily driven by a desire to preserve his own monster kind. He can be cruel, vicious, ugly, and vile; however, he is also fair, in a twisted way. Clevatess is a great show and an easy recommendation for anyone craving a dark fantasy.
36
Needless
Adam Blade
One of Madhouse’s more forgotten 2000s anime, Needless is a fever dream of relentless action, questionable behavior, and great old-school animation. Would I recommend it? Well, the show can be a lot of fun, as long as you go in expecting an irreverent blast from the past that seldom takes itself seriously. Also, Adam Blade can be a bit of an acquired taste, as he is a rare example of an irredeemable protagonist who is still kind of entertaining.
Set after World War 3, Needless takes place in an area home to people who have special powers, and Adam has one of the strongest since he can copy the abilities of other people. Beyond just this OP ability, Adam is just an incredible all-around fighter, who is not physically overwhelming but also unpredictable. Now, to be fair, he faces off against a few enemies that manage to challenge him; however, he is always among the most powerful characters in this universe.
35
Demon Lord 2099
Veltol Velvet Velsvalt
Demon Lord 2099 is a slightly different type of OP anime, one that initially strips a character of their overwhelming might before setting them on a journey to reclaim their lost glory. About 500 years after his defeat, Demon Lord Veltol wakes up in a wildly different world than the one he remembered. While fantasy elements persist, they now exist alongside cybernetic advancements, which have bridged the power gap separating immortals from everyone else. More importantly, Veltol’s strength is directly related to his number of followers, and he is barely remembered at all.
After a few humiliating moments, Veltol focuses on rehabilitation, which comes in the form of streaming. Yes, this Demon Lord becomes OP by gaining followers online, a process that sounds stupid but is pretty fun to watch unfold. Once he does regain his mojo, Veltol gets plenty of moments to show off his power, and they are constantly exciting and satisfying.
34
The Ossan Newbie Adventurer, Trained to Death by the Most Powerful Party, Became Invincible
Rick Gladiatol
Two Summer 2024 anime revolved around protagonists who did not realize they were OP. I Parry Everything has its moments, but Noor’s utter inability to recognize his strength can get old after a while, especially since the other characters seem to purposefully avoid saying anything to make him think otherwise. In comparison, The Ossan Newbie Adventurer‘s Rick gradually becomes more aware, discovering that his “false” perception is solely due to his mentors also being ridiculously overpowered. After spending some time around more “normal” adventurers, he quickly realizes he is well above average.
Best Action Fantasy Anime Like The Ossan Newbie Adventurer
Fans of The Ossan Newbie Adventurer who are looking for something similar have plenty of options to choose from in the action and fantasy genres.
While nothing too amazing, The Ossan Newbie Adventurer is a fun little fantasy story with solid action, a likable protagonist, and decent secondary characters. The first few episodes are also funny, although the humor loses some steam as the season moves along. Despite being mostly set after he has achieved overwhelming power, the anime still highlights Rick’s training, allowing viewers to see his transformation from a weak guild clerk to a powerhouse.
33
I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time
Alina Clover
OK, now here is a show that can be frustrating, depending on your expectations. With a title like I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time, you might expect a comedic adventure that combines workplace silliness with over-the-top battles that bewilder everyone besides the MC. The first few episodes fit that description, but the anime steadily reduces the humor and transitions into a fairly straightforward fantasy action story. That’s not to say the latter is handled poorly, but it is mostly just passable and forgettable.
Still, the eponymous receptionist is by far the best character, and Alina Clover is pretty much the only reason to watch this show. A burned-out guild employee who just wants to work a 9-5 and lead a normal life, Alina ends up having to put in overtime as adventurers never seem to clear dungeons in a timely fashion. Therefore, she decides to use her god-like hammer to kill the bosses herself, while trying to keep a low profile.
32
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level Season 2
Azusa
Stories with overpowered protagonists tend to lean into action, and that is the logical direction to pursue. However, this concept is surprisingly perfect for slow-life fantasies, as the main character’s OP nature removes any real stakes and just lets them enjoy their freedom.
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level is one of the better “slice of life” power fantasies, as Azusa mostly spends her days goofing off with other girls that she has adopted. Occasionally, a fight with a dragon might break out, but these moments are few and far between. Generally, this anime is all about good vibes.
31
Kaiju No. 8
Kafka Hibino
Full admission, I went back and forth on whether to include Kaiju No. 8, just because Kafka is not so overpowered that he has no challengers. The anime is set in a world where massive and strong monsters regularly terrorize cities, so it would not make sense for the titular kaiju to be beyond unstoppable.
That said, Kafka can feel unbeatable at times, and he is only really matched by the absolute most powerful monsters, only one of which presented any sort of challenge during season 1. The protagonist is also constantly growing stronger as he gains more control over his transformation, so he has not reached his ceiling yet (in the anime).
Finally, Kaiju No. 8 is just an entertaining action shonen anime. Who doesn’t like watching kaiju smash things and, then, be smashed themselves?
30
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability
Lloyd Saloum
While not completely unheard of, anime with overpowered children are surprisingly rare, especially action-heavy ones that regularly showcase the protagonist’s incredible abilities. I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince is not only an exception, but it also revels in the absurdity of a young boy demolishing powerful demons and mages like they are nothing. More importantly, the show has the budget and direction to craft set pieces that enable Lloyd, the MC, to go for broke and outshine most of his reincarnated contemporaries.
Very much self-aware, I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince blends over-the-top battle sequences with hilarious facial reactions, typically courtesy of villains who are utterly baffled by the child protagonist’s god-like displays of magic. Born into royalty but having no responsibilities due to being 7th in line for the throne, Lloyd can just spend all his time studying magic, and he is obsessed with the practice. In the first episode, he overwhelms a powerful demon so badly that the latter is reduced to a whimpering mess. It is great.
