Top 10 Best Female Anime and Manga Characters

Anime and manga have given us some of the most unforgettable characters ever. From fierce fighters to brilliant tacticians to kindhearted healers, female characters often stand out for their strength, perseverance, and complexity.

But who are the very best? The ones who make you laugh, cry, and root for them all the way through?

Are you drawn to deep characters making tough decisions? Do you love a classic underdog story? Or are you into characters with unshakable kindness and loyalty? However you define greatness, this is your chance to highlight the best.

The Top Ten

Hinata Hyuga (Naruto)

Hinata Hyuga is a fictional character in the anime and manga franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto. She is a member of the Hyuga clan and known for her gentle personality and Byakugan ability. Over the series, she grows from a shy ninja into a confident fighter and later marries Naruto Uzumaki... read more

People will argue that if anyone from Naruto should be #1, it should be Sakura because her character is the most realistic. She makes mistakes and grows. However, if you are a fan who has read until the latest Shippuden manga chapter, you know this is far from true.
Sakura Haruno does not deserve this spot because she, in fact, does not change at all. Whenever it is time for her to experience a story arc, it's exactly the same: she wants to stop playing the support role and fight on the front lines with her friends. For the time being, she does just that, but afterward, nothing changes, and she's right back where she started.
(Spoiler alert) In the middle of the war against Obito and Madara, she obtains the First Hokage's ultimate regeneration jutsu, allowing her to recover from any injury. She fights a couple of monsters, and then what does she do? She goes back to aid the wounded as Naruto and Sasuke create an awesome collaborative jutsu to attack and destroy the Ten-Tails directly. She's been storing chakra since she started training with Tsunade for that very moment, and then she barely uses it.
But that's enough about Ms. Haruno. Hinata is the best because she actually changes. At first, Naruto was her inspiration. Because of her family's ways, she believed that she wasn't destined for greatness and that she wouldn't amount to much of anything. She is shy because she thinks that nobody will think much of her, that she's insignificant. Naruto's brave and persistent words and actions inspire her. She gains confidence from him and slowly realizes her love for him.
Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)

Erza Scarlet is an S-Class Mage from the infamous magic guild Fairy Tail. She starts off as a lone wolf who strictly follows the rules. As the story develops, Erza changes into a loving, strong, and independent mage.
Her terrible past haunts her, and she initially ignores her nakama's calls for... read more

She is the best anime/manga girl EVER! She's beautiful, sexy, smart, and strong. She is by far the greatest swordswoman ever. When she's fighting, it makes her look like a fairy dancing on the battlefield. The fairy that is supposed to have already fallen to earth. She is Titania.
Talking about her past, she has the saddest past in Fairy Tail (from me). Her childhood crush used her as a sacrifice to revive some emo psychopath mage. Even though Jellal did this to her, she forgave him. Even during her fight with him, she still hopes that she can knock some sense into him and bring back the Jellal that she knows.
Not just some pretty face, she also has a pretty heart. She's like an elder sister towards Natsu and Gray and a loving but strict mother towards the rest of the Fairy Tail Guild. By far, she is the prettiest Fairy Tail girl ever. I love her, and I don't know how many times I cry whenever her past comes up. Such a strong girl, not just physically, but also emotionally.
Riza Hawkeye (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Riza Hawkeye is a fictional character in the Fullmetal Alchemist manga series and its various adaptations, created by Hiromu Arakawa. She is known as a loyal and skilled sharpshooter who serves as the trusted adjutant to Colonel Roy Mustang. Her character is central to the series' themes of duty, loyalty... read more

Riza is totally badass. A lieutenant in the military, and not called the Hawk's Eye for nothing! She will shoot you down with deadly accuracy if you lay a hand on those she cares about.
She may seem to have a cold exterior but actually has a very warm and caring heart.

Yes, she is strong, and she's real. She's not just "sexy" like some of the others. She's real and has emotions. She's not useless like Sakura, and she has goals and dreams, plus she can fight. She's definitely the best.

I thought she was a guy at first. She's strong, badass, and good with guns.
Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Winry Rockbell is a main supporting character in the Fullmetal Alchemist series. She is a childhood friend of Edward and Alphonse Elric and has been close to them since their early years in Resembool. She is considered like a sister to the brothers and is one of their few remaining family connections.... read more

Without Winry, Ed and Al wouldn't have been able to reach their goal. She's a badass, strong character who has been through a lot but still moves forward. As someone else had said, "Yes, she cries, but everybody does." Winry should be higher on the list.

