Best Manhwa With Child Protagonists

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Key Takeaways

• Most manhwa protagonists are teens/young adults to target the largest demographic of webcomic readers.
• Child protagonists offer unique perspectives, adding depth and variety to storytelling in manhwa.
• Stories with child protagonists can still explore adult themes, showcasing growth and resilience in young characters.

In most manhwa, the protagonists are either teenagers or young adults because that is the largest demographic most likely to read webcomics and manhwa online. Using a protagonist of similar age, the author can help their audience insert themselves into the story and keep them invested.

Of course, that’s not always the case. Manhwa is so great because there are plenty of stories written from different perspectives. For example, children see the world much differently, since they haven’t experienced enough compared to a teenager. Whether they’re reincarnated, sent back in time, or just five years old, children can be the center of amazing stories.

Updated September 21, 2024 by Garrett Huon: This article was meant to be an introduction to some lesser-known but good stories, but this update will turn it into a ranked list, ordering each title from good to great. With this change, four of the best manhwa with child protagonists will be added.

1 The Adventures Of A Demon Lord’s Daughter

MyAnimeList Score: 6.48

• Published: 2019 to 2022
• Chapters: 155
• Genre/Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Isekai, Reincarnation
• Author: Yeowool
• Illustrator: Eunmin

Getting isekai’d is all certain characters want. Their lives were bad enough to crave a different world. Joara was running away from her troubles when she died, but she was reincarnated as Irene the baby born between an angel and a demon king. In this life, she is doted on and loved.

Most of the antics come from supporting characters, giving the manhwa a slice-of-life feel to it. The romance aspect in the latter half is a little drawn out, but it’s not too bad because the potential love interests are fun. However, the best part is when she’s still a baby.

2 Lady Baby

MyAnimeList Score: 6.58

• Published: 2018 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Mystery, Time Travel
• Author: Haeon Ju
• Illustrator: Pinkmint (Art)

For characters who reincarnate or regress, being a fully grown adult in a baby’s body can be troubling. They can’t move on their own or communicate clearly, and they must act their age. In Lady Baby, Calliope goes back in time, but she doesn’t care that she’s a baby. She starts speaking in full sentences as soon as possible.

This manhwa focuses on the family dynamic and their doting on Calliope. It’s a cute story full of heartwarming moments and funny characters. She does eventually grow up in the story, but for the majority of it, she’s still a child.

3 The Hammer

MyAnimeList Score: 6.79

• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Action, Fantasy, Time Travel
• Author: Painkiller
• Illustrator: Mensu

In this manhwa, Tiny is one of the strongest knights to exist, but he’s sent back in time with the task of meeting the Sword Emperor and telling him about future crises. If he fails, demons will destroy the world. Using the influence and power of the Sword Emperor, Tiny is able to get proper training and learn how to use magic, things he sorely missed in his last life.

This manhwa is great because the characters actually address the time travel in the story. It makes Tiny’s personality and attitude make sense and justifies his growing strength. Since there’s no big secret to reveal, the story progresses smoothly without any unneccessary stalling or pauses.

4 ReLife Player

MyAnimeList Score: 6.81

• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genre/Theme: Action, Fantasy, Time Travel
• Author: Siyun
• Illustrator: Studio Maru

Action manhwa rarely keeps their child protagonist, most likely because it wouldn’t make sense for a kid to be doing outrageous stunts and confronting evil. There’s almost always a time skip after the first two arcs. ReLife Player just runs with it, following Noh Eunha as a child while he tries to prevent the tragedies of his last life.

Despite having a child protagonist, this manhwa doesn’t shy away from combat or violence. Set in a world of hunters where dungeons open and monsters exist, the story is quite graphic in some places. It sets up an interesting contrast between a happy family life and the hard life of a hunter.

5 A World Without You

MyAnimeList Score: 6.91

• Published: Dec 19, 2022 to ?
• Genre/Themes: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel
• Author: Yoohye Na
• Illustrator: Bam-manyeo

In her first life, Sienna was lucky enough to be chosen by the Nacht family to develop her magic powers. Unfortunately, she is tricked into giving her magic to Loreina, the Nacht family’s other ward, which spirals her life into misfortune. Eventually, she’s killed. Now alive once again, she is taken into the Nacht house, but Loreina is nowhere to be found.

Very few time-travel manhwa show the lasting effects of having lived another life, but this one portrays that trauma very well. Most protagonists are able to move on from their previous life rather quicklly, but in this story, Sienna’s past guides her present choices as she hasn’t completely resolved her feelings.

6 Kill The Dragon

MyAnimeList Score: 6.87

• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Action, Fantasy, Military
• Author: Baeksu Gwijok
• Illustrator: Miss Jisu

Post-apocalyptic and dystopian settings have always been popular, even more so when movies like The Hunger Games and Divergent were released. In this manhwa, humanity faces the world-ending power of dragons, and the only ones capable of defending the planet are psykers. To increase the number of psykers, children with high potential undergo dangerous surgery that gives them the bodies of adults.

