If you’ve been into anime for a while, chances are you’ve encountered the magical girl genre. It’s all about girls who juggle their school lives with saving the world using magical powers.
While magical girl anime might share some common themes and clichés, not every series is identical. The best ones often go beyond expectations, offering unique twists and compelling stories that keep viewers hooked.
Best Magical Girl Anime
1. Minky Momo
Minky Momo stands as a trailblazer in the magical girl genre.
In this universe, there’s a dreamland slowly drifting away from Earth, prompting Momo to visit and ensure everyone enjoys themselves. She’s taken on various roles, from a nurse to a police officer and firefighter.
For those intrigued by urban legends, delving into the backstory of this 1980s anime might be worth your time—fair warning, though: it could get a little spooky.
2. Creamy Mami
Creamy Mami is a classic magical girl anime aired on Indonesia’s national private TV station.
The story revolves around a young girl named Yuu, who encounters a spaceship and is granted the ability to use magic for a year. Alongside her newfound powers, she is entrusted with two cats, Poji and Nega, who serve as her guardians and guides.
Using her magical abilities to transform into the idol Creamy Mami, Yuu navigates a busy life. She balances her career in acting and singing, helps out at her parents’ crepe shop, fights off aliens and villains, attends school, and tries to win the affection of her childhood friend Toshio.
3. Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon immediately comes to mind when you think of magical girls in sailor uniforms with superpowers.
The series follows schoolgirl Usagi Tsukino as she transforms into Sailor Moon, accompanied by her friends, who become sailors representing different planets.
Together, they battle various intergalactic threats while safeguarding the powerful Silver Crystal.
Widely regarded as one of the most popular magical girl anime, Sailor Moon established many of the tropes associated with the genre, including iconic transformation sequences and cute uniforms.
4. Magic Knight Rayearth
Magic Knight Rayearth begins like many other magical girl anime. Three eighth-grade friends—Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu—find themselves drawn into the affairs of Cephiro, an alternate world shaped by one’s desires.
They are enlisted by the creature Mokona to help save Princess Emeraude, the Pillar and guardian of Cephiro, from the clutches of the evil Zagato.
With Mokona’s guidance, the trio unlocks unique elemental magic and awakens the Rune-Gods, powerful mechas that they pilot to rescue Cephiro and protect the world.
Rayearth’s fusion of magical girl and mecha elements sets it apart as one of the standout series in its genre.
5. Revolutionary Girl Utena
Revolutionary Girl Utena follows the journey of Utena Tenjou, a teenage orphan who dreams of becoming a prince from childhood.
Her remarkable sword skills lead her into a world filled with rivals and intense sword duels. Along the way, she aims to win the hand of Anthy Himemiya, the enigmatic “Rose Bride” who holds the potential to revolutionize the world.
Like other distinctive magical girl anime of its time, Utena earned critical acclaim for exploring various tropes. The series is renowned for deconstructing the traditional prince fairy tale archetype and delving into themes of queerness and feminism in a thought-provoking manner.
6. Princess Tutu
Princess Tutu, an early 2000s classic, offers a captivating twist on the traditional fairy tale. In this magical girl anime, Ahiru, a duck who transforms into a girl, assumes the role of Princess Tutu with the mission to save a prince.
Ahiru’s journey is far from simple as she grapples with complex identity and free will themes. The show weaves together surreal imagery and unique ballet choreography, creating a mesmerizing experience for viewers.
While the animation may have its occasional flaws, Princess Tutu’s compelling storyline and well-developed characters more than compensate for any shortcomings. It remains a standout in the magical girl genre, beloved for its depth and creativity.
7. Magical DoReMi
When anime fans think of magical girls, they often envision a trio of schoolgirls with superpowers, and Magical DoReMi perfectly fits that description.
Doremi Harukaze, a third-grader living in the fictional town of Misora, stumbles upon a magic shop called Mahodo. Surprisingly, she discovers that its owner, Majo Rika, is a magical frog. Majo Rika offers to train Doremi as her apprentice to help her regain her human form.
