Best Magical Girl Anime

Anyone who’s ever watched anime long enough will encounter a random girl tasked to save the world with magical powers. At its core, Magical Girl anime depicts seemingly ordinary schoolgirls balancing their daily activities at school and shenanigans with friends with the impending doom of the world as they know it.

However, just because the Magical Girl genre has a few tropes and cliches doesn’t mean each show is the same. Some of the best Mahou Shoujo anime expand these concepts further, subvert expectations, and tell some incredibly gripping stories. While not as popular as some other themes, this genre has produced plenty of greats over the decades, and that trend will hopefully continue indefinitely.

Kill la Kill
has been left out as it is, at best, a borderline member of the Magical Girl genre. That said, action fans should check out Trigger’s series as it is awesome.

Updated April 29, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The Spring 2024 anime season is underway, and it contains no conventional Magical Girl story except for Wonderful Precure!, which debuted in Winter. Consequently, fans of the genre will need to get creative to get their fill of Mahou Shoujo goodness. So, let’s highlight a couple of shows that kind of fit as long as the criteria are bent ever so slightly.

Date a Live 5 features roughly a billion Spirits, which are Magical Girls in everything but name. Now, the protagonist is a guy who has to make every Spirit fall in love with him, which hurts this recommendation considerably. Still, Date a Live has been a fun harem ride since its opening episode, so it is worth a watch in its own right.

The Irregular at Magic High School features plenty of girls who use magic, even if they don’t typically transform. The same can be said for a slew of Spring 2024’s fantasy and harem anime, especially Unnamed Memory (fantastic female lead), An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride (surprisingly cute romance), and A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics (reverse isekai with powerful girls).

Meanwhile, Whisper Me a Love Song, The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio, Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night, and Girls Band Cry are good picks for yuri relationships (Whisper and, at a stretch, Voice Actor Radio) or female-focused friendships (everything else).

16 Yuki Yuna Is A Hero

MyAnimeList: 7.38 (Season 1)

Producing three main seasons, Yuki Yuna is a Hero has proven to have quite a bit of staying power. The Magical Girl series tends to be compared to Puella Magi Madoka Magica, albeit Yuki Yuna is a less bleak show overall. Set in a world with deities, a school’s Hero Club members are charged with protecting the world from monsters.

Yuki Yuna‘s characters are its strongest point as the anime dedicates a great deal of time to exploring the girls’ lives outside their heroic duties. It develops them as people, making it quite easy to relate to or at least like these characters.

15 Magical DoReMi

MyAnimeList: 7.34 (Season 1)

When anime fans hear Magical Girls, they often think of a trio of superpowered schoolgirls and Magical DoReMi fits that description perfectly. Doremi Harukaze, a third-grader living in the fictional town of Misora, stumbles upon the magic shop named Mahodo. After she discovers that its owner Majo Rika, is a witch frog, the latter makes Doremi her apprentice to help her return to human form.

Doremi finds companions in the form of her best friends who also become witch apprentices. At first, the trio need to pass nine different tests to become full witches and break the curse on Majo Rika. However, the trio eventually faces various threats, including an evil witch apprentice, with the fate of the world at stake.

14 Shana Of The Burning Eyes

MyAnimeList: 7.45 (Season 1)

Most commonly known as Shakugan no Shana, this anime envisions a realm that exists alongside Earth, one defined by an endless war between people who seek personal gain at the expense of balance and those who try to stop them. One day, Yuuji is saved by a mystery girl he calls Shana, and the former is informed that he is no longer alive. Joining Shana in her fight to preserve both worlds, the two steadily form a relationship.

Shakugan no Shana has a weak opening arc, but the anime picks up considerable steam as it goes along. The Magical Girl anime focuses heavily on Shana and Yuuji’s romance, so much so that it serves as the story’s heart.

13 Shugo Chara!

MyAnimeList: 7.40 (Season 1)

Amu Hinamori of Shugo Chara! is recognizable for her iconic pink hair and punk-ish attitude. What her classmates think is a “cool and spicy” look hides her rather introverted self. When she wishes to gain the confidence needed to fulfill her popular exterior, she finds three eggs that hatch as three Guardian Characters — Ran, Miki, and Su. As a Guardian, Amu can beseech the help of Ran, Miki, and Su to help her discover her true self.

As the anime evolves, Amu also encounters other Guardians, each with their own Guardian Characters and abilities. And while Shugo Chara! has its own blend of unique action, its greatest strength lies in its story about self-discovery.

12 My-HiME

MyAnimeList: 7.41

What if there existed a school that teaches girls how to become Magical Girls? My-HiME explores this concept in detail. The story centers are HiMEs, or girls with the ability to materialize photons, that reside in Fuka Academy for a secret purpose. Protagonist Mai Tokiha soon discovers she’s a HiME and bonds with a Child, a mecha with spiritual properties. Mai, alongside 11 others, are tasked to save the world from Orphans, creatures with abilities similar to the HiME’s children.

