20 Best Emo Anime Girls You Must See Now

In the early 2000s, Emo emerged as a global youth trend that originated in the United States during the 1990s from the music genre known as Emotional Hardcore. This cultural movement peaked between 2000 and 2015. Emo was characterized by a distinct style that included black hair, clothing, skinny jeans, plaid shirts, and belts with studs. The lifestyle emphasized openly expressing emotions such as sadness, or Weltschmerz, and valuing friendships. Interestingly, the emo phenomenon has also made its way into the world of anime.

In this piece, we’ll present you with a collection of 20 exceptional emo anime characters. These characters won’t be ranked, so feel free to savor the list without worrying about order. We’ll share the series they hail from, along with some insights into their personalities and roles within their narratives. Enjoy discovering these captivating emo anime girls!

1. Tōka Kirishima

Franchise: Tokyo Ghoul

In the anime ‘Tokyo Ghoul’, Tōka, our leading character, is a ghoul with the unique ability to grow wings and alter the shape of her Kagune freely. In her battle against Shu Tsukiyama, she transformed her wings in a distinct way and handled her Kagune effortlessly. As time passed, Tōka acquired a second pair of wings that released larger ammunition. What’s more, when her Kagune emerged, it deflected attacks from both Kiyoko Aura’s Zebizu and Morgan Tanakamaru’s Higher Mind, even temporarily neutralizing their offensive capabilities.

While in action, Tōka’s Kagune emits a bolt-like energy field that produces electricity for both offensive and destructive purposes. In her battle against Shu, she managed to move so swiftly that he momentarily lost track of her location. During the Battle of the 11th Ward, when fighting Ayato Kirishima, Tōka remained awake despite her brother consuming her Kagune.

2. Mikasa Ackerman

Franchise: Attack on Titan

In this story, Mikasa was raised by Eren’s parents, Grisha and Carla, and is one of the principal characters, sharing the spotlight with Armin. Following the tragic event of her biological parents being killed by human smugglers, Mikasa was saved by Eren and became part of the Yeager family until the Wall Maria came crashing down. As the last surviving member of the Shogun clan on Paradis Island, Mikasa has ties to the Azumabito family, making her a significant figure in Heazul. Despite yearning for a tranquil existence with those she cherishes, especially Eren, Mikasa has joined the military forces within the Walls.

Later on, she joins the exploration unit in pursuit of Eren, serving as both tracker and protector. Known as a battle prodigy, valued more than 100 commanding officers, she significantly boosts the Army’s strength after Livai. In the Battle of Revelio, she attempts to retrieve Eren. However, her emotions towards him are exposed by Eren during this battle, as he does not reciprocate and rejects her harshly. Yet, when Eren activated the massive land shift, she found it impossible to let him survive. Before taking his life, they shared a poignant kiss.

3. Lucy

Franchise: Elfen Lied

17-year-old Kaede/Lucy/Nyu is a unique individual, hailing from the diclonius species, known for her striking dark pink hair and eyes. She stands tall and thin, a figure that belies the complexity within. Originally abandoned at an orphanage at birth, her initial years were devoid of the violent tendencies typically associated with her kind. However, as she navigated through the trials and traumas of childhood, a latent cruelty and sadism emerged, transforming her into a formidable force.

Originally confined in research centers situated along Kamakura’s coastline, she was subsequently imprisoned. After several years, she successfully broke free, yet during her getaway, she sustained a head wound that led to the emergence of a new identity: Nyu. Nyu is naive, kind-hearted, and poses no threat. Initially, she couldn’t utter words except for “Nyu”, but over time, she learned language and eventually managed to say Kōta’s name.

4. Nana Osaki

Franchise: Nana

Nana Osaki serves as the lead vocalist for the group Black Stones. Her rivalry with the Trapnest crew may stem from Ren’s departure from Blast to join Trapnest, followed by her roommate marrying Takumi Ichinose, the leader of Trapnest. Despite projecting a tough image as a punk rocker, Nana possesses a kind heart and is a loyal friend. However, she can be overly protective and manipulative at times. She becomes incredibly excited, sometimes to the extent that she struggles to catch her breath.

