Best Anime With Female Protagonists

There are plenty of anime shows out there that have 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 titles with diverse leads.

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.

Updated on April 5, 2025 by Mark Sammut: The best anime with female main characters might receive a few new contenders after the Spring 2025 season is complete, as the lineup looks great on paper.

Exciting Spring 2025 Anime With Female Protagonists

Winter 2025 had plenty of great anime with female protagonists, including a show (The Apothecary Diaries) that will continue to air episodes for a few more months. The Spring 2025 season is just beginning to roll out, and early signs are encouraging. While still way too early to say which shows will be the best, the lineup has plenty of anime that highlight female characters. Let’s preview a few series.

• I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level – Spring 2025 seems to be aiming for quality over quantity when it comes to isekai anime, and this sequel should be among the best options. While nothing too special, the first season offers a charming mix of slow-life coziness and cute girls doing cute things comedy that emphasizes female friendships.
• Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray – A franchise about horsegirls has no business being consistently amazing, yet Uma Musume has generally maintained a high standard. An adaptation of a great seinen manga, Cinderella Gray should be intense, mature, and unforgettable.
• Witch Watch – Based on a manga by the same author behind Sket Dance, Witch Watch revolves around Nico, the eponymous mage, and Morihito, her reluctant friend-turned-familiar. While hinting at romance, this show should predominantly focus on comedy.
• Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty – The reign of girl bands continues, and Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty ramps up the humor. In a school that expects its students to be all prim and proper, four girls break free through rock music. The first episode was a lot of fun, setting the stage for what will hopefully be one of the season’s best anime about girls.
• Anne Shirley – Now, for something a touch different, this anime is an adaptation of L.M Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. The source material is a literary classic with one of the most beloved female protagonists of all time. Going by the available information and the first episode, the show seems to be relatively faithful to the novel.
• Zatsu Tabi: That’s Journey – A prime contender to be Spring 2025’s best slice of life anime, Zatsu Tabi could fill the void left by Laid-Back Camp. Looking to gain more life experience, Chika decides to travel across Japan, embracing the journey’s highs and lows in the process.
• The Dinner Table Detective – Reiko is not only a budding detective but also absurdly rich, to the point of having a butler. Alongside her aide and partner, she sets out to investigate elite-level cases, although her deductive reasoning could use some sharpening.

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My Hero Academia, Fire Force, and Wind Breaker are a few Spring 2025 anime airing on Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, Netflix, or other streaming services.

41

You’re Under Arrest!

Join Female Officers On Their Everyday Adventures

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.

40

Madlax

Two Female Leads Who Are Strong In Different Ways

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.

39

Legend of Basara

A Teen Picks Up Her Fallen Twin Brother’s Mantle

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.

38

The Story Of Saiunkoku

A Young Woman Working Hard Even When Her Gender Works Against Her

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.

37

Flip Flappers

Two Middle Schoolers Going On Bizarre Magical Girl Adventures

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.

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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.

36

Pretear

A High Schooler Must Quickly Prepare To Save The World

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.

35

Canaan

A Photographer Finds Herself In The Middle Of A Deadly Plot

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.

34

Azumanga Daioh

A Great Comedy With A Female Cast

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.

33

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Proof That Being A Magical Girl Isn’t All Sunshine And Rainbows

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 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 magical girls. Not to mention Kyuybey shows that just because something looks cute, doesn’t mean it’s good.

32

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku

It’s Not Everyday That Female Otaku Are Given The Spotlight

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.

31

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean

The First Female Jojo Proves Her Worth As A Joestar

Framed for vehicular manslaughter, Jolyne Cujoh, the daughter of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusader’s protagonist Jotaro Cujoh, finds herself in prison and wondering how to get free. Her father visits her and gives her a pendant that unlocks her powers while also telling her that Dio Brando’s disciple is the one who framed her. He attempts to free her, but Jotaro is defeated by the disciple and it’s up to Jolyne to save him and stop Dio’s disciple.

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In a long line of men being the hero, Jolyne is the first female protagonist in the series. Being a member of the Joestar family, it’s only fitting that Jolyne is just as strong as them. She’s a bit more aggressive, but Jolyne has a strong set of morals and does everything she can to protect those she loves and cares about.

30

Carole And Tuesday

Two Girls’ Journey To Become Famous Musicians

Carole Stanley is a young woman living on Mars who loves music and wants to be a musician. While her luck hasn’t been great so far, she’s not letting it get down. Her life changes when she meets Tuesday Simmons, a runaway girl who is also a musician. They decide to become a singing duo and chase after their dreams of being famous. Luckily for them, a video of them goes viral and catches the eye of a former music manager who is looking for the next big thing and Angela Carpenter, a famous model wanting to switch careers and become a singer.

This show mostly focuses on Carole and Tuesday, but it also gives a good amount of screen time to Angela. It shows a healthy rivalry between her and the duo as they push each other to their best when performing, but also shows Angela isn’t afraid to talk a little smack without being toxic or insulting.

29

Violet Evergarden

A Former Female Soldier Learns About Love Through Ghostwriting

Violet Evergarden

Release Date

2018 – 2018

Directors

Taichi Ishidate, Haruka Fujita

Writers

Reiko Yoshida, Tatsuhiko Urahata, Taaki Suzuki

This coming-of-age anime is different from most. Violet is a young woman who used to be a tool for war. After the final battle, she and Gilbert, her caretaker and a soldier, are separated after they are knocked unconscious. The last words Gilbert told were “I love you.” Violet becomes a ghostwriter to learn the meaning of the words. Throughout her journey, she meets new people and learns more about the words, and how they can mean a lot of things.

