Rumic World Profile Timeline Articles Interviews Encyclopedia Contact Messageboard

Animage's Anime Grand Prix Most Popular Female Characters (1979-Present)

Translation by: Dylan Acres



The Anime Grand Prix (アニメグランプリ) is an annual Japanese anime awards giving to recognize the best in anime of the previous year, decided by the votes of readers of entertainment magazine Animage, published by Tokuma Shoten since July 1978. The Anime Grand Prix began in 1979, and the first prize was announced at the January issue of 1980, and is generally announced in the next year's June issue every year.

Please note that from 1979 to 1982 the characters were combined into one category and not segregated by sex, but starting in 1983 through 2021 they were divided into male and female categories. For the sake of completion we have included the top five charaters (regardless of sex) through 1982 here. For the complete male rankings, please see our article here.

YearFirst PlaceSecond PlaceThird PlaceFourth PlaceFifth Place
1979 [1]
Harlock
(Space Pirate Captain Harlock)
Amuro Ray
(Mobile Suit Gundam)
Char Aznable
(Mobile Suit Gundam)
Susumu Kodai
(Space Battleship Yamato)
Joe Shimamura
(Cyborg 009)
1st Half of 1980 [2]
Char Aznable
(Mobile Suit Gundam)
Amuro Ray
(Mobile Suit Gundam)
Harlock
(Space Pirate Captain Harlock)
Joe Shimamura
(Cyborg 009)
Sayla Mass
(Mobile Suit Gundam)
2nd Half of 1980 [3]
Joe Shimamura
(Cyborg 009)
Susumu Kodai
(Space Battleship Yamato)
Lupin III
(Lupin the Third)
Joe Yabuki
(Ashita no Joe)
Starsha
(Space Battleship Yamato)
1981 [4]
Takeru Myojin
(God Mars)
Lum
(Urusei Yatsura)
Leonardo Medici Bundle
(Go Shogun)
Marg
(God Mars)
Joe Yabuki
(Ashita no Joe)
1982 [5]
Takeru Myojin
(God Mars)
Marg
(God Mars)
Lynn Minmay
(Super Dimensional Fortress Macross)
Lum
(Urusei Yatsura)
Minky Momo
(Magical Princess Minky Momo)
1983 [6]
Misa Hayase
(Super Dimensional Fortress Macross)
Lum
(Urusei Yatsura)
Minky Momo
(Magical Princess Minky Momo)
Lynn Minmay
(Super Dimensional Fortress Macross)
Alfin
(Crusher Joe)
1984 [7]
Nausicaä
(Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)
Gaw Ha Leccee
(Heavy Metal L-Gaim)
Lum
(Urusei Yatsura)
Misa Hayase
(Super Dimensional Fortress Macross)
Lynn Minmay
(Super Dimensional Fortress Macross)
1985 [8]
Four Murasame
(Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam)
Yuri
(Dirty Pair)
Lum
(Urusei Yatsura)
Kei
(Dirty Pair)
Minami Asakura
(Touch)
1986 [9]
Elpeo Ple
(Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ)
Sheeta
(Castle in the Sky)
Kyoko Otonashi
(Maison Ikkoku)
Lum
(Urusei Yatsura)
Pollyanna
(The Story of Pollyanna)
1987 [10]
Madoka Ayukawa
(Kimagure Orange Road)
Kyoko Otonashi
(Maison Ikkoku)
Apple
(Zillion)
Aramis
(Three Musketeers)
Elpeo Ple
(Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ)
1988 [11]
Anise Firm
(Sonic Soldier Borgman)
Kyoko Otonashi
(Maison Ikkoku)
Aramis
(Three Musketeers)
Satsuki Kusakabe
(My Neighbor Totoro)
Himiko Shinobibe
(Mashin Hero Wataru)
1989 [12]
Kiki
(Kiki's Delivery Service)
Noa Izumi
(Mobile Police Patlabor)
Renge
(Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato)
Ranma Saotome
(Ranma 1/2)
Kaoru Makimura
(City Hunter)
1990 [13]
Nadia
(Nadia the Secret of Blue Water)
Himiko Shinobibe
(Mashin Hero Wataru)
Noa Izumi
(Mobile Police Patlabor)
Ranma Saotome
(Ranma 1/2)
Akane Tendo
(Ranma 1/2)
1991 [14]
Nadia
(Nadia the Secret of Blue Water)
Asuka Sugao
(Future GPX Cyber Formula)
Miki Jounouichi
(Future GPX Cyber Formula)
