Some entries on my list are predictable and understandable, but I’m sure a few picks will have you raising your eyebrows (and wonder about my criteria for “grills” and “waifus”). But you can’t go wrong with this list. This honors the beauty of anime girls, fictional characters that have made fans (regardless of gender) laugh, cry, and swoon. All due to their distinct character designs, personalities, and unforgettable moments. Take a look below.
33. Elf Yamada
Anime: Eromanga-sensei
Sagiri Izumi is a cute long-haired anime girl that pretty much became the loli of the year in 2017, but it’s Elf Yamada that made me finish this ecchi harem series (as they say, “this is trash and so am I”).
Sure, Elf is the “flat is justice” ambassador in Eromanga-sensei, but who can’t appreciate her?
She’s generous, sociable, and funny — and look at her gorgeous blond curls.
I remember one episode when she argued with Muramasa Senju. The latter revealed how many books she’s sold (spoiler: it was much more than hers), and that made Elf crouch down and slowly walk out of the scene.
I’d rather have Masamune choose Elf because she’s clearly the best girl in the show, but if he doesn’t, it’s his loss. This tsundere deserves more love.
32. Hakase Shinonome
Anime: Nichijou Protect this eight-year-old science prodigy at all costs! This is top-tier moe character design: big blue eyes, light-ginger hair, a lab coat too big for a child like her, and a smile that may signal fear to Nano. Why would her seemingly wholesome smile terrify Nano? Well, the professor is always at home, bored and hungry — and Nano never knows if and when she got modifications until she unknowingly uses it. Also, I love her voice. It’s perfectly childlike, and it’s the type of voice that would make you buy whatever food she wanted.
31. Yumeko Jabami
Anime: Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler I didn’t even need to finish a single episode of Kakegurui to remember how scary yet charming Yumeko Jabami is. Seriously. Just check out the OP for Season 1, which features Yumeko in her red-and-black school uniform, Itsuki Sumeragi kissing her toe with delight, and her happily crawling atop a dinner table filled with food. Similarly, the ED showcases the MC strutting, with select closeups of her pink lips, her long and wet black hair, and all the curves that matter. Kakegurui is a freaky show with freaky facial expressions, but Yumeko’s love of gambling (and how she basically gets off at the thought of taking huge risks) keeps fans like me glued to the screen.
30. Albedo
Anime: Overlord Seeing now that Yumeko Jabami and Albedo are right next to each other, I realized the two women share more than a few similarities: They both have long black hair, a voluptuous body, and have something that makes them go crazy, often in a sexually suggestive manner. If Yumeko has gambling, Albedo has her intense love and affection for Ainz. Yes, she’s a succubus, but isn’t it amusing that she’s designed to have romantic feelings as well instead of pure lust? But don’t let her deep admiration for Momonga fool you: Albedo is a top-tier wife material who happens to be an effective and composed guardian overseer. Thus, she can love but she can also lead others to battle.
29. Sakie Satou
Anime: Interviews With Monster Girls Here’s a bit of trivia: My #1 pick wears something similar to Sakie’s red tracksuit. I may or may not have a thing for long-sleeved tops with white vertical lines. Like Albedo and Yumeko, Sakie has black hair, but not as long as theirs. Sakie likes to keep a ponytail — and that only increases her feminine charm once she lets her hair down. I’ve forgotten whether she wears red glasses to reduce her sex appeal in school and keep male students and faculty members safe from her succubus powers, but here’s the thing: Some guys love the glasses. Of course, Sakie isn’t here just because of her character design. I genuinely love her character, a shy and caring demi-human wanting to fit in with humans, wondering if she’ll be loved for who she is and not simply for what she looks like (and what she is).
28. Zero Two
Anime: Darling in the FranXX Does anyone else remember Darling in the FranXX skyrocketing in popularity once people saw Zero Two in the first episodes, with her unmistakable light pink hair, red horns, and tiny, adorable fangs? It felt like an overnight sensation. Suddenly, my Facebook and Twitter feeds were filled with both seductive (and dominant) and kawaii fan art of the main girl. The series itself didn’t attain the hype and fan admiration Zero Two got during its 24-episode run in 2018 — but that’s fine. Zero Two came, conquered the anime community, and then left to allow other girls to become the next favorite.
