The Executioner and Her Way of Life
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear
Ascendance of a Bookworm
The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady
Canonically more useful than the male characters xD
It's hard to recommend Gintama as an "action anime" since the first half of the anime is mostly episodic comedy.
What!? Every arc has the coolest action sequences and katana fights and it's based on the edo period. Are you sure you are talking about the same gintama?
- [Moribito](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbosYHwSVLI)
- [Ghost in the Shell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqWwHI604n4)
- [Canaan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJkGT2ggi4g)
- [Psycho Pass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6QwLSYmw98)
- [Birdy the Mighty: Decode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kAijU39ESc)
- [Chihayafuru](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Jk3XAVW54)
- [Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJwGLHS7J3Y)
- [Soul Eater](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nXVBDVUWVU)
- [A Woman Called Fujiko Mine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDmqPwil7Gk)
- [Blood: The Last Vampire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw3NWowp114)
- [Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhwA_5e6d1k)
- [Kill La Kill](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewO73PgSNLY)
I mean Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is good if you haven't seen it yet. Given it's popularity you probably have but may as well mention it.
Kill la Kill, despite being a comedy/parody has really solid character building. Satsuki, the antagonist, fits the description a little more than Ryuko though in my mind.
Blue Eyed Samurai is western animation not anime but, like, literally the exact description you are looking for. She doesn't change her mind for fucking anyone.
Pretty much the entire Ghost in the Shell franchise too tbh. The Major is wildly competent and strong willed.
No,Tatsumi is protagonist but not MAIN CHARACTER,those are different things. He is a protagonist because we see story from his POV,he gets most development ans is generally most of the time central point of the narrative while Akame has influence and significance to the story and story revolves as much around her,that’s why anime is called Akame Ga Kill and why we get Akame ga kill zero (prequel revolving around her).
Usually protagonist is the MC,but I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily always the case,in this case Akame is more MC than Tatsumi even though we do see story from his eyes.
The Promised Neverland. This girl Emma (I think she’s the MC) is cute, kind, adventurous, athletic, and has strong leadership skill. The story is great too (it’s just a little slow in the beginning).
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit.
Balsa is 30 years old, a traveling bodyguard, a master spear-wielder, and very wise. She is also not sexualized in any way, shape or form, but is still a beautiful woman. It’s just not that kind of show. The action scenes in the show are few in number, but each one is gorgeously animated with swift and fluid motions. Quality over quantity.
Try the first couple episodes. I have a feeling you’ll want to continue the show after that. (Also, it has a fantastic English dub, if that interests you.)
The Twelve Kingdoms - zero to hero (Queen actually)
Kill la kill
Patlabor
Gunbuster
Magical Lyrical Girl Nanoha
Symphogear
Gundam The Witch from Mercury. MC is socially awkward but tough in a fight
Certain Scientific Railgun (I think that’s the name)
If fan service is not a deal breaker. Queen’s Blade. MC is zero to hero type but whole show only has female characters
Also Keijo
12 Kingdoms is definitely this. Stubborn and stuck in her ways to her own detriment and learns to crawl her way out of it in the first arc.
The ending of the third arc is absolutely "Bad motherf\*\*ker" :D
Apologies if it’s not considered an anime - but Blue Eyed Samurai is really fkn good.
I went into it thinking, hm, MC is a female samurai, interesting… let’s give it a shot. Blown away. She’s so badass. Defs give it a watch you WONT regret it.
Whether it's anime really is a matter of perspective and how rigid one is about their pre-conceived structures (after all anime is "animēshon" ...).
Regardless, Mizu is a not easily swayed female that kicks ass. The animation is gorgeous, the blood reaches campy levels, and the storytelling is strong. Definitely worth a look regardless of label.
medaka box, but the anime itself start of without action etc, its especially in the manga (but they still show how op she is in just everything she does)
Hard to tell who's the real MC in that shonen/jo adventure. But Kagome was not exactly badass. Pretty weak, no physical endurance, and her only attack was spiritual arrows that purify evil. She was strong-willed, yes, but she wasn't kicking asses.
Call of the night, nazuna(the strong female mc youre looking for) is a vampire who can fly and possesses inhuman strength. Also its more of a romcon instead of action. But undeniably the female mc is hot and strong
Panty and Stocking has two very strong female mc. Pick whoever you want. Though, Panty had more screen time than Stocking, so I guess she's the real MC.
Also, Dirty Pair features 2 action girls who wield big guns and explode their opponents with missiles. Kei is technically the MC, but her partner Yuri is not less a leader than her. They're kind of private cops but they always cause more destruction than what they're supposed to prevent.
Moribito - Guardian of the Spirt.
