The anime universe is well-known for its strong male characters, full of power, determination and masculinity. However, despite the popularity of these characters, there are also female anime characters who stand out and become so popular that they are a fundamental part of the plot and for the fans.
These female characters have their own stories, personalities, and importance in the plot, and are essential to it. That's why today we've prepared a complete list of the 10 most popular female anime characters of all time! Come and get to know each one of them!
Bulma

Starting off our list of female anime characters is Bulma, straight from the Dragon Ball anime. She appears in the classic series at a very young age, while she was still searching for the Dragon Balls. She and Goku meet early in the story and, together, they face dangers to find the 7 magical artifacts.
Furthermore, Bulma is the heiress of the Capsule Corporation, as well as the head of several research projects. However, one of the main highlights is that Bulma won the heart of Vegeta, the prince of the Saiyans with whom she forms a beautiful family.
Orihime Inoue

A young high school girl who is close to the protagonist of the work, being one of the female anime characters that are always remembered by Bleach fans. Orihime is a charismatic, kind young woman who has always been by Ichigo's side, being one of his allies on his journey.
In the work, she works as comic relief at times, helping to balance the plot that already has countless action scenes and dark moments.
Mikasa Ackerman

Mikasa Ackerman is one of the strongest female anime characters on our list, and she is one of the standouts among the Scout Regiment in the Attack on Titan anime. Mikasa has always been a quiet young woman, but her combat potential blossomed when she decided to join the military forces that face the feared Titans.
As the plot progresses, it is revealed that Mikasa's blood body contains genes that make her powerful in combat, just like the character Levi Ackerman. As such, the young woman excels in hand-to-hand combat with other characters and defeats countless Titans throughout the series.
Erza Scarlet

Erza is one of the female anime characters that always attracts attention, whether for her long red hair or her immense strength. She is the strongest mage in Fairy Tail, and can reequip, which guarantees her a place in Class S. Furthermore, she is the holder of practically all the magic that exists in this universe!
She maintains a tough and firm posture, and is rarely seen in moments of relaxation, largely due to her difficult past as a slave. However, behind this strong personality, she is also a good and sensitive person.
Android 18

Android 18 is one of the female anime characters who initially appears as a villain. Alongside her brother, Android 17, 18 is created as an Android by Dr. Gero, a scientist who creates these creatures indiscriminately. At first, she was a villain created to take revenge on Goku and destroy the planet.
Alongside her brother, she decimated Future Trunks' reality, who had to travel back in time to prevent the threat of the Androids in the anime's timeline. After the arc, 18 found her redemption by becoming good, marrying Krillin, and having a daughter together.
Nezuko

Nezuko Kamado is Tanjiro's sister, the protagonist of Demon Slayer. After seeing her family decimated, she was the only survivor and ended up being transformed into Oni, a kind of Japanese demon. However, unlike the other Onis, Nezuko is not violent or evil, maintaining her sweet and gentle demeanor most of the time, being one of the cutest female anime characters.
But in moments of combat her true strength appears and the girl is even able to change shape, increasing in size and showing the power of a demon. In addition, Nezuko carries a biological secret with her, being the only Oni capable of walking in sunlight without burning!
Usagi Tsukino

Usagi Tsukino is also one of the most famous female anime characters, thanks to the shoujo genre, which is aimed at female audiences. She is the magical girl who starts her journey a little immature, sensitive and whiny, but who evolves a lot throughout the episodes. When she transforms into Sailor Moon, she is one of the most iconic on our list!
In the past, Usagi was Princess Serenity and, once she regains her memory, she acts more mature and strong during her battles. In addition to being powerful, she is always seeking to maintain peace alongside her friends.
Hinata Hiuga

Hinata is a member of the legendary Hyuga Clan from the Naruto universe. Despite possessing the Byakkugan, a highly sought-after eye power, Hinata is a sweet, kind, quiet and very shy young woman. She has a crush on Naruto, the protagonist of the anime, and has shown herself to be capable of becoming fierce to protect him at times.
As the plot progresses, Hinata becomes powerful and manages to marry Naruto, forming a beautiful family with him and, like some female anime characters, becomes a housewife while her husband resolves the village's issues, like the Seventh Hokage.
Nami
Nami is one of the best-known female anime characters in One Piece, being one of the first to join the Straw Hat Crew. Despite showing dubious interests at first, the girl soon became an ally and friend to the entire crew, being a fundamental part of Luffy's journey.
She is responsible for reading maps, guiding Luffy and his ship on each of the journeys and, of course, in the search for One Piece! In addition, her meteorology-based powers make her one of the standout female characters in the plot.
Sakura Haruno

This is certainly one of the first female anime characters that comes to mind for fans, not only because she is from one of the most popular animes, but also because of her journey. Sakura is part of Team 7, alongside Naruto and Sasuke, and even though she is “in the shadow” of these two characters, she has managed to stand out, whether for her intelligence, strength or medical skills.
The little girl who started the story scared and in love with Sasuke soon left that weak plot aside and became a powerful kunoichi, capable of facing dangerous opponents. In addition, she became a disciple of Tsunade, the best medical ninja in Konoha and head of the Hidden Leaf Village hospital!
Conclusion
These are the 10 most well-known and popular female anime characters among otaku audiences. All of them are fondly remembered by the public and helped build the story, especially when we talk about the protagonist's journey. They stand out, each with their own personality and are powerful, determined and strong!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most influential female anime character?
One character often mentioned for her strength, impact, and popularity is Sailor Moon! She is considered by many to be one of the most famous female protagonists in the world.
Which female characters are the most skilled in hand-to-hand combat?
From our list, we can mention Android 18, Nezuko, Sakura, Erza, Mikasa and Usagi as the most skilled in hand-to-hand combat.