She’s incredibly anxious about losing the people she cares for, often taking steps like arranging meetings between Nobuo Terashima and Nana Komatsu to keep Hachi close to herself. Having been abandoned by her mother at a young age and raised by her grandmother, Nana never discovered her biological father’s identity. A misconception led to her expulsion from high school, labeling her as a prostitute. In upcoming chapters (chapter 58), Nana left Japan, severing all connections with her friends. This could possibly be due to Ren’s demise.

5. Rei Ayanami

Franchise: Neon Genesis Evangelion

Rei Ayanami serves as the pilot for EVA-0017, often referred to as the First Children 9. Her specific birth date remains undisclosed. Rei is known to be an extremely reserved, quiet, and shy individual. As described by Hideaki Anno, she’s a young girl who understands that her demise could be replaced, which makes her feel indifferent about her life. In the words of Anno, “her presence, her being – seemingly being – is transient. She is a very sorrowful young girl.” With a humble upbringing, she believes she doesn’t require companionship.

6. Mei Misaki

Franchise: Another

In this series, she serves as the central female character. She’s a captivating, enigmatic young lady who sports an eyepatch on her left eye. Initially encountered at Yomiyama hospital, where she mentioned visiting a doll to her counterpart in the basement. It’s later disclosed that this counterpart was her deceased cousin, Misaki Fujioka, and eventually unveiled as her twin sister, Mei Misaki. At school, she’s shunned by both students and teachers alike.

When Kōichi attempts to engage with her, Mei initially advises him to keep his distance, yet as both of them start being shunned by the class, she eventually shares her story with Kōichi. Mei discloses that her left eye was taken out in childhood due to a tumor and has since been replaced with an artificial doll’s eye. She further confides in him that this eye possesses a unique power; later in the narrative, it is mentioned that she can discern individuals who have passed away or are near death by perceiving the “hue of demise.

7. Clare

Franchise: Claymore

In this story, Clare serves as our main character. As a young girl, she tragically experienced the loss of her entire family at the hands of a creature known as a Yoma. To conceal his actions, the Yoma brought Clare along on his journeys. Under his cruel rule, Clare was repeatedly threatened and physically abused, which ultimately robbed her of her ability to speak. However, it was Teresa’s timely intervention that rescued Clare from the horrors of violence she had been subjected to.

After that, he stubbornly refused to part ways from the warrior, who somehow developed a bond with her. When Teresa, the only one who had shown her kindness after the annihilation of her family, passed away, she swore revenge against Priscilla. In a historical first for the Organization, she voluntarily transformed into a Claymore in order to seek vengeance. This decision was not unique to her; she even requested that Priscilla incorporate Teresa’s tissue and blood into her own body, finding solace in this act.

Amongst all the fierce warriors I’ve come across, only I, Clare, have been granted the unique infusion of Claymore warrior flesh, unlike my peers who were infused with Yoma flesh. The enigmatic Organization readily granted my petition for this rare procedure due to their curiosity, but alas, subsequent investigations into the outcome proved disappointing – I found myself significantly weaker than most other warriors in our ranks.

8. Homura Akemi

Franchise: Puella Magi Madoka Magica

In a dream, a character named Homura emerges as a Puella Magi, later joining Madoka’s college. She is an exceptionally intelligent and athletic girl with a striking appearance, yet her mysterious demeanor keeps others at arm’s length. Despite this, she has gained popularity due to her unique abilities. Having witnessed numerous fellow Puella Magi perish in combat, Homura seeks to shield the other girls from similar fates, particularly Madoka. As a result, she finds herself at odds with Mami, who encourages Madoka to take up the role of a Puella Magi herself. In battles, Homura can manipulate time and favors using grenades among various weapons she wields.

9. Saeko Busujima

Franchise: Highschool of the Dead

3A at their high school is where you’ll find Saeko, an exceptional kendo club president with a knack for both swordplay (bokken) and close-combat techniques. In her youth, she once found herself in a dangerous altercation where she sustained injuries to a man, having intentionally stepped into a potentially violent situation to assess her bokken skills. With poise and certainty in her abilities, details about her family remain scarce; however, it’s known that her father left the country to compete in a martial arts tournament, and he was the sensei (teacher) of Saeko’s own father.

