Five of our favorite anime written by women
In honor of International Women's Day this Saturday, let's appreciate these powerful stories written by Japanese women
Still frame from "Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)."
Netflix
Words by Ashley Packard
Anime and manga aren’t just entertainment. Together, they’re a cultural juggernaut worth more than $31 billion, with that number set to skyrocket to $60 billion by 2030. Behind the explosive battle scenes and heartfelt romances that captivate millions daily, lie an unexpected truth: more than 70 percent of manga creators nowadays are women. Yet, in an industry historically dominated by men, many female mangakas (manga artists) adopt male or gender-neutral pen names to navigate biases, gain wider acceptance, and sidestep discrimination.
These powerful stories come in many forms, with anime and manga spanning across a wide array of genres, each tailored to different audiences. There’s shōnen, often action-packed and full of camaraderie, with hits like Naruto and Dragon Ball. While shōjo focuses on romance and emotional storytelling, with classics like Sailor Moon. For older audiences, seinen delivers mature, complex narratives as seen in Attack on Titan. These genres often overlap, creating diverse stories that resonate with fans across the globe.
Now, let’s turn the spotlight to a few of our favorite unsung heroines and their iconic creations that are beloved in the industry and by fans alike.
Fruits Basket by Nana Hatake (under pen name Natsuki Takaya)
Fruits Basket has elements of a shōjo anime and follows the heartwarming and emotional journey of Tohru Honda, a kind-hearted orphan who stumbles upon a hidden world within the Sohma family. After meeting three of the family members, Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure, Tohru learns the secret of the Sohma family and that each of the 13 members are cursed to transform into animals of the Chinese zodiac. Each member’s fate is triggered by different things, including stress, or weakness.
As Tohru’s bond with the Sohma family deepens, she uncovers the emotional scars and painful histories of those cursed, and uses her empathy, loyalty, and compassion to help confront their inner turmoil. Along the way, Tohru not only brings healing to the Sohma family but also embarks on a journey of self-discovery and romance, realizing how deeply others care for her and how much strength she possesses within herself.
Kimi ni Todoke has elements of a shōjo anime and follows Sawako Kuronuma, a shy and misunderstood high school girl who is often compared to the eerie character from the horror movie The Ring because of her long black hair, pale skin, quiet demeanor, and haunting aura.
Despite her sweet and caring nature, her classmates fear her, leading to a lonely and isolated life. However, when the popular and outgoing boy, Shouta Kazehaya, reaches out to her, everything begins to change. As their friendship blossoms into a deeper connection, Sawako slowly opens up and starts to make new friends, discovering her own voice and place in the world. The series follows her personal journey going from being an isolated high school girl to creating her own community of friends who slowly get to know her quirks, shyness, accidental gloominess, and genuinely kind intentions.
Violet Evergarden is a seinen anime that follows a young ex-soldier who lost both of her arms in battle and is left to try and find her place in the world. She struggles to understand her emotions and the meaning of her past and becomes an “Auto Memory Doll,” and writes letters for a living that help other people convey their thoughts and feelings. She encounters many individuals with their own unique stories of love, loss, and learns about the power of communication. This series explores themes of healing, personal growth, emotional transformation, compassion, and the intricate layers of human connection.
Inuyasha is a shōnen anime about a modern-day young school girl, Kagome Higurashi, who travels back in time to the Sengoku period of Japan after falling in a well at her family shrine. There, she meets Inuyasha, a half-demon who was once pinned to a tree by a spell. The two are forced to work together after Kagome accidentally shatters a powerful jewel that grants immense power and they both work together to go on a dangerous journey to gather the pieces and ensure that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. They both must face their past, the mysteries that surround the jewel, and numerous enemies.
Demon Slayer is a shōnen anime that follows the story of Tanjiro Kamado, a kind-hearted young boy who becomes a demon slayer after his family is slaughtered by demons, and his younger sister, Nezuko, is turned into a demon. Determined to find a cure for his sister and avenge his family, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps, an organization dedicated to hunting down demons. Along the way, he faces powerful enemies, confronts the darkness within the world, and learns about the harsh realities of the demon-slaying world while protecting his sister.
Published on March 6, 2025
Words by Ashley Packard
Ashley Packard is a freelance writer covering travel, lifestyle, sustainability, beauty, culture, and more. She is an American expat living in Germany with her husband and their two cats. When she’s not writing or researching her next trip, she’s outside hiking, cycling along the river, buried in a book on her Kindle, or eating her way around a new city. To view her portfolio or to collaborate check out, www.ashleypackard.com.