It’s almost like every rom-com and fantasy is set in a high school. And what does school-centered anime bring us? That’s right, lots of school girls. But who are the best of the best? Top questions deserve top-mind answers. I went to school once, and have seen a female in real life, so I probably have the authority to list & rank some of the most top-tier school girl characters in all of anime.
20. Mako Mankanshoku
Anime: Kill la Kill I find it hard to put into words what I would give to have a friend like Mako. She’s like a ball of positive energy that you can’t help but fall in love with. Even though she constantly gets captured by Ryuuko’s enemies, she never seems to mind that much. And never questions their friendship. The mere fact that the walking, talking, jacked rulebook known as Gamagoori took a liking to Mako just showcases how no-one can escape her charm. Ryuuko might have the cool girl spunk, but Mako should by all means be a fan favorite.
19. Makoto Konno
Anime: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
The similar first name was an accident, I swear.
However, Makoto is definitely up to par with Mako when it comes to overall bubbliness.
She might not be as cartoony. But she definitely stands out for her positive, quirky vibe.
Plus, the girl can time travel. So that’s a major bonus.
And she has shown extreme dedication to her friends.
Now if only she was a bit better at confronting her issues and not running away through the space-time continuum, that would be swell.
18. Hitagi Senjougahara
Anime: Bakemonogatari A bit more intimidating than the last two entries, but she still shines in her own way. Senjougahara has that mature, independent woman charm to her. Where you don’t even mind that she bosses you around a bit. She can handle her own business, reason with a yandere somehow, and defend herself with school supplies. And the only thing sharper than the staple she’ll put in your mouth for backtalk, is her tongue. The girl has some sass and I’m all for it.
17. Himeko Inaba
Anime: Kokoro Connect Himeko’s initial bravado might throw you off. But have no fear, she’s just as shy and sweet as the other girls in the show. She has some issues with expressing her emotions, and therefore setting up the guy she likes with her friend. But once it’s all in the open she’s extremely easy to talk to. Now she has her fair share of baggage, like we all do. But Himeko is the type that will always think of your happiness more than her own. Which, although not healthy, shows how deeply she cares for the people around her. She also has an adorable pout face.
16. Hiyori Iki
Anime: Noragami Aragoto In the words of Bo Burnham: “No one entertains the thought, that maybe, God does not believe in you…” Well, Hiyori definitely doesn’t have to worry about that. As her warm personality, energetic nature, and occasional out-of-body cat girl experiences made Yato care for and rely on her. And her relationship with Yato(and later Yukine) shows what a caring person she is. Especially the shrine scene. That scene makes me cry more than an onion cutting itself.
15. Hanako Honda
Anime: Asobi Asobase This one will either turn you against me, or make us of the same kind. With Hanako it’s not about her being cute, or badass, or even necessarily a good person. It’s more so the fact that she is literally insane. In any given scene where Hanako is at the forefront, all hell breaks loose as she makes the most ridiculous faces, screams in the funniest voices, and her off-putting butler is in the background doing something vaguely creepy. This all might sound like a bad thing. But I honestly can’t help but smile every time her silly face pops into my head.
14. Yui Hirasawa
Anime: K-On! If you took every relatable meme in the history of the Internet and made a person out of it, minus the depression memes, it would be Yui. She’s an absolute scatterbrain that likes to do everything in her own way. Studying is for squares, and she doesn’t like geometry. So she does everything by heart and joins the club with no previous experience whatsoever. When she likes something then she really likes it, and will grow inseparable from it. And even treat it as a friend. Her blood is 90% sugar and if left alone she’ll mope around the house the entire day. Same.
13. Mitsuha Miyamizu
Anime: Your Name. Mitsuha is your good-hearted country girl that can get along with just about anyone. In fact, we’ve seen that she has more game when it comes to ladies than Taki could ever dream of. Growing up in a small town, she yearns for the big city and all the opportunities it brings. I say opportunities, but I mostly mean cafés and a lot of candy. She also wants to avoid the people from her town, as they often badmouth her because of her father. Or poke fun at the shrine traditions she’s part of. Little do they know that those traditions saved their butts.
12. Taiga Aisaka
Anime: Toradora! This one is a tossup between Taiga and Minori. So mentally correct this part if you’re part of the Minori army. I just personally love a well-written tsundere so Taiga won over ever so slightly. The contrast of her size and her willingness to absolutely kick your butt makes her chock-full of surprises. And probably minor felonies. But once she softens up a bit, she becomes the most precious little angel ever(that will probably still hit you). I mean just look at that pout, look at that smile, and watch out for that sword. I have no regrets.
11. Kaori Miyazono
Anime: Your Lie in April Kaori is like the polar opposite of Handa Sei. She’s an artist who values personal expression over any rulebook or defined parameter. As a violinist, she gives herself free rein to play songs in a way that makes her happy. Even if that means going against what the composer intended. Although this mentality is frowned upon by some, it’s an inspiration to others. Her relentless free spirit is what finally turns Kousei back to music. And with everything that I’ve said, if you take into consideration the secret she keeps, it all becomes beyond admirable.