Saeko strongly values honor and believes that promises should be upheld, regardless of personal cost. Takashi aided her in embracing her own complex nature, which led to a deeper bond between them, much to Rei’s surprise, as it became apparent that she held some affection for the young man.

10. Re-l Mayer

Franchise: Ergo Proxy

In the anime titled Ergo Proxy, Re-l Mayer, who’s the main female character, is a nineteen-year-old inspector working in Romdo’s Intelligence Department and also the granddaughter of Regent Donov Mayer. During her duties, she encounters Ergo Proxy, which leaves her disturbed. As a result, she embarks on an investigation to unravel the various mysteries surrounding the creature. Her citizen identification number is RE-L124C41+.

Initially, Re-l may seem distant, uncaring, and even unpleasant due to her upbringing in Romdo, where emotional control was strictly enforced from an early age to maintain composure. However, beneath this stoic exterior, an encounter with the Proxy left a profound impact on her that she tries to hide. The rare instances when you see her crying are usually triggered by reminiscences of that significant event.

11. Lust

Appears in: Fullmetal Alchemist

In the narrative, this 250-year-old character personifies the vice of lust. She enters the plot as a major figure, frequently issuing commands to Envy and typically seen in the company of Gluttony. Initially, she orchestrates schemes such as utilizing Envy to instigate Lior’s uprising, capturing Tim Marcoh, and pursuing Barry the Butcher. At first appearance, she seems sensual, but she is also adept at assuming roles, like when she assumes the guise of Solaris to ensnare Havoc. However, her strategies often have weaknesses, and she tends to overestimate the capabilities of her adversaries.

12. Hotaru Tomoe / Sailor Saturn

Franchise: Sailor Moon

Sailor Saturn is a powerful Sailor Warrior who should only be awakened during severe conflicts. Her abilities are vast, capable of destroying entire planets and solar systems. When she’s awakened, it signals the coming of peace, ruin, and renewal. She wields a large weapon called Silence Glaive for her attacks. Prior to Queen Beryl and Metallia’s invasion of the Silver Millennium 10,000 years ago, Sailor Saturn was in deep slumber within her castle, Titan Castle, orbiting around her planet, Saturn.

13. Izumi Takanashi

Franchise: Working!!

The second sibling within the family is a 28-year-old young lady who stands tall and slender but seldom makes an appearance upright. Her preferred choice of work is writing romance novels, and she has a fondness for attire in the color black, often adorning herself with lace gowns. Her hands and facial features are frequently smudged with ink from her pen, suggesting a character reminiscent of a distressed and tormented damsel, as portrayed by her demeanor.

She frequently requires assistance due to a frail health condition, which can sometimes be attributed to laziness as well, given her reliance on her brother Sota for household tasks. This dependence leaves her anxious about him potentially finding a girlfriend and leaving her behind. Her housekeeping skills are lacking, and her room remains untidy because she’s uninterested or unskilled in using computers. Consequently, she prefers to hand-write her novels, resulting in numerous drafts and errors scattered around the floor.

14. Misa Amane

Franchise: DEATH NOTE

Misa is a young resident of Kanto, left alone after a thief took her parents’ lives, eventually meeting the same fate at the hands of Kira. On the day she was supposed to meet her end in an alleyway, a stranger approached her with declarations of love and intent to take her life before taking his own. Just as this tragedy seemed inevitable, Misa was miraculously rescued by Jeras, a shinigami who had been secretly watching over her due to his affection for her. In defiance of his duties, Jeras intervened by using the Death Note, a tool of death, to save Misa from her attacker instead of allowing her to die as fate decreed. However, it’s important to note that a god of death is not permitted to take another’s life in order to preserve a cherished one’s existence.

15. Road Kamelot

Franchise: D.Gray-man

Despite appearing young and having youthful interests such as completing homework or playing games, Road is actually the eldest child of Noah. She possesses the ability to manipulate her victims by resurfacing their most troubling memories. In this way, she can craft a unique space (realizing Noah’s dream). Additionally, holding the title “Player” grants her control and flexibility to modify the Ark as she sees fit.

