When it comes to female protagonists in pretty much any medium, they are often labeled as being ‘damsels-in-distress’ or are placed under the shadow of a glorifying male lead. However, female protagonists in these anime series are far more than just women looking for love.
Here's a look at some of the best anime titled that have brilliant and amazing female leads -- all of which are available to stream on Hulu as of this writing.
K-On! Stars a Group of High School Girls & Their New Band
K-On! is a slice-of-life musical comedy series by Kakifly. The story centers on the adventures of a group of high school girls who join the light music club at their high school. However, it focuses on their friendships with each other just as much as their journey as an all-girl band.
The series showcases some pretty catchy tunes, but fans are more in love with the characters. Yui Hirasawa, Mio Akiyama, Ritsu Tainaka, Tsumugi Kotobuki and Azusa Nakano each have their own personalities and silly antics that make them lovable among viewers.
Special A Features Scholarly Competitions & Romance Among Rivals
S.A. (also known as Special A) is a shojo series created by Maki Minami. Hikari Hanazono and Kei Takishima are childhood rivals, but Hikari always comes in second place. She vows to beat Kei in all competitions, like grades and sports. However, she is unaware of her rival's romantic feelings for her. The two attend an elite school and become part of a highly profiled club known as Special A, which features only the brightest scholars. The story centers on the adventures of Hikari, Kei and their Special A friends.
Hikari Hanazono is a tenacious and rambunctious teenage girl. She cares deeply about her friends and will do everything she can to make them feel safe and happy. However, Kei falls in love with her because of her goal-setting and persevering attitude.
The Wallflower Explores The Meaning of True Beauty
The Wallflower is a reverse harem comedy anime created by Tomoko Hayakawa. Sunako, an insecure teenage girl, gets rejected by her crush, who claims she is ugly. This traumatic incident leads to Sunako becoming a shut-in, spending her days watching horror movies and rejecting all forms of beauty. Her aunt becomes concerned over her well-being, so she asks four high school male students to transform her niece into the “perfect lady” in exchange for room and board.
Sunako appears to be a bit creepy and weird in the eyes of her friends and classmates because of her appearance and peculiar hobbies. However, she is very kind, honest and down-to-earth, making her the ideal woman. She may be reluctant to try new things at first but is willing to take risks -- and whenever someone she cares about is in trouble, she is always there to defend and protect them.
Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina
Wandering Witch is a light novel series written by Jougi Shiraishi and illustrated by Azure. Elaina is a gifted young witch who dreams of traveling the world like her role model, Niké. Elaina studies under Fran, the Stardust Witch, and later receives her own title as the Ashen Witch. Elaina travels around the world, learning about cultures and interacting with various people.
Elaina is a female protagonist who goes on a “hero’s journey,” traveling to different places and obtaining knowledge that assists in her growth and development as a witch. She is a curious learner, a noteworthy character trait that isn’t praised enough among female protagonists.
Psycho-Pass Stars a Rookie Inspector Who Fights for Justice
Japan is a dystopian society governed by the Sibyl System, a supercomputer that uses a mental assessment known as a Psycho-Pass to determine a person's criminal potential. Akane Tsunemori is a rookie inspector working for Division One of the Ministry of Welfare Public Safety Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Department. She and her partner, the Enforcer a.k.a. Shinya Kogami, must work together to stop a criminal mastermind named Shogo Makishima.
Akane Tsunemori is the definition of a career woman. She isn’t a ‘damsel-in-distress,’ but there are moments when she selflessly enters dangerous situations to protect and save others. Furthermore, she believes that the law should be equitable to everyone, and showcases this belief when making rational decisions as a crime inspector.