But hair color is also used to display parts of each character, like having white hair might show your inner edge lord or the fact that you are a thousand years old. Or how pink hair might mean that you are either a psychic or a psycho. For this article I’ll be focusing on our sun-kissed anime ladies and counting down the best redheads of all time.
25. AE3803
Anime: Cells at Work! It is always important to love yourself and your body. What’s inside of your body? Blood. Need I go on explaining why AE3803 is on this list? Probably. AE3803 is a red blood cell whose mission throughout the show is to deliver various nutrients throughout the body. Unfortunately, our protagonist has little-to-no sense of direction and constantly gets lost while doing her daily duties. This does not stop her though, as she presses on and tries her best to be as useful as the rest of her peers. She is very apologetic and her goofy, and her bubbly personality makes her a great character to tag along with. She doesn’t necessarily break any new ground when it comes to character archetypes. But she does what she is supposed to do well, and loves her red hair.
24. Shura Kirigakure
Anime: Ao no Exorcist (Blue Exorcist) Shura is just a badass. You’d be pressed to find an aspect of her that isn’t cool in some way. Her hair basically looks like fire, she can pull out a demon sword out of her chest, she has spiritual ties to snakes, and is kind of a lazy drunk. There’s a lot to love. She also really doesn’t beat around the bush. If she has an opinion, which she probably does, she will tell you. But on the flip side she has shown to be quite the undercover agent as she put on quite an act when pretending to be just a student. She might not be princess or waifu material, but would be the most amazing person to hang out with.
23. Miu Amano
Anime: Blend S When you just look at Miu you would probably think “sweet, sensitive, maybe even scared”, as she physically seems to fit that mold. But then you come to realize that the S stands for Sadistic oneesan and things get a lot more interesting. Miu’s character revolves around her dōjinshi, as she is constantly looking for new material and inspiration on what to draw. Let’s just say it leans towards the lewd side. And by leans I mean it fell over a long time ago. Her perverted nature coupled with her title as the mature and responsible one among the girls makes for a very interesting character and a great group dynamic.
22. Akane Sakurada
Anime: Joukamachi no Dandelion Out of all the shy girls in the land, Akane has to be one of the shyest. Imagine your driving force being the desire to just remove cameras around the city so they don’t record you. And then ironically trying to rule the land just in order to do exactly that. It’s a good thing that she is adorable when she squirms, because god knows she does it often. I mean there is an entire fan club for just that. So to all the shy shut-ins, bow to your queen.
21. Edward Wong
Anime: Cowboy Bebop It’s not always just about looks. Sometimes you want a really smart cookie to be by your side. And considering miss Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV is one of the best hackers out there, while only in her early teens, you could say she will suffice. Having a genius with the personality of a mischievous child makes for some great entertainment. And who can forget all of her memorable quotes like: “If you see a stranger, follow him” or “Hot dog bun, not too young”. How can you not love this self-named, self-taught riot of a redhead?
20. Grell Sutcliff
Anime: Black Butler Okay, sometimes you just need a little bit of crazy in your life. Other times you need a lot, which is where Grell would fit in. This might be an odd pick as Grell brings up feelings of fear more so than she does feelings of appeal. But hear me out. Like Thanos said, it is all about balance. So on the one hand you have a shy, clumsy butler. And on the other a raging Shinigami with a knack for murder. That is balanced, right? She is very extroverted at least, so there is little of the shy, quiet, will-never-confess-my-feelings trope present in her personality. I mean, she blatantly screams her love for Sebastian every chance she gets. So even if you might think that she is otherwise insane, you can’t deny she has good taste in men.
19. Karin
Anime: Naruto Shippuden Sticking to the theme of potential oddballs, we have Karin. I will admit that at first Karin comes off as rather annoying in the anime. But like a fine red wine she gets better with age. Firstly, who else do you know that has the power of hickey healing? Besides maybe Recovery Girl from BNHA. Also, loyalty and the forgiveness are always important traits in any lovable character. Granted Karin full on forgives a certain edge lord after being pierced by lighting, but hey, love does crazy things. And by the time “Naruto’s son, the anime” rolls around Karin actually becomes a very well-rounded mature character.
18. Mito Jūjō
Anime: Owari no Seraph (Seraph of the End) You have to love a woman in a uniform. Mito is part of the Guren squad, meaning that she is highly trained and can kick some serious butt. She is also of the royal Jujo bloodline, meaning that she is pretty stuck up. And what do you get when you combine the two? A tsundere, of course. A very lovable one at that. Her obvious crush on the lieutenant always makes for a good laugh, while her actions on the battlefield are just epic. And the long red ponytail just gives her this aura of nobility, which suits her character perfectly.
