Top 20 Best Anime Girls of the Century (So Far)

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we are counting down our picks for the Top 20 Best Anime Girls of the Century So Far
For this list, we’re tackling the big one – the most impactful, important and adored female characters in anime. While we unfortunately have to dismiss the legendary waifus of the 90s, there’s still plenty of stellar characters of the 2000s and 2010s worthy of simping for.
Did your trash waifu not make the cut? Wage war in the comments below!

“Future Diary” (2011-12)

She may not be the original yandere, but damn if she didn’t popularise it, with nothing more than a look. A perfect example of being too good for the series she starred in, Yuno may be a pretty face, but underneath the surface, there’s a monster willing to kill off anyone who gets in the way of her ideal love story with her bland boyfriend of choice, Yukiteru. She’s got a crazy streak running through her that no amount of bloodlust can satisfy, but nonetheless carved a path for herself as the face of a faltered franchise. Good for you Yuno. Now please put down the axe.

“Sword Art Online” franchise (2012-20)

The original PVP princess worth losing yourself in a virtual reality for, Asuna has proven herself time and time again to be a compelling heroine, even when the franchise around her made some…unfortunate missteps. The light in Kirito’s life, the longevity of Asuna’s in-game achievements only just outshined the likes of Alice and Shion, with her antics in SAO II displaying that, yeah, she can easily carry her own series, with both her personality and her sword skills. There are player twos, and then there’s Asuna.

“Kaguya-sama: Love is War” (2019-)

You don’t just break the internet with a dance number and not become a part of modern anime culture. While she may not be competing in the borderline nonsensical romantic battle a la Kaguya and Miyuki, Chika rose above her contemporaries thanks to her eccentric sense of humour, serious rap game, and habit of ruining both geniuses’ overly complicated game of wits in the most hilarious ways possible. She’s the whole package, even if her bubbliness sometimes slips into the realm of the absurd.

“Spice and Wolf” (2008)

A wise wolf, a Master of Business, and the answer to the age old question – just how much do ears and a fluffy tail add to adorability of a character? All of the yes. Holo may be an ancient being feared by the modern times, but her story is a very human one, teaming up with eagle eyed merchant Laurence as the two cart themselves around the land in a tale of transactions and simmering romance, one that may feel low-key at times yet remains utterly charming. Sure, she can be a little sharp tongued, especially when she gets a craving for apples, but you’d be remiss not to take the advice of an agricultural goddess.

“Gurren Lagann” (2007)

Hello fanservice, my old friend. While the abundance of skin on display certainly does nothing to dissuade Yoko’s sex appeal, it’s her capabilities as a freedom fighter that continue to enthral us, often via gunning down every Beastman that came into her crosshairs. Whether as a member of Team Dai-Gurren, a loving teacher or Kamina’s squeeze, Yoko was just a barrel of fun whose convictions prevented her from straying into a parody figure. Turns out you can balance cleavage, kick-assery and heart-to-heart moments, who would have thunk it?

“Lucky Star” (2007)

She’s certainly not what you’d call a conventional role model, what with her terrible work ethic, lack of interest in school, and diehard obsession with anime and video games. Yet, it’s for those very reasons that Konata speaks to us on a spiritual level. The furthest thing from hateable, this iconic nerd’s tastes in all things otaku only adds to the comedy factor, with her love for Haruhi Suzumiya being almost unrivalled. It’s scarily easy to relate to all of Konata’s slice of life antics, and for that we salute her.

“Violet Evergarden” (2018)

Raised to be a weapon of war, Violet’s emotions were stunted for the longest time, until the dying words of the only man who cared for her set her on a journey of self-discovery, one that led her into her role of an Auto Memory Doll. Now essentially a ghost-writer that takes a person’s words and expands it into polished and poised letters, Violet's various encounters slowly shifted her perception on both humanity and herself, learning to love through her clients and the words she types on the page. To say she’s a tragic figure would be an understatement, but she’s also one of the medium’s most triumphant ones.

“Fairy Tail” (2009-19)

You know you’re in a class of your own when even naysayers who disregard your fantasy shonen as tripe all agree you’re a standout badass of a character. As one of the strongest mages within the Fairy Tail Guild, Erza is something of a tour de force, equipped with innate magic that lets her swap out costumes and weaponry on a dime. Sure, she falls prey to the occasional bit of fanservice, but it's her countless conflicts that cemented her place as a beast of battle not to be trifled with. She did wipe out a hundred monsters all by
her lonesome…

“Puella Magi Madoka Magica” (2011)

Overcoming time travel and endless sorrow, even among a genre breaker filled with magical girls, Homura stood at the pinnacle. Originally a shy and awkward student, her encounter with Madoka and the rest led to her forming an irreplaceable bond…only to witness her best friend be slaughtered by witches. Refusing to let this stand, she used her power of time travel in an attempt to alter the grim fate which awaited them all. Needless to say, it’s a journey filled with so much heartbreak that it’s little wonder she became as jaded and cold as she did. Regardless, even if Madoka is the face of the franchise, Homura’s story is the emotional crux.

“Toradora!” (2008-09)

More than living up to her namesake, Taiga doesn’t hesitate to bite back, in spite of her smaller stature. Determined to prove herself, even if she is as cute as can be, Taiga’s preferred method of motivation is kicking someone’s ass, which is what makes her such a perfect foil for love interest Ryuji. Sure, she may have caused a concussion or two, but their budding romance displayed that in spite of her apex predator personality, Taiga can still be a softy, all she needs is a dragon that’s up to the task of safeguarding her heart.

