Purple-haired girls are rarely the center of attention. They tend to be more on the sidelines, leaving room for the main characters to shine, like Asuna from Sword Art Online, Mikasa from Attack On Titan, Usagi and Chibiusa from Sailor Moon, or Nezuko from Demon Slayer. These main characters are so iconic and over-popularized by pop culture and the media that they easily steal anyone's spotlight. They are fan favorites and serve as inspirations to many people.

Related

Most Iconic Anime Girls With Red Hair

There are a ton of iconic anime characters with colorful hair, and these are the best redheads among them.

However, there are many anime girls out there who deserve the same recognition and love. Whether they are a friend of the protagonist, a side character, or an enemy, purple-haired anime girls can be as iconic as anyone else.

Updated on June 28th 2024, by Mara Cowley: Unusual or unique hair colors are as much of a main-stay in anime as comedy and being teleported into other worlds are. Designing characters with unnatural hair colors helps these characters reach iconic status with their stand-out appearances. Purple hair has become a popular color choice for many excellent anime girls, alongside pink, blue, and red, making these extraordinary characters even more memorable. Though this article already contains many purple haired anime girls, there is always room for improvement, and thus, this article has been updated, furthering the already tough battle to decide who is the best purple hair anime girl.

20 Zakuro Fujiwara (Tokyo Mew Mew)

Acts as a Protective, Older Sister to the Rest of the Mew Mews

• Release Date: April 6th, 2002
• Creator: Masashi Sogo
• Genres: Magical girl
• Studio: Pierott

Magical girl anime has been a popular genre for decades now, with shows like Sailor Moon leading the charge, and series like Puella Magi Madoka Magica shaking up the formula by adding a surprise horrifying twist to the formula. But for fans of a good old-fashioned magical girl anime, Tokyo Mew Mew might just be the show for them, transforming ordinary girls into magical girls, each themed around different animals.

One of these girls is Zakuro Fujiwara, the fifth Mew to be introduced and her animal being that of a grey wolf, but thankfully, her attire is much more colorful, sporting reddish purple clothing, and purple hair. Her maturity and calm demeanor means she acts as something of a caretaker to the rest of the group, offering advice and support even if she was reluctant to join their group at the start. This personality of hers might just be the breath of fresh air viewers need when surrounded by more cutesy, innocent characters.

19 Momoko (Ghost Stories)

Fearless Even in the Face of Ghosts

Starting off as a series of books written for children, Ghost Stories found more fame when it was adapted for television, in which the group of friends find themselves coming face to face with several ghost and demons haunting their school and town. Armed with a book detailing how to perform exorcisms, Satsuki and her friends are the only ones who are capable of saving the town from the supernatural enemies threatening to destroy the town.

Related

Best Horror Anime, Ranked

From psychological masterpieces to gore fests, these horror anime will send chills down the spines of even the most hardcore fans.

Satuski won't be dealing with this all alone though, as she is accompanied by others, such as Momoko. Momoko is one of the more fearless member of the group that doesn''t hesitate to look after others, though her character in the English dub goes through a rather drastic personality change. But, her appearance is left intact, including her iconic purple hair that helps sperate her from the cast. In fact, her hair is even the butt of a joke as a demon breaks the fourth wall to state they must be in an anime when looking at the shade of Momoko's long, lilac locks.

18 Minene Uryuu (Future Diary)

A Tough Girl With Surprising Knowledge Of Explosives

Future Diary is home to one of the most iconic pink-haired yandere characters of all time: Yuno Gasai. But aside from her, there is another iconic anime girl in the series: Minene Uryuu. She is an expert when it comes to demolition and explosives, which makes her a person no one should take lightly or underestimate. Aside from that, she is also independent and strong, a result of her tough and loveless upbringing.

Her character was so iconic that she was chosen as the protagonist for the spin-off series Future Diary: Mosaic, which shows more of Minene's hard life before and after acquiring her diary. It is certainly one to watch, just to see more of this iconic purple-haired girl.

17 Hitagi Senjougahara (Monogatari)

A Complex Character Surrounded By Mystery

Shaft Studio's zany and surreal supernatural mystery anime brought many iconic characters to the anime enjoyers' screens, with one of the best being the blunt and intimidating Senjougahara. More than once, she threatens the main character Araragi with sharp stationary, which is her reaction to feelings of jealousy being stirred, and isn't afraid of speaking her mind, no matter how the other person might take it.

