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Throughout anime history, we’ve been introduced to strong female leads who easily give male main characters a run for their money. A good anime heroine is as strong as she is beautiful, taking down enemies and handling quests on her own with little to no help. Shows like Sailor Moon, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Jujutsu Kaisen are full of powerful animated women who give a whole new meaning to the phrase “I don’t need a man.” If you’re looking for anime beauties who are heroes in their own right, here’s a list of five that embodies strength, bravery, and independence.
- Faye Valentine: The Honky Tonk Woman
Faye Valentine is femme fatale incarnate. The purple-haired vixen from Cowboy Bebop will steal your heart with her sultry strut right before she steals your wallet. This honky tonk woman is a hardened soul with a troubled past: her thieving, conniving ways and issues with gambling often land her in trouble with criminal masterminds and the law. Faye is a shoot-first-ask-questions-later kinda chick; her savage gun-toting skills and expert piloting make her a valuable asset to Spike and the gang. Although Faye is a loner who prefers to look out for herself, over time she learns to befriend the Bebop crew, coming to their rescue in desperate times of need (especially Spike, who she clashes with the most). Her troubled past forces her to walk through life alone, but deep down, she’s just a lost girl desperately trying to reconnect with her past and find her place in life.
- Mikasa Ackerman: Stoic But Deadly
Mikasa Ackerman is a force to be reckoned with. This raven-haired beauty hails from the hit shonen Attack on Titan and ranks among one of the show’s strongest characters. Mikasa is a member of the Survey Corps, a military branch of soldiers designed to take down flesh-eating Titans. Mikasa is one of few women to join the Survey Corps and quickly becomes one of the most skilled soldiers in her class, climbing the ranks in both maneuvering, weaponry, and hand-to-hand combat. Her tragic past and run-ins with death forced her to tap into her fighting potential at a young age, and she’s been cutting down foes, both male and Titan, ever since. Don’t confuse her stoic, composed demeanor for weakness; she’ll cut you down literally and figuratively if you’re foolish enough to cross her or a loved one. Although she appears cold and withdrawn, Mikasa is driven by love and an overwhelming desire to protect those closest to her.
- Maka Albarn: The Scythe-Wielding Scholar
Maka Albarn is a powerful scythe-wielding teen from Soul Eater with a heart of gold. Her intelligence, masterful scythe skills, and impressive hand-to-hand combat make her one of the top students at Death Weapon Meister Academy, where she trains to become a scythe-meister just like her mother. Although Maka is overpowered by her predominantly male peers, it doesn’t stop her from taking up space; her hard work and dedication to her craft make her a star in her own right and one of the highest-ranking meisters in her class. Maka’s advanced fighting techniques and courageousness make her a challenging adversary, as she uses every inch of her body and soul to wield her gigantic scythe. Her cat-like agility, high-flying acrobatics, and fluid fighting style are used to slay countless foes and elevate both her and her death scythe to new levels. Although her studious nature and short temper make her appear intense, at her core, she’s a selfless and compassionate girl who will stop at nothing to help a friend in need.
- Ryuko Matoi: A Rebel with a Cause
Ryuko Matoi is the star of Studio Trigger’s Kill La Kill. She’s a fierce, headstrong MC who is not easily intimidated, even when the odds are stacked against her. Ryuko’s unrelenting quest to avenge her father’s death lands her in fights throughout her local school district before she arrives at the vicious Honnouji Academy, where she rebels against the strict rule and order of the power-hungry school council. Even though Ryuko’s fierce competitiveness and blunt attitude often land her in trouble and make her a walking target at school, it doesn’t prevent her from speaking her mind and standing up for what’s right. Never one to back down from a fight, she’ll take on any opponent who dares to challenge her or threaten the lives of the innocent, from low-ranking pickpockets to three-star Goku fighters. Over time, Ryuko works her way up from a street-fighting rookie to an elite sword fighter defeating enemies across the school body, including high-ranking school council members. With the help of her super-powered uniform and giant scissor-blade, Ryuko enhances her strength, speed, and agility and quickly proves to the students at Honnouji Academy that she will cut down anyone who stands in the way of her vengeance.
