This article is part of a directory: Best Anime of All Time || Game Rant’s Official Best Anime Ranking
Table of contents

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.

15 Yuki Yuna Is A Hero

MyAnimeList: 7.38 (Season 1)

Yuki Yuna Is A Hero anime
Yuki Yuna Is A Hero

Japanese Title
Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru
Release Date
October 17, 2014
Studio
Studio Gokumi
Number of Episodes
37
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , HIDIVE

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.

14 Pretty Cure (Franchise)

MyAnimeList: 7.10 (Futari wa Pretty Cure)

Precure 5 Cures in Healin' Good Precure movie
Pretty Cure

Release Date
February 1, 2004
Studio
Toei Animation, Bandai
Number of Episodes
850+
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Tubi

Pretty Cure is a behemoth of a franchise that is hugely popular in Japan. Debuting in 2004 with a 49-episode series, Pretty Cure is currently on its 18th season, Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure, which features the franchise's 16th generation of Magical Girls.

This anime is mostly designed with children in mind, having an almost Power Rangers-esque quality to its structure. However, the series is surprisingly consistent, delivering likable characters, decent humor, and constantly changing themes. The franchise is also not afraid to touch upon darker ideas, although it is mostly light-hearted and charming.

13 Magical DoReMi

MyAnimeList: 7.34 (Season 1)

Ojamajo Doremi protagonists from left to right: Onpu Sega, Aiko Seno, Doremi Harukaze, Momoko Asuka, and Hazuki Fujiwara.
Magical DoReMi

Japanese Title
Ojamajo Doremi
Release Date
February 7, 1999
Studio
Toei Animation
Number of Episodes
201

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.

12 Shana Of The Burning Eyes

MyAnimeList: 7.45 (Season 1)

Anime Theme Songs Shakugan No Shana
Shakugan no Shana

Release Date
October 6, 2005
Studio
J.C.Staff
Number of Episodes
76
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Funimation , Hulu
Based On
Light Novel
Creator
Yashichiro Takahashi

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.

11 Shugo Chara!

MyAnimeList: 7.40 (Season 1)

Amu Hinamori and Ikuto Tsukiyomi, the main leads of Shugo Chara.
Shugo Chara!

Release Date
October 6, 2007
Studio
Satelight
Number of Episodes
127
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll
Based On
Manga
Creator
Peach-Pit

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.

10 My-HiME

MyAnimeList: 7.41

The main cast of Mai Hime: Mai Tohika, Natsuki Kuga, and Mikoto Minagi.
My-HiME

Japanese Title
Mai-HiME
Release Date
October 1, 2004
Studio
Sunrise
Number of Episodes
26
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Funimation

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.

9 Symphogear

MyAnimeList: 7.03 (Season 1)

symphogear 5
Symphogear

Japanese Title
Senki Zesshou Symphogear
Release Date
January 6, 2012
Studio
Satelight, Encourage Films
Number of Episodes
65
Based On
Manga
Creator
Akifumi Kaneko, Noriyasu Agematsu
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

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.

8 Searching For The Full Moon

MyAnimeList: 7.94

Fullmoon wo Sagashite protagonists Mitsuki Kouyama and Eichi Sakurai.
Searching for the Full Moon

Release Date
April 6, 2002
Studio
Studio Deen
Number of Episodes
52
Based On
Manga
Creator
Arina Tanemura

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.

7 Magic Knight Rayearth

MyAnimeList: 7.46 (Season 1)

The Rayearth Trio: Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki, and Fuu Hououji.
Magic Knight Rayearth

Release Date
October 17, 1994
Studio
Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Number of Episodes
49
Based On
Manga
Creator
Clamp
Streaming Service(s)
Amazon Prime Video , Crunchyroll , Funimation , Tubi

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.

Related
The Greatest Isekai Anime Of All Time (March 2024)
True Isekai fans should make sure they've watched each of these iconic anime from start to finish.

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.

6 Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha

MyAnimeList: 7.41 (Season 1)

Nanoha Takamachi and Fate Testarossa - the main protagonists of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha

Japanese Title
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha
Release Date
October 3, 2004
Studio
Seven Arcs, A-1 Pictures
Number of Episodes
76

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.

5 Princess Tutu

MyAnimeList: 8.14

princess tutu anime
Princess Tutu

Release Date
August 16, 2002
Studio
Hal Film Maker
Number of Episodes
26
Creator
Ikuko Itoh
Streaming Service(s)
Amazon Prime Video , HIDIVE

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.

Related
18 Most Underrated Romance Anime
Some of the most heartwarming and heartbreaking romance anime have flown under the radar. Fans of the genre should check out these underrated gems.

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)

The Sailor Senshi, from left to right: Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Jupiter.
Sailor Moon

Japanese Title
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Release Date
March 7, 1992
Studio
Toei Animation
Number of Episodes
200
Based On
Manga
Creator
Naoko Takeuchi
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu , YouTube

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)

Sakura Kinomoto of Card Captor Sakura.
Cardcaptor Sakura

Release Date
April 7, 1998
Studio
Madhouse
Number of Episodes
70
Creator
Clamp
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

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

Utena Tenjou and Anthy Himemiya of Revolutionary Girl Utena.
Revolutionary Girl Utena

Japanese Title
Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Release Date
April 2, 1997
Studio
J.C.Staff
Number of Episodes
39
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

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.

Related
21 Best LGBTQ+ Anime To Watch During Pride Month
These anime offer just as amazing LGBTQ+ representation and even better stories for viewers to enjoy.

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

Puella Magi Madoka Magica protagonists: Kyoko Sakura, Sayaka Miki, Madoka Kaname, Homura Akemi, and Mami Tomoe.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Japanese Title
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica
Release Date
January 7, 2011
Studio
Shaft
Number of Episodes
12
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Hulu

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.

Winter 2024 Magical Girl Anime

Similar to mecha or idol shows, new Magical Girl anime are rare. Sure, Pretty Cure is nearly always present in some form, and Sailor Moon gets the occasional movie, but these established properties are exceptions. At most, a season might have one or two fresh series that fit the theme, and it is not unusual for multiple quarters to come around with no mahou shoujo content. 2023 was a terrible year for the genre, with the only new show being the disappointing Magical Destroyers.

While it can hardly be worse, 2024 has the potential to be one of the better years for magical girls in a while. Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. has already been announced for the Fall 2024 season, and the source manga is fairly successful. Also, the Winter 2024 season has a single Magical Girl story, albeit one that is an acquired taste.

Gushing Over Magical Girls

Gushing over Magical Girls anime
Gushing Over Magical Girls

MyAnimeList Score
7.53
Japanese Title
Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete
Release Date
January 3, 2024
Studio
Asahi Production
Number of Episodes
13
Based On
Manga
Creator
Akihiro Ononaka
Streaming Service(s)
HIDIVE

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 has garnered more attention than most of its 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 Winter 2024 anime 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 Winter 2024 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, and it even has a few decent action sequences.

More
25 School Anime Everyone Should Watch
Exams, crushes, after-school hijinks — these school anime explore all the ups and downs of life as a student — in ordinary or extraordinary worlds.