Fans of Encanto can not get enough of Luisa Madrigal - a strong and seemingly unshakable female character. Luisa is one of the most beloved Encanto characters for her strength and her vulnerability. Fortunately, there is a larger catalog of strong female characters in animated and live-action television shows compared to what there used to be.
The diverse range of female representation keeps growing in animation and one of the best places to showcase this broad spectrum of female strength and immense power is through the incredible animation designs and effects of these series. These women are strong but also have complex and in-depth characteristics that make them relatable and admirable.
Vi - Arcane: League Of Legends
Arcane's protagonist, Vi, is one of the strongest characters in the show. She is a natural-born fighter with a terrifying punch, even from a young age. Vi's outfit always includes her signature bandage-sleeves, so people quickly know that she is always ready for a fight.
She faces down Silco and his lackeys time after time, and except for some injuries, Vi comes out the winner. The show pits Vi against Sevika - two incredibly strong female characters - against each other and creates some of the most intense fight scenes that are amazing to behold. Vi is a juggernaut and that can be said even when she isn't wielding the Atlas Gauntlets.
Captain Carter - What If...?
Marvel's What If...? took a fan-favorite character from their cinematic universe and made her even more appealing to fans by injecting her with the super-soldier serum that was meant for Steve Rogers. In some ways, Peggy is a better Captain than Steve Robers but she might also be stronger, considering that she was already a formidable force before she took a serum that enhanced her abilities.
She is a strong fighter at hand-to-hand combat, but she could also make knights gasp at the way she could wield a sword alongside her Vibranium shield. Carter shows off her full potential in these episodes, especially when she takes down an interdimensional squid monster with more ease than most Marvel superheroes. She is ferocious and unstoppable, and fans are eager to see Hayley Atwell portray Captain Carter again.
Garnet - Steven Universe
Garnet is one of the strongest gems in Steven Universe other than the Diamonds. She is a fusion of Ruby and Sapphire, which enhances their individual abilities. Garnet uses her future vision, wisdom and strength to battle all her opponents almost effortlessly - not to mention she can do it whilst singing.
She is a cool, calm and collected leader of the Crystal Gems. Her inner strength comes from the love of Ruby and Sapphire, and they are stronger together than apart. Alongside aliens from across the universe, Garnet and the rest of the Crystal Gems battle stereotypes around gender identity and queerness. She is a remarkable role model for Steven, gem-kind and everyone watching.
Harley Quinn - Harley Quinn
Despite not having powers of the same magnitude as Poison Ivy's or Wonder Woman's, Harley Quinn is one of the strongest female characters in the DC Animated Universe. She is a terrifying heavy hitter, literally - Harley can bash in skulls and break knees with one swing. She is completely unpredictable which only makes her more of a threat.
With gymnastic skills, immunity to toxins and enhanced abilities of strength, durability and agility, Harley is a menacing challenge to beat. She owns her strength and proves to be one of the smartest characters in Harley Quinn, likely meaning that Harley could easily rule the world if it weren't for the heroes saving it.
She-Ra/Adora - She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power
Adora's impressive alter-ego, She-Ra is the most powerful character in the show. She possesses amazing strength, agility and healing powers - not to mention she can harness the magic that makes Etheria so special.
She is known for her brawn rather than her brains, and her weapon of choice is, of course, the Sword of Protection. But even without her sword and her powers, Adora proves to be a capable fighter in the early episodes of season 5. She knows her true strength does not lie with her powers as She-Ra, but with the love she receives from her Best Friend Squad: Catra, Bow and Glimmer.
Toph - Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender viewers have been in love with the snarky, strong Toph since her appearance in season 2. Since she was born blind, she learned to use earthbending as an extension of her senses. This makes her earthbending skills unparalleled, and she even came up with a new form of bending: metalbending.
Toph is able to beat almost everyone she comes up against and has beaten the Avatar in fights - both Aang and Korra. She is abrasive and confident in her abilities. She knows that she's the greatest earthbender in the world and since the character's inception, she has been an inspiration to many.
General Amaya - The Dragon Prince
General Amaya is one of the best characters in The Dragon Prince for her steeled will, compassion and representation of deaf people in fantasy stories. Because of her deafness, she has an exceptional sense of awareness and strategy. She is a ferocious warrior and the general of the Standing Battalion in Katolis.
Amaya is incredibly intimidating and isn't afraid to show it, even if her translator, lieutenant and friend doesn't convey the same passion in conversation. While she is a terrifying opponent in battle, she is also caring and loving - especially concerning her nephews, Ezran and Callum. Amaya is also immensely honorable and saved her former enemy, Janai, a Sunfire elf, from falling to her death.
Ahsoka Tano - Star Wars
Star Wars' Ahsoka has over time become a fan-favorite character. Originally appearing in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, she has now appeared in several of the franchise television shows and films, such as The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba-Fett. Ahsoka will also be the primary protagonist of her own show premiering in 2022.
She is an agile fighter, skilled in hand-to-hand combat and a master at wielding a lightsaber or two. She was gifted with raw Force skill and uses a myriad of abilities, from telekinesis to the dark side Force power of Force choking. Ahsoka remains a feminist icon as one of the first powerful female Jedis. Though she leaves the Order, she still is a pinnacle of strength and compassion.
Korra - Avatar: The Legend Of Korra
The Legend of Korra proudly displays many powerful female characters, but the main protagonist, Korra, is by far the strongest character in the show. Korra realized her powers at a young age and immediately displayed her fierce tenacity and fiery spirit. Her fight scenes are incredible and her powers are a spectacle to behold.
While she struggled with airbending and the spiritual side of being the Avatar, she soon masters it and inspires awe and fear in her Avatar state. She's known trauma and strife, and her journey of healing culminated in some of the saddest and best episodes in The Legend of Korra, but still, she remains strong and hopeful. The previous Avatar, Aang, left some pretty big shoes to fill, but Korra worked hard and earned the title.
Blossom, Bubbles & Buttercup - The Powerpuff Girls
For some children, the first powerful female characters they encountered were Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup from The Powerpuff Girls. Each had super strength, speed, senses, flight, x-ray vision, as well as powers that were unique to them - like Blossom's ice breath, Bubbles' sonic scream, and Buttercup's fireballs.
The three kindergarten-aged characters were powerful to the point that they were almost invulnerable. They defended their town from villains and monsters while facing the ordinary challenges of growing up. While the live-action reboot may be struggling, fans still adore the original animated series and the feminist icons that Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup became.