Wanted: strong, kickass girls!

[Johnny]

I'm currently watching Devil Hunter Yohko and it has made me realise that one of the 'genres' of anime I really enjoy is basically anything that involves a strong female lead or cast preferably fighting something too.
For instance, although the Magical Girl genre isn't usually my thing, I can't resist Mahou Shouo Lyrical Nanoha because it features a cast of girls fighting with each other. Sure, it has the cutesy, CCS type stuff but I don't mind that because it gets pretty serious at times with all the competition etc between the girls.

Other series I have enjoyed along these lines are:

Dirty Pair OVAs
Gunbuster
Gunsmith Cats
Cutey Honey
Project A-KO
Dominion Tank Police
Bubblegum Crisis/Crash
Noir
Madlax

Although I really enjoyed those last two, I'm not really looking for the "girls with guns" genre, so I don't really want recommendations for Najica etc.

One thing a lot of those shows have in common is that they are 80's/early 90's and are also OVA's so maybe that's where most of the other similar shows will come from. I appreciate the humour/fanservice in titles like Devil Hunter Yohko and Project A-KO but I don't mind if it's a more serious title either. Anything involving older Mecha series with girls in giant robots would be cool too - I think Gall Force would be one of these titles?

Any help would be really appreciated /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[JackProton]

"Girls" in giant robots, you say? One word -- Patlabor. TV and OVAs will get you some fine asskicking goodness.

How about "girls" who are "robots"? I'd recommend Battle Angel/Gunnm (is that available over there?) and Ghost in the Shell. Armitage III kicks a boatload of butt. Even more specific, there's the cat who's a girl who's a robot, Nuku Nuku, while the Saber Marionette team protects their nation from evil bondage-bots.

You might like Jubei Chan for an off-the-wall version of the female ninja. Or Grenadier for a top-heavy version of Vash the Stampede. There's always the nuns-with-guns in Chrono Crusade or the asskicking bibliophiles of R.O.D..

Then there's the title character of Witch Hunter Robin protecting us from evil witches. The women of X TV kick ass to save the human race. Last but not least, there's the little lady with the big gun in Hellsing.

[touma]

Mikura in Mezzo frequently uses a gun but she also, literally, kicks ass with some really wicked moves.

The girls in Sakura Wars do most of their fighting with their mecha, but they do sometimes get into some martial arts action.

And then there is Real Bout High School. A lot of people think that this show totally sucks, but I like it. And it does have several girls who are strong and kick ass.

[Shibi]

My~HiME

[crion]

If you're looking for 80-90s shows, this is a perfect chance to recommend Iria, which is one of my personal favorites. And while I'm on this topic, I'll recommend Plastic Little, a guilty pleasure of mine.

[Dagger]

[ QUOTE ]
Shibi said:
My~HiME

[/ QUOTE ]
Indeed. I daresay that My-HiME is just what the doctor ordered. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[touma]

I can't believe that I forgot Ikki Tousen.
This show is all about totally hot babes kickin' some serious butt, on each other and any guy who happens to get in the way.

Tenjo Tenge seems very similar through four episodes, which is all that I have watched of it.

[joelgundam01]

Burst Angel comes to mind. Athough, it does contain Girls with Guns, it also has a lot of mecha action. I think you may enjoy it.

[DKL]

Well, since we are in the process of getting the show around

I'd go with Super Gals! Fighting isn't really the focus, but Ran goes around kicking a lot of ass... in fact, it's almost too one-sided at times (which is why it's cool)

...

Well, Gunslinger Girl, how about that? Cute little girls with guns and with some great Madhouse animation behind it... yeah

... oh, but that has guns... but yeah, it's actually still really cool

[LimePie]

Got Utena?

[Captain Impulse]

Full Metal Panic?, much?

[Johnny]

Damn, just looking at these replies, I've seen a lot of stuff mentioned that I forgot to say I have.
I've also got:

My Hime (why the hell didn't I mention this in my first post? /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif)
GitS
Utena
Gunslinger Girl
Patlabor
Hellsing
Chrono Crusade

[AbeChinchilla]

Devil Lady (from the creator of Cutey Honey)

Saber Marionette J (the entire *limited* series box set is still $70 at RightStuf!) If you don't want the box, I recommend jumping towards J-to-X. It's the best of the three.

