Anime is a type of media that has something for everyone, regardless of gender and age. It doesn’t matter if you’re a kid whose only hobby is eating sand or an adult who doesn’t know how to pay the rent. Either way, this industry has something for you.
Today, we are concentrating on the female part of the community. While I believe that dividing anime movies by gender isn’t necessary, there are definitely films that would appeal to certain demographics a little more than others. So we decided to gift girls with a list of 15 anime movies they need to see.
The reasons for watching these films vary. You have everything from cute little coming-of-age stories to gut-wrenching masterpieces that remind you that we indeed live in society. Beautiful, isn’t it? So sit back, relax, and prepare to add some of the best anime movies for girls to your to-watch list.
Top 15 Anime Movies For Girls to Watch At Least Once
Highlights
- The movies are mostly for girls ages 12 to 19; however, a person of any age can enjoy them
- The rating is based on my personal preference
- Yes, the list is called best anime movies for girls, but you can watch these even if you are a boy
15. A Letter to Momo
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 7/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 22/30 |
A Letter to Momo is one of these movies you can watch whenever and still enjoy it. It’s one of the best anime movies for girls, but grown women would find it endearing as well. It gets bonus points for highly resembling classic Studio Ghibli movies such as “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Ponyo”.
The story revolves around eleven-year-old Momo, who just lost her father and has to move to her family’s old house on a remote island. She is not exactly thrilled about this as a little girl isn’t really interested in old wooden buildings and hidden shrines. She would much rather find out what her father wanted to say in his last letter, which only has two words: “Dear Momo”.
Exploring the attic of her new home, Momo finds an old picture book. Following her discovery, weird things start happening. Eventually, Momo meets three troublesome yokai who completely change her life.
14. The Case of Hana & Alice
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 6/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 22/30 |
For the next entry, we have every girl’s favorite things: friendship… and murder mystery!
Alice’s life has become progressively worse since she moved to a new school. An overbearing mother and classmates who bully her make each day more unbearable. That’s why she ends up doing the most normal thing ever: investigate the murder of “Judas“.
It’s the person who used to sit at her desk and is a part of the reason why she is being bullied. The clues lead her to Hana, who surprisingly agrees to help Alice solve this mystery.
The Case of Hana and Alice doesn’t have a complex plot some may seek, but is it really always necessary? It’s still an interesting and compelling story featuring meaningful relationships. The great understanding of its characters makes it one of the best anime movies for girls.
13. Ride Your Wave
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 10/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 24/30 |
After a good murder mystery, it’s time to chill with a sweet story about love that will turn out to be a gut-wrenching self-discovery journey. Ride Your Wave is one of those anime movies for girls to forget all the hardships of life and just relax while waiting for summer vacation. But the longer you watch, the more you realize there is so much more to it.
Hinako is a university student who may not be sure about her future, but when it comes to surfing, she’ll always take the lead. After a fire breaks out in the building where she lives, Hinako is saved by the skilled firefighter, Minato. The two quickly make a connection and want to learn more about each other. The development of their relationship is the center of the plot. More specifically, the main theme is an accident that will take Hinako on a journey of self-discovery.
I promise you, it will be worth it!
12. Liz and the Blue Bird
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 9/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 24/30 |
The list of the best anime movies for girls can’t do without musical films about friends who can become something more. I especially recommend this movie to Hibike! Euphonium fans because they obviously have taste.
In the center of the plot are Mizore Yoroizuka and Nozomi Kasaki, whose friendship is put to the test as they prepare the demanding musical piece “Liz and the Blue Bird“. Their story is intertwined with the fantasy fairy tale of Liz, which represents a contrast to the reality in which they live.
11. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 24/30 |
The theme of self-realization has a special place in anime movies for girls. Each of us finds ourselves at that crossroads when we need to find answers to important questions, which is not easy. That’s why The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is here to make that journey at least a little more bearable.
Makoto Konno is in her last year of high school and is not sure what to do with herself. Her monotonous life changes when she realizes she can travel through time. At first, she uses this power to cure her boredom. However, as time goes on, she realizes that all choices have consequences and that life is not that simple.
10. Princess Arete
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 24/30 |
How can we talk about the best anime movies for girls without mentioning Princess Arete aka Feminism 101? Now, this is a real deal! This film will show you, in a simple and unique way, the life of a girl who has no power over her future.
