Reviews by Kyle Ellis

Anime: Chobits

I’m starting the list with one of the first prominent blonde girls I saw in anime.

Yes, Chii barely did any talking because she was this “defective” humanoid.

But her character design was exemplary. She was a total beauty.

Back in my day, my female friend would put up Chii as their avatar on social networking sites like Friendster and MySpace — she was that kawaii.

Likewise, a private server of the MMORPG Ragnarok Online had a custom piece of headgear called [Link removed - login to see].

It was an exact copy of the Chobits girl’s ears design. And who could forget her dazzling animation for the infectious OP?

Anime: Little Witch Academia

How could anyone not like Little Witch Academia?

While anime has always dabbled in magic [Link removed - login to see], it hasn’t really had something akin to Harry Potter-esque wizarding schools and magic academies.

Otherwise known as Akko, the MC Atsuko is much better than most MCs in anime.

Sure, she’s also filled with wonder. Which then fuels her recklessness and makes her an eyesore to those in authority.

But you can’t hate her:

Akko sees witchcraft and magic as tools for positive social change, not as sources of world domination and annihilation.

She’s a slow learner, but you’d rather want more students like her than someone with selfish intentions for becoming a witch.

Lastly, she gets this spot because like Lina Inverse: she’s reminiscent of the classic magic user in fiction, what with her magic flying broom, wand, and typical spells like levitation, transformation, object repair, and energy beams.

Anime: Code Geass

As the second coming of the character Lelouch vi Britannia after his exile, there aren’t many bad guys out there who are as cold and indifferent to the suffering they cause like this one.

Wiping out civilian towns in a landslide? A “mathematical overestimate”, that’s all it is to him.

Destroying Tokyo and killing countless people, innocents and children among them? Straight-up necessary for his plan to achieve what he needs to as Emperor.

He’s a real piece of work.

But Lelouch is also a devastatingly intelligent and highly interesting character who’s developed well 1as the series goes on. “Developed” as in he gets worse, but technically that’s still development!

Anime: One Punch Man

This is an S-Class hero of unbelievable power.

Tatsumaki’s psychic abilities and strength just prove that when it comes to saving the world, size doesn’t matter.

Though she’s independent and a little stubborn, Tatsumaki excels at her job as a hero, dispatching monsters with an ease that few other characters can manage.

Her feats in the show and the manga are legendary (at full strength she’s capable of lifting entire cities into the air!). And she does it all with seeming ease.

Tatsumaki is truly a legendary ally to the Hero Association.

Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Winry may be entry level, but she’s still a lot of people’s first waifus.

And that’s for good reasons.

Winry is a smart girl who knows her way around her mechanics.

She’s been there for the Elric brothers from the start, and she’s a good person at heart. Her and Edward even share some really cute moments together throughout the series.

But even in the early days , Winry feels like such a really cool character. She doesn’t go on journeys too often – but she’s always there to offer whatever support she can.

Anime: Hibike! Euphonium

Honestly speaking, there’s not much of anything to say about our serene trumpet player’s black hair… other than she has it, and she qualifies for this list.

Her KyoAni version has now become the signature look for her character, replicating her cute and beautiful attributes to a striking degree.

It still reminds you of the aloof and quiet person she had always been though. Especially during moments where she shows her perfectly calm expression.

Anime: Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War)

As a renowned member of the student council, Kaguya is expected to be a role model for the rest of the students.

But we all know that she’s everything but a role model.

She does have one instantly noticeable attribute though: that black hair paired with her curious red eyes.

Oh, and also the knack for absolutely hitting and missing thoughts and actions between her and Shirogane.

Just let the ship sail already dammit!

Anime: Sword Art Online

The admin AI that Kirito and Asuna took as their unofficial child. She typically acts like a child of her age, but has the understanding of a normally functioning adult.

She also holds responsibility for anything that happens with Kirito and gang within the virtual realms of various SAO-engine worlds.

When [Link removed - login to see], she takes the form of an assistant sprite or fairy.

Her black hair, fittingly enough, makes her look even more convincingly like Kirito’s actual daughter.

Well, in principle anyway.