Magical girls are known for their kindness, generosity, and love for all life. They put others before themselves and fight for the good of all people. While this is the case for most magical girls, not all of them are so benevolent. There are plenty of selfish, cold, or even cruel magical girls out there.
Sometimes these girls are simply misguided, while other times, they're just as sinister as they seem. Some of these magical girls are just as heroic as the rest. However, when they're not saving the day, they're rude, snobby, and butt heads with other heroines. Whether they're a villain or just an aggressive heroine, these magical girls are some of the meanest in the genre.
10 Umi Starts Out As A Snobby Rich Girl (Magic Knight Rayearth)
Umi Ryuuzaki is one of the three Legendary Magic Knights of Magic Knight Rayearth. At the start of the series, she comes off as very selfish and even a bit arrogant. She comes from a rich family and, as a result, often seems like the typical rich snob. However, it doesn't take long for her to warm up to the other girls, and they soon form a very close bond.
Umi becomes very loving and protective of her new friends from then on. By the end of the first half, Umi takes on the role of a big sister to Hikaru and Fuu, and she's willing to risk her life for theirs.
9 Meiling's Jealousy Gets The Better Of Her (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Though she doesn't possess magic like Syaoran or Sakura, Meiling Li is still a magical girl in her own right and a vital part of the team in Cardcaptor Sakura. She's been in love with Syaoran since they were young kids, and her devotion to him drives her to become stronger. However, she's quick to become jealous, especially around Sakura, and she treats her very poorly at first.
Though Meiling means well, she's selfish, bratty, and obnoxious throughout most of the series. However, by the end, she learns to accept Syaoran's feelings for Sakura and becomes more mature and supportive.
8 Utau's Heart Is Clouded By Her Dark Past (Shugo Chara)
Utau Hoshina is one of the main antagonists throughout most of Shugo Chara. She is the little sister of Ikuto Tsukiyomi, and both of them work for the villainous organization known as Easter. She and Ikuto have been trapped by Easter their whole lives, and their control has darkened her heart.
Utau first appears to be selfish and arrogant, using her powers to control the hearts of others. However, by the end of the series, she finally becomes her true self and wants nothing more than to make others happy with her singing. Though she still remains haughty and short-tempered, Utau becomes a valuable ally to Amu and her friends.
7 Karen Is Influenced By Her Evil Father (Sally The Witch)
Karen is a character who premieres in the second series of Sally the Witch and is originally one of the main antagonists. She's the daughter of an evil wizard, and due to his influence, she has become bitter and filled with hate. She feels a great deal of jealousy towards Sally and uses her black magic to try to take her friends from her.
However, Karen isn't truly evil like her father; she's just a lonely girl with a troubled upbringing. After getting to know Sally, she eventually turns a new leaf and becomes her friend.
6 Rue Transforms Into Princess Kraehe To Keep Mytho All To Herself (Princess Tutu)
Even before discovering her true identity, it's clear that Rue isn't the perfect girl she first appears to be at the start of Princess Tutu. She's vain, a bit selfish, and very possessive of Mytho. But after she remembers her role as Princess Kraehe, these traits amplify.
Rue becomes desperate to keep him all to herself and manipulates the story for her own means. Though she truly loves Mytho, the raven's corruption causes her to put her own feelings before his, and she forces him to stay by her side, even if it makes him suffer.
5 Takako Uses Her Powers For Her Own Selfish Desires (Prétear)
Before protagonist Himeno Awayuki takes her place, Takako is the original prétear working with Hayate and the other Leafé Knights. However, after Hayate rejects her love, Takako's heart darkens, and she becomes the main antagonist of Prétear known as the Princess of Disaster. Instead of working to protect the world's life energy, she instead uses it for her own whims.
Though Himeno manages to purify her heart, Takako causes destruction and grief as she allows her bitterness to consume her. She manipulates others and uses them as her pawns in her scheme. Though this isn't her true self, Takako is merciless and cruel throughout most of the series and doesn't change her ways until the very end.
4 Mint Is A Self-Centered Brat At The Beginning (Tokyo Mew Mew)
Mint Aizawa is one of the main characters in Tokyo Mew Mew and takes on the heroine alias of Mew Mint. Early on in the series, she's the typical spoiled rich girl. She's selfish, bratty, and often pretty arrogant. She gets off on the wrong foot with protagonist Ichigo from the start, and the two are always at each other's throats.
While Mint plays a sort of rival role through the majority of the series, Mint eventually warms up to Ichigo and the other girls, slowly showing them her kinder side.
3 Anthy Becomes Vengeful And Cruel Due To Her Abuse (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Throughout Revolutionary Girl Utena, titular protagonist Utena Tenjou fights for the freedom of her friend Anthy Himemiya. Anthy is trapped in her position as the Rose Bride, where she has often been subjected to abuse and mistreatment at the hands of former partners.
However, because of this abuse, Anthy's true self has become twisted, dark, and vengeful. She no longer trusts others, and she even betrays Utena due to her insecurities. Though she's truly good-hearted deep down, her trauma and subservient position cause her to act cruelly to those around her, even those she loves.
2 Rei Is Constantly Mean To Usagi (Sailor Moon)
It's established early on in Sailor Moon that Usagi Tsukino and Rei Hino don't exactly get along. This is especially so in the 90s adaptation, where they seem to bicker all the time. In this version of the series, Rei is exceptionally mean to Usagi. She calls her names, puts her down, and even fights with her over Mamoru.
Even when Usagi is obnoxious and deserves to be called out, Rei seems to take it way too far. She's often one of the most disliked Senshi of the 90s Sailor Moon, with many seeing her as needlessly harsh and cruel. Her attitude improves slowly as the series progresses, and she and Usagi even become incredibly close. However, there's no denying that she's the mean girl of the series.
1 Homura Became Hardened After Life As A Magical Girl (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
It's impossible to mention mean magical girls without bringing up Homura Akemi. From the start of Madoka Magica, she appears to be cold, distant, and apathetic. Her words and actions are often blunt and cruel, and the other girls tend to feel very uneasy about her. However, she's only become this way after seeing so much suffering and pain as a magical girl.
The constant death and grief hardened Homura's heart, and she now focuses all of her energy on preventing Madoka from ever becoming a magical girl. Though her intentions are good, she becomes obsessed with her goal, and it slowly changes her from a tragic heroine into a villainous demon.