“Attack on Titan” (2013-)

Following an attack that robbed her of her family, Mikasa transitioned from a sheltered girl to one of humanity’s strongest soldiers. Devoting her life to Eren, she rose up among the Survey Corp to become a weapon that could even give Levi reason to pause. Her dedication may have given her the conviction to become a Titan killing machine, but it’s also become a recent point of contention, especially with the revelation in regard that her Ackerman blood, for all of its benefits, had also conditioned her into becoming unwitting servant, who will protect their charge, no matter what.

“Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World” (2016-)

You know you’ve captivated an audience when a single rejection breaks the internet in half. While her Oni nature allows her to carve up man or beast with ease, it’s Rem’s gentle soul and support of Subaru that melted the hearts of everyone before her. Every time loop, every demise, it all layered together to give us one of the sweetest and kind-hearted individuals to occupy what is otherwise a bloodthirsty fantasy world. Which made her sudden disappearance all the more painful! Bring her back already!

“Code Geass” (2006-08)

Immortal and a harbinger of revolution, this Snow White of the mecha genre was the one to grant Lelouch the mind-altering power of the Geass, setting him out his path to become a symbol for change, no matter how much unrest and death he brought with him. With an existence mired in death, rebirth and playing the part of a puppet to the will of the elites, C.C came into her own due to the companionship she shared with Lelouch, slowly shifting into something far more human and lovable. She can be our co-pilot any-day.

“A Certain” franchise (2004-20)

From Index to Railgun, this Esper proved herself to be such a delightfully investing character that it’s no wonder so many endeavoured to wage through the confusing continuity of this crazy-ass series! Able to unleash bolts of electricity with such ferocity she could wipe out Academy City if she really wanted, Mikasa’s Level 5 abilities are only matched by her attitude. Flippant, prone to outbursts, and possessing the sweetest crush on Mr Misfortune himself Toma, there’s every reason to consider Mikasa as the best thing to emerge from every facet of this franchise.

“Kill la Kill” (2013-14)

There’s authority, and then there’s Satsuki. With an iron-clad rule over her underclassmen, this blade-wielding powerhouse of a Kamui-user originally appeared as an antagonist meant to contend with Ryuko’s firecracker personality. While still retaining her sharper tendencies, once her past and true intentions were revealed, Satsuki soared not only as a character but right into our hearts. Her absolute focus and belief in her actions is oddly inspiring, even if she continually regards those beneath her as pigs in human clothing. An ice queen? Sure, but she’s our ice queen, and we are more than happy to bow to her whims.

“KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World” (2016-17)

Who would you rather have as a companion? A useless goddess, masochistic paladin, or the mage who can summon catastrophic explosions…and nothing else. In every regard, Megumin is the obvious choice. Her smaller frame does nothing to diminish how beguiling she is, and certainly doesn’t dissuade her determination to prove herself as the strongest mage in the land. No matter how many times she faints from casting explosion magic. She’s a fireball wrapped up in a chunibyo exterior that we can’t get enough of! Sign us up to join her party anytime.

“Steins;Gate” (2011)

Brains, beauty, brilliance. Rintaro may be the mad scientist leaping across various timelines, but it’s Kurisu’s ingenuity and presence that makes up such an essential part of this sci-fi juggernaut. A genius in her own right, her contributions are invaluable, but it’s the chemistry between herself and Rintaro that really lets this series truly shine. She’s a prodigy who has dealt with isolation all her life, yet never falls into any archetypical trappings, hence why the eventual intimacy with someone as borderline insufferable as her co-worker feels so organic. Yeah, she’s worth risking all of spacetime for.

“Fate” franchise (2006-)

While she has a billion incarnations over a billion alternative realities, there’s only one king worthy of sitting on this throne, and that’s the original Artoria Pendragon. A Servant who has ventured into the battleground across multiple Holy Grail Wars, this ancient hero is a picturesque knight, one who values chivalry above all else, though still haunted by the decisions she made in her ancient life as king. She’s the one you want to have in your corner when contending in a battle royale filled with history and mythology’s most notable champions. Plus she’s clearly the best romance route! Yeah, we said it!

“Haruhi Suzumiya” franchise (2006-10)

So, turns out that God isn’t only a high school girl, but also something of a jerk. Unknowingly able to change, manifest and generally screw around with reality depending on her wishes, the often obnoxious yet eternally entertaining Haruhi becomes a focal point for every kind of sentient life in the universe, each endeavouring to prevent a catastrophe or take advantage of her uncanny abilities. Not that Haruhi cares, since all she wants to do is lead her SOS Brigade down whatever wily escapade she can conjure up next. Whether that be rocking out in a bunny suit or repeating the same episode eight times. Damn it, Haruhi.
Before we reveal the true best girl, here are a few awesome honorable mentions!

Yumeko Jabami
“Kakegurui” (2017-19)

Hayachi Nagatoro
“Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro” (2021)

Rin Shima
“Laid Back Camp” (2018-)

Chizuru Ichinose
“Rent-A-Girlfriend” (2020)

Rena Ryugu
“Higurashi: When They Cry” (2006-)

Mai Sakurajima
“Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai” (2018)

“Monogatari” franchise (2009-19)

Picking best girl out of this kaleidoscope of an anime is like choosing which of Araragi’s lewd antics made us shake our heads more – all are sensational. But at the end of the day, there’s one who unironically floated above the rest. Afflicted just like the rest of Araragi’s inner circle with a supernatural ailment, Senjogahara swiftly won us over with just how together she was. Which is pretty impressive given the broken state of her homelife. Whether its putting Araragi in his place, breaking the fourth wall or wading through one nightmare scenario after the next, Senjogahara excels in every scene she’s in.