Best Girls 2018
by Corin Hemphill
12. Miki Makimura - Devilman Crybaby
voiced by Megumi Han/Cristina Vee
voiced by Megumi Han/Cristina Vee
A precious cinnamon roll to pure for this world
There's not much I can say about Miki plot wise but she is a very sweet, caring person.
voiced by Saori Onishi
AKA Big Boobies Hineko a Pen Name that much to her dismay, doesn't actually suit her. She's a level headed responsible girl who originally wanted to draw a children's manga about animals but was convinced by her editors to draw erotic romance stories for mature audiences. In the fourth episode of the series, we watch her tackle the pressure of being a manga author as she deals with both the work load and an upcoming book signing. Seeing her struggle with self-confidence and overcome her weakness did a lot to develop her character and it's easily the best episode in Comic Girls.
voiced by Hina Kino
An absolute riot who snagged this list by having my favorite vocal performance of the year. Originally Olivia was my best girl but the more I think about it Hanako contributed more to show's comedy. She's an energetic, rich girl who gets good grades but isn't popular, has terrible fashion sense and is a sore loser who will overreact to anything.
voiced by Inori Minase
A hacker girl and a new character to the franchise Ami plays the role of co-protagonist and audience surrogate when it comes to learning about Lupin and his gang. Like most "Emotionless Girl" types she's got a rough backstory and part of her character development is seeing her finally grow to trust other and express herself but it's her active role as a hacker that makes her memorable. In Part V's setting; a technological/political warfare, watching work magic through a computer to take down enemies makes her as badass as the rest of Lupin's gang.
8. Takagi - Teasing Master Takagi-San
voiced by Rie Takahashi/Sarah Wiedenheft
Takagi is the master of teasing effortlessly embarrassing the boy she likes. Takagi works for two reasons. The first being that she mostly wins challenges because Nishikata gets in his own way. The second being that she cares enough for the boy to not do anything that would actually hurt. The worst to come from Takagi's teasing is a scolding from the teacher but more often than not Takagi just finds ways to spend more time with Nishikata and make him blush.
Takagi is the master of teasing effortlessly embarrassing the boy she likes. Takagi works for two reasons. The first being that she mostly wins challenges because Nishikata gets in his own way. The second being that she cares enough for the boy to not do anything that would actually hurt. The worst to come from Takagi's teasing is a scolding from the teacher but more often than not Takagi just finds ways to spend more time with Nishikata and make him blush.
7. Ayano Hanesaki - Hanebado!
voiced by Hitomi Ohwada/Amber Lee Connors
Ayano doesn't make much of a first impression. We know she's a super talented badminton player but she comes as just shy and kinda boring. But then she changes into something very interesting. After a fateful encounter in episode 5 as well as the stress of her abandonment issues finally getting the best of he, Ayano embraces the dark side of her personality. She doesn't just become more competitive she becomes a monster on the court. It's really fun watching her spit venom at her opponents as she humiliates them. She eventually snaps out of her funk but retains some of her smugness on and off the court. Hanebado may have been a bit too melodramatic but it was very entertaining and Ayano was the main reason why.
6. Yuu Koito - Bloom into You
voiced by Yuuki Takada/Tia Ballard
Yuu is a girl who wants to experience love; the overwhelming, romantic love that people make music and manga about. But she hasn't found anyone that could make her heart skip a beat. She's very sympathetic and relate-able to anyone. Her eventual discovery of what it means to love makes for some gripping drama as she struggles to express her feeling out of fear of ruining the relationship she has with Touko. Still she's really kind, down to earth, and mild mannered in a way that's very attractive.
Yuu is a girl who wants to experience love; the overwhelming, romantic love that people make music and manga about. But she hasn't found anyone that could make her heart skip a beat. She's very sympathetic and relate-able to anyone. Her eventual discovery of what it means to love makes for some gripping drama as she struggles to express her feeling out of fear of ruining the relationship she has with Touko. Still she's really kind, down to earth, and mild mannered in a way that's very attractive.
5. Siluca Meltes - Record of Grancrest War
voiced by Akari Kito/Jeannie Tirado
Siluca earns this spot for how well she takes charge of her show. In the beginning of Record of Grancrest War our protagonist Theo is kind, strong, and has a clear goal but no real way to actually achieve it. So he relies on the cunning Siluca to negotiate, come up with strategies, direct his polices, and the rest of thinking that'll help him rise up in the ranks.
Siluca earns this spot for how well she takes charge of her show. In the beginning of Record of Grancrest War our protagonist Theo is kind, strong, and has a clear goal but no real way to actually achieve it. So he relies on the cunning Siluca to negotiate, come up with strategies, direct his polices, and the rest of thinking that'll help him rise up in the ranks.
4. Hikari Kagura - Shojo Kageki Revue Starlight
voiced by Suzuko Mimori/Patricia Duran
Revue Starlight has a fantastic cast of female characters from the talented Maya Tendo to the passionate Claudine Saijo to the shy Mahiru Tsuyuzaki. There's also Nana Daiba who's role in the series is definitely what puts the anime on the direction to greatness. But the character who (literally) steals the show is the mysterious transfer student Hikari Kagura. Hikari is the game changer, the one who challenges the system and has the most motivation to do so after previous suffering. She's a heroine, just a tragic one that still does the most to move the plot forward.
3. Akane Shinjo - SSSS.GRIDMAN
voiced by Reina Ueda/Lindsey Seidel
What if God were a sexy high school anime girl that also happened to be a trash dwelling, Kaiju otaku? Akane is third on this list but she is the #1 antagonist. When it's revealed that she's the one creating Kaiju her scenes become much more threatening. Minor inconveniences like a bump on the shoulder are enough for Akane to decide whether you live or die. One of the best moments in the anime is in Episode 8 where she announces her plans and tells the heroes "See if you can stop me." But as much as I adore her villainous moments her character arc is a sad one and ultimately, SSSS.GRIDMAN ends up as Akane's story where she learns the lesson wand grows the most.
2. Mai Sakurajima - Rascal does not dream of Bunny Girl Sempai
voiced by Asami Seto
It didn't Mai very long to bewitch the anime community. Her character design alone is very attractive but she makes her first appearance in a Bunny girl costume. Then, as we learned more about Mai stomped her way into "Best Girl of the Season/Year". She's kind yet sharp tongued. She's mature but also sensitive and easily flustered. These traits make her arc in the story compelling and her romance with protagonist Sakuta Azusagawa endearing.
1. Shirase Kobuchizawa - A Place Further than the Universe
voiced Kana Hanazawa
First things first, all four of the leads in A Place Further than the Universe is Best Girl worthy. Kimari the genki girl who left her complacent life for adventure is Best Girl. Hinata the heart of the group who's mature enough to support everyone is Best Girl. Yuzuki the youngest and snarkiest of the group is Best Girl. All four of the Yorimoi leads are interesting, well-developed characters on top of being extremely cute. But the Best-est Girl to ever be Best Girl this year is Shirase. Shirase is an eccentric character. Underneath her serious dark haired beauty is a goofball who makes rash decisions; and underneath that awkward personality is sad girl; and beneath that is a fierce determination. Shirase is named after the Japanese Icebreaker ship and that's a fitting name. She's hot blooded and strong willed and it's refreshing to see this in a female character that isn't a tomboy. She will defend her friends, achieve her goals and loudly declare her victory in front of the naysayers. Shirase's character arc is by leaps and bounds more compelling than any other character this year and the conclusion of her journey will either leave you satisfied or in tears.
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