There are plenty of anime with strong female leads, with titles like Sailor Moon, the Ghost in the Shell series, and Revolutionary Girl Utena being some of the most well-known. These titles paved the way for other quality anime with female protagonists.
7 Top Horror Anime With A Female Lead, Ranked
These horror anime series are not only great on their own but also feature strong and iconic female leads at the forefront.
Some leading ladies have made their name in the anime world with their strength, while others are primarily known for their brains. If there’s one thing they all have in common, it's determination. These ladies won’t let anything stop them from doing their jobs or accomplishing their goals. Let's highlight the best anime with female MCs.
Here are a few criteria:
- While the overall quality of the anime matters, the protagonist's awesomeness and uniqueness also play a part.
- No movies.
- The rankings are very loose. The main goal is to recommend great anime with great female protagonists.
Updated on November 25, 2025 by Mark Sammut: The year is almost at an end, and 2025 has produced plenty of all-time great anime female main characters. So, in celebration of that, we have added arguably the year's best: Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray.
Also, Spice and Wolf has been added, as it was missed initially. Holo is awesome.
43 You're Under Arrest!
Join Female Officers On Their Everyday Adventures
You're Under Arrest
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- November 2, 1996
- Japanese Title
- Taiho Shichau zo
- Studio
- Studio Deen
- Number of Episodes
- 101
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kōsuke Fujishima
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
In You're Under Arrest, Natsumi Tsujimoto is a young woman who’s just starting her new job at the police station. On her way there, she gets cited by an officer, Miyuki Kobayakawa. When Natsumi arrives at the precinct, she finds out her partner will be none other than Miyuki. What starts as a rocky partnership turns into a friendship that both of them come to cherish.
The show mostly centers around Miyuki and Natsumi, but the supporting characters also play a big part. It’s a good choice for anyone wanting to see a cast mostly made of women with buddy cop vibes. The animation might be a little outdated, but that shouldn’t stop viewers from seeing this underrated gem.
42 Madlax
Two Female Leads Who Are Strong In Different Ways
Madlax
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 6, 2004
- Studio
- Bee Train
- Number of Episodes
- 26
Madlax is a young woman who is a mercenary and seems to have almost supernatural skills. Margaret Burton is a 19-year-old girl who attends a college for aristocratic families. Neither of them can remember anything from over twelve years ago, and the word “Madlax” is something both of them know, but can’t explain how. When a book given to Margaret attracts the attention of a criminal network, the two young women meet and travel together to find out the truth about it and themselves.
It starts a little slow, but once the action starts, it doesn’t stop. Both Margaret and Madlax are strong women but in very different ways. Madlax has been hardened by her time as a mercenary but is still a gentlewoman when not fighting. Margaret may not have any combat experience, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to learn the truth.
41 Legend of Basara
A Teen Picks Up Her Fallen Twin Brother’s Mantle
Legend of Basara
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 3, 1998
- Studio
- KSS
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Yumi Tamura
- Number of Episodes
- 13
An oldie, but goodie that still holds up today. Sarasa is a young woman whose twin brother, Tatara, was chosen to be the savior of Japan who will stop the tyrannical rule of the Red King. However, Tatara is killed when their village is destroyed and Sarasa pretends to be him to keep hope alive and avenge her brother’s death.
Though she’s quick to cry and has some moments of weakness, Sarasa doesn’t give in to the pressure and remains strong in her mission to avenge Tatara. Though the animation is outdated, fans should check this anime if they're looking for a good anime with a strong female lead.
40 The Story Of Saiunkoku
A Young Woman Working Hard Even When Her Gender Works Against Her
The Story of Saiunkoku
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2006 - 2008-00-00
- Network
- NHK BS2
- Streaming Service(s)
Shurei Hong is a young woman who dreams of having a government job, but this post is forbidden to women. Her family has fallen on hard times and Shurei works various odd jobs to make money. However, her luck changes when the emperor’s grand advisor asks her to be the emperor’s consort and teach the emperor, Ryuki Shi, to be a good ruler. Shurei takes this opportunity as a way to make money, but also make her dreams come true.
It’s inspiring to see Shurei working with what she has to achieve her goals and not let it get her down. Court life and politics aren’t things to blow off and Shurei is determined to make Ryuki into a great emperor.
39 Flip Flappers
Two Middle Schoolers Going On Bizarre Magical Girl Adventures
Flip Flappers
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 6, 2016
- Studio
- Studio 3Hz
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
Cocona is a middle school girl whose life is pretty ordinary until she meets the mysterious and eccentric Papika. Papika decides to bring Cocona into Flip Flap, an organization looking for strange fragments that can grant wishes in another world. During their second mission, they are sent to another world to defeat a monster, but a rival magical group defeats it. Cocona and Papika become determined to perfect their transformations and get stronger so they can collect more fragments.
