Top 10 Magical Girl Anime: All-Time Favorites

Transformative, captivating, and heart-warming, the magical girl genre has solidified its place in anime over the past three decades. It's known for its delightful tropes, unforgettable characters, and passionate fanbase. If you're looking to explore beyond the classics like Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura, this list offers a definitive ranking of the best magical girl anime. It's designed to introduce you to new favorites, underrated gems, and contemporary offerings that will fill the magical girl-shaped void in your life.

Get ready for witches, cat DNA, magical rods, and more! Here are the 10 most enchanting magical girl anime of all time.

10 Best Magical Girl Anime of All Time

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10. Little Witch Academia

Little Witch Academia is a charming magical school story that reimagines the magical girl trope for a post-Harry Potter generation. When Akko enrolls at the fantastical Luna Nova Magical Academy, she can hardly believe it. Her lifelong dream of learning magic becomes a reality, despite her lack of inherent magical ability. Her admiration for the famed witch Shiny Chariot leads her to discover a magical artifact linked to her idol, setting her on a mission to reignite the world's love for magic. This coming-of-age tale blends witchcraft with cozy friendship and a unique take on magic, making it a must-watch series on Netflix.

There have been 25 episodes of Little Witch Academia across two seasons, but the future of a third season remains uncertain.

9. Pastel Yumi, the Magic Idol

This 1986 series is one of the earliest examples of magical girl anime and thus earns a spot on our list. It also highlights the beloved trope of a protagonist aspiring to create manga. Yumi, an aspiring artist and daughter of florists, is passionate about both art and flowers. After saving a flower, she receives magical gifts—a wand and a locket—that bring her drawings to life. Pastel Yumi, the Magic Idol is a retro and charming gem that deserves more attention.

8. Tokyo Mew Mew

Adapted from the manga by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi, Tokyo Mew Mew offers a unique spin on the magical girl genre. Our protagonist, Ichigo Momomiya, gains her powers from an accident that infuses her with cat DNA. Her transformation into a cat-like being allows her to team up with other affected girls to combat an alien threat connected to their new abilities. The series is wildly fun, and its recent reboot has taken the excitement to new heights!

7. My-HiME

My-HiME skillfully blends the magical girl trope with a boarding school drama. Mai's life changes dramatically when she enrolls at the secretive Fuuka Academy. Here, she discovers others like her, marked with a special symbol that allows them to summon familiars to battle nightmarish creatures. These "Children" are deeply connected to someone the summoner loves, adding intense stakes to the fights.

6. Pretty Cure

If you're seeking a magical girl series to immerse yourself in, Pretty Cure offers an incredible 800 episodes centered around young girls gaining magical powers to fight evil. This classic take on magical girl lore continues to captivate audiences with its technicolor visuals and cute creatures, explaining its enduring popularity.

5. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Madoka Magica reimagines the magical girl trope with a more profound and often heartbreaking narrative. Young women are offered a contract by a cat-like creature, granting them magical powers to fight witches. This series delves into the harsh realities of being a magical girl, exploring themes of trauma, exploitation, and the lies told to keep them in line, making it a compelling and thought-provoking watch.

4. Magic Knight Rayearth

Created by the acclaimed CLAMP collective, Magic Knight Rayearth is a high fantasy epic where friends Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki, and Fuu Hououji are transported to a magical world during a school field trip. This universe-hopping adventure showcases CLAMP's signature expansive worldbuilding, stunning animation, and complex relationships, making it a series you can enjoy time and again. There were also Magic Knight Rayearth games in the '90s that add to its legacy.

3. Revolutionary Girl Utena

Revolutionary Girl Utena, created by Chiho Saito and Be-Papas, is one of the most influential and subversive magical girl anime. Inspired by chivalric romance, it follows Utena, who aspires to become a prince after meeting a charming one. Her journey leads her to a secretive dueling contest at her school, where she becomes entangled with the mysterious Rose Bride. This surrealistic series also serves as a meta-exploration of the genre's tropes and expectations.

2. Cardcaptor Sakura

A timeless classic from CLAMP, Cardcaptor Sakura blends the magical girl genre with the card-collecting craze. When Sakura accidentally unleashes the Clow Cards from a mysterious book, she discovers her magical abilities and embarks on a mission to recapture them, aided by the enigmatic creature Cerberus. This fashion-forward, action-packed series is a must-watch.

1. Sailor Moon

Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon tops our list as one of the most influential and globally renowned anime series. The story of Usagi, a normal schoolgirl turned Sailor Moon, is beloved for its stunning animation, character designs, and iconic transformation sequences. Each Sailor Scout's unique personality adds depth and diversity, making the series both hilarious and heartfelt. Sailor Moon remains a cornerstone of the magical girl genre and a must-watch for anime enthusiasts.

And those are our picks for the best magical girl anime! They're all enchanting, but did your favorite make the cut? Let us know in the comments.

Looking for more anime to watch online? Take a look at our guide to the best vampire anime as well as our list of the most underrated anime series.