Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome back to the greatest, most irrefutable countdown on the Internet. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with just how we (And by 'we' I mean 'I') do things here, allow me to give you a brief rundown. As the title suggests, this is a ranking of the twenty cutest girls of the season...but what is "cute" exactly? Looks? Sure that's part of it. Personality? Yeah, you can add that too. Hell, you can even go as far as adding in the character's voice or their favorite food or how many ecchi shots they have in a given episode. Guys, we're talking about the whole kitten caboodle here. Now, let's set aside the fact that I just used "kitten caboodle" in a widely-published article and preface a few other things before we get going.
Now more than ever, it's important for me to emphasize that I have done everything in my power to leave out pre-existing bias going into this ranking. What I mean by that is that I essentially tried to throw away my love for characters who showed in sequels or familiar adaptations and based everyone solely on this season alone. And, as a result of that [and for the first time in personal history], Rin Tohsaka did not make the list. This might sound normal or unimportant to some of you, but keep in mind that she's come in first place on TWO of my countdowns now. That's more than anyone else.
So, if you've made it this far into the article and haven't clicked ahead, thanks. These things take quite a while to throw together, so I appreciate you taking the time to actually read. And no, I'm not just saying that because I am about to leave out your waifu...Okay, maybe that's part of it. But either way...let's get this show on the road!
20) Momo Kashiwabara
Anime: Domestic Girlfriend
CV: Haruka Yoshimura
Momo is one of those characters that sort of creeps up on you. Coming across as a total weirdo the first few interactions we have with her, it becomes apparent shortly after that there's a bit more to her than meets the eye. Despite needy, borderline nymphomaniac tendencies, Momo is a girl who's really only looking for a distraction from her pain. Mix that with her kind nature and cute smile and you've got an easy candidate for the twenty-spot.
19) Kei Shirogane
Anime: Kaguya-sama Love Is War!
CV: Sayumi Suzuhiro
Even though she's only had roughly ten minutes of collective screen time (If that), Kei's introduction in Kaguya-sama Love Is War is one of my favorite segments yet. Sure, that could very well be because she's visually adorable, but the way she masks her personality around Kaguya adds an endearing trait to an already-great side character. I'd love to see more of her in the future because I can definitely see her becoming a candidate for best-girl further down the line.
18) Hana Shirosaki
Anime: Wataten! An Angel Flew Down To Me
CV: Maria Sashide
Ahh, the rare loli finds its way on to the list. Okay, maybe 'rare' isn't the right word because I'm probably more into lolis than the average viewer (Sue me), but I definitely don't include them as often as I imagined I would. Despite being surrounded by rambunxious preteens day in and day out, Hana manages to maintain a rather 'chill' air to her, only weakening at the scent of sweets or anything related to horror. But her strange infatuation with things her age-group wouldn't ever go near (I'm looking at you, Higero) is what makes her the treasure she is. Protect this child.
17) Miyako Hoshino
Anime: Wataten! An Angel Flew Down To Me
CV: Reina Ueda
Speaking of protecting the child, here we have Mya-nee, the thicc goddess of NEET life. Despite being a bit of a yuri pedophile, Miyako's antisocial antics manage to make an otherwise underwhelming series incessantly enjoyable. Think for a second about how unimpressive and disappointing you are (I'm sorry). Now, imagine you were endlessly paraded as the coolest person ever despite knowing in your heart of hearts that all of it is a lie. How would you react? Sweet. Now turn that reaction into a character and throw a tracksuit on it. Voila, Mya-nee. She's cute because she's not supposed to be cute. End of story.
16) Saaya Yamabuki
Anime: BanG Dream! Season 2
CV: Ayaka Ohashi
Remember that thing I said earlier about putting aside my prior love for these characters or whatever? Well, Saaya is the first example of that. Despite being my number-three when it comes to BanG Dream (Which you will become very familiar with over the rest of this countdown), Saaya's role in the new season is not as large as I would have liked it to be. But even with that in mind, she still comes across as one of the most loyal and mature girls of the season. It also helps that she has a ponytail because come on, who doesn't like those? At the end of the day, I really just want to take Saaya to meet my parents. That says a lot about the kind of girl she is.
15) Yotsuba Nakano
Anime: The Quintessential Quintuplets
CV: Ayane Sakura
If I'm remembering correctly, Yotsuba is actually the least popular choice of the audience when it comes to the Nakano sisters -- though I'm not sure why because she's friggin' adorable. Sure, she's probably the least likely to succeed and is clearly the loudest of the five of them, but her overwhelming friendliness is a quality that I find hard to ignore. Believe it or not, I've always had a thing for the overly-outgoing "Probably a better friend than a girlfriend" archetype, and there aren't many better examples than Yotsuba. What I like about her, though, is that there are actually a bunch of moments where she clearly tries to become more than that. She's trying in her own way, and you've gotta give her props for that. Keep it up, Yotsuba.