Kill the Dragon is a fast-paced, action manhwa filled with thrilling battles and suspense. Despite how they look, the main characters are all around twelve years old, which makes the story more interesting. These children certainly don’t act their age, but that adds to the overall theme of this manhwa.

7 Lottery Princess

MyAnimeList Score: 7.05

• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genre/Themes: Fantasy, Isekai, Reincarnation, Time Travel
• Author: Sihyun Moon
• Illustrator: Dohin and Borimyeol

After dying from a sudden heart attack, a Korean streamer is reborn as Shushu, the second princess. However, her life is full of misfortune, and she dies as the scapegoat for a corrupt kingdom. Now in her third life, she’s given a special ability from God; she’s able to treat her life as a stream and see viewers’ thoughts like a live chat.

Shushu is a great protagonist who is aware of herself and constantly uses her smarts to solve issues. Although she uses her cuteness to get what she wants, she’s been consistently kind throughout the story, taking on reincarnation to prevent others from suffering and saving her cousins from being manipulated.

8 It’s My First Time Being Loved

MyAnimeList Score: 7.27

• Published: 2023 to Present
• Genre/Themes: Fantasy, Reincarnation
• Author: Miraenavi
• Illustrator: Huahuachi

After living 99 lives, the hero is reborn as the youngest daughter of the Endeblanc ducal family. Throughout every life, she was treated as a martyr and asked to sacrifice herself for the world, asking for nothing in return or receiving love as a normal person. Now living as Anastasia, she’s noticing something strange. Her family doesn’t estrange her or hurt her. In fact, they seem to dote on her.

This manhwa is incredibly cute and wholesome. It’s filled with great family moments that display familial love and affection. Like most reincarnated protagonists, Anastasia has the mind of an adult and memories of her past lives, which allows the plot to be more complex while maintaining the overall positive atmosphere.

9 Talented Baby Squirrel

MyAnimeList Score: 7.35

• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genre/Themes: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel
• Author: Guncheong Jundan
• Illustrator: Soyoung Han

After living a solitary and lonely life in the attic, Beatrice is betrayed by her only friend, the crown prince Ritter, and is killed to fulfill his ambitions. Despite dying, however, she awakens in the past as a child once again. With a second chance to live, Beatty absconds to the North where her family lives to seek aid until she comes of age and can fend for herself.

Talented Baby Squirrel is a classic time travel story where the protagonist can use their knowledge of the past to their advantage but with a much younger protagonist. It does feel odd that she’s being treated like a genius using information she read from the newspaper, but it’s still a fun story.

10 The Archduke’s Adopted Saint

MyAnimeList Score: 7.43

• Published: 2023 to Present
• Genre/Themes: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel
• Author: Iba Song
• Illustrator: Bino Hwang

Dinah was born with amazing divine power, but because she was an orphan, she had no way to advocate or protect herself as nobles attempted to usurp her. She spent her life being drained of energy by her former best friend, Lavienne. She’s lived this life fourteen times. Now in her fifteenth life, she’s able to meet Archduke Tersia, who changes her fate by adopting her.

This is a cute story with many wholesome moments, but the focus is on Dinah’s recovery. After lifetimes of abuse, she’s finally free and able to have a proper childhood and a family that cares for her. It’s hard not to cheer for her because of everything she’s been through.

11 The Flower That Was Bloomed By A Cloud

MyAnimeList Score: 7.21

• Published: 2019 to 2021
• Chapters: 126
• Genre/Themes: Romance, Historical, Love Polygon
• Author: Bionhu
• Illustrator: Bionhu

This manhwa is a true Bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story, about the last princess in an eastern Asian empire named Hong Lyon, who is neglected and shunned due to her late mother’s poor status. Her life changes when she meets Dowun. He offers to teach her how to be a princess in exchange for power. As a result, the two get married.

The story starts when Hong Lyon is just a little girl. However, as she continues to learn, she discovers herself through the growing pains, the things she wants and wants to do. This is in between political struggle, power grabs, and problems in her love life. It’s a bit of a slow start, but it’s worth it.

12 The Monstrous Duke’s Adopted Daughter

MyAnimeList Score: 7.60

• Chapters: 150
• Published: 2019 to 2022
• Genres/Theme: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
• Author: Liaran
• Illustrator: MinJakk

As the second daughter of the Sperado family, Leslie has been abused her entire life, having been born only to be a stepping stool for her older sister. After an attempt to sacrifice her fails, she seeks out Duke Salvatore for help. Despite her trepidation, Salvatore isn’t a monster like the rumors say; she invites Leslie into her family, offering her protection and a loving family.

