Top 10 Anime with Animal Protagonists

Human protagonists are fun, as they are extremely relatable to us. But what about anime with animal protagonists? Do they not have problems like us humans? 

Some of these anime are even better than your average series with human protagonists because of their masterful execution. To answer the rest of your questions, I have curated this list of anime with animal protagonists, which includes elements of slice of life, mystery, drama, suspense, action, and many others, providing variety to choose from.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the list of top 10 anime with animal protagonists. 

10. With a Dog and a Cat, Every Day is Fun

This anime is for pet lovers; it doesn’t matter if you’re a cat or dog lover. The protagonist has both a cat and a dog in her house. The anime displays her daily life surrounding the adorable dog and the not-so-cute cat. With 24 episodes (1 minute each), With a Dog and a Cat, Every Day is Fun is pure bliss and full of entertainment. You’ll crave more once you’re done with it. 

9. Poco’s Udon World

Poco's Udon World

Souta Tawara is a web designer who decides to take a break and visit his hometown, Kagawa, where his former family-owned udon restaurant is. After arriving, Souta starts reminiscing and soon encounters a young boy who reveals himself to be the legend of Kagawa, a shapeshifting tanuki.

Souta names him Poco and decides to stay there for the time being. If you love anime like Sweetness & Lightning, Usagi Drop, and Barakamon, then Poco’s Udon World is the one for you.

8. My Roommate is a Cat

After losing his parents at a young age, Subaru Mikazuki has withdrawn from society. As a novelist, he either writes or spends his time reading books. One day, while visiting his parent’s grave, he comes across a stray cat and takes it home.

He names the cat Haru and feeds it properly. But Haru is worried about Subaru, who acts more like a stray than her. It’s a heartwarming story from both Subaru and Haru’s perspective.

7. BNA: Brand New Animal

Humans and Beastmen co-exist in a world without peace. Due to their genetic “Beast Factor,” the Beastmen can shapeshift, making them a target of the human’s fear of the unknown.

Anima City is a haven for the beastmen where human interference is prohibited. The solution to this problem might be the human girl who suddenly turns into a tanuki and discovers the ugly reality of the so-called haven. 

6. The Cat Returns

Haru’s monotonous life changes drastically when she saves a cat from a truck accident. The cat turns out to be the Cat Kingdom’s Prince Lune. Later, the Cat King sends presents a proposal to go to their kingdom to become Lune’s wife. After being taken there, Haru learns that if she doesn’t find her true self, she will become a cat permanently, and she begins her search to escape this situation.

Studio Ghibli’s The Cat Returns (2002) is a spin-off of Whisper of the Heart (1995), which is also a Studio Ghibli movie but directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

5. Wolf’s Rain

Wolf’s Rain by Studio Bones is one such anime you hear about occasionally and know how good it is just by word of mouth, yet you never try watching it. This is a reminder to watch Wolf’s Rain.

The gateway to paradise will only open when the world ends. However, only wolves are allowed in that paradise. Kiba and a few other wolves disguise themselves as humans and live among them. Their journey to find paradise won’t be easy as evil forces are also looking for it.

4. Porco Rosso

A curse turns WWI ace fighter pilot Marco Pagot into a pig; he becomes known as Porco Rosso. He has become a bounty hunter who takes down sky pirates and lives on a secluded island only when he hunts or goes to meet a famous songstress named Gina.

One day, his plane was shot down by an American pilot named Donald when he was on his way to fix the faulty engine. To regain his honor, Porco Rosso upgrades his fighter plane and officially challenges Donald to a duel.

3. Wolf Children

REEL ANIME 2012: WOLF CHILDREN TRAILER (English Subtitles) [HD]

Wolf Children displays the purest form of love. When Hana, a human, falls in love with the last surviving werewolf, they start a family of two, which becomes four, with their eldest, Yuki, and the youngest, Ame. Both of them have inherited the ability to turn into wolves from their father.

However, when their father dies, Hana decides to raise her kids in the countryside so that they can have the freedom to play as wolves without getting discovered. From beginning to end, it’s a heartwarming movie worthy of your time.

2. Beastars

BEASTARS Season 2 | Official Trailer | Netflix

In the world of anthropomorphic animals, discrimination exists between carnivores and herbivores. The tension rises further when an alpaca is killed at Cherryton Academy, but one of the suspects is his best friend, a wolf named Legoshi, for obvious reasons.

After a sudden encounter with a rabbit named Haru, Legoshi falls for Haru, an herbivore that also triggers his predatory instincts. A psychological suspense drama that’ll have you on the edge of your seat. 

1. Odd Taxi

Hiroshi Odokawa is a walrus who earns his living by driving a taxi. From influencers, small thugs, and idols to students, he has driven every kind of passenger. His normal life takes a turn for the worse when he is suspected of a missing case.

If I tell you any more than this, it’ll ruin your entire watching experience. If you haven’t watched this already, do yourself a favor, watch this, and you can thank me later.

Final Thoughts

In this list of the top 10 anime with animal protagonists, I have recommended anime you can watch anytime, depending on your mood. Whether you’re looking for a TV series, a movie, or an anime with one-minute episodes, you have several options. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.