Girls with swords

[pianocello]

We've heard of the "girls with guns" which is alternately used to describe both a genre and a character type at times but despite how increasingly common this is becoming, I don't hear much about people talking about girls with swords.

(1)Who is your favorite female of the "girls with swords" type?
(2)Which of these females in this genre do you consider to be the most proficient with a sword and the best fighter with it?


Please note that by "sword", I'm refering to anything from a sword for fencing to a samurai sword or even to a kendo stick.

[Serial Experiments Nobue]

Utena Tenjou from Revolutionary Girl Utena is my favorite. (Big surprise coming from me, right? :D )

Also up there would be Juri Arisugawa also from Utena, Jiyu Nanohana (aka Jubei Yagyu) from Jubei-chan, Sakura Shinguji from Sakura Taisen, and Hikaru Shidou from Magic Knight Rayearth.

Juri probably gets my vote as most proficient... she is captain of the fencing club at Ohtori Academy, after all.

Admittedly I don't know of all that many girls with swords, but the moment I saw this thread title Revolutionary Girl Utena was the very first series to spring to mind.

edit: how could I possibly have forgotten Jiyu Nanohana/Jubei?!?! :blush: I forgot about Hikaru too...

[The Great Bear]

1) Favorite.
Hmm. This is tough, since I actually like quite a few girls with swords, even ones from shows which I consider laughable or awful. Case in point being Motoko from Love Hina. The show sucks, but I <3 Motoko.

At the moment, I guess I'll go with Saber from Fate/Stay Night.

Others: Mai Kawasumi (Kanon) [a close second place], Motoko (Love Hina), Jiyu Nanohana (Jubei-chan), Konoe (Hanaukyo Maid Team), Utena Tenjou (RGU) and soon, I'll see whether Honoka (The Third) and Shana (Shakugan no Shana) will join this list.

2) Proficiency
Hmm. Don't know. There would have to be a tournament to decide who was the best.

[chloes_fork]

Admittedly I don't know of all that many girls with swords, but the moment I saw this thread title Revolutionary Girl Utena was the very first series to spring to mind.
Utena's a fine choice, but the first thing to spring to my mind isn't anime at all, though it is Japanese and based on manga: the live-action Azumi movie. Man, I love that flick out of all proportion to its actual quality.

As for anime, Shana (as in Shakugan no) also deserves a mention.

[aquapermanence]

Outside of Utena characters, my picks are:

Ryoko from Tenchi.

Honey from Cutey Honey.

Oscar from Rose of Versailles.

[roastedpekingduck]

Yoko from Twelve Kingdoms. She may not be that great with the sword, but she still eventually kicks a lot of ass.

[masterpez]

I think my all time favorite is Sakurazaki Setsuna from Negima. She's already badass beyond words, but the shinmei-ryu elevates that even more. Then add in the fact that she wants Konoka, and you have an instant win with a flawless victory.

[Sensuifu]

Yoko from Twelve Kingdoms

Yeah, one of my favorite sword-wielding characters.

[Sensuifu]

in no significant order-

Saya( Blood: The Last Vampire)
Achika (Tenchi Muyo in Love)
Aya & Maya Natsume (Tenjho Tenge)....maybe not.
Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach)
Rangiku Matsumoto (Bleach)

Difficult to choose a favorite from this list including those from the previous posts (I like all of them pretty much equally). If exceptions were made to include spears, then Balsa - Seirei no Moribito -(afaik and seen she uses a spear exclusively) is pretty much a given. :)

As for the most skilled/proficient and best fighter, I'd have to say Saya.

[roastedpekingduck]

I think Balsa wins best-animated woman fighter. :D

[Fencedude]

Signum (http://www.fencedude.com/Images/Signum1.jpg), the Sword Knight.

Levaetain, Cartridge Load!

Explosion!

[Westlo]

I think Balsa wins best-animated woman fighter. :D

Real women use spears :)

As for the topic, the cast of Claymore.

[Njr Scrawl]

IIRC Deedlit from Lodoss fought with a sword. Also Silver in Legend of Lemnear.

Its a shame ADV never licensed Gude Crest for DVD, as that is really a Dirty-Pair-with-swords type story OVA. Didn't the Flash pair use light sabers?

[Ialdaboth]

Sword-weilding girls were all the rage at the begining of the 90s : Valis, Mamono Hunter Yohko, Outlanders, El Viento (or was it boomerangs ?), Lemnear, Arshes Nei in Bastard, Guardress...

Mor recently, I really appreciated characters like Juri from Uena, Jiyu Nanohana, Shiryu from Ikkitousen, Honoka... all of them are extremely competent, independent and awe-inspiring characters.

