Top Mahou Shoujo Manga Recommendations

Cardcaptor Sakura

Also known as Cardcaptor Sakura.

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance

Fourth grader Sakura Kinomoto finds a strange book in her father's library -- a book made by the wizard Clow to store dangerous spirits sealed within a set of magical cards. But when Sakura opens it up, there is nothing left inside but Kero-chan, the book's cute little guardian beast... who informs Sakura that since the Clow cards seem to have escaped while he was asleep, it's now her job to capture them!



Tags: Magic , Urban Fantasy , Shoujo , Love Triangle , Family Life , Female Protagonist , Primarily Child Cast , Tomboy , LGBTQ+ Themes , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , School , Bisexual , Dissociative Identities , Fairy , Boys' Love , Unrequited Love , Age Gap , Martial Arts , Agender , Transgender

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

Also known as Sailor Moon.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance

Usagi Tsukino is a normal girl until she meets up with Luna, a talking cat, who tells her that she is Sailor Moon. As Sailor Moon, Usagi must fight evils and enforce justice, in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess. She meets other girls destined to be Sailor Senshi (Sailor Scouts), and together, they fight the forces of evil!



Notes:
- The tankoubon release contains 52 Acts and 9 bonus chapters across 18 volumes; chapter/volume counts follow the tankoubon release.
- The shinsouban release contains the original 52 Acts plus 8 new Acts across 12 volumes, but no bonus chapters as all 9 were released separately in Sailor Moon Short Stories alongside another bonus chapter that was previously released in an artbook.
- The kanzenban release contains both the 60 Acts and the 10 bonus chapters from the short story shinsoubans across 10 volumes.


Tags: Shoujo , Primarily Female Cast , Reincarnation , Magic , Lost Civilization , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Time Manipulation , Henshin , Urban Fantasy , Coming of Age , Astronomy , Tragedy , Memory Manipulation , Mythology , War , Cosmic Horror , Demons , Space , Super Power , Aliens , Fairy Tale , LGBTQ+ Themes , Space Opera , Animals , Body Horror , Rehabilitation , Nudity , Revenge , Time Skip , Dissociative Identities , Philosophy , Urban , Unrequited Love , Found Family , Superhero , Circus , Shrine Maiden , Bisexual , Love Triangle , Parenthood , Tokusatsu , Gender Bending , School , Kemonomimi , Age Gap , Age Regression , Bullying , Twins , School Club , Yuri

Mahou Shoujo Site

Also known as Magical Girl Site.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mahou Shoujo , Psychological , Supernatural

Asagiri Aya has a difficult life. The middle school girl the target of cruel bullying at school by day, and violent abuse at home by night. One day, while surfing the web, she came across a creepy figure who granted her a gift of magic power…



Note: Includes 2 extra chapters.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Magic , Bullying , Survival , Suicide , Tragedy , Primarily Female Cast , Gore , Yuri , School , Shounen , Time Manipulation , Idol , Aliens , LGBTQ+ Themes , Twins , Nudity

Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete

Also known as Gushing over Magical Girls.

Status: Hiatus
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Mahou Shoujo , Slice of Life

Hi, I'm Hiiragi Utena. I'm a normal magical-girl-loving middle school girl—or at least I was, but then some talking mascot showed up out of the blue and cast a spell on me! Now's my chance to join my beloved magical girls as...a villain? Hang on, something's wrong with my outfit! This can't be happening!



Note: Nominated for the Tsugimanga 2020 Award in the Web Manga Category.

Tags: Primarily Female Cast , Magic , Nudity , Parody , Yuri , Female Protagonist , Anti-Hero , Henshin , Masochism , Bondage , Urban Fantasy , Meta , Primarily Teen Cast , Terrorism , LGBTQ+ Themes , Seinen , Yandere , Torture

Mahou Shoujo of the End

Also known as Magical Girl Apocalypse.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Ecchi , Horror , Mahou Shoujo , Mystery , Romance

One day, ordinary high school student Kogami Kii finds himself caught up in a strange kind of zombie apocalypse, involving 'magic girls.' While idly looking out of the school window, Kii sees what looks like a little girl hitting a teacher, causing his head to explode violently. Convinced he's dreaming, he goes to the restroom to get his act together.

