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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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#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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#10

Winry Rockbell - "Fullmetal Alchemist"

Winry Rockbell smiling

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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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#19

Himiko Toga - "My Hero Academia"

Himiko Toga smiling

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#20

Sinon - "Sword Art Online"

Sinon wearing brown jacket

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#22

Mikasa Ackerman - "Attack On Titan"

Mikasa Ackerman wearing black jacket

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#24

Toph Beifong - "Avatar: The Last Airbender"

Toph Beifong wearing green shirt

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#25

Temari - "Naruto"

Temari wearing brown jacket

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#27

Shinobu Kocho - "Demon Slayer"

Shinobu Kocho wearing white kimono and black shirt

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#28

Uraraka Ochako - "My Hero Academia"

Uraraka Ochako wearing pink outfit

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#30

Izumi Curtis - "Fullmetal Alchemist"

Izumi Curtis wearing white shirt

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#31

Sakura Kinomoto - "Cardcaptor Sakura"

Sakura Kinomoto smiling

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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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#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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#41

Violet Evergarden - "Violet Evergarden"

Violet Evergarden wearing black jacket

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#44

Shoko Nishimiya - "A Silent Voice"

Shoko Nishimiya wearing yellow shirt

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#45

Annie Leonhart - "Attack On Titan"

Annie Leonhart wearing jacket

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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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#62

Momo Yaoyorozu - "My Hero Academia"

Momo Yaoyorozu wearing brown sweater

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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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#66

Historia Reiss - "Attack On Titan"

Historia Reiss wearing brown jacket

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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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#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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#107

Nanami Momozono - "Kamisama Kiss"

Nanami Momozono 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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#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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