The idea of the feminine has always been very discriminatory and demeaning, but there are certain examples of anime with a female protagonist that have broken and defied these norms in a very popular manner. It is important to understand and acknowledge the contribution made by these shows and at the same time look deeper and think critically about the nature and evolution of such anime. In this article, we will discuss the top 5 anime with a female protagonist and try to understand their nature and expression in the modern context.
Top 5 anime with a female protagonist (ranked)
5. Kill La Kill
Kill La Kill is a show that delves into issues such as power, oppression, accepting one’s body, and not feeling ashamed of one’s appearance. It interrogates a mystery and a discovery concerning and revolving around the personal and the other. Being an anime with a female protagonist, the show institutes a certain amount of mysterious weight around the character of the female protagonist and her adventures, making it a tale of constant reiteration of the unknown.
- In Kill La Kill, our female protagonist Ryuuko Matoi is on the hunt for the person responsible for her father’s death. This search takes her to Honnouji Academy, a school governed by a student council and managed by Satsuki Kiryuuin.
- Ryuuko discovers a live sailor suit, Senketsu, on her first day, which grants her unusual weapons and skills. She employs her abilities to combat the council members, who get special abilities as a result of their Goku Uniforms.
- Along the way, she also meets unexpected allies and goes on to uncover a major conspiracy at school.
4. Sailor Moon
If we’re talking about legendary anime with a female protagonist, we can’t leave out the genre-defining Sailor Moon. Widely regarded as one of the most popular anime, it narrates the story of Usagi Tsukino, a young girl who is gifted a Moon Crystal that allows her to transform into the eponymous warrior, Sailor Moon. For many young women, Usagi’s adventures as the universe’s savior were their first exposure to anime.
- Sailor Moon is a show that has been educating girls for more than two decades that they do not need to be beautiful or flawless to be heroines.
- It is a show about acceptance and power, a show which defines and establishes women as powerful and in control of the personal and political dimensions of the self and the society.
- It provides a feminist understanding of women in power and the desire to break the gender norms in the overarching superstructure of patriarchy.
3. Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden is an anime with a female protagonist that explores the themes of violence, rediscovery, and the re-imagination of the self out of a conflicted upbringing. It is a show that demands a nuanced understanding of abandonment and war, and it is necessary for the viewer to approach it with caution and prior knowledge of the conflict and trauma of violence during childhood.
- Violet Evergarden is the narration of the story of Violet has known nothing except violence since she was a child.
- Our female protagonist was seized by the authorities and made into a human weapon due to her orphaned condition.
- Gilbert, a soldier, was assigned to Violet to ensure she fulfilled her responsibilities and helped her country win the war.
After the war ended, Violet had to learn to live in a world she didn’t fit in. This is made more difficult by the fact that Gilbert was likely slain during the war, leaving Violet alone after expressing some final words Violet never understood. Violet Evergarden is a drama that, with its poignant and painful teachings, will tug at viewers’ heartstrings with each episode.
2. The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland is a tale of mystery and is a thrilling narration of escape and survival. It is an anime with a female protagonist who explores the dangers of a fitting mystery and further interrogates the establishment’s role in this narrative. It is one of the most well-liked and broadly watched shows for viewers who love the genre of thriller and adventure anime.
- The Promised Neverland is the narration which is centered around the Grace Field House where orphans Emma, Norman, and Ray have a good life owing to their guardian Isabella.
- However, their entire lives are altered when they learn that they are being grown as food for man-eating monsters.
- They must now work together to save their comrades and avoid their imminent catastrophe. Unfortunately, demons aren’t their only issue; they’ll also have to defend themselves against humans who want to capture them.
Promised Neverland is a suspenseful anime that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its themes of survival and trust.
1. Kino’s Journey
Kino’s Journey is a tale of adventure and a simplistic understanding of life through travel and storytelling. It explores the human aspect of society and engages with it in a very interactive and humble manner, making the anime with a female protagonist not just a break away from conventions but also a story with the objective of establishing a new norm.
- Kino traverses the world with her talking motorbike named Hermes, staying at each destination for only three days at a time. This allows her to encounter a wide range of cultures and learn more about her home planet.
- Kino encounters many different societies during her travels, each with their own traditions, way of life, and stories to impart.
- Kino’s Journey is an anime that teaches morals, variety, human contact, and collaboration. Each episode of the show presents a distinct story, focusing on the culture of the country Kino visits rather than the conflict, providing the spectator with a unique and rich viewing experience.
Conclusion
While we explore the top 5 anime with a female protagonist, we must understand that these shows greatly contributed to disrupting the conventional norm and helped establish a new set of ideals related to women. While this is a major step in itself, the revolutionary aspect of it is truly commendable and the impeccable narratives further add to the beauty of this act.