Anyone who's ever watched anime long enough will encounter a random girl tasked with saving the world with magical powers. At its core, Magical Girl anime depicts seemingly ordinary schoolgirls balancing their daily activities at school and shenanigans with friends, with the impending doom of the world as they know it.
However, just because the Magical Girl genre has a few tropes and cliches doesn't mean each show is the same. Some of the best Mahou Shoujo anime expand these concepts further, subvert expectations, and tell some incredibly gripping stories. While not as popular as some other themes, this genre has produced plenty of greats over the decades, and that trend will hopefully continue indefinitely.
Gushing Over Magical Girls has been left out for, well, obvious reasons. However, if somebody is looking for an ecchi comedy that leans heavily into fanservice and crosses all the lines, this show is an option.
Updated November 1, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Sadly, 2025 has been a pretty awful year for Mahou Shoujo anime. If it were not for Pretty Cure and Princession Orchestra, the year would have had nothing to offer fans of the genre. Fall 2025 is no exception, as no new Magical Girl series is airing outside of Japan (Chou Futsuu Mahou Shoujo Asumi Toruverse is airing in Japan).
I recommend checking out some older shows listed below, as they are fantastic. If you want Fall 2025 series that are adjacent to Mahou Shoujo, the following might hit the spot:
- Dad is a Hero, Mom is a Spirit, I'm a Reincarnator
- Mechanical Marie
- The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess
23 Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc.
MyAnimeList: 6.97
Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc.
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 4, 2024
- Japanese Title
- Kabushikigaisha Magi-Lumière
- Studio
- J.C.Staff, Moe
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Sekka Iwata
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
Fall 2024 debuted two Magical Girl anime, both of which shook things up with mostly decent results. While neither show is incredible, they are both worthy additions to the genre. Acro Trip focuses on a girl who joins an evil organization to provide the local Magical Girl with a challenge that allows her to shine. The latter mostly plays second fiddle to the protagonist and the male villain, but all three characters are quite charming.
Best Fall 2024 Anime, Ranked
Dragon Ball, Bleach, Re:ZERO, Dandadan, and Uzuamki are just a few shows striving to be the best anime of Fall 2024.
The season's other series, Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., is the more memorable of the two, at least concerning its core premise. Rather than going down the "chosen one" route, the anime envisions a world where Magical Girls are another profession, effectively acting as exterminators whenever entities known as Kaii make an appearance. After leaving college, Kana is kind of struggling to find the right job; however, that changes when she helps a Magical Girl named Hitomi solve a serious Kaii infestation. Before she knows it, Kana is riding a special broom, wearing cool outfits, and helping people.
Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. Gives the genre the Tiger & Bunny treatment, which is by far its strongest element. The characters are fairly traditional but also likable, particularly Hitomi. Even the action sequences are great. Admittedly, the anime loses steam as it goes along, but the journey is still worthwhile.
22 Magical DoReMi
MyAnimeList: 7.32 (Season 1)
Magical DoReMi
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- 1999 - 2004-00-00
When anime fans hear Magical Girls, they often think of a trio of superpowered schoolgirls, and Magical DoReMi fits that description perfectly. Doremi Harukaze, a third-grader living in the fictional town of Misora, stumbles upon the magic shop named Mahodo. After she discovers that its owner, Majo Rika, is a witch frog, the latter makes Doremi her apprentice to help her return to human form.
Doremi finds companions in the form of her best friends, who also become witch apprentices. At first, the trio needs to pass nine different tests to become full witches and break the curse on Majo Rika. However, the trio eventually faces various threats, including an evil witch apprentice, with the fate of the world at stake.
21 Pretear: The New Legend of Snow White
MyAnimeList: 7.16
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
- Creator
- Junichi Sato
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
A contender for the most underrated Magical Girl anime, Prétear: The New Legend of Snow White should be checked out by anyone remotely interested in the theme, especially if they are craving a fairly unique female lead. The story is quite interesting and differentiates itself by revolving around a transformation that involves the main girl, Himeno, fusing with guys who identify as knights.
After her father marries into a wealthy family, Himeno finds herself isolated as she lives with a stepmother and siblings who do not seem to care for her. She is not treated well at school either, with her "rough" personality attracting negative attention from her peers. However, her life takes a drastic (and initially unwelcome) turn when she meets Hayate and is informed about her role as a Pretear.
While incorporating some reverse harem elements, Pretear shines as a romance-driven Magical Girl story with a likable protagonist, clever writing, and good visuals for the era.
20 Is This A Zombie?
MyAnimeList: 7.33 (Season 1)
Is This A Zombie?
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 11, 2011
- Japanese Title
- Kore wa Zombie desu ka?
- Studio
- Studio Deen
- Number of Episodes
- 22
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Shinichi Kimura
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
For the most part, Magical Boys anime have been left out of this discussion. While they tend to parody Mahou Shoujo stories, they are nevertheless in a separate subgenre, and they usually don't incorporate girls that much. However, Is This a Zombie? Is an exception since a Magical Girl, Haruna, is part of the main cast and central to the narrative. Admittedly, she does not get to take part in the action all that much since her powers are quickly taken over by Ayumu, a male zombie who suddenly finds himself having to take up the responsibilities of a Magical Girl.
On paper, this anime sounds excessive and exhausting, almost like it is trying to do way too many things at once. Although scattershot at times, Is This a Zombie? Is pretty darn hilarious and features a strong cast of characters. As long as a viewer does not mind a harem, this unique Magical Girl anime is well worth checking out.
19 Fate/kaleid Liner Prisma Illya
MyAnimeList: 7.48 (Season 3)
Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 13, 2013
- Studio
- SILVER LINK.