Akane Tendo
(Ranma 1/2)
Himiko Shinobibe
(Mashin Hero Wataru)
1992 [15]
Ami Mizuno
(Pretty Soldier
Sailor Moon)
Usagi Tsukino
(Pretty Soldier
Sailor Moon)
Minky Momo
(Minky Momo: Hold Onto Your Dreams)
Yadamon
(Yadamon: Magical Dreamer)
Minako Aino
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
1993 [16]
Belldandy
(Oh! My Goddess)
Ami Mizuno
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
Yadamon
(Yadamon: Magical Dreamer)
Minako Aino
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
Usagi Tsukino
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
1994 [17]
Haruka Tenou
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
Belldandy
(Oh! My Goddess)
Mylene Jenius
(Macross 7)
Chacha
(Akazukin Chacha)
Ami Mizuno
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
1995 [18]
Rei Ayanami
(Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Hikaru Shidou
(Magic Knight Rayearth)
Asuka Langley Soryu
(Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Lina Inverse
(Slayers)
Relena Darlian
(Gundam Wing)
1996 [19]
Rei Ayanami
(Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Lina Inverse
(Slayers NEXT)
Ruri Hoshino
(Martian Successor Nadesico)
Asuka Langley Soryu
(Neon Genesis Evangelion
Lime
(Saber Marionette J)
1997 [20]
Lina Inverse
(Slayers TRY)
Ruri Hoshino
(Martian Successor Nadesico)
Utena Tenjou
(Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Akari Kanzaki
(Battle Athletes)
Rei Ayanami
(Neon Genesis Evangelion)
1998 [21]
Ruri Hoshino
(Martian Successor Nadesico)
Sakura Kinomoto
(Cardcaptor Sakura)
Canal Vorfeed
(Lost Universe)
Shaolin
(Mamotte Shugogetten!)
Faye Valentine
(Cowboy Bebop)
1999 [22]
Sakura Kinomoto
(Cardcaptor Sakura)
Shaolin
(Mamotte Shugogetten!)
Akari Kamigishi
(To Heart)
Maron Kusakabe
(Phantom Thief Jeanne)
Lime
(Saber Marionette J to X)
2000 [23]
Sakura Kinomota
(Cardcaptor Sakura)
Belldandy
(Ah! My Goddess The Movie)
Naru Narusegawa
(Love Hina)
Kagome Higurashi
(Inuyasha)
Yaone Kusushi
(Saiyuki)
2001 [24]
Tohru Honda
(Fruits Basket)
Kagome Higurashi
(Inuyasha)
Anna Kyoyama
(Shaman King)
Sango
(Inuyasha)
Kanami Yuta
(S-CRY-ed)
2002 [25]
Lacus Clyne
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Cagalli Yula Athha
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Tohru Honda
(Fruits Basket)
Hiyono Yuizaki
(Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna)
Anna Kyoyama
(Shaman King)
2003 [26]
Riza Hawkeye
(Fullmetal Alchemist)
Lacus Clyne
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Winry Rockbell
(Fullmetal Alchemist)
Cagalli Yula Athha
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Sora Naegino
(Kaleido Star)
2004 [27]
Lacus Clyne
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Cagalli Yula Athha
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Riza Hawkeye
(Fullmetal Alchemist)
Stella Loussier
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Lunamaria Hawke
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
2005 [28]
Lacus Clyne
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Cagalli Yula Athha
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Stella Loussier
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Anissina von Karbelnikoff
(Kyo Kara Maoh!)
Sakura
(Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle)
2006 [29]
Lacus Clyne
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Haruhi Suzumiya
(The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
C.C.
(Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion)
