The action genre is one of the most represented genres in anime, and the “girls with guns” animesubgenre is one of its more popular offshoots. The combination of beautiful and alluring young women with plenty ofgunplay and actionis a match made in heaven for most anime fans.
“Girls with guns” is a fairly apt description for the subgenre, as any anime in this category usually features multiple women (or even just one female protagonist) using guns in combat. The story can be just about anything so long as that particular feature is included to qualify as a “girls with guns” anime. Here are some of thebest girls with guns animeout there.
Updated Jun 03, 2025 by Mark Sammut:The Winter 2025 anime season has been decent so far, and the lineup has one show that features girls with guns. Grisaia: Phantom Trigger is not shaping up to be among Winter 2025’s best anime, but it is watchable and an OK addition to the Grisaia franchise. Two older anime have been added as recommendations. Click below to jump to these newcomers.
A new teacher arrives at the all-girls school Seishou Academy, expecting it to be like any other high school. However, there is one thing that makes Seishou different from other schools: every student there is the personification of a gun. Whether it be elementary school, middle school, or high school, the girls of Seishou Academy learn how to serve as lethal weapons so that they can be effective in battle.
Upotte!!is less of a “girls with guns” anime and more of a “girls are guns” anime, but the former certainly applies. Unlike other series that fall under the genre’s umbrella, the anime is more comedic than it is action-packed, so it might suit fans of school comedy and fanservice more.
In an alternative reality Japan, possession of firearms has become legal to counter the rising levels of crime, Kyohei Tachibana finds himself working as a cook for four strange young girls: Jo, Meg, Amy, and Sei. Turns out these four aren’t just ordinary girls but mercenaries working for a mysterious organization called Bailan. The group is investigating the appearance of mutated monsters causing havoc all over Tokyo.
Burst Angelis an early2000s action animethat also features some elements of mecha. Aside from high-octane action, the series also has plenty of laugh-out-loud comedy and fanservice galore. While not everything holds up extremely well, the anime is generally quite entertaining and has pretty great animation for its era.
Aria the Scarlet Ammoshould be better than it is, especially since both the manga and light novel are entertaining enough action harems. Unfortunately, the anime does not reach the slightly above-average heights of the other versions, and it mainly just settles for being a 5/10 experience that goes in one ear and out the other. The premise has potential and is somewhat reminiscent ofLycoris Recoil, albeit executed considerably worse. Basically, to fight crime, a bunch of teenagers are given guns and licenses to deliver some swift justice. Sure, the idea is a bit dumb, but it is perfect for an over-the-top action comedy.
The issue is thatAria the Scarlet Ammois primarily a harem, and a pretty underwhelming one at that. The main characters, Kinji and Aria, are the story’s weakest links since the former is bland and the latter is boringly annoying. However, when the show just focuses on delivering acceptable action, it is fine.
One day, Yuri Honjo finds herself transported to a mysterious world full of skyscrapers and bridges. Hunted by masked murderers wielding all kinds of weapons, Yuri desperately wants to escape, but she soon learns that her brother is also trapped in this world. As she slowly becomes accustomed to this bloodthirsty world, Yuri resolves to find her brother and get the both of them out.
High-Rise Invasionis a“girls with guns” animewith hints of both isekai and survival horror. The blend of genres gives the anime a hair-raising tension that similar shows might lack. Fans of action-packed and thrilling survival storieswill certainly enjoy this series.
While perhaps not amazing when viewed holistically,Chrono Crusadehas enough great parts to justify watching the entire package. Now, as far asgirls with guns action animeare concerned, Gonzo’s show is a bit lacking, although the main heroine (Rosette) uses pistols as her main weapon. Fights happen relatively frequently, but they rarely rise above decent and can be a bit forgettable at times. Still, they are enjoyable and benefit from that old-school 200s animation.
Chrono Crusade’s strengths lie in its characters and themes. Rosette is part of a religious order that hunts demons, and she has a contract with Chrno, a devil who has turned a new life. As this type of deal zaps the human’s life force, Rosette and Chrno are both on borrowed time, and they are trying to make the most of their limited days on Earth. As can probably be surmised,Chrono Crusadeis filled with religious concepts and iconography, and many of the characters have their faith challenged throughout the story.
Rally Vincent and her friend “Minnie” May Hopkins run Gunsmith Cats, a gun shop in the middle of Chicago. However, the two have another job as bounty hunters who hunt down fugitives and runaway criminals. Rally is a skilled sharpshooter and driver, while Minnie is a master of explosives.
Gunsmith Catsisa classic 90s anime seriesfull of nonstop action and thrills. WhileGunsmith Catsis a very short 3-episode OVA adaptation of a manga, it is still a very good example of the archetypal “girls with guns” genre.
Corpse Princessis a bit of a mixed bag that never really amounts to anything more than a middling shonen romp with occasional bright moments. That said, there is a time and a place for “turn off your brain”-type shows that believe in the rule of cool.Corpse Princessfits that description relatively well, offering an action-packed trip with consistently good animation and a likable female protagonist. While some characters prefer other weapon types, the lead, Makina, generally sticks to guns, and she is by far the best part of this series.
In a world where the unfulfilled linger on after death, transforming into horrific monsters known as Shikibane, an organization exists to take them out, and Makina happens to be one of its operatives. Also, she is a walking corpse, a situation born out of a tragedy that wiped out her family. Strong, dedicated, and just plain old entertaining, she is pretty darn great.
While investigating strange phenomena happening in Shanghai, photographer Maria Oosawa is pulled into a gunfight between masked assailants. She is saved by a friend named Canaan, an assassin from the Middle East. Canaan and Maria soon learn of a plot to obtain a deadly virus, and they must do anything they can to stop it.
Canaanisan anime spin-off of the video game428: Shibuya Scramble, based on a script by Type-Moon writers Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi. Despite that, the show is watchable even without playing the game, though there are certainly occasional callbacks here and there.
A peculiar subgenre in Japan is historical recreations with, well, waifus.KanColleis one of the most famous examples, with that franchise turning warships into girls and covering a few important battles. Despite the silly concept, these shows tend to be historically accurate, at least in the sense that they try to adapt the events authentically. They are also all over the place tonally, with some parts of seasons keeping things relatively light (KanColle) and others being shockingly dark (KanColle Season 2: Let’s Meet at Sea).
Strike Witchesis surprisingly massive. While not well-known internationally, the franchise spent the best part of two decades constantly releasing content in Japan, including a multi-season anime run that also spawned movies and spin-offs. Inspired by World War 2,Strike Witchesreimagines planes as girls with propellers and guns. Yes, it sounds really silly, but the show is consistently watchable and arguably gets better as it progresses. That said, the anime has quite a lot of fanservice, particularly in the first few seasons.
Based on quite a popular tactical RPG,Blue Archive the Animationcame and went inSpring 2024without leaving too great of an impression, a consequence of the anime not being readily available on a platform like Crunchyroll or HIDIVE. That said, fans of the source material might wish to track the adaptation down if they just want to see the main girls and sensei engage in some mindless but fun action set pieces.
Blue Archive the Animationhas a somewhat interesting post-apocalyptic setting, but it does not do that much with the concept. Ultimately, this series is happy to just pit a group of school girls against each other in over-the-top and generally lighthearted explosions of action.