- Asuna Yuuki: The Sword Fighting Prodigy
Asuna Yuuki is a virtual sword-fighting prodigy from Sword Art Online. A master with a rapier, she uses her thin sword to deliver powerful thrusting attacks and hit combos that quickly vanquish her enemies and leave destruction in their wake. Asuna’s headstrong, fierce personality allows her to rush headfirst into danger fearlessly. At one point, she lived her life on the edge, annihilating monsters, and leveling up in SAO without a care in the world. That was until a chance encounter with MC Kirito that changed her life and her perspective of the world forever, softening her into the tender-hearted soul she is today. In addition to being a deadly sword fighter, Asuna is also a loving friend who will do anything to protect her loved ones, even if it means putting herself in harm’s way. Don’t let her beauty or small stature fool you for a second; she’s far from being a damsel in distress. Asuna can take down enemies in a single blow and is easily among the top three strongest characters in the series.
Throughout anime history, we’ve been introduced to strong female leads who easily give male main characters a run for their money. A good anime heroine is as strong as she is beautiful, taking down enemies and handling quests on her own with little to no help. Shows like Sailor Moon, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Jujutsu Kaisen are full of powerful animated women who give a whole new meaning to the phrase “I don’t need a man.” If you’re looking for anime beauties who are heroes in their own right, here’s a list of five that embodies strength, bravery, and independence.
- Faye Valentine: The Honky Tonk Woman
Faye Valentine is femme fatale incarnate. The purple-haired vixen from Cowboy Bebop will steal your heart with her sultry strut right before she steals your wallet. This honky tonk woman is a hardened soul with a troubled past: her thieving, conniving ways and issues with gambling often land her in trouble with criminal masterminds and the law. Faye is a shoot-first-ask-questions-later kinda chick; her savage gun-toting skills and expert piloting make her a valuable asset to Spike and the gang. Although Faye is a loner who prefers to look out for herself, over time she learns to befriend the Bebop crew, coming to their rescue in desperate times of need (especially Spike, who she clashes with the most). Her troubled past forces her to walk through life alone, but deep down, she’s just a lost girl desperately trying to reconnect with her past and find her place in life.
- Mikasa Ackerman: Stoic But Deadly
Mikasa Ackerman is a force to be reckoned with. This raven-haired beauty hails from the hit shonen Attack on Titan and ranks among one of the show’s strongest characters. Mikasa is a member of the Survey Corps, a military branch of soldiers designed to take down flesh-eating Titans. Mikasa is one of few women to join the Survey Corps and quickly becomes one of the most skilled soldiers in her class, climbing the ranks in both maneuvering, weaponry, and hand-to-hand combat. Her tragic past and run-ins with death forced her to tap into her fighting potential at a young age, and she’s been cutting down foes, both male and Titan, ever since. Don’t confuse her stoic, composed demeanor for weakness; she’ll cut you down literally and figuratively if you’re foolish enough to cross her or a loved one. Although she appears cold and withdrawn, Mikasa is driven by love and an overwhelming desire to protect those closest to her.
- Maka Albarn: The Scythe-Wielding Scholar
Maka Albarn is a powerful scythe-wielding teen from Soul Eater with a heart of gold. Her intelligence, masterful scythe skills, and impressive hand-to-hand combat make her one of the top students at Death Weapon Meister Academy, where she trains to become a scythe-meister just like her mother. Although Maka is overpowered by her predominantly male peers, it doesn’t stop her from taking up space; her hard work and dedication to her craft make her a star in her own right and one of the highest-ranking meisters in her class. Maka’s advanced fighting techniques and courageousness make her a challenging adversary, as she uses every inch of her body and soul to wield her gigantic scythe. Her cat-like agility, high-flying acrobatics, and fluid fighting style are used to slay countless foes and elevate both her and her death scythe to new levels. Although her studious nature and short temper make her appear intense, at her core, she’s a selfless and compassionate girl who will stop at nothing to help a friend in need.
