Isekai Protagonists Who Reincarnated as the Opposite Gender

The isekai genre frequently explores the concept of identity by placing characters in entirely new bodies with unfamiliar abilities. One of the most unique variations of this trope involves a protagonist waking up as the opposite biological gender after their reincarnation or summoning. These characters often struggle with their new physical forms while retaining the memories and personalities of their previous lives. This list highlights some of the most prominent isekai figures who have had to adapt to living as a different gender in their new fantasy worlds.

Tanya von Degurechaff

A cold corporate executive is murdered and finds himself reborn as a young girl in a magical world resembling the era of the First World War. He is placed in this position by a mysterious deity known as Being X who wants to force him to find faith through suffering. Now known as Tanya von Degurechaff she joins the Imperial military and uses her knowledge of modern warfare to climb the ranks quickly. Despite her youthful and feminine appearance she retains the calculating personality of a middle aged man. This character remains a prominent figure in the ‘Saga of Tanya the Evil’ series which continues to be a fan favorite in 2025.

Hinata Tachibana

In ‘Life with an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout’ a thirty two year old salaryman is transported to a new world. A goddess grants his drunken wish to become a beautiful woman but leaves his male mind completely intact. Hinata must travel across the fantasy realm with his childhood friend to defeat a demon lord and return to his original form. He deals with the psychological struggle of his new body while realizing that his beauty exerts a magical charm on everyone he meets. This comedic story explores the bonds of friendship and identity through a bizarre biological lens.

Mira

The protagonist of ‘She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man’ is a veteran player of a virtual reality game. After using a paid item to transform his elderly sage character into a young girl he falls asleep and wakes up trapped in that body. He takes on the name Mira and claims to be the legendary sorcerer Danblf to maintain his reputation among the people of that world. He navigates the world with advanced magical skills while trying to find other players who might be in the same situation. The series highlights his journey of self discovery as he adapts to his newfound youth and feminine appearance.

Inglis

King Inglis was a legendary hero who founded a powerful kingdom and wished to spend his next life perfecting his martial arts rather than ruling. In the series ‘Reborn to Master the Blade’ he is reincarnated into a noble family as a girl. Rather than pursuing political power she dedicates herself to becoming a squire to focus on combat training and physical growth. She enjoys the freedom that her new life provides while surprising everyone with her incredible physical strength. Her journey focuses on the pure joy of fighting and the pursuit of ultimate strength regardless of her gender.

Ryu

‘Yakuza Reincarnation’ follows a legendary underworld boss who dies during an ambush and wakes up as Princess Ryunel. He retains his tattoos and his tough yakuza attitude while navigating a fantasy kingdom filled with magical threats and political corruption. Ryu uses his immense willpower and street smarts to protect the common people from those who exploit them. He refuses to conform to the expectations of a princess and continues to act like a veteran gangster in every situation. This fusion of crime drama and high fantasy presents a unique take on the gender swap trope as the story progresses into 2025.

Kenzaburo Tondabayashi

Kenzaburo is a sixty two year old civil servant who dies in a traffic accident and wakes up in the body of a villainess in ‘The Old Man Reincarnated as a Villainess’ which premiered its anime adaptation recently. He finds himself as Grace Auvergne who is the primary antagonist of an otome game his daughter played. Instead of being cruel he applies his fatherly instincts and polite manners to the people he encounters. His gentle personality prevents the tragic endings usually associated with the character while confusing his classmates and family. The story explores how a wholesome middle aged man handles the life of a teenage noblewoman.

Lufas Mapel

In ‘A Wild Last Boss Appeared!’ a top ranking player is summoned into the game world as his legendary female avatar. He was once the ruler of the world who was defeated by heroes before the protagonist took control of the character. He now inhabits the body of Lufas Mapel and must gather his twelve heavenly stars to restore his former influence. Despite his feminine form he speaks with a masculine tone and maintains the authoritative presence of a king. The series depicts his quest to understand the changes that occurred during the hundreds of years he was missing.

Rimuru Tempest

Satoru Mikami is an office worker who is reincarnated as a slime in ‘That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime’ which released new content throughout 2024 and 2025. After consuming a hero named Shizue he gains a human form that looks exactly like a young girl. While he is technically a genderless slime he spent his entire human life as a man and consistently identifies as such. He uses his new form to interact with his subordinates and lead the Monster Federation with wisdom. His appearance is feminine but his soul remains that of the man who died in Tokyo.

Tell us which of these unique isekai transformations is your favorite in the comments.