There’s something deeply satisfying about watching an absurdly powerful protagonist demolish their enemies. No tension about whether they’ll win—just pure power fantasy enjoyment as they casually handle threats that would destroy anyone else.
But not all OP protagonist anime are created equal. The best ones find ways to keep things interesting despite (or because of) their hero’s overwhelming strength. Whether through comedy, creative challenges, or exploring what power actually means, these anime deliver the OP goods while still telling compelling stories.
Our Top Picks
1. One Punch Man
- Episodes: 24 + OVAs
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Parody
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll / Netflix / Hulu
- Why Watch: THE OP protagonist anime. Saitama can defeat any enemy with a single punch—and he’s bored out of his mind because of it. It’s a hilarious parody of action anime that’s also genuinely incredible when it wants to be. Season 1’s animation is legendary.
2. Mob Psycho 100
- Episodes: 37 (Complete)
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Supernatural
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Why Watch: From the same creator as One Punch Man, Mob is potentially the strongest psychic alive—but he thinks physical fitness and social skills matter more. The contrast between his overwhelming power and humble personality makes for brilliant storytelling.
3. Overlord
- Episodes: 52 (Season 5 coming)
- Genre: Action, Fantasy, Isekai
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Why Watch: What if the final boss was the protagonist? Ainz is an undead overlord with an army of loyal monsters, and basically nothing in the new world can challenge him. It’s a power fantasy from the villain’s perspective—watching him strategize world domination is endlessly entertaining.
4. Solo Leveling
- Episodes: 24+ (ongoing)
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Why Watch: Jinwoo starts as the weakest hunter and becomes stupidly overpowered through a unique leveling system. The journey from underdog to shadow monarch is incredibly satisfying. Peak power fantasy with stunning A-1 Pictures animation.
5. The Eminence in Shadow
- Episodes: 32+ (ongoing)
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Why Watch: Cid thinks he’s playing pretend as an overpowered shadow mastermind—but he actually IS one, and everything he makes up turns out to be real. It’s hilarious AND has genuinely incredible fight scenes. The best parody-but-also-actually-awesome OP anime.
6. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
- Episodes: 72+ (ongoing)
- Genre: Fantasy, Action, Isekai
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Why Watch: Rimuru starts as a slime but becomes one of the most powerful beings in existence through absorbing abilities. The fun is watching him build a monster nation and casually handle threats. Lighter tone but definitely scratches that OP itch.
7. Classroom of the Elite
- Episodes: 38+ (ongoing)
- Genre: Psychological, Drama, School
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Why Watch: Ayanokoji isn’t physically OP—he’s mentally OP. Watching him manipulate everyone around him while pretending to be average is fascinating. It’s power fantasy for the strategists and chess players out there.
8. Misfit of Demon King Academy
- Episodes: 25+ (ongoing)
- Genre: Action, Fantasy, Comedy
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Why Watch: Anos is the reincarnated Demon King, so powerful that killing him just makes him stronger. The show leans fully into the absurdity—he kills someone with his heartbeat. It’s ridiculous and knows it, making it pure fun.
9. Hellsing Ultimate
- Episodes: 10 (Complete)
- Genre: Action, Horror, Supernatural
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll / Hulu
- Why Watch: Alucard is an immortal vampire working for a secret organization, and he’s basically unkillable. The action is stylish, violent, and dripping with dark aesthetic. When Alucard gets serious, it’s terrifying. Classic OP protagonist done with maximum edge.
10. Saiki K.
- Episodes: 120+ shorts (Complete)
- Genre: Comedy, Supernatural, School
- Where to Watch: Netflix
- Why Watch: Saiki has every psychic power imaginable but just wants a quiet life. The comedy comes from him trying to hide his abilities while dealing with oblivious friends. It’s rapid-fire jokes and absurdist humor—completely different OP protagonist experience.
11. Irregular at Magic High School
- Episodes: 39+ (ongoing)
- Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll / Hulu
- Why Watch: Tatsuya is labeled “irregular” because the system can’t measure his true power. In reality, he’s absurdly overpowered with unique abilities. It’s magic school meets military action with a protagonist who’s always several steps ahead.
12. Cautious Hero
- Episodes: 12 (Complete)
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Why Watch: A hero SO overpowered that he’s paranoid about it—he’ll grind for weeks before facing a weak slime. The comedy comes from his extreme caution, but there’s actually solid story underneath. Surprisingly emotional ending.
13. Code Geass
- Episodes: 50 (Complete)
- Genre: Action, Mecha, Thriller
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll / Netflix
- Why Watch: Lelouch’s power is simple—he can command anyone to do anything once. But watching him use this strategically to take on an empire is brilliant. Mental OP protagonist who outplays everyone. One of the best endings in anime.
14. Dragon Ball Super
- Episodes: 131 (Complete)
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Why Watch: The granddaddy of OP protagonists. Goku keeps getting stronger to face increasingly ridiculous threats. It’s pure escalation and transformation hype. Ultra Instinct moments are peak anime spectacle.
Quick Comparison Table
| Anime | Episodes | Type of OP | Best For | |——-|———-|————|———-| | One Punch Man | 24+ | Physical strength | Comedy + action perfection | | Mob Psycho 100 | 37 | Psychic powers | Thoughtful OP story | | Overlord | 52+ | Evil overlord | Villain protagonist | | Solo Leveling | 24+ | Leveling system | Power progression | | Eminence in Shadow | 32+ | Shadow powers | Parody + cool fights | | Slime Isekai | 72+ | Skill absorption | Nation building | | Classroom of the Elite | 38+ | Intelligence | Mind games | | Misfit of Demon King | 25+ | Everything | Maximum absurdity | | Hellsing Ultimate | 10 | Immortal vampire | Dark violent action | | Saiki K. | 120+ | All psychic powers | Rapid-fire comedy | | Irregular at Magic High | 39+ | Unique magic | Magic school action | | Cautious Hero | 12 | Over-prepared | Parody with heart | | Code Geass | 50 | Mind control | Strategic genius | | Dragon Ball Super | 131 | Infinite power-ups | Classic transformation hype |
How We Chose
We identified the best OP protagonist anime based on:
Genuine Overpowered Status: These protagonists are truly dominant. They don’t struggle against most enemies—they win decisively.
Interesting Despite Power: The anime finds ways to stay engaging. Whether through comedy, strategy, character development, or creative challenges, there’s more than just stomp scenes.
Quality Execution: Good animation, writing, and production. Being OP doesn’t excuse being boring.
Variety of Approaches: Different takes on the concept—physical strength, intelligence, magic, psychic powers. Different tones from comedy to serious.
Fan Favorites: These are anime the community genuinely loves, not just technically qualified entries.
Start Your Journey
For comedy: One Punch Man and Saiki K. make the OP concept hilarious.
For strategic minds: Code Geass and Classroom of the Elite feature mental dominance.
For power progression: Solo Leveling and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime show the journey to OP.
For already-maxed: Overlord and Misfit of Demon King Academy start with maximum power.
For something complete: Mob Psycho 100, Code Geass, and Hellsing Ultimate offer finished stories.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to watch someone dominate. These anime prove that OP protagonists can drive compelling stories when handled creatively. Embrace the power fantasy.