Doremi finds a companion in her best friend, who also becomes a magical apprentice. Together, they embark on a journey to pass nine tests and become full-fledged witches, all while aiming to break the curse on Majo Rika.
However, their path is fraught with challenges, including encounters with an evil wizard’s apprentice, putting the world’s fate at risk. As they navigate these trials, Doremi and her friends learn valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the power of magic.
8. Shugo Chara!
Amu Hinamori from Shugo Chara! is easily recognizable with her iconic pink hair and punk-ish attitude. Despite her “cool and spicy” appearance, she hides a somewhat introverted self.
In her quest to gain the confidence to match her popular exterior, Amu discovers three eggs that hatch into Guardian Characters — Ran, Miki, and Su.
With Ran, Miki, and Su by her side, Amu navigates the journey of self-discovery as a Guardian. Throughout the anime, she encounters other Guardians with their own Guardian Characters and abilities.
Beyond its action-packed sequences, Shugo Chara! Shines in its exploration of self-discovery and personal growth. Amu’s journey reminds viewers of embracing one’s true self.
9. Cardcaptor Sakura
In Cardcaptor Sakura, elementary school student Sakura Kinomoto accidentally sets free a powerful magical card into the world. Scolded by a cute card keeper named Kero (Cerberus), Sakura is asked to help retrieve the lost cards.
In each episode, Sakura investigates supernatural occurrences that may involve one of the Clow Cards. With support from her best friend Tomoyo Daidouji and rival Syaoran Li, Sakura employs various sealing magic techniques to recover the Clow Cards.
At times, she even seeks their assistance to diminish the threat of other aggressive Cards. Together, they embark on adventures to safeguard their world from the powers of the Clow Cards.
10. Searching For The Full Moon
In Searching For The Full Moon, the protagonist Mitsuki Koyama, a 12-year-old boy, dreams of becoming a singer. However, his dream seems out of reach, especially when two Shinigami inform him that he only has one year to live.
Desperate to fulfill his wishes, Mitsuki strikes a deal with the Shinigami. If he agrees to pass away after one year peacefully, they promise to grant him the opportunity to become a 16-year-old and participate in an idol audition.
With this pact, Mitsuki transforms into the mysterious idol Fullmoon and captivates audiences with his talent. But this is just the beginning of a deeply emotional and heart-wrenching journey that will keep fans hooked until the end.
11. Futari wa Pretty Cure
Nagisa Misumi and Honoka Yukishiro couldn’t be more different. Nagisa loves books, while Honoka is into sports. Despite attending the same school, they have little in common.
However, their lives take a dramatic turn when a shower of shooting stars brings two unexpected visitors: Mipple and Mepple, refugees from the conquered Garden of Light, threatened by Darkness.
Empowered with newfound abilities, Nagisa and Honoka transform into Cure Black and Cure White. Together, they become Pretty Cure, ready to face the challenges ahead.
12. Tokyo Mew Mew
In Project μ (Mew), scientists harness DNA from endangered species to assemble a team of female heroes possessing extraordinary superhuman abilities.
Among them is Ichigo Momomiya, who discovers that she has inherited the powers of the Iriomote cat.
As Ichigo embraces her newfound abilities, she joins forces with the other Mew Mew girls to fend off an alien invasion while keeping their thrilling double lives hidden from friends and family.
13. Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
When elementary schoolgirl Nanoha Takamichi rescues an injured ferret, she is drawn into a mystery and magic. The ferret, Yuno Scrya, reveals himself to be an archaeologist-mage from the parallel universe of Midchilda.
Yuno enlists Nanoha’s aid in recovering 21 Gem Seeds, which can transform their hosts into dangerous monsters upon contact.
While Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha shares some similarities with Cardcaptor Sakura, it ultimately evolves into a distinct and intricate narrative.
What begins as a lighthearted premise gradually unfolds into a more complex story, featuring unexpected plot twists and darker themes.
14. My-HiME
Imagine a school where girls are trained to become magical girls – this concept is explored in detail in My-HiME.
