For anime fans, variety is the spice of life, but when it comes to female-led anime series, most shows feature young girls who who gain magical powers in some way. These kind of characters, dubbed as "magical girls," go all the way back to Sailor Moon, one of the most popular female-led anime series of all time.
And although watching magical girls is often fun for anime fans, it's also nice to watch series that aren't as focused on that particular overdone trope.
The good news is that finding anime with strong female leads isn't that difficult. But finding anime series with female leads that aren't portrayed as magical girls is a little trickier.
Fortunately, such series do exist and their female leads are still interesting, even without magical powers. Here's some of the best female-led anime series that vow do things differently.
Bodacious Space Pirates
Although the protagonist of Bodacious Space Pirates, Marika Kato, is still in high school, she's unique from most anime female leads in one way: she's also a pirate. Marika lands herself in the role after the death of her father leaves her heir to a space pirate ship, the Bentenmaru, and a full crew. Of course, in this world, piracy is perfectly legal (pirates must undergo licensing and obtain something called a letter of marque) and most of the plundering and raiding they do involves entertaining others, although at times, Marika makes choices to use her pirate ship to help those in need.
However, Marika isn't the only female pirate in the series: there are several women pirates aboard the Bentenmaru and in several episodes, Marika must call on her high school friends, all members of the school's space yacht club, to help her out when she's in a pinch.
In 2013, Bodacious Space Pirates received the Seiun Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
Nana
In Nana, two girls with the same name, Nana, become friends and learn more about each others' lives. What's most refreshing about this series is that these two young women are out of high school and beginning to think about their futures. Both are also fresh out of difficult relationships with men and have moved to Tokyo for a fresh start.
The two girls are as different as night and day: Nana Osaki is a guarded woman and singer who desires fame and recognition. Nana Komatsu is more open and outgoing and her current life revolves around finding love and, eventually, marriage. Although the two women have nothing in common, they strike up a conversation on the train to Tokyo, although they part ways after the trip. But happenstance brings them together again when they find themselves looking at the same apartment to rent, so the two decide to become roommates.
This anime series follows the lives of these two young women as they learn to depend on themselves and their newfound friendship.
Princess Jellyfish
Princess Jellyfish is another anime series with a full cast of female leads, all out of high school. They live in a building that only allows women, but unbeknownst to them, one of the their new friends is a man in disguise as a woman. Most of the residents hate men (although some of that stems from fear as they feel they don't fit into the "normal" definition regarding women in their culture), but even after they learn who this new friend is, they accept him.
However, conflict arises when a politician seeks to tear down this building for developing the area into something more upscale. The women, and their new friend, must get over their fears and join together to fight for their future happiness together.
Unfortunately, there's only one season of Princess Jellyfish available and it's likely that's it. There is, however, a live action movie version of the story for those fans that can't get enough.
Snow White With The Red Hair
Shirayuki is an herbalist in a small village, but has one thing that sets her apart from everyone else: she has bright red hair. This brings her the unfortunate attention of her kingdom's prince, who orders her to become his concubine. However, Shirayuki is not interested, so she cuts her hair and escapes to a neighboring kingdom. However, even there she isn't safe, but the prince, Zen, of that neighboring kingdom comes to her rescue by eating a poison apple meant for her. Zen spent most of his life building up a tolerance to poison, so it barely affects him.
The two become friends, with Prince Zen vowing to allow no harm to come to Shirayuki in his kingdom.
Although this sounds a lot like a standard romantic plotline, what makes Shirayuki different is that she insists on doing things for herself, rather than letting her new royal friend take care of her. When she decides to become a court herbalist for Zen, she does so on her own merit.
Michiko & Hatchin
This anime series' setting is in the South American-like country of Diamandra, with many of the characters being people of color, something rarely seen in anime. It follows a criminal woman named Michiko who escapes from prison so that she can rescue her daughter, Hana, nicknamed Hatchin, from being abused by a foster family. Although the two are completely different, Hatchin's missing father provides a link that connects them as they search for him and run from the police and Hatchin's abusive foster parents. Their ultimate goal is freedom.
For those who like action anime series, Michiko & Hatchin delivers: there's bullfighting, crazy battles, murders and gang violence. This is a series intended for adults and many of its themes are definitely too mature for younger audiences.
"Michiko & Hatchin could easily have turned into a gimmick, but instead, it's a well-written character story with a carefully-researched backdrop, and I commend the studio for putting as much effort into those aspects as they did," writes THEM Anime Reviews.
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