My-HiME has a lot to do with the complex personalities of each character. As other HiMEs manifest around Mai, their various goals affect their desire to protect their world. In the end, Mai and the others become entangled in a fate tied to their very nature as HiMEs.

11 Gushing Over Magical Girls

MyAnimeList 7.71

Gushing Over Magical Girls
is for adults only. The anime goes to some very dark and perverse places.

The Mahou Shoujo genre tends to struggle to convince new viewers to try out its latest representatives. Similar to mecha, new Magical Girl anime are rarely among their season’s most-viewed series, at least in Western countries. Although hardly comparable to Solo Leveling, Frieren, or even Delicious in Dungeon, Gushing Over Magical Girls garnered more attention than most of its Winter 2024 contemporaries, and it might even encourage some people to try out other Magical Girls stories. As exciting as that prospect sounds, it is also worth noting that Asahi Production’s series is very far removed from traditional entries in the genre, despite still covering quite a few ideas synonymous with popular Mahou Shoujo anime.

Gushing Over Magical Girls is an ecchi anime, which means a lot of fanservice. In fact, the series is a prime contender for the industry’s spiciest release ever, with most episodes including scenes that go well beyond what is typically shown in these types of series. The story follows Utena, a girl who has a “crush” on her city’s Magical Girls. One day, she is approached by a sinister mascot, who thrusts her into a life of villainy. Initially resistant, Utena gradually begins to embrace her new powers, and she uses them to explore her sadistic fantasies.

While not a deconstruction of its genre, Gushing Over Magical Girls is definitely an atypical representative. That said, these shows often tell coming-of-age stories that touch upon their characters’ sexualities, which is also true for this series. It just takes things in a wildly different direction. The ecchi moments might hog the limelight, but Gushing Over Magical Girls is also a competent comedy with a few decent action sequences.

10 Symphogear

MyAnimeList: 7.03 (Season 1)

A sci-fi shonen series revolving around idols who use the power of song to defeat aliens, Symphogear starts out fairly messy but steadily finds its footing as an unapologetically over-the-top and fun action fest. Technically, the show’s heroines are idols, but they are basically Magical Girls that sing. Producing five seasons, the franchise improves with each new cour, culminating in the genuinely fantastic Symphogear XV.

Showing its battle shonen origins, Symphogear pulls out all the stops for its fight sequences, which are consistently great. Even though the characters and storytelling take a while to become truly engaging, they are never really dull either.

9 Searching For The Full Moon

MyAnimeList: 7.94

Searching For The Full Moon is a rather unique take on the Magical Girl genre. The series does not focus on action nor does it have the protagonist constantly going up against supernatural threats; however, a magical event is the story’s driving force, and it does come with a transformation. The anime stars Mitsuki Koyama, a 12-year-old who wants to become a singer. Sadly, her sarcoma makes her dream impossible. To make things worse, two Shinigami tell Mitsuki she has only a year left to live.

Seeing her wishes, the two Shinigami strike a deal with her. If she agrees to die peacefully after a year, she can become a 16-year-old to partake in the auditions to become an idol. In turn, Mitsuki begins wowing her audiences as the mysterious Fullmoon. This is only the beginning of a rather sad and heart-wrenching tale that is sure to keep fans watching until the end.

8 Magic Knight Rayearth

MyAnimeList: 7.46 (Season 1)

Magic Knight Rayearth begins as ordinary as other Magical Girl anime would. Three friends in eighth grade — Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu — get embroidered in the affairs of Cephiro, an alternate world influenced by one’s will. The creature Mokona asks for their help in saving Princess Emeraude, the Pillar and guardian of Cephiro, from the evil Zagato.

Through Mokona’s help, the trio gains access to unique element-based magic to awaken the Rune-Gods which are mecha they pilot to pursue their path to saving Cephiro and the world. Rayearth’s blending of elements from the Magical Girl, isekai, and mecha genres helps it stand out from the pack as one of the greats, and there are no other shows that offer a similar blend. More importantly, all three leads are strong characters in their own right, and they grow quite a bit throughout the story.

7 Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha

MyAnimeList: 7.41 (Season 1)

When elementary schoolgirl Nanoha Takamichi rescues an injured ferret, she’s soon thrust into a world of mystery and magic. This ferret reveals himself to be Yuno Scrya, an archaeologist-mage from the parallel universe of Midchilda. Yuno seeks Nanoha’s help in retrieving 21 Jewel Seeds that can turn their hosts into monsters upon contact.

While Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha shares some similar elements with Cardcaptor Sakura, the former’s story evolves into something else entirely. What begins as a cheerful premise soon evolves into a more complicated story with plot twists and darker elements. The first season can be a bit rough to get through, but Nanoha improves with each new cour.