14) Arisa Ichigaya
Anime: BanG Dream! Season 2
CV: Ayasa Itou
I-I-It's not like I think she's that cute or anything! I just...I didn't know who else to put here, okay?! Tsun aside, Arisa remains the most entertaining part of Poppin' Party thanks to her constant emotional outbursts and 'heart-on-her-sleeve' attitude. And while she didn't have as much screen time as she did in the first season (Partially due to introducing 25 new girls), the moments she does have are still fantastic. I'm not sure how she'd work as a girlfriend, but I'd be willing to give it a shot as long as it meant continuing to see her blush every day.
13) Illyasviel Von Einzbern
Anime: Fate/stay Night: Heaven's Feel Pt. II
CV: Mai Kadowaki
For the first time in 'Cutest Girls' history, we have a THIRD-TIMER, ladies and gentlemen! Now, please hold your applause, because it is important to note that Illya's first two appearances were actually from the Prisma Illya series. This time, we see Illya in her true, non-magical girl form as the master of Fate/stay Night's Berserker. Fortunately, the Heaven's Feel movie adaptation remained loyal in amping up Illya's importance from the source material. And even though she hasn't been as huge as she can be just yet, the moments she has on screen still do justice in exemplifying why her fanbase remains true to this day. She may look innocent, but she's terrifying and she's blunt. This combination of unlikely traits makes her an unmistakable choice for this list.
12) Milim Nava
Anime: That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime!
CV: Rina Hidaka
Praise be unto Milim! You know, there was a period of time where I was honestly considering dropping Slime. Then, out of nowhere, this treasure showed up and made me question why I'd ever even think of doing something like that. Milim manages to take the obnoxious, loudmouth characteristics that have destroyed other candidates in the past and morph them into a single ball of lovable goodness. Combine that with friggin PINK twintails (A top-tier combination, for those who didn't know) and a punch that could end your unborn childrens' lives and you've got something special. Milim is the sort of demon lord I wish all isekai shows had.
11) Ichika Nakano
Anime: The Quintessential Quintuplets
CV: Kana Hanazawa
For what I imagine is the hundredth time in a row, a Kana Hanazawa character has made it onto the list. And had I made this list at the normal time (Probably three or four weeks prior to its actual creation), she probably wouldn't have even been on here. In a sense, Ichika is the most mysterious when it comes to the Nakano sisters. Despite being the oldest and seemingly the most reliable in patching things up when they go sour, Ichika's tendency to hide her true feelings turns her into a sleeper candidate for best-girl of the whole show. And, of course, this wouldn't be possible without one of the most seasoned seiyuu on the market. At the end of the day, Ichika is so much more than she lets on. And, thanks to several well-acted and well-written emotional climaxes, she's much higher on my list than I ever thought she'd be.
10) Yukina Minato
Anime: BanG Dream! Season 2
CV: Aina Aiba
Our incoming short-streak of BanG Dream girls kicks off with this adorable little kitten right here. Even though she comes across and cold and conceited in almost every interaction of season two, her kind heart and caring nature still manage to pierce the veil at times. Appearing as a much more important character than she did in the past, Yukina turns her screen time into the perfect excuse for us to worship her -- and worship her we shall. Combine that with one of the most explosive singing voices in anime and you've basically got a queen on your hands.
9) Moca Aoba
Anime: BanG Dream! Season 2
CV: Sachika Misawa
This bun-loving, tired girl remains the perfect comedic relief that Afterglow needs in order to combat Ran's serious attitude and superiority complex. While Moca may not have as many lines as several of her counterparts, the ones she does have are so incredibly sassy and underhanded that you can't help but cite each and every one as an episodic highlight. Sure, she might fly under the radar for some viewers, but those of us who appreciate what she has to offer (Namely some of the best one-liners of the season and the most welcome narcissism I've ever encountered), can't help but fall in love with her.
8) PAREO
Anime: BanG Dream! Season 2
CV: Reo Kurachi
Out of all the girls in this countdown, PAREO (Or Reona Nyubara) is the one that I find most surprising when looking at this ranking. Raise A Suilen, being one of the very few bands in BanG Dream without video game representation, is truly the most diverse roster thus far. Among these girls lies this pastel-colored beauty. With a backstory only eluded too momentarily (That still manages to completely contrast her character traits), PAREO brings an element of surprise to the table that some of us surely weren't expecting. Also, as you may have known, I have a weakness for twintails. And also the keyboard, I guess. PAREO comes well equipped with both of those things and manages to steal almost every scene she's involved in. She's the spitting image of 'cute.'
7) Rui Tachibana
Anime: Domestic Girlfriend
CV: Maaya Uchida
Guys...come on. Just look at that pouty face. Do I even need to say anymore? No, I don't -- but I'm going to anyway. Rui, uhh...Well, she definitely makes the strongest first impression of the season. But with that aside, her character's cuteness really resides in how quickly she's developing. Initially coming across as almost unfeeling, Rui's world quickly gets turned upside down by happenstance and turns into her someone simply just figuring out how she feels. Characters like her, ones that you can really get a feel for, are the ones that leave the most lasting impressions on an audience. The fact that she's well-rounded in every other department as well makes her an easy choice for my top ten.
