Usagi Tsukino is a 14-year-old girl in junior high. She’s whiny, ditzy, and a crybaby. A lot of the time, she fails her tests, and her family always scolds her. However, after a bad day, Usagi is surprised to encounter a black cat that can talk! Luna, the cat, grants Usagi the ability to transform into Sailor Moon in order to protect the world from the Dark Kingdom and its evil ruler, Queen Beryl.
Of course, Usagi can’t do it alone, and there are others who will help her on the way.
Everyone doesn’t know anime, but Sailor Moon is. Besides being one of the most popular anime series of all time, it has also become a worldwide phenomenon. One of the world’s most popular female superheroes is Sailor Moon.
In addition to being so recognizable, Sailor Moon has left a legacy in the media world. Sailor Moon inspired many other shows and magical girl anime.
You’re in luck if you like Sailor Moon! Sailor Moon has inspired tons of other shows.
1. Tokyo Mew Mew
The day Ichigo Momomiya went out with her crush, Masaya Aoyama should have ended in a more romantic way than when she fell asleep after seeing a vision of a cat entering her body. As it turns out, the following day, she begins displaying cat-like behaviors, such as a strong desire for fish. During an attack by a monster, Masaya discovers that she can transform into Mew Ichigo, a cat-eared magical girl.
When she saves Masaya, two researchers named Ryou Shirogane and Keiichiro Akasaka approach her and tell her that they have injected her with Iriomote Cat DNA in order to make a magical girl that can protect the world from aliens. Ichigo is responsible for fighting these monsters, but saving the world proves too much for her.
The good news is that Ichigo learns there are four other girls just like her, and if she wants to stop the aliens from taking over the planet, she must find them quickly.
Unlike most shows, Tokyo Mew Mew is just adult and serious enough to appeal to adults but youthful enough to appeal to children.
2. Cardcaptor Sakura
Sakura Kinomoto is an everyday fourth-grade student living in Tomoeda until she stumbles upon a mysterious book of cards titled “The Clow.” Pondering over her discovery, she causes a magical wind gust to scatter the cards.
The accident awakens the Beast of the Seal, Keroberos, nicknamed “Kero,” who informs Sakura that the mystical “Clow Cards” created by Clow Reed have been released. Since each Card could act independently and had incredible power, Clow had sealed them away. As the Cards have been set free, they pose a great threat to the world, and Sakura must stop them.
She is appointed as the “Cardcaptor” and granted the Sealed Key in order to find and reclaim all of the Clow Cards. While taking flight in her magical adventures as Cardcaptor Sakura, Sakura must balance her new secret duty with the everyday troubles she faces with her best friend, Tomoyo Daidouji.
Cardcaptor Sakura is perhaps the best mahou shoujo anime produced.
3. Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
Sayaka Miki and Madoka Kaname are ordinary middle schoolers, but everything changes when they meet Kyuubey, a magical familiar like a cat, and Homura Akemi, a new transfer student.
Kyuubey proposes them a deal: he will grant their wishes in exchange for becoming magical girls with enough power to fulfill their dreams. Homura Akemi, a magical girl herself, warns them not to accept the offer, saying everything isn’t as it seems.
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica is a story of hope, despair, and friendship based on the struggles of being a magical girl, as well as the price that must be paid to achieve one’s goals.
A well-planned, carefully executed sequence of events introduces the story to the audience, as well as reveals important plot elements. Whenever this happens, viewers are glued to their seats as they wonder what is happening.
They follow unpredictable patterns. Although the characters are intriguing, and the art will captivate you, the plot is undoubtedly the most intriguing aspect of the series.
4. Princess Tutu
The clumsy, lovely, and gentle Ahiru seems an unlikely protagonist in a fairy tale come to life. Because Ahiru is really a duck, she is just as magical as the talking cats and crocodiles that inhabit her town. Having been transformed into a human girl by the mysterious Drosselmeyer, Ahiru soon discovers why she exists.
With the help of her magical egg-shaped pendant, Ahiru can transform into Princess Tutu – a beautiful and talented ballet dancer whose dances soothe people’s hearts. She accepts the challenge with her newfound ability to collect the shards of her prince’s heart, which he had broken long ago to seal away an evil raven for all time.
The story of Princess Tutu is about heroes and their struggle against fate. This fairy tale’s “happily ever after” will be determined by their beliefs, feelings, and actions.”
All characters are believable, feel real, and evolve throughout the story. Even secondary characters show a glowing spirit that many main characters wish they had. If you allow yourself to, you will be able to feel a strong bond and sympathy for those characters, even those you didn’t expect.
5. Shugo Chara!
As a shy girl, Amu Hinamori has difficulty making new friends due to rumors spread about her “cool and spicy” personality. Wishing she could demonstrate her “would-be” self, Amu wakes up to the presence of three colorful and elaborately decorated eggs.
In each “Hearts Egg,” there is a “Guardian Character” -a manifestation of what someone’s would-be self would look like. With Ran, Miki, and Su’s help, Amu is now able to express who she really is.