Unfortunately, its not a dream, and he arrives to find the creepy little girl repeatedly saying "magical" as she slaughters his friends and classmates. Soon, Kii and his childhood friend—a quiet, often-bullied girl called Tsukune—are witness to the resurrection of their friends' corpses into a zombie-like murderous mob crying the single word "magical." Now Kii and Tsukune must try to endure with the other survivors, and try to find out what has happened to their world.



Tags: Gore , Shounen , Dissociative Identities , Dystopian , Alternate Universe , Gods , Time Manipulation , Yandere , Heterosexual , Survival , Monster Girl , Urban Fantasy , Magic , Nudity , School , Bullying , Kaiju

Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica

Also known as Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mahou Shoujo

When a new girl joins her class, Madoka Kaname thinks she recognizes the mysterious, dark-haired transfer student from one of her dreams…a dream where she is approached by a catlike creature who offers Madoka an opportunity to change destiny. Madoka had always thought magic was the stuff of fantasy…until she sees the transfer student fighting with the very cat being from her dream! And just like in Madoka’s dream, the cat gives her a choice. Will Madoka become a magical girl in exchange for her dearest desire? What will be the cost of having her wish come true?



Tags: Time Manipulation , Magic , Primarily Female Cast , Seinen , Henshin , Tragedy , Alternate Universe , Philosophy , Female Protagonist , Yuri , Aliens , School , Fairy , Survival , Witch , Primarily Teen Cast , Guns

Full Moon wo Sagashite

Also known as Full Moon.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mahou Shoujo , Music , Romance , Supernatural

Young Mitsuki loves singing and dreams of becoming a pop star. Unfortunately, a malignant tumor in her throat prevents her from pursuing her passion. However, her life turns around when two surprisingly fun-loving harbingers of death appear to grant Mitsuki a temporary reprieve from her illness and give her singing career a magical push start.



Chapter count contains the oneshot Ginyuu Meika (2nd volume); also includes all interlude and 4-koma chapters of the retail volumes.

Tags: Shoujo , Idol , Magic , Love Triangle , Female Protagonist , Rehabilitation , Found Family , Angels , Coming of Age , Denpa , Suicide , Philosophy , Tragedy , Afterlife , Heterosexual , Henshin , Kemonomimi , Nekomimi , Gods , Youkai , Mythology , Urban Fantasy , Age Gap , Urban

Shugo Chara!

Also known as Shugo Chara!.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance

Everybody at Seiyo Elementary thinks that stylish and super cool Amu has it all: But nobody knows the real Amu, a shy girl who wishes she had the courage to truly be herself. Changing Amu’s life is going to take more than wishes and dreams–it’s going to take a little magic! One morning, Amu finds a surprise in her bed: three strange little eggs. Each egg contains a Guardian Character, an angel-like being who can give her the power to be someone new. With the help of her Guardian Characters, Amu is about to discover that her true self is even more amazing than she ever dreamed.



Note: Includes 3 side stories.

Tags: School , Shoujo , Magic , Female Protagonist , Primarily Child Cast , Coming of Age , Crossdressing , Love Triangle , Nekomimi , Tsundere , Henshin , Philosophy , Gender Bending , Fairy Tale , Family Life , Tragedy , Time Manipulation , Astronomy , Orphan , Space , Super Power , Writing , Anti-Hero , Estranged Family , Urban Fantasy , Heterosexual , Age Gap , School Club , Idol , Male Harem , Fairy , Fashion , Adoption , Rehabilitation , Espionage , Femboy , Achronological Order

Kabushiki Gaisha Magi Lumiere

Also known as Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc..

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo

“Magical Girl”— A profession that undertakes the work of exterminating a kind of natural disaster called “Kaii.” Kana Sakuragi, a female college student who struggles with job hunting, is picked up by a magical girl startup company and…?! Magical Girl work-life starts now!



Tags: Work , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Adult Cast , Magic , Female Protagonist , Henshin , Superhero , Software Development , Urban , Kaiju , Office Lady , Shounen , Crossdressing , Tokusatsu

Machigatta ko wo Mahou Shoujo ni Shite Shimatta

Also known as Machimaho: I Messed Up and Made the Wrong Person Into a Magical Girl!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Mahou Shoujo

While searching for a brave candidate to become a magical girl and defend the world from evil, a mythical creature finds Kayo Majiba, a cute young lady who seems like the perfect fit. But when this newly turned magical girl proves to be a crude delinquent who goes berserk in a conflict, it becomes clear that this may have been a terrible mistake. Now evil—and any innocent bystanders—will face the rage of a magical girl gone wrong!



