Good female characters are hard to find
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I quite agree with this. I mean, yes if you're looking for a "no fanservice at all" female character you'll be hard pressed to find one, but honestly, even Naga the Serpent has a personality past her assets and funky laugh...and Slayers is a complete anything-goes comedy.Yuuki said:
FMA ladies have been mentioned already, so have Azumanga Daioh ones, I'm going to point to Mai-HiME as well (though it takes some time for most of the characters to get through and there's a lot of drama attached to pretty much all the main cast, but that's a plot point). You might try Geneshaft, Mika seemed to be a rather well-written character; or Crest of the Stars - Lafiel kicks some serious ass, and most other female characters, even supporting cast, are not far behind (or are even ahead; I'm looking at you, Admiral Spoor and all those titles you can't fit on a business card...), while still being more than just "asskicking characters", they actually do have a personality.
Oh yeah try Puella Magi Madoka Magica too...but be prepared, that one will start by lulling you into a false sense of security then hit you with a bunch of wham moments before you realize that the sense of security was false.
For all its crazy, crazy, crazy[footnote]To the point where I'd almost say it's not for the faint of heart[/footnote] innuendo, Bakemonogatari also has well-written female characters.
Now, on a lighter note, Girls&Panzer is quite good as well, and as wacky as "schoolgirls going at it like it's bloody Operation Citadel all over again" is, it also has some hidden character depths.
Basically, as Yuuki here says, anime is full of clichés, tropes and fanservice, but that doesn't keep it from making its female cast actual fleshed-out human beings.
It's all depending on the taste and interpretation, really...you might disagree with me on a bunch of what I listed.
She's strong in her ability to fight and her fierceness comes from her naturally hotheaded nature. Being stuck up, selfish etc. is expected of someone who LITERALLY has the fate of the world on their hands and who feels slightly insecure about their lack of knowledge on being the Avatar. Even Aang got frustrated and upset at his inability to easily solve problems, not to the degree of Korra, but still the same.VanTesla said:
Durarara! (from the creators of Baccano!) has a varied mix of loveable female (AND male) characters, starting with main character (insofar as the series HAS a main character) Celty Sturluson, a woman who possesses motivation, the ability to move plot around, and a great deal of characterization, but not a head.
I can only think of one anime that doesn't feature fan service at all. It's 'The Daughter of 20 Faces'. The main character is a 13 year old girl, who's resourceful, intelligent, and not overly pretty. The plot gets a little convoluted at the end, but otherwise it's a pretty solid anime. The basic plot is that she gets rescued from her corrupt aunt and uncle by the notorious master thief Twenty Faces, and travels about with his band of thieves performing heists in the 19th century.
Ooh this one hasn't been mentioned yet, a bit surprising really:
[HEADING=3]Toaru Kagaku No Railgun[/HEADING]
This show is loosely linked to Toaru Majutsu No Index, it focus on all the female side-characters from that show and makes them the protagonists. Like...pretty much 80% of the cast is female. You don't have to watch the first one to get this, all introductions are made although there are one or two characters/reference who drift in and out from the first series. It's generally been quite a hit, has interesting characters, GREAT fight scenes and a compelling story.
But Korra is exactly as Wraith describes her...a stuck-up ignorant ***** who also comes across as rather dim, as a protagonist she's awful to watch and holds zero connection to me or my feelings. There's something wrong with a show when I start caring more about the side-characters and just want the protagonist(s) to fucking die. Would NOT recommend Legend Of Korra as an "anime" with a good female lead.
Avatar: The Last Airbender however is awesome with females like Katara, Toph, Azula, Suki, Ty Lee, Mai, June, etc all being a blast to watch.
[HEADING=3]Toaru Kagaku No Railgun[/HEADING]
This show is loosely linked to Toaru Majutsu No Index, it focus on all the female side-characters from that show and makes them the protagonists. Like...pretty much 80% of the cast is female. You don't have to watch the first one to get this, all introductions are made although there are one or two characters/reference who drift in and out from the first series. It's generally been quite a hit, has interesting characters, GREAT fight scenes and a compelling story.
The big difference is that Aang was likable/enjoyable as a character all the way through, the audience could sympathize with him.Wraith said:
But Korra is exactly as Wraith describes her...a stuck-up ignorant ***** who also comes across as rather dim, as a protagonist she's awful to watch and holds zero connection to me or my feelings. There's something wrong with a show when I start caring more about the side-characters and just want the protagonist(s) to fucking die. Would NOT recommend Legend Of Korra as an "anime" with a good female lead.
Avatar: The Last Airbender however is awesome with females like Katara, Toph, Azula, Suki, Ty Lee, Mai, June, etc all being a blast to watch.