17. Miia
Anime: Monster Musume For a second we’re ditching humanity and talking about the real treasure: snake girls. Being the first girl Kimihito was introduced to Miia plays a central role throughout the series. She is very perverted, but also shy, which is always a funny combination. She’s also overprotective when it comes to Kimihito, seeing the other girls as potential threats. I personally just find her very realistic, which is ironic considering the whole half-snake business. She is petty, she is loud, but also kind and caring. And when it comes to her appearance, mamma mia. Also can we appreciate the fact that she was calling people darling way before Zero-Two made it cool.
16. Stella Vermillion
Anime: Chivalry of a Failed Knight Stella is the textbook example of adorable when it comes to anime. Being both shy and utterly lewd, being submissive towards Ikki but very aggressive towards any other girl that takes interest in him, and being adorable by design. There’s a lot to love here. The artists were very generous when it comes to her curves. And her crimson eyes & hair make for a very fierce look. She has to be the perfect love interest for Ikki and their relationship is one of the few in anime that actually goes beyond just shipping and teasing, which is always refreshing to see.
15. Uzumaki Kushina
Anime: Naruto Shippuden Kushina actually starts off hating her bright red hair, only growing to love it thanks to her future husband Minato. It would later become her staple, since this combined nicely with her outbursts of anger crowned her the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero. But man I love Kushina. Not enough love is given to amazing mother figures in anime. And giving up your life for your child is a show of selflessness any parent is ready to take on. Her reunion with Naruto, although be it because of the Nine tails chakra, simply made me ball my eyes out, you know. She’s portrayed as such a caring mother and loving wife and she simply has to be on this list.
14. Morgiana
Anime: Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic Morgiana had it tough, really tough. Being a slave for most of her life, she developed an inferiority complex as well as a pretty numb heart. On top of that, she has no one to call her own as the Fanalis people are from a different continent and are largely sold into slavery. So seeing someone with that background become the strong, caring redheaded demon of the battlefield we know and love is just spectacular. I especially like Morgiana because she didn’t just cut her past out of her personality. But rather made it her strength. Choosing the Household Vessel that she did, and wanting to go to her homeland, just shows how strong she is.
13. Yona
Anime: Akatsuki no Yona (Yona of the Dawn) In my opinion, the only thing better than a rags to riches story is a riches to rags story. Which is what we see through the eyes of Yona. Being a princess and living a pampered life, she was completely oblivious to the many hardships that were taking place all over her kingdom. But after a [spoiler] takes place she’s forced to have a reality check and learn what it means to live with nothing. Her story of disillusionment is one of the better ones out there. Because as a character, Yona can both be extremely entertaining in moments where she is as dense as a rock, but also inspiring when you see her form real bonds and accomplish real feats.
12. Mereoleona Vermillion
Anime: Black Clover Strong female characters are pretty amazing. And Mereoleona, the lioness of fire, just takes the cake in my opinion. All of the fluff is taken away when it comes to this character. She is just the embodiment of passion and battle lust. She makes the biggest names in the Back Clover universe shake in their boots and is an absolute beast on the battlefield. Not every character has to have a soft, mushy side. Mereoleona is far from stone hearted, she is just that in control.
11. Shirayuki
Anime: Snow White with the Red Hair I feel like in anime, female characters usually get one of two titles: useless or god-like. With Shirayuki I like that she falls into the believable middle-ground of being neither a Sakura nor an Ayaka. Also that she has an interest that isn’t music or fighting related. My girl just wants to be the best botanist this side of the Mississippi. And I for one commend her for that. Her relationship with Zen is also wonderful because it feels like it’s based in reality.
10. Chise Hatori
Anime: The Ancient Magus’ Bride Chise just makes me sad. The writers really didn’t pull any punches when it comes to her backstory. Abandoned by one parent, the other straight out running to a different plane of existence, and then Chise selling herself into slavery. So watching Chise slowly discover her self-worth and becoming more confident is just inspirational in a way. The addition of the fantasy world just makes the story even better and Chise getting tricked by every pixy she comes across is just gold.
