The Powerpuff Girls mixes superhero antics with sugary satire, highlighting the lives of three kindergarten girls who juggle epic villain battles with everyday school problems.
With themes of identity, teamwork, and female empowerment, the show redefined what it meant to be a young hero. This list of 15 underrated anime captures that same blend of charm, action, and character-driven storytelling—featuring female leads, bold stylistic choices, and stories that subvert genre norms.
1. Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte (2002)
Streaming: YouTube (unofficial), DVD
Episodes: 5
Rating: 6.3 (MAL)
Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Plot: A clumsy nurse-in-training moonlights as a magical girl who fights viruses in an absurd, parody-filled world.
Why It Fits: Like Powerpuff Girls, it satirizes magical girl tropes while celebrating the chaos and cuteness of its heroine.
2. Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z (2006)
Streaming: YouTube (fan uploads)
Episodes: 52
Rating: 6.4 (MAL)
Studio: Toei Animation
Plot: A Japanese reimagining of the original series, where three schoolgirls gain powers from Chemical Z and fight monsterified villains.
Why It Fits: Directly based on The Powerpuff Girls, this adaptation retains the trio’s dynamic while infusing it with anime aesthetics and pacing.
3. Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh (1991)
Streaming: RetroCrush
Episodes: 51
Rating: 7.0 (MAL)
Studio: Sunrise
Plot: A group of elementary school students must defend Earth with a giant robot that they pilot during class breaks.
Why It Fits: School kids saving the world with heart and humor is pure Powerpuff energy—just with giant robots.
4. Yatterman Night (2015)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
Rating: 6.7 (MAL)
Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Plot: A young girl rises against a corrupt legacy of heroes, forming a new resistance with a blend of mecha and mischief.
Why It Fits: Subverts traditional hero-villain roles with stylized action and rebellious youth leading the charge.
5. Binbougami ga! (Good Luck Girl!) (2012)
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: 13
Rating: 7.5 (MAL)
Studio: Sunrise
Plot: A lucky girl and a goddess of poverty clash in a chaotic battle of karma, power, and friendship.
Why It Fits: Features over-the-top battles, vibrant animation, and a comedic rivalry that mirrors Blossom vs. Mojo Jojo.
6. Puni Puni Poemy (2001)
Streaming: DVD only
Episodes: 2
Rating: 6.4 (MAL)
Studio: J.C.Staff
Plot: A hyperactive girl dreams of being a magical heroine while causing uncontrollable chaos in her wake.
Why It Fits: Wildly parodic, fast-paced, and deeply self-aware—just like Powerpuff Girls at its most unhinged.
7. Kaiketsu Zorori (2004)
Streaming: YouTube (fan uploads)
Episodes: 97
Rating: 6.9 (MAL)
Studio: Ajia-do Animation Works
Plot: A mischievous fox and his companions go on silly adventures full of tricks, morals, and creative solutions.
Why It Fits: Blends morality, cartoon slapstick, and clever storytelling in a format ideal for younger viewers and nostalgic adults.
8. Tokyo Mew Mew (2002)
Streaming: HIDIVE
Episodes: 52
Rating: 7.0 (MAL)
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Plot: Five girls gain animal-based powers to fight environmental threats and save Earth from aliens.
Why It Fits: A team of color-coded heroines, combining school life and superhero duty, makes it a natural fit for Powerpuff fans.
9. Majokko Megu-chan (1974)
Streaming: DVD only
Episodes: 72
Rating: 7.0 (MAL)
Studio: Toei Animation
Plot: A sassy witch-in-training is sent to Earth, where she navigates teenage life and magic lessons.
Why It Fits: One of the earliest feminist magical girl shows—its bold tone and female agency mirror what Powerpuff Girls would later perfect.
10. Re: Cutie Honey (2004)
Streaming: DVD
Episodes: 3
Rating: 7.2 (MAL)
Studio: Gainax
Plot: A reboot of the 1970s classic, Cutie Honey battles criminal syndicates with a wink and a punch.
Why It Fits: Its explosive animation, cheeky humor, and fierce heroine channel the stylish violence and irony of Powerpuff Girls.
11. Ninja Girl & Samurai Master (2016)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 26 (Shorts)
Rating: 7.1 (MAL)
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Plot: A historical comedy where a tiny ninja girl assists the great warlord Nobunaga with fierce energy and silliness.
Why It Fits: Petite powerhouse with comic timing—basically Bubbles in feudal Japan.
12. Bubu ChaCha (1999)
Streaming: Amazon Prime (JP)
Episodes: 26
Rating: 6.6 (MAL)
Studio: Group TAC
Plot: A young boy teams up with the ghost of his dog, who now inhabits a toy car, to solve mysteries.
Why It Fits: Gentle, quirky, and imaginative, it shares Powerpuff Girls’ blend of innocent charm with occasional serious undertones.
13. Urahara (2017)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
Rating: 5.8 (MAL)
Studio: Shirogumi
Plot: Three girls protect Harajuku from alien invaders while expressing themselves through fashion and art.
Why It Fits: Visual experimentation and girl-centric defense of their world—pure Powerpuff vibes with pastel flair.
14. Galaxy Angel (2001)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 26
Rating: 7.0 (MAL)
Studio: Madhouse
Plot: A misfit group of female space travelers stumble through absurd missions, often saving the day by accident.
Why It Fits: Absurd humor, team dynamics, and unpredictable plots make it an interstellar cousin to Powerpuff Girls.
15. Ojamajo Doremi (1999)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 51
Rating: 7.3 (MAL)
Studio: Toei Animation
Plot: Doremi and her friends become apprentice witches, learning spells and life lessons in equal measure.
Why It Fits: Focuses on young girls growing stronger together, learning responsibility, and navigating emotions—just like Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup.
Why These Anime Work for Powerpuff Girls Fans
Each of these anime embraces the same essence that made The Powerpuff Girls iconic: colorful protagonists, unexpected depth, and a balance between action and heart.
Whether through magical girls, sci-fi chaos, or satirical heroes, these series showcase that you don’t need to be big to be powerful, and that sometimes, sugar, spice, and everything nice come with a mean left hook.
If you’re craving girl-powered, stylistically bold adventures that challenge norms while keeping things fun, these hidden gems deserve a spot on your watchlist.
