Whether fearless heroines, strategic leaders, or charismatic villains – strong female characters enrich the anime world in many ways. These 10 anime stand out with their remarkable female characters.
Characters like Nobara and Mikasa showcase how strong female characters can be. Bildquelle: Gege Akutami / Shueisha / MAPPA / Hajime Isayama / Kodansha
During Women’s History Month, we celebrate all the achievements that women have been responsible for and the incredible impact they have had on science, history, and society over the years. This also includes their contributions to the anime culture we all know and love.
Not only have they created entire universes and stories, but there are also many strong female protagonists that deserve the spotlight. Here are 10 anime featuring exceptional female characters that we wouldn’t want to miss. They prove just how diverse femininity can be, avoiding simple clichés and presenting a range of strong, complex women.
Claymore
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Drama | Created by: Norihiro Yagi | Original Run: 2007
There are few things worse than having your day ruined by demons disguised as humans who feast on entrails. The only solution? Implanting flesh from these so-called “Yoma” into women and training them to become unstoppable super-knights. These warriors are called
Claymores, and their sole mission is to hunt down Yoma to protect humanity. Interestingly, the experiments were originally conducted on men, but they proved unable to control their demonic urges in the heat of battle.
Clare, one of the main characters, lost her parents to a Yoma. After being abducted, she was rescued by Teresa, the strongest Claymore in the land. However, through a tragic chain of events, both end up as fugitives, sparking internal conflict within the organization.
Claymore showcases various forms of female strength – not just raw combat ability, but also complex personalities shaped by ambition, fear, and ideals.
Soul Eater
Genre: Action / Dark Comedy | Created by: Atsushi Ohkubo | Original Run: 2008
Soul Eater is set in a world, one held together by weapons, witches, and dark magic. The Shibusen, or Death Weapon Meister Academy, is led by Death himself and trains students to become weapon meisters and living weapons to fight evil souls and witches.
Maka Albarn is the academy’s most skilled weapon meister, wielding her scythe partner, Soul Eater Evans. Unlike him, she relies more on her intelligence than sheer physical strength. But she’s not the only remarkable female character in the anime. There’s also the calm and gentle Tsubaki, who can transform into multiple deadly forms; and
Medusa Gorgon, a dangerous witch. Cold, calculating, and immensely powerful, she is the perfect villain.
Akame ga Kill
Genre: Action / Dark Fantasy | Created by: Takahiro | Original Run: 2014
Yes, dark fantasy seems to be a great foundation to showcase what women are capable of. In such a world, the swordsman Tatsumi finds himself in trouble, as a corrupt government and the wealthy elite pull all the strings. Fortunately, there are selfless assassins like Night Raid, who have made it their mission to overthrow the tyrannical empire.
The group includes Akame, a deadly swordswoman with icy precision, the charismatic Leone, who possesses beast-like abilities, and the rebellious Mine, a sharpshooter who never misses her mark. But even the opposing side features a powerful female character: Esdeath, the empire’s ruthless and sadistic general.
Sailor Moon
Genre: Magical Girl | Created by: Naoko Takeuchi | Original Run: 1992 - 1997
Sailor Moon is one of the most influential female characters in the world of manga and anime. Naoko Takeuchi’s universe not only shaped the Magical Girl genre but also helped make Japanese manga and animated series popular worldwide.
The story follows Usagi Tsukino, a schoolgirl who transforms into the Moon Warrior, Sailor Moon. But she is not a lone heroine – she is part of a powerful group of warriors, the Sailor Senshi, who fight against evil together.
Among them are Sailor Mercury, a true genius with exceptional analytical skills; Sailor Mars, a fiery and determined priestess with psychic abilities; and Sailor Jupiter, the physically strongest of the warriors, who also has a love for cooking and flowers.
Sailor Moon has proven that there is room for more than just one strong female hero and that femininity and heroism are inseparable.
Attack on Titan
Genre: Action / Dark Fantasy | Created by: Hajime Isayama | Original Run: 2013 - 2023
The first Attack on Titan opening is arguably one of the biggest bangers in Anime history, perfectly setting the tone for its dark and intense world.
Humanity is in a dire situation – trapped behind massive walls, they must protect themselves from giant, man-eating Titans. No one knows where these terrifying creatures came from, and it’s up to various military divisions to uncover their origins.
