Even in anime, school girls may sound super generic, as anyone who falls under the age category, or probably even someone who temporarily experienced being in any kind of academic institution, would instantly count.

Nonetheless, we have prepared a list that would present that very wide set of characters… within a limited number of entries even! But of course, such a narrow list warrants a few specific rules to at least filter the list to a bare minimum:

• As usual, one character per series.
• The character should have moderate to very strong school girl vibes.
• Preferably having their school uniform as their signature outfit (not strictly required)
• Identifies strongly with the social group representing (academic) school students.

With the guidance of the great Ui, let’s begin our school girls list!

21. Ryuko Matoi (Kill La Kill)

It’s a bit of a cheat that her most signature outfit, regardless of the form she takes, always comes in the form of the traditional sailor uniform. But for the most part, she still fulfills all of our requirements quite well, even including her fierce and rebellious nature.

Just think, what is the first aura and appearance that you have when thinking about Ryuuko? Indeed, the image of a high school kid will always come to mind, Senketsu, or no Senketsu.

20. Itsuko Nakano (Go-Toubun no Hanayome)

Wait, wait, wait! Before anyone tries to bring pitchforks as to why any other particular quintuplet was not chosen, let me explain. Dull, as her character may have been, for the most part, she actually is the most balanced in terms of personality and is thus just slightly more realistic than the other four in terms of being a school girl.

Besides, she’s even got the serious, responsible academic chops that Fuutarou had initially observed when she was still starting to be acquainted with him.

19. Kuroki Tomoko (WataMote)

Being a shut-in and introvert during probably one of the most important social development periods in one’s life is a very hard challenge. This is painfully clear when we see Tomoko just fumble her way through failure after failure, but this teenage struggle is what actually took her into this list.

It is quite sad, though, that her redemption arc was never adapted into anime, but yeah, her image is definitely closely associated with what we consider as a school girl.

18. Sonezaki Rika (Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-Domo yo)

Who would have thought that the most apprehensive person when it comes to relationships would have one of the healthiest, if not one of the most wholesome romantic relationships out of the whole bunch?

The realization of her wrong assumptions due to inexperience, as well as her new outlook since having this relationship, definitely strikes that youthful vibes really well.

17. Akane Kikuchi (Joshi Kousei no Mudazukai)

What can we say here? Our dear little miss “wota” is living the prime of her life as a (high) school girl. Puberty-related social challenges? Check. Added things to worry about as a teen? Check? Puppy-love?

Check. Signature school uniform? Check, check, check. In fact, her down-to-earth nature is typically the most normal out of the bunch (yes, the entire classroom) and the one that you can definitely see as a regular school girl, with no additional fluff or edginess attached!

16. Ruiko Saten (To Aru series)

We all know that there’s a wholebunch of school girl characters in the entire To Aru series. However, absolutely none of them have proper school girl vibes, at least none within the same level and category as Saten Ruiko. She has the traits, mischievous demeanor, negligible ability level, and is almost always seen wearing a school uniform.

Well, Uiharu also dons the same outfit, but umm… she technically still counts as an esper, and we can only just choose one of them as per the rules of this list anyway.

15. Mirai Kuriyama (Kyoukai no Kanata)

Mirai is one of those school girls whom you won’t necessarily overlook if wearing casual clothing, but one that would definitely, absolutely, and certainly be far more identifiable when she is wearing her signature uniform. In fact, you can bet that a third of her existence’s essence is imbued in that familiar pink cardigan.

That, plus the dorky yet adorable combination of her badassery, is a ditz and balanced cute looks. As our cultured comrade, Akihito eloquently puts it: she is a true bespectacled beauty.

14. Ayase Aragaki (Ore Imo)

Be as a bit annoying as it may be for adults, one of the key characteristics of being a typical school girl character in anime is the youthful activity factor. You know, casually hanging out, sleepovers, and hobby talks… except it’s all a half notch more mature than what the boys are usually busy with.

Ayase embodies all of these activities, with the bonus of being very popular at school, and working part-time as a fashion model?! My man Kyousuke really chose poorly.

13. Shana (Shakugan no Shana)

This may well be another “Ryuuko-like” case, in which the character identifies strongly due to her signature clothing.

But as someone infiltrating the human realm, Shana still does her due part as a normal, albeit smaller than an average school girl. I mean, how else would she be associated closely to a certain popular sweet bread type?

As for the question of whether she’s within the average age of the school she enrolled in, well… Flame Hazes technically have their passage of time stopped at the moment they become one.So yeah, Shana is definitely forever at the age of [REDACTED].

12. Tsumugi Kotobuki (K-On!)

There are many ojou-sama characters in anime history that have proven themselves to be quite entertaining alternative perspectives of our otherwise plebeian lives.

Mugi is no different, but her demeanor in enacting this stereotype gets bonus points simply due to the combination of her innocence plus optimism. Never have we seen this cute schoolgirl ever hesitate on anything that ordinary folk regularly enjoy.

She just dives right in, accepting everything that she can observe, mistakes and potential scrutiny be damned.

11. Rikka Takarada (SSSS. Gridman)

If you ever wonder why “thicc” was an important keyword of during the glorious year of 2018, then this is the answer.