Princess Arete has spent her whole life captured in a castle tower her father made. There, she spends her days watching common people through the window while the knights of the kingdom are fighting for the right to marry her.
She, of course, is not okay with this and wants to live her life among commoners and traveling. One day, the sorcerer named Boax arrives in a flying machine and offers to take Arete as his wife.
Princess Arete is one of these movies that may take place in a fantasy setting but is as real as it gets. It is a perfect anime for girls who believe that their destiny is set in stone. It’s not, and Arete will prove it!
9. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 9/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 25/30 |
When talking about anime movies for girls, the shoujo masterpiece Sailor Moon just has to be mentioned. I mean, at this point it’s fair to say that this is a trademark of “female” anime. It raised generations and inspired a whole anime genre, leaving an indelible mark on this industry.
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie is a two-part film that tells the story of Dead Moon Circus. They plan to save their queen by stealing the Legendary Silver Crystal. To do so, they use “Lemures”, creatures that can turn people’s dreams into nightmares.
Now, their goal is to collect enough energy and turn Earth into a dark place. But of course, Usagi Tsukino and her friends will make sure to save everyone.
This is one of the best anime movies for girls on Netflix and a classic that every woman should watch at least once.
8. Belle
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 8/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 25/30 |
Most of the anime we’ve mentioned so far, while great, haven’t been hugely successful when it comes to making money. After all, we are here for arts, and not for charts. So let me introduce you to Belle, an animated film that won the hearts of people all around the world, and also made $64.7 million in Box Office.
“U” is a popular social media platform where people can choose their name and appearance and start over. Suzu Naito is one of the people who uses this to recover from past trauma that prevented her from singing.
Under the alias “Belle” she gained great traction on “U” going viral for her beautiful voice. But of course, this is social media, so gossip can not be excluded. Apparently, a beast named “The Dragon” started roaming on “U” causing trouble. However, Suzu forms an opinion that this monster is not as evil as people make it to be.
Belle is an emotional story that makes us question our identity both online and in the real world. It’s the perfect anime for girls who are struggling with who they are and what they are supposed to be. While you are crying because of a piece of fiction, please pay attention to great music. You can both suffer and listen to banders.
7. Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 8/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 25/30 |
When searching for great anime movies for girls, you can’t go wrong with classics like Revolutionary Girl Utena. Aside from being one of the most iconic yuri anime of all time, Utena is also one of the greatest anime for girls because of its well-developed female cast. All of that can be said for this great movie as well.
The protagonist is once again Utena, a transfer student to Ohtori Academy. There, she meets her old friend Touga Kiryuu who knows about Utena’s past as well as Mark of the Rose. It’s a set of unique rings worn by those who compete for the Rose Bride. Utena is also part of the said competition but her complicated relationship with Touga may make everything harder.
6. Night Is Short, Walk On Girl
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 8/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 25/30 |
It’s been some time since I mentioned something crazy, which makes this a perfect time to talk about Night Is Short, Walk on Girl. It’s one of the most absurd anime romance movies. After all, it’s a spiritual sequel to Tatami Galaxi… There is no way for it to be normal.
On a night that seems to last for a year, a college student continues to chase the girl of his dreams. His plan is to simply bump into her and call it an accident. However, it didn’t go as planned. His only real chance arises when he finds a book she read as a child in a second-hand store. Now, he has to buy it before her.
With an inspirational and interesting female lead, this is one of the best anime movies for girls on Netflix. It’s bizarre, but ultimately funny and quite layered. Every girl who tries hard enough will be able to grasp and enjoy it. Be that girl!
5. When Marnie Was There
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 9/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 26/30 |
It is impossible to make any list of anime films without the legendary Studio Ghibli. This giant in the anime industry, with Hayao Miyazaki as its main genius, is known for works with great female characters. And one of the best anime movies for girls specifically, is definitely When Marnie Was There.
In the center of the plot is a girl Anna Sasaki who suffers from frequent asthma attacks. At the doctor’s suggestion, she moves in with her uncle and aunt in the countryside in the hope that the clean air will help her.
There she finds an abandoned mansion and meets the mysterious Marnie, whom she befriends. Anna realizes that Marnie is not an ordinary girl and that the mansion is shrouded in mystery.