This anime was a big hit when it first came out and is considered one of the best on Netflix. Violet is a strong woman and her emotional growth is worth watching as she tries to reintegrate into society after fighting for so long. It’s the perfect show for those who want to watch a drama with some fantasy and steampunk elements.

28

Kill La Kill

A Show That Flips The Magical Girl Genre On Its Head

Kill la Kill

Release Date

2013 – 2014

Directors

Akira Amemiya, Masahiko Otsuka, Hiroyuki Imaishi

Writers

Kazuki Nakashima

This anime takes viewers on a crazy ride. The story centers around high school student Ryuko Matoi, a girl who is looking for the murderer of her father. Her search takes her to Honnouji Academy, a militaristic school ruled by student council president Satsuki Kiryuin and her underlings, the Elite Four. With their outfits granting them special powers, Ryuko has to fight her way to the top with the help of her unique uniform, Senketsu, to find out the truth about her father’s murder.

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This show is a mix of fan service, comedy, drama, and action that’ll leave fans laughing and rooting for their favorite characters. It flips just about every trope that comes with magical girl shows on their heads. Even with the fan service, viewers shouldn’t let that stop them from watching this great anime.

27

Nana

Two Girls With The Same Name, But Very Different Personalities

Nana

Release Date

2006 – 2007

Directors

Morio Asaka

Writers

Tomoko Konparu

An anime that takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, this show is about two young women, Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu, who move to Tokyo to pursue their dreams. Nana O. wants to become a successful musician, while Nana K. wants to be with her boyfriend. After some events happen in their lives, the two women find their paths crossed and living under the same roof. Despite all the bad that has happened, both of them are ready to take on life’s hardships together.

It’s a classic show about two women who wouldn’t look like they would run in the same social circles becoming best friends and each other’s biggest supporters. This anime tackles some real-life issues that come with growing up and striving to accomplish goals. Nana O. and Nana K. aren’t perfect, but they’re both strong in their own ways and help each other when they need it.

26

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

Three Girls Navigating The Anime Production World Together

This slice-of-life anime has the perfect blend of comedy and adventure. Midori Asakusa is an artist who’s constantly drawing detailed landscapes and backgrounds in her sketchbook. She becomes friends with Sayaka Kanamori, a girl who loves money-making activities, and Tsubame Mizusaki, another artist who wants to be an animator. The three of them create their own anime club at school and set out to make their own anime.

All three girls are different, still have similarities, and balance each other out very well. They go through a lot of ups and downs, but they stick together no matter how tough it gets to produce their anime and even get help from other people around them. Though there are only 12 episodes, all three girls have their own character growth. It’s nice to see a group of girls without any drama between them. Any time they have a conflict, they find a resolution that satisfies all parties.

25

Silent Mobius

A Great Sci-Fi Drama Show With Strong Leading Ladies

A mashup of action, sci-fi, and paranormal that somehow works, Silent Mobius has two films that came out in the early 90s. But the series that came out in 1998 expands the story and characters. This anime is about a group of female officers known as the Attacked Mystification Police (AMP) that protect their city from alien-like creatures known as Lucifer Hawks. The group is an all-female force with various abilities to help them fight.

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This series might be dark, but it has its light-hearted and touching moments when the ladies have time to relax. They’re all strong in their own way and go through a lot throughout the series’ run. From having to learn to trust each other to heartbreak, they have a lot on their plates.

24

Witch Hunter Robin

A Powerful Teen Witch Uses Her Powers To Hunt Other Witches

Witch Hunter Robin

Release Date

2002 – 2002

Network

TV Tokyo

Directors

Shuko Murase, Yoshimitsu Ohashi, Tatsuyuki Nagai, Akira Toba, Hiroshi Ishiodori, Masato Miyoshi, Ryo Miyata

She might look and act mature, but Robin Sena is only 15 years old. Witch Hunter Robin follows her as she works for a secret organization that hunts down witches. Even though she’s a witch herself, Robin does her job while also on another mission to find an artifact.

Robin never had the typical teenager’s upbringing nor did she lead a typical life. With everything going on around her, most might forget she’s a teen while she deals with various tough situations. As her powers grow, she has to worry about her own witch-hunter comrades turning on her. She already seems pretty grown-up at the start of the series and grows up even more as it goes on.

23

Ergo Proxy

An Investigator Seeking Answers About A Virus

Ergo Proxy

Release Date

2006 – 2006

Directors

Shuko Murase

Writers

Dai Sato

A post-apocalyptic anime with cyberpunk and psychological thriller elements mixed in, Ergo Proxy is about 19-year-old Re-l Meyer. She’s an investigator who’s in charge of investigating a string of brutal murders by AutoReivs (cyborgs) who are infected with a virus. The virus makes the AutoReivs self-aware. During her investigation, she learns about Proxies, humanoids with god-like powers which then turns her investigation into more than just a basic murder case. After meeting Vincent Law, a man connected to the Proxies, the two of them team up to learn the truth about them.

Re-l Meyer is a tough, no-nonsense woman who is a little haughty and impassive due to being raised as a soldier and having a privileged life. She loosens up emotionally while on her journey with Vincent.

22

Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit/Seirei No Moribito

A Wandering Warrior Seeking To Atone Sins From Her Past

A role reversal of the “save the princess” trope, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is about a 30-year-old woman named Balsa, a wandering warrior who is looking to atone for eight deaths in her past. She has vowed to save eight lives to do this. In doing so, Balsa saves a young prince named Chagum, whose father has ordered his assassination, and becomes his bodyguard. Balsa and Chagum go on the run from his father while finding out why he wants him killed.

Balsa is definitely one of the strongest heroines out there whether it comes to fighting or teaching Chagum. She is determined to not kill anyone even though she can with her strength and weapon.