Best Anime/Manga with Strong Female MCs
Anime is beyond doubt a popular form of entertainment. In general, most anime have male-centric storylines but the number of strong female main characters is no less than them. The mainstream anime that generally is shounen action or fantasy, transcends gender boundaries through the best anime with strong female MCs.
There are plenty of strong female leads created in animation. Even if these characters are placed alongside a male character in the story they have outshined and emerged much more strong than these males.
Akane Tsunemori from Psycho-Pass
Inspector Akane Tsunemori is a strong presence in Psycho-Pass 2. This psychological action drama takes place in the 22nd-century world. The strong female main character makes sure she gives her best to enforce the law. Her intelligence and observing personality help her out of mystery. She has a strong trait of egotism. Akane Tsunemori is headstrong and compassionate. She creates a great impact as an inspector in the fictitious Sibyl system.
Natsume from Deca-Dence
Deca-dence is among the most popular releases of 2020. Whilst our warrior girl Natsume is a gem of a character. This vengeance story is where the female protagonist is afflicted with a physical disability. But she does not hold back her intentions behind the excuse of her prosthetic arm. The sci-fi anime has undertone lessons of engrained fighting spirit. This reckless yet energetic female character from the anime world inspires people to strive hard for what they want.
Revy from Black Lagoon
Revy (Rebecca Lee) alias Two Hands, as she is famously called. She is far away from the typecast image of females in real society. Feisty, aggressive, sarcastic, cynical, and loud are some adjectives we can allude to. She is the master of weaponry and her wild temperament makes her the best strong female MC in anime.
Lain Iwakura from Serial Experiments Lain
The story of this anime is based on the dark imagination of the 21st century. Very close to the otaku icon of the real world are protagonist finds herself struggling to create a permanent identity between her online and offline ones. The life struggles of Lain Iwakura are very similar to all of us in the modern world. The character has been designed to portray the boundaries of emotional strength as a protagonist fights her depression and hallucinations.
Lain was surprisingly created in the year 1998 but fits the average youngster of today. Battles of the mind are not that easy. And for a FMC of 14 struggling with them who still shines among warriors and fighters of shounen anime just make her more impressive.
Chihiro Ogino from Spirited Away
The comforting classic Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli is one of the oldest yet inspiring characters in the anime world. Chihiro is brave, fearless and an unbelievable character for a 10-year-old. This little female main character from anime is not only courageous but also quick-witted. The character graph of Chihiro is very impressive. Her emotional and psychological growth from a stubborn brat into a confident young girl stuck in the fantasy land, makes us watch this masterpiece of an anime again and again.
Re-l Mayer from Ergo Proxy
The thriller and post-apocalyptic anime are back again on our list but this time with a female main character. The 19-year-old is Re-l Mayer an investigator of cyborgs and has a crucial role in finding out the connections. Our titular protagonist has a quick wit and leaves no stone unturned in decoding the mystery of Proxies. She comes out as a strong anime female main character as she possesses the courage to risk her life to save several others.
Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is on the same degree as other shounen in the creation of powerful female characters. The female leads of this fan favorite series are equally strong as the op male characters. But Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan is among the most loved and strong female anime mc. She is not only the most controversial of characters from the show but a really powerful fighter from the Shiganshina Trio. The traumatic history of survival fuels her motivation and aim to save Eren at all costs. She is a female Titan for sure.
Violet from Violet Evergarden
The very loved animation Violet Evergarden not only treats us with breathtaking visual beauty but also keeps this thinking about its strong story arc. Violet is it beauty with brains kind of character. The fabric of the personality of this character has both emotional and physical strength. She was a former soldier and continues to be one off the battlefield.
Even though will she finds it hard to leave behind her identity as a warrior but loving her as one of the strongest female anime characters it’s not that difficult.
Major Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell
Heading to public security section 9 in this fictional movie from the 90s. Major Motoko is a character ahead of time. Her mental strength as a female lead cannot be debated. Add this futuristic movie set in 2029 the charge of cybernetics and solving cyber crimes falls into the hand of Squadron Leader Motoko Kusanagi. This rare classic from the older times dance is one of the greatest anime movies of all time.
Among the lost world of virtual reality, a character like this one brings out the undertone theme of self-discovery and establishes that emotions are at the core of human existence. The anime movie acts as a stepping stone for progressive female main characters.
Shiki from The Garden of Sinners
Among the bunch of powerful characters, The Garden of Sinners has an exceptionally powerful female character named Shiki. This mystical female is impulsive and bold. Despite the supernatural influences around her, she channels her energy to bring out the best of her personality. Driven by her psyche she unusually experiences life and struggles. This character undergoes a journey of self-discovery only to emerge as an enigma for the viewers.