27. Chika Fujiwara
Anime: Kaguya-sama: Love is War Speaking of the anime community effortlessly finding a new fave girl every season, Kaguya-sama: Love is War had Chika Fujiwara. She’s not the main heroine, but it’s hard to deny her appeal. In particular, the so-called love detective was introduced to the general anime community when Episode 03 aired. It featured Chika dancing during the ED, and it was glorious in its cuteness and fluidity (thanks to Naoya Nakayama for the key animation). Her dance quickly became viral and had parodies left and right. By then, this high schooler with a huge bow and light pink hair (it’s actually silver in the manga) was a household name among anime fans.
26. Maki Oze
Anime: Fire Force It’s a common joke (and genuine desire) among anime fans to want to be crushed by a fictional 2D girl’s thick thighs. But it’s different with Maki Oze, although I’m sure she can suffocate people with her thighs. A certain still of her on EP 01 was a fine combination of her feminine assets and her muscular prowess, so much so that I’m sure a decent number of male (and female) fans immediately found a new best girl. I also really love her hair — it’s simple yet effective. She doesn’t have rainbow or neon hair, only dark brown hair. Maki doesn’t have hair accessories either. Instead, part of her hair on the left side is positioned behind her ear while the right counterpart remains in front of her right ear. Likewise, her bangs don’t cover her leftmost forehead. And that’s it. Maki Oze distinguishes herself from all anime girls just with her hairstyle. Yes, she can be ruthless and kill many enemies by herself. But Maki isn’t devoid of cuteness (I mean, she made Sputter) and love and concern for others. Lastly, she looks amazing in her black sleeveless top, dark pants, and shoulder straps.
25. Utaha Kasumigaoka
Anime: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend I don’t have the statistics to back my claim, but I’m pretty sure a good number of Saekano fans have a body pillow or dakimakura of Utaha. I’m not even kidding when I say that just last week, a local online otaku shop was selling her body pillow again — and it was unsurprisingly getting a ton of attention. Look, Utaha isn’t even my favorite girl in the series, but I admit she’s top-tier. Her long and dark hair, white hairband, scarlet red eyes, and her tall, slim profile work wonders to grab my attention. Perhaps it’s her usual disinterested facial expression that amusingly makes me interested in her. It’s rare for her to be caught off-guard and flustered, but when it does happen, you can’t help but find her adorable.
24. Shiro
Anime: No Game, No Life Is that the sound of police sirens? Nope, but online forums were flooded with loli police memes from the very first episode of No Game No Life. Shiro is a short 11-year-old girl, but given the ecchi element of the anime, viewers are presented with a few lewd views, and it doesn’t help that Sora and Shiro are step-siblings (as is tradition in anime). No Game No Life itself has a unique, colorful aesthetic — and Shiro comfortably fits in with her incredibly long white and pale blue hair (with a hint of green at the ends), red and gold eyes, and sailor uniform. A genius at competitive games and all things logic, Shiro is still a child that needs a helping hand for the more emotional aspects in life, the things that make humans, well, human.
23. Jessie
Anime: Pokémon Jessie and James are household names in my anime-loving country. And I’m confident that many people around the world can accurately recite the Team Rocket motto. The dependable leader of the trio already had her hair color changed from red to fuchsia pink, but her appeal is still there. Who else has hair like Jessie’s? The way it curls into a comet-tail and the sheer size of it makes it look like a deadly weapon if ever Jessie lost her Pokémon and needed to defend herself. But there’s really no need to defend Jessie’s entry here with long paragraphs. She’s a tough and beautiful woman who does love Pokémon, and has helped Ash and Pikachu more than once against fellow villains.
