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Anime has a long history of portraying the majority of its female characters as weak, or worse, useless. Most of them are based on being the male protagonist’s love interest or some cute character people can simp on but have no real purpose for the plot. This has reinforced stereotypes and contributed to the idea that women need men to protect them. Or that they’re incapable of doing anything useful except being the pretty trophy waiting at home. And even when they’re not, female anime characters are often mistreated and aren’t given a great storyline or background that could allow viewers to relate to them.

Luckily, things have been changing these last few years, and there are many exceptions in older anime too. The representation of fierce, smart women claiming their well-deserved space among other badass anime characters is growing, and we’re all here for it. We asked fans to choose some of their favorite anime girls. We listed them in no particular order, but we still invite you to upvote the coolest anime women who made watching the show totally worth it!

#1

Hinata Hyuga - "Naruto"

Hinata Hyuga wearing white and blue hoodie

With an intriguing backstory and a shy personality that sounds relatable to every introvert, it’s easy to see why Hinata is so appreciated. Forced into a horrible feud with her sister, she had many reasons to become cruel and bitter, but she managed to stay kind and true to herself despite her past. And it’s so good to witness her growth from a meek child to a confident woman who learns from every fight.

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    #2

    Mirajane Strauss - "Fairy Tail"

    Mirajane Strauss wearing red dress

    Watching Mirajane fight is like watching a magician pull rabbits out of a hat. With her many demon forms (creator Hiro Mashima confirmed she has 72), it’s exciting for new fans to see which one she’ll choose for her next fight. Most viewers loved the rivalry between Mirajane and Erza, as it motivated both of them and contributed to their development.

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    #3

    Erza Scarlet - "Fairy Tail"

    Erza Scarlet wearing armour

    Initially introduced as a terrifying presence who regularly beats up Natsu and Gray to keep the hotheaded pair in line, Erza Scarlet experienced the hardest character development in the series. She is known for her glorious strength, bold attitude, and key role in the Fairy Tail guild. Her past as an enslaved child hardened her, but she overcame life’s hardships and became an honorable and reliable companion for the other characters. She’s pretty popular among the show’s fans, and many people consider her one of the best female anime characters of all time.

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    #4

    Kushina Uzumaki - "Naruto"

    Kushina Uzumaki wearing green white dress

    As an Uzumaki, Kushina was blessed with a strong life force. Her chakra reserves and vitality were tremendous, as were her stamina, healing power, and longevity. Her character got very little screen time but made fans wish to see more of her and glad most of what was shown was her childhood and how she became who she is.

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    #5

    Tsunade - "Naruto"

    Tsunade green wearing kimono

    Tons of fans certainly love her for her pretty appearance, but her talent and hard work got her where she is. Tsunade has unmatched healing powers, to the point she’s able to diagnose conditions at a glance and treat ailments that others deemed impossible to cure. Her skills are so great that Orochimaru believed she could reverse the necrosis-like effects of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

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    #6

    Saber - "Fate/Stay Night"

    Saber wearing armour

    Summoned by Kiritsugu in Fate/Zero and Shirou in Fate/Stay Night, Saber is a heroic warrior invoked to participate in a war between masters and servants who are fighting to accomplish their dreams using the mythical Holy Grail. Without a doubt, she’s the most beloved character from the series as well as the games. Even those who never watched the show will recognize her, as her name and face have become synonymous with the franchise.

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    mulk
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ... "Saber" is her fighter class 8among other opponent: lancer, rider, archer, ...), not her name! She is King Arthur.

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    #7

    Asuna - "Sword Art Online"

    Asuna wearing blue shirt and white suit

    Asuna is depicted as having earned a reputation as a skilled player in-game, which, coupled with her physical attractiveness, has made her a well-known character. Fans get to experience her real-world personal problems and her ability to rise above through determination and perseverance. Add that she underwent the best character development of the series, and you’ll know why she’s so popular.

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    #8

    Rias Gremory - "High School DxD"

    Rias Gremory wearing sport outfit


    Characters like Rias grab attention easily. From backstory to personality, she was represented as so much more than a desirable body, standing as a strong and respected female character. Moreover, Rias has been given quite an impressive development which is always good to find and follow.