10 Most Hilarious Female Characters In Anime
These female anime characters are sure to get a laugh out of fans on more than one occasion.
Flip Flappers is a pretty good show for magical girl fans who want something a little more zany than traditional shows like Sailor Moon and not dark like Puella Magi Madoka Magica. This is a more comedic and lighthearted show that focuses more on the coming-of-age aspects.
38 Pretear
A High Schooler Must Quickly Prepare To Save The World
Pretear: The New Legend of Snow White
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 4, 2001
- Japanese Title
- Shin Shirayuki-hime Densetsu Prétear
- Studio
- Hal Film Maker
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Junichi Sato
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Pretear is a magical girl anime that combines aspects of Cinderella and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Himeno Awayuki is learning to deal with her new life when her father marries a rich woman with two daughters. She questions her place since her father is neglectful and her stepmother and stepsisters make her life miserable. Destiny intervenes when seven knights appear before her and tell her she’s the Pretear. The Pretear is the only one capable of destroying monstrous beings known as Demon Larva and must stop the Princess of Disaster from spreading them.
Himeno doesn’t get too much time to process everything and agrees to help. She uses her free time to train herself as quickly as possible to become stronger. Her confidence and strength are constantly being tested by everyone around her. Luckily, she’s able to pull herself together with some help from the Knights.
37 Canaan
A Photographer Finds Herself In The Middle Of A Deadly Plot
Canaan
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end- Release Date
- July 4, 2009
- Studio
- P.A. Works
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Creator
- Type-Moon
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
Canaan is a mystery-thriller anime about photographer Maria Osawa looking for the next newsworthy story along with her partner Mino. After hearing about some strange events happening at a local carnival, Maria’s life is flipped upside down.
She gets caught up in a large plot over a deadly virus that could threaten humanity. Luckily, she is protected by her old friend Canaan, a mercenary seeking revenge on her former teammate, Alphard. All three women are connected and the series follows this as Canaan and Maria work together. Alphard might seem like a typical villain leading a terrorist group, but there’s more to her than meets the eye.
36 Azumanga Daioh
A Great Comedy With A Female Cast
Azumanga Daioh
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 9, 2002
- Studio
- J.C.Staff
- Number of Episodes
- 26
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kiyohiko Azuma
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
This anime follows the everyday lives of a group of female students and their two teachers. Chiyo is a child prodigy student who’s struggling to find her place in the school, poor Sakaki loves cute animals but they seem to hate her, Ayumu’s too busy daydreaming the day away, Yomi struggles to be the voice of reason for her crazy friends, Tomo has mastered the paradoxical art of being an energetic slacker, and Kagura is struggling with her one-sided athletic rivalry with Sakaki. Meanwhile, teachers Yukari and Minamo, are hilariously struggling to navigate relationships and work.
This is one great comedy anime for anyone who doesn’t want to follow a complex storyline. It’s just following the girls and teachers as they live normal lives, but with that perfect blend of anime absurdity and outbursts.
35 Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Proof That Being A Magical Girl Isn’t All Sunshine And Rainbows
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2011 - 2011
WHERE TO WATCH
- Japanese Title
- Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica
- Studio
- Shaft
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
Middle school students Madoka and Sayaka discover the world of magical girls after meeting Kyubey, a mysterious talking cat-like being. Kyuybey offers them a wish in exchange for their souls, which they accept and become magical girls. However, they quickly learn that being a magical girl isn’t what they thought it would be and that the truth is much darker and deadlier than anything they could ever imagine.
If anime fans are looking for a pretty dark magical girl anime, this one is it. Puella Magi Madoka Magica shows that not everything is sunshine and rainbows for the girls who choose to become heroes. Not to mention Kyuybey shows that just because something looks cute, it doesn’t mean it’s good. Madoka Magica dives deep into each girl's psyche, going over their hopes, fears, and weaknesses. They get put through hell.
34 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
It’s Not Every Day That A Female Otaku Is Given The Spotlight
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for an Otaku
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2018-00-00
- Directors
- Yoshimasa Hiraike
- Writers
- Fujita
- Japanese Title
- Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Number of Episodes
- 11
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Fujita
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
Narumi Motose is a young woman who's excited to start her new job. After being shown around the office, she runs into her childhood otaku friend, Hirotaka Nifuji. Though happy to see him again, she tries to hurry away before he reveals her otaku lifestyle in front of their coworkers, Hanako Koyanagi and Taro Kabakura. Little does she know, Koyanagi and Kabakura are also otakus and a friendship between the four of them blossoms.
The anime gives equal screen time to all four characters, but Narumi and Koyanagi’s scenes are comedy gold. The two of them share a lot of similarities with a strong love for cosplay (in Narumi’s case, she doesn’t dress up but admires those who do), BL manga and anime, and video games. Even when they have disagreements, it’s hilarious to watch and a breath of fresh air that they don’t get toxic.