22. Raphtalia
Anime: The Rising of the Shield Hero I know I’m not the only one who got word of this waifu material even before having seen a single minute of the series. That’s the power of a well-designed anime woman for you. Maybe it’s because I love dogs (and cats), but Raphtalia being a mix of a raccoon and tanuki, giving her fluffy ears and tail to complement her long brown hair, makes her extremely kawaii. Even if she turned out to be a sadistic demon queen, I’d still put Raphtalia on my list. Thankfully, she’s a kind and brave person. Someone who deserves all the good things in life after going through several traumatic events at such a young age and refusing to be a bitter, resentful individual.
21. Shiraishi
Anime: Tanaka-kun is Always Listless I have a genuine crush on Shiraishi — and Silver Link must announce a second season of Tanaka-kun is Always Listless. Yes, it has everything to do with her long strawberry blonde hair, the idol-ish twin tails, endearing smile, brown eyes, and last but not least, her red glasses. If I was in the world of anime and she was my classmate, I’d be one of those awkward guys who stutter and forget how to act normal when approached by her. I love her two sides: the one idolized by her male (and female) classmates, and the Shiraishi who just wants to be herself and have her bangs up in a ponytail. Lastly, I’m glad Tanaka helped her feel more comfortable with how she presents herself to others at school.
20. Aqua
Anime: KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! For all the times KonoSuba fans have teased her as a useless goddess, Aqua is genuinely one of the most recognizable and likable female deuteragonists in the past decade of anime. Her waist-length hair is already a plus because I love blue — and her general style revolves around blue (I mean, her name is Aqua). But Aqua has other characteristics that help her become a fan favorite and meme icon: For one, she loves to drink and have fun (Aqua literally has a magical party trick called Nature’ Beauty). She’s hilarious (both with the voice acting and facial expressions), especially when she’s in big trouble. Third, it remains a big mystery whether she’s wearing pantsu or not. Is it just invisible? Is it only in the light novels and manga that she’s seen wearing one? It’s a mystery I’m okay not knowing the answer to.
19. Chitoge Kirisaki
Anime: Nisekoi I wasn’t around when the fight for best girl between Chitoge Kirisaki and Kosaki Onodera was at its peak. But no matter what anyone says, I’ll always pick Chitoge between the two. I like the light pink at the tips of her hair, and the same goes for her trademark red ribbon and big aqua blue eyes that are perfect for her blonde hair. And her waist-length blonde hair isn’t generic: It’s illustrated with a distinct flair that gives it energy, a peek into Chitoge’s friendliness and charm that comes out once you get to really know her.
18. Shinobu Oshino
Anime: Kizumonogatari Is it cheating to include Shinobu Oshino given that she has multiple looks depending on her vampiric prowess? I’ll say no. Whether you think of the aviator hat-wearing Shinobu in Bakemonogatari, the teen ponytail version in Nisemonogatari, or her voluptuous Kiss-Shot form in Kizumonogatari, she’ll always have an edge over most anime girls. Thanks to Studio Shaft and Nisio Isin, Shinobu has distinct long blonde hair, which looks adorably pointy at the back in both her very young (i.e. loli) and womanly versions. Then you consider her cute fangs, pointy ears, and her hypnotic yellow eyes. While she’s initially seemingly unsociable, she eventually gets out of her shell with the help of Araragi, and viewers soon see the talkative, donut-loving Shinobu. I want to say I want to protect Shinobu… but then again, her Kiss-Shot reminds me she can kill anyone in seconds.
17. Hitagi Senjougahara
Anime: Bakemonogatari Immediately following Shinobu is one of anime’s all-time fave girls, Hitagi Senjougahara. It may displease big fans of her that she’s only No. 17 here, but she’s already won so many best girl competitions online. Still, I wonder if Hitagi would get as much love from anime viewers if she still had dark brown hair (like in the novels) instead of purple. I personally think the purple hair was a welcome surprise, giving the guys at Shaft new opportunities for her wardrobe and how the studio’s distinct aesthetic can highlight her presence in a scene. She looks stunning in her school uniform, especially with the thigh highs. And if you’ve seen Bakemonogatari, you’ll know that Hitagi is more than her good looks. There’s a good reason why the series is a favorite among fans of the Monogatari franchise — and Hitagi is crucial to its success.
