There are many anime series with strong female protagonists. Titles like Sailor Moon Ghost in the Shell series , and Revolutionary Girl Utena are some of the best known. These titles paved the way for other quality titles with diverse protagonists.
Some protagonists have made a name for themselves in the anime world with their brawn, while others are known primarily for their brains. If there's one thing they all have in common, it's determination. These women won't let anything stop them from doing their jobs or achieving their goals!
Anime with female protagonists – Top 10
10. Humanity Has Declined
Humanity Has Declined is bizarre in the best possible way. The anime is set in a distant future where humanity is on the verge of extinction, with fairies gradually becoming the dominant species. Thus, Watashi serves as a sort of intermediary between the two races, and she often has to play the role of straight to combat all the strangeness surrounding her.
09. Skip Beat!
While it's a bit difficult to recommend due to its short runtime compared to the manga, the anime Skip Beat! is still worth watching, almost solely due to its female protagonist. Kyouko is simply charming, and her bittersweet journey to stardom is full of laughter, drama, and even a bit of romance. After discovering her boyfriend was just using her to further his ambitions, Kyouko decides to beat him at his own game by becoming an actress, and she's surprisingly good at it.
08. Fruits Basket
Technically, two-thirds of Fruits Basket's main characters are men, and Kyou and Yuki are as crucial to the narrative as Tooru. However, the latter is often the main driving force behind the story and character development, while also serving as the emotional heart of the show. Tooru is also one of the most iconic female anime characters, so she deserves a mention.
07. Revolutionary Girl Utena
One of the most celebrated anime of all time, Revolutionary Girl Utena needs no introduction these days. In short, the anime pushed magical girls in a new and exciting direction, using the genre's tropes to explore gender fluidity and sexuality. The premise follows Utena, a girl who joins Ootori Academy in search of a prince she met when she was younger. However, she becomes embroiled in a bizarre conflict within the school revolving around Anthy, a girl who is presented more as a symbol than a person.
06. The Apothecary Diaries
Maomao is a young woman who works as an apothecary in the red-light district. But after being kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace, she finds herself in the middle of palace trouble. When she discovers that the emperor's concubines and children are ill, Maomao takes on the task of finding the cause. However, she also finds herself having to deal with the attentions of Jinshi, a young man who seems to be in love with her.
Anime with female protagonists – Top 5
05. Yona of the Dawn
If anime fans are looking for a great reverse harem anime, this show is an excellent choice. Yona grew up living a life of luxury as the princess of Kouka. After her father is murdered by her cousin, Yona and her best friend Son Hak manage to escape. Following the advice of Son Hak's adoptive grandfather, Yona and Hak set out to find warriors so she can save her kingdom.
04. Kino's Journey
A blend of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure, this anime is about a young girl named Kino who travels the world on her trusty talking motorcycle, Hermes. She spends three days and two nights in each location she visits, believing she can learn everything about it in that time. Naturally, she must defend herself from the world's dangers and carries a variety of weapons with her.
Anime with female protagonists – Top 3
03. The Twelve Kingdoms
On the other hand, this isekai anime revolves around a high school girl named Youko Nakajima. As an honor student, she has a lot going on, and her dreams don't help matters. One day, a mysterious man appears and swears loyalty to her, but she doesn't know what that means. Then a giant demon attacks, and before she can process anything, she finds herself transported to another world. Youko finds herself alone in a world she doesn't know and must figure out why she's there.
02. Slayers
In short, an adventure anime blending fantasy and comedy, Slayers is about a wandering sorceress named Lina Inverse and her companions. Although she's only a teenager, Lina is well-known for her power. She and her friends travel around, slaying demons along the way. Each member of the group has a specialized role.
01. Sailor Moon
Ultimately, Sailor Moon isn't necessarily the best magical girl anime of all time, and it could be argued that it doesn't have the most complex female protagonists either. However, in terms of the most iconic anime with female protagonists , the classic 1992 series is almost unquestionably the top choice.
So, what did you guys think of these incredible women? Leave a comment and see you next time!