Unleashing the Power: 10 Mind-Blowing Sci-Fi Anime Featuring Fearless Female Protagonists

The sci-fi genre and anime industry have long suffered from the misconception that they are only meant for male viewers. However, in recent years, both genres have expanded their audience to include a more diverse range of viewers. This shift is evident in the growing number of sci-fi animes that feature female protagonists, ranging from iconic classics to lesser-known cult favorites. While the trend of highlighting female protagonists in sci-fi animes has gained traction in recent years, there have been popular series with strong female leads dating back to the 1980s.

11 Bubblegum Crisis

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Unquestionably an emblematic creation of the 1980s, immersed in a futuristic realm that envisioned the once-remote 2030s, Bubblegum Crisis showcases vibrant illumination, extravagant hairstyles, an unrelenting 80s soundtrack, and unmistakable influences from Blade Runner. Nevertheless, unlike Blade Runner, Bubblegum Crisis leans heavily towards an action-driven narrative. The formidable heroines, known as Knight Sabers, comprise a collective of female mercenaries adorned in formidable armor, valiantly combating renegade cyborgs engineered by a malevolent corporate entity named Boomers. In totality, the series exudes a campy ambiance, reminiscent of Power Rangers, yet it bears a distinctive layer of maturity and grit.

9 Martian Successor Nadesico

Martian Successor Nadesico can be seen as a comedic version of Evangelion, partly due to the shared voice actors in the English dubs of both series. The Nadesico, an interplanetary battleship, boasts a predominantly female crew. Similar to Evangelion, Martian Successor Nadesico depicts teenage pilots combatting alien menaces with massive mechs.

8 Burst Angel

Martian Successor Nadesico differentiates itself from Evangelion by its fast-paced, offbeat comedy. The majority of its characters are avid fans of a mecha series within the show's universe, leading to numerous self-aware jokes about mecha anime and the genre's conventions. While the series is primarily comedic, it also incorporates moments of genuine emotion and tragedy. Akito, the male protagonist, bears emotional scars from witnessing the devastation of the Mars colony during his childhood. Additionally, one of the most renowned episodes of the series revolves around the abrupt and unexpected death of a seemingly significant character.

In a lawless and devastated near-future dystopia, Burst Angel tells the tale of a group of female mercenaries. Rather than delving into deep themes like other anime, Burst Angel fully embraces its commitment to outrageous action. The series captivates with its intense gunfights, which occasionally escalate into full-blown battles featuring mechs equipped with rollerskates and jetpacks. It may sound absurd, and it certainly is, but it's also incredibly entertaining. Curiously, three out of the four main female characters are named after the sisters from Little Women, creating one of the most thematically incongruous elements ever witnessed in an anime series.

7 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

6 Ergo Proxy

: While not the first movie directed by Hayao Miyazaki in his acclaimed anime career, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind holds the distinction of being the first film he independently directed as the head of Studio Ghibli. This captivating movie, based on a manga that Miyazaki had written years earlier, follows the story of the title heroine, Princess Nausicaä, as she endeavors to unite the inhabitants of the Valley of the Wind and foster harmony between humanity and nature. With its compelling themes of pacifism and environmental awareness, this film has solidified its place as one of Miyazaki's finest works. The extensively modified English release of the movie played a pivotal role in shaping Miyazaki's unwavering commitment to preserving the integrity of the English versions of his subsequent films.

Inspired by René Descartes' famous line "cogito ergo sum," Ergo Proxy delves into profound philosophical and psychological themes. This post-apocalyptic detective tale features a mind-bending storyline and a captivating soundtrack infused with Georgian chants. The journey revolves around Re-l — pronounced as "Ree-El" — and her robot companion Iggy as they delve into a series of murders within the domed city, the last sanctuary for humanity in an environmentally devastated Earth.

Re-l soon finds herself in the midst of a perplexing enigma as she encounters the peculiar humanoid creatures known as Proxies and an unknown man named Vincent, who suffers from amnesia. As the story unfolds, she gets drawn further into a vast mystery, all complemented by Ergo Proxy's mesmerizing art style. With its profound philosophical and psychological themes, along with its abundant use of symbolism, this series offers a refreshing twist to the cyberpunk dystopia genre.

