The best body swap anime

Many stories in the media are fantasy and bizarre situations, but there is nothing as strange as the concept of body swap. Whether it's a permanent change or a temporary switch, being in another person's body can lead to a lot of crazy shenanigans.

Body swapping has appeared in all kinds of anime whether it's high fantasy or modern day, but usually only as short escapades that don't last long. However, some shows focus entirely on the concept; Consequently, here are The best body swap anime.

To be considered, both characters must be from the same world. Therefore, there is no reincarnation or isekai anime where the protagonist takes someone's body.

Updated by Mark Sammut on October 6, 2024: This article has been updated with specs for each body swap anime included, along with an introduction to a new very long shonen series that explores the concept during one of its arcs.

12 Atashin'chi movie

A decent classic take on the body swap formula

Atashin'chi is a long-running manga and anime series featuring the episodic slice-of-life adventures of the Tachibana family. The protagonist of the series is 17-year-old Mikan, although her mother, father, and younger brother Yuzuhi are the focus of the series.

Atashin'chi It has nothing to do with body swapping itself, but the story of the film released in 2003 is different. In the movie, Mikan and her mother switch bodies when lightning strikes, forcing them both to live each other's lives while the other family members search for a way to bring them back. The movie is a classic body swap story that any fan of the trope should appreciate.

11 The legendary hero is dead!

Mixed bag comedy with a polarizing hero who swaps with a corpse

Touka Scott is a farmer with a fetish for thighs and stockings and a penchant for setting traps. When one of his traps accidentally kills Saiyan, a legendary hero, Touka finds himself inside the hero's decaying body. If Touka ever wants to return to his original body, he will have to finish Sion's work and seal the gates of Hell.

The legendary hero is dead! Puts a fantasy spin on the classic body swap story with a bit of dark humor to go along with it. The Spring 2023 anime is quite polarizing, mainly thanks to its protagonist. Touka's antics and perversions make him very hard to like, and the humor is hit-and-miss.

10 One Piece (Punk Hazard Arc)

A fun gag in a long and divisive saga

Considering that it has been around for almost a quarter of a century, a piece A body swap element was bound to be introduced sooner or later. This situation is revealed during the Punk Hazard arc, with Law using his Devil Fruit to swap bodies between Sanji and Nami, Franky and Chopper, and Smoker and Tashigi.

Although important in the grand scheme of things, Punk Hazard isn't usually considered a high point a pieceWith overstaying its welcome in the saga anime adaptation. That said, the body swap gag leads to some pretty funny moments, especially Robin's annoyance at the helicopter's cuteness with Frankie's persona.

9 Gintama (Soul Switch Arc)

A short but hilarious Gintama arc that sees Gintoki and Hijikata swap bodies

Gintama Due to its primary status as a comedy series, it is known for parodying and lampshading a variety of tropes, clichés, and archetypes. Although it may not be centered around a consistent topic, Gintama also has its own spin on the body-swapping trope in the Soul Switch arc, in which Gintoki and Hijikata's souls end up in the wrong bodies.

in truth Gintama Fashion, the madness doesn't stop there. It turns out that half of Gintoki's soul is a dead cat, turning into an amnesiac monster. Yorozuya and the other members of the Shinsengumi are also caught up in the mess, and soon almost the entire main cast ends up switching their bodies. The result is one of the best examples of how Gintama A concept can take and spin out of control in a matter of minutes.

8 Kokoro connection

Body swapping is a small part of this overall great coming of age anime

Five high school students, all members of the Student Cultural Research Club, Suddenly find yourself swapping bodies. After trying to figure out what is happening to them, they learn that they are being experimented on by an unknown organization called Heartseed. As they try to adapt to their changing circumstances, their bond as friends will be tested.

Kokoro connection is a very dramatic series that focuses on the bonds of friendship and the emotional bonds people have with each other. By overcoming these challenges together and coming out on top, the group gradually comes to understand each other in new ways. While body-swapping is not at the core of the series' main issue, it plays a large role for a large portion of the series.