Badassness packed in a non-fighter. For a female lead character, she doesn't really come out as useless or weak. Yes, she cries, but everybody does.

I love her personality. She definitely helped Ed and Al remain sane most of the time.
Bulma (Dragon Ball Z)

Bulma is a fictional character in Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga series. She is the most prominent and enduring female character in the franchise, appearing from its earliest chapters through its various sequels. Bulma is known for her intelligence, inventions, and her role in assisting the series... read more

Bulma is the best anime girl. She is a genius who made a Dragon Radar when she was five. She could drive an alien spaceship when she was five. She made a laser gun when she was five. No other anime girl can do that. I don't think Hinata can even make a toy gun at the age of five.
Most importantly, Bulma melted Vegeta's heart. The heart of an evil Saiyan Prince who was willing to destroy the Earth. In Dragon Ball Super, Vegeta didn't dare to say anything to Beerus, but when Beerus slapped Bulma, Vegeta's anger was unleashed, and he turned Super Saiyan. Can any other girl melt the heart of an evil Saiyan? Bulma rocks. She is fashionable and a genius. And where the heck is Android #18 on this list?
Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach)

Rukia Kuchiki is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Bleach, created by Tite Kubo. She is a Soul Reaper who begins as the lieutenant and later becomes the captain of the 13th Division. Rukia is the adoptive sister of Byakuya Kuchiki, a close friend to Ichigo Kurosaki, and eventually... read more

Rukia is my idol! I definitely find her among the top most impressive female anime characters out there! I love how strong and smart she is. Even when she's at her weakest point, losing her powers, her sense of duty and morals to protect people never wavers. She truly has a big heart. Despite her cool attitude on the surface, I consider her to be very kind, generous, and humble, especially during her character development after meeting Ichigo.
Plus, I love how she's a badass tomboy with nerve and a surprisingly strong sense of humor. She's small but fierce, and that makes her beautiful! She should have her own Shonen series!
Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan)

Mikasa Ackerman is a fictional character in the manga and anime series Attack on Titan, also known by its Japanese title Shingeki no Kyojin. Created by Hajime Isayama, she is one of the main characters and serves as a close companion and protector of Eren Jaeger. Mikasa is known for her exceptional combat... read more

She is beautiful and badass at the same time. She has a tragic past, but she doesn't let it bring her down. And she will do whatever it takes to keep her comrades safe. She's my favorite character.

She cares about others too, not just Eren. She has gotten so much character development during the series, which makes her even more lovable.

Great female anime character.
Android 18 (Dragon Ball Z)

Android 18 is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball manga and anime series created by Akira Toriyama. She is originally introduced as a villain and one of the androids created by Dr. Gero to destroy Goku.
After being absorbed and later released by Cell, Android 18 reforms and becomes a key... read more

Who doesn't love 18? She is a total badass, who used to be a major antagonist "Deadly Beauty" who kicks Super Saiyan Vegeta's ass with ease and now has switched sides, becoming a Z fighter who fights against evil. She's sassy and incredibly funny with her sarcastic comments.

She is underappreciated and awesome. How many people can say they kicked Vegeta's ass and lived? She is beautiful and strong enough to blow up planets. But be careful, or she will con you out of your cash!

She's badass and can actually kick most of the guys' asses.
Saeko Busujima (High School of the Dead)

Saeko Busujima is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Highschool of the Dead, written by Daisuke Satō and illustrated by Shōji Satō. She is a high school senior skilled in kendo and becomes one of the main survivors during a zombie outbreak. Saeko is known for her calm demeanor, combat... read more

The best swordswoman (sorry Ezra), best hair, most courageous, sexiest manga woman - yet she still lets you see she's also a scared and vulnerable teen.

She's one of the most kick-ass characters of all time! I love her, her sword, and her wonderful techniques.
Nico Robin (One Piece)

"Devil Child" Nico Robin is a fictional character in the One Piece franchise created by Eiichiro Oda. She is an archaeologist and a member of the Straw Hat Pirates, known for her calm demeanor and intelligence. Robin has the ability to sprout body parts from any surface using the powers of the Hana Hana... read more

In my opinion, she's better than Nami.