Cagalli Yula Athha
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Haruhi Fujioka
(Ouran High School Host Club)
2007 [30]
C.C.
(Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion)
Konata Izumi
(Lucky Star)
Lacus Clyne
(Mobile Suit Gundam SEED)
Shana
(Shakugan no Shana)
Rei Ayanami
(Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone)
2008 [31]
C.C.
(Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion)
Sheryl Nome
(Macross Frontier)
Ranka Lee
(Macross Frontier)
Kagura
(Gintama)
Angelina Dalles
(Black Butler)
2009 [32]
Yui Hirasawa
(K-On!)
Mio Akiyama
(K-On!)
Sheryl Nome
(Macross Frontier)
Misaka Mikoto
(A Certain Magical Index)
Kagura
(Gintama)
2010 [33]
Yui Hirasawa
(K-On!)
Haruna Otonashi
(Inazuma Eleven)
Azusa Nakano
(K-On!)
Celty Sturluson
(Durarara!!)
Mio Akiyama
(K-On!)
2011 [34]
Haruna Otonashi
(Inazuma Eleven GO)
Midori Seto
(Inazuma Eleven GO)
Aoi Sorano
(Inazuma Eleven GO)
Haruka Nanami
(Uta no Prince-sama)
Inori Yuzuriha
(Guilty Crown)
2012 [35]
Kinako Nanobana
(Inazuma Eleven GO Chrono Stone)
Morgiana
(Magi)
Beta
(Inazuma Eleven GO Chrono Stone)
Riko Aida
(Kuroko's Basketball)
Aki Kino
(Inazuma Eleven GO Chrono Stone)
2013 [36]
Kinako Nanobana
(Inazuma Eleven GO Chrono Stone)
Mikasa Ackerman
(Attack on Titan)
Morgiana
(Magi)
Riko Aida
(Kuroko's Basketball)
Rikka Takanashi
(Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions)
2014 [37]
Diane
(Seven Deadly Sins)
Haruka Nanami
(Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 2000%)
Yona
(Yona of the Dawn)
Elizabeth Liones
(Seven Deadly Sins)
Gou Matsuoka
(Free!)
2015 [38]
Kagura
(Gintama)
Totoko Yowai
(Mr. Osomatsu)
Hibiki Shikyoin
(Pripara)
Hitoka Yachi
(Haikyuu!!)
Shirayuki
(Snow White with the Red Hair)
2016 [39]
Kagura
(Gintama)
Kudelia Aina Bernstein
(Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS)
Hibiki Shikyoin
(Pripara)
Rem
(Re:Zero)
Atra Mixta
(Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS)
2017 [40]
Sakura Kinomoto
(Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card)
Tsumugi Takanashi
(IDOLiSH7)
Kagura
(Gintama)
Takagi
(Teasing Master Takagi-san)
Popuko
(Pop Team Epic)
2018 [41]
Emma
(The Promised Neverland)
Neko Musume
(GeGeGe no Kitaro)
Sakura Kinomoto
(Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card)
Yumeko Jabami
(Kakegurui xx)
Kagura
(Gintama)
2019 [42]
Eripiyo
(If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die)
Nezuko Kamado
(Demon Slayer)
Shinobu Kocho
(Demon Slayer)
Violet Evergarden
(Violet Evergarden)
Ran Mouri
(Detective Conan)
2020 [43]
Nodoka Hanadera
(Healin' Good Precure)
Natsuumi Manatsu
(Tropical-Rouge! PreCure)
Towa Higurashi
(Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon)
Violet Evergarden
(Violet Evergarden the Movie)
Nobara Kugisaki
(Jujutsu Kaisen)
2021 [44]
Nezuko Kamado
(Demon Slayer)
Daki
(Demon Slayer)
Natsumi Manatsumi
(Tropical-Rouge! PreCure))
Towa Higurashi
(Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon)
Marin Kitagawa
(My Dress-Up Darling)
2022 [45]
Anya Forger
(SPY×FAMILY)
Draluc
(The Vampire Dies in No Time 2)
Ronaldo
(The Vampire Dies in No Time 2)
Suletta Mercury
(Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury)
John
(The Vampire Dies in No Time 2)
2023 [46]
Mizuki
(The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe)
Kitaro's Father
(The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe)
Isami Ao
(Brave Bang Bravern!)
Bravern
(Brave Bang Bravern!)
Maomao
(The Apothecary Diaries)


