Summary
Theisekai themeis all about relinquishing one’s past existence for another go at life, one brimming with adventure and excitement. While reincarnation is always hit-or-miss, some protagonists are fortunate enough to be reborn into nobility. However, being a princess in a fantasy setting comes with its own set of qualms, leading to some truly amusing narratives.
From escaping grim fates to defying the status quo, these princess protagonists are in for a ride, with their isekai adventure straying from the usual escapist fantasies of this genre. Several isekai anime and manga have taken upthe princess protagonist theme, and each one adds its novel touch to this popular premise.
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Author
Saki Tsukigami
A modern-day Japanese woman is thrown into a fantasy-like world, and that too, as adaughter of a Duke. Averse to the notion of marrying a prince, Lidiana plans an unchaste encounter, in-turn making herself ineligible to be one of the prince’s consorts.
Despite being successful in her scandalous plan, Lidiana is taken by surprise after finding out her chance encounter was actually the prince himself. With the prince now wanting her more than ever, Lidiana is in for a royal adventure.I’ll Never Be Your Crown Princessisn’t some ordinary love affair, as this isekai manga is laden with romantic twists.
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Punichan
Withthe villainess trope at its core, the manga follows a Japanese woman who gets reincarnated as Lady Tiararose Lapis Clementille, the villainess of her favorite otome game. However, she regains her memories too late, with no time to retract the game’s preset course. Condemned for her crimes and banished from her kingdom, Lady Tiararose has no choice but to accept her punishment.
However, a mysterious figure appears, one that was never part of the original otome game. Aquasteed, a prince of a neighboring kingdom, saves Tiararose from her banishment by asking for her hand in marriage.The Villiainess Is Adored by the Crown Prince of the Neighboring Kingdomdoes exactly what its title states, coupled with a ton of romantic twists and turns.
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Beni Mitsuki
With another take on the villainess princess trope,My Lady Just Wants to Relaxstays true to its namesake with its laid-back premise. After being reincarnated into a novel, Ronia remains aware of the banishment that awaits her.
Instead of trying to fight for her place within the kingdom, Ronia accepts her decreed punishment and goes on to open acafé out in the countryside. Thus begins the laid-back life of a princess who, quite literally, just wants to relax.
As one of the few manhwa-adapted anime out there,Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady With The Lamp’sisekai premise is unique, as it doubles as a reverse isekai of sorts. Dr. Aoi Takamoto is a truly selfless person, but herformer life as villainessElise de Clorance was everything but selfless. However, Elise’s second chance at life is cut short by a tragic plane crash.
By some stroke of luck, Elise wakes up in her original body, with her memories of her two past lives intact. Recognizing her mistakes, Elise vows to right her wrongs, forgoing her villainess past.Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady With The Lampis a profound story of redemption, and the unconventional nature of its isekai lets the anime stand out among its villainess counterparts.
With a princess protagonist at its forefront,The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Ladydoubles as one of the few isekai anime toincorporate LGBT subtextsinto its narrative. After a noblewoman named Euphyllia is denounced as the Kingdom’s next ruler, Princess Anisphia takes it upon herself to mend this grave injustice.
Using her knowledge from her past life on Earth, Anisphia quickly becomes a magic genius, with her goal being to restore Euphyllia’s honor. However, their chance encounter leads to a few unwanted events to unravel, coupled with a blossoming affair between the two.
Takeshi Natsuhara, Hiroki Miyashita
Yakuza Reincarnationis an amusing isekai manga withits gender-bender antics, as the story follows a Yakuza boss who finds himself reincarnated as a young princess. With the wisdom of an entire lifetime, the new princess sets off on an action-filled journey in a fantasy world.
Being a mesh of Yakuza thematics and a fantasy setting, the manga offers a narrative that is truly unique within the isekai landscape. Despite its comical premise,Yakuza Reincarnationis laced with action and nuance, coupled with some grim undertones.
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Plutus
Athanasia de Alger Obelia is merely a fictional character from the novel “The Lovely Princess,” though her fate is laced with tragedy. In the novel, Athanasia is slain by her tyrannical father, despite her constant efforts to obtain his parental love and affection.
One day, a woman from modern-day Korea finds herself reincarnated as Athanasia, with the same doom-ridden fate awaiting her. Knowing the storyline of the novel, Athanasia works up a plan to avoid her father’s eventual wrath, though all of her tactics seem to fail one by one.Who Made Me a Princessoffers a promising narrative within the doomed protagonist trope, and its popularity testifies to this fact.