9. Lilith Asami
Anime: Trinity Seven Being a teacher and part of the Trinity Seven, Lilith tries to put up a tough demeanor. But she has so many chinks in that armor it’s plain hilarious. Whenever she’s teased, especially if it’s anything of the NSFW variant, she usually goes completely red and blows her fuse. So pairing her with the smug and mischievous Arata and some great supporting characters he can bounce off, makes Lilith absolutely adorable 80% of the time she’s on screen. Add that to her being extremely clever, and basically thiking of her as the lost Elric sibling, and you get a pretty memorable character.
8. Rias Gremory
Anime: High school DxD Let’s be honest, Issei is living the dream. The biggest part of that dream being of course the redheaded princess, Rias. By all standards Rias is beautiful and her relationship with Issei is what most men would view as heaven on earth. She is with Issei, but also allowing him to have a pseudo-harem, even managing all of the girls herself. Rias is also very powerful and has set principles. So she is far from just some naïve little girl. She isn’t extremely complex, but she doesn’t have to be. Her character makes for the perfect focal point of the anime.
7. Kallen Stadfeld/Kozuki
Anime: Code Geass Kallen is just overall such a masterfully written character. Struggling with her dual identity of being Japanese and Britannian Kallen’s character arc is far from simple or shallow. Having compassion for people in general, but also maintaining a firm sense of justice, makes her very intriguing. Her capabilities on the battlefield break away from the usual damsel in distress trope and her ever-confusing relationship with Lelouch is just a treat. The honesty, loyalty, and strength she has is just remarkable. She is given the position of Q1, AKA the queen for a reason. Also she is better than C.C. fight me.
6. Erza Scarlet
Anime: Fairy Tail When it comes to female characters within the Fairy Tail series, no one even comes close to Erza. During peaceful times Erza can come off as a bit scary, as she is very strict and oozes dominance. But after you get to know her you see she’s rather kind-hearted and a hoot to be around. She is also very comfortable with her body, which is always a plus. But for me, she shines on the battlefield. Her fighting style is so interesting because it’s comprised of so many different armors, abilities, and stats. Just keep her away from alcohol. You do not want to be around her if she’s drunk. I was going to include Flare on this list as well, but 2020 might not be the best year for her, if you catch my drift.
5. Stephanie Dola
Anime: No Game No Life Is loving Stephanie an unpopular opinion? I don’t know, but god I love this woman. She makes for such a good contrast to Sora and Shiro, clashing their cynicism and remarkable intelligence with optimism and naivety. Her outbursts are always entertaining and her design is slick yet adorable. Also, let’s get this out of the way: she is naïve but not inherently dumb. She still runs the country alongside the two for god sake. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is just as important and lovable as the protagonist duo.
4. Minori Kushieda
Anime: Toradora Of course Minori is going to be on here. She comes from the Holy Grail of anime known as Toradora, after all. To avoid spoilers I am just going to put it like this: Minori is one of the most admirable characters in the anime. She is hard-working, loyal to a tee, responsible, and capable. She is a glutton and enjoys stuffing her face. But a diet warrior at the same time. Her belief in UFOs made me cry and if you haven’t already, just go watch the show. It’s great.
3. Maki Nishikino
Anime: Love Live! School Idol Project If the global economy ever crashes I predict payments will be made through Maki blushes. This girl is unreasonably cute. In all honesty, the entire main cast is adorable. But Maki, being the tsundere that she is, just cranks it up a notch. A tsundere smile is always the most precious thing you can see. And like a real tsundere, Maki is extremely stubborn and sometimes has the emotional maturity of a shoe. That just makes her moments of sincerity that much better. Her family is also pretty well off so Maki will in fact likely be the breadwinner (or bread-ginger) in this household.
2. Yoko Littner
Anime: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Next up we have our redheaded bikini warrior, Yoko. Like a lot of characters on this list, Yoko is very solid on her own. But when paired with the right people she becomes stellar. Even as early as her introduction in episode one the trio of Yoko, Simon, and Kamina, she is just a hoot and a half. Her calm and rational nature meshes well with Kamina’s all-in personality and they balance each other out in that way. She is also beyond precious and a true badass when it counts. A well-renowned red head in anime for good reason.
1. Makise Kurisu
Anime: Steins; Gate Christina is by far one of my favorite female characters in anime. Her raw intelligence, temper, and ambition are simply so amazing. She can be a tsundere from time to time. But I feel that it is far from her defining trait. This red-haired, lab coat loving, fork wanting Kurisu is just a masterfully written character. Her relationship with Okabe seems pure and believable too. And if you didn’t shed a tear for her Hououin Kyōma rendition I am sorry fellow anime fans, but we can no longer be friends.