Footnotes
  • [1] Tokuma Shoten. "The 1st Anime Grand Prix" Animage February, 1980.
  • [2] Tokuma Shoten. "The 2nd Anime Grand Prix" Animage October, 1980.
  • [3] Tokuma Shoten. "The 3rd Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1981.
  • [4] Tokuma Shoten. "The 4th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1982. "Lum no Love Song" ranked in 1st place for "Favorite Anime Song."
  • [5] Tokuma Shoten. "The 5th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1983. This is the first year where the "Favorite Characters" category has been split into male and female rankings. Urusei Yatsura won 4th place in the "Grand Prix Works" category. "After You've Gone" ranked in 1st place for "Favorite Episode."
  • [6] Tokuma Shoten. "The 6th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1984. Urusei Yatsura: Only You won 5th place in the "Grand Prix Works" category. "And Then There Were None" ranked in 3rd place for "Favorite Episode." Additionally, Lum won 2nd place in the "Best Female Character of All Time" category after Clarice de Cagliostro.
  • [7] Tokuma Shoten. "The 7th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1985. Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer won 3rd place in the "Grand Prix Works" category. Additionally, Lum won 3rd place in the "Best Female Character of All Time" category.
  • [8] Tokuma Shoten. "The 8th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1986. Urusei Yatsura: Remember My Love won 3rd place in the "Grand Prix Works" category. "I Love Darling's Sincerity" ranked in 2nd place for "Favorite Episode."
  • [9] Tokuma Shoten. "The 9th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1987. "All-Star Banquet! We Are Immortal!!" ranked in 2nd place for "Favorite Episode." Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer won 3rd place in the "Best Single Piece of Animation of All-Time" category. Additionally, Lum won 3rd place in the "Best Female Character of All Time" category.
  • [10] Tokuma Shoten. "The 10th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1988. Maison Ikkoku won 3rd place in the "Grand Prix Works" category. "Hidamari" ranked in 2nd place for "Favorite Anime Song." Additionally, Lum won 2nd place in the "Best Female Character of All Time" category.
  • [11] Tokuma Shoten. "The 11th Anime Grand Prix" Animage May, 1989. "As Long As There's Love! Maison Ikkoku Forever!" ranked in 1st place for "Favorite Episode." Additionally, Lum won 3rd place in the merged "Best Character of All Time" category.
  • [12] Tokuma Shoten. "The 12th Anime Grand Prix" Animage May, 1990.
  • [13] Tokuma Shoten. "The 13th Anime Grand Prix" Animage May, 1991. Ranma 1/2 Nettohen won 5th place in the "Grand Prix Works" category.
  • [14] Tokuma Shoten. "The 14th Anime Grand Prix" Animage May, 1992. Ranma 1/2 Nettohen won 4th place in the "Grand Prix Works" category.
  • [15] Tokuma Shoten. "The 15th Anime Grand Prix" Animage May, 1993.
  • [16] Tokuma Shoten. "The 16th Anime Grand Prix" Animage May, 1994.
  • [17] Tokuma Shoten. "The 17th Anime Grand Prix" Animage May, 1995.
  • [18] Tokuma Shoten. "The 18th Anime Grand Prix" Animage May, 1996.
  • [19] Tokuma Shoten. "The 19th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1997.
  • [20] Tokuma Shoten. "The 20th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1998.
  • [21] Tokuma Shoten. "The 21th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 1999.
  • [22] Tokuma Shoten. "The 22th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2000.