Women from Shirobako
Popular slice-of-life anime Shirobako traces the story arc around the life of five women. The live characters in the show give us a promising and entertaining story about real problems. A lot of anime lovers may relate to this one as these girls dream to make it big in anime with their creativity and skills. Each of the characters in this one has their struggle. A distinctive factor about this one is that it gives us not one but 5 empowered female characters who display perseverance to achieve their goals.
Madoka Kaname from Madoka Magica
Another popular anime very similar to Sailor Moon is this one. Madoka the magical girl is the female main character of the anime. From her appearance, she is harmless and docile might as we say she embodies beauty but when it comes to showing off her strength she is no less. The surreal and terrifying character design of the young girl shown in this deconstruction of magical fantasy amuses viewers to another extent.
Ryuko Matoi from Kill la Kill
Believe it or not, Ryuko Matoi is among the rare category of fierce and strong female MCs in anime. Her strength is simply centered around her unbendable determination to find her father’s killer. This female character has immense control over her power. And the passion she embodies is a visible trait of strong female mc. She demonstrates an overpowering sense of vengeance that adds to her uniqueness.
Maria Osawa from Canaan
This thriller anime also fits in the genre of mystery as it concerns the life-threatening plot which is similar to what we experienced with COVID-19. The plot follows the strange events happening around the place. Canaan and Maria’s inquisitive nature and profession lead them to the center of the story. These women are not scared of anything as they go looking around for solutions in the lopsided setting.
Their effort to save the day for people around them gives them a high stature in the anime.
Youko Nakajima from The Twelve Kingdoms
Loaded with fantasy elements and a compelling story the Twelve Kingdoms gives us the strong character of high school-going Youko Nakajima. Initially, she begins as a lone character in a new world but finds herself taking a battle with demons and enters into a warrior. Episode after episode her strength goes on increasing and her character development is marvelous.
Youko grows as a character as she faces adversities. The mysterious happenings and demon attacks help her discover the strength she had never known of.
Balsa Yonsa from Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
A powerful mercenary in her 30s the female protagonist Balsa is a heroic character. Breaking the gender stereotypes the character design of this female lead has been typically structured with the story arc that is usually used for male characters. She has the power, position, and will to sacrifice their life to save the Prince. She is one of the oddly satisfying characters of a warrior. The dominating traits of a personality are pragmatism and an intuitive thought process.
The well-designed action sequences of the character make her stand out among the many female fighters in shounen. Her abilities to fight strong contenders and skillfully use the spear are a trait often discussed in her character.
Maki Zenin from Jujutsu Kaisen
The dense web of secondary story plots in Jujutsu Kaisen has a really impressive world of female characters. This character from the last story arc might initially seem like an underdog but has a lot of potentials. Maki is an intimidating female with a bad temper and a super assertive screen presence.
She can be counted in among the best female main characters in anime as she has immense physical strength, quick reflexes, and an intense personality. The character design of Maki is hands down the best example of transcending gender roles with female characters in anime.
Kumoko from So I’m A Spider, So What?
Kumoko is the story of an incarnated individual as a spider. This anime portrays the struggles of life through animal imagery and a beautiful plotline. The world of creepy crawlies is shown through visualization and the humanization of a spider. As the spider is a female she ends up on this list. Kumoko is skeptical in scared of the new world she is born into but with the story, she grows into a hopeful and weirdly powerful main character. The anime has a very unique outlook on life for the viewers but with a touch of unusual storytelling.
Koko Hekmatyar from Jormungand
Anime world surpasses the character diversity of female characters through this enigmatic character of Koko Hekmatyar from Jormungand. Dangerous situations and complex story arcs are created to build this character’s attitude. Every dangerous enemy falls to their feet in front of her.
Frustration and fury embellish the nature of this female anime. Koko makes her space in the list of fan favorites or rather appeals to the masses as an arms dealer. Surely, one cant’ find a witty skilled female as her, who deals in the world of arms which is generally believed to be the arena of men.
Maki Oze from Fire Force
Maki is a progressive female character who is a hopeless romantic at heart. She’s predominantly kind-hearted but never fails to fight the wrong. Hand-to-hand combat and her ability to control flames testify to her pyrokinetic descent. Maki Oze loses her temper very soon and is reluctant to use her powers as and when possible.
Typically she faces monsters and enemies with her fire force. The extent of her self-awareness about the power is such that she entertains herself with her fire creations when bored.
Action and anime go together creating inspiration for people in real life by portraying brilliant male and female MCs alike. These female characters that break through the mold me as well be your inspiration. Are there any characters we are leaving out?