We follow young cadets who join the Survey Corps, a unit dedicated to venturing beyond the walls. Among them are several exceptional female fighters, most notably Mikasa Ackerman, the strongest soldier of her generation. But even the gentle Krista Lenz stands out with her impressive character development, and Hange Zoë proves just how brilliant female characters can be.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Genre: Fantasy | Created by: Kanehito Yamada | Original Run: 2023 - today
Finally, we turn our attention to the unique anime Frieren, which explores themes of time, memories, and what happens after the great victory over evil. The hero party led by the immortal elf mage Frieren defeats the Demon King after a ten-year battle. While this time felt endless to humans, for Frieren, it was merely a fleeting moment.
When she returns years later, she realizes that her former comrades have aged or even passed away, and she regrets never truly understanding the significance of their time together. Now, her goal is to better comprehend the fleeting nature of human life, and she embarks on a new journey with new companions. Among them is Fern, Frieren’s magic apprentice, who becomes her support through perseverance and emotional depth.
One of the greatest antagonists stands out due to her immense power. The demon Aura the Guillotine possesses the ability to force people into surrender through command magic, making her a serious threat to our hero party. Strong female characters don’t always have to stand on the "good" side. Well-written female villains are just as important and contribute to the complex representation of female characters.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Genre: Supernatural / Dark Fantasy | Created by: Gege Akutami | Original Run: 2020 - 2023
Don't worry, we'll never run out of dark fantasy anime. Jujutsu Kaisen follows Yuji Itadori, a high school student who finds himself drawn into the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers. In this
world, curses and malevolent spirits born from negative emotions roam freely, and it’s up to the Jujutsu Sorcerers to keep them in check.
Among these sorcerers are Nobara Kugisaki, a confident and sharp-tongued heroine who fights using a hammer and nails; and Maki Zenin, the disowned heir of the powerful Zenin Clan – born without cursed energy, yet she defies expectations by becoming an elite fighter with superhuman strength. Meanwhile, her twin sister, Mai, struggles with the harsh rules of the Jujutsu world. Their complex and tragic relationship showcases just how deep and multifaceted female characters can be.
Bleach
Genre: Supernatural / Martial Arts | Created by: Tite Kubo | Original Run: 2004 - 2012
The Shonen classic Bleach tells the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, who becomes a Shinigami, a soul reaper tasked with defeating dangerous Hollows that devour human souls. While this might seem like a straightforward duty at first, a massive conspiracy slowly unfolds, dragging Ichigo and his friends into epic battles.
Ichigo owes his newfound abilities to Rukia Kuchiki, another Shinigami. She is brave, selfless, and transforms from a fallen warrior into a powerful Shinigami who forges her own path. Then there’s Orihime Inoue, one of Ichigo’s closest friends. At first, she appears to be the typical "damsel in distress," but over time, she grows into a strong and emotionally complex character.
Fate/Zero
Genre: Action / Dark Fantasy | Created by: Gen Urobuchi | Original Run: 2011
Fate/Zero serves as a prequel to Fate/Stay Night and revolves around the Fourth Holy Grail War. Seven magicians, known as Masters, summon legendary heroes from history to engage in a brutal battle. These summoned warriors are called Servants. The winner is granted the Holy Grail, which can fulfill a single wish.
Artoria Pendragon, also known as Saber, is the female version of King Arthur. Throughout this ruthless war, she comes to realize that her honor and chivalric ideals alone are not enough to secure victory. She is summoned by Kiritsugu Emiya, whose wife, Irisviel von Einzbern, is an artificially created Homunculus mage. Serving as the emotional core of the story, Irisviel also acts as the anchor for the Holy Grail.
Canaan
Genre: Girls with Guns | Created by: Type-Moon | Original Run: 2009
No less intense battles await us in Canaan, though in a more modern setting. The story follows the titular Canaan, a mercenary with extraordinary senses and combat skills. She becomes entangled in a conflict between terrorists, government organizations, and a mysterious bioweapon known as the UA-Virus. Along the way, she meets Mariya Osawa, a young journalist who technically stands on the opposite side of this war and serves as a moral anchor for the fearless warrior.
Opposing them is Alphard, Canaan’s cold and charismatic former mentor. She holds the strings of the deadly conflict and manipulates Canaan not just in battle, but also on a psychological level.