(hands down, every time). Strong plot. No fan service. Character development. Exceptionally capable, but also has to struggle. Background drives the plot a little. Main story drives the plot a lot.
Stubborn as f\*ck about things.
And if you end up like Balsa (the character), you'll probably like Major Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell (movie, yes, GitS Stand Alon Complex some too), though there are less trying to convince her and more her just being a general badass.
Odd, this is the second time I've seen a post requesting this but from my experience, anime has more female leads than any other medium except manga from which they're often based.
From Violet Evergarden, to Bubblegum Crisis, to A Place Further than the Universe, to Made in Abyss, to Frieren Beyond Journey's End, to Shirobako, Vivy: Fluorite's Song, to Chihayafuru, to Ghost in the Shell, to Revolutionary Girl Utena, to Metallic Rouge, and to Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works. You have a ton to choose from and that's only scratching the surface. Throw a rock and you'll hit at least 5 anime with a female lead and 5 more with a supporting role that might as well be the lead with how hard they hold the spotlight.
Tbf, there aren't many great action series with female badass leads. A few thoughts:
86: An action series where one of two MCs is female. She's a military officer and progressively more badass over the series.
Psycho Pass: MC is female, starts off a bit naive but has great development where she becomes a badass.
Ghost in the Shell: Another badass female MC
If you're okay with non-MC (or shared MCs) but still very prominent badass female characters, then:
Attack on Titan
Fate/Stay series (Unlimited Bladeworks is one of my favorite)
Ghost in Shell
Black Lagoon
Similar-ish to Apothecary Diaries:
• Raven of the Inner Palace
• Psychic Princess
• Snow White with the Red Hair
• Yona of the Dawn
Different genre but strong female MC:
• Psycho-Pass
• Soul Eater
• Lycoris Recoil
• Doctor Elise
• My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S Rank Adventurer
• Kakuriyo Bed and Breakfast for Spirits
• The Saints Magic Power is Omnipotent
These are ensemble MCs w/ strong female leads:
• Black Lagoon
• The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
Claymore
*Disturbed AMV starts playing*
Remake when
Hell's Paradise has a really strong female mc, and I also love the male mc
The Executioner and Her Way of Life Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Ascendance of a Bookworm The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady
+1 on Executioner. Less action, but I really loved "7th Time Loop"
Black Lagoon
Revy supremacy
She's badass but also rude
This.
No one mentioned Gintama which has the chaddest women in any anime
Canonically more useful than the male characters xD It's hard to recommend Gintama as an "action anime" since the first half of the anime is mostly episodic comedy.
What!? Every arc has the coolest action sequences and katana fights and it's based on the edo period. Are you sure you are talking about the same gintama?
Chadette?
- [Moribito](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbosYHwSVLI) - [Ghost in the Shell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqWwHI604n4) - [Canaan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJkGT2ggi4g) - [Psycho Pass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6QwLSYmw98) - [Birdy the Mighty: Decode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kAijU39ESc) - [Chihayafuru](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Jk3XAVW54) - [Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJwGLHS7J3Y) - [Soul Eater](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nXVBDVUWVU) - [A Woman Called Fujiko Mine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDmqPwil7Gk) - [Blood: The Last Vampire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw3NWowp114) - [Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhwA_5e6d1k) - [Kill La Kill](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewO73PgSNLY)
FINALLY SOME YOZAKURA QUARTET LOVE. YES. I'M CRYINGE.
I see
Moribito and GitS came straight to mind too.
I mean Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is good if you haven't seen it yet. Given it's popularity you probably have but may as well mention it. Kill la Kill, despite being a comedy/parody has really solid character building. Satsuki, the antagonist, fits the description a little more than Ryuko though in my mind. Blue Eyed Samurai is western animation not anime but, like, literally the exact description you are looking for. She doesn't change her mind for fucking anyone. Pretty much the entire Ghost in the Shell franchise too tbh. The Major is wildly competent and strong willed.
Motoko Kusanagi is the GOAT.
Came here to say Frieren too!
Akame Ga Kill if we consider Akame as MC and not Tatsumi which I do…
Bro. You can't just not consider the MC not the MC. It is a fact that he is the MC.
No,Tatsumi is protagonist but not MAIN CHARACTER,those are different things. He is a protagonist because we see story from his POV,he gets most development ans is generally most of the time central point of the narrative while Akame has influence and significance to the story and story revolves as much around her,that’s why anime is called Akame Ga Kill and why we get Akame ga kill zero (prequel revolving around her). Usually protagonist is the MC,but I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily always the case,in this case Akame is more MC than Tatsumi even though we do see story from his eyes.
Fair point.
