I mean, we get to see her all the time, she usually goes through multiple character arcs, her BPM (or “blush per minute”) is always way higher than anyone around, and so on. And even though they’re undoubtedly waifu material, it’s time to take a look at all those brilliant babes that happened to be in their shadow. This is my ranking for the most underrated waifus in the history of anime.
10. Mina Ashido
Anime: My Hero Academia I’m going to start off with Mina, as she does get a bit of attention, but not nearly as much as Uraraka or Tsuyu. There are a few main reasons that I love Mina. First off, she’s just always so happy and hyper that it’s really difficult not to vibe along with her. Even when watched by thousands of people, my girl turns a tournament into a chance to skate around and have a blast. Secondly, she’s a total BAMF, and she had more courage as a child than I will ever possess in my life. No wonder Kirishima looks up to her so much. I also wanted to take the opportunity to shoutout Mei as well, because she too is S tier waifu material. Especially if you have a 3D printer.
9. Elma
Anime: Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid Because of Toory’s overall lovableness, Kanna’s undeniable cuteness and Lucoa’s, um… giant role in the plot, it’s really easy to overlook my girl Elma. But man is she adorable. Her getting flustered was always a personal highlight for me. And she can work a suit like it was nobody’s business. Plus I love to see some good old-fashioned rivalry, and the Elma-Tooru dynamic is always bound to be entertaining. It also helps that she looks absolutely adorable.
8. Nero
Anime: Black Clover At this point it’s basically a meme to have “a goth GF”. And characters like Nero really make me understand why that sentiment had such broad appeal. Even though she’s usually quite reserved and keeps to herself, you know that she always means well and looks out for the kingdom like no one else. Plus she’s one of the most literal ride or die characters that you’ll ever see. And if rap has taught me one thing, it’s that that’s a good thing. Honestly I’m surprised no one has strived to become Wizard King to get her attention by this point.
7. Suzuha Amane
Anime: Steins;Gate I love Kurisu and Mayuri as much as the next guy, but man is Suzuha up there as well. First off, her design is just impeccable. And I think it’s physically impossible for her not to look stunning in every scene she has ever been in. Secondly, her rough and tough attitude and badass set of particular skills make her such an interesting character. This is the damsel that causes distress – and I think we can all agree that it’s rather brilliant.
6. Kurumi Saiki
Anime: The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. I mean, Kurumi already is a wife, so you kind of already have your proof of her waifu material. And even though she isn’t usually the type of character that you would put on this kind of list, I just have to spread my love somehow. In the subbed version of the anime (the only true version, that is), her voice is just the most soothing thing I have ever heard. And when coupled with the fact that she usually has the personality of a cupcake, it just makes her way too adorable. She does have her mean side as well. But like a wise man once said, that just makes her balanced, as all things should be.
5. Virgo
Anime: Fairy Tail Virgo is simply one of the most hilarious characters that there is – and I will have it no other way. Her deadpan attitude makes for some hilarious scenes, and gives her a rather calming presence that’s definitely needed when she’s around. She’s all about punishment, given or received, and yet somehow manages to remain so wholesome that it’s unreal. Maybe I just have a thing for aloof characters, who knows? But she’s definitely S tier and worthy of praise just as much as Erza or Lucy.
4. Anne Shelley
Anime: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Okay now I see it. I might just have a thing for maid characters. But aside from just her adorable uniform, Anne just seems like such an amazing person. She has to put up with all kinds of shenanigans while tending to Catarina and the gang. And the fact that she can still keep a smile is truly something. Well that, and her absolute gut-wrencher of a backstory. She might not get a lot of screen time. But I swear that every time she and Catarina are on screen together my heart is about to by pulled in some direction.
3. Azusa Hamaoka
Anime: Grand Blue Azusa is simply one of the boys – and man does she make every scene more enjoyable by being there. She’s one of a very few bisexual characters, so yay representation, and she’s so down to earth that she’s basically at ground level. Plus she’s incredibly confident and free, as we see when she makes a certain proposal to Iori to help him get over his awkwardness. And the fact that she seems to be enjoying herself regardless of where she is in the moment is honestly a goal we should all strive for.
2. Rio Futaba
Anime: Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai You can never truly go wrong with the “stoic scientist with a heart of gold” archetype. But man does Rio go even further in terms of lovability. Most of the time her sarcasm is just what the doctor ordered, and she gives the series those calming scenes so it’s not all chaos. But when she shows her emotional side, we all cry, and perhaps swear off men altogether. She’s so adorable, strong, and complex, that at the very least you have to admit that she’s worthy of some praise.
1. Layla Serizawa
Anime: Nana Okay, I’m just going to preface this with “I love Layla and not a certain ship that she got entangled with in the series”, just so you know that even I am not that messed up. Putting that aside, Layla also has great character complexity that I find incredibly difficult to dislike. Her story is anything but happy – and yet she spends so much time goofing around and acting like a wholesome kid that it’s hard not to get attached to her. But then the sadness kicks in and really showcases just how invested you are in this character. So her name might not be in the series title, but I think she’s a waifu that deserves more love.