6) Miku Nakano
Anime: The Quintessential Quintuplets
CV: Miku Itou
I have learned today that pouty faces may, in fact, be the quickest way to my heart. Miku, who you may have also seen on social media as the near-irrefutable best quintuplet, carved her way into our hearts very early on in the season. Sure, she might get a bit more screen time than her sisters, but she's constantly using that to her advantage and turning every moment we share with her into an almost painfully cute scenario. She's got the looks, the attitude- Hell, she even falls into that category of "Coming to terms with her feelings," that honestly just never gets old. And if all of that doesn't sell you on Team Miku, she's got the longest stockings as well. What is that but definitive evidence that Miku is best-girl?
5) Ran Mitake
Anime: BanG Dream! Season 2
CV: Ayane Sakura
I honestly can't tell if Ran is so high up on this ranking because of her role in season two or if I just did a horrible job of pushing aside my pre-existing feelings. You know, it's probably a little of both. On a good day, Ran would be an easy candidate for number one. Unfortunately, her less-than-acceptable amount of screentime wound up working against her. Either way, Ran's balanced mix of tsundere and deredere archetypical traits goes on to turn every one of her scenes into an excuse for the undying desire to hug and protect her. Much like Yukina from earlier, her tough exterior is really only for show. On the inside, Ran is extremely sensitive and really wants nothing more than to spend time with her friends. If that's not cute, I don't know what is.
4) Chika Fujiwara
Anime: Kaguya-sama Love Is War!
CV: Konomi Kohara
When Chika friggin' Fujiwara comes in fourth place, you know you've got a strong season. This famous rapper-turned-dancer captured all of our hearts with a very particular ending animation that I'm imaging we've all seen by now. Unfortunately, ever since then, she's been slowly sloping into the backseat, using a good portion of her time to help build a particular character that we may or may not be speaking about momentarily. Either way, Chika's dance, backed by pretty much everything else she has done in Kaguya-sama, has turned her into a bit of an icon. I would not hold it against anyone who counts her as best-girl of the season. Unfortunately, we just don't get enough of her, and that's why I couldn't rank her higher than these next three girls.
3) Kaguya Shinomiya
Anime: Kaguya-sama Love Is War!
CV: Aoi Koga
Now, instead of arguing about who is better between Kaguya and Chika, let's take a moment to accept the fact that they are both precious and could be entirely interchangeable in their respective positions. There was one episode in particular, however, that pushed me over the edge and locked this place in for the time being- and that's when Kaguya gets sick. But without spending the next ten minutes raving about how adorable that episode was, let's simply sum things up by saying Kaguya is irrefutably adorable. Her sporadic personality shifts and underlying childish nature turn Kaguya-sama from an average slice-of-life comedy into one of the most all-around cute series of the last several years.
2) Sakura Yamauchi
Anime: I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
CV: Lynn
And now for an anime that is entirely not cute, but a heartbreaking trudge through coping and grief. Sakura Yamauchi is special. Diagnosed with a fatal pancreatic disease, we spend roughly ninety minutes with Sakura as she defies her illness and shows us the beauties of life. She takes a situation that would cripple anyone else with fear and self-doubt and manages to make it into an inspiring message of hope. It's easy to get attached to Sakura for things like this, but she somehow manages to shine even brighter in moments of nothingness. Whether it be simply eating at a restaurant or hanging out at a hotel, every second feels important. Not seeing her cuteness shine through in moments like that is truly impossible.
Winter 2019 Champion: 1) Sakura Matou
Anime: Fate/stay Night: Heaven's Feel Pt. II
CV: Noriko Shitaya
I swear on the life of my waifu that this choice has nothing to do with my pre-existing love for Heaven's Feel but is simply a result of flawless character writing and adaptation. Sakura Matou is perhaps the most meticulously crafted girl in all of Fate. And with roughly six thousand competitors at the time of my writing this, that is a pretty hefty achievement. Part two of the Heaven's Feel trilogy dives deeper into what it is that makes Sakura tick, while wasting no time in offering up highlight reel moments every few minutes. This season, we saw her in a light that, unfortunately, not many people have seen before- but it is a light that few will forget. Sakura Matou is a broken girl, endlessly piecing herself back together in an effort to find solace. Simply calling her cute would be an injustice. She is beautiful. And don't come at me with that "But you said CUTEST girls!" nonsense or I will turn into a shadow and devour you.
And there you have it, everyone. The 10 cutest girls from the past few months. Now, go ahead and change your desktops, wallpapers, etc. You know the drill.
See you again at the end of next season for another "Cutest Girls"
Feel free to browse the rest of The Fandom Post until then!
