5 Best Anime With Female Leads, Ranked

Anime with female protagonists bring something different to the table: boldness, emotion, cleverness, or pure power. Whether they’re fighters, thinkers, or just trying to survive in a world stacked against them, these women lead the story without taking a backseat. 

The shows below don’t just “include” strong female characters, they’re fully centered on them. If you're looking for anime with great storytelling and standout heroines who carry the whole narrative, these five picks are some of the best and most beloved, and they deserve your full attention.

5. Claymore


Set in a world plagued by shape-shifting monsters called Yoma, Claymore follows Clare, a half-human, half-Yoma warrior who hunts them down. She’s part of an organization of silver-eyed women trained to kill these beasts. 

Clare’s cold demeanor hides a personal mission: to avenge Teresa, the mentor who once saved her. The story balances brutal combat with questions of identity, especially as Clare pushes the limits of her powers. Her fights against Awakened Beings show just how far she’s willing to go, and her journey stands out as one of anime’s most underrated.

4. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song


Vivy is an AI created to bring joy through singing, but her mission shifts when she’s tasked with stopping a war between humans and machines 100 years in the future. With the help of Matsumoto, an AI from the future, Vivy travels through time, intervening in key moments to rewrite history. 

Her evolving self-awareness and changing goals make the show more than a sci-fi thriller. Each mission challenges her core programming, and the music, from operatic ballads to somber piano pieces becomes a part of her character growth.

3. Kill la Kill


Ryuko Matoi transfers to Honnouji Academy with a giant red scissor blade and one question: who killed her father? The school is ruled by the fearsome Satsuki Kiryuuin and her elite guards, all powered by Life Fibers in their uniforms. 

Ryuko discovers her own battle uniform, Senketsu, is alive and with it, she takes on the entire system. The fights are wild, the animation is explosive, and Ryuko's no-quit attitude drives the show. It’s flashy, fast, and packed with high-stakes battles and over-the-top moments that somehow work perfectly together.

2. Puella Magi Madoka Magica


Madoka Kaname is a regular middle schooler until she meets Kyubey, a mysterious creature who offers to grant her a wish in exchange for becoming a magical girl. But this isn't a glittery hero story. Her friend Homura Akemi is trying to stop her from making that wish for reasons that slowly unfold. 

As battles against witches grow more surreal, so do the consequences. Madoka’s story becomes something far bigger than she ever expected, and the show flips the magical girl genre into something much darker and unforgettable.

1. Sailor Moon


Usagi Tsukino starts off as a crybaby teenager, but when she learns she’s Sailor Moon, a warrior tasked with protecting Earth from evil, everything changes. Alongside the other Sailor Guardians, she battles enemies like Queen Beryl and the Black Moon Clan while uncovering secrets about her past as Princess Serenity. 

Her bond with Mamoru (Tuxedo Mask) and her growth as a leader are key parts of the journey. From 90s nostalgia to cosmic battles, Sailor Moon is still the blueprint for magical girl anime with a lead who becomes her own kind of legend.

Popular posts from this blog

5 Best Anime With 12 Episodes

5 Romance Anime Where The Popular Student Falls For The Unpopular MC

Naruto: Every Tailed Beast, Ranked