Best Cynical Lead Actor in Isekai Anime And Manga

Summary

• Ainz Ooal Gown is a cynical ruler on the thin line between heroism and villainy.

• Kazuma Satou balances heroism and cynicism as he navigates his isekai adventure.

• Naofumi Iwatani shows true heroism behind his cynical attitude in an unfair isekai world.

Cynical characters in isekai anime and manga is a recurring trope in this genre, although not many of them end up as the true heroes of the story and sometimes they tend to be more in line with the evil side.

But from all the cynics in isekai anime, there is a list of the most cynical, and here they are sorted according to certain criteria, such as true goals, attitude to the world, and whether they are still redeemable or have fallen to their cynical side. So here are the best cynical protagonists in isekai anime and manga.

8

Ainz Ooal Gown (Overlord)

Not a hero, not a villain, just a cynical ruler

This former player turned into an evil Overlord who sees everything around him as a game plan and controls the pieces as he wants. Ruthless, pragmatic and cynical, he still carries some lingering remnants of his former humanity somewhere in his consciousness.

So he's not a full-fledged monster, he's just dangerously walking the fine line between right and wrong. This unencumbered morally gray vision of reality is what makes Ainz such a master strategist, able to outmaneuver his enemies with style and without any contemplation.

7

Kazuma Satou (Konosuba)

Treads dangerously on the line between heroism and village idiot

Kazuma Satou was thrown into a new and amazing isekai experience, although the way he was transported to another world should have prevented him from what he was about to experience.

Kazuma is a sarcastic, self-deprecating, reclusive and a naturally born cynical individual, who enjoys spending time lazing around more than risking his skin by living adventures. When something goes wrong, he'll be the first person to say, “I told you so,” and the worst part is, he'll be right most of the time.

6

Naofumi Iwatani (The Rising Of The Shield Hero)

Behind his cynical attitude he hides a hurtful truth

Not every isekai story ends with the protagonist being treated fairly. In the case of Naofumi Iwatani, who was betrayed early in his adventure, cynicism is a defense mechanism that allows him to deal with the selfishness (and sometimes absurdity) of the people who live in this world he was thrown into.

His fierce determination is what allowed him to break free from the cycle of violence he was trapped in, enduring inhuman amounts of disgust, insults and abuse. In time, he rose above those who belittled him and became a true hero. But his cynical nature remains intact.

5

Rimuru Tempest (The Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime)

Can be nasty, can be evil and even cynical

Formerly known as Mikami Satoru, this cynical and pragmatic salaryman became a Slime when he was reincarnated in another world. Throughout the series, the protagonist known as Rimuru Tempest has suffered dozens of changes both psychologically and physically.

But he never loses his sense of humor, which balances out his often detached (and ruthless) attitude when dealing with his enemies. This seemingly harmless Slime grew to become a true monster, then a Demon Lord/Dragon God with incredible powers. His enemies do well to fear him, and few survive his wrath.

4

Hajime Nagumo (Arifureta: From Ordinary to the World's Strongest)

Your average man against humanity attitude

Hajime Nagumo wasn't always a cynical and detached person, but when his former classmates left him to die in the Great Orcus Labyrinth, he experienced what human cruelty was capable of. Afterwards, his personality changed greatly (as well as his biological nature) and he had to mature in a hurry, as he tried to survive at all costs.

When he emerged from the depths, followed by Yue, Nagumo was no longer a naive boy, but a cynical, nervous and overwhelmed individual who could tear apart anyone who stood in his way. Perhaps that was what made him even more powerful than anything else that happened in that wretched place.

3

Satou Pendragon (Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody)

Cool and independent, but also cynical

As a former programmer and recluse, Satou has a cynical strain that cannot be changed no matter how amazing his experiences in Rhapsody were. Living adventures as a sorcerer, merchant and reluctant pseudo-harem “master”, Satou has acquired the title Lord Pendragon, a name he chose because he is a fan of ancient chivalric tales.

His relaxed, often silly nature hides a very sharp mind, constantly analyzing what is happening around him, looking for better prospects in business or good results from dangerous situations. He is definitely a survivalist: not the practical type, but one who has a knack for ordering people to do tasks for him.

2

Subaru Natsuki (Re:Zero)

Death has taken a toll on him

From victim to elected leader, Subaru's cynicism is deeply rooted in the constant traumatic events that lead him to countless deaths and resets. No one has had to go through what Subaru experienced, and even his enemies have realized that their minds would break if they went through an endless cycle of death and rebirth.

Throughout the series, Subaru goes from absolute despair to a paragon of humanity in one of the most incredible character developments in anime. Although he is a rather divisive isekai anime character, often compared to other “edge lords” from anime culture.

1

Saitou (Handyman In Another World)

Just your average minion, doing God's work in another world

Saitou the Handyman is perhaps one of the best characters in isekai anime culture. A former Japanese part-timer who knows a little bit of everything to do with crafts and construction, and thanks to his experience at odd jobs, he turned into a master.

His skills are rare in that fantasy world, though they are often underestimated by the many fantastic characters who accompany him on his adventures. His quiet cynicism contrasts perfectly with the many larger-than-life individuals he accompanies: from a powerful archmage slowly losing his grip on memory due to Alzheimer's, to a critical, snarky and sometimes cruel elf with a strange obsession with coins.