16. Violet Evergarden
Anime: Violet Evergarden Kyoto Animation stunned the anime community with its breathtaking Violet Evergarden teaser. And for the most part, the series (and the side stories and 2020 film) delivered. As the titular character, Violet Evergarden capably carries the series with her exquisite character design. No, it’s not just another blonde girl with blue eyes: It’s a blonde girl with blue eyes made by KyoAni — and that spells a huge difference. She’s not designed to be kawaii. Violet’s look is meant to visually portray her eccentric world and story: detailed waist-length hair with a ponytail or braided buns, red ribbons, prosthetic arms, and a Victorian-inspired blue-and-white attire. So many details, from her emerald broach to the solemnity in her beautiful light blue eyes, work to tell a story of Violet’s past and present.
15. Holo
Anime: Spice and Wolf Before Raphtalia, anime fans were already worshipping a fluffy-eared brown-haired demi-human: Holo. As the anime title implies, Holo isn’t a tanuki or raccoon — she’s a massive wolf that became the town of Pasloe’s harvest deity. But as humans improved their agricultural practices, she was no longer viewed to be as important as before. That led to Holo moving away and eventually meeting Lawrence, an ordinary human who understands Holo’s loneliness (she’s literally hundreds of years old) and does his best to keep her company. Holo is already part of anime’s best girl hall of fame (and she and Lawrence are often celebrated as the best couple), and I’ll forever remember how much she loved food and drinks, even if it proved costly to Lawrence.
14. Maquia
Anime: Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms It’s completely coincidental that Maquia and Holo, two women who are literally hundreds of years old but still look like they’re in their teenage years, are right next to each other. Not a lot of people are familiar with her, but trust me: Maquia is one of the best anime characters of all time. P.A. Works really outdid themselves with this movie. Maquia (and the rest of the cast) had this clean and light outline that fit not only her simple and white Iorphian clothing but also her soft and caring attitude. Her blonde hair isn’t vibrant, and even her red-tinted eyes don’t scream blood and violence. They all just make Maquia the kind soul she is — and she’s arguably one of the best moms in anime history.
13. Reina Kousaka
Anime: Sound! Euphonium I just realized that Reina Kousaka and Maki Oze from Fire Force share two similarities: long black hair, and hair strands strategically positioned to accentuate their pretty faces. Furthermore, the two almost have the same eye color. Reina has purple eyes while Maki has violet eyes. But why is Reina Kousaka at the upper half of my list instead of Maki? It’s really just personal preference, and the fact that I’m more attached to the Sound! Euphonium series. Reina is a relatively short girl who often seems reserved, but is nonetheless polite and talented in playing the trumpet. And as much as I like tall girls, I would be lying if I said I don’t like short girls even more. Also, there’s a certain clip of her smiling and fixing her hair that can easily make you feel infatuated with her (it’s the one where there are moving cars and a pedestrian lane behind her, and car lights are making her look like a teenage goddess).
12. Shouko Nishimiya
Anime: A Silent Voice From one KyoAni girl to the next, Nishimiya Shouko is the female MC of a heartfelt film I saw four times in theaters — that’s how much I loved it. Like Violet and Reina, Nishimiya has a simple hair color (light brown). However, it’s the little details (i.e. her many distinct hair stands) that make her unique. I appreciate how a few strands cover the sides of her face and her bangs touch the bridge of her nose, indicating her gentle nature. Shouko’s hazel eyes, her little smile that’s barely a smile, and the way her eyebrows appear, say the same thing. But beyond the care put into her character design, I love her for not completely giving up. Not only on herself but also on others (including her childhood bully, the male MC Shoya).
11. Emilia
Anime: Re:Zero Fans of Re:Zero have yet to agree on who the show’s best girl is. One group will say it’s Rem, others will defend Emilia — and some will go with Rem or even the cute trap that is Felix Argyle. Except for Rem, other girls don’t really stand a chance against Emilia. She’s downright gorgeous: long, silver hair, elf ears, purple-blue eyes, a white flower hair accessory, and a purple-and-white attire. Subaru is lucky to even be in the presence of Emilia whose smile and light-red blushes are almost enough to justify dying over and over again (I’m kidding). The author Tappei Nagatsuki apparently had difficulty in writing her, because she was idealized (i.e. a perfect girl). But I think he did an amazing job because as fans have seen from the series so far, Emilia isn’t exactly living a perfect life.
