Best Female Rivals in Anime

Key Takeaways

• Female rivalries in anime can lead to character growth and plot progression beyond just romantic disputes.
• Some anime series feature compelling female rivalries based on mutual respect and friendship.
• Strong female rivalries, like those in Keijo! and My Hero Academia, provide growth and inspiration for both characters.

Rivalry is a common theme in almost every anime, and this integral concept has been crucial for character growth and plot progression in many popular anime series. However, this notion has traditionally been confined to male characters, with their female counterparts being relegated to mere romantic rivalries and petty quarrels.

Still, a handful of anime have risen above this preset notion, as they present compelling rivalries between female characters that end up becoming the source of their growth. Though female rivalries tend to be less fleshed out, these series manage to offer rather profound rivalries. From friendly rivalries to all-out archenemies, these are some of the best female rivals in all of anime.

8 Atsuko “Akko” Kagari and Diana Cavendish (Little Witch Academia)

A Wholesome Rivalry Turned Friendship

While Little Witch Academia largely presents a wholesome story of a Japanese witch in a foreign academy, a somewhat intriguing rivalry makes its way between Akko and Diana. Initially, Diana detests Akko’s beliefs pertaining to magic, as she believes Akko’s viewpoints to be rather naive.

However, Diana and Akko eventually form a much stronger bond after the former is proven wrong about the latter’s magical abilities. This gives way to a healthy rivalry based on mutual respect, with Diana even considering Akko her only friend in the entire academy.

7 Kosaki Onodera and Chitoge Kirisaki (Nisekoi: False Love)

Childhood Friend Vs. Exchange Student

Nisekoi: False Love is home to a few romantic rivalries over Raku Ichijou, though the most pronounced of these is Onodera and Chitoge’s tussle over Raku. Taking on the tropes of childhood friend and forced pairing respectively, Onodera and Chitoge have remained the primary contenders for Raku’s affection.

Oddly, the two characters remain friends till the very end, despite contending for the same person’s affection. While a few sentiments of animosity do sprout throughout Nisekoi, the two are eventually able to move forward on a positive note.

6 Nozomi and Hanabi (Keijo!)

A Fierce Sports Rivalry Between Teammates

With a fictional sport at its center, Keijo! often goes under the radar within the sports landscape. However, this anime is packed with all sorts of exciting battles, coupled with a hint of fanservice. Nozomi and Hanabi’s rivalry starts early on in the series, specifically during the qualifying match for the academy entrance exam.

Nozomi’s strength and unshakable spirit reignites Hanabi’s passion for the sport. The rest of the series is marked with instances where Nozomi strives to rival Hanabi’s strength, meaning that both characters serve as a source of growth and inspiration for each other.

5 Kagome and Kikyo (Inuyasha)

An Unexpected Love Triangle

Romantic rivalries are rather overdone in the case of female characters, though Kagome and Kikyo’s heated rivalry in Inuyasha is certainly worth mentioning. With Inuyasha becoming the source of jealousy and animosity between both girls, the odd love triangle turned into a major plot point for the series.

While Inuyasha eventually picked Kagome as his eventual partner, the rivalry between Kikyo and Kagome extended far beyond the world of Inuyasha. With the entire fandom split over who Inuyasha should end up with, it’s safe to say that this rivalry is clearly one for the books.

4 Erza Scarlet and Mirajane Strauss (Fairy Tail)

A Sister-Like Rivalry Between Guildmates

Ezra and Mirajane are arguably the two strongest female characters in all of Fairy Tail, a fact that naturally lays the foundation for a rivalry to form. Oddly, their rivalry has mostly remained confined to flashbacks of their childhood. After Lissanna’s supposed demise, Mirajane underwent a sudden transformation from a delinquent to a caring elder sister, which effectively ended their rivalry.

However, the rivalry still shaped much of their relationship with each other, especially as guildmates and friends. While Mirajane has retired from the role of fighting, she still holds the title of being one of Fairy Tail’s few S-Class wizards, which naturally pins the two fearsome ladies against each other.

3 Sakura and Ino (Naruto)

A Friendship Based On Overcoming Rivalry

Naruto is host to many iconic rivalries that have shaped the show. Ino and Sakura have one of said compelling rivalries, which molded the two characters and their relationship in the early parts of Naruto. Initially fighting over Sasuke’s attention, Ino and Sakura’s friendship fades into a heated rivalry.

The two went face to face during the Chunin Exams, a fight that forced the two characters to rethink their rivalry. This event marked the end of their petty rivalry over Sasuke, as it blossomed into a mature back-and-forth that pushed both Sakura and Ino to grow stronger.

2 Ochako Uraraka and Himiko Toga (My Hero Academia)

A Tussle Over Differing Worldviews

The existence of Uraraka and Himiko Toga’s rivalry isn’t exactly due to the two being on opposing sides. Instead, it’s a result of Toga’s obsession with all things beautiful. With Uraraka being the object of her affection, the two characters naturally had several run-ins throughout My Hero Academia, which eventually fanned the flames of an exciting rivalry between the two of them.

While this rivalry was never exactly the focal point of My Hero Academia, it served a significant purpose for both characters’ growth. During the final war, Uraraka was able to see the good in Toga, realizing that not all villains are evil. The contrary was true for Toga, who viewed the world in black-and-white.

1 Ryuko Matoi and Satsuki Kiryuin (Kill La Kill)

A Fierce Rivalry Between Estranged Siblings

Ryuko Matoi and Satsuki Kiryuin’s rivalry is arguably the fiercest between any female character in all of anime. The two characters’ mutual detest for each other immediately deemed them archenemies, and Sastuki’s challenge to Ryuko of defeating all her minions further added fuel to the fire.

However, this fierce rivalry ends on a positive note after Sastuki realizes that Ryuko is her supposedly-deceased sister. This revelation marked the end of their deadly rivalry, though there’s no denying that this discord played a major role in pushing Ryuko to accumulate such unprecedented power.