[Isuzu Inugami]

Didn't the Flash pair use light sabers?

Yuri did, yeah. Kei is a strictly guns type of girl. :neko:

Let's not forget Katsumi Liqueur from Silent Mobius (and what a sword!)

(By the way, much as I like girls, swords, and girls with swords, this touches on a pet peeve of mine, which is when a character strikes a dramatic pose with a sword, and the sword goes ka-chink! Swords don't have moving parts! If it's making noise, it's falling apart!)

[Fudce]

My personal favorite?
Hikaru Shidou (http://www.fudce.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/hikaru2.jpg) (Magic Knight Rayearth)

Other worthwhile mentions include:
Umi Ryuuzaki (MKR)
Fuu Hououji (MKR)
Setsuna Sakurazaki (Negima)
Asuna Kagurazaka (Negima)
Rin Kamishiro(Maburaho)
Signum (Lyrical Nanoha A's)
And some more unconventional mentions:
Sakura Kinomoto - "The Sword" (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Fate Testarossa - "Bardiche Zanber" (Lyrical Nanoha A's)
Princess Valkyrie - "Key of Time" (UFO Valkyrie)

As for who I'd consider "most proficient"...?
It's be a four way brawl between:
Setsuna
Rin
Signum
Sakura

[Lumberjack]

And some more unconventional mentions:
Sakura Kinomoto - "The Sword" (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Fate Testarossa - "Bardiche Zanber" (Lyrical Nanoha A's)
Princess Valkyrie - "Key of Time" (UFO Valkyrie)



The first unconventional one I thought of was Yomiko Readman and her money sword...

[Sensuifu]

(By the way, much as I like girls, swords, and girls with swords, this touches on a pet peeve of mine, which is when a character strikes a dramatic pose with a sword, and the sword goes ka-chink! Swords don't have moving parts! If it's making noise, it's falling apart!)

it's the sfx of the lens-flare effect...as if that has any sound either. :D

[Sensuifu]

The first unconventional one I thought of was Yomiko Readman and her money sword...



ooohhh, but how that paper cuts!

[Teiresias]

I've been thinking about this for a bit. I'd like to include other weapons--I'm thinking of you Kanu Unchou! :virgin: --but I'll abide by the original OP's request.

1. Ryofu Housen [Ikkitousen]
2. Hazuki Azuma [Yamibou]
3. Saya Otonashi
4. [b]Clare [Claymore]
5. Aron Spoor [Crest/Banner of the Stars]
5. Jubei Yagyu [Jubei Chan/Jubei Chan 2]
6. Chouun Shiriyuu [Ikkitousen-DD]
7. Akeginu
8. [b]Ran Tsukikage [Tsukikage Ran]
9. Casca
10. [b]Mikoto Minagi [My~Hime/My Otome]

[The Great Bear]

(By the way, much as I like girls, swords, and girls with swords, this touches on a pet peeve of mine, which is when a character strikes a dramatic pose with a sword, and the sword goes ka-chink! Swords don't have moving parts! If it's making noise, it's falling apart!)

Very true. Just have them swing the sword overdramatically, and then you can have a perfectly legitimate *swish* noise. That's all that's necessary.

[treatment]

hmm. I'm quite partial to


Mai Kawasumi of Kanon (http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/images/B000J6I18I/sr=8-8/qid=1183491299/ref=dp_image_0/250-7825260-6539436?ie=UTF8&n=561958&s=dvd&qid=1183491299&sr=8-8)

Jubei Chan (Jiyu Nanohana) of J1/J2 (http://j2dvd.com/desktop1_1024.html)

Freesia of J2 (http://j2dvd.com/desktop2_1024.html)

All three of them are very proficient. Mai with a claymore-sword, and both Jubie-chan and Freesia with katanas. :P

Can't really get any better than them three. :cool:

[TheGreenMan]

What, no Shana?

[chloes_fork]

What, no Shana?
Shana's been mentioned a couple times, once by my very own self. :P

[JackProton]

The Demon-Ass-Kicking Babes of Tokko.

[Njr Scrawl]

I suppose Lexshue, Spoor & Lafiel from Crest & Banner of the Stars ought to be included. They don't fight with their dress swords, but do brandish them eloquently when ordering attacks & manoeuvres.

[Dagger]

I have to agree with most of the characters mentioned here (especially Oscar and the Utena & Jubei-chan crews). Since no one's brought up Lia from Le Chevalier d'Eon, I thought I'd throw her name out there as well.