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    #9

    Lucy Heartfilia - "Fairy Tail"

    Lucy Heartfilia wearing blue dress

    Among the vast Fairy Tail cast, she’s easily the most fun, balanced and natural heroine, with almost zero cringe moments due to her likability and confident personality. Unlike many other representations in anime, Lucy seems to radiate a genuine beauty from just the way she carries herself and her personal fashion taste. Besides her magical and intellectual abilities, she also possesses excellent combat skills that make her an all-rounder fighter.

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    #12

    Rin Tohsaka - "Fate/Stay Night"

    Rin Tohsaka wearing red shirt

    Rin Tohsaka got her fair share of appreciation from anime fans. Though she is widely admired for her prim and proper ways, it’s a front she puts up to prevent others from prying into her life. She always seems to have this blanket of loneliness over herself, and her backstory has a lot to do with it, making fans relate to her even more. Her past didn’t stop her from training and becoming a clever and talented mage.

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    #13

    Yoruichi Shihouin - "Bleach"

    Yoruichi Shihouin wearing black dress

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    #14

    Touka Kirishima - "Tokyo Ghoul"

    Touka Kirishima wearing barmen outfit

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    #18

    Akeno Himejima - "High School DxD"

    Akeno Himejima wearing red dress

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    #20

    Sinon - "Sword Art Online"

    Sinon wearing brown jacket

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    #25

    Temari - "Naruto"

    Temari wearing brown jacket

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    #26

    Android 18 - "Dragon Ball Super"

    Android 18 wearing pink sport outfit

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    #27

    Shinobu Kocho - "Demon Slayer"

    Shinobu Kocho wearing white kimono and black shirt

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    #32

    Ino Yamanaka - "Naruto"

    Ino Yamanaka wearing yellow shirt

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    #33

    Sailor Moon - "Sailor Moon"

    Sailor Moon wearing school uniform

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    #34

    Sakura Haruno - "Naruto"

    Sakura Haruno wearing red shirt

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    Coryn Hope
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was about to get mad they put Tenten (no hate, but come on, without fillers she would have barely any screentime) but not my girl Sakura!

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    #36

    Sailor Mercury - "Sailor Moon"

    Sailor Mercury wearing school uniform

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    #38

    Sailor Neptune - "Sailor Moon"

    Sailor Neptune wearing school uniform

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    #39

    Kyoka Jiro - "My Hero Academia"

    Kyoka Jiro wearing school uniform

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    #40

    Sailor Pluto - "Sailor Moon"

    Sailor Pluto wearing white shirt

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    #45

    Annie Leonhart - "Attack On Titan"

    Annie Leonhart wearing jacket

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    Alditekim
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You'll need a very strong ice breaker to be able to talk to her. Wink wink...

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    #46

    Olivier Mira Armstrong - "Fullmetal Alchemist"

    Olivier Mira Armstrong wearing blue and black jacket

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    #48

    Soifon - "Bleach"

    Soifon smiling

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    #49

    Kaguya Shinomiya - "Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War"

    Kaguya Shinomiya wearing white shirt

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    #50

    Levy McGarden - "Fairy Tail"

    Levy McGarden wearing yellow dress

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    #51

    Wendy Marvell - "Fairy Tail"

    Wendy Marvell wearing school outfit

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    #53

    Konan - "Naruto Shippuden"

    Konan wearing akatsuki outfit

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    #54

    Cana Alberona - "Fairy Tail"

    Cana Alberona wearing blue dress

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    #55

    Maka Albarn - "Soul Eater"

    Maka Albarn wearing suit

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    #56

    Virgo - "Fairy Tail"

    Virgo wearing maid outfit

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    #57

    Lisanna Strauss - "Fairy Tail"

    Lisanna Strauss wearing blue shirt

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    #58

    Anko Mitarashi - "Naruto Shippuden"

    Anko Mitarashi wearing brown jacket

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    #59

    Rei Ayanami - "Neon Genesis Evangelion"

    Rei Ayanami wearing white outfit

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    #60

    Sailor Saturn - "Sailor Moon"

    Sailor Saturn wearing school outfit

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    #61

    Nobara Kugisaki - "Jujutsu Kaisen"

    Nobara Kugisaki wearing black school uniform

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    #63

    Mitsuha Miyamizu - "Your Name"