Instead of simply focusing on this particular trait, however, we should instead mention how her teenage persona actually represents a mild-mannered version of the typical anime school girl.

In fact, she maybe just a bit too calm at times, especially when the situation creates panic in the very heroes that are supposed to save the day. Needless to say, this is exactly what fuels her popularity, very much understandably so.

10. Ai Hayasaka (Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai)

Nope, not even Chika remotely comes close to the power level of Ai’s school girl aura. We all know that it is mostly a façade, but it is a public personality that she decided to create. Do we even need to explain her fashion sense, way of speaking, obsession for phone messaging, and tactical gossip?

She’s got the school girl personality tweaking down to a science. Though in reality, bits and pieces of her otherwise fake persona are actually already leaking out as we speak.

9. Gyaruko (Oshiete! Gyaruko-chan)

Going on a complete 180 from Ai, Gyaruko is perhaps one of the most natural stereotypical school girl characters ever designed for a manga/anime series.

She should be, as she was created specifically for it. But you know what is unfair? The author throws in a hard gap moe factor by giving her character really interesting interactive traits.

I mean, this gal (pun intended) can even cook your daily bento to Nadeshiko-like levels if she ever wants to. Get a comprehensive interaction once, and she will completely change your perspective forever.

8. Kaname Chidori (Full Metal Panic! series)

The OG super tough (high) school girl. Kaname has gone through a lot of really bad shit, and if you are familiar with the series, you know that it’s not just the typical social fanfare that we are talking about.

True, this actually makes her feel a bit too superhuman, which might suspend disbelief for more recent viewers/readers of the series. But for the love of thy holy Goddess Eris, she is a freaking whispered, so she isn’t exactly normal either. Her tsukkomi powers, though, that can be as unbelievably superhuman as it can ever get.

7. Chihaya Ayase (Chihayafuru)

Teenagers are beings of trial and error. In fact, the term “the errors of the youth” is directly attributed to this largely experimental age level. Chihaya, while absolutely badass with both her skill and passion for karuta, is just the same as other school girls of her age, still figuring things out.

Each step that she learns is a valuable moment for her audience, as this bona fide school girl continually treads into the direction that she believes is the only way for her, much to the slight chagrin of Mashima.

6. Chitanda Eru (Hyouka)

Ever wondered what the human embodiment of curiosity would look like? Then Chitanda Eru is the character you are looking for. She may be cute, refined, and well-mannered for an ojou-sama, but for Oreki, she is borderline the avatar of convenient annoyance, despite being absolutely incapable of hating her. But can she really help herself?

Many might have been just as curious as her; only she was able to put out her questions better through actions and words. And who in the world can resist those beady, sparkling eyes anyway?

5. Tsukasa Ayatsuji (Amagami)

So far, we have defined being a school girl with the admittedly not-so-good stereotype of this cheerful, carefree, and outgoing teenager. Tsukasa, on the other hand, represents the studious and serious (high) school girl stereotype. Scheming as she may seem to be, she never was inherently malicious or evil.

Plus, she has that great level of diligence, so much so that she sometimes wants to do everything independently. Truly a model student worthy of becoming the next council president, don’t you think?

4. Haruka Minami (Minami-ke)

By all accounts, she is perfect. She is basically the Mary Sue when it comes to slice-of-life characters juggling every aspect of their lives like it’s just nothing. She has an angelic personality. She can cook. She is smart. She is athletic. She is also often lucky. She does have a heavy “action inertia,” but that’s hardly her weakness at all.

There is a reason why Chiaki is almost religiously devoted to her big sister, and why the entire other Minami family respects(?) her so much. All hail the legendary banchou!

3. Mai Sakurajima (Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai)

Do you know who else was introduced in the glorious year of 2018? The one and only best MVP waifu of the year. She may not be as stereotypical of a school girl as others, but she represents one within her status as a student, an anxious teenager, and a logical foil to Sakuta.

The incredible gap moe of her serious nature and occasionally cute attitude also counts and adds to everything she can offer as her series’s main heroine. To those who were not fooled by the series’s cheap-sounding title, kudos to all of you.

2. Iroha Isshiki (Yahari Ore no Seishin Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru)

What? Are you really going to be surprised that Iroha gets chosen for our obligatory Oregairu entry? With a bit more genuine touch that Ai Hayasaka, most of her attitude as a student, is most definitely typical of a typical school girl.

This is with the addition of oddly adorable attributes that make her a very serious and logical waifu candidate… at least during a time before the end of the series. For those still curious, though,the PS Vita visual novel is still out there for us to see what could have been.

1. Shinka Nibutani (Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!)

And of course, the number one school girl that has the most unpredictable power level is none than Shinka Nibutani! We know, it’s quite surprising, but think about it. A combination of typical cheerful school girl attributes plus being a class representative and member of the cheerleading club?! That’s living the (high) school life there.

But also, being a former chuuni herself, she is typically the voice of reason, AKA the tsukkomi, of the entire group. As a bonus, she even sidelines as a dedicated wingman for the protagonists! She deservedly owns the top spot, personal merits, and all.

• Author Details

Amar Hussain

Founder

Amar is the Chief Nerd at Near Bear and can be mostly found binge watching Netflix, researching tech, shooting things on PS4, and arguing over who is the strongest Avenger.

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