10. C. C.
Anime: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Easily the most recognizable pizza-loving girl in all of anime, C. C. is the best girl of many classmates of mine back in high school — and fans don’t even know her real name. Granted, C. C. probably wouldn’t be eating all those pizza slices if Pizza Hut didn’t negotiate. But at least the branded food items didn’t affect the greatness of Code Geass. I like that we see C. C. in different outfits throughout the series. More often than not, many heroines are forever stuck with one attire. Plus, it’s easy to see that it’s C. C. The only other anime girl I know who has long light green hair and yellow or golden eyes is Amber from Darker than Black (in particular, Amber has, well, amber eyes). Lastly, C. C. is a bit like Violet Evergarden in that they initially seem to lack emotions, but slowly open up.
9. Rin Tohsaka
Anime: Fate/stay night Like Hitagi Senjougahara, Rin Tohsaka is often a finalist (or even winner) in best girl competitions online. I’d even argue she’s the most popular female Fate character if Red Saber’s padoru meme didn’t appear every single holiday season. But even if Saber has more meme value, it’s Rin who has the lovely tsundere personality. And possibly the most iconic Zettai ryouiki (Absolute Territory) in anime. And if the flawless skin between her high socks and skirt isn’t enough, Rin is also known for long brown hair with twin tails, red coat, black skirt, and black socks. Yet it’s not all about black and red: Rin has aqua eyes — and Ufotable made sure viewers couldn’t get enough of them. If you don’t want to watch all the Fate series, at least check Unlimited Blade Works for all the Rin scenes.
8. Kaori Miyazono
Anime: Your Lie in April As the second-highest blonde girl with blue eyes on my list, Kaori deserves all the love for how much she inspired others to live their life to the fullest no matter what. Kaori has a zest for life that radiates towards the people dear to her. Especially Kousei Arima, who needed that push to go back to playing the piano. And you only need to look at her to see her free-spirited nature. She has a pink suitcase for her violin, her smile and stare are filled with enthusiasm, and she performed the violin however she wanted — it didn’t matter if the judges disdained her actions. Yet, as many know by now, Kaori was trying her best for a reason. And I will eternally praise not only her tenacity, but her sheer selflessness.
7. Yukino Yukinoshita
Anime: My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Yukino doesn’t seem as flashy or as big-eyed as my other entries. But she’s the type of woman who you’ll appreciate the more you know her as a person. I don’t mean you’ll fall in love with her, although her waist-length black hair and non-moe blue eyes are attractive in their own way. Rather, Yukino is a well-written character. She’s rich, but rather than being a spoiled brat who bullies her classmates, her issue is that she’s often blunt and her way of helping those she deems inferior comes off as rude. But Oregairu is an exceptional show. Across its seasons, you’ll see the many facets of Yukino, learning more about her faults, demeanor, her gradual change, and (most especially) her love of cats Pan-san.
6. Tsubasa Hanekawa
Anime: Kizumonogatari What else is there to say? I love Tsubasa’s look in Kizumonogatari. so I was at odds when she had short hair in Nisemonogatari. Sure, it represented character development so I should be happy for her, but I was deeply charmed by her long-haired version. You may be wondering why I mentioned Kizumonogatari instead of Bakemonogatari. To be fair, her Bakemonogatari design with the twin-tailed black hair was already appealing. But the single pony-tailed Tsubasa in the film trilogy was a gift from the gods: From her purple eyes that could go from big and kawaii to effortlessly seductive (thanks to the glasses as well) to her slender yet big-bosomed figure, Tsubasa’s design was made to make viewers like me swoon. Tsubasa had serious issues covered up by her charming public persona, but I understand why Araragi still saw her as the ideal girl.
