If one was to describe Atsuko Kagari in a few words you’d probably end up with at least a hundred different descriptions. Atsuko is a true breath of fresh air in the anime world as she is constantly showing what it means to be constantly happy and full of life. That being said, this little witch isn’t without her failings as she can be quite reckless when it comes to using her magic and can be quick to fight if it means helping others at the risk of her own safety. Atsuko is probably one of the best examples of the wide range of emotions a female cancer can portray and thus why she earns a spot on our list.

Reckless, cheerful, odd, quirky and devious, Satoko Houjou is yet another amalgamation of personality best suited for those under the cancer zodiac. Satoko is one girl who can act tough when she needs to be but equally be a young girl when relaxed and free of responsibilities. As we learned in this newer season of Higurashi, Satoko is also quite mischievous and harbors a darker side that she begins to reveal as her goals come to fruition. Once again, be weary of anime girls with the cancer zodiac sign. Yes, they might come across as caring/loving but underneath that exterior can lie a deeper more complex nature as evident in our Satoko.

One half of the “Fire Sisters” martial arts nut Karen Araragi is one girl who wears her emotions on her sleeves. Karen is tough and quick to fight injustice—as evident in the Karen Bee arc of Nisemonogatari—but isn’t afraid to be a normal girl when the situation arises. Karen is like a mom who wants to step up to protect her kids but is also a reckless brat who doesn’t think of the ramifications of her actions. Don’t mess with Karen as she will no doubt kick your butt but if you can somehow befriend this girl, you’ll probably have a friend for life who will stand at your back no matter what.

Alien Lala Stalin Deviluke is an odd girl who seems to never be of one emotion. Lala can act like a caring girlfriend one moment and then a literal psychotic scientist the next at the expense of our poor boy Rito. Lala is yet another female cancer that goes from one end of the personality spectrum to the other in a flip of the switch. Nevertheless we love our Lala and forgive her oddities as she is just too adorable for words.

If you had no prior knowledge of One Piece or how zany the characters can be, you’d probably have different thoughts on Nami overall. Nami at first glance seems like your typical girl who just loves showing off her massive oppai—which seem to grow every arc—but beneath those giant mounds of glory lie a woman who isn’t afraid to get rough. Nami is a treasure hunter/pirate and that means she will do whatever it takes for treasure. Nami also is extremely loyal to Luffy and the other Straw Hats as she will go to great lengths to protect them when her fighting prowess needs to take the limelight. We love Nami and of all the cancer zodiac signs, one can’t refute she is easily one of the coolest out there.

Unlike typical Cancers, Moriko is very quiet and reserved. She is sympathetic towards others but does not like to speak much so her ability to help is limited. She is suspicious of others and has incredibly low self-esteem which makes her very insecure. Her withdrawn nature is amplified by her desire to be a NEET and adds to her seclusion. Her shy nature allows her to be on our list but puts at the bottom due to her inability to align with the tenacity of the Cancer.

Kagari is a shy individual who has had a difficult hand dealt to her. After being sent back