Summary
The most important part of any story is the protagonist. They are the driving force of the plot and are usually placed at the center of every conflict. A good main character needs to be both relatable and unique. They need to be simple enough to act as a stand-in for the audience but special enough to garner interest in the first place.
One way writers make their characters stand out is by making them an animal. This can be taken literally, or it can be a situation where a human gets turned into an animal. The protagonist could evenbe a shapeshifter. Whichever it is, it will greatly influence the rest of the story, as the following manhwa illustrate.
Updated June 23, 2025 by Garrett Huon:This update will add more manhwa that include protagonists who can turn into animals and animals that can turn into humans. They’re well-written stories that many people may not know about. For fans who can’t get enough manhwa with animal protagonists, a few more recommendations have been added.
15The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess
MyAnimeList Score: N/A
After awakening her magic, Princess Eristella recalls the memories of her past life, including the novel featuring Eristella herself. The princess is an incredibly strong mage, so when her parents are killed by dark magic, she takes it upon herself to catch the culprit. Unfortunately, due to a life-threatening situation, she is trapped in the form of a fox. To continue her work and turn back into a human, she goes to Duke Heinlesione for help.
Although she’s not actually a fox, Eristella is a fantastic main character that many would love to see in more shoujo manhwa. She’s strong, confident, and cunning, always moving actively toward her goal. Being a fox makes her character more approachable and creates a more light-hearted atmosphere for the story. Unfortunately, there’s a lot that’s glazed over in the plot, especially the beginning, so it does feel a little flat.
14How To Survive As A Dragon With A Time-Limit
In this manhwa, the protagonist suffered from Lou Gehrig’s Disease and eventually died at the young age of 29. However, when he opened his eyes, he’d become a dragon freshly hatched from his shell. He was happy to get a second chance at life until he realized he’d been reborn into the web comic he read while in the hospital. He was the hatchling that was destined to die at the beginning of the story.
This fun manhwa incorporates classic isekai tropes into a fun new concept. Lois, the main character, is a dragon but must avoid death flags that occur no matter the circumstances, which leads to funny moments and consistent gags. The only downside is that he takes human form for the majority of the story.
13Surviving As A Fish
MyAnimeList Score: 6.86
Yushin Lee is the president of the largest corporation in the nation, but for all his success, he has neglected his family and lived an uneventful life. This changes when he is betrayed by a past business partner and drowns at the bottom of the ocean. However, right before he loses consciousness, he is asked if he’d like to be reborn.
By the title of this manhwa, it’s obvious that he is reborn as a fish. Even though the premise is a bit silly, this manhwa is actually a joy to read. While it mixes up the classic leveling system seen in many manhwa, it also attempts to impart life lessons through the eyes of a fish.
12The Baby Divine Beast
MyAnimeList Score: 7.10
One day, Princess Iyanelle is betrayed, and she is killed along with her father, the king. However, she isreincarnated as a young divine beastnamed Lusha. In this world, divine beasts live among humans and covertly use their power and influence to maintain balance. Lusha learns she was blamed for the king’s murder and vows to bring her brother’s actions to light.
Despite how cute and light the art is, the story has dark undertones that foreshadow a much more serious story. For now, it remains a fun story about a princess learning to use her powers with some mystery elements mixed in. There isn’t much action, but there will definitely be more in the future.
11Their Ark
Going through puberty is a tough time for everyone, but for a certain family, it’s especially rough. Since long ago, that family has been cursed to transform into animals, and it’s especially chaotic while they go through puberty. When Gina stumbles across a stray rabbit and turtle on the way home, she doesn’t expect them to transform into human siblings, Eugene and Jane.
This is more than just a cute romance manhwa. It’s a very honest depiction of what growing up and going through puberty is like, including all the highs and lows many people go through. Each member of the family has their own short story to tell, and each one has its message or lesson. The shapeshifting is just another part of their lives that they have to deal with.
10Frozen Wolf, Fire Dragon
MyAnimeList Score: 7.14
Eve is a human-wolf hybrid living happily with her family, but after an accident, she remembers her past life and the world she is in. She was reborn in the world of an adult novel in which Little Red Riding Hood is a dragon who eats wolves. Originally, she just wanted to protect her brother from the original story, but that changes when Little Red Riding Hood shows up with amnesia.
This is a fun romance where it seems that everyone knows the male lead is in love, except the main character herself. The whole cast is fascinating for a somewhat generic isekai manhwa, and there are quite a few surprises that make the story much more intriguing.
9Just For A Meowment
MyAnimeList Score: 7.15
Myohee has had an unfortunate life. Living as an orphan was hard enough, but the breaking point is when a friend scams her, causing her to lose her life’s savings. Myohee decides to end it all, but she’s stopped by the Grim Reaper. She still had time left in her lifespan, and so he told her to live 100 more days as a cat.
Unfortunately, being a cat isn’t completely permanent. She transforms back into a human sometimes, which causes some awkward moments since she’s living with her previous boss. It’s a cute, sincere story about being loved by someone.
8The Falcon Princess
MyAnimeList Score: 7.18
While fleeing the palace, the eighth princess Zeline is attacked by the anti-royal faction and loses consciousness. When she wakes up, she’s no longer herself. She’s a messenger bird in a cage. Normally, the birds are only able to go between locations, but with a human mind, Zeline is able to help the allied faction.
The first part of the story revolves around beingidentified as the princess, which leads to many funny moments. The story is set during a serious event, but it stays light for most of it, driven by comedy more than anything else.
7Talented Baby Squirrel
MyAnimeList Score: 7.23
Beatrice is the daughter of Duke Aslan in the north, but due to the harsh weather, she remains in the capital. After living a horrible life with her aunt, she issent back in timeafter dying. Beatty runs away to the north, hoping to gain protection from her family. Despite her beliefs, they do love and cherish her.
Being shapeshifters is important in this story as it shows many things about the characters. It’s also a major reason Beatty feels isolated from her family; she’s the only squirrel among lions. Other than this, however, the story is similar to other time travel stories.
6Roland Roland
This story is about Prince Roland, the corgi prince of the Adel Kingdom, and the grand adventure he goes on when his mother is suddenly unable to speak. What starts as a light-hearted quest for answers quickly becomes a thrilling tale of drama, deceit, and mystery. Witches are plotting to summon devils, a kingdom is in turmoil because of the nobility, and Roland is at the heart of it all.
Roland Rolandis a surprisingly engaging and entertaining story that most wouldn’t expect based on the first few chapters. It initially comes off as a gag comic, but it becomes much more than that as characters begin to be fleshed out and the plot becomes more complicated. The simplicity of the art style betrays how intricate and detailed the story is.
