Shojo protagonists are known for their cheerful attitude and unwavering kind-heartedness. They feel more relatable and down-to-earth than their counterparts from other genres. They're upbeat people who always lift everyone's spirits. Shojo protagonists have a way of making day-to-day tasks feel like mystical adventures.
It's impossible not to love shojo's best protagonists. Their empathy always shines through, and their unconditional love for others always saves the day. However, some shojo leads are just cooler than others. Whether it's because of their series' epic setting or because they stand out more than the rest, they never fail to impress the audience.
10 Shizuku Mizutani Is A Hardworking Student (My Little Monster)
Though tsundere girls aren't always the most popular anime characters, it's hard to dislike My Little Monster's Shizuku Mizutani. She's very dedicated to maintaining good grades and works hard to ensure she's the top student at her school. She's brutally honest, and when other students ask her for help, she'll tell them to solve their problems.
Shizuku admired her mother and wanted to be just like her. Since she was gone most of the time, she had to fend for herself. After other students gave her the nickname "Dry Ice" for her apparent emotionlessness, Shizuku bought a goldfish and researched how to care for it properly. She wanted to prove that she was capable of taking care of something.
9 Sawako Kuronuma Just Wants To Make Friends (Kimi Ni Todoke)
Sawako Kurnonuma from Kimi ni Todoke wants to make friends, but people actively avoid her because she resembles the girl from The Ring. She's faced tons of ridicule for her appearance but never stopped being kind to people. Though the ostracization made it harder for her to socialize, she never stopped trying to make friends.
Sawako is also very empathetic but tends to put her needs on the back burner for everyone else. She gets so caught up in her head that she's oblivious to the world around her.
8 Sakura Is One Of The Most Iconic Magical Girls (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Sakura Kinomoto is one of the most iconic magical girls of all time. As the titular protagonist of Cardcaptor Sakura, she stole fans' hearts worldwide thanks to her natural leadership skills and strong moral compass.
Though she was only ten, she was given the monumental task of collecting all the Clow Cards before they caused chaos in her hometown. She fearlessly charged into countless high-stakes card battles and always tried to do the right thing. Sakura was a role model for many young anime fans, and her impact is still felt today.
7 Shirayuki Forged Her Own Path (Snow White With The Red Hair)
Shirayuki from Snow White With The Red Hair is one of the genre's strongest protagonists. Though she's not a total badass like Attack On Titan's Mikasa Ackerman, Shirayuki proves that being a strong fighter isn't always necessary for being a great character. She forged her own path by relentlessly fighting for what she wanted.
She never allowed others to make decisions for her and values her freedom above all else. It's so important to her that she fled to another country to pursue her freedom. Shirayuki never needed anyone else to save her because she saved herself.
6 Misaki Is A Total Spitfire (Maid-Sama!)
Maid-Sama!'s Misaki is a total spitfire. Unlike other shojo heroines who have a subdued personality and wouldn't dare to rock the boat, Misaki has a no-nonsense personality and isn't afraid of speaking her mind. She's fiercely independent and has great work ethic.
She's the president of her school's student council. Other students called her the "Demon President" because of her strict adherence to the rules. However, when she works at the maid cafe, she has to put on a sweet facade and remember that patience is a virtue when dealing with rude customers.
5 Humans, Gods, & Yokai All Love Nanami Momozono (Kamisama Kiss)
Nanami had a pretty unusual story in Kamisama Kiss. She went from living on the streets to becoming the land god of the Mikage Shrine overnight. Other gods were hard on her for being a measly human and a teenager, nonetheless. However, she never let this affect her and always strived to be the best land god possible.
It's impossible to dislike Nanami. Even the most judgemental deities and the rudest of yokai found her kindness and empathy endearing. She's also fiercely determined to see every task through to the end, no matter how long it takes. Whether she's doing a shrine ritual or waiting for Tomoe to reciprocate her feelings, it seems like Nanami's patience knows no bounds.
4 Usagi Tsukino Is An Iconic Shojo Protagonist (Sailor Moon)
Sailor Moon is one of the most famous anime series of all time. Usagi is one of the medium's most recognizable protagonists, alongside other icons like Naruto Uzumaki, Pokemon, or Luffy.
Fans fell in love with Usagi's kind-heartedness and hilarious klutziness. Though she fights evil villains by night, many fans found it easy to relate to her because she's just an average teenage girl. She struggles with self-image issues and just wants to find her place in the world.
3 Tohru Honda Proves That Kindness Is Cool (Fruits Basket)
Fruits Basket is a classic shojo series that every anime fan should watch at least once. Tohru Honda is one of the genre's most well-written protagonists. On a surface level, she seems like a kindhearted girl who's too naive for her own good. She also has a strong work ethic. Tohru always knows the right thing to say and she became a healing figure for the Sohma family.
However, this behavior is a cover-up for her inner turmoil. She had a tragic backstory and refused to allow herself to heal from her trauma. By the end of the series, she grew out of this, and her character arc was inspiring. Many fans of the show aspire to be more like Tohru.
2 Haruhi Doesn't Care What Other People Think (Ouran High School Host Club)
Haruhi from Ouran High School Host Club is just naturally cool. It's why so many customers immediately flock to her in the host club. She's unapologetically herself and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Haruhi just doesn't care what other people may think about her. It's admirable, so it's no wonder the other hosts and customers fell for her.
She's a groundbreaking protagonist because of her unique perspective on gender roles. Haruhi was one of the first anime characters to question the importance of gender, and she doesn't have an issue with dressing androgynously.
1 Yona Became A Fugitive & Realized The Truth About The World (Yona Of The Dawn)
While most shojo protagonists don't have to undergo extensive journeys, brutal training, and fight dangerous enemies, Yona was forced to after becoming a fugitive. In Yona of the Dawn, a coup struck the titular protagonist's kingdom, and she had to leave her comfortable life behind.
After this, she realized the errors of her ways when she was royalty. She had to unlearn her selfish behavior and came to appreciate the people fighting alongside her. Yona picked up a bow and arrow to fight, but she became a true leader in the process.