List of Underrated Female characters in the Anime Industry

The anime industry greatly lacks celebrating well-written female characters. Our knowledge of a good female character is often restricted to the characters from the hugely successful franchises. But there are various ladies who do not get the attention they deserve in the anime industry. The following list celebrates strong and independent but under-rated female characters who are absolute role models in the anime world.

#7 Elizabeth Midford (Black Butler: Book of Atlantic)

Played by: – Yukari Tamura, Cherami Leigh

Among the extensive supporting cast of Black Butler, Elizabeth stands out with her strong-willed, cheerful, flared-up personality. She was held to be a comic relief until the anime movie Book of Atlantic where her true potential was divulged as an extremely talented swordswoman. She chose to hide her skills out of concern that Ciel will grow to fear and reject her. But when he accepts that he no longer cares about her appearing cute and fragile, she takes it upon herself to save Ciel by cutting down tropes of zombies as if it was a child.

#6 Irene/Ilene (Claymore)

Played by: – Minami Takayama, Wendy Powell

She is known as Irene of the Quicksword. Irene (Official: “Ilena”), was No.2 Claymore in Teresa’s generation. Her high-speed sword-fighting style leaves the enemies exploding into a firework of blood and flesh. She is cool, calculating, an excellent strategist, and furthermore a free-thinker. She is quite under-rated for a badass sword-wielding Claymore.

#5 Michiko Malandro (Michiko and Hatchin)

Played by: – Yoko Maki, Monica Rial

Calling her “Free-willed Dive” would do her character perfect justice. She is everything one can expect from a perfect protagonist, she is wild-spirited, competitive, conscientious and moreover a kind-hearted criminal (typical shonen). Michiko & Hatchin is one of those rare anime where female lead take charge and male characters reside sideways.

#4 Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Played by: – Michiko Neya, Colleen Clinkenbeard

Riza Hawkeye is an officer in Amestrian State Military with high-level administrative skills. She is an exceptional sharpshooter and a firearm specialist. She is Roy Mustang’s personal bodyguard and an irreplaceable asset to his team as a personal adjutant. Mustang has once said that he can only fight with Riza by his side. She has a dynamic character, she does follow the orders 99% of the time but for that 1%, she can disobey Mustang and can take the charge.

#3 Captain Retsu Unohana (Bleach)

Played by: – Aya Hisakawa, Kate Higgins

If you have only watched anime, she might appear to you as a kind, gentle and soft woman. But her intriguing back story as explained in the manga tells that she was the most diabolical criminal to ever exist in Soul Society. Yashiro Unohana was the first Kenpachi. She sacrificed herself in a fight with Zaraki so that he can obtain Bankai. The way Kobo (Creator) met her story; he revealed her true identity and soon cut it short.

#2 Kyouka Jirou (My Hero academia)

Played by: – Kei Shindo, Trina Nishimura

She is shrouded in the anime, few people know about her. She has a unique duality about her making her one of the most fun and interesting characters in MHA. Moreover, she is an excellent musician. She is most suited to ranged combat, she incapacitates her enemies by sending deadly vibrations into their bodies with the help of her headphone jack.

#1 Balsa (Moribito: Guardian of the spirit)

Played by: – Mabuki Andou Naomi, Cindy Robinson

Balsa from Moribito is a spear-wielding warrior attempting to atone for her past deeds. So she works as a bodyguard-for-hire. She has taken a good amount of lives in her past so she is working hard to save an equal number of people. Her life changes when she encounters Prince Chagum. She starts to guard him against the assassins hunting him down. She is a headstrong woman who doesn’t fear resolving the problems with her own life. She possesses incredible battle skills.