10 Most Badass Female Characters From Anime

These ladies gave their enemies, and stereotypes, the female-powered boot.

By Saam Hasan /

Over the decades, some of the most badass women on television have come from anime. Despite overwhelmingly male casts, these ladies have stood head and shoulders above those around them, and done so with an abundant display of might.

From uncompromising military leaders, to outlaws forced into such a life by childhood tragedy, to those willing to take on any enemy for the sake of their loved ones, the source of their courage is varied, but the end result is the same.

And sure, anime do tend to have a checkered history when it comes how they depict their female characters. Shounen anime, in particular, have often come in for intense scrutiny over the blatant and pointless sexualization of women. However, these girls well and truly overcame the restraints of chainmail bikinis and made sure they were remembered for their actions and heroics only.

Lastly, a couple of disclaimers before starting: subjectivity and of course spoilers. In addition, there will only be one character from any single show. With all that out of the way, let’s charge into the heat of this female dominated battle.

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10. Revy - Black Lagoon

Anyone who happens to be involved in the profession of modern day piracy and mercenaries, has to be quite a tough customer. It goes without saying, they have to clear a certain bar when it comes battle prowess, strength, and daring. Revy takes all that and turns it up to 1100.

Part of a battle-hardened, sea-borne mercenary crew, Revy often serves as the vanguard of the group. From hand to hand brawls, to naval battles, she is an indispensable component of the team. Her skills include just about anything that shoots and can be used to kill someone.

It’s also not just her limbs that wound the enemy, but her tongue too. Over time, she has produced a plethora of memorable dialogues and one liners that her opponent at a loss for words.

Of course, action alone cannot make a character. Revy’s persona, despite the violent and foul mouthed nature, is built around a strong emotional core. She only got to where she is, after an entire childhood’s worth of struggle and trauma, including having to shoot her own abusive dad.

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