- Ryuko Matoi: A Rebel with a Cause
Ryuko Matoi is the star of Studio Trigger’s Kill La Kill. She’s a fierce, headstrong MC who is not easily intimidated, even when the odds are stacked against her. Ryuko’s unrelenting quest to avenge her father’s death lands her in fights throughout her local school district before she arrives at the vicious Honnouji Academy, where she rebels against the strict rule and order of the power-hungry school council. Even though Ryuko’s fierce competitiveness and blunt attitude often land her in trouble and make her a walking target at school, it doesn’t prevent her from speaking her mind and standing up for what’s right. Never one to back down from a fight, she’ll take on any opponent who dares to challenge her or threaten the lives of the innocent, from low-ranking pickpockets to three-star Goku fighters. Over time, Ryuko works her way up from a street-fighting rookie to an elite sword fighter defeating enemies across the school body, including high-ranking school council members. With the help of her super-powered uniform and giant scissor-blade, Ryuko enhances her strength, speed, and agility and quickly proves to the students at Honnouji Academy that she will cut down anyone who stands in the way of her vengeance.
- Asuna Yuuki: The Sword Fighting Prodigy
Asuna Yuuki is a virtual sword-fighting prodigy from Sword Art Online. A master with a rapier, she uses her thin sword to deliver powerful thrusting attacks and hit combos that quickly vanquish her enemies and leave destruction in their wake. Asuna’s headstrong, fierce personality allows her to rush headfirst into danger fearlessly. At one point, she lived her life on the edge, annihilating monsters, and leveling up in SAO without a care in the world. That was until a chance encounter with MC Kirito that changed her life and her perspective of the world forever, softening her into the tender-hearted soul she is today. In addition to being a deadly sword fighter, Asuna is also a loving friend who will do anything to protect her loved ones, even if it means putting herself in harm’s way. Don’t let her beauty or small stature fool you for a second; she’s far from being a damsel in distress. Asuna can take down enemies in a single blow and is easily among the top three strongest characters in the series.
Abbott Elementary, a mockumentary style show that depicts faculty and staff at a predominantly Black school based in Philadelphia — and affectionately called The Office for Black people — is nominated for five award categories for this year’s Emmys, and I couldn’t be happier.
Yes, I am happy because of the great comedic writing that is recognized as well as the performances of Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Janelle James being recognized. However, I am especially happy that a series that centers on an underrepresented profession — teaching — is receiving well-deserved recognition.
The profession amongst Black people that tends to be the most written about and given the most air time are of those in entertainment or in positions of power. For example, Lee Daniels’ trajectory from centering stories on low income Black folks in his films Precious and The Butler heavily shifted to the storylines that I believe he thought would garner him the most success in television: Black wealth in shows like Empire, Star, and Our Kind of People. The only show that ended up receiving any Emmy nominations in the show’s five-year run was Empire.
In Abbott Elementary, which is heavily inspired by showrunner and acting lead Quinta Brunson’s mother’s life as a teacher, they make clear how underfunded and underappreciated teachers are, and it received five Emmy nominations within its first season. It steps away from any “savior” narratives often given to teacher characters in entertainment media, and it also shows realistically how class affects teachers’ personal lives and the type of resources necessary for their classrooms.
I continue to use Lee Daniels as an example because in both his films about low-income Black folks and shows about wealthy Black folks, there is a “pull yourself up by bootstrap in the midst of your Black trauma” narrative that skirts the line of exploitation. While displaying the realities of what teachers go through, Abbott Elementary is able to make joy and humor the centerpoint of each episode. It is proof the Emmys and other entertainment award committees must continue to believe Black consumers when we say we want more Black joy on screen. This show is not a story of exploitation of Black trauma; in fact, it critiques how often teachers and their stories are exploited.