5. Kaguya Shinomiya
Anime: Kaguya-sama: Love is War It’s amazing how Kaguya-sama: Love is War easily took over last year and continued its rampage earlier this year with its second season. Still, who can blame fans? I already mentioned Chika Fujiwara, but Kaguya is the girl here who has the bigger chance of becoming an all-time best girl contender — and she’s already won at least one contest. Moreover, Kaguya is the best representative of girls with long dark hair, a ribbon tie, and red eyes (sorry, Saekano’s Utaha). She’s a bit like Shiro from No Game No Life in that her excessive logical thinking affects her social life, but she’s changing for the better. I love the mind games she has with Miyuki Shirogane and how she’s a bit oblivious about sexual topics. Most of all, I love that viewers can see the mental representations of her id, ego, and superego talking in a courtroom. It’s a seemingly peculiar but relatable thing.
4. Eru Chitanda
Anime: Hyouka I chose many girls from Kyoto Animation shows. But it’s the “I’m curious!” girl from Hyouka who reaches the top five. Some girls look better with a ponytail or twin tails (and Eru sometimes has a ponytail), but Eru is at her prettiest when her she simply lets her hair down — and her bangs are right where they should be. The KyoAni staff have done everything to make her movements and expressions as detailed as possible. I love how her big purple eyes sparkle when she becomes curious and how she invades Oreki’s personal space to persuade him. You’d think that someone doing that would always be annoying to look at, but it honestly feels charming and lovely when Eru does it. Perhaps it’s because Eru is earnest in her intrigue and trust of Oreki’s skills in mystery solving. I wouldn’t blame Oreki if he started falling for her, because Eru always approached him with her big eyes and insistent behavior.
3. Kurisu Makise
Anime: Steins;Gate It’s a huge understatement to say that Kurisu Makise’s contributions to the long-lasting acclaim and fame of Steins;Gate is meager. But even if I don’t mention the events in the series (and I don’t want to because it would ruin the fun for new viewers), the sarcastic and smart Kurisu is one of a kind. Her khaki jacket shouldn’t work with her long reddish hair and violet eyes, but it does. Yet I can’t imagine anyone else looking just as good in that top. On the other hand, her boots, shorts, and tights (all three being black) do improve her attractiveness. Lastly, only Kurisu Makise and Hakase Shinonome from Nichijou succeed in making an otherwise basic white lab coat an appealing part of their identity.
2. Asuka Langley
Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion As the classic tsundere with the iconic “anta baka?” catchphrase, Asuka was close to being my No. 1 pick. She’s such a well-developed and original character. While many anime girls have ribbons and hairbands, Asuka has her A10 nerve clips (or interface headset) handling her auburn twin tails. Her legendary and emotionally engaging fight scene in The End of Evangelion cemented her legacy as an all-time best girl contender. Even without that, her many moments and her character dynamics with the likes of Shinki and Rei offer a glimpse into a deeply flawed, complex, and ultimately human character.
1. Eriri Spencer
Anime: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend I bet no one else expected Eriri Spencer at the top spot — but I hope I don’t get crucified for my choice. Even I can’t fully explain why Eriri Spencer makes my heart skip a beat. And that’s perfectly okay. My feelings for this fictional character are valid no matter what, and the same goes for other people and their picks. But let me point out what I know makes her my best long-haired anime girl: First, I love her light blue eyes. Second, her blonde hair, often having twin tails with blue ribbons, feels both refreshing and classic in my eyes. Third, Eriri isn’t ashamed of being a doujinshi artist, her mom a fujoshi, and her dad an otaku. I know I said I like it when some characters don’t pander to otaku culture, but this doesn’t feel nonsensical or cheap to me. Saekano is an ecchi and harem romance comedy series, after all. Fourth, I love her tropes: She’s a tsundere who also happens to be Tomoya Aki’s childhood friend — and she’s also teased as flat-chested. Lastly, I love her most when she’s at home, wearing thick-rimmed black glasses and a green tracksuit while she just lets her hair down. Again, I don’t know why but seeing Eriri Spencer that way genuinely makes me happy. It doesn’t matter if she pouts or shows her small fang when she shouts at Tomoya — she’s perfect in her glasses and green tracksuit. This girl is hardworking, cute, hilarious, and precious. Eriri is my favorite long-haired anime girl and I’m proud of that.