- Number of Episodes
- 42
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Hiroshi Hiroyama
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Fate transcends medium, producing visual novels, action games, manga, light novels, and (obviously) anime. Fate/Zero and Fate/stay night are the most popular series in this universe, but they are far from the only worthwhile Fate anime. For example, Fate/kaleid Liner Prisma Illya has been nothing short of a massive success, with the manga spawning an anime adaptation with four seasons and two movies, and there is still more to come. At its peak, this series represents Fate at its best, delivering fantastic action, decent humor, and conflicts largely driven by conflicting ideologies.
The thing is, Fate/kaleid Liner Prisma Illya is arguably the hardest anime in the series to wholeheartedly recommend, mainly due to the fanservice in the first two seasons. Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 2wei! Is particularly annoying in this area, and these moments can detract considerably from the overall package. That said, the positives shine bright enough to warrant giving this series a mention, even if it is primarily for die-hard Fate fans rather than people into Magical Girls.
18 Yuki Yuna Is A Hero
MyAnimeList: 7.36
Yuki Yuna Is A Hero
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- 2014 - 2021-00-00
- Network
- MBS
- Directors
- Akira Kato
- Streaming Service(s)
Producing three main seasons, Yuki Yuna is a Hero has proven to have quite a bit of staying power. The Magical Girl series tends to be compared to Puella Magi Madoka Magica, albeit Yuki Yuna is a less bleak show overall. Set in a world with deities, a school's Hero Club members are charged with protecting the world from monsters.
Most Terrifying Anime Villain Groups
Nefarious organizations can be found throughout several anime series, but these groups are the scariest of the bunch.
Yuki Yuna's characters are its strongest point as the anime dedicates a great deal of time to exploring the girls' lives outside their heroic duties. It develops them as people, making it quite easy to relate to or at least like these characters.
17 Shana Of The Burning Eyes
MyAnimeList: 7.44 (Season 1)
Shakugan no Shana
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2005 - 2012-00-00
- Network
- MBS, Tokyo MX, tvk
- Directors
- Shigeru Ueda
- Studio
- J.C.Staff
- Number of Episodes
- 72
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Yashichiro Takahashi
Most commonly known as Shakugan no Shana, this anime envisions a realm that exists alongside Earth, one defined by an endless war between people who seek personal gain at the expense of balance and those who try to stop them. One day, Yuuji is saved by a mystery girl he calls Shana, and the former is informed that he is no longer alive. Joining Shana in her fight to preserve both worlds, the two steadily form a relationship.
Shakugan no Shana has a weak opening arc, but the anime picks up considerable steam as it goes along. The Magical Girl anime focuses heavily on Shana and Yuuji's romance, so much so that it serves as the story's heart.
16 Shugo Chara!
MyAnimeList: 7.40 (Season 1)
Shugo Chara!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 6, 2007
- Studio
- Satelight
- Number of Episodes
- 127
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Peach-Pit
Amu Hinamori of Shugo Chara! Is recognizable for her iconic pink hair and punk-ish attitude. What her classmates think is a "cool and spicy" look hides her rather introverted self. When she wishes to gain the confidence needed to fulfill her popular exterior, she finds three eggs that hatch as three Guardian Characters — Ran, Miki, and Su. As a Guardian, Amu can beseech the help of Ran, Miki, and Su to help her discover her true self.
As the anime evolves, Amu also encounters other Guardians, each with their own Guardian Characters and abilities. And while Shugo Chara! Has its own blend of unique action, its greatest strength lies in its story about self-discovery.
15 Sugar Sugar Rune
MyAnimeList: 7.50
Sugar Sugar Rune
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2005 - 2006-00-00
Since around the '90s, mahou shoujo anime have generally stuck to a standard aesthetic and structure, with some variants on it. Consequently, Sugar Sugar Rune is at odds with genre-setters like Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura, to the point that it almost seems to belong to another theme. For example, the main "magical girls" are anime witches, and they very much lean into that look and vibe. Vanilla is, admittedly, a bit more of a conventional mid-2000s shojo protagonist, but Chocolat is far more loud and abrasive than the usual MC. They both have awesome fashion senses as well.
9 Cozy Games Featuring Witches
Though fall is the perfect season for these cozy witchy games, they can be enjoyed at any time of the year when players just want to relax.
While not necessarily groundbreaking, the story is a nice departure from all the "world-saving" premises that have come to dominate the genre. Chocolat and Vanilla are sent to Earth to collect hearts, with the winner becoming the queen of the Magical World. They set up shop at a school, and quickly set out to ensnare the guys, all the while dealing with threats (and magical boys) that force them to work together. Sugar Sugar Rune is a blast and a refreshing take on Magical Girls.
14 My-HiME
MyAnimeList: 7.40
Mai-HiME
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2004 - 2005-00-00
- Network
- TV Tokyo
- Directors
- Masakazu Obara, Manabu Ono, Taiki Nishimura, Tatsuyuki Nagai
- Streaming Service(s)
What if there existed a school that teaches girls how to become Magical Girls? My-HiME explores this concept in detail. The story centers are HiMEs, or girls with the ability to materialize photons, that reside in Fuka Academy for a secret purpose. Protagonist Mai Tokiha soon discovers she's a HiME and bonds with a Child, a mecha with spiritual properties. Mai, alongside 11 others, are tasked to save the world from Orphans, creatures with abilities similar to the HiME's children.
My-HiME has a lot to do with the complex personalities of each character. As other HiMEs manifest around Mai, their various goals affect their desire to protect their world. In the end, Mai and the others become entangled in a fate tied to their very nature as HiMEs.