Lisanna Strauss is a mage of the Fairy Tail guild and the youngest of the three Strauss siblings, with her older sister Mirajane and older brother Elfman. She is a childhood friend of Natsu Dragneel and shares the family traits of short white hair and blue eyes. Her magic is Take Over, specifically a branch called Animal Soul, which enables her to transform into various animals or hybrid animal forms. Known forms include bird, rabbit, fish, cat, penguin, nine-taled fox, snake, and mermaid, among others; she can also combine multiple transformations in rapid succession, a technique her sister Mirajane considers high-level. Lisanna is additionally a skilled speed-type fighter who can use her transformations to augment her physical abilities and to execute coordinated attacks such as Triple Unison Explosion.

Lisanna was originally believed to have died several years before the main story begins when a berserk Elfman struck her during a failed Full-Body Take Over. In truth, the impact sent her into an Anima, a magical portal that transported her to the parallel world of Edolas. There she chose to live in hiding, taking the place of her deceased Edolas counterpart so that the Edolas versions of Mirajane and Elfman would not grieve. She eventually returned to Earth Land during the Edolas arc after the Reverse Anima was activated, and was reunited with her guildmates and family.

Personality-wise, Lisanna is consistently cheerful, kind, and patient. She dislikes conflict and often acts as a mediator, but she does not hesitate to fight when her comrades or guild are threatened. She has a wise acceptance of mortality, having once stated that all living things eventually die but live on in memory. As a child she helped Natsu hatch an egg that became Happy, and she used to jokingly suggest that she would become Natsu’s bride, which flustered him. She loves animals, especially cats, and dislikes studying. Her easygoing nature allows her to adapt quickly to any group.

Her role in the story expands from a deceased figure whose memory shapes her siblings and Natsu into a living supporting character after her return. She participates in major arcs such as the battle on Tenrou Island, the Grand Magic Games, and later conflicts. She maintains close bonds with her siblings, especially her sister Mirajane, and shares a deep, caring friendship with Natsu, who keeps promises made during their childhood and treats her more gently than he does many others. Her return also helps heal the emotional wounds her presumed death caused. Throughout the series, Lisanna remains a loyal, supportive member of Fairy Tail.