Tags: Surreal Comedy , Anti-Hero , Delinquents , Magic , Female Protagonist , Henshin , Primarily Female Cast , Seinen , Gyaru , School , Nudity , Yuri , Urban Fantasy , Gore , Memory Manipulation , Foreign , Gods , Restaurant , Food , Tragedy , Revenge

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card-hen

Also known as Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Arc.

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance

It is spring, with cherry trees in full blossom, and Sakura is just entering middle school. Her beloved Syaoran has returned from Hong Kong, and life couldn’t be better. But when she awakens from a strange dream to find her Sakura Cards powerless, how can she protect Tomoeda from disaster?!



Note: Includes 8 extra chapters

Tags: Magic , Shoujo , Time Manipulation , Dissociative Identities , Urban Fantasy , Female Protagonist , Bisexual , LGBTQ+ Themes , Coming of Age , Cheerleading , Henshin , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Memory Manipulation , Primarily Female Cast , Heterosexual , Twins

Machikado Mazoku

Also known as The Demon Girl Next Door.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Mahou Shoujo , Slice of Life

Yoshida Yuko was living a perfectly normal (if poverty-stricken) life, but at the age of fifteen, she suddenly sprouts demon horns and a tail! Her mother explains that she's actually a demon named Shadow Mistress Yuko, once sealed away and cursed so that her family would remain poor for generations. Now Yuko can break that very curse if she defeats Chiyoda Momo, a magical girl who goes to her school…but Momo is stronger than she is, knows how to manage magical powers, and is so freaking nice that she's actually helping Yuko out of scrapes. Yuko's too weak and uncoordinated to straight-up kill Momo, even if she wanted to, but she can't just be buddies with this generous magical girl, either–she has to break the curse on her family somehow. What's a demon girl to do?



Tags: Urban Fantasy , Female Protagonist , Demons , Primarily Female Cast , Magic , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , 4-koma , Yuri , Memory Manipulation , Amnesia , Henshin , Super Power , Seinen , Kemonomimi , Gods , Youkai , School , Tsundere , Disability

Suicide Girl

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Mahou Shoujo , Psychological , Supernatural

A story where a girl of light fights against the darkness of the world.

Tags: Suicide , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Magic , Demons , Time Manipulation , Tragedy , Primarily Female Cast , Ghost , Primarily Teen Cast , Nun , Gore , Maids , Idol , Body Horror , Bullying , Restaurant , Yuri , Age Gap , Love Triangle

Tokyo Mew Mew

Also known as Tokyo Mew Mew.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance , Sci-Fi

Ichigo is out on a hot date with her 'crush' when suddenly she's involved in an odd incident in which her DNA is merged with the DNA of an almost extinct wildcat. When four other girls' DNA is merged with the DNA of four other almost extinct animals, it's apparent that they're part of a much bigger plan. Ichigo and her friends have been chosen to become a part of a secret project called the "Mew Project." Their mission: To protect the planet from aliens who are using the planet's animals to attack humans.



Tags: Shoujo , Urban Fantasy , Superhero , Super Power , Henshin , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Environmental , Primarily Child Cast , Animals , Aliens , Heterosexual , Dissociative Identities , Elf , Mermaid , Male Harem , Urban , Restaurant , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Magic , Kemonomimi , Nekomimi

Magic Knight Rayearth

Also known as Magic Knight Rayearth.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Mecha , Romance

Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, girls from separate schools, find themselves linked together as they fall through the floor during a field trip to the Tokyo Tower. They land in a place called Cephiro, where their will controls what happens. They meet with Guru Clef and find out that they were summoned to save Princess Emeraude who has been imprisoned by High Priest Zagato. They learn magic and acquire weapons on their quest to save Cephiro from the evils of Zagato.