[Fudce]

I suppose Lexshue, Spoor & Lafiel from Crest & Banner of the Stars ought to be included. They don't fight with their dress swords, but do brandish them eloquently when ordering attacks & manoeuvres.
I nearly mentioned Spoor and Lafiel in my post, but decided not to for some reason.

I have to agree with most of the characters mentioned here (especially Oscar and the Utena & Jubei-chan crews). Since no one's brought up Lia from Le Chevalier d'Eon, I thought I'd throw her name out there as well.
But in Le Chevalier D'Eon, technically Lia is a swordsman. Think about it.

[Spirit Of The Stage]

Most of my faves have already been picked (especially Sakura Shinguji, Signum and Shana) but I'll add a fairly new one and pick Juliet from Romeo X Juliet, whether as a dashing blood of justice or panicking with her true love.

And also my favourite Marine from One Piece, Tashigi, the uncanny girl who looks like Zoro's childhood friend Kuina.

[Teiresias]

I suppose Lexshue, Spoor & Lafiel from Crest & Banner of the Stars ought to be included.
I nearly mentioned Spoor and Lafiel in my post, but decided not to for some reason.

See above... :sigh:

[AbeChinchilla]

The ever-so-lovely Dorothy sports a fencing saber in Gundam Wing. ... Eyebrows!!

[Illusion]

Also up there would be Juri Arisugawa also from Utena, Jiyu Nanohana (aka Jubei Yagyu) from Jubei-chan, Sakura Shinguji from Sakura Taisen

*nod* *nod* *nod*

I also want to add Kaoru from Kenshin and Haruka from Sailor Moon (she sort of counts...)

[Garrett Jax]

Hmmm...

The only one I can think of to add is "Twilight" Suzuka from Outlaw Star

[ZenAmako]

Yohko from Leda: Fantastic Adventure of Yohko is my favorite sword-swinging anime babe.

[Nozmo]

Didn't the Flash pair use light sabers?

Yuri did, yeah. Kei is a strictly guns type of girl. :neko:

That's a revival from the print novels, where both of them know how to use "light-swords", particularly Kei! That type of weapon only shows up once in the "Classic" anime, in "Project E.D.E.N.", where it is also used by Kei...


(By the way, much as I like girls, swords, and girls with swords, this touches on a pet peeve of mine, which is when a character strikes a dramatic pose with a sword, and the sword goes ka-chink! Swords don't have moving parts! If it's making noise, it's falling apart!)

I believe that's not a "real" sound, but a sound-effect for dramatic purposes, to emphasize the sword's power and purpose. (It's like the spaceship's "swoosh" in total vacuum...)

[Relwarc]

(By the way, much as I like girls, swords, and girls with swords, this touches on a pet peeve of mine, which is when a character strikes a dramatic pose with a sword, and the sword goes ka-chink! Swords don't have moving parts! If it's making noise, it's falling apart!)

Very true. Just have them swing the sword overdramatically, and then you can have a perfectly legitimate *swish* noise. That's all that's necessary.

Ugh, I've always hated that part of any sword-swinging anime. Just about every time it happens, I cringe, but it's a staple of anime and won't going anywhere any time soon.



I believe that's not a "real" sound, but a sound-effect for dramatic purposes, to emphasize the sword's power and purpose. (It's like the spaceship's "swoosh" in total vacuum...)

You'll laugh yourself silly with Galaxy Railways. It defies so many laws of physics that it's almost a game of "spot what's wrong with this picture" with every episode. Fortunately, it has things like "plot" and "characterization." :sd:

[Fencedude]

(By the way, much as I like girls, swords, and girls with swords, this touches on a pet peeve of mine, which is when a character strikes a dramatic pose with a sword, and the sword goes ka-chink! Swords don't have moving parts! If it's making noise, it's falling apart!)

Very true. Just have them swing the sword overdramatically, and then you can have a perfectly legitimate *swish* noise. That's all that's necessary.

Ugh, I've always hated that part of any sword-swinging anime. Just about every time it happens, I cringe, but it's a staple of anime and won't going anywhere any time soon.





Audible Sharpness (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main.AudibleSharpness)

[The Great Bear]

Audible Sharpness (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main.AudibleSharpness)


Thanks for the link. There are some interesting articles there. I liked the one on Phlebotinum. Very true.

[Mark]

(By the way, much as I like girls, swords, and girls with swords, this touches on a pet peeve of mine, which is when a character strikes a dramatic pose with a sword, and the sword goes ka-chink! Swords don't have moving parts! If it's making noise, it's falling apart!)