Quinta Brunson even took to Twitter naming how often people have begged her to write an episode about gun violence in Abbott Elementary, and she says no. She highlights, “People are that deeply removed from demanding more of the politicians they’ve elected and are instead demanding ‘entertainment.’” Amidst Abbott Elementary’s success, I’m proud to know that Brunson doesn’t put her show on a pedestal to “teach” audience members through harmful plots even though some viewers have pressured, and continue to pressure, her to do so.
In an interview with Trevor Noah, he names his excitement and hope for viewers pushing for teachers to get higher pay, which I believe is a much better focus than hoping for a “shooter episode.” Brunson and her colleagues and co-stars are doing their jobs in portraying entertainment’s impact and what it means to use entertainment for good.
Given Brunson’s early starts in viral videos as well as a high profile online site such as Buzzfeed, I believe it must have been tempting for her to fall into popular narratives when approached to greenlight a television series. But she takes a new narrative around an underrepresented profession while celebrating harmless archetypes such as the “will they/won’t they” plot for Brunson and Williams’ characters; this is further proof why “The Office for Black people” is a phrase of endearment and not one that is patronizing.
It’s refreshing to see a range of Black actors and showrunners get nominated in general. Personally, in my time watching the Emmys, I have seen more Black actors in the Drama category than the Comedy category. As valid as it is to show stories of Black drama, most of the time it’s also the same narrative over and over again: pain. Seeing Black actors nominated for Comedy in Abbott Elementary, Ted Lasso, and Insecure feels really good considering how hard these couple of years have been globally.
Finally, this joy I have for Abbott Elementary’s success is not only coming from me as a Black viewer, but also a Black person in a social work profession that is in service to my community and as a Black person who grew up seeing my mother work as a teacher. Abbott Elementary celebrates teachers, principals, cafeteria staff, janitorial staff, freelance teaching artists — virtually anyone in connection and in service to the community of a public school. My mother is now a principal, and I’m so proud of her. (Mom, I love you, is this enough to convince you to finally watch the show? Please say yes!)
Stay tuned for the Emmys September 12th live on NBC.
Originally created as a light novel series that launched online back in 2017, I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss by author Sarasa Nagase and artist Mai Murasaki was popular enough to yield a manga adaptation also published through Yen Press. The series delves into the popular ‘reincarnated in a villainess character’ that is so popular in the isekai genre and features a young woman who realizes that she’s now living inside the world of one of her favorite otome games–as the villainess baddie who dies a horrific death!
Now as Aileen, the wicked noblewoman, she’ll have to work fast to change gears on the destruction coming and her bad ending! Her engagement to the prince ends unceremoniously so she’s placing her bets on the final boss character, a young man shrouded in mystery and interesting backstory. Throw in how our heroine doesn’t quite remember the timing of all the major plot points: she foolishly throws herself into the new plan: seduce the Demon King and avoid a bad ending!
While I have not gotten around to reading the original light novels, I have, however, read and devoured the short manga adaptation. While the author did announce a year ago, on their Twitter account that an anime adaption was in production, it is only recently that we’re getting a trailer. Finally seeing the trailer for the upcoming anime series coming later this year made me think back on the quite charming, hilarious, and memorable series that I read and think about what I’m looking forward to seeing the most in its newer adaptation.
Very minor spoilers to follow
SCENE #1: Aileen and Claude’s First Meeting
Sure we get a glimpse of it in the trailer but I think the full scene of Alieen and Claude’s first meeting will be such a hilarious treat to behold when animated. Our heroine’s memory is fuzzy on some of the details of the game’s narrative but remembers Claude’s backstory and knows that he’s not a character to underestimate. She’s set on avoiding the bad ending at all costs. Her strongest memories of past play-throughs of the game means she remembers she met ridiculous ends as a villainess noblewoman who has bullied the “true” heroine of the series. Aileen always met such an end while still trying to get back into her previous fiancé’s good graces. But she’s never played through a route where the wicked villainess was an ally or attached to the not-quite-a-villain Demon King Claude. It is their first meeting that establishes that this mysterious young man who has been outed from society isn’t an evil person and yet he is not one to mess with either. Folks who are looking forward to the anime should be looking forward to how their hilarious, high energy first meeting is adapted, and the start of the dynamic relationship!
