10 Best Female Characters In Modern Anime
By Published May 3, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT Joshua Edward Ryan Fox is a freelance writer for Screen Rant with a passion for pop culture. Joshua grew up in Connecticut where he developed an appreciation for writing and entertainment and has earned a Master's degree in professional writing and technical writing. His writing has been quoted by both the anime streaming site Crunchyroll and the anime YouTuber Gigguk. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Female characters are almost always divisive in media, and anime is no exception; because so many anime are targeted for male viewers, they’ll often get little to no focus compared to the male characters and be relegated to little more than romance and fanservice, and even when they do get moments to shine, it unfortunately takes very little for fans to write them off as annoying or a Mary Sue, making it something of a lose-lose situation.
There will always be discourse around female anime characters, but whether it’s because of the specific audience their shows attracted or for benefiting from some genuinely strong writing, there are still plenty of that fans and critics can’t help but adore. That’s been true for decades now, and even among modern anime, there are still plenty of female characters who are bound to go down as legends.
Yuki Itose (A Sign Of Affection)
In Ajiado’s A Sign of Affection, Yuki Itose, despite her congenital hearing loss, has managed to live a normal life, albeit one that’s rather uneventful. That all changes when Yuki has a chance encounter with the omniglot Itsuomi Nagi in college, however, as for the first time, Yuki feels like her world is finally opening up thanks to something she had never thought about before: love.
Not only is Yuki’s disability handled very maturely without ever dipping too far into melodrama, but with how sweet a person Yuki is in her interactions with Itsuomi and others, there’s never a moment when the viewer doesn’t feel attached to her and her struggles. A Sign of Affection is a classic romance story in the best of ways, and overall, Yuki is the best protagonist it could have asked for.
Maki Zenin (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Maki Zenin is one of the main characters of MAPPA’s Jujutsu Kaisen. Unlike other sorcerers, Maki was born without the ability to use cursed energy in exchange for superhuman strength, earning her nothing but scorn from her elitist and abusive family, so now she seeks to become a great sorcerer just to spite them and prove them wrong.
Maki was always a fun character for her unique abilities and her great chemistry with Yuta, but the events of made her a legend with how it brought her trauma to the forefront and had her resolve it in a massive, cathartic beatdown unlike any other. On the whole, Jujutsu Kaisen never had a good handling of its female characters, and that makes it all the more impressive that Maki was such an amazing character.
Anya Forger (Spy X Family)
In Wit Studio and CloverWorks’ Spy X Family, secret agent Twilight, under the alias Loid Forger, adopted Anya Forger for his mission to infiltrate Ostania and prevent a potential war between them and Westalis. What Loid doesn’t know, however, is that Anya is a telepath, and not only does she know all of his secrets, but she’s decided to support his mission in her own weird way to both stay with her new family and, more importantly, because it’s cool.
It’s one thing for Anya to have such an adorable character design, but her goofy personality also provides plenty of great comedy whenever the story needs some levity, all of which is perfectly balanced out by her occasional moments of tragedy. Spy X Family is one of the biggest anime to come out of the 2020s, and it’s easy to see Anya being so lovable as the main reason.
Makima (Chainsaw Man)
Makima is one of the main characters of MAPPA’s Chainsaw Man. Makima is introduced as a mysterious woman who gives Denji a chance at a new life as the Devil Hunter Chainsaw Man, but soon enough, it becomes clear that Makima’s intentions for Denji and his friends are anything but good, even if it isn’t clear what her ultimate endgame is.
Makima’s great character design, thinly-veiled sadism, and the way she manipulates Denji without being too obvious about it quickly sold her as a great villain, and that only got better with how much the Chainsaw Man movie expanded on her villainy and erased all doubts that she’s anything but a monster. There are few anime villains like Makima right now, and when starts, that’ll become more apparent in the best of ways.
Oguri Cap (Umamusume: Cinderella Gray)
Oguri Cap was mostly known as a comedic supporting character in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, but she finally entered the spotlight in her solo story, Cypic’s Umamusume: Cinderella Gray. A prequel story of sorts, Cinderella Gray tells the story of how Oguri went from a no-name racer in the country to one of the stars of the racing world, and despite her comedic origins, her story was nothing if not a dramatic one.
In Umamusume: Cinderella Gray’s take on Oguri Cap, Oguri essentially becomes the franchise’s version of Son Goku with a comedically large appetite and an insatiable lust for battle and being the best, just to prove that she can be the best, and with how effectively that’s paired with the heart and drama of a sports anime, it works far better than one would think. , and it’s easy to see Oguri Cap and Cinderella Gray playing a big part in that.
Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries)
Maomao is the main character of OLM, Inc.’s The Apothecary Diaries and the eponymous apothecary within an Imperial China-esque setting. One day, Maomao is forced into servitude at the imperial palace, but with her apothecary skills, she quickly makes a name for herself by uncovering the truth behind the illnesses and attempted poisonings that go on within its walls, all of which earns her the eye of the mysterious eunuch Jinshi.
Related
The Apothecary Diaries is one of the best modern anime, but there are many other anime that are similar to it that are worth watching.
Posts By
Maomao quickly gained attention from fans and critics for her intelligent character writing and the level of depth afforded to her, and between all of that and her fun relationship with Jinshi, she’s only gotten better in time. Maomao has everything a person could want from the protagonist of a detective story, and with season 3 in development, there’s plenty more in store for her.
Jewelry Bonney (One Piece)
Jewelry Bonney was introduced in Toei Animation’s One Piece well over a decade ago, but it wasn’t until the Egghead arc that Bonney truly became a character in her own right. There, it was revealed that Bonney became a pirate to reunite with her father, Bartholomew Kuma, and after learning the truth behind their separation, she became devoted to both getting revenge on the ones responsible and regaining her childlike faith in Nika.
did wonders to make both him and Bonney some of the anime’s most tragic and well-developed characters, and the way the Egghead arc concluded Bonney’s arc fleshed her out even further with one massively cathartic moment after another. Bonney has gone from an essential non-entity to one of the best characters in all of One Piece, and hopefully, the story isn’t done with her.
Hitori “Bocchi” Gotoh (Bocchi The Rock!)
Hitori Gotoh is introduced in CloverWorks’ Bocchi the Rock! as a socially awkward girl who picks up the guitar in a desperate attempt at making friends. After three years, her efforts haven’t paid off in the slightest, but just as Hitori was about to give up, she was invited to be the guitarist for the up-and-coming Kessoku Band, thus finally giving Hitori, now with the nickname “Bocchi”, a chance to break out of her shell.
Subscribe for deeper takes on standout female anime characters
Join the newsletter for deeper analysis, character profiles, and curated picks focused on female anime characters and broader anime coverage, so you can dive further into the themes, arcs, and standout performances you care about. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our and . You can unsubscribe anytime.
Bocchi is always great when she’s at the center of goofy and occasionally cringey comedy, especially when accompanied by absurdist visuals, but what truly makes her a great character is her relatable struggles with social anxiety and how satisfying it is to see her try and overcome it, especially on the rare occasions she gets a win. Bocchi is one of the breakout anime characters of the 2020s, and she’ll only get bigger when finally comes out.
Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)
Frieren is the eponymous protagonist of Madhouse’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, who famously served as the elven mage in the hero’s party and helped save the world from the demon king. While Frieren didn’t think much of the time they spent together at first, the death of Himmel the Hero made her realize how special it was to her, and so she decided to go on another journey to learn to better communicate with others.
While Frieren might come across as little more than a stoic badass, underneath it all is a thoughtful and melancholic person who always makes strides to be better and push others to do the same, all with plenty of moments of great comedy to help balance it out. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is another massive hit from the 2020s, and it’s all thanks to how fun a character the protagonist has been.
Momo Ayase (Dandadan)
Momo Ayase is the female lead of Science Saru’s Dandadan and a headstrong girl who denies the existence of aliens while adamantly believing in spirits. Ironically, though, it’s an encounter with aliens that leads to Momo developing powerful psychic abilities, and from there, her life is filled with alien and supernatural threats alike and a thrilling new romance with the equally empowered Okarun.
Not only is Momo’s punkish personality and the way she always takes charge in a fight a welcome change of pace from shonen anime heroines, but the fact that it doesn’t stop her from having a sweet and well-developed romance with Okarun makes her as well-rounded a character as someone could ask for. It’s rare to find a character as great as Momo, male or female, and that makes her a clear contender for the best new-gen female anime character.
Cast
-
Natsuki Hanae Ken Okarun Takakura -
Shion Wakayama Momo Ayase
Creator(s) Yukinobu Tatsu Main Genre Number of Episodes 24 Creator Yukinobu Tatsu Streaming Service(s) , , Studio Science Saru Based On Manga MyAnimeList Score 8.46 (Season 1) Expand Collapse
Follow Followed Like Share Close Trending Now