5 Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

The Witch from Mercury marks a significant milestone in the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise by introducing a female protagonist. Suletta Mercury embarks on a transformative journey as she enrolls at the prestigious Asticassia School of Technology. Her arrival sparks a thrilling Mobile Suit duel, ultimately leading her to emerge victorious and earn the privilege of marrying Miorine Rembran, the heiress of a prominent corporation.

With a more concentrated plot and a greater emphasis on internal power struggles within the company, The Witch from Mercury offers a refreshing change in pace from its predecessors in the Gundam series while still upholding the core themes and essence of earlier installments. Despite facing criticism from fans regarding the unresolved relationship between Suletta and Miorine, The Witch from Mercury stands out as a groundbreaking addition to the Gundam franchise due to its exploration of the intricate bonds between female characters.

4 Paprika

The tagline for the English release of Paprika is "This is your brain on anime", a clever nod to a past anti-drug campaign. Paprika truly immerses viewers in a mind-bending experience. With a plot reminiscent of the film Inception, the story revolves around Paprika, a virtual avatar of a therapist created by a machine capable of entering dreams and subtly influencing people's subconscious minds. The already perplexing narrative is further enhanced by its surreal art style and captivating animation sequences. Adding to the allure is the exceptional soundtrack by electronica composer Susumu Hirasawa, known for his memorable contributions to the Berserk anime. Paprika stands out as a truly unique and unparalleled experience that should be explored at least once.

3 Bodacious Space Pirates

Bodacious Space Pirates/Satelight.

2 Ghost in the Shell

Focusing on Marika Kato, a high school student who takes charge of her father's ship and crew, Bodacious Space Pirates presents a delightful Space Opera adventure featuring a predominantly female cast. The series maintains a lighthearted tone throughout, notably portraying the space pirates in traditional Golden Age of Piracy attire and showcasing their activities as theatrical performances. These staged raids on cruise ships allow wealthy passengers to enjoy the excitement of a pirate encounter without any real danger. Similar to the comedic nature of the pirate-themed series One Piece, Bodacious Space Pirates primarily focuses on humor and avoids excessive violence. While there are occasional moments of genuine piracy and high-stakes battles, the underlying purpose of space piracy within the show functions as a comedic tool.

The iconic cyberpunk manga by Masamune Shirow has served as the inspiration for multiple anime adaptations since the 1980s. Notably, there has been a recent release of a Netflix film and anime series, a video game, and a live-action film in 2017. The latter generated controversy due to the casting of Scarlett Johansson as the Japanese character Motoko Kusanagi and struggled at the box office. Despite variations in plot and details across adaptations, Major Motoko Kusanagi remains the constant main character in the series. Motoko, a cyborg police officer, operates within Public Security Section 9, a specialized division of the Japanese government. The examination of the relationship between humanity and technology has consistently served as a central theme throughout the different iterations of the series, fueling its stylish cyberpunk action.

1 Kill la Kill

Kill la Kill, a departure from Studio Trigger's recent series like BNA: Brand New Animal and Little Witch Academia, is nothing short of bizarre. However, this show fully embraces its absurd premise and exuberantly displays its own eccentricity. Set in a dystopian world, the protagonist, Ryuko, rebels against the tyrannical and fanatical student council of an authoritarian school, aided by a giant pair of scissors and a sentient sailor uniform. The artwork and animation are outrageously exaggerated, magnifying both the action and humor. Although the plot may not withstand close scrutiny, it effectively conveys the action and humor. Kill la Kill leaves an indelible impression and is undeniably entertaining.

The sci-fi genre has expanded its audience to include a wider range of individuals. Consequently, an increasing number of sci-fi works now focus on female characters. Nevertheless, the concept of female protagonists is not a recent phenomenon. Since the 1980s, numerous sci-fi anime productions have prominently featured female main characters.