7 punch line

Funny antics in the best possible way

After the bus hijacking incident, Yuta Iridatsu realizes that has been expelled from his body. Between learning that he has different powers such as gaining authority and strength when he sees a girl's underwear; More importantly, he also discovers that he must find a sacred tome in order to get his body back.

punch line is a wild supernatural series with a bizarre setting and increasingly strange situations. The various strange situations that Utah has to deal with are a sight to behold, and the humor of the series tells viewers not to take everything too seriously. The series is written by Kotaro Uchikoshi Zero escape A visual novel based on the series, and anime was later created.

6 Murder Princess

A lesser known OVA series that has a lot of fun with the body swap formula

After a rebellion in the Foreland Kingdom, the dying king sends his daughter Alita to find his brother Kaito. While running through the forest, she falls off a cliff and runs into the bounty hunter Falis. Two survived. But they wake up to find that their bodies have changed. Now Falis has to pretend to be Princess Alita Defend his kingdom against any threats.

Murder Princess is a short, humorous series that plays with the conventions of the high fantasy genre. The image of a prim and proper princess acting like a badass warrior is a sight to behold. Although it's nothing high-concept, fantasy fans will definitely get some kick out of it.

5 Charlotte

Way more than just a body swap anime

Every 75 years, a strange comet named Charlotte passes over Earth, and its dust causes children to manifest supernatural powers during puberty. Yuu Otosaka, after becoming a high schooler, Gains the ability to receive othersAnd when his power is revealed, he is forced by Nao Tomori to transfer him to Hoshinomi Academy to protect such ability users.

Charlotte Supernatural powers will appeal to fans of the show, and while body swapping isn't the main core of the story, it's the main character's signature power. There's a lot of drama and fast-paced action in this series, and that's enough More serious than most anime about body swaps.

4 Birdie the Mighty: Decode

A cult classic that is well worth seeking out

One day, while out walking at night, Tsutomu Senkawa was mortally wounded in a fight between the birdie Saphone Altera and an inland criminal. To save his life, Birdie decides to fuse with him to keep him alive. Until Tsutomu's body is rebuilt, The two are forced to share a body.

Birdie the Mighty: Decode is A classic body swap anime In which an ordinary high school boy shares a body with a powerful, superhero-like fighter. While the series is mostly based on action and intrigue, the dynamic has many comedic moments, and the interactions between the two characters are fun to watch.

3 Kaiba

A forgotten sci-fi gem

In a world where memories can be stored on memory chips, Transferring one's mind to another's body And memory theft is increasingly common. A man named Kaiba wakes up in a room with no memories and a locket with a picture of a girl inside. Kaiba goes out to explore the world, regain his memories, and meet the girl in the locket.

Kaiba A unique series with a classic art style very reminiscent of the anime aesthetic of the 60s and 70s despite coming out in the 21st century. Although it may not appeal to modern anime fans, cyberpunk, and science fiction fans may enjoy this random series.

2 Yamada-kun and the seven witches

Highly entertaining anime that emphasizes body swapping (to an extent)

Criminal Ryu Yamada accidentally stumbles upon top student Urara Shiraishi down the stairs and discovers that the two have somehow switched bodies. After spending the school day trying to pass themselves off as others, they eventually discover a problem; When the two kiss, They exchange bodies with each other.

Yamada-kun and the seven witches One begins with a fantasy premise, and it only becomes stranger when more characters and forces are involved. While Body swaps are only part of the madness As far as this series goes, it still manages to play a major role. The series is a hilarious romantic comedy with lots of supernatural hijinks.

1 your name

The definitive body swap anime

Bored with his life in the country, Mitsuha Miyamizu longs to be a Tokyo boy in his next life. suddenly, She starts swapping bodies randomly With a boy named Taki Tachibana. Unsure of how to handle these new situations, the two must learn to inhabit each other's bodies while slowly getting to know each other.

your name Directed by Makoto Shinkai is a dramatic romance movie with some elements of fantasy, and it is widely popular there. It is one of the most famous anime movies of all time and Makoto Shinkai's masterpiece, and anime fans still rave about the movie to this day.