Stepping into Anime NYC this year, I was reminded of how anime has shaped me—from the shows I fell in love with as a kid to the fandom spaces I’ve navigated as an adult. But this time, I was on a mission. I spent the weekend interviewing women and attending panels to answer a personal, ongoing question: Where do women, especially women of color, fit in the anime community? As much as anime brings us joy, I’ve often felt a disconnect between the anime worlds I love and the fandom spaces that sometimes feel less welcoming. I wondered whether others felt the same and how those experiences shape our identities as anime fans today.

It became clear right away that I wasn’t alone. Almost every woman I spoke with shared fond memories of discovering anime during childhood. Many recalled watching shows on Toonami like Hamtaro, Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, and Tenchi Muyo!. For others, older siblings introduced them to titles like Berserk or Ninja Scroll. Yet, despite the nostalgia, many admitted that being part of fandom spaces—especially online—wasn’t always so positive. As girls grew up, they noticed they weren’t always welcome in male-dominated fandoms, facing gatekeeping, skepticism, or even outright exclusion.

Image from Fruits Basket, created by Studio TMS Entertainment

Despite the sense of community anime can foster, there’s a disparity between the growing number of female fans and the way they’re often treated in fandom spaces. According to a 2024 consumer insights report, 49% of anime enthusiasts are female, yet many women still feel underrepresented. My experience reflected theirs—anime gave us strong characters to look up to, but the spaces in which we celebrate them didn’t always feel like they belonged to us.

One of the most powerful aspects of anime is its ability to portray complex, dynamic female characters, often thanks to female creators like Rumiko Takahashi. Takahashi, the creator of InuYasha and Maison Ikkoku, is a legend in her own right. Through characters like Kyoko Otonashi, she crafted women who were not just strong but relatable—flawed and human. Her portrayal of female characters as multi-dimensional beings who could grow, struggle, and ultimately overcome challenges was revolutionary in the 1980s, when most women in anime were relegated to supporting roles or love interests. Similarly, in InuYasha, the female characters weren’t just damsels in distress; they were warriors with their arcs, driven by strength and resilience.

Throughout the panels, I heard women repeatedly mention characters like Sakura Haruno from Naruto, the ensemble cast of Sailor Moon, Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket, and Yoruichi Shihouin from Bleach as defining figures in their fandom experience. These characters weren’t just love interests or sidekicks; they were central to their stories, driving plotlines, and growing alongside their male counterparts. Yoruichi Shihouin from Bleach is important, particularly for Black women who rarely see themselves represented in anime. Her character resonates on a deeper level because she embodies strength, complexity, and leadership while also offering relatability for Black women despite the growing interest in anime within the Black community—38% of African Americans had a favorable attitude towards anime according to a 2020 Statista report—Black representation in anime remains sparse, making characters like Yoruichi even more impactful.

From left to right: Katie Cole, Isaella, Jragon, Poca, and Lahna Kane during Anime Women, Icons & Impact Panel at Anime NYC 2024 / Photo by Jasmine

However, through their significance, I learned what was disliked. There were feelings of disappointment regarding characters such as Hinata from Naruto. Jragon from the Anime Women: Icons & Impact panel critiqued how Naruto’s presence continued to overshadow Hinata’s storyline: "Even though he's not in the room, she's still thinking about him. No. No. No! Anything else but Naruto." They advocated for a storyline that focused on Hinata’s struggles, including her difficult family dynamics and her journey to prove herself: "Let’s focus on the fact that her family treats her like trash. Why don’t we watch her arc as she’s training? She would totally have her own story." Many women in the anime community expressed a similar feeling during the conversation—a desire to see female characters like Hinata evolve into fully realized individuals with stories independent of their romantic ties to male leads.

Image from Sailor Moon, created by Toei Animation

For many women, particularly women of color, participating in anime fandoms can feel like a double-edged sword. There’s the excitement of finding a community that shares your passion, but there’s also the frustration of feeling like you don’t belong. Vanta Black, a content creator and cosplayer, spoke candidly about her experience navigating these spaces. “It’s frustrating how often you’re quizzed or doubted as a fan, especially when you don’t fit the image of what people think a 'nerd' should be,” she shared. Her words struck a chord with me. Like many women, I’ve experienced the same gatekeeping and exclusion when engaging in male-dominated fandoms, especially in series like Naruto or Dragon Ball Z.

Lauryn Alexandria, a content creator and host that goes by Toasty Marshmellow, described the need to prove herself as exhausting. “It’s like you have to know twice as much just to be considered an equal,” she explained, highlighting the gendered double standards that many women face in these communities. Victoria Johnson, host of the Sailor Moon Fan Club Podcast, echoed this sentiment, calling out the stereotype that women only enjoy “girly” anime like Sailor Moon. “Some of the greatest anime, like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, were created by women, yet we’re still sidelined in these male-dominated fandoms,” she stated. This constant battle to prove that women can be knowledgeable and dedicated fans takes a toll, detracting from the sense of enjoyment fandoms should bring.

As I reflect on my time at Anime NYC, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride in the women I spoke with. Despite the challenges of exclusion and gatekeeping, they continue to carve out spaces for themselves, pushing for greater inclusion and respect in a male-dominated community. Vanta Black’s determination to foster safe spaces within the anime community is a testament to the resilience of women fans, and it’s a resilience shared by all the women I met over the weekend.

The conversations I had reinforced what I already knew—women, especially women of color, are an integral part of the anime community. But this reality isn’t always reflected in the fandom spaces we navigate. The tide is shifting as more women speak up, share their experiences, and challenge the status quo. We’re no longer asking for permission to belong; we’re claiming our space. Anime fandom is as much ours as anyone else’s, and as the fandom grows, so too must the recognition of our voices, our stories, and our presence. It’s not just about representation in the shows we watch—it’s about fostering a culture where we are seen, heard, and respected as equal community members. The future of anime fandom is more inclusive, diverse, and vibrant because of the women who continue to push for that change.