In 2016 Yatorishino from Alderamin on the Sky took out my top female character. 2017 saw a tie between Hina (March Comes in Like a Lion) and Uraraka (My Hero Academia). This year the choices were really tough because there are some really solid choices as 2018 has given us some amazing female character. Here are my favourite female characters from the year but I’d love to know who your favourites are.
Honourable Mentions:
This year’s honourable mentions go to Nanami from Bloom Into You and Priestess from Goblin Slayer. These were both great characters and in prior years they probably would have earned a spot on my list. However, there were so many great characters this year so while I’m giving both of these characters a mention they haven’t made the top 5.
Number 5: Sakura from Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card
Sakura has always been a great female character. While Clear Card wasn’t the strongest anime, Sakura’s character is still a fairly solid female in an anime. She is a strong character who faces some incredible challenges but remains sweet and optimistic. When I was young, I really admired Sakura and I think if I was still a kid I would have absolutely loved her in Clear Card. She definitely belongs in the top 5 list even if she doesn’t take it out like she would have once upon a time.
Number 4: Red Blood Cell from Cells at Work
This one probably shouldn’t be a surprise. Our favourite directionally challenged Red Blood Cell is all kinds of adorable but more than that she’s also driven and dedicated. For all that she freaks out when getting lost, at the sight of germs, and is inexperienced at her job, she’s also the one who sounds the alarm about Cancer and continues to do her job in all conditions. The most charming individual blood cell from a show full of truly charming characters.
Number 3: Yuu from Bloom Into You
It was a hard toss up between Nanami and Yuu for the spot on the list, but Yuu is the character who has grown the most over the run of the series. She’s learned a lot about herself and Nanami during the course of the show and by the penultimate episode she’s finally realised what she wants and is ready to take action. It has been a wonderful journey with Yuu this season and she definitely deserves recognition for being a solid female character this year.
Number 2: Sakurajima Mai from Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
If only she had more screen time. Mai has been an amazing character. Sure, she was technically being rescued by Sakuta who is the main character, but she never lets herself be out shined on the screen. Mai is a solid character and highly entertaining. With the help of some well written dialogue and a great support cast, every scene Mai is in shines. Though that brings us back to wishing there was just more time where Mai was on the screen and not being sent away for some job or another.
Number 1: Hina from March Comes in Like a Lion Season 2
For the second year in a row Hina takes out my favourite female character, though this year she isn’t sharing the honour. She’s an adorable bundle of courage, resilience, and just solid character development and writing. If you ever wanted a character who could bring sunshine into your life just by being on screen, Hina is definitely your girl and I am hoping for more of her at some point because she is one character I can’t get enough of.
And that’s the list for 2018 of amazing female characters. That said, there are plenty that didn’t end up on my list so I’d love to hear who your favourites were.
Or, use one of my product affiliate links.
NENDOROID NO. 1054 MADE IN ABYSS: RIKO
- Top 5 OP’s of 2018
- Top 5 ED’s of 2018
- Top 5 Disappointments from 2018
- Top 5 Surprisingly Good Shows from 2018
- Top 5 Visually Interesting Anime from 2018
- Top 5 Couples from 2018
- Top 5 Mascot Characters and Pets from 2018
- Top 5 Heroes from 2018
- Top 5 Villains from 2018
- Top 5 Duos from 2018
- Top 5 Female Anime Characters from 2018
- Top 5 Male Anime Characters from 2018
- Top 5 Anime from 2018
I’m missing some sora yori here but yuu, mai and hina are fantastic choices!
Yeah, I didn’t finish Sora Yori so don’t really have any attachment to those characters. But I know there’s a lot of love for them out there.
You didn’t finish the AOTY?
No I did not. I tried when it aired but it just didn’t interest me. After all the rave reviews I tried again but I just felt no connection with the characters. I fully appreciated the quality of the anime but I just couldn’t get into it.
Happy to see Yuu in such a higher level of the ladder! 😀
Yuu had a beautiful character arc. If only we’d gotten further into her story before it ended.
I was expecting to see Siluca on this list! But I guess there are too many other good female characters to choose from.
It’s too bad, because I haven’t seen a single anime from this list haha.
I tried to avoid using any of the characters on my top 5 lists for the year in my 12 Days of Anime, which is why Siluca got a write up during the 12 Days of anime.
When I made my own Superlatives list, Hina was the only real competition that Anzu had for Best Girl. Now I’m really disappointed that a tie never occurred to me. . .
I try to avoid ties on lists though they do happen occasionally.
Mai is my personal 2018 best girl…although Red Blood Cell is up there..
Both excellent choices.
No room for Violet Evergarden?
Despite it being heavily recommended to me, I managed to watch exactly two episodes of Violet Evergarden. Really not for me. So unfortunately not a character I have any particular feelings for. Still, I’m sure she’ll end up on other people’s lists given the show’s popularity.
That’s fair enough. It’s not for everyone. Sometimes, I forget that everyone doesn’t think like me… 🤔
Yay Hina! She deserves all of the recognition.
Two years running. Shame she won’t be on the list next year unless we happen to get a third season of March Comes in Like a Lion but I haven’t heard any news of that.
I agree. there needs to be a third at some point.