Road grows a strong attachment and curiosity towards Allen. She views him as her possession and professes to love him genuinely, but it’s unclear if it’s true love due to her propensity for causing harm to others, physically and emotionally. Despite being indifferent to most things, she prioritizes the Noah family above all else. In essence, she personifies an idealized version of the Noah family.

16. Victorique de Blois

Franchise: Gosick

Since she possessed Seyrun bloodline, which is known for the intelligence of its descendants among the gray wolf people, the Marquis of Blois chose to keep his daughter secluded within his grand estate, hoping to harness her future genius one day. As she grew older, he granted her the privilege of attending Academia Santa Margarita, under the stipulation that she would not leave the premises without the express permission of either her father or brother.

In the lofty library that doubles as a greenhouse, Kazuya often discovers Victorique immersed in challenging books or texts in foreign languages. Besides her biting wit, blunt honesty, and peculiar demeanor, Victorique showcases exceptional detective abilities. As per Grevil of Blois, Kazuya is the only one Victorique agrees to help with police cases, without demanding payment or even a sweet treat.

17. Rinko Ogasawara

Franchise: SHIROBAKO

In the anime series SHIROBAKO, Rinko Ogasawara is a key character. At Musashino Animation, she holds multiple roles – key animator, character designer, and general animation supervisor for Exodus!. Notably, Rinko’s style leans towards gothic fashion, often referred to as Gothic Lolita. Her eyes are cherry-red, and her long, curly hair is a shade of almost white light blonde.

She typically sports a gothic aesthetic, frequently donning a high ponytail with her dark hair, complemented by a black dress, underneath which is a white skirt. A ribbon and some buttons are placed just above the chest area, while small black ribbons adorn the collar of her shirt. Black stockings and vintage red heels complete her attire.

18. Inori Yuzuriha

Franchise: Guilty Crown

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share some insights about a remarkable singer, who is also a member of another group. In the gripping storyline, she was injured during an operation involving the Void Genome delivery to Gai. In an act of selflessness, she donated it to our protagonist, Ouma. It’s later revealed that she spends the night with Gai on two or three occasions each month. Her Void is a unique sword, enabling its user to create protective barriers and even use it as a staircase for mobility.

Intriguingly, she was designed specifically to house Eve’s soul (Mana Ouma) and revive her during the Fourth Apocalypse. This fascinating character adds depth and complexity to the captivating narrative of our series.

In a turn of events, she intended to connect with her chosen Adam figure and disseminate the Apocalypse virus globally to initiate a fresh human race. However, this undertaking falls apart as Gai and Shū thwart the programming of the Apocalypse Virus. Despite everything, Shū is elected as the new leader in the council and will stand by him, maintaining faith in his leadership.

19. Hannah Annafellow

Franchise: Black Butler

Hannah serves as the maid in the Trancy household and conceals her identity as a demon bearing the sword Laevateinn. She is fiercely loyal to Alois Trancy, yet endures physical and emotional mistreatment from him. This unfortunate circumstance was not uncommon during that era. However, it’s later revealed in the anime that Hannah had a pact with Luka, Alois’ supposed brother, for a long time. Luka wished for Alois to see the mass destruction of the neighboring villages, and this wish seems to have been fulfilled over time.

20. Kurumi Tokisaki

Franchise: Date A Live

In my humble opinion, as a cinephile scrutinizing each cinematic masterpiece, I must say that Kurumi is the third malevolent entity crossed by our protagonist, Shido. At first glance, she appears to be an enchanting young damsel, captivating and alluring. However, beneath her beguiling exterior lies a sinister, psychopathic individual, who is as cold as winter’s icy grip and as dark as the abyss itself. This chilling character, referred to by Shido as the “most evil” spirit, bears the code name: Nightmare.

She seems unbeatable due to her ability to rejuvenate indefinitely, which allows her to travel back in time. This character has met numerous deaths and is responsible for a significant number of fatalities (estimated over 10,000 by Mana). Her unique power enables her to create multiple versions of herself from her past.

2025-05-29 02:46