The Newcomers

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San (Princess Mononoke)
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Lady Oyuki (Lady Snowblood)

The Contenders

Nami (One Piece)

Nami is a fictional character in the One Piece franchise created by Eiichiro Oda. She is the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates and is known for her skills in cartography, navigation, and theft. Her character design was inspired by Ann and Silk, two characters from Oda's earlier work Romance Dawn.

Nami is so much better than the overrated Hinata. Nami is brave, beautiful, strong, useful, loyal, and has a sad backstory. Hinata is just walking fan service. People only like her because she loves Naruto so much and because of her physical attributes.
Hinata is so annoying to me, sometimes even useless, while Nami at least saved Luffy's life, not only Luffy's, but the whole crew's lives, with her job as a navigator. In the fight with Ulti, Nami knew she would die but didn't betray Luffy's dream.

Nami has an awesome story, and she's so sweet at heart. Please vote for her. People say she is annoying, but she has gone through a lot!
Kagome Higurashi (Inuyasha)

Kagome Higurashi is the main female protagonist in the anime and manga series InuYasha. She plays a central role alongside the titular character, InuYasha. Her character travels through time and becomes deeply involved in the search for the Shikon Jewel shards.

She's cute, nice, and funny! Sure, she might be a little unreasonable, but it all stems from her never-say-die attitude. Even when she thought that Inuyasha would choose Kikyo, she decided to stay with him to protect and fight alongside him.
She would suffer from heartbreak if she stayed, but she stayed anyway, even after Inuyasha forced her to go home.

I think she should be first because no matter what happened, she was always there when Koga or Inuyasha got hurt. Even though she got kidnapped by Naraku when his arm got hurt, she still stopped Inuyasha from hurting him.
C.C. (Code Geass)

C.C. is a fictional character in the anime series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, which was produced by Sunrise. Her real name is never disclosed to the audience, though it is eventually revealed to the main character, Lelouch Lamperouge. C.C. plays a crucial role in the story by granting Lelouch... read more

From what I've seen in Code Geass, C.C. definitely deserves a good spot on this list. She is beautiful, smart, and cool. She has her own flaws, which makes her more irresistible. I'm glad she isn't very low on this list.
Though I do wish she would earn a higher spot. Plus, Code Geass is a good anime, I have to say!
Lucy (Elfen Lied)

Lucy, born Kaede, is a fictional Japanese character who serves as the tragic antiheroine and main protagonist of the manga Elfen Lied. The series was created by Lynn Okamoto and is best known for its anime adaptation, directed by Mamoru Kanbe and written by Takao Yoshioka. In the Japanese version, Lucy... read more

No contest. The rest don't even compare with Lucy.

Nobody can compare to Lucy. She should be much higher on the list.
Yoruichi Shihōin (Bleach)

Yoruichi Shihoin is a fictional character in the Bleach manga series and its adaptations created by Tite Kubo. She is a former captain of the 2nd Division in the Gotei 13 and also the former commander of the Onmitsukidō. Known for her speed and transformation ability, she plays a key role in several... read more

By far the most badass female anime character, and she's incredibly gorgeous.
Konata Izumi (Lucky Star)

Konata Izumi is one of the main characters of the Lucky Star series and is considered the leader of the group. She is the daughter of Sojiro Izumi and Kanata Izumi and lives in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo.
Nicknamed "Kona-chan" by Tsukasa, she is known for her eccentric personality, love of... read more

Why is she ranked 71? She's amazing! She's the epitome of every girl who likes manga and anime. She's relatable. She's also funny, smart, and cooks well. She's just a well-rounded character!
Yeah, she doesn't kick ass like some of the other characters on this list, but you can tell if given the chance that she totally would!

I can relate to her even though I'm a guy. Super funny! She should be ranked near Haruhi Suzumiya. Hardcore otaku and old gamer!
Maka Albarn (Soul Eater)

Maka Albarn (マカ・アルバーン, Maka Arubān) is a Scythe-Meister and the daughter of Spirit Albarn and his ex-wife. After witnessing her father's infidelity, she was inspired by her mother and decided to become a Meister. Maka partnered with the "Demon Scythe" Soul Eater to create a Death Scythe more powerful... read more

She is very powerful, strong-willed, just an overall amazing character. Not to mention she is someone everyone counted on in Soul Eater. She also is funny, cute, skilled, and fierce.

