As more streaming services include anime in their lineup or are dedicated to anime in their entirety, it's easy to pick up a new series on a whim. Between isekai, iyashikei, historical, and more, the possibilities are endless for what to watch. What remains difficult, unfortunately, is finding a strong and engaging female protagonist.
Women-centric manga, like shojo and josei, isn't lacking in leading ladies, and their growing variety of stories has helped debunk the idea that manga, or any media period, by, for, and about women isn't quality reading. Still, if a fan is lucky enough to find that perfect manga, it's hard not to dream of an anime adaptation in this age of streaming. Every new reader means another new fan, and every new fan means a greater chance that a manga will see a second life on the screen. Here are just a few strong women whose stories deserve the anime treatment.
A Bride's Story - Amir
Amir is a 20-year-old woman who travels across the mountains of Central Asia to begin her new life with her betrothed, who just so happens to be eight years her junior. A Bride's Story follows the genuine love that begins to form between the two, while still devoting time to develop Amir's unfettered personality and its influence on the people around her.
The intricacies of Kaoru Mori's art on screen, combined with an uncommon setting, is sure to pique interest, but it's Amir's character that really drives this slice-of-life story. She is kind, curious, and capable. As she learns the ins and outs of life in this new community, her growing relationships guide readers through the different nomadic groups and their respective cultures. A Bride's Story could easily join the ranks of other historical anime greats, like Vinland Saga and Golden Kamuy, offering audiences a fresh take on a story about staying true to yourself no matter where you are.
The Apothecary Diaries - Maomao
The Apothecary Diaries follows Maomao, a teenage girl forced to work as a lowly servant in the Imperial Palace of Rii. Maomao hoped to keep her head down and quickly finish out her duties in the palace to get back to her normal life. Unfortunately, once Jinshi, the emperor's brother, takes an interest in her abilities, Maomao rises up in the ranks from handmaiden, to food taster, and eventually, reluctant sleuth.
Maomao's quirky fascination with herbs and poisons, along with her scrappy and independent personality, makes for a quickly endearing character. As a result of her difficult upbringing in the red-light district, she's shown to be highly self-motivated throughout the manga and light novels, a quality few women and girls tend to be allowed to portray. Maomao and her eccentricities make her a non-traditional protagonist in this mystery series, and seeing her story on-screen would help show a main character who breaks the mold can still be compelling.
Tail of the Moon - Usagi Momochi
Usagi may come from a ninja family, but her ninja skills weren't exactly top-notch. Fearing she won't amount to much, her grandfather sends her off to marry the leader of the Hanzo clan. Usagi has to stand out from the other suitors vying for Hanzo's affection, but that's not what ultimately comes to define her.
Tail of the Moon gradually shows that Usagi is more than the incompetent, lazy failure that most people write her off as being. She's highly skilled when it comes to medicinal techniques, and she steadily grows in strength and ability to become a worthy ninja. The tonal shift in the series that followed the attack on Iga, where Usagi is originally from, parallels her maturation. If Tail of the Moon were to receive an anime counterpart, Usagi's growing confidence in who she is would be a touching reminder to viewers that they are more than the preconceived notions of others.
Dawn of the Arcana - Nakaba
Married off to prevent continued years of bloodshed, Princess Nakaba finds herself in the enemy's territory. She suddenly begins having premonitions about her new husband's death, but will she do anything to save him, or will she let him die in revenge for the slaughter of her people?
Dawn of the Arcana establishes Nakaba as an outcast in her new home, but she's never reduced to a mere damsel in distress. She is dedicated to ending the legacy of war between the royal families, regardless of what obstacles test her resolve. Romance doesn't diminish her either, instead, it fuels her strategic mind. She retains her agency and acts in defiance as she tries to understand what her new powers mean, where they came from, and how she can use them to protect her family and people.
All of these characters show that courageous, bold, and intelligent female protagonists can and do exist. Their stories are engaging and enthralling, and whether or not they get adapted into anime, they're sure to inspire new stories with multi-dimensional female leads.
