After watching an anime as legendary as Sailor Moon, it can be hard to find similar shows that live up to its caliber. Sailor Moon is a global phenomenon that helped boost the popularity of magical girl genre, and although it's not the originator of magical girl anime, it inspired hundreds of shows that came after. Fans looking for similar elements will find plenty of magical girl anime that add their own take on the genre, even in modern-day cartoons.
These shows range from sweet and innocent to dark and grim. Some are ongoing franchises, while others are classics that fans seem to have forgotten. There are even shows with a protagonist just as clumsy and lovable as Usagi. In the varied magical girl genre, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
10 The PreCure Franchise Has An Array Of Seasons To Choose From
If Sailor Moon fans want to commit to long series, PreCure is a perfect choice. Also known by its official name, Pretty Cure, the franchise has almost twenty years of seasons to enjoy. Each season features a group of middle schoolers tasked with saving the world from evildoers, dubbed as the legendary warriors known as "Pretty Cure." Every season has a specific theme or motif associated with the story's plot, and there are a plethora of storylines to choose from.
Fans of princesses and ladylike heroines will love Go! Princess PreCure for its aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. Those who prefer planets and constellations, one of the prominent motifs in Sailor Moon, will enjoy the zodiac-themed outfits and attacks in Star☆Twinkle PreCure. Even Usagi fans will love Manatsu from the current season, Tropical-Rouge! PreCure. Her friendliness and eye for trouble are similar to Usagi's in many ways.
9 Puella Magi Madoka Magica Is The Original Dark Magical Girl Series
Sailor Moon fans understand that the series can be dark; a few times, the Sailor Scouts even experienced death and rebirth after an intense battle. Meanwhile, Madoka Magica is chock full of death.
A strange creature called Kyubey promises to grant Madoka Kaname and her friends their wishes. In exchange, they must work for him as Magical Girls and exterminate gigantic monstrosities known as "Witches." The job seems easy, as the girls are gifted with unique abilities and adorable costumes and weapons. But their contracts hide a sinister secret.
8 Not Many People Remember Wedding Peach
Since Wedding Peach aired around the same time as Sailor Moon, it flew under the radar for most fans. The anime stands on its own as an underappreciated classic with similar themes of romance, destiny, and strong female friendships.
Momoko, Hinagiku, and Yuri are no ordinary high school girls. By day, they work for the newspaper club while gushing over the school's star soccer player. But by night, they fight as Love Angels, legendary warriors tasked to protect the world from Raindevila and her minions. They even have their own Tuxedo Mask named Limone, a beautiful man from the Angel World who works in the shadows. Despite their similarities, Wedding Peach has a fun and unique storyline that Sailor Moon fans will grow to love.
7 Ojamajo Doremi's Protagonist Is As Lovable As Usagi
Usagi fans will love Doremi, the clumsy but kind-hearted protagonist from Ojamajo Doremi. She loves boys and steak, argues with her younger sister, and struggles with bad grades, but she has a heart of gold.
While exploring a new magic shop in her town, Doremi meets Majo Rika, the shop owner. Due to the curse placed on all witches from her homeland, Majo Rika turns into a witch frog, but she can only revert to her original form if she makes Doremi her apprentice. The two argue like cats and dogs, but Doremi learns more about Majo Rika, herself, and the fantastical world of magic.
6 Saint Tail Takes Robin Hood To A Whole New Level
Being a magician is hard work, but exposing crooks makes it worthwhile. At the beginning of their careers, Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus had their run-ins with local troublemakers before moving onto bigger and badder monsters.
By day, Meimi Haneoka attends school like a regular 14-year-old, but at night, she transforms into the mysterious cat burglar, Saint Tail. Using the magic tricks passed down by her father, Meimi recaptures and returns people's most precious possessions. Her agility and quick wit frequently outsmart the town's police force and her crush, Asuka, Jr., who dreams of becoming a cop.
5 Phantom Thief Jeanne Was Created By Another Famous Mangaka
Like Saint Tail, Phantom Thief Jeanne focuses on a phantom "thief" who steals for good. An angel visits high school gymnast Maron Kusakabe and tells her she's Joan of Arc's reincarnation. She must work on God's behalf collected chess pieces locked away in pure human hearts to help God regain his power. The mission only gets more challenging when she has to contend with the mountain of obstacles in her way, including teen romance and a policeman's daughter hot on her trail.
Phantom Thief Jeanne's creator, Arina Tanemura, is famous for creating whimsical shojo series. Similar to Sailor Moon, her works are staples in a lot of shojo manga collections. Magical girl fans would get a kick out of this beautiful and romantic series.
4 Mermaid Melody Is The Perfect Combination Of Magical Girls And Idol Anime
Magical girl anime can cross over with various subgenres to create a more unique storyline. The idol genre has recently increased in popularity, and Sailor Moon fans know how much Minako admires idols.
Mermaid Melody is an early 2000s anime that marries magical girl and idol elements while sprinkling some mermaid mythos into the mix. Each of the seven protagonists belongs to a specific kingdom and has three forms: a human form on land, a mermaid form in water, and an "idol form" that acts as their magical girl identity. In battle, they use the power of song and hold "concerts" to defeat their enemies.
3 Powerpuff Girls Z Has Enough Action-Packed Comedy To Keep Fans Entertained
If Sailor Moon fans are looking for giant weapons and schoolgirls kicking butt, then Powerpuff Girls Z is an excellent recommendation. Originally adapted from the iconic cartoon series, Powerpuff Girls Z takes Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup into an anime-inspired Townsville to fight their infamous enemies.
Instead of being sisters, the girls are classmates with more unique personalities; Blossom is the boy-crazy leader who loves snacks, Bubbles is a rich girl who's popular with boys, and Buttercup is the tomboyish skateboarder from a big family. Each episode followed the same monster of the week that Sailor Moon did, but still entertained audiences in the early 2000s. This anime is a fantastic choice for Powerpuff Girls fans, too!
2 Shugo Chara! Highlights Amu's Awkward Teenage Years
Personal development is a common arc in magical girl anime. Since the genre is aimed at young women, the plots focus on the characters' growth as they stumble through their awkward prepubescent and teenage years. The obstacles they face in their personal lives and as magical girls highlight how they mature as individuals, providing a relatable experience for viewers.
Just like Usagi learns more about herself and her identity as Sailor Moon, Shugo Chara!'s Amu slowly becomes more comfortable with herself. Parents and peers see her as calm and confident, but Amu is shy and lacks confidence. Three guardian fairies appear before Amu after she makes a wish, promising to help her reinvent herself. She disapproves of the fairies' interference at first, but these embarrassing experiences become life lessons that shape her character.
1 Tokyo Mew Mew Features Cute Animal Girls Saving The World
Sailor Moon has its share of galactic enemies, and the same can be said about Tokyo Mew Mew. During a peaceful date with her crush, Ichigo Momomiya and four other girls were shot with a strange beam that infuses each girl with the DNA of an endangered animal, granting them unique powers. They're now tasked with using their powers to fight Chimera Animas, a parasitic alien species that turns animals into monsters.
Ichigo is no Moon Princess, and she needs some time to get used to her new abilities. She must be careful to control them, lest she accidentally reveal her identity to the boy she likes.