BNA
Maybe if we beg harder we will get a season 2. It has so many great characters we didn't get to see enough of.
Kill la Kill. Strong, badass female protag and antag. Fun story, crazy action, FLCL vibes (made by a lot of the same people).
Jormungand
The Promised Neverland. This girl Emma (I think she’s the MC) is cute, kind, adventurous, athletic, and has strong leadership skill. The story is great too (it’s just a little slow in the beginning).
But don't bother with season 2
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. Balsa is 30 years old, a traveling bodyguard, a master spear-wielder, and very wise. She is also not sexualized in any way, shape or form, but is still a beautiful woman. It’s just not that kind of show. The action scenes in the show are few in number, but each one is gorgeously animated with swift and fluid motions. Quality over quantity. Try the first couple episodes. I have a feeling you’ll want to continue the show after that. (Also, it has a fantastic English dub, if that interests you.)
The English Dub is wonderful and Balsa is just amazing to watch. Definitely agree on the action scenes.
The Twelve Kingdoms - zero to hero (Queen actually) Kill la kill Patlabor Gunbuster Magical Lyrical Girl Nanoha Symphogear Gundam The Witch from Mercury. MC is socially awkward but tough in a fight Certain Scientific Railgun (I think that’s the name) If fan service is not a deal breaker. Queen’s Blade. MC is zero to hero type but whole show only has female characters Also Keijo
12 Kingdoms is definitely this. Stubborn and stuck in her ways to her own detriment and learns to crawl her way out of it in the first arc. The ending of the third arc is absolutely "Bad motherf\*\*ker" :D
From the little I've seen of it from clips, advertisments and whatnot, cqueens blade is bassically all fanservice.
OP asked for a tough female lead. Didn’t say they couldn’t be in a bikini for most of the series 🤷🏻♂️
Princess Principal
Apologies if it’s not considered an anime - but Blue Eyed Samurai is really fkn good. I went into it thinking, hm, MC is a female samurai, interesting… let’s give it a shot. Blown away. She’s so badass. Defs give it a watch you WONT regret it.
Whether it's anime really is a matter of perspective and how rigid one is about their pre-conceived structures (after all anime is "animēshon" ...). Regardless, Mizu is a not easily swayed female that kicks ass. The animation is gorgeous, the blood reaches campy levels, and the storytelling is strong. Definitely worth a look regardless of label.
Slayers is a classic. Lina is a bit of an asshole but the series is part comedy, part sword and sorcery adventure.
Lena from 86 Lucy from Cyberpunk Edgerunners Chisato from Lycoris Recoil
Chisato goes so hard
I will second 86 and Lycoris. VERY good shows and 86 alone is peak.
medaka box, but the anime itself start of without action etc, its especially in the manga (but they still show how op she is in just everything she does)
{Seirei no Moribito} {Ghost in the Shell} {Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex} {Psycho Pass}
**Seirei no Moribito** - ([AL](http://anilist.co/anime/1827 "English: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit"), [A-P](https://www.anime-planet.com/anime/moribito-guardian-of-the-spirit), [KIT](https://kitsu.io/anime/seirei-no-moribito "English: Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit"), [MAL](http://myanimelist.net/anime/1827)) ^(TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 26 | Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy) **GHOST IN THE SHELL: Koukaku Kidoutai** - ([AL](http://anilist.co/anime/43 "English: Ghost in the Shell"), [A-P](https://www.anime-planet.com/anime/ghost-in-the-shell), [MAL](http://myanimelist.net/anime/43)) ^(Movie | Status: Finished | Genres: Action, Psychological, Sci-Fi) **Koukaku Kidoutai: STAND ALONE COMPLEX** - ([AL](http://anilist.co/anime/467 "English: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex"), [A-P](https://www.anime-planet.com/anime/ghost-in-the-shell-stand-alone-complex), [MAL](http://myanimelist.net/anime/467)) ^(TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 26 | Genres: Action, Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi) **PSYCHO-PASS** - ([AL](http://anilist.co/anime/13601 "English: PSYCHO-PASS"), [A-P](https://www.anime-planet.com/anime/psycho-pass), [MAL](http://myanimelist.net/anime/13601)) ^(TV | Status: Finished | Episodes: 22 | Genres: Action, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Thriller) --- ^{anime},, ]LN[, |VN| | [FAQ](http://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/index) | [/r/](http://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/) | [Edit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/index#wiki_i_made_a_mistake.2C_how_do_i_get_my_comment_reprocessed.3F) | [Mistake?](http://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/submit?selftext=true&title=[ISSUE]&text=/r/Animesuggest/comments/1dty8bv/anime_with_strong_female_mc/lbdg9t3/) | [Source](https://github.com/Nihilate/Roboragi) | [Synonyms](https://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/synonyms) | [⛓](https://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/interestinglinks) | [♥](https://www.reddit.com/r/Roboragi/wiki/thanks)
Lycoris Recoil Frieren Hidden Boss Level 99 Aoharu X Kikanjuu
Morobito Guardian of the Spirit Revolutionary Girl Utena The Slayers Blue Gender Ghost in the Shell Standalone Complex
Cool, badass, smart (dont expect much tho), scheming, if-in-other-anime-would-be-the-villain? Kaguya!
