Fave anime/manga Women #15: Yuuki Asuna Collage

Name: Yuuki Asuna
Anime: Sword Art Online

Asuna is a refreshing change from many characters like her in this genre. Well, for that matter SAO is a little refreshing too (except when Liz and Silica decide they want to interfere with Kirito and Asuna's relationship, but I'll save the harem rant for another time). For one, she's a strong female character who doesn't always resort to violence, she doesn't need the boys to come save her, and she doesn't have unrealistically large breasts, or wear armour that doesn't really count as armour. It's also nice to see an anime treat a female protagonist as a warrior all her own, instead of the "I can't believe I got beat by a girl" sort of mentality where the men always underestimate the women. Some people think that sort of thing is proof of a strong character, but to me, it's when no distinction is necessary. Asuna is the second in command of the strongest guild, and people just recognise her as a warrior, not a female warrior.
Asuna is just overall a likeable character. Even in the second half of the series (well I suppose I should say first season), she stays strong in spite of her circumstances, and doesn't play the average damsel in distress.

Credits:
Pose:

non-collage: galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
series:
20: Ami galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
19: Soi Fong galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
18: Cecliy galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
17: Yoruichi galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
16: Sayaka galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
14: Rei galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
13: Sango galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
12: Kallen galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
11: Setsuna galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
10: Maka galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
  9: Fuu galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
  8: Filia galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
  7: Saber galactickitten.deviantart.com/…
  6: Rukia galactickitten.deviantart.com/…