Seiyo Elementary Guardians, a group of student council-like members who each possess their own Guardian Characters, take notice of Amu’s sudden appearance of her Guardian Characters. They enlist Amu to help them find X Eggs that are corrupted versions of one’s Hearts Egg.
She uncovers more about these mysterious Characters, the X Eggs, and the organization that appears to be in the middle of it all as she becomes involved in the Guardians’ quest.
6. Kamichama Karin
Karin Hanazono, 13, feels as if her life cannot get worse. When she was a child, her parents died, leaving her with an aunt who does not hesitate to call her stupid or useless because of her poor grades. She lost her only friend, her cat named Shii-chan, recently, leaving her all alone. Her mother gave her a ring that she treasures dearly, which is the only thing she has left of her parents.
Kamichama Karin’s story begins when Himeka Kuujou, a cute girl who has also recently lost her parents, and Kazune Kuujou, her cousin who doesn’t like girls, approach her looking for a goddess.
Her mother’s memento ring shines brightly in their presence, making her smarter, faster, and capable of fulfilling wishes. As a result, she is able to become the goddess they were searching for, and now that she has awakened this power, others will pursue her.
7. Shoujo Kakumei Utena
The death of both her parents left a young princess devastated, and it seemed nothing would comfort her. But a prince passing through the area came to comfort her, and after wiping her tears, gave her a ring bearing a rose emblem and told her they would meet again if she held on to it. This left a deep impression on Utena Tenjou, who went on to become a prince herself.
In years to come, Utena will attend Ootori Academy, which bears the same rose emblem as her precious ring’s. There, attracted by the smell of roses, she observes Anthy Himemiya tending the flowers, accompanied by Touga Kiryuu and Kyouichi Saionji, who appear to be arguing over Anthy. Utena thinks nothing of the occurrence, but the Student Council gathers to discuss an important issue.
Due to a misunderstanding, Utena has been dragged into the world of Duelists-those with rings similar to her own. The Duelists fight for ownership of the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya, whose power is said to be great. Enraged that Anthy is being treated unfairly, Utena resolves to fight the Duelists to save Anthy.
8. Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru
It is no secret that Yuuna Yuuki is a hero in her everyday life. As proof of that, Yuuna Yuuki is an active member of her middle school’s Hero Club, where she tries to brighten the day of everyone around her.
Yuuna, always up for any challenge, is about to become an even greater hero. A mysterious phone app summons the Hero Club to save the world she loves from destructive forces known as Vertexes. Defeating the Vertexes will require her, her best friend Mimori Tougou, and sisters Fuu and Itsuki Inubouzaki to become magical girls.
Between learning and putting on shows for kids, Yuuna and the Hero Club must fight for the existence of their world and discover what true heroism is, all while facing the harsh truths behind their own powers.
For you to understand the series’ strengths, you need to watch it from the right perspective. As a Slice of Life series, the story is about the characters; sure, the world-building is very important, but ultimately it is about the five main protagonists; it makes you care about them, their lives, and it provides a satisfying conclusion.
9. InuYasha
Kagome Higurashi’s 15th birthday is turned upside down when a demon drags her into an old well at her family’s shrine. As Kagome is transported to feudal Japan, when demons were common, she finds herself stalked by these vile creatures, all seeking something she unknowingly possesses: the Shikon Jewel, a small sphere with extraordinary powers.
During such a predicament, Kagome encounters Inuyasha, a half-demon who mistakenly believes she is Kikyou, a shrine maiden he seems to resent. Seeing that Kagome resembles Kikyou, Inuyasha is hostile to Kagome. Despite his hostility, he lends her a hand after realizing the dire circumstances they both face.
As a result of the fight for the Shikon Jewel, the miraculous object has been shattered into pieces and scattered throughout the land. To stop the shards from falling into the wrong hands, Kagome and Inuyasha set off on a challenging quest to retrieve them before it is too late.
There aren’t many animes that include both heartbreaking emotional scenes and adrenaline-pumping, action-packed battle sequences; this is one of those few that do.
10. Mai-HiME
Mai Tokiha, a seemingly ordinary high-school student, transfers to the prestigious Fuuka Academy with her brother Takumi. There are many mysteries at the elite Fuuka Academy involving both students and staff. As soon as Mai arrives at the Academy, she discovers that she is bound to a Child, a part-mechanical, part-spiritual creature that can only be summoned and controlled by girls who have the HiME mark.
She is informed that she is one of twelve girls who have the mark and that they must use their powers to safeguard everyone from Orphans, monstrous creatures with abilities similar to HiME’s Children. At first, Mai is reluctant to become involved because of her protective role toward her brother. However, the other HiME quickly manifest around her, each with different motivations and goals.
Mai joins the other HiMEs in fighting the Orphans as they become more numerous and aggressive to safeguard those around her, including her friends, who are also drawn into the conflict.