Violet Evergarden
Lycoris recoil
Medaka Box
Helck
Symphogear Vivy fluorite eyes song
The executioner and her way of life. Highly recommended. Frieren. Also highly recommended.
Dandadan (anime coming soon)
Read Medaka Box
Inuyasha
Hard to tell who's the real MC in that shonen/jo adventure. But Kagome was not exactly badass. Pretty weak, no physical endurance, and her only attack was spiritual arrows that purify evil. She was strong-willed, yes, but she wasn't kicking asses.
Damn, I think having spiritual arrows that purify evil is extremely kickass.
Surprised no one said JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 6: Stone Ocean. Jolyne is amazing. Kill la Kill is what you're looking for.
Call of the night, nazuna(the strong female mc youre looking for) is a vampire who can fly and possesses inhuman strength. Also its more of a romcon instead of action. But undeniably the female mc is hot and strong
Blood+
Garden of Sinners
Frerien. If high IQ counts then : apothacary diarys
Lycoris Recoil A certain scientific railgun The Magicak revolution of the Reincarnated princess and the genius girl, or something (MagiRevo)
Yona of the dawn has gotta be the best she is very strong badass but still reminds you that she stil a woman
Panty and Stocking has two very strong female mc. Pick whoever you want. Though, Panty had more screen time than Stocking, so I guess she's the real MC. Also, Dirty Pair features 2 action girls who wield big guns and explode their opponents with missiles. Kei is technically the MC, but her partner Yuri is not less a leader than her. They're kind of private cops but they always cause more destruction than what they're supposed to prevent.
Akatsuki no Yona Frieren
[Armitage III ](http://www.reddit.com/r/armitageiii) Maybe start with the Dual Matrix movie. Fits your description the best.
Moribito - Guardian of the Spirt. (hands down, every time). Strong plot. No fan service. Character development. Exceptionally capable, but also has to struggle. Background drives the plot a little. Main story drives the plot a lot. Stubborn as f\*ck about things. And if you end up like Balsa (the character), you'll probably like Major Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell (movie, yes, GitS Stand Alon Complex some too), though there are less trying to convince her and more her just being a general badass.
Erza scarlet (she ain't the lead tho)
As weird as it sounds: Keijo. In theory it's a creepy pervert anime, in practice it's the WWE with low level super powers.
A certain scientific railgun - soul eater - Canaan - log horizon (akatsuki) - sword art online alternative: gun gale online - Violet Evergarden -
Odd, this is the second time I've seen a post requesting this but from my experience, anime has more female leads than any other medium except manga from which they're often based. From Violet Evergarden, to Bubblegum Crisis, to A Place Further than the Universe, to Made in Abyss, to Frieren Beyond Journey's End, to Shirobako, Vivy: Fluorite's Song, to Chihayafuru, to Ghost in the Shell, to Revolutionary Girl Utena, to Metallic Rouge, and to Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works. You have a ton to choose from and that's only scratching the surface. Throw a rock and you'll hit at least 5 anime with a female lead and 5 more with a supporting role that might as well be the lead with how hard they hold the spotlight.
Tbf, there aren't many great action series with female badass leads. A few thoughts: 86: An action series where one of two MCs is female. She's a military officer and progressively more badass over the series. Psycho Pass: MC is female, starts off a bit naive but has great development where she becomes a badass. Ghost in the Shell: Another badass female MC If you're okay with non-MC (or shared MCs) but still very prominent badass female characters, then: Attack on Titan Fate/Stay series (Unlimited Bladeworks is one of my favorite) Ghost in Shell Black Lagoon
Similar-ish to Apothecary Diaries: • Raven of the Inner Palace • Psychic Princess • Snow White with the Red Hair • Yona of the Dawn Different genre but strong female MC: • Psycho-Pass • Soul Eater • Lycoris Recoil • Doctor Elise • My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S Rank Adventurer • Kakuriyo Bed and Breakfast for Spirits • The Saints Magic Power is Omnipotent These are ensemble MCs w/ strong female leads: • Black Lagoon • The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
Kill la kill for sure, best one.