At the heart of the story is the HiME, girls with the ability to materialize photons, who attend Fuka Academy for a hidden purpose. Our protagonist, Mai Tokiha, soon discovers her HiME abilities and forms a bond with a Child, a spiritual mecha.
Mai and 11 others are tasked with saving the world from Orphans, creatures similar to HiME children with powerful abilities.
My-HiME explores deep into the complex personalities of each character. The diverse goals and motivations of the HiME manifestations surrounding Mai influence their drive to protect their world.
In the end, Mai and her companions find themselves intertwined in a destiny shaped by their nature as HiME, navigating a path fraught with challenges and revelations.
15. Madoka Magical Girl
In the Anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the question of what someone would sacrifice to save the world takes center stage. At first glance, the anime presents a typical adventure premise within the magical girl genre, but its depths run deeper.
Madoka Kaname and her friends enter into supernatural contracts to obtain magical abilities, tasked with hunting down Witches and protecting the world. However, beneath this facade lies a darker truth.
Directed by Gen Urobuchi, Madoka Magica stands out for its bold subversion of traditional magical girl tropes, garnering critical acclaim. The series explores into the hidden dangers and profound sacrifices that magical girls must endure in exchange for their powers.
As the story unfolds, viewers are confronted with heart-wrenching revelations, uncovering a far more emotionally intense narrative than initially anticipated. Studio Shaft’s anime is a poignant exploration of sacrifice and the true cost of heroism.
16. Kill la Kill
Kill la Kill follows the journey of Ryuko Matoi, a schoolgirl determined to uncover her father’s killer. This quest thrusts her into intense conflicts within Honnouji Academy, where she faces off against Satsuki Kiryuin, the formidable student council president. Later, Ryuko confronts her mother’s fashion business empire, complicating her quest for justice.
Like Gurren Lagann’s impact on mecha anime, Kill la Kill celebrates and subverts the conventions of magical girl anime, pushing its tropes to their extreme limits. It takes familiar elements of the genre and transforms them into something uniquely bold and thrilling.
17. Symphogear
The story starts with an idol singer singing in the audience. As spring arrives, Hibiki Tachibana and Miku Kohinata embark on their first year at Lydian Music Academy, alongside the renowned idol, Tsubasa Kazanari.
Little do they know, their lives are on the brink of a transformative journey. Unaware of the impending awakening, they stand at the threshold of a new chapter filled with unexpected twists and turns, drawing inspiration from elements of yuri, Gurren Lagann, Madoka Magica, and Blue Exorcist.
18. Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya
This magical girl anime, styled after the Fate series, serves as an alternate universe spin-off of Fate/Stay Night, with Illyasviel von Einzbern taking the lead role.
Members of the Mage Association, Rin Tohsaka, and Luviagelita “Luvia” Edelfelt, are assigned the mission of locating and retrieving seven Class Cards, each containing Heroic Spirits.
To aid them in their quest, they are granted the abilities of Ruby and Sapphire, two Kaleidosticks capable of transforming them into magical girls.
19. Wonder Egg Priority
Wonder Egg Priority is a unique anime series created by studio CloverWorks, blending elements of magical girl anime with thought-provoking themes.
Ai Ooto finds herself in a parallel world after accidentally breaking the egg of a mysterious creature. This event is tied to the suicide of her only friend, leaving Ai to help others confront their pain and prevent similar tragedies, with the hope of bringing her lost friend back.
The series creatively explores themes of grief and loss, offering viewers a captivating and introspective journey.
20. Revue Starlight
The story revolves around “Starlight” – a famous dance and song group adored worldwide. It might remind you of Revolutionary Girl Utena.
Karen and Hikari made a promise as kids to perform together on that stage someday. Now they’re both 16.
Karen loves her dance lessons and keeps her promise close. Hikari moved schools and is far from Karen. But fate brings them together again.
The girls and other “Showgirls” will compete in a mysterious audition to join the revue.
Revue Starlight is both silly and dramatic, fantastical and heartfelt, capturing the essence of magical girl anime.
So, these are some magical girl anime you might enjoy adding to your watch list.
