10 Best Anime With Animal Protagonists

Although most anime focus on the lives and adventures of their human protagonists, some go a different route and tell their stories through the perspectives of their anthropomorphic animal main characters. Most of the anime below are set in a world where humans have been replaced with animals, serving as an allegory of human society and relationships, with a dynamic cast of characters that are guaranteed to hook you right into the story.

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From reincarnating into a spider in a fantasy land to a walrus protagonist working as a taxi driver, here are ten of the best anime that feature an animal protagonist you should add to your watchlist.

10 She And Her Cat: Their Standing Points

1999

Makoto Shinkai has been responsible for some of the most thought-provoking, tear-jerking stories in anime, with notable titles like Your Name and The Garden of Words under his belt. But in 1999, he wrote and released a short, five-minute film called She and Her Cat: The Standing Points, which puts us in the shoes of an adorable cat and a narration told through the cat's perspective.

It's an imaginative portrayal of what may be going on in a cat's mind regarding its owner, from its own understanding of the world and interpretations of what the owner is experiencing in their daily lives. Anyone who has a pet at home could relate to what Shinkai is trying to show through She and Her Cat, an emotionally touching depiction of love and loneliness.

9 A Whisker Away

2020

Although A Whisker Away has a romance at its core, its shining moment is the character development and the conflict its protagonist is going through. The film revolves around teenager Miyo Sasaki, who has problems at home but also at school since she's extremely infatuated with her classmate, Hinode, who rebuffs her repeatedly.

After a public embarrassment that caused Hinode to lash out at her, Miyo decides it's better to live as an adorable cat than to live on as a human being, believing that she would be easier to love that way. However, in her cat form, she soon learns more about herself and how badly she handles situations. A Whisker Away deals with themes of insecurity and self-love, with a gorgeous animation style that's reminiscent of a Ghibli film.

8 Shirokuma Café

2012-2013

Shirokuma Café (or Polar Bear Café) is a wholesome, feel-good anime filled with fluffy, cuddly animals who co-exist peacefully with humans. Consisting of one season with 50 episodes, Shirokuma Café revolves around a cast of characters that regularly gather in the café and follows the ups and downs of their daily lives.

The plot starts with a panda named Panda, whose mother urges him to find a part-time job rather than laze around all day. After multiple failed attempts, Panda comes across a café run by a polar bear. Although Polar Bear has an opening for a part-time worker, Panda ends up failing the interview and gets a job at the zoo to be a part-time panda (weird, really). That doesn't stop Panda from returning to the Polar Bear Café, which has become the unofficial hangout spot for Panda, Penguin and other animals.

7 Hamtaro

2000

A classic that has become a fond childhood memory for most Millennials or Gen-Z, Hamtaro is an anime that was based on a series of children's books of the same name. The story centres on an adorable hamster named Hamtaro, who goes on regular adventures with his fellow neighbourhood hamsters, from fending off a cat to helping his owner, Laura Haruna, with her everyday problems.

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There are several spin-offs and incarnations of Hamtaro, such as Hamtaro Gets Lost or Jealous Hamtaro, with various owners and different personalities. With over 296 episodes created since the anime was released in 2000, Hamtaro deserves a spot on this list and is a surefire nostalgic trip down memory lane.

6 Wolf's Rain

2003

A dark fantasy anime from the early 2000s, Wolf's Rain is set in a dystopian world where nearly everything is in ruin. The anime is considered an underrated classic that's noted for its creativity, art style, complex, in-depth lore, storylines and intriguing characters.

In this world, wolves are considered an extinct species but are believed to be able to know the location of a utopia simply called 'Paradise'. The story takes place in Russia, in a city called the Freezing City, and follows a group of wolves who have masked themselves as humans and are all hopeful of finding this alleged utopia. Alongside its adrenaline-pumping fight sequences, Wolf's Rain confronts you with philosophical themes and what the meaning of life entails in this thrilling 26-episode experience.

5 Odd Taxi

2021

Odd Taxi is an underrated anime that sets an interesting concept. The show revolves around its main character, Odakawa, a walrus who works as a taxi driver in Tokyo. Odakawa is caustic and a loner, and there doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary with him at first glance.

However, this well-paced story unfolds into a compelling neo-noir mystery that sees Odakawa potentially involved with a recent case of a missing girl, one which begins to unravel through the various tales his passengers tell him. This 13-episode show explores themes of isolation, abandonment, addiction and societal pressure that make Odd Taxi an anime you won't be disappointed in.

4 The Cat Returns

2002

One of the more underrated gems among the many Studio Ghibli films, The Cat Returns is a spin-off of the 1995 Whisper of the Heart. The film prominently features a minor character in the latter movie, the elegant feline known as The Baron, in this poignant tale that explores self-discovery and coming into your own.

The film follows high schooler Haru, who has the gift of being able to talk to cats. Compassionate and valiant, Haru inadvertently saves a cat, Lune, who turns out to be the Crown Prince of the Cat Kingdom. Haru is whisked away to the Cat Kingdom and notices that she's gaining feline features, along with tackling an unwanted betrothal to Lune. With an amazing music score and compelling narrative in an enchanting world, The Cat Returns is an experience you won't soon forget.

3 So I'm A Spider, So What?

2021

So I'm A Spider, So What? is an isekai anime that is a mix of humour and high fantasy elements that sees our harried protagonist, Wakaba, reborn as a baby spider. However, prior to that, we catch a brief glimpse of a classroom before an unexplained explosion occurs, and we are taken to Wakaba's rebirth in a labyrinth filled with monsters.

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However, in a turn of events, it turns out that her teacher and classmates have been reincarnated along with her, but they've been reborn as princes, duchesses, elven mages, and so on. Wakaba got the short end of the stick, being the weakest creature in the labyrinth, and we see her fight tooth and nail to become the top dog. Wakaba's character makes for some good comedy, and the anime integrates video game features such as power-ups and stats, as well as keeping Wakaba's evolution as a spider in line with what you'd experience in a real-life game.

2 Aggretsuko

2018-2023

Aggretsuko (or Aggressive Retsuko) is possibly the most relatable anime that you can find out there, one that touches the heart of any adult in the working world. The show focuses on Retsuko, an adorable, sweet-looking red panda who works as an accountant, and charts her everyday life and personal relationships.

However, Retsuko hides her internal anger when confronted with work pressures, expressing it in comedic death metal rage sequences or when she's going to a karaoke bar with her friends to scream her frustrations out. The story doesn't solely focus on Retsuko, but it also centres on the stories of her work friends, like the eagle secretary Washimi. With five seasons in all, Aggretsuko is a funny, entertaining, slice-of-life anime you'll not soon tire of.

1 Beastars

2019-2024

Arguably one of the best mystery and drama anime, Beastars takes you deeper into what a world populated by sentient, anthropomorphic animals could look like, as well as an unapologetic portrayal of deep-seated prejudices in the animal kingdom. The distinction between carnivores and herbivores is stark, and while you expect the carnivores to be the top dog in this world, rather, they're forced to smother their instincts and even have an entirely vegetarian diet.

The story's plot opens with the brutal murder of Tem, an alpaca student at Cherryton School, who was devoured by an unnamed carnivore classmate. The protagonist, Legoshi, is a wolf who was friends with Tem and part of the same drama club as he was. As the story goes on, Legoshi befriends a kind rabbit named Haru and unwittingly ends up delving deeper into the truth behind Tem's death. The show also displays the various ways carnivores are discriminated against and how such laws end up leading to more violence in the long run.

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