Do you know that Anime is actually an abbreviation of the word “Animation”? In Japan, the word is used to refer to all animation. However, outside of Japan, it has become the catch-all term for animation from Japan. Over the last 40 years, it has become an international phenomenon, attracting millions of fans and being translated into many languages. Some of the original anime programs, like “Dragon Ball” (which began airing in 1986), had more male leads than female, but then they paved the way for the best anime women that you know and love today.
Anime fans always have for their own a list of greatest female anime characters ever, for a variety of reasons: their power, kind behavior or super beauty. Just Anime Things now will show you the top 10 best female anime characters, from the strong, cool to the sweet ones. Then you should not hesitate to tell us which ones of these popular anime characters are your favorite!
1. Saber from Fate/stay night
Saber is a fictional character from the Japanese visual novel and anime series Fate/stay night. As an agile and powerful warrior, Saber is loyal, independent, and reserved; she appears cold but is actually suppressing her emotions to focus on her goals. Her class is considered the “most outstanding”, with excellent ratings in all categories.
She is most loved for her design, especially in her full attire. A girl who’s sporting an awesome golden sword and a well-designed, badass armored outfit that doesn’t try to show off any blatant fanservice that MMORPGs, RPGs, and anime always do. She’s the first and foremost warrior. A knight that’s ready to kick some ass.
2. Mikasa Ackerman from Attack On Titan
Mikasa Ackerman is the adoptive sister of Eren Yeager and the main female protagonist of the series: Attack On Titan. After her biological parents were murdered by human traffickers, she was rescued by Eren and lived with him and his parents, Grisha and Carla, before the fall of Wall Maria. Though she desires only to live a peaceful life with Eren, Mikasa chose to follow him into the military – where she is considered the best soldier among the 104th Training Corps.
Mikasa stands out because of her calmness and coolness that she always shows in her eyes. She is considered a genius among all the army trainees and possesses very impressive fighting skills. She has short black hair and her personality is more laid back which makes her one of the coolest anime girls.
3. Hinata Hyuga from Naruto
Hinata Hyuga is a kunoichi and the former heiress of the Hyūga clan. Because of her meek disposition, her father doubted that she was suited for the responsibilities of leading the clan, much less life as a ninja, leading him to disinherit her. Nonetheless, Hinata persevered and from observation of Naruto Uzumaki especially, Hinata found both an example to follow to be more assertive, and a person to love. Through her membership with Team 8, she sought to become strong enough to change herself, if even a little at a time.
Many people love her because she has such a wonderful heart and has so much determination. She isn’t afraid to try and will always be there by Naruto’s side. Her little shy blushes and how she plays with her fingers when she is shy is just the cutest!!
4. Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon
Usagi Tsukino is the present-day form of Princess Serenity. A carefree sailor-suited schoolgirl, she is the civilian persona of Sailor Moon, leader of the series’ primary heroines, the Sailor Senshi. Lively and easy-going, she usually goofs off and neglects her schoolwork to play video games or spend time with her friends.
Despite all this, Usagi acts friendly towards many people and tends to help others out with their problems, being a compassionate, empathic and unexpectedly observant person. As the series progresses, Usagi slowly matures and learns how to make decisions for herself as well.
5. Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail
Erza Scarlet is a member of Team Natsu and one of the female protagonists in Fairy Tail. She is a former S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail and is famous for her usage of Requip Magic.
Erza is a strong and cool girl with long scarlet hair and brown eyes. She is a very powerful woman who is very strict, and she is not afraid of speaking her mind.
6. Yuuki Asuna from Sword Art Online
Asuna is a friend of Kirito the main protagonist of Sword Art Online. Asuna Yuuki is one of the few girls in Sword Art Online, but one the strongest. She fights alongside Kirito and is a sub-leader of the guild, Knights of the Blood – a guild known as the strongest guild in Aincrad.
Asuna is a very pretty girl with long blond hair and has the nickname ‘’Flash’’ for her sword skill that is lightning fast. Besides, she is cool because of her strength and her very strong attitude and personality.
7. Rukia Kuchiki from Bleach
Rukia is a shinigami, a death god who is one of the main protagonists of Bleach. She works together with Ichigo Kurosaki who also has great spiritual power. Together they rid the world of evil ghosts and spirits called Hollows.
Rukia is a bit of a tomboy that is quite serious, but at times very funny. Her coolness comes from her little statue, but as well in her strength as a death god. She is one of the coolest girls in the anime universe.
8. Nami from One Piece
Nami is a pirate and the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates. She was the third member of the crew and the second to join, doing so during the Orange Town Arc. She was formerly a member of the Arlong Pirates and initially joined the Straw Hats in order to rob them for her real crew, but joined the Straw Hats for real after they rebelled against and defeated Arlong.
Nami is greedy and will do anything for money and treasure, accepting any challenge that comes along. Her love of money stems from her childhood, where she lived a poor life and was often upset at having little wealth despite the love of her adopted mother. However, due to her deep compassion and empathy, Nami is also willing to help people with dire needs even when there are absolutely no monetary benefits in doing so.
Nami is greedy and will do anything for money and treasure, accepting any challenge that comes along. Her love of money stems from her childhood, where she lived a poor life and was often upset at having little wealth despite the love of her adopted mother. However, due to her deep compassion and empathy, Nami is also willing to help people with dire needs even when there are absolutely no monetary benefits in doing so.
She is loved not only for her sexual beauty but also for her manner.
9. Mumei from Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress takes place in a Japan that has been taken over by a zombie apocalypse, and the zombies in this story are known as kabane. Mumei is what is known as a kabaneri, someone who is half-human, half kabane!
She may be small and cute, but she can more than hold her own in a fight which she proves over and over again. She is very agile and dexterous, avoiding her enemies’ strikes with really cool acrobatics and evasive maneuvering. She often uses two pistols that are attached to a device on her back that gives her extra steam-powered abilities to jump higher and move faster, and after taking in how many kabane she has to fight, she will set a personal timer for how long it will take her to destroy them all. Quite often, Mumei is able to do it within the time limit that she sets for herself! Even when she isn’t using her pistols, she can be seen beheading kabane by kicking them with her sandals that contain a hidden blade, and other cool hand-to-hand combat moves. Don’t let Mumei’s cute appearance deceive you – she’s a badass, and definitely one of the coolest girls in recent anime!
10. Mirei Shikishima from Valkyrie Drive.
As the main character from “Valkyrie Drive“, Mirei Shikishima is Mamori’s Liberator. She speaks with a very polite and reserved tone and her voice is really soft.
Mirei often throws up a false front of being a cold and stoic person, but in reality, she is actually a lover of cute things and has a very kind and pure heart. That doesn’t stop her from helping her friend Mamori fight against their enemies to ensure that the two survive, though! Her strong friendship and loyalty, abilities as a Liberator, and intriguing personality are what land her on our list of the coolest girls in anime. She does what she has to do what she feels is right and won’t let anything stop her, and that is incredibly cool.