6 Pretty Cure (Franchise)

MyAnimeList: 7.10 (Futari wa Pretty Cure)

Pretty Cure is kind of a weird franchise. With over 20 seasons and 1000 episodes, PreCure is undoubtedly a cornerstone of the Magical Girl genre, if not downright its most decorated property; however, it has never quite garnered the same international appeal as Sailor Moon, Madoka Magica, or Cardcaptor Sakura. The series has a reputation for being a kids’ show, a statement that, while not untrue, sells it short. Also, newcomers might feel hesitant to jump into a new season due to the franchise’s longevity, even though each entry does its own thing and can be appreciated in isolation.

With generally solid action, likable characters, and decent animation, Pretty Cure is reliable and comforting. Not every property must push the envelope, and there is a lot to be said for a franchise that can constantly deliver predictable but enjoyable entertainment. If someone is not sure where to start, they can just jump into the latest series (Wonderful PreCure!) or start with the original season (simply entitled Pretty Cure). Alternatively, they can pick one of the best entries like HeartCatch, Tropical-Rouge! or Hugtto!

5 Princess Tutu

MyAnimeList: 8.14

An early 2000s classic, Princess Tutu is a well-written fairy tale with a twist. The anime follows Ahiru, a duck who transforms into a girl that can become the magical Princess Tutu. Ahiru’s reason for being is to save a prince, a journey that’s far more complicated than it sounds.

Princess Tutu is a one-of-a-kind show that combines surreal imagery, complex themes of identity and free will, and unique choreography centered around ballet. While the show’s animation leaves something to be desired at times, Princess Tutu‘s fantastic story and characters more than make up for any shortcomings.

4 Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

MyAnimeList: 7.73 (Season 1)

Anyone who imagines a Magical Girl and thinks of a superpowered girl in a sailor uniform should perhaps credit this trope to Sailor Moon. In this series, schoolgirl Usagi Tsukino becomes Sailor Moon, while her friends become Sailor Soldiers associated with other planets. Usagi and the Sailor Soldiers fight various intergalactic threats as they protect the coveted Silver Crystal.

Perhaps the most popular Magical Girl anime ever, Sailor Moon pretty much defined a ton of tropes associated with the genre. Aside from cute uniforms, Sailor Moon started the trend toward awesome transformation sequences too. Nowadays, the original seasons can be slightly difficult to fully appreciate as they are unsurprisingly dated, although they are still filled with likable characters, decent humor, and compelling melodrama. The show’s core romance is iconic but also polarizing. Newcomers who want something a touch more modern should check out Sailor Moon Crystal, which is borderline underrated.

3 Cardcaptor Sakura

MyAnimeList: 8.16 (Original Series)

In Cardcaptor Sakura, elementary schoolgirl Sakura Kinomoto accidentally unleashes powerful magical cards into the world. After a scolding from cutesy card guardian Kero (Cerberus), he enlists Sakura’s help in retrieving the missing cards. In turn, Sakura spends every episode investigating supernatural phenomena that may tie to one of the many Clow Cards. With the support of her best friend Tomoyo Daidouji and her rival Syaoran Li, Sakura uses various sealing magics to retrieve new Clow Cards. Sometimes, she even seeks their help to mitigate the threats of other violent Cards.

Cardcaptor Sakura is a cult classic that has aged shockingly well, arguably better than other ’90s classics like Sailor Moon. While certainly targeting a younger audience, the show has fairly mature writing throughout, and it balances action, drama, romance, and comedy absurdly well. The Clear Card sequel is also pretty darn great, although newcomers should start with the 1998 show (and don’t skip the movies).

2 Revolutionary Girl Utena

MyAnimeList: 8.20

Revolutionary Girl Utena explores the adventures of Utena Tenjou, a teenage orphan who wants to fulfill her childhood desire of becoming a prince. Her skills with the sword and her strong will bring her to a world filled with rivals and fierce sword duels. She embarks on a journey to win the hand of Anthy Himemiya, the “Rose Bride” who apparently can revolutionize the world.

As with other unique Magical Girl anime of the time, Utena gained praise from critics with its exploration of various tropes like self-discovery and identity. The anime is particularly known for deconstructing the prince fairytale genre and even tackles queer topics and feminism uniquely.

1 Puella Magi Madoka Magica

MyAnimeList: 8.36

What would someone sacrifice in the name of saving the world? In Puella Magi Madoka Magica, fans of the Magical Girl genre will see quite a typical premise of adventure. Schoolgirl Madoka Kaname and her friends in middle school make a supernatural contract to gain magical abilities. In turn, they’re tasked to hunt down Witches and save the world. But not all is as it seems.

Madoka Magica gained critical acclaim for subverting many conventions associated with the theme, although it was hardly the first Magical Girl anime to take a dark turn. That said, it executed this type of story better than any other show. In particular, Madoka Magica explores the untold dangers and sacrifices Magical Girls have to take in exchange for the powers they seek. Viewers will quickly find that the show is a far more heartbreaking tale than they initially imagined.