10. Ochako Uraraka
Anime: Boku no Hero Academia Dandere couples are always adorable. So the slight chemistry between Ochako and Deku is simply a joy to watch. I mean, they both just blow their fuse the second they get into close proximity to each other. It’s extra funny when you compare it to how they act on the battlefield. Sure, Ochako can’t just ignore how percentages work and defeat full-fledged killers. But we’ve seen in her fight with Bakugo that she should not be taken lightly. I also have a soft spot for Ochako because of her motivation, as she doesn’t want fame or power, but rather just to help out her parents financially.
9. Suzumiya Haruhi
Anime: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya If you want a girl who’s in charge, then you can’t quite get better than a god now can you? Although Suzumiya doesn’t even know of her own power, she’s still not any less confident. Like I swear she could rob a bank with just a finger gun and a one minute monologue. She might be a handful sometimes. But it’s never out of malintent. She is just so full of life that she cannot accept the ordinary. She can also be quite cute and caring when she tries. And if that doesn’t suit your fancy, she also rocks a bunny costume like no other.
8. Anri Sonohara
Anime: Durarara!! At first glance, Anri seemed like your average character. She gets saved by the two male protagonists and just trails them for a while, not doing much herself. But oh mother of character progression is that all about to change. With the introduction of the Saika blade, not only does she become an absolute powerhouse, but we also learn just how mentally strong Anri is. Considering the constant yammering of the blade, the fact that she’s not only sane but very present is deserving of some praise.
7. Chisa Kotegawa
Anime: Grand Blue I haven’t seen anyone this into diving since Jacques Cousteau. In the show, her role is initially to just make Iori depressed, as she always seems to catch him at the worst moment. Being one of the rare divers who keeps their clothes on while playing rock paper scissors, Chisa is definitely the voice of reason. But she’s also the voice of passion. As the second the cast gets close to open water, we see just how deeply she admires everything Sebastian sang about. She’s also a total babe, getting not only Iori, but even Nanaka under her charm.
6. Shizuku Mizutani
Anime: My Little Monster Take everything I have said about Yui, reverse it, and you have Shizuku. Saying that she’s success-driven is an understatement. Shizuku would be studying for her SATs even if an apocalypse broke out. As that statement might hint at, she’s deep in that antisocial kuudere category, rarely affected by what people think, say, or even by the death of the class pet. She does start her journey towards empathy and love, only after meeting the energetic delinquent Haru.
5. Rinko Yamato
Anime: My Love Story!! It’s actually through Rinko that I learned about another -dere type: deredere, a.k.a. characters that are always cheerful and optimistic. And I think there couldn’t have been a better character to introduce me to the word. Rinko is just full-blown wife material. She values the heart as much as the body, she makes amazing sweets, she’s full of understanding, and ultimately just wants you to be happy. That’s why I was so happy that she got a care-bear like Takeo because she deserves no less. Okay, it would help if Takeo was just a tiny bit less innocent… but that’s beside the point.
4. Ayame Kajou
Anime: Shimoneta Speaking of lack of innocence, Ayame everyone. For context, the hook of the show is that everything sexual and obscene is banned. Ayame lives a double life, with her primal life being that of a vice president who’s very innocent and bent on following the rules. However, her second character isn’t a secret pop singer, nor a superhero in tights. It’s a sex terrorist. You read it here first, ladies and gentlemen. She runs around and distributes lewd pictures to people. And you can’t look me in the virtual eyes and tell me she doesn’t sound like a boatload of fun.
3. Tohru Honda
Anime: Fruits Basket I feel like most people would be deep into nihilism if they went through half the issues Tohru went through. But she just keeps on smiling, as if everything around her wasn’t awful. For context, she loses both parents and ends up homeless. Yet it’s exactly her unyielding positivity that charmed mister cat man himself, Kyou. At the beginning of the series, it’s almost worrisome how much she can take without a single complaint leaving her lips. But luckily she learns how to stand up for herself ever so slightly, further down the line I mean.
2. Mi-Ra Yu
Anime: The God of High School All Mira wants in life is to pass down her legacy and establish the sword style she was taught all over the world. So she enters the God of Highschool tournament and mops the floor with a couple dozen people. That’s bound to turn some heads. She’s initially fairly distant towards the two male leads. But after almost buying into nepotism, she becomes a bit more caring. So at this point not only is she a badass with a sword, but she also has a nice, sensitive side? Sign me up.
1. Shouko Nishimiya
Anime: A Silent Voice Literal saints can learn from Nishimiya. The girl just wanted to have friends and for everyone to be happy, regardless of how they treated her. Or whether they had any compassion for her situation at all. No matter how mean Shouya was towards her, she just kept pleading for him to be her friend. And eventually, he fully understood the weight of that request. The poor girl never blamed anyone but herself and was prepared to give it all up if it meant the bickering and hatred would stop. Again, a literal saint.
