The 20 Best Female Anime Characters of All-Time
Since its inception, the world of anime has been dominated by male characters, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been lots of awesome females who have entered the game over the years. From warriors and queens to love interests, female characters in anime come in a wide range and they always add a special touch to every story they’re a part of. In fact, many female characters have played important roles in many anime franchises. Whether you’ve been an anime fan for years or are just getting into it, there are some characters you should be on the lookout for. Continue reading to see our list of the 20 best female anime characters of all time.
20. Orihime Inoue
Orihime Inoue may just be a teenager, but she has a pretty strong sense of self from the moment she is introduced in Bleach. Even though she is a very good student in school, Orihime also has a somewhat air-headed nature that causes her to come off as naive about certain things.
19. Asuna
After her introduction in Sword Art Online, it didn’t take long for Asuna to become a fan favorite. Asuna is a well-rounded character who doesn’t like to leave anyone hanging. She has a very close relationship with Kirito and even risked her life to save his.
18. Homura Akemi
Homura Akemi is a character from Puella Magi Madoka Magica and she has left a lasting impression on many people. She is a mysterious figure who is initially introduced in another character’s dream. Although she is very intelligent and strong, she also has a cold and detached side to her personality.
17. Himiko Toga
There are lots of anime stories that depict women as being sweet and somewhat non-confrontational, but that isn’t the case with Himiko Toga. As a character in My Hero Academia, Himiko is a villain who isn’t to be messed with. Despite the fact that she isn’t afraid to kill, Himoko has a very pleasant disposition. However, Himiko is known to have some very drastic mood swings which suggest that she may have some mental health issues.
16. Charmy
Thanks to her sweet face, Charmy has the appearance of a small child. In reality, however, she is actually a young adult. Charmy is well known for being obsessed with food and she tends to put food first regardless of the situation. Although this tends to get Charmy into trouble, it’s hard for fans not to have a special place in their hearts for her because she is a very loving person. Even though she really loves food, she still doesn’t mind sharing it with others.
15. Merlin
Known to the world as Merlin, her real name is actually something that humans are incapable of pronouncing. According to Fandom, “She is regarded as the greatest mage in Britannia. Her Sacred Treasure is the Morning Star Aldan, a floating orb she can summon at will and often uses in conjunction with her spells and her inherent power Infinity.” Merlin is very mysterious and she has a calm demeanor that rarely changes. She loves learning new things and she’s always on the quest for knowledge.
14. Touka Kirishima
As one of the main characters of Tokyo Ghoul, Touka Kirishima has become very popular over the years. Although Touka appears to be a human, she is actually a ghoul who works as a waitress. Throughout the course of the series, Touka became known for her interesting personality which included kindness and extreme anger.
13. Setsuna Tokage
Setsuna Tokage may be young and small in size, but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t fierce. She is very brave and she also shows great leadership skills. According to her description on the My Hero Academy fandom page, “Setsuna is a reliable person; her teammates believe in her and don’t hesitate to follow her. She seems to have a considerable influence on her classmates, which implies that she has probably proven several times that she is trustworthy and responsible. ”
12. Lucy Heartfilia
Lucy Heartfilia is a character in the Fairy Tail series. She is known for being very into her appearance. While some would assume that this makes her very shallow, that isn’t actually the case. Lucy is a very caring person and she often looks out for others. She also enjoys writing although she is somewhat secretive about the fact that she is working on a book. She is also talented when it comes to celestial spirit magic.
11. Tsunade
Tsunade is one of the most well-known female characters in anime, and arguably the most well-known female character in Naruto. In a Reddit thread discussing her, many Naruto fans expressed that they feel that she is the most interesting female character in the series. Tsunade is known for being somewhat pessimistic but she also has lots of great qualities.
10. Misa Amane
Like many anime characters, Misa Amane’s backstory is one of tragedy. Her family was killed during a home invasion and Misa witnessed the whole thing. As you can imagine, this played an important role in her character development. Despite dealing with that trauma, Misa goes on to be a fairly positive person and eventually becomes a model.
9. Winry Rockbell
Fans of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime series will be very familiar with Winry Rockbell. She is a complex character who is has a bubbly personality and a bad temper. She is known for being compassionate and she is also highly intelligent. Not only is she great at fixing things but she is also training to be a surgeon. For young girls who enjoy anime, Winry is a great example of the fact that women can be powerful, smart, and successful.
8. Ochako Uraraka
Ochako is one of the main characters in My Hero Academy and she is known for being Izuku’s best friend. She is very laid back and kind although she can sometimes come off as being a little ditzy. She sometimes bursts out into laughter. Her quick is Zero Gravity which “allows the user to remove the effects of gravity from solid things upon touching them with the pads on their fingertips.”
7. Hinata Hyuga
Hinta Hyuga is another female character from Naruto who has made a big impression on fans. Hinta was kidnapped as a child but was saved by Hiasha Hyuga. Hinta was ultimately dubbed the heiress of the Hyuga Clan. Despite that title, however, she doesn’t seem to be ready to take on the responsibility that comes with the title. She is very kind and shy which results in her being very non-confrontational. Although many members of the Hyuga Clan look down on her, she finds support as a member of Team 8.
6. Sakura Haruno
Sakura is easily one of the most popular characters in Naruto. Unlike many of the other characters we’ve discussed, Sakura had a great childhood and didn’t have to endure any tragedies. That said, she did have to deal with some bullying from her classmates due to the size of her forehead which is something she was always self-conscious about. Overall, though, she is a fairly confident person.
5. Nami
Also known as Cat Burgler, Nami is a member of the Straw Hat Pirates and is the group’s navigator. She has big dreams for the future and she is very motivated by money. Although her fighting skills aren’t anything special, she has lots of other qualities that make her a strong asset to the Straw Hat Pirates. She is very smart and she has a natural ability to read the weather. Nami is also known for her good looks which is something that often works in her favor.
4. Kagura
Kaura is one of the main characters of Gintama. Kagura is known for being very naive and easy to manipulate. Although she is a Yato she doesn’t want to follow that path and prefers to live a ‘normal’ life. Despite these things, Kagura isn’t afraid to speak her mind when necessary and she also isn’t afraid to let things escalate although she doesn’t particularly like violence. One of her other memorable qualities is the fact that she really likes food and seems to have an endless appetite.
3. Ezra Scarlett
Ezra Scarlett is a very popular anime character and she’s known for being someone that people shouldn’t want to mess with. She has a very intense personality and she is also socially awkward due to all of the difficult situations she went through during childhood. As a result, she isn’t someone that many of the other characters want to spend a lot of time around. Despite that, she is known for being brave and she has a kind disposition.
2. Miksas Ackerman
When Miksas Ackerman was young, her parents were killed by human traffickers. She is rescued by Eren Yeager although she ends up protecting him later in life. As a result of the violence that was inflicted on her family, Miksas wants to live a peaceful life. However, she ends up joining the military where she becomes known as one of the best soldiers.
1. Kushina Uzumaki
Kushina Uzumaki grew up in a war-torn environment. Like Miksas, this causes her to seek peace later in life. While she is a fairly calm person, she is also known for having a quick temper although this isn’t something she is proud of. Additionally, she has a fearless nature which serves her well.