10 Best Female Anime Characters Of All Time

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Anime’s portrayal of female characters is often a point of debate, and with good reason. Many shows prioritize male characters, leaving female characters underdeveloped and focused primarily on romantic interests or appealing to fans – which often makes them uninteresting to watch.

While anime often faces criticism for its portrayal of female characters, many shows actually feature surprisingly well-developed and compelling women. Some of these characters are truly exceptional and stand out as some of the best in the entire medium.

10) Tia (Zatch Bell!)

Tia is a main character in the anime Zatch Bell!. During the competition to find the next demon king, she struggled to trust people after a friend’s betrayal. However, reconnecting with Zatch helped her regain that trust, and she soon became one of his most important allies.

I’ve always been impressed by Tia. Even though her powers lean more towards support, she’s constantly jumping into the thick of things and making a real difference. But what really stands out to me is how much she’s grown as a character throughout the series – especially in the manga. It’s great to see her consistently become more confident and capable, and I especially appreciate that she was created back in the 2000s; she feels like a really strong, well-written female character for that era.

9) Casca (Berserk)

Casca is a central character in the manga Berserk. Originally, she was Griffith’s second-in-command within the Band of the Hawk. Her dedication to both Guts and Griffith played a key role in their successes, and the eventual romantic relationship between Guts and Casca became a major theme throughout the story.

Casca is a consistently compelling character thanks to her skills and the significant growth she’s experienced, both personally and through her relationship with Guts. While the story of Berserk sometimes limits her potential, it’s clear why she’s remained a fan favorite for decades.

8) Fujiko Mine (Lupin III)

Fujiko Mine is a main character in the Lupin III series. Though she’s often presented as Lupin’s partner and romantic interest, she frequently betrays his team to pursue her own goals. Despite this, Lupin and his crew consistently welcome her help on future adventures.

Fujiko is the quintessential femme fatale – confident, in control of her sexuality, and consistently outshining everyone around her. It’s no surprise she’s remained a beloved anime character for decades; she’s simply captivating and fun to watch.

7) Kagome Higurashi (Inuyasha)

I first met Kagome Higurashi as the main character in the anime Inuyasha. It’s quite a story – she suddenly found herself pulled back to feudal Japan, and through a twist of fate, ended up breaking this incredibly powerful jewel called the Shikon Jewel into pieces. Now, she’s working with Inuyasha, a half-demon, to gather those fragments and, as it turns out, save the world in the process.

Kagome is a compelling main character in a classic action anime. She develops a lot throughout the series, but remains true to her kind heart and maintains a sweet romance with Inuyasha, making her consistently enjoyable to watch. This skillful character writing is a prime example of why Rumiko Takahashi is such a celebrated manga artist.

6) Shizuku Tsukishima (Whisper Of The Heart)

Shizuku Tsukishima is the protagonist of the Studio Ghibli film Whisper of the Heart. As a teenager, she’s unsure about her future, but when she meets Seiji Amasawa, a young man learning to make violins, she’s inspired to become a writer. This newfound ambition stems from wanting to be a worthy partner to Seiji and to build her own self-confidence.

What makes Whisper of the Heart so effective is its relatable writing, particularly through the character of Shizuku. Her realistic battle with self-doubt makes the film’s emotional moments truly powerful. Shizuku’s believable and compelling development makes her a standout protagonist for Studio Ghibli, and it’s a shame the movie doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

5) Momo Ayase (Dandadan)

Momo Ayase is the main character in the anime Dandadan. After discovering she has spiritual abilities during an encounter with aliens, Momo finds herself constantly fighting off supernatural and extraterrestrial dangers that threaten her and those around her. Throughout these battles, she also begins to fall for the other central character, Okarun.

Momo stands out as a fantastic female anime character because of her unique, rebellious personality. She’s also incredibly capable, consistently leading the charge in battles and helping her friends succeed. Plus, her relationship with Okarun feels natural and genuine, making her one of the best female characters in recent anime.

4) Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)

Frieren is the main character in the anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. She helped the hero Himmel defeat the Demon King, and after Himmel’s death many years later, Frieren embarked on a new quest. She realized she hadn’t fully appreciated the people she cared about and wanted to learn how to connect with others more deeply.

Though Frieren often appears calm and reserved, she’s actually a deeply emotional character. Watching her learn to open up and express those feelings is incredibly rewarding. Frieren is one of the most beloved anime characters right now, and with the second season of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End coming soon, fans have a lot more to look forward to.

3) Nana Osaki (Nana)

Nana Osaki is one of the main characters in the anime series Nana. She’s a young, ambitious punk musician who moves to Tokyo to pursue her dreams. Of all the connections she makes, her friendship with the gentle Nana Komatsu becomes the most significant.

Both Nana characters are well-developed, but Nana Osaki is particularly memorable thanks to her cool style and fiercely independent nature, which is balanced by relatable vulnerabilities like struggling to connect with others. Nana is a hugely popular shojo anime, and its compelling main characters are a major reason why.

2) Jolyne Cujoh (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Jolyne Cujoh, the daughter of Jotaro Kujo, is the main character in the anime JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean. When she’s falsely accused of murder by followers of the villain DIO, Jolyne is sent to prison. There, she must learn to survive while working to save her father and destroy DIO’s evil plans for good.

I think Jolyne is easily one of the best protagonists in all of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Not only was her action fantastic, but watching her grow from a troubled young woman into someone so strong was really compelling. Stone Ocean felt like the perfect ending to the original JoJo storyline, and it’s amazing because the creator, Hirohiko Araki, challenged himself to write a female lead – and he absolutely nailed it.

1) Nami (One Piece)

Nami is a main character in the anime One Piece. She used to be a thief trying to protect her village from pirates, but she found a sense of belonging with Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, who became like a family to her. After successfully saving her village, she officially joined their crew and became their navigator as they sailed the Grand Line.

Although some dismiss the female characters in One Piece because of the show’s focus on fanservice, Nami stands out as a remarkably well-developed and capable character. What makes her special is that her story isn’t centered around her relationships with the men around her. Nami is one of the most thoughtfully written characters in anime, making her a strong choice for the title of best female character.

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2025-11-27 20:14