When an anime series glorifies otaku culture, it connects with fans, since they too are obsessing over anime, manga, and everything in between. However, there's a serious lack of otaku-centered series with female leads. Shows like Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun and The World God Only Knows are great representation of otaku culture, but that's the problem -- they're all male-oriented. It's always the guy who is a socially awkward otaku who either gets teleported into a game world, or meets a girl who pulls him out of his introverted shell.
Despite being few and far between, there are good anime series that feature a strong otaku female lead that can satisfy cravings for something a little out of the norm.
Wotakoi Is an Otaku Culture Milestone
One of the most prominent rom-com series with otaku characters in recent years is Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku. It's actually a rom-com slice-of-life anime that features the life of grownup otaku, especially that of Narumi Momose.
There's hardly an anime like Wotakoi that honestly tells the struggle of being an otaku as an adult, especially if you're a woman in the dating sphere. Men are always mislabeling otaku girls, and the audience learns this through Narumi, who admits that her last boyfriend broke up with her because he found out about her hobbies. Wotakoi is an absolute gem that promotes low-maintenance relationships and gives otakus the love they deserve.
Romantic Killer Is a Smash-Hit
One of the best romantic comedies in 2022, especially for otaku, is the brand-new Netflix original, Romantic Killer. Anzu is a hard-core gamer who couldn't care less about boys or dating. But, because of her lack of romantic interest, her life is turned into a real-life dating sim by a magical creature.
Romantic Killer ticks all the boxes for the perfect representation of an otaku girl who has her priorities straight. She's a headstrong girl who is a wonderful friend, but doesn't like to compromise on her video games or personal space. Anzu is everything an otaku girl can dream of.
Kiss Him Not Me Is Perfect For Otaku Teens
Kae Serinuma is practically a nobody as a chubby otaku who focuses all her free time on Boys' Love anime and manga. Everything in her life is flipped on its head when her favorite anime character dies. She becomes so depressed that she locks herself in her room for days, and finally, when it's time to come out, she has completely transformed.
Kae sheds her extra pounds due to her depression and refusal to eat, after which she emerges like a butterfly from a cocoon. She is a die-hard otaku who would rather see the men interested in her all over each other, instead of pursuing her.
Princess Jellyfish Is an Underrated Josei Series
There's nothing better for an otaku girl than an anime centered around a group of like-minded, nerdy women. Princess Jellyfish depicts the story of adult women with their own quirks and fixations. Tsukimi Kurashita wants to be an illustrator who has an obsessive love for jellyfish because of her mother, and doesn't thrive well in the presence of people she perceives as stylish.
She is the perfect example of an extremely introverted otaku, until she meets Kuranosuke, a cross-dresser that Tsukimi immediately labels as being a stylish princess. Shattering her own expectations, the two quickly become friends, with Kuranosuke encouraging Tsukimi to pursue her dreams. Princess Jellyfish has a mature take on otaku culture and resonates well with mature audiences.