Top 10 Anime To Watch During Women’s History Month

TV & Film

Mar 10

Anime has always had great female characters, but in the past, series led by strong female leads have been few and far between. Sailor Moon and Studio Ghibli films were a few of the examples available of franchises that were built on strong female characters not relegated to being a side character or love interest for the main male character.

In recent years, the anime world has been taken over by incredible female characters. To kick off women’s history month, we are going to take a look at 10 of the best anime series that feature strong female characters.

Quick Note: This list will include MINOR SPOILERS for each of the series, but I will avoid all major spoilers!

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10: A Sign of Affection (2024)

This series does an incredible job of featuring a strong female character while also highlighting how people with disabilities operate in the “regular” world. The series follows Yuki Itose who is a deaf college student. While she is struggling to communicate with a stranger on the train, she meets Itsuomi Nagi who not only helps her out, but begins to welcome her into his world. Yuki is an incredible character who not only wants to immerse herself into the world of hearing, but she also does her best to introduce the hearing to her world as well.

A Sign of Affection is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

9: Dragon Ball Z/ Dragon Ball Z Kai (1989-1996, 2009-2015)

When most people think about the Dragon Ball franchise, they think of Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, and/or Vegeta, but they forget about the incredible female characters that were also in the show. Bulma, Videl, and Android 18 are all given time to shine in Dragon Ball Z, but you really get to see their best moments in the abridged version of the series, Dragon Ball Z Kai. Bulma is an incredible character that is not only a genius, but a mom who spends her time building equipment for the men and taking care of Trunks.

Videl is the daughter of Mr. Satan who feels like she has the world on her shoulders. Not only does she protect the citizens of Satan CIty from crime, but she also learns to fly just so that she can become even stronger. Lastly, Android 18 has an incredibly complex story that changes depending on which timeline you are watching. By the end of the series, she is not only an incredibly strong fighter, but she is also an amazing mom and wife. The series does a great job of showing how complex and dynamic female characters can be.

Dragon Ball Z is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Dragon Ball Z Kai is available to stream on Disney +.

8: Kaguya-Sama: Love is War (2019-present)

Love is War does something that no other anime has done. The series has turned the act of confessing your love into an intricate battle of wits. The show follows Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirongane as they battle with each other to try to get the other one to confess their love first. Kaguya is a complex character who is battling the image she must uphold because of her family’s power, and the side of her that she wants to show her closest friends. She is a kind and funny character who is forced to hide behind a mask of intimidation. We also have Chika Fujiwara who is typically used as the comic relief, but she is also a dynamic character who loves Kaguya more than anyone else and is incredibly smart. The reason I put this show on the list is because the creators put Kaguya and Chika into the stereotypical female roles, and then turned those roles on their head.

Kaguya-Sama: Love is War is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

7: Komi Can’t Communicate (2021-present)

Komi Can’t Communicate is another series that explores the complexities of living within the “regular” world. Komi is a high school student who has severe social anxiety and is unable to speak to others. She meets Tadano on their first day, and he promises to help her make 100 friends.

Komi is a complex character who has wants and desires that her anxiety make incredibly difficult. Throughout the series we get to watch Komi grow as she becomes more confident in herself and her friends. We don’t typically get to see strong female characters with disabilities or extreme anxieties which is why shows like Komi are so special.

Komi Can’t Communicate is available to stream on Netflix.

6: Spy x Family (2022-present)

Not only is Spy x Family one of the best series that explore the complexities of family, but it also has some of the best female characters. Obviously Yor, who is also a secret assassin, is an amazing and strong female character, but it is young Anya who really steals the show.

Anya can read minds, and she uses this ability to help her decipher what is needed of her on a daily basis. She has no issue sneaking out late at night to retrieve important ingredients or asking her mom to teach her how to be more athletic. Anya is not afraid to ask for help, but she is also incredibly capable on her own. I don’t want to forget about Yor, as I said she is a secret assassin, but she is also an amazing mom. She runs miles to deliver Anya’s lunch, and will happily destroy anyone who threatens her family. This series does a great job of looking at how incredible moms and young girls can be.

Spy x Family is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

5: Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective (2025-present)

This is the newest anime on this list, and it is my favorite. The series follows Takao Ameku who is a genius doctor. She spends her time solving the medical mysteries that others can’t and assisting the police with their cases, whether they like it or not. Not only is this series an amazing example of how smart women are, but it also explores life through the eyes of an autistic person. As an autistic person, I can say that I can’t remember the last time I saw an autistic female lead in anything. This show does a great job at giving an honest and realistic look at what life with autism looks like while also allowing Takao to be an absolute force to be reckoned with.

Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective is available as a simulcast on Crunchyroll.

4: Dandadan (2024-Present)

This show is one the most fun and unique new anime to come out in the last few years. The series follows Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura “Okarun” as they navigate the world of ghosts and aliens. The show features both the male and female leads as equals who can not survive without the other.

This is one of the things that makes the show so unique because we don’t typically see female leads put as an equal to their male counterparts in every way. The female side characters are also incredibly strong, and actually have more power than the male side characters.

Dandadan is available to stream on Crunchyroll, Disney+, and Netflix.

3: My Dress-Up Darling (2022-present)

My Dress-Up Darling does something that feels incredibly taboo in the current world of entertainment. The female lead is not sexualized or objectified, and instead she chooses how to sexualize herself through her cosplay costumes. We do not typically see female characters getting to choose the level of sexuality they will show because this is typically forced on them by the male characters.

The series follows Marin Kitagawa who is an aspiring cosplayer and her relationship with Wakana Gojo, the classmate who becomes her costume designer. The pair explore the world of cosplay together and learn about the ins and outs of the cosplay community. One of the main themes of the series is how women have taken control within the community and get to choose their level of sexuality and if they want to cosplay as women or crossplay as a male character. This series feels incredibly freeing as a woman.

My Dress-Up Darling is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

2. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (2023-present)

This series had an argument for the number one spot on this list thanks to its incredible depiction of the complexities of being a woman. The series follows an elf named Frieren and what her life looks like after her party defeats the Demon King. Frieren seems like a simple character who enjoys sleeping in, has trouble understanding how long her life is compared to other species, and loves flowers. As we get to know Frieren, we learn that she is also a fierce warrior, incredible mage, and loving master to her student Fern. The show explores the fact that women can be both strong and powerful, and also gentle and simple. These are complexities that we don’t typically see in female characters, and we get to see it in both Frieren and Fern.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

1: Kaiju No. 8 (2024-present)

Kaiju No. 8 seems like a show with your typical powerful male main character, but it is actually much more complex. The series follows Kafka Hibino as he attempts to join The Defense Force which is an elite group of warriors who protect Japan from Kaiju. While Kafka is the main character, it is Mina Ashiro and Kikoru Shinomiya who steal the show almost immediately. Mina is one of the Captains in the Defense Force, and we learn that most of the men that have enlisted have done so because they want to be like her.

Kikoru is one of the new recruits, and she is top of the class. Not only does she have the most skill and power, but she quickly becomes the person that her male counterparts are striving to be like. I cannot remember another show where the men in the show are striving to be exactly like the women, and this is why Kaiju No. 8 took the top spot on this list. The series explores a world where women are revered just as much as the men, and this is a world I would like to live in, even if it does come with terrifying Kaiju.

Kaiju No. 8 is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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