Related

Anime: Best Tsundere Female Characters

Tsundere characters' tough exteriors hide a loving person on the inside. Here are some of the best examples of female characters in anime.

This makes it sound like Senjougahara could be an annoying character to be around, but instead, it makes her an interesting and fun character to watch, and fans who stick with the series will be rewarded with finding out more about this mysterious and interesting girl.

16 Dorothy Unsworth (Black Clover)

A Prodigy Among Her Kind

The magical fantasy world in Black Clover is populated by a number of interesting characters that are a joy to watch, with Dorothy Unsworth being one of the best. A talented witch born in the Witch's Forest, she quickly rises in the ranks of the Magic Knights, attaining the rank of Captain, which is a testament to her strength and skill.

One might expect the character of Dorothy to be stalwart, serious, and straight-edge, but the truth of her character is far more fun. Dorothy spends most of her time in a state of sleep but is still somewhat aware of her surroundings, which makes for some hilarious scenes. The times that she is awake, she is very carefree and happy-go-lucky, which makes her character immediately likable, and all to easy to underestimate, which would be to the detriment of any of her foes.

15 Kagami Hiiragi (Lucky Star)

Perfectly Embodies The Tsundere Archetype

The comedic slice-of-life anime, Lucky Star, captured the hearts of fans all across the world with comedic relief, a cutesy art style, and endearing characters, following the daily lives of these high school girls. Otaku culture, academia, food--Lucky Star delves into many different avenues to humorous effect.

One of these cutesy girls is Kagami Hiiragi, the purple-haired twin to Tsukasa Hiiragi. Part of what makes Kagami so iconic is how she perfectly embodies the Tsundere stereotype, acting aloof and cold towards others to hide the fact she cares deeply, which she does, especially towards Konata. The two play off each other perfectly; their dynamic is one of the many joys viewers will experience while watching this show. Kagami steals the show whenever she is on screen.

14 Yoruichi Shihouin (Bleach)

A Whimsical And Fun Character

This popular shonen anime is commonly referred to as "one of the big three," the trio of anime shows that dominate the fandom with their enduring popularity and reach, and it is clear to see why. Bleach earned its acclaim with a phenomenal fantasy adventure following Ichigo and co. as they defend humans from evil spirits.

With any job as big as this, Ichigo encounters friends, foes, and other acquaintances, one such being Yoruichi Shihioin, a Shinigami with the ability to shapeshift into a cat. She uses this ability to shock everyone she meets, playing into the whimsical nature of her personality that makes it hard to dislike her. However, Yoruichi isn't all jokes, as she can be calm and mature when situations call for it. This makes her a well-rounded character and iconic in her own right.

13 Saeko Busujima (Highschool Of The Dead)

A Complete Badass With A Soft Side

Zombies have always been a popular genre for Western shows and movies, its influence even reaching anime with series like Highschool of the Dead proving its international popularity. The show opens with an outbreak unleashed upon civilization, namely modern-day Japan in this instance. The story follows a group of survivors that consists of a group of high school students and a school nurse as they try to survive.

Related

Forgotten Anime About Zombies (That Are Awesome)

Which forgotten anime zombies need to be brought back to the limelight?

The purple-haired Saeko is the point-man of the survivors, excelling in melee combat, and the main reason the survivors have lived. Along with being a total badass, Saeko is a kind and caring character who acts as a big sister to her group. It's only when she is in combat that her nature changes, making her a terrifying weapon of mass destruction and one character everyone would want on their side.

12 Natsume Tsuchimikado (Tokyo Ravens)

Natsume Is More Than What Meets The Eye

This little-known supernatural anime tells the tale of the Great Spiritual Disaster, an incident that unleashed spirits and demons upon Japan. The Onmyo Agency was established to help bring order to the chaos, only for it to try and recreate what initially led to its inception in a shocking twist.

One character deadset on not allowing this to happen is Natsume Tsuchimikado, the estranged childhood friend of the main protagonist. Though shy and easily prone to bouts of jealousy, Natsume is far from a pushover, often stern and blunt to friends when needed and fiercely protective of her family and their reputation. Fans know better than to be fooled by first impressions when it comes to Natsumem who became a favorite among those who have seen this vastle underappreciated anime.