Vampire Princess Miyu (OVA and TV)

Burn-Up W + Burn-Up eXcess

Kaleido Star

SUPER GALS!!

Angelic Layer

Ranma 1/2.
I say go for the first TV series, and then jump towards the cheap OVA set (complete). Or, read up on what Ranma is all about and jump towards the OVAs. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

Tenjho Tenge

Gundam Wing stars a group of guys, but there's a great, large cast of STRONG female characters (I can think of 5 strong female supporting girls in this one). (Lady Une, for the win)

[ohtori_akio]

Has anyone mentioned <font color="red">Lina Inverse </font>? Or is she implied?

[citicslmatts]

[ QUOTE ]
crion said:
If you're looking for 80-90s shows, this is a perfect chance to recommend Iria, which is one of my personal favorites. And while I'm on this topic, I'll recommend Plastic Little, a guilty pleasure of mine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Fuck yes. I'm forced to second both of these - quite clearly awesome in every way! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[JackProton]

[ QUOTE ]
crion said:
If you're looking for 80-90s shows, this is a perfect chance to recommend Iria, which is one of my personal favorites.

[/ QUOTE ]
YES, YES, YES! How'd I forget to mention Iria!? Oh, and don't forget the live action films, Zeram (the out of print first in the series /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif) and Zeiram 2.

[DrMM]

Fuuko from Flame of Recca is the most kick-ass female character ever. She may not be the main character and there may be an annoyingly useless female character called Yanagi but Fuuko is pure awesome.

[treatment]

Galaxy Angels, man. Galaxy Angels. They kick ass! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Crocodile]

You need to pick up Godannar (super robot show, lots of awesome ass kicking female pilots) like now! You won't regret it. Jubei-chan seasons 1+2 is also a good idea as is Kaleido Star (though not so much action packed as just plain all around good) and Angleic Layer (not too similar to the shows you've listed but still great nonetheless).

[Chloe]

Well the OP did say 'Strong' in his subject line; I think some of the recs given so far might not really be what he is looking for, though most of them are pretty fair so far as I can see. I will second some:

Iria- Definitely. She's one tough cookie, and independant minded to boot.

Armitage III- Small lady. BIG ass kicking! I love Armitage. /images/graemlins/shy00000.gif

Gits- Anything but Innocence really. The major pretty much defines the sort of gal he is looking for, no?

Patlabor- Has 3 or more very strong female characters. They don't star in every episode(it's an ensemble show really), but they leave their mark.

Some that were not mentioned yet?

Outlaw Star- Two of Gene Starwind's crew are badass, and some of the villains and minor characters are worth seeing too.(Hot Ice Hilda! /images/graemlins/noseblee.gif)

You're Under Arrest!- Miyuki and Natsumi &amp; co. are not always kicking ass(they ARE police), but they definitely do their share, and that show is tons of fun anyway. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

Princess Mononoke- Has two main female characters who are on opposite sides who are very strong.

Blue Gender- Just for Marlene Angel. This doesn't have too many strong female characters, but it is basically a 2 main character show, and Marlene and Yuji share the spotlight with each of them being the main protagonist for about half the show. Marlene reminds me a bit of Armitage in looks and she just KICKS SO MUCH ASS! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[Njr Scrawl]

You're Under Arrest movie (OK guns, but Natsumi is strong too.)
Dangaioh
Virtua Fighter (Sarah, Pai)
Tekken (Jun, Anna &amp; Nina)
Street Fighter (Chun Li, Sakura, Cammy)
Ikkitousen
Silent Mobius
Hyper Police
Outlaw Star (Aisha)
Akane's High Kick
Birdy the Mighty
Blue Sonnet
Riding Bean
Appleseed
Go Shogun
Power Dolls
Wrath of the Ninja
Tsukikage Ran
Gokusen

[gnikdrazil]

I can't people forgot to mention Kiddy Porn ... I mean Kiddy Grade. Futuristic, fan service fighting. You want an over-the-top action series, Eclair uses a lipstick whip and multiple character designs. Plus, great eye catches.