    Mitsuha Miyamizu wearing school uniform

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    #64

    Kagome Higurashi - "Inuyasha"

    Kagome Higurashi wearing green uniform

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    #65

    Ryuko Matoi - "Kill La Kill"

    Ryuko Matoi angry

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    #67

    Tatsumaki - "One-Punch Man"

    Tatsumaki wearing black shirt

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    #68

    Yona - "Yona Of The Dawn"

    Yona wearing green hoodie

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    #69

    Yoko Littner - "Gurren Lagann"

    Yoko Littner smiling

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    #71

    Nel Tu - "Bleach"

    Nel Tu wearing green shirt

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    #73

    Mai Valentine - "Yu-Gi-Oh!"

    Mai Valentine wearing purple jacket

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    #74

    Seras Victoria - "Hellsing"

    Seras Victoria wearing brown jacket

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    #75

    C.C. - "Code Geass"

    C.C. wearing white shirt

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    #76

    Rukia Kuchiki - "Bleach"

    Rukia Kuchiki wearing school uniform

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    #77

    Hange Zoë - "Attack On Titan"

    Hange Zoë wearing green and brown outfit

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    #78

    Nefertari Vivi - "One Piece"

    Nefertari Vivi watching

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    #79

    Shinoa Hiragi - "Seraph Of The End"

    Shinoa Hiragi wearing green outfit

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    #80

    Mei Misaki - "Another"

    Mei Misaki wearing school uniform

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    #81

    Morgiana - "Magi: The Labyrinth Of Magic"

    Morgiana wearing white shirt

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    #82

    Megumi Tadokoro - "Food Wars! Shokugeki No Soma"

    Megumi Tadokoro wearing white kimono

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    #83

    Aries - "Fairy Tail"

    Aries angry

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    #84

    Misty - "Pokémon"

    Misty holding pokemon

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    #85

    Tsubaki Nakatsukasa - "Soul Eater"

    Tsubaki Nakatsukasa wearing green outfit

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    #86

    Celty Sturluson - "Durarara!!"

    Celty Sturluson wearing black outfit and helmet

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    #87

    Videl - "Dragon Ball Z"

    Videl wearing white shirt

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    #88

    Evergreen - "Fairy Tail"

    Evergreen wearing green and purple dress

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    #90

    Yumeko Jabami - "Kakegurui"

    Yumeko Jabami wearing red suit

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    #91

    Mai Sakurajima - "Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai"

    Mai Sakurajima wearing red and white shirt

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    #92

    Nejire Hado - "My Hero Academia"

    Nejire Hado wearing school uniform

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    #93

    Maki Zenin - "Jujutsu Kaisen"

    Maki Zenin smiling

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    #94

    Rangiku Matsumoto - "Bleach"

    Rangiku Matsumoto wearing black kimono

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    #95

    Ultear Milkovich - "Fairy Tail"

    Ultear Milkovich wearing blue white dress

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    #96

    Leone - "Akame Ga Kill!"

    Leone smiling

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    #98

    Krul Tepes - "Seraph Of The End"

    Krul Tepes wearing white dress

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    #99

    Aqua - "Konosuba: God's Blessing On This Wonderful World!"

    Aqua wearing blue dress

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    #100

    Tohru Kobayashi - "Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid"

    Tohru Kobayashi wearing blue white dress

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    #101

    Diane - "The Seven Deadly Sins"

    Diane wearing brown dress

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    #103

    Kagura Mikazuchi - "Fairy Tail"

    Kagura Mikazuchi wearing white shirt

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    #104

    Dawn - "Pokémon"

    Dawn wearing black shirt

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    #105

    Mei Terumi - "Naruto"

    Mei Terumi smiling

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    #106

    Kofuku - "Noragami"

    Kofuku wearing white shirt

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    #108

    Shana - "Shakugan No Shana"

    Shana wearing yellow dress

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    #109

    Shirai Kuroko - "A Certain Magical Index"

    Shirai Kuroko wearing white and brown shirt

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    #110

    Madoka Kaname - "Puella Magi Madoka Magica"

    Madoka Kaname wearing white dress

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    #111

    Akemi Homura - "Puella Magi Madoka Magica"

    Akemi Homura wearing school uniform

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    #112

    Mako Mankanshoku - "Kill La Kill"

    Mako Mankanshoku wearing blue shirt and smiling

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    #113

    Tendo Kisara - "Black Bullet"

    Tendo Kisara wearing blue school uniform

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    #114

    Akane Tsunemori - "Psycho-Pass"

    Akane Tsunemori wearing green suit

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    #115

    Raphtalia - "The Rising Of The Shield Hero"

    Raphtalia wearing armour

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    #116

    Xenovia Quarta - "High School DxD"

    Xenovia Quarta wearing white shirt

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    #117

    Megumin - "Konosuba: God's Blessing On This Wonderful World!"