Tags: Shoujo , Magic , Isekai , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Tragedy , Primarily Child Cast , Tomboy , Tanned Skin , Robots , Urban Fantasy

Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica: The different story

Also known as Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mahou Shoujo

Mami's warm personality has made it difficult for her to adjust to her solitary life as a magical girl, where survival often takes precedence over kindness. When she meets Kyouko Sakura, a fellow lone wolf, she is excited at the prospect of working together with another magical girl and forging a friendship built on ultimate trust. But many are the sacrifices all magical girls must make, and the consequences of Kyouko's choice are only just becoming clear to her. When the pain becomes unbearable, will Kyouko remain standing beside Mami as a force for the greater good...?



Tags: Female Protagonist , Magic , Primarily Female Cast , Henshin , Tragedy , Witch , Guns , Philosophy , Religion , Seinen , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Survival

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya

Also known as Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Ecchi , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo

Based on the hit series Fate/stay night, this alternate universe story that inspired the anime features your favorite characters in a magical girl adventure!

Illya might be rich, but she’s just like any other elementary school girl—she has a secret crush and loves magical girl anime. But when a magical “Kaleidostick” wand named Ruby tricks her into signing a contract, Illya becomes a magical girl herself! Illya’s peaceful days might be over, but her fight to save the world has only just begun.



Note: Includes an Epilogue.

Tags: Magic , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Child Cast , Ojou-sama , Henshin , Female Protagonist , Swordplay , Spearplay , Archery , Dissociative Identities , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Shounen , Parody

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 3rei!!

Also known as Fate/kaleid liner Prisma ☆ Illya Drei 3!!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Ecchi , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo

Just as Miyu was about saved from being swallowed into despair, all of a sudden a mysterious small duo that has mastered the Class Cards suddenly appears in front of the Illya? These witches are taking things to the next level!



Tags: Female Protagonist , Magic , Alternate Universe , Primarily Female Cast , Henshin , Primarily Child Cast , Urban Fantasy , Time Manipulation , Body Swapping , Isekai , Maids , Anti-Hero , Kuudere , Yandere , Gods , Memory Manipulation , Dissociative Identities , Archery , Swordplay , Spearplay , Assassins , Yuri , Tanned Skin , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Tragedy , Ojou-sama , Urban , Shounen , Amnesia , Achronological Order

Sugar Sugar Rune

Also known as Sugar Sugar Rune.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance

Little witch-girls Chocolat and Vanilla are best friends, but only one of them can be Queen of the Magic World. To determine who deserves the title, they must go to the Human World and enter a strange competition. Whoever attracts the most human boys... wins!

Here's how it works: When a boy falls for a witch-girl, she utters a few mystic words and the boy's heart will be hers in jewel-like form. It may sound simple, but winning hearts is tricky business. While Chocolat had no problem enticing witch-boys with her forthright personality, human boys seem to be drawn to shy and modest girls like Vanilla. And to make matters worse, Chocolat is finding herself increasingly drawn to the cool and mysterious Pierre-who feels nothing for her! The girls had planned to be best friends forever, but both of them want to be Queen. Will their rivalry ruin their friendship?



Note: Won the Kodansha Manga Award for Children's Manga in 2005.

Tags: Magic , Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Witch , Urban Fantasy , Royal Affairs , Matriarchy , Primarily Child Cast , School , Kingdom Management , Heterosexual , Animals , Anti-Hero , Coming of Age , Crossdressing , War , Age Gap , Shapeshifting

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne

Also known as Phantom Thief Jeanne.

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Mahou Shoujo , Romance

High school student Maron Kusakabe has a secret: she’s Phantom Thief Jeanne. She sneaks into private art collections to steal paintings in which demons reside. Jeanne’s task is to seal the demons before they can devour human hearts. So far she’s been able to evade the police on her midnight outings, but now another thief has come onto the scene—Phantom Sinbad—and he’s trying to take the paintings before she does!



Notes:
- Includes bonus stories "Miyako☆Catharsis", "Instant?! Access Legend★", "Let's Go, Silk Road ★"
- "The Memory of the Fish, The Snow Crystals of the Moon" 1-2 and "I Will Be Your Happiness" are not included as they are only released in the Bunko edition (but not in the initial release of the manga)

Tags: Female Protagonist , Shoujo , Demons , Reincarnation , Heterosexual , Rehabilitation , Coming of Age , Denpa , Henshin , Angels , School , Love Triangle , Philosophy , Gods , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Teen Cast , Estranged Family , Hikikomori , Time Manipulation , Work , Time Skip , Acrobatics , Exorcism