[Johnny]

[ QUOTE ]
Wrath of the Njr said:
You're Under Arrest movie (OK guns, but Natsumi is strong too.)
Dangaioh
Hyper Police

Akane's High Kick
Blue Sonnet
Power Dolls
Wrath of the Ninja
Tsukikage Ran


[/ QUOTE ]

Bing-bong! You've hit the nail right on the head there with those suggestions, njr /images/graemlins/happy.gif
This is exactly what I was looking for.

But don't get me wrong, the other suggestions mentioned throughout the thread were great too - I have more than a few of those that I'll probably be getting eventually.

Just a couple of questions about some of these:

YUA - where do I start? There seems like so much of it.
Are all these available on (subtitled) R2UK/R1 DVD? I couldn't find DVD results for some.

[Njr Scrawl]

You're Under Arrest movie (OK guns, but Natsumi is strong too.)
ADV US (better 2nd release) &amp; UK. 1 volume. ADV UK mini-specials are dual language. TV series 1 is R1 only &amp; 13 volumes

YUA:No Mercy (R2J) is an alternate reality YUA where the Bokutoo force is in Florida helping with crime-fighting there. Harder than the movie.

Dangaioh
Manga US. Not sure about UK. Dub only. 1 volume.

Hyper Police
Image. R1 only. 6 volumes

Akane's High Kick
CPM. 1 volume

Blue Sonnet
Not DVD but sub VHS around. 2 volumes.

Power Dolls
ADV US. 1 volume

Wrath of the Ninja
CPM. Its the movie from Yotoden OVA series (old ADV UK sub VHS release)

Tsukikage Ran
Bandai. 4 volumes

additions!
Outlanders new from CPM. 1 disc.

Project A-Ko (CPM) is brawny babes bashing each other.

The 2 R2J Saikano OVAs - prequel story to the TV series - have English subtitles.

Prefectural Earth Defence Force (ADV) has a kick-ass gal leading it.

Blood (Manga US &amp; UK. 1 volume.)

Ghost Sweeper Mikami movie (Manga US &amp; UK. 1 volume)

Moldiver (Pioneer. 1 volume)

Phantom Quest Corps (Pioneer (?) 1 volume)

Midnight Panther (CPM, 1 volume)

Miami Guns (AN, spoofier, pervier &amp; bitchier policewomen than YUA)


I really hope Yawara (Judo series), Leda (TRSI VHS), Wannabes (CPM VHS &amp; LD), Gude Crest (ADV VHS), Abashiri Family (ADV VHS), Capricorn (ADV VHS), Iczelion (ADV VHS) get licensed for DVD someday.

Tobira wo Akete (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/(complex,mint)/detailview.html?KEY=PIBA-7117) is a R2J title I like, being another sword,skirt-&amp;-sandals story.

ZZ Gundam (not R1 yet) will have Hamann Kahn, Plu, Plu2, Elle, Loux Luca, Kara Soon &amp; Sayla Mass. Its Gundam girl-power!

[Pelianth]

No one's mentioned Sol Bianca yet?

[Chloe]

Johnny: I am pretty sure you start with the TV series for YUA!, the two movies and mini-specials came after I think. If you get the box sets then the first disc? is the Original OVA version, then the credits switch over to the regular TV version after that.

Oh, and I forgot to mention it when I first posted, but that person who recced Sol Bianca is right, that fits the bill pretty well.

[Otakufan]

Don't forget Dirty Pair Flash as well. 3 discs (18 episodes) of butt kicking action.

And Gall Force is nothing other than 90 minutes of female fighting gals. There's not a single human male in it until the end.

J.A.

[Njr Scrawl]

[ QUOTE ]
Kingmole said:
Johnny: I am pretty sure you start with the TV series for YUA!, the two movies and mini-specials came after I think. If you get the box sets then the first disc? is the Original OVA version, then the credits switch over to the regular TV version after that.

Oh, and I forgot to mention it when I first posted, but that person who recced Sol Bianca is right, that fits the bill pretty well.

[/ QUOTE ]

YUA tv episodes 1 - 4 are the OVA versions (the tv versions had a few spoilers edited out &amp; possibly the TV introduction &amp; ending instead of the OVA ones)