Summary
Summoner is a popular class in roleplaying games known for its ability to call on animals and monsters to fight. In anime and manga, it can be rare to find a protagonist wielding this power, and for the most part, it’s relegated to a supporting character—most likely due to brawler characters and close-range fighters being more exciting to watch.
Of course, that’s not always true. Summoned creatures are usually large spectacles with flashy effects and colors, giving them an edge in the aesthetic department. As a character grows, it usually means they can use bigger, stronger monsters, resulting in some of the best fight scenes.
Updated June 21, 2025 by Garrett Huon:This update will add two titles to this list; Myriad Colors Phantom World and Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail was not previously added to the list because it was debatable that Lucy was the protagonist given the importance surrounding Natsu. However, given how important to the story she is, she definitely fits the criteria for this list.
12The Black Create Summoner: Revolt Of Reincarnated
MyAnimeList Score: 6.17
Living a worse life after being reincarnated isn’t common, but sometimes Japanese students die and get sent to a place where havingblack hair and black eyesis a trait of demons. That’s how this manga begins. Tsuguna, the protagonist, escapes from prosecution to a different country.
It doesn’t help that he can summon demonic beasts, but otherwise, he’s a normal person in the other world. While this is a standard hero’s journey, the rebellion against the existing political and religious powers is what makes this story interesting.
11She Professed Herself Pupil Of The Wise Man
MyAnimeList Score: 6.33
Games coming to lifeis nothing new to anime, but what happens when a player falls asleep when it becomes reality? In this anime, the player Dunbalf falls asleep while customizing his appearance, and when he wakes up, he is in the body of a teenage girl.
This anime is lighthearted and funny, but it’s in the way things that don’t make sense are funny. The story is quite convoluted with a lot of lore being explained in huge chunks, so it’s sometimes hard to follow. However, it can be a good choice to watch when serious, dark anime is too much.
10The Last Summoner
MyAnimeList Score: 6.57
In this Chinese animation, Ah Jie is a normal student with a passion for cooking who hopes to open a restaurant in the future. One day, the smell of his food draws out a summoned spirit named Dora, a little girl with pink hair, and the taste is so good she asks Ah Jie to make a contract with her. After a lot of begging, Ah Jie reluctantly agrees.
In this world, spirits act like familiars, lending masters their power and fighting alongside them. There are a variety of spirits with different powers, like controlling plants or summoning animals, which makes the show fun and entertaining.
9The Mochi I Drew Is Tasty Today Too
MyAnimeList Score: 6.83
Summoning can take different forms. Sometimes it’s bringing a magic beast from one place to another, and sometimes it can be giving life to a creature on the spot. In this manga, Tougo is a high school student obsessed with art and drawing. When he finds himself in an unknown forest one day, he discovers he can bring his drawings to life.
This is where the title comes from. The first thing Tougo drew in the new world wasa piece of mochi. This reflects the overall atmosphere of the story, leaning towards slice-of-life rather than action.
8Drawing: The Greatest Mangaka Becomes A Skilled “Martial Artist” In Another World
MyAnimeList Score: 6.84
As is normal in isekai stories, the real adventure begins when the protagonist learns of his powers. In this case, a former mangaka is reborn into a world of swords and magic, and while hehas no talent for eitherof those, he’s able to use his drawing skills to replicate them.
This story is geared toward action and fighting, introducing concepts like heroes and cults very quickly. The main character, Akira, is dedicated to living a slow life, but protagonists with that intention never actually do. Still, it’s entertaining, if not a bit cheesy.
MyAnimeList Score: 6.85
This anime is set in a world where people can see supernatural monsters called phantoms, and certain individuals are born with special powers. The protagonist, Haruhiko Ichijou, can trap and summon phantoms by drawing them in his sketchbook. The story revolves around his life at Hosea Academy, a school dedicated to training students with powers, as he works with his friends to stop phantoms.
Like other anime from the 2010s,Phantom Worldmixes action with slice of life to capture the fantasy aspects of the story along with everyday school life. As a harem anime, there is a big focus on Haruhiko’s relationships with all the girls, and in a short 13-episode season, it takes up most of the screen time. However, it’s still entertaining and fun despite the copious amounts of fan service.
6Strike The Blood
MyAnimeList Score: 7.03
In this anime, there are two protagonists, but the one with summoning abilities is Kojou Akatsuki. Originally, he was a normal student living a casual, uneventful life, but his world is turned upside down when he’s turned into a vampire one day. However, he’s not a normal vampire. He’s the most powerful vampire to be born called the Fourth Progenitor.
Aside from the standard vampire abilities, Kojou can also summon up to twelve familiars to fight with him, each one possessing an incredible power. The anime itself is a bit on the mature side and includes a mix of action and slice of life. While it’s not particularly amazing, it does some interesting things as far as powers and fights go.
5Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates In Another World With Garbage Balancing
MyAnimeList Score: 7.05
Overpowered protagonists are fun to watch, but after so many of them, a main character who truly struggles to get stronger is quite refreshing. In this manga, Kenichi Yamada transmigrates into Allen, a child serf with the SSS-class, Summoner. His goal is to help his family rise out of serfdom.
In many ways, this manga is similar to many other generic isekai, but this one takes the time to actually tellthe story of the protagonist’s world. Most of the training and leveling up is on-screen, and the supporting characters get just as much of a spotlight as the protagonist. Overall, it’s a well-developed story.
4Black Summoner
MyAnimeList Score: 7.08
The biggest benefit a god bestows upon reincarnators is the memories of their past life. Using that information, they can be geniuses in their new life. In this anime, Kelvin trades all his memories for power in the next world, and that’s how he becomes the strongest summoner.
Despite the interesting premise, the rest of the story is pretty generic. Memory loss doesn’t factor into the plot much, and there aren’t any permanent antagonists to add actual conflict.Black Summonerisbest seen as a slice-of-life animesince those scenes are more developed than the action shots.
3The Reincarnation Of The Strongest Exorcist In Another World
MyAnimeList Score: 7.17
The protagonists in isekai manga and anime normally adopt the power system of the new world they’re in, eventually becoming the strongest. However, this anime doesn’t do that, which is why it’s so interesting. The main character can’t use magic, but he can still use the exorcist techniques he had in his past life.
Though this anime is brightly colored, the protagonist fits adark hero archetype, which creates a contradiction in the atmosphere. It’s a completely serious protagonist living in an idyllic fantasy world.