  • [23] Tokuma Shoten. "The 23th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2001. Inuyasha won 9th place in the "Grand Prix Works" category. "The Girl Who Overcame Time...and the Boy Who Was Just Overcome" ranked in 8th place for "Favorite Episode."
  • [24] Tokuma Shoten. "The 24th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2002. Inuyasha won 2nd place in the "Grand Prix Works" category. "Return to the Place Where We First Met" ranked in 2nd place for "Favorite Episode." "Dearest" ranked in 5th place for "Favorite Anime Song."
  • [25] Tokuma Shoten. "The 25th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2003. Inuyasha won 3rd place in the "Grand Prix Works" category.
  • [26] Tokuma Shoten. "The 26th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2004. Inuyasha won 6th place in the "Grand Prix Works" category. Inuyasha won 6th place in the "Best Male Character" category, narrowly missing the Top 5 while Kagome also won 6th place in the "Best Female Character" category.
  • [27] Tokuma Shoten. "The 27th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2005. Inuyasha won 9th place in the "Grand Prix Works" category.
  • [28] Tokuma Shoten. "The 28th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2006.
  • [29] Tokuma Shoten. "The 29th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2007.
  • [30] Tokuma Shoten. "The 30th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2008.
  • [31] Tokuma Shoten. "The 31th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2009.
  • [32] Tokuma Shoten. "The 32th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2010.
  • [33] Tokuma Shoten. "The 33th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2011.
  • [34] Tokuma Shoten. "The 34th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2012.
  • [35] Tokuma Shoten. "The 35th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2013.
  • [36] Tokuma Shoten. "The 36th Anime Grand Prix" Animage June, 2014.
  • [37] Tokuma Shoten. "The 37th Anime Grand Prix" Animage August, 2015.
  • [38] Tokuma Shoten. "The 38th Anime Grand Prix" Animage August, 2016.
  • [39] Tokuma Shoten. "The 39th Anime Grand Prix" Animage August, 2017.
  • [40] Tokuma Shoten. "The 40th Anime Grand Prix" Animage August, 2018.
  • [41] Tokuma Shoten. "The 41th Anime Grand Prix" Animage August, 2019.
  • [42] Tokuma Shoten. "The 42th Anime Grand Prix" Animage September, 2020.
  • [43] Tokuma Shoten. "The 43th Anime Grand Prix" Animage August, 2021. Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon ranked in 9th place for "Grand Prix Works" the overall best series category of the year. Sesshomaru ranked in 6th place in the "Favorite Male Characters" poll. "NEW ERA" ranked in 9th place for "Favorite Anime Song."
  • [44] Tokuma Shoten. "The 44th Anime Grand Prix" Animage August, 2022. Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon ranked in 5th place for "Grand Prix Works" the overall best series category of the year. Moroha ranked in 7th place in the "Favorite Female Characters" poll. "Kyomei" ranked in 9th place for "Favorite Anime Song."
  • [45] Tokuma Shoten. "The 45th Anime Grand Prix" Animage August, 2023. Charater rankings were merged into one category for the first time since 1983 beginning here. Lum ranked in 10th place in the "Favorite Characters" poll.
  • [46] Tokuma Shoten. "The 46th Anime Grand Prix" Animage August, 2024.

Dylan Acres is a psychology professor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston. He has previously written about Rumiko Takahashi's tribute artwork by other famous mangaka.

Cover

アニメージュ
Animage 1980 February, et. al
Published: Various
Interviewer: Animage Staff
Translated by: Dylan Acres
Translation date: August 28, 2024
ISBN/Web Address: ---
Page numbers: ---