11 Ultear Milkovich (Fairy Tail)

A Sympathetic Villain

Fairy Tale is a long-standing successful anime show, loved by anime fans far and wide. It is set in a world where magic, wizards, dragons, and all other hosts of fairy-tale elements create a fantastical show full of adventure and is backed up by a colorful cast of characters to help move the plot along. Every episode is a fantastical joy to watch, and there are plenty of iconic characters to roote for.

One such character is Ultear Milkovich, who is far from a fairy tale Princess and more akin to a wicked witch. Manipulative, ruthless, and ambitious are just a few words used to describe this antagonist. But there is more to her character than just irredeemable villainy, as she is also a victim, making her sympathetic to the audience, and an iconic character all around that it is hard to dislike.

10 Sheele (Akame ga Kill)

Her Clumsiness And Cuteness Make Her An Endearing Character

Akame ga Kill! follows the story of Tatsumi, a young villager who is recruited by Night Raid, a group of assassins who fight against the Capital and its corruption alongside childhood friends, meeting all manner of peoples in his time as an assassin, including Sheele.

Related

Akame Ga Kill: Major Differences Between The Manga & Anime

Akame Ga Kill is a fantastic anime that many fans enjoyed but it has significant differences only those that read the manga would notice.

Sheele may be a clumsy character, but her cuteness makes up for it. She's also the most compassionate of her gang of assassins, which is certainly a unique trait to have in her profession, and she is always there for her friends when they need her. Fans know not to let her cuteness fool them, however, as she is merciless and terrifying with her large pair of scissors when the time calls for it.

9 Anko Mitarashi (Naruto)

An Impulsive Character Whose Recklessness Is Fun To Watch

Naruto is a young graduate of the ninja academy. As a Shinobi, he has the goal of becoming his village's next Hokage with the help of his friends. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned. His friend and rival, Sasuke, needs saving before he strays off into the darkness for good.

Fans first meet Anko in Episode 21, where she first meets Naruto in a very particular way. Instead of greeting him like a regular person, she throws a kunai at him and licks his blood off the blade. The S-class tier has incredible snake powers and is the epitome of badass. She's loud, compulsive, stubborn, never backs down, and she often puts her life on the line to save others.

8 Izuna Hatsuse (No Game, No Life)

An Adorable And Loveable Purple-Haired Character

No Game, No Life is an Isekai about two siblings named Sora and Shiro. They are legendary online gamers, known under the username "Blank." They view the world differently from others, treating everything in life as a game until they are pulled into another realm, and things get serious.

One of the characters they meet in this world is Izuna, whom quickly becomes a major character in the show, alongside the siblings. She's an adorable Werebeast character who is overly polite, but that only adds to her cuteness. She has the ability "Blood Break," which allows her to make her tail longer and change her fur's color to red.

7 Kyoka Jiro (My Hero Academia)

Her Unique Quirk Makes Her Stand Out

My Hero Academia centers around Izuku Midoriya (AKA Deku), a boy born into a world of superheroes without a superpower or "quirk." He is willing to do everything to become a hero, even enrolling in U.A. High School for future superheroes, where there are many others with their own unique quirks.

Related

My Hero Academia: The Strongest Powers Of Izuku Midoriya

Izuku Midoriya has a lot of strong and interesting powers in My Hero Academia. Here's a look at some of the absolute strongest.

Kyoka is a classmate of Deku. She is a big fan of music, and she can play multiple instruments and teach others how to play. Her quirk is fairly simple, but this doesn't make it any less interesting. Her earlobes are jack-plug connectors, which she has 100% control of, and she can connect to pretty much anything and hear what is going on in other rooms. She can also create sound waves or stun people with her quirk as long as it's connected to the right jack, so anyone who waves her quirk off as useless in combat might be in for a nasty surprise.

6 Kyou Fujibayashi (Clannad)

Fiercely Protective Of Her Younger Sister

Clannad follows the story of a delinquent, Tomoya Okazaki, who is bored with his life until he befriends Nagisa and attempts to help achieve her dream of reviving the drama club. As he meets her friends, he realizes that life has a lot to offer and that everyone has their share of problems.