SCENE #2: The Start of Claude’s Castle Repairs
Aileen and Claude do get mixed up with each other and her hanging around actually does Claude some good: he’s getting some much-needed repairs done to his imposing but squandering castle and surrounding land that is in need of some serious TLC. Through Alieen, she opens up the doors and brings in a fantastic crew of humans to work with the Demon King’s demons to make a plan for not just the castle’s restoration but some ideas on how to make this little fief some commerce. This chapter in the manga brings in some interesting characters from different walks of life, and everyone’s work helps bring some legitimacy to the demon King’s land. I have a feeling that folks watching the anime will get a kick out of all the personalities of the kingdom’s finest who come to aid Aileen at her request and all the fun commotion that happens when the demons and humans start interacting and working together.
SCENE #3: Aileen’s Being Loved On By The Demon King’s Entourage
Even from the trailer you can imagine that Aileen doesn’t make the best first impression on Claude and his followers. That slowly changes starting with several of the young magical creatures and smaller demons that she can bully talk about doing small errands for her–all for the sake of their lord–into doing her work. From a certain flying creature with a sassy mouth who ends up loving sweets to some juvenile magical creatures Aileen saves from snobby nobles, she earns the adoration of the Demon King’s followers. And for some of them, even their begrudging respect as they start to understand that she values their lives even though they live in a kingdom where they along with Claude are persecuted mercilessly by humans. It doesn’t happen overnight and folks who are looking forward to watching the anime will be pleased with all the fighting and bonding Alieen does with the demonic crew to gain their affection and get work done.
SCENE #4: Aileen’s Entrance at the Castle’s Soiree
Towards the end of the short manga series and strumming up to the rising action for the climax of the story, Alieen who is still a noble, must attend a swanky ball at the castle. In the original story from the otome game played, it is a big event where Alieen attends in an effort to win back the affections of the Crown Prince Cedric. Now that the story has changed greatly, she’s now forced to attend by the Crown Prince in an effort to shame her publicly. But she still chooses to go, she still has her pride as a noble and doesn’t want to back down to the dimwit whom she was once in loved with! Plus, she’s hoping to make sure Claude’s reputation doesn’t get any more mud thrown on it. Folks who watch the anime adaptation will LOVE these episodes as there is so much to love: Alieen’s dress, her entrance into the castle, the big showdown fought with words, and a certain someone making everywhere swoon!
SCENE #5: THE FINAL BATTLE, OF COURSE!
Obviously, you should have seen this one coming, right? While there’s one big glaring trope that I hate that takes place in the final volume that leads up to the big finale, the final battle is a layered one with different players and is not to be missed! I think what I loved most about the final battle and the high stakes raised is that Aileen, as a character, continues to shine in a way that reminded me why I was rooting for her so much. While I didn’t become emotionally attached to every character on the page when reading the manga, I was reminded of why cheering on the under dogs is king. I believe the final battle from the manga also had some really insightful narrative meat on what it means not just on what it means to be a ‘heroine” but also a “main character”. Roles, tropes, and stories get subverted all the time, and I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss‘s final chapter being animated will be one that I look forward to watching the most for these characters I loved following around on the page. I can’t wait to watch the anime later this year and hope you’re anticipating it too!
As reported by The Anime Network, the anime adaptation is directed by Kumiko Habara and written by Kenta Ihara, with music by Natsumi Tabuchi, Hanae Nakamura, Miki Sakurai, Sayaka Aoki, and Kanade Sakuma. Maho Film is responsible for the series animation.
I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss premieres this October.
Cover via Anime Geek
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The post 5 Scenes I’m Looking Forward to in the Upcoming ‘I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss’ Anime appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.