Anime 2021: Who Are This Year’s Best Girls?

Voting Rules
Vote up the best female anime characters of 2021.

With 2021 coming to an end, it's time to appreciate some of the amazing anime girls and women who have captivated fans this year. From the winter 2021 season to the fall 2021 season, there are some amazing contenders for the best anime girl of 2021, and they're all rounded up here. Some might even qualify as the best waifus of 2021. 

With a couple of exceptions, we'll be focusing on girls who debuted this year. Otherwise, the whole list would be consumed by returning favorites like the entire female cast of My Hero Academia and Re:Zero.

Everyone has their own take on who the best girls of the year really are, but according to Anitrendz and a few other sources, these ladies are top tier. Are any of your favorites on here? 


  • 1
    528 VOTES

    Shouko Komi - 'Komi Can't Communicate'

    Though she's beautiful enough to inspire the adoration of her entire class, Shouko Komi has one big problem - she's too anxious to speak to anyone.

    With help from Hitohito Tadano, she begins working on overcoming her fear and connecting with her classmates. Ultimately, she hopes to make 100 friends. 

    528 votes
  • 2
    394 VOTES

    Kyouko Hori - 'Horimiya' 

    Kyouko Hori - 'Horimiya' 
    Photo: Horimiya / CloverWorks

    Kyouko Hori seems like the perfect girl - cheerful, attractive, and carefree. In reality, she struggles to keep up with what's popular because so much of her time is spent looking after her little brother.

    This discrepancy between her real life and her school life is part of what helps her bond with Miyamura, who has a similar gap in experience. 

    394 votes
  • 3
    327 VOTES

    Miko Yotsuya - 'Mieruko-chan'

    Miko Yotsuya - 'Mieruko-chan'
    Photo: Mieruko-chan / Passione

    Miko Yotsuya has one big problem - ever since a certain incident, she's been able to see terrifying spirits that interrupt her daily life. In order to keep things running smoothly, Miko stoically refuses to acknowledge them.

    That's no easy task, especially when the spirits harass her friends who can't see them, but Miko tries her best. 

    327 votes
  • 4
    236 VOTES

    Vladilena Milizé - '86 Eighty-Six'

    Vladilena Milizé - '86 Eighty-Six'
    Photo: 86 Eighty-Six / A-1 Pictures

    Vladilena Milizé knows that she lives in an unjust system. That's why she decided to become a Handler for the 86th District - a group of people who are forced to fight wars in secret so that the rest of the nation can pretend to live in peace.

    With her staunch morals and military prowess, she's the perfect person for the job. 

    236 votes
  • 5
    290 VOTES

    Tohru Honda - 'Fruits Basket'

    Tohru Honda - 'Fruits Basket'
    Photo: Fruits Basket / TMS Entertainment

    The remake of Fruits Basket came to an end in 2021, so we're highlighting the protagonist, Tohru Honda. Tohru is an intensely empathetic girl who makes it her mission to break the Sohma family curse.

    But while she strives to help others, she also has to learn how to take care of herself and advocate for her own needs - something that Kyo Sohma has a hand in helping her with. 

    290 votes
  • 6
    174 VOTES

    Vivy - 'Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song' 

    Vivy - 'Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song' 
    Photo: Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song / Wit Studio

    Vivy is the first autonomous AI ever created, and she has one personal mission - to make people happy with her music.

    But she's also tasked with something else that's just as important - stopping a futuristic war between humans and AIs.

    174 votes