Summary
The great Anos Voldigoad is omnipotent enough to take on many of the infamously overpowered demonic anime characters (and give a few heroes a run for their money), but who else could contend with his epic story?
The Misfit of Demon King Academyis a fantasy adventure with a romantic twist and is arguably in a league of its own when it comes to intricate magical systems and compelling reincarnation plot points. While most Demon King Isekai shows take a relatively comical approach to life these days (such asThe Devil is a Part-Timer!andWelcome to Demon School!), Anos' tale is stern and thoughtful, hitting viewers on a different level entirely.
Updated June 13, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Following a delay or two,The Misfit of Demon King Academy II Part 2finally ended its run on June 29, 2025, and it was probably the weakest cour of the show so far. Still, Anos is a fun protagonist who is more than capable of carrying a few forgettable storylines. Fans cravinganime like The Misfit of Demon King Academyshould check out these upcoming shows.
Anos has an answer for everything, and it is usually some kind of spell that nullifies an opponent’s standout skill. However, would it not be easier if the Demon King could just kill everyone with a single thought? Well, that is Yogiri Takatou’s power inMy Instant Death Ability, an isekai parodythat seems to vehemently dislike the theme in general. Unlike most overpowered protagonists who are sent to another realm, Yogiri came pre-built as a Lovecraftian monster, and he spends most of his other world journey destroying character archetypes who would usually be major heroes or villains in traditional isekai stories.
Similar toThe Misfit of Demon King Academy,My Instant Death Abilityfeatures a protagonist so far beyond every other character that he treats every encounter like a forgone conclusion. Yogiri takes things a step further than Anos since he seems to be actively bored with most situations, and he is nowhere near as boastful as the Demon King.
Aired as part of theSpring 2024 anime season,I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Abilityis surprisingly similar toThe Misfit of Demon King Academyin a few key ways. For one, both anime are pure reincarnation stories and not isekai, although the7th Princefollows a character who is reborn as a different person rather than himself.
Both protagonists are wildly overpowered and love to showcase their strength whenever they can, usually scaring the skin off their enemies in the process; however, they also take steps to hide their abilities, at least at times. Both anime focus extensively on magic, with the prince being obsessed over learning new spells, to the point of being his only purpose in life. Finally, while very one-sided whenever the Demon King or the prince are involved, the fight sequences of both shows are regularly spectacular, delivering great animation and even a few decent laughs.
This is only a borderline recommendation sinceOne-Punch ManandThe Misfit of Demon King Academydo not share all that much in common. Their worlds and story structures are not particularly similar, and the same extends to their protagonists. Saitama is nowhere near as larger-than-life as Anos; in most ways, the superhero is just an ordinary guy who is just trying to make ends meet, which involves occasionally taking out a monster or two. Forget about having a harem, Saitama is barely known within his universe, despite being by far Earth’s strongest hero who is capable of killing everyone with a single punch. While confident in his abilities, Saitama can be relatively insecure at times, which is not something that can ever be said about Anos.
Despite these differences,One-Punch Manstill deserves a mention simply due to being thedefinitive anime about an overpowered protagonist. Also, both shows have a talent for blending action, drama, and humor, with their protagonists usually serving as the main sources of comedy.
Fans of demon kings and the ranking of all-powerful beings that can build and destroy entire kingdoms in the blink of an eye will thoroughly enjoyThat Time. I Got Reincarnated As a Slime.The show offers a joyful story, lovable characters, and intense fights.
After being killed in his past life,Rimaru Tempestfinds himself in a fantasy world where the first friend he makes is the all-powerful dragon of destruction, Veldora. After being gifted great power, Rimeru sets out on an adventure that leads to him ruling an entire nation and becoming one of the most respected, feared individuals in this new world.
In his first life, Cid was a brazen sociopath who explored the streets acting as a vigilante to test his physical skills. After dying in a car accident, Cid found himself in a world where strength and power ruled.
Quickly taking to the new world, Cid secretly operates an organization in the shadows with plans of controlling the entire country. Cid has trained himself in both swordplay and magic, becoming nearly unstoppable against any who would stand in his way.The Eminence in ShadowandMisfit of Demon Academyshare similar tones in comedy, action, and harem-like aspects.
Except for his doting parents and a few friends, Anos is given the short end of the stick after his reincarnation, as he faces harsh discrimination due to his hybrid bloodline. Similarly, Naofumi Iwatani knows all too well what it’s like to get a raw deal in an Isekai adventure, as he too was deemed unworthy from the get-go after inheriting the Shield Hero title in an unwelcoming world.
Following an unwarranted altercation, Naofumi is essentially cast out from theKingdom of Melromarc and left to fend for himself. Yet, he is still expected to rack up enough experience to save this strange land from a doomed fate.Luckily for the Shield Hero, his powers are more potent than anyone realized, especially when combined with his unconventional harem’s magical abilities.
Beautiful blades do not always have to be mere tools of destruction and can also add substantial value to the overall storyline, even when magic systems are at play. As Lay Glanzudlii, Anos, and any Shinigami orEspada can confirm, the sword one wields(and the corresponding history behind it) can substantially impact one’s chances in battle. Having the bonus backup of spellwork changes the game completely by delivering some surprising curveballs, keeping things interesting and unpredictable.
Much like the reborn Anos, Ichigo is also a hybrid of sorts, with a potent mixture of powerful lineages running through his veins.Bleachprovides an eloquent combination of “hack and slash” with intricate fantasy worldbuilding and magic combat, with enough variety to entertain countless fans for decades.
Unlike many contemporary Summoned Heroes or modern-day reincarnations, some series stick to their roots concerning the transmigration of influential, ancient souls into a relatively current setting. TheFatefighters are always ready and waiting tojoin in the Holy Grail Warafter dying a noble death many moons ago, with unfinished business to attend to (and an all-important wish to fulfill).
Fate/Apocryphabrings some iconic figures into the mix (arguably with as much name-dropping power as the Demon King), such as Astolfo, Frankenstein, Artemis, Jeanne d’Arc,and even Jack the Ripper. Every reborn Hero is embued with incredible abilities and unimaginable strength, each forming part of an integral system within the age-old war between Red and Black.
The teaser regarding the romantic potential between Anos and Misha (and Sasha) is more of a subtle sub-plot in Season 1 ofMisfit of Demon King Academy; however, the significance of their relationship becomes more evident later on. Likewise,Re: Zeroprovides a successful balance of romance and action to appease multiple diverse appetites in one sitting.
Even thoughSubaru Natsuki’s world has been completely turnedon his head, the young adventurer is more concerned with Emilia’s wellbeing than his own, putting his life on the line (on numerous occasions) to protect his paramour. Overpowered handsome men defending their equally powerful (yet still -in-distress) damsels in a supernatural setting provides enough exciting content to entertain all!
Although theMisfit of Demon King Academy’smagic system is exploredmore in-depth in the light novel, the anime gives a good indication of the complexities of the reincarnation process and paranormal power structures. Falma de Médicis is well aware of the weighty responsibility of being the reincarnate of one of the most powerful beings in creation, Panactheos, the God of Medicine. However, he takes up the challenge with almost as much confidence as the Demon King of Tyranny, similarly causing quite a stir in the San Fleuve Empire.
Utilizing their past life knowledge is exceedingly beneficial for Anos and Falma as it gives them the upper hand regarding the course of events, although the young pharmacist takes a much more scientific approach to his problem-solving. Breaking the barrier between the social class system is also a priority for Falma while providing a fair distribution of resources in the process.