Because she's simply awesome. And to all of you that don't like Maka, I have just two words to say: MAKA CHOP. Laugh out loud.
Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon)

Sailor Moon is the main character of the show Sailor Moon. Her real name is Usagi Tsukino. Usagi meets Luna, a talking cat who tells her she is searching for the Moon Princess.
Luna gives Usagi a brooch that allows her to transform into Sailor Moon. Usagi is usually cheerful and happy, but she... read more

At first glance, she may seem to be a crybaby, clumsy, naive, scatterbrained, lazy, selfish, immature, and overeating. But actually, Usagi is a really strong, determined, kind-hearted, and brave heroine who can be pretty serious when she is fighting.

There's more to Usagi than meets the eye. A combination of goofiness and ethereal grace, she's a mystery, she's one of a kind, and by far the most inspiring anime heroine of all time.

I love Usagi! I do admit she was a bit of a crybaby in the earlier seasons, but I still love her. In the later seasons, she becomes much stronger and isn't as much of a crybaby. I will always love Sailor Moon.
Faye Valentine (Cowboy Bebop)

Faye Valentine is a fictional character from Cowboy Bebop who first appeared in the third episode, Honky Tonk Women. Initially introduced as a wanted bounty head, she eventually joins the bounty hunting crew alongside Spike Spiegel and Jet Black.... read more
Nia Teppelin (Gurren Lagann)

Nia Teppelin is a fictional character in the anime series Gurren Lagann, known in Japan as Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, animated by Gainax and co-produced by Aniplex and Konami. The series was directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and written by veteran playwright Kazuki Nakashima. Nia plays a pivotal role in... read more
Ran Mouri (Detective Conan)

Although Ran can be a bit tsundere, she is loyal, loving, and always puts everybody before herself, whether it be Shinichi, Conan, the Shonen Tantei Dan, or strangers. The fact that Ran waits ten years (in the OVA 09) should put her at the top of the list, despite always complaining about Shinichi coming back and the pain she feels having to wait for him, and also having to wonder if Shinichi actually will come back for her.
Some people may say that Ran is quite stereotypical or that she is a cliché anime character, but she is one of the characters who has shaped female anime characters throughout the twenty years the anime/manga has been going on.
Touka Kirishima (Tokyo Ghoul)

Touka Kirishima is a fictional character in the manga and anime series Tokyo Ghoul, created by Sui Ishida. She is a ghoul who works at the Anteiku café and plays a significant role in the series' storyline. Throughout the series, she struggles to maintain her humanity while navigating a world divided... read more

She should be at least in the top 5. She's gorgeous, courageous, protective, and totally badass! She's also one of the good guys. Very unique character too. She's my favorite character next to Uta.

She should! No doubt! She's way better than this!

She should be way higher than this.
Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High School Host Club)

Haruhi Fujioka is the main character in the manga and anime series Ouran High School Host Club, created by Bisco Hatori. She is a scholarship student at the elite Ouran Academy and accidentally becomes a host club member after being mistaken for a boy. Haruhi challenges gender norms throughout the series... read more
Sakura Haruno (Naruto)

Sakura Haruno is one of the primary heroines of the series Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. She is the only female ninja in Team Seven, which originally consists of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and their sensei Kakashi Hatake. Her family includes her mother, Mebuki Haruno, and her father, Kizashi Haruno... read more

Beautiful, strong, fierce, and independent young woman. In the world of ninjas, washed out of their emotions, packed with superpowers, and trained by their clans since birth, she's definitely the most humanized character. She falls in love with a complete douchebag who ends up trying to kill her (twice!), cries, lies, and makes mistakes because, seriously, who doesn't? She's no Mary Sue. She grows up fast, trains hard, and supports her best friend the most.
Yes, she smacks him down when he's being an ass or a pervert, but remember, she's also the only one of his friends to actually see him turn into a killing machine. Instead of being scared for herself, she runs towards him, risking herself, to help him out and comfort him. Did I mention that she helps kick the ass of one of the biggest villains of the story, takes a giant centipede down with a single hit, and is the one to discover the secret of the enemy's army, which kinda saves the lives of thousands of people?
She's a very skilled fighter and healer, is caring, loyal, brave, defiant, has confidence issues, and is easy to anger. She doesn't take crap from guys and puts them in their place when they deserve it. She's a legit badass and a great inspiration for young women.
Tsuyu Asui (My Hero Academia)