One of Tomoya's friends is a girl named Kyou. She's a bold Tsundere who always has something to say, even when it is inappropriate or vulgar. She is bold, energetic, and can come off as intimidating, but that is only because she is very protective of her younger sister Ryou. These characteristics make her endearing to the audience, as her protective nature is relatable.

5 Yuri Nakamura (Angel Beats!)

A Natural Born Leader

Angel Beats! is about Otonashi, a boy who wakes up in another realm with no memory of who he is aside from his name. He meets Yuri, who informs him that he is dead and is now in the afterlife. Yuri also invites him to join her Afterlife Battlefront, the Shinda Sekai Sensen, where she is trying to take down the enemy, Tenshi. However, Otonashi doesn't see her as a threat and is more intrigued by Tenshi than ever.

Yuri is a natural-born leader, and doesn't hesistate to take control of situations to protect her friends and ensure the best resolution is reached. She is determined, quick on her feet, intelligent, and reliable. She also has the utmost respect of her peers, making her a likable and multi-faceted character.

4 Blair (Soul Eater)

A Charming Character Who Knows How To Have Fun

Soul Eater is an anime set in Death City. Soul Eater Evans wants to become a Death Scythe, a Demon Weapon designed to combat the evils of their world. To achieve his goal, he must consume 99 evil souls and one from a witch with the help of his friends and classmates.

Related

Strongest Swords In Anime

Powerful swords are a staple accessory for any anime hero. These swords are the strongest to have appeared in anime series.

Blair is a witch who was once hunted by Maka and Soul for her soul before befriending them. As a wild child at heart, she likes to have fun, and is not above making rash decisions that may not always have the best results, but that is just part of her charm. She can transform into a cat, which is her natural form, and is often seen prancing around naked to hilarious effect.

3 Faye Valentine (Cowboy Bebop)

One Of The Most Realistic And Grounded Characters In Anime

Cowboy Bebop is set in 2071 after the Earth becomes inhabitable. The story is about a duo - cowboys named Spike and Jet Black, who help the Inter-Solar System Police keep peace in the galaxy. They travel in their spaceship called Bebop and meet many people on their adventures, like an intelligent Welsh Corgi named Ein, Edward Wong, and Faye Valentine.

Before Faye met the gang, she was a cryogenic character in a block who woke up with amnesia in 2068. She then went off on a mission to pay off her debts but kept losing money on races. She's a bit of a rebel as she constantly drinks, smokes, gambles, and gets into fights. She's also lazy and can be arrogant, but all of this is part of her charm and makes her a realistic, grounded character.

2 Touka Kirishima (Tokyo Ghoul)

A Multi-Faceted Character Who Is Mostly Well-Intentioned

Tokyo Ghoul is about Kaneki, a boy who lives in Tokyo, where ghouls live among humans. When escorting his date home one night, she turns on him and reveals herself to be a ghoul. She attempts to eat him, but fate has other plans, and they are both injured by a freak attack. Kaneki wakes up in the hospital thanks to an organ transplant from his deceased date. This transplant causes him to transform into a ghoul, and he doesn't know how to deal with it.

Touka is one of the main characters of the anime. She's a ghoul who takes Kaneki under her wing and helps him accept his new self. She used to work as a waitress at Antiquity, and she is known as Rabbit whenever she is wearing her mask. She can be super sweet or super rageful depending on her mood. She can be reckless and a bit rash, but she always means well and has the best intentions.

1 Konno Yuuki (Sword Art Online)

Always Maintains A Sunny Outlook No Matter What

Sword Art Online is an MMORPG virtual reality game, one where Kirito and many other players become trapped. If a player dies in the game, they also die in real life, and whoever tries to take the NerveGear off also suffers the same fate. Kirito must team up with allies if he wishes to escape the game.

To many fans, Yuuki remains a true legend. She first meets Asuna and Kirito in Season 2 of SAO. She was a strong independent fighter who was known as Absolute Sword because she won 67 street duels. She was always upbeat despite what she was actually going through in real life.

More

Best Anime On Crunchyroll

From currently airing romance series to shonen classics and isekai masterpieces, here are the best anime that can be streamed on Crunchyroll.