Best Female Rivals in Anime

Important takeaways

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

Rivalry is a common theme in almost all anime, and this integral concept has been crucial to character growth and plot progression in many popular anime series. But this view has traditionally been limited to male characters, with their female counterparts relegated to mere romantic rivalries and petty squabbles.

Yet a handful of anime have risen above this preconceived notion, as they present compelling rivalries between female characters that ultimately become the source of their growth. Although female rivalries tend to be less fleshed out, these series manage to offer some pretty in-depth rivalries. From friendly rivalries to all-out archenemies, these are some of them best female rivals in all of anime.

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

A healthy rivalry became friendship

While Little Witch Academia largely presents a wholesome story about a Japanese witch in a foreign academy, a somewhat intriguing rivalry makes its way between Akko and Diana. Initially, Diana resents Akko's beliefs regarding magic, believing Akko's views 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 as 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 some romantic rivalries over Raku Ichijou, though the most pronounced of these is Onodera and Chitoge's battle over Raku. Onodera and Chitoge have remained the main contenders for Raku's affection as they take on the childhood friend's respective compulsive pairings.

Oddly, the two characters remain friends until the end, despite fighting for the same person's affection. While some feelings of hostility are sprouting all the time Nisekoithe two may eventually move forward on a positive note.

6 Nozomi and Hanabi (Keijo!)

A fierce sports rivalry between teammates

With a fictitious sport at its center, Keio! often goes under the radar within the sports landscape. However, this anime is packed with all sorts of exciting battles, along with a hint of fan service. Nozomi and Hanabi's rivalry begins early in the series, specifically during the qualifying match for the academy entrance exams.

Nozomi's strength and unwavering spirit reignite Hanabi's passion for the sport. The rest of the series is marked with instances where Nozomi strives to rival Hanabi's strength, meaning 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 exaggerated when it comes to female characters, although Kagome and Kikyo's heated rivalry in Inuyasha is really worth mentioning. When Inuyasha became 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 chose Kagome as his final partner, the rivalry between Kikyo and Kagome extended far beyond Inuyasha's world. With the entire fandom divided 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 sisterly rivalry between guildmates

Ezra and Mirajane are arguably the two strongest female characters in all Fairy Taila fact which naturally lays the foundation for a rivalry to form. Oddly enough, their rivalry has remained mostly confined to flashbacks from their childhood. After Lissanna's presumed demise, Mirajane underwent a sudden transformation from a criminal to a caring older sister, effectively ending their rivalry.

But 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 one of Fairy Tail's few S-class wizards, which naturally pits the two fearsome ladies against each other.

3 Sakura and Ino (Naruto)

A friendship based on overcoming rivalry

Naruto hosts many iconic rivalries that have shaped the show. Ino and Sakura have one of those compelling rivalries, which shaped the two characters and their relationship in the early parts of Naruto. Initially fighting for Sasuke's attention, Ino and Sakura's friendship fades into a heated rivalry.

The two went head-to-head during the Chunin Exams, a battle 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 made both Sakura and Ino grow stronger.

2 Ochako Uraraka and Himiko Toga (My Hero Academia)

A battle over different worldviews

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

Although this rivalry was never exactly the focus of My Hero Academiait served an important purpose for the growth of both characters. During the final war, Uraraka was able to see the good in Toga, realizing that not all villains are evil. The opposite was true for Toga, who saw 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 distaste for each other deemed them instant arch-enemies, and Sastuki's challenge to Ryuko to defeat all of her minions added further fuel to the fire.

But 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, although it cannot be denied that this disagreement played a major role in driving Ryuko to amass such unparalleled power.