All my katana knowledge comes from Rurouni Kenshin and all my years of anime watching, but here's what I think is happening: according to the series, Kenshin's True Forge, or Shin-uchi is only half nailed in (the metal of the sword to the handle), meaning the force of the blows are lessened. Incidentally, this nail is also the one that holds Gourry's Sword of Light metal blade.
The fact that katanas are held in place by a nail allows for some movement, which I assume is where this sound you're talking about comes from.

[Chloe]

(By the way, much as I like girls, swords, and girls with swords, this touches on a pet peeve of mine, which is when a character strikes a dramatic pose with a sword, and the sword goes ka-chink! Swords don't have moving parts! If it's making noise, it's falling apart!)

All my katana knowledge comes from Rurouni Kenshin and all my years of anime watching, but here's what I think is happening: according to the series, Kenshin's True Forge, or Shin-uchi is only half nailed in (the metal of the sword to the handle), meaning the force of the blows are lessened. Incidentally, this nail is also the one that holds Gourry's Sword of Light metal blade.
The fact that katanas are held in place by a nail allows for some movement, which I assume is where this sound you're talking about comes from.

I was under the impression that the circular guard just above the grip on a Katana/wakazashi type sword is not fixed into position; there is a small amount of "looseness" involved. If the swords you are talking about were of the japanese type that might explain that little sound.

You all seem to be most interested in the pretty girls with swords...what, no love for Genie of Rune soldier? She's a professional, dammit!

Lina Inverse will on ocasion whip out her sword, and actually use it. Not the greatest skill, but the fact she was at least competent in two disciplines was a mark in her favour.

Mikami of Ghost Seeper fame also uses a light/magic blade. Casca also would rate pretty highly in my book.

Now Kauru from Kenshin and Twilgiht Suzuka from Outlaw Star both use wodden swords, but obviously not equally well. :sd:

[Fencedude]

Audible Sharpness (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main.AudibleSharpness)


Thanks for the link. There are some interesting articles there. I liked the one on Phlebotinum. Very true.

I love the site. Great place to waste time

[ayareiko]

If she ever makes it to animated form, I'd pick her. (http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/AyaReiko/33310hime9733destiny653hh9.jpg)

Then again, would her second incarnation count?

[DesignedOne]

Revolutionary Girl Utena: Tenjo Utena, Arisugawa Juri and Kiryuu Nanami.
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040: Sylia Stingray.
Rozen Maiden: Suigintou and Barasuishou.
Sailor Moon: Sailor Uranus and Sailor Galaxia.
X: Kishu Arashi.

[Foxfossil]

There are just so many to choose from I can't pick one favorite I know the first two that I seen that I liked was Motoko from Love Hina and Suzuka from outlaw star with her boken. Because these were some of the first anime I watched. I have not seen Ayano from Kaze no Stigma on here yet.

other favorites would be: Shana from Shana,Rokujo Sakura from Tokko, Rin Kamishiro from Maburaho, Saber from Fate/Stay Night, Claire from claymore, Black rose from .hack//sign, Saya from Blood +, Setsuna from Negima. These others are minor characters but I like them as girls with swords. Stir (daughter of the Ruler of a town.) from King of Bandit Jing, and Touka with small sword and Karula with massive blunt sword thing from Utawarerumono.

The ones I think are the most proficient are Sakura from sakura wars, Claire from Claymore, and Suzuka with her boken.

[Illusion]

Audible Sharpness (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main.AudibleSharpness)


Thanks for the link. There are some interesting articles there. I liked the one on Phlebotinum. Very true.

I love the site. Great place to waste time


You said it. Can't...stop...clicking... :sd:

[mandisaw]

Hmm, hard topic... I'll have to second votes for the girls from Rayearth, Utena (and Anthy), Arashi from X, and Lady Oscar (although I haven't seen much of RoV). Kaoru fr. Kenshin gets some points for sheer moxy. :sd:

Shana's cool, but she's too young and cute to be truly badass, IMO, and I always saw the sword as more of a focus for her flame-powers than as a discrete weapon. The ladies of Claymore are good overall, but I've got to give more points for the ones that can do finesse techniques with a BFS, like Teresa. On the same score, the girls from Red Garden do pretty damn good with improvised weapons (baseball bat, steel rebar), so they deserve a shout-out.

For the all-around best-skilled though, I'd go with Youko fr. 12 Kingdoms (mentioned earlier), Sarasa fr. Basara (wide-eyed rebel leader), and Alexiel fr. Angel Sanctuary (badass divine rebel leader). These three may not have the highest kill-count, but they usually do well at figuring out when to talk and when to crack heads.

[Serial Experiments Nobue]

Hmm, hard topic... I'll have to second votes for the girls from [...] Utena (and Anthy)

Is that based on hit percentage or emphasis on the word 'with'? :> :D