Not everyone knows about anime, but everyone knows Sailor Moon. It is one of the most popular manga series of all time and is recognized worldwide. The character Sailor Moon (Usagi Tsukino) herself is among the world's most popular female superheroes.

Besides being so identifiable, Sailor Moon has created a legacy in media. Tons of other shows and magical girl anime were made with Sailor Moon as their inspiration, including the likes of Wedding Peach, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, and Pretty Cure.

Related: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: The 10 Most Powerful Alchemists, Ranked

So if you like Sailor Moon, you are in luck! There are tons of other shows that have been inspired by Sailor Moon's legacy.

10 Princess Tutu

This anime is a hidden gem. Similar to Sailor Moon, it is a magical girl based story. However, instead of a girl turning into a superhero, it is a duck turning into a girl and then the girl turning into a mythical ballet dancer.

Even if you do not love dance and music, this show has a ton to offer in terms of interesting characters, twists, and stories. The protagonist, Ahiru, is trying to collect the pieces of a prince's heart that were shattered by an evil crow. However, she finds out that there are some people who want the prince to be left without a heart.

9 Cardcaptor Sakura

Cardcaptor Sakura Platinum Star Dress

This series came out right after Sailor Moon ended and was at first viewed as a knock off by anime fans. However, it surprised them with its own unique identity. The main character, Sakura, does not transform but wears a different outfit for every fight. Also, she is much younger than Usagi, being 10-years-old.

Like Sailor Moon though, the show delves into themes of friendship and love. Like Usagi and Mamoru, Sakura also has a rocky relationship with Li but they eventually start to support each other.

8 Magic Knight Rayearth

magic-knight-rayearth

Lasting for 49 episodes, Magic Knight Rayearth stars three girls, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu. They go on a field trip to Tokyo Tower but are summoned by a princess from another world who needs their help to save it. The three girls are given powers, armor, and weapons to combat evil forces and are called "Magic Knights."

Related: 10 Most Vicious Fights In Black Clover

The three girls do not know each other at the beginning and have to learn to work together for the greater good. They do have similar personalities of being tomboyish but also shy and graceful.

7 Fushigi Yuugi

Two close friends, Miaka and Yui, go to a library and find a magical book that transports them to ancient China. They become bitter enemies in the new world as they settle into the roles of magical priestesses for warring kingdoms. They both are aided by seven different warriors and their goal is to summon a God from their kingdoms to grant a wish.

Miaka is a lot like Usagi in terms of being hungry all the time, lazy, and klutzy. She also falls in love with one of the seven warriors, Tamahome, and their relationship is one of the driving forces of the show.

6 Akazukin Chacha

This is a must-see for anime fans that love fairy-tales. The protagonist, Chacha, is raised to become a witch. She lives a peaceful life in the countryside; however, the kingdom is ruled by an evil king. The person who raised Chacha, Seravi, gives magical amulets to the protagonist and her friends, which turn them into magical princesses capable of saving the kingdom.

Chacha is similar to Usagi, who are both somewhat silly and clumsy. She makes a lot of mistakes with her magical powers, mainly due to Japanese wordplay. For example, she accidentally summons a bunch of noses instead of flowers because they are both called "Hana" in Japanese.

5 Nurse Angel Ririka SOS

Nurse Angel Ririka waits until the last second for a happy ending

Ririka gets a present from a popular boy at school on her tenth birthday. Then the earth is invaded by evil forces. It turns out the boy's present is an "Angel Cap" that can be used to turn Ririka into a Nurse Angel that can "cure" (defeat) the evil invaders. However, she has to keep this a secret from her family, classmates, and close friends.

Related: Top 10 Fantasy Anime of the 90s

Like Sailor Moon, Ririka's attacks have over the top names like “Angel Aide Bomb Beam.” The show also uses a lot of recycled animation for her transformation sequence. While a bit dated, Nurse Angel Ririka SOS is still worth checking out.

4 Wedding Peach

The three magical girls from Wedding Peach in wedding gowns, holding bouquets

This show focuses on a trio of friends, Momoko, Yuri, and Hinagiku. They are chosen by a man from another world to become "Love Angels" to defeat an inter-dimensional force that is spreading hate. As you progress through the show, you will see a lot of similarities between the origins of Love Angels and the Sailor Guardians from Sailor Moon.

The design of the characters should look familiar to Sailor Moon fans since they were made by Kazuko Tadano. She was one of the designers from Sailor Moon. Also, Kotono Mitsuishi, Sailor Moon’s voice actress plays a villain in this show!

3 Revolutionary Girl Utena

Utena was saved by a prince when she was little. In turn, she decided to become a prince like him. Once in junior high, she meets a mysterious girl named Anthy and decides to protect her from other students who seek to abuse her powers.

Related: 10 One Piece Fan Theories That Turned Out To Be True

A lot of Sailor Moon's production team worked on this anime, which can be seen in the art style and pacing. However, Utena is way more psychological, dark, and symbolic than Sailor Moon. By the end of the show, things get very confusing and you will likely have to look up what you just witnessed in order to get an understanding of everything.

2 Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Madoka Rose Branch Bow

Sailor Moon fans are likely to either love or hate this show. It takes everything you know about the magical girl genre and subverts it in a unique and compelling way. It is also a very short series that can be completed in 12 episodes or through a three-part movie series. The animation is gorgeous and it alone is reason enough to see this series.

Like Revolutionary Girl Utena, Puella Magi Madoka Magica tells a more mature and darker story than Sailor Moon. With Sailor Moon having defined the international magical girl genre though, there is little doubt that Puella Magi Madoka Magica is partly inspired by it.

1 Yuki Yuna Is A Hero

Yuki Yuna is a Hero main cast in fighting positions.

The story beings with Yūna, Mimori, Fū, and Itsuki, who are all part of a club called the Sanshu Middle School Hero Club. The club is dedicated to helping anyone with a request. Their normal lives end when they are all transported to a forest where monsters are attacking a magical tree. Through a special phone app, the club members turn into magical heroes who defeat the monsters.

While this show is slightly darker than Sailor Moon, at least the latter's English dubbed version, it isn't as dark as Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The way the characters develop and their relationships with each other is very similar to Sailor Moon.

Next: 10 Anime Stage Shows You May Not Have Heard Of