The Monstrous Duke’s Adopted Daughter is a great manhwa with consistent writing and well-developed characters. Although it starts as a family drama with magical elements, it turns into an engaging and interesting mystery with many moving parts. It’s definitely one of the best coming of age manhwa.

13 The Baengri Clan’s Unwanted Granddaughter

MyAnimeList Score: 7.62

• Published: 2023 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Time Travel, Villainess
• Author: Marubyeol
• Illustrator: Siyo

After being transmigrated into a murim fantasy novel, the protagonist lives life as Baengri Yeon, the daughter of the hero’s teacher and a minor villain in the original story. However, the sudden appearance of the final boss causes her death, and she is sent back in time, becoming a child once more. Her goal in this life is to build a better relationship with her father Euigong and hopefully prevent his death.

In stories like this, the protagonist often runs away from home to avoid prosecution, so it’s nice to see a main character try to change her family instead. This story is filled with sweet and wholesome moments between Yeon and her dad with some comedy mixed in. There’s even a bit of action because of the Murim setting, but it’s not as flashy or detailed as other Murim manhwa.

14 Being Raised By Villains

MyAnimeList Score: 7.62

• Published: 2023 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Romance, Isekai, Reincarnation
• Author: Eunhyang Ja
• Illustrator: Asong Lee

The protagonist of this manhwa is reincarnated as Eileen Etam in her favorite novel. Eileen is a side character who will eventually be kicked out of the prestigious Etam family. Although she initially decides to run away, she catches the interest of Erno Etam, the deranged heir of the family, who abruptly adopts her as his own. Through a series of events, she becomes involved with many of the novel’s villains.

Although this story is similar to many others, it’s interesting to see the reverse of the typical relationship between father and daughter. Eileen wants to leave the family, but Erno is attached to her in a nearly obsessive way. These dynamics are what make this manhwa so fun. It does get odd later when other children are introduced, and a reverse harem starts developing, especially because they’re children.

15 Mother’s Contract Marriage

MyAnimeList Score: 7.95

• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genre/Themes: Fantasy, Time Travel
• Author: Siya
• Illustrator: Hae-Yun Choo

This manhwa follows the life of Lyrica as she adjusts to her new life as the royal princess. One day, her mother wakes up as a completely different person, and then she’s moved into the palace and is waited on by maids and butlers. Though she begins living a fairy tale life, Lyrica is aware that this situation is the result of a deal between the emperor and her mother.

Mother’s Contract Marriage is a great example of a well-written child character as it displays Lyrica’s wholesome innocence but does not look down on or underestimate her, showing how great her wit and instincts are. The story is greatly complemented by the whimsical art style.

16 The Male Lead’s Little Lion Daughter

MyAnimeList Score: 8.02

• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genre/Themes: Drama, Fantasy, Isekai, Reincarnation
• Author: Latine
• Illustrator: Ttona

When they’re reincarnated, the protagonist isn’t always in a great position. Leonia was stuck in an abusive orphanage that was working in human trafficking before the story started. It was only by luck that she remembered the novel she was in and convinced the duke to adopt her.

This is a cute story, and the characterization is better than most. A problem with child protagonists is that they tend to stagnate, continuing the story with no real change. Leonia is actively growing in the story, learning her new role and confronting identity issues stemming from her reincarnation.

17 I Shall Master This Family

MyAnimeList Score: 8.33

• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Fantasy, Time Travel
• Author: Roah Kim
• Illustrator: Mon

Despite being a member of the Lombardi family, Firentia was unable to stop its downfall because of her humble birth. However, after dying and going back in time, she decides to prevent the terrible things that happened to her family and becomes the head herself. To do that, she makes use of her experience from her past life to become a genius.

This manhwa has a little bit of everything. There’s political and economic strategy, some romance, and a strong, proactive main character. However, what ties the story together is the development of the family’s relationship. To prevent the fallout, she must bring everyone together, which leads to many wholesome moments between all members of the family.

18 Who Made Me a Princess

MyAnimeList Score: 8.48

• Chapters: 125
• Published: 2017 to 2022
• Genres/Theme: Drama, Fantasy, Reincarnation
• Author: Plutus
• Illustrator: Spoon

Athanasia is a neglected child who lives in poor conditions despite being a princess. When a Korean woman from the modern day reincarnates into Athanasia as an infant, she starts planning a way to escape her predetermined end. That plan changes when she meets her father, Claude, the emperor, for the first time. Rather than run away, she’d make herself more lovable.

Who Made Me a Princess is a heartwarming drama that helped to popularize father-daughter plotlines in manhwa. With less of a focus on romance and more on familial connections, it brought a refreshing concept that hadn’t been explored. The standard for a good relationship has risen since its release, but it remains a staple in Shoujo manhwa.