With such a large selection of anime characters out there, it's tough to pick just a handful as favorites, but it's a bit easier if they're split into smaller groups. Male and female anime characters each have their own charm, so it's more fun to pick favorites from each category. Female anime characters come with a plethora of personalities, from shy and reserved to passionate and demanding.
Only a handful of characters manage to keep their popularity long-term, however, and only the strongest or most endearing personalities can hope to capture audiences in an unforgettable way. Some female anime characters have managed to maintain their beloved status for decades.
10 Usagi Ushered In A New Era For Magical Girls (Sailor Moon)
While magical girl series like Sally the Witch existed long before Sailor Moon, the magical girl genre was forever transformed after Usagi Tsukino's arrival. The pretty soldier who fights for love and justice ushered in a new vision for magical girl shows: sentai-style battle shows that attempt to display female empowerment. Usagi and the rest of the Sailor Scouts inspired an entire generation of magical girl shows that aimed to capture the same popularity that Sailor Moon commanded. Futari wa Pretty Cure was the next to reinvent magical girls.
9 Asuka Langely-Sohryu Is A Classic '90s Favorite (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
She may be a polarizing character, but it's no secret that Eva Unit 02's pilot managed to become a fan-favorite character. Asuka Langely-Sohryu is a feisty, proud, and arrogant character whose faults can be just as endearing as her good sides. Beyond Asuka's brash façade is a delicate and lonely girl whose only sense of self-worth is found in being an Eva pilot – and not just any Eva pilot, but the best Eva pilot. Her sympathetic backstory and mental status in Neon Genesis Evangelion garnered audience attention.
8 Sakura Charmed Audiences With Her Sweet Personality (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Like most CLAMP series, Cardcaptor Sakura is a sticky-sweet show that persists in showing the best sides of humanity. Strong bonds and mature characters form the backbone of Cardcaptor Sakura and do a lot for the show, but its protagonist, Sakura Kinomoto, shines brighter than them all.
A humble elementary school student who solemnly accepts the task to collect all 53 Clow Cards and become their new master, Sakura herself is undeniably cute with the way she earnestly tries to make those around her happy.
7 Nezuko Quickly Won Over Audiences With Her Naiveté (Demon Slayer)
Despite having very few spoken lines in the series thus far, Nezuko Kamado has managed to win over scores of fans with her naïve demon form. Her most unique trait in Demon Slayer is that she's a demon who refuses to harm humans and even protects them. Nezuko's bond with her brother, Tanjiro, supersedes her demon instinct for human flesh and extends to all other humans as a result. Her closeness with Tanjiro is another one of her more endearing traits and she often goes to him for comfort.
6 Sasha Drew In Audiences With Her Infamous Potato Scene (Attack On Titan)
There are undoubtedly some fans who became aware of Attack on Titan just because of its infamous Potato Girl. Sasha Braus hastily sneaking bites of a potato with a paralyzed expression on her face delighted anime fans the world over. This scene was quickly memed and proliferated on the internet, even inspiring artists to create fanart of the Potato Girl. Sasha is an eccentric character with sharp, animal-like instincts that tend to direct her decisions. Coincidentally, these traits only served to increase her likability and popularity.
5 Saber Has So Many Good Qualities It's Hard Not To Like Her (Fate/Stay Night)
One of Fate/stay Night's most popular characters, Saber has been reinvented several times within the Fate franchise to create a version of Saber that almost anyone can get attached to. Whether it's the original Saber, Saber Alter, or even Arthur Pendragon, there are several forms of Saber that proliferate in the series' merchandise and continue to draw in fans. The original Saber is loved for her brave, chivalrous, and disciplined nature, traits that are rather clichéd but fit the theme for an Arthurian Heroic Spirit.
4 Erza Captivated Fans With Her Impressive Battle Skill (Fairy Tail)
Strict, impatient, and dedicated, Ezra Scarlet is Fairy Tail's resident swordswoman. Simultaneously cool and passionate, Erza is almost universally liked among her guildmates despite her social awkwardness.
She's a quirky character with notable character traits, such as her weak liquor tolerance and her loose understanding of modesty. Erza specializes in Requip Magic, a type of magic in Fairy Tail that allows her to change her outfit and armor at will. She obtains different skill sets that match the style of her armor, making her a dynamic character in a fight.
3 Hinata's Quiet Determination Is Endearing & Sweet (Naruto)
While she undoubtedly faded into the background for much of Naruto, Hinata Hyuga was still given some character development and she blossoms into quite the independent character by Naruto: Shippuden. Audiences became attached to Hinata's reserved dedication to become a strong ninja despite her low self-confidence in her own skill. But Hinata has an exceptionally strong Bloodline Limit, the Byakugan, meaning she had enough natural talent to become more skilled. She uses Naruto Uzumaki as her inspiration to achieve a better version of herself, just like Naruto wanted for himself.
2 Faye's Selfish Sassiness Won The Hearts Of Many Fans (Cowboy Bebop)
Despite her dismissive, self-centered nature, Cowboy Bebop's Faye Valentine managed to charm many fans of the series with her sympathetic backstory and egotistic attitude. Although she causes problems for Spike Spiegel and Jet Black more often than not, Faye is nevertheless accepted as an honorary member of the Bebop crew no matter how many times she ran off when they needed her. Faye is an incorrigible troublemaker and often finds herself in less-than-ideal circumstances, but she's a survivor who's usually prepared to fight her way out of a corner.
1 Fujiko Is An Anime Femme Fatale Who Influenced Future Designs (Lupin III)
Originally appearing in the 1960s series by Monkey Punch, Lupin the Third, Fujiko Mine went on to become an iconic anime femme fatale. She inspired many female anime characters who came after her, including the likes of Faye Valentine. Fujiko can be considered the "original" anime femme fatale and her popularity even earned her a spinoff series in 2012 called Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. Fujiko frequently uses her feminine wiles to fool Lupin III into letting down his guard so she can double-cross him.