Top 10 Magical Girls In Anime
Flashy transformations and action come together in the best way for these butt-kicking girls. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down the Top 10 Magical Girls in Anime. For this list, only characters that fit the bill on the traditional magical girl type are considered, so just magic wielding characters like sorceresses and witches are not included.
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#10: Amu Hinamori
“Shugo Chara!” (2007-08)
What would you do if you could see and talk to your would-be self? This is everyday life for Amu, as her desire to be athletic, artistic, and caring manifest as the guardian characters, or Shugo Chara. Of course, it doesn’t end there. It turns out that Amu isn’t the only one with Shugo Chara, and all those who do get wrapped up in defeating the X Characters, which are corrupted versions of people’s dreams. And how do they fight? By merging with their guardians and becoming a Guardian of course!
#9: Mew Ichigo
“Tokyo Mew Mew” (2002)
We’ve all seen teams of heroes with animal motifs, but none are quite as literal as Tokyo Mew Mew. Momomiya ends up being infused with the DNA of a magic cat and is then recruited to help fight the chimera animals, which infect animals and turn them into monsters. As the leader of the Mew Mews, Momo can transform into a cat-girl version of herself named Mew Ichigo to fight, primarily using a bell. The series did get dubbed in English briefly with massive editing under the name Mew Mew Power – in case anyone else out there remembers it.
#8: Duck / Princess Tutu
“Princess Tutu” (2002)
Everyone knows the story of the Ugly Duckling, but Princess Tutu takes the whole story to new heights. Though it’s only loosely based on the fable, the story follows Duck… a, well, duck, who is given a magical amulet that allows her to transform into a human girl, and then into the magical girl Princess Tutu. She sets out on a quest to find the shattered remains of a Prince’s heart so that he may regain his emotions. The story focuses heavily on the themes of destiny versus free will, often showing the characters fighting their so-called fate.
#7: Illya
“Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya” (2013)
Taking place in an alternate timeline in the Fate universe where the Holy Grail War has been stopped, Illya is an ordinary elementary school girl living with her brother Shirou while her parents are away. Everything quickly gets out of hand when The Ruby tricks Illya into a contract to become a magical girl. From there she has to collect the seven Class Cards which contain heroic spirits by defeating the spirits within them. The series plays heavily with magical girl tropes and the Fate universe, has tons of fun, and features fantastic action.
#6: Nanoha
“Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha” (2004)
The star of one of the longest running magical girl series, Nanoha is 9 years old when the series begins and is given the device Raising Heart to become a magical girl. The series features a darker tone than most magical girl series, as well as fantastic action. Nanoha is tasked with tracking down the Jewel Seeds, artifacts with immense amounts of power – unfortunately, she isn’t the only one after them. The series also spans more than 10 years, allowing viewers to watch the whole cast really come into their own in ways many other series never do.
#5: Cutie Honey
“Cutie Honey” (1973)
One of the first series to be considered a magical girl series, Cutie Honey set the precedence for many to come. Honey is a mischievous high school girl and something of the class clown. However, things quickly go bottoms up when her father is killed by the Panther Claw and Honey finds out she is actually an android built by her father. In addition, her body houses a device that can make matter out of the air, and it gives her the ability to transform into many forms. Her main form is that of the pink-haired sword wielding Cutie Honey.
#4: Utena
“Revolutionary Girl Utena” (1997)
Childhood events can truly shape your future. For Utena, this came in the form of being impressed by a prince as a child – leading her to dress and act like one herself. When she ends up at Ohtori Academy, however, she ends up taking on the role more literally, as she is made a duelist in the fight for the Rose Bride. The series is incredibly surreal and uses a variety of visual styles, especially during combat. Utena’s relationship with the Rose Bride Anthy really takes center stage in this theatrical and beautiful story.
#3: Sakura Kinomoto
“Cardcaptor Sakura” (1998)
Though she begins as an ordinary ten-year-old, Sakura ends the series as anything but. When she accidentally releases the Clow Cards from a book in her basement, she is tasked by Cerberus, the guardian of the cards – to retrieve them. Given the sealing wand and starting with only the Windy card, she reluctantly sets out to recapture the cards by fighting their activated forms to disable them before sealing them. She’s also joined by her friend and cousin Tomoyo who provides her a massive wardrobe of battle outfits.
#2: Madoka Kaname
“Puella Magi Madoka Magica” (2011)
Many recent magical girl series adopt a darker tone, but none go quite as far Madoka. Though the series starts off light and fluffy, in the instant that the soon-to-be rival and absolutely awesome Homura appears on screen, things take a turn to the dark side. The series does a fantastic job of taking the traditional tropes and twisting them. Though the media and opening of the series would have you believe otherwise, the series is not about Madoka being a magical girl – but there is a very real reason that Madoka is a viewed as a top magical girl herself.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
Black Rock Shooter
“Black Rock Shooter” (2010)
Hibiki Tachibana
“Symphogear” (2012)
Zakuro Fujiwara
“Tokyo Mew Mew” (2002)
#1: Sailor Moon
“Sailor Moon” (1992)
The star of the series that truly started the magical girl craze in the west, Sailor Moon and her Sailor Scouts are the definition of magical girls. First recruited after befriending Luna, a talking black cat, Sailor Moon becomes one of the warriors that are destined to defend Earth. Throughout the series, she continues to grow stronger, garnering a more ornate outfit and far more varied abilities. However, her true power comes in the form of her team, and the Sailor Scouts are by far one of the most recognizable and memorable magical girls of all time.
Do you agree with our list? Which magical girl do you think belongs up here? For more brilliant top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.