You are probably going to misinterpret this movie until the very end. But I think it’s what makes this one of the best Ghibli works, especially in recent years. Like many Studio Ghibli films, this one takes pride in beautiful sceneries, compelling characters, and meaningful relationships. Its approach to childhood and relationships makes it one of the best anime movies for girls.
4. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 7/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 26/30 |
Again: there is no list of best anime movies for girls without Studio Ghibli! The great mind behind The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is Isao Takahata, the other legend who built Studio Ghibli.
Anime centers around Kaguya, a little girl who was found glowing shoot. Her adoptive parents believed that she was a princess sent as a blessing. They raised her in a small village where she led a happy life. However, after her adoptive father found a large fortune, they moved into a big mansion far from her village. Now her parents believe it’s on them to make her a real princess.
Can money buy happiness? Are we really in charge of our fate? What is our purpose in this world? These are all the questions that The Tale of the Princess Kaguya tries to answer. And don’t you dare skip this masterpiece because of the art style!
3. Miss Hokusai
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 27/30 |
Finally, we are entering the top three anime movies for girls and let me tell you, they are life-changing. We are starting off strong with Miss Hokusai.
Katsushika Hokusai was a great artist whose genius reached the world. The pieces he created are still known as some of the greatest ever and he is being compared to never dying names like van Gogh and Monet.
However, what about the unrecognized hand of his genius? What about the woman who helped him without ever getting credit for her brilliance? This is a story about Katsushika’s third daughter: Oei.
The history is full of women who died without ever getting credit for their work, and Miss Hokusai tries to tell their story. Well, don’t be mistaken, this won’t be a depressive take on our world, but a powerful anime about a young and ambitious woman who can do many things.
2. Millennium Actress
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 9/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 28/30 |
Staying in the realm of arts, the next entry on the list is Millennium Actress. It’s about time we talk about the works of one of the best directors ever. Satoshi Kon really made history with his anime and one thing many of them share is a great female protagonist. The Millennium Actress is no exception so let’s talk about it!
Ginei Studio’s building is set to be demolished at the turn of the millennium. To honor this event, Genya Tachibana asks for permission to make a documentary about the company’s biggest star: Chiyoko Fujiwara. Together with his cameraman Kyouji Ida, he goes off to interview her. The stories she has for them will take them on a journey through cinema history that they’ll never forget.
Yes, your head is going to spin because of Satoshi Kon’s one-of-a-kind narrating style. But it’s going to be worth it when at the end you realize that you just watched one of the best anime movies for girls.
1. Perfect Blue
| Animation | Plot | Characters | Total |
| 9/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 29/30 |
And now, at the top of the list of best anime movies for girls, we have… Perfect Blue! I believe many of you expected this, especially after the first mention of Satoshi Kon. This movie really set the record straight as one of the greatest animated films of all time.
The story follows ex-J-Pop idol, Mima Kirigoe who left her group to pursue an acting career. However, her life changes drastically after leaving the group. Her new job becomes progressively more demanding, her group seems to do better without her, and on top of that, she gets a stalker. All these events drag Mima’s mental health down and now, she is not able to differentiate between fantasy and reality.
This is one of the greatest psychological movies ever made and not only because you are afraid to leave your house afterward. It puts into perspective the hardships that young women experience in the world of showbiz. If you are going to watch anything from this list, please let it be Perfect Blue.
Final Notes:
Girlhood is really a spectrum… The list really started with a sweet romantic comedy anime and ended with a psychological thriller that will make your head hurt. Anyhow, that’s the beauty of anime. For a long time, the only anime movies for girls that were accepted were shoujo romance anime. However, I believe there is so much more than that, and really hope that this list does you all justice.
For you who haven’t found a movie for yourself here, don’t worry! You are welcome to read our other movie recommendations and find a show that suits you perfectly!
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Where to watch these movies?
You can find every movie from the list on either Netflix or Crunchyroll. And the majority is available on both!
2. What is the best-rated anime movie ever?
The best-rated anime movies vary from site to site. According to IMDB, it’s Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. This is no surprise given that the movie had won Hayao Miyazaki an Oscar. According to Rotten Tomatoes, it’s the movie we mentioned earlier: The Tale of Princess Kaguya.
3. Are these movies appropriate for every girl?
The majority of these movies are appropriate for everyone. However, both works by Satoshi Kon are more for older girls.
