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.

Related

7 Top Horror Anime With A Female Lead, Ranked

These horror anime series are not only great on their own but also feature strong and iconic female leads at the forefront.

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 February 8, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Now that Winter 2025 is more than a month old, let’s highlight the season’s best new anime with female main characters. The lineup has quite a few shows that qualify.

Best New Winter 2025 Anime With Female Protagonists

The Winter 2025 anime season has quite a few memorable leading ladies, but they have been somewhat overshadowed by Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries Season 2. Sequels like Ave Mujica: The Die is Cast and Grisaia: Phantom Trigger also have pretty great female leads, particularly the former, even if they are not getting quite as much attention.

When it comes to new shows, the season has a better selection of female anime protagonists than usual. Let’s highlight a few series that have particularly awesome MCs.

• Zenshu – This surprise isekai follows Natsuko, a burned-out animator struggling with writer’s block. One day, she chokes on a piece of food and wakes up in the world of a movie that has baffled her since childhood. Granted a pretty incredible power, she decides to change the story’s direction, hoping to answer a few questions along the way. Zenshu has plenty of things going for it, but Natsuko is by far the best part of the show. She is charismatic, endearingly obnoxiously, and relatable.
• I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time – While OP male protagonists are a dime-a-dozen, female variants are somewhat harder to come by. I May Be a Guild Receptionist‘s Alina is a delight, and her appeal goes beyond just the fact that she can down massive bosses with a single swing of her hammer. She just wants to work a quiet 9-to-5, but incompetent adventurers keep forcing her to take matters into her own hands.
• Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective – What if Doctor House was an anime girl? This concept is pretty much the entire selling point of Ameku M.D., and that is enough. Takao is a super genius who can solve medical (and criminal) cases that baffle everyone else. While a bit prickly, her drive to decipher to undecipherable is admirable, and she has a good rapport with the other characters.
• Medalist – One of the best Winter 2025 anime, Medalist has been a refreshing addition to the sports genre. While technically sharing the spotlight with her coach, the lovable Tsukasa, Inori is the real star of the show. Usually timid and insecure, she feels alive when on the ice, and she is determined to prove the doubters wrong and chase her dream.

Related

Winter 2025 Anime Lineup: Where To Watch Every Series

The Winter 2025 anime season has many huge shows, and they are spread across Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, Netflix, Hulu, and more.

41

You’re Under Arrest!

Join Female Officers On Their Everyday Adventures

You’re Under Arrest

Release Date

November 2, 1996

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

Release Date

April 6, 2004

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

Legend of Basara

Release Date

April 3, 1998

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

The Story of Saiunkoku

Release Date

April 8, 2006

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

Princess Mononoke

A True Princess Of Nature Protecting It From Humans

Princess Mononoke

Release Date

July 12, 1997

• 

The movie follows a young man named Ashitaka, who’s been banished from his village until he finds a cure for his curse. His journey brings him to Irontown where a war between the humans and the mountain gods. He meets the mysterious young woman, San, who is fighting on the mountain gods’ side.

Though the movie mostly follows Ashitaka, plenty of screen time is given to San and shows her growth in accepting her own humanity but still maintaining her own beliefs. Even when she realizes her feelings for Ashitaka, it doesn’t make her change her mind about living in the forest nor does it change how she feels about humans.

36

Flip Flappers

Two Middle Schoolers Going On Bizarre Magical Girl Adventures

Flip Flappers

Release Date

October 6, 2016

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.

Related

10 Most Hilarious Female Characters In Anime

These female anime characters are sure to get a laugh out of fans on more than one occasion.

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.

35

Pretear

A High Schooler Must Quickly Prepare To Save The World

Pretear: The New Legend of Snow White

Release Date

April 4, 2001

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.

34

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.

33

Azumanga Daioh

A Great Comedy With A Female Cast

Azumanga Daioh

Release Date

April 9, 2002

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.

32

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.

31

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku

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

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for an Otaku

Release Date

April 12, 2018

Directors

Yoshimasa Hiraike

Writers

Fujita

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.

30

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean

The First Female Jojo Proves Her Worth As A Joestar

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Release Date

October 6, 2012

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.

Related

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures: Best Female Characters, Ranked

These female characters are the very best in the JoJo universe.

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.

29

Carole And Tuesday

Two Girls’ Journey To Become Famous Musicians

Carole & Tuesday

Release Date

April 11, 2019

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.

28

Belle

A High Schooler Finds Her Voice In An Online Game

Belle

Release Date

July 16, 2021

• 

Suzu Naito is a teen girl who is struggling to come to terms with her mother’s death after she died when Suzu was little. Known to those around her for being a talented singer and songwriter, Suzu no longer sings or writes as doing so is too painful for her. One day, her friend Hiro urges her to play the game “U” to help her and Suzu is able to find her singing voice again, becoming famous in the game. After a mysterious player known as the Dragon crashes one of her in-game concerts, Suzu sets out to learn more about him.

This movie is great for anyone wanting to see a musical anime as they’re not common in the anime world. The CGI scenes are beautiful to see and it’s a great story as viewers watch Suzu go from being quiet and meek to becoming stronger to help the Dragon both in the real world and in “U”.

27

Violet Evergarden

A Former Female Soldier Learns About Love Through Ghostwriting

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.

26

Kill La Kill

A Show That Flips The Magical Girl Genre On Its Head

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.

Related

10 Most Hilarious Female Characters In Anime

These female anime characters are sure to get a laugh out of fans on more than one occasion.

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.

25

Nana

Two Girls With The Same Name, But Very Different Personalities

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.

24

Chihayafuru

A Hard-Working Girl Striving To Become The Best Karuta Player

Chihayafuru is quite unique and should be given a chance if not seen yet. This anime is about a high student named Chihaya, a girl who works hard to make her older sister’s dream of becoming a successful model come true. During her younger years, Chihaya saved her classmate, Arata, from being bullied by her childhood friend, Taichi. Arata introduces her to the world of karuta, an intense card game that requires memory, speed, and endurance. Now in high school, Chihaya makes it her goal to become the best karuta player in Japan.

There’s drama, romance, and all the typical high school tropes, but there’s a lot more to this show. Even with all the drama going on, Chihaya is able to push her feelings aside when it comes to her goals and doesn’t let them hinder her.

23

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.

22

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.

Related

7 Great Anime With Only Female Characters

Not only do these series excel in concept and execution, but they also have an all-female cast.

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.