    Megumin wearing brown outfit

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    #118

    Darkness - "Konosuba: God's Blessing On This Wonderful World!"

    Darkness wearing white and yellow armour

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    #119

    Leafa - "Sword Art Online"

    Leafa wearing green dress

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    #120

    Umaru Doma - "Himouto! Umaru-Chan"

    Umaru Doma wearing white shirt and hat

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    #121

    Bishamonten - "Noragami"

    Bishamonten wearing black outfit

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    #122

    Yui - "Sword Art Online"

    Yui wearing pink sweater

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    #123

    Yukino Agria - "Fairy Tail"

    Yukino Agria wearing blue dress

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    #124

    Akiyama Mio - "K-On!"

    Akiyama Mio wearing school uniform

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    #125

    Masami Iwasawa - "Angel Beats!"

    Masami Iwasawa wearing school uniform

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    #126

    Kagura - "Gintama"

    Kagura wearing red kimono

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    #127

    Vanessa Enoteca - "Black Clover"

    Vanessa Enoteca wearing red hat

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    #128

    Shura Kirigakure - "Blue Exorcist"

    Shura Kirigakure wearing black jacket

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    #129

    Sheele - "Akame Ga Kill"

    Sheele wearing purple dress

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    #130

    Yuri Nakamura - "Angel Beats!"

    Yuri Nakamura wearing school uniform

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    #131

    Eto - "Tokyo Ghoul"

    Eto wearing yellow shirt

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    #132

    Yui - "Angel Beats!"

    Yui wearing school uniform and smiling

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    #133

    Ritsu Tainaka - "K-On!"

    Ritsu Tainaka wearing school uniform

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    #134

    Irisviel Von Einzbern - "Fate/Zero"

    Irisviel Von Einzbern wearing white outfit

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    #135

    Yang Xiao Long - "RWBY"

    Yang Xiao Long wearing brown outfit

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    #136

    Hirasawa Yui - "K-On!"

    Hirasawa Yui wearing pink hoodie

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    #137

    Ririchiyo Shirakiin - "Inu X Boku SS"

    Ririchiyo Shirakiin wearing white dress

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    #138

    Alexis Rhodes - "Yu-Gi-Oh! GX"

    Alexis Rhodes wearing blue and white dress

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    #139

    Keiko Ayano - "Sword Art Online"

    Keiko Ayano wearing blue outfit

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    #140

    Nia Teppelin - "Gurren Lagann"

    Nia Teppelin wearing yellow armour

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    #141

    Mami Tomoe - "Puella Magi Madoka Magica"

    Mami Tomoe wearing white dress

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    #142

    Miyuki Takara - "Lucky Star"

    Miyuki Takara wearing red school uniform

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    #143

    Milly Ashford - "Code Geass"

    Milly Ashford wearing white shirt

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    #144

    Nakano Azusa - "K-On!"

    Nakano Azusa wearing yellow school uniform

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    K- THULU
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love it.....RIP the poor people who died in that awful attack at the studio....

    #145

    Kyoko Sakura - "Puella Magi Madoka Magica"

    Kyoko Sakura wearing green and black outfit

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    #146

    Sayaka Miki - "Puella Magi Madoka Magica"

    Sayaka Miki wearing yellow school uniform

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    #147

    Himeko Inaba - "Kokoro Connect"

    Himeko Inaba wearing black suit

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    #148

    Euphemia Li Britannia - "Code Geass"

    Euphemia Li Britannia wearing white and pink dress

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    #149

    Mai Sakurajima - "Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai"

    Mai Sakurajima wearing school uniform

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    #150

    Chizuru Ichinose - "Rent-A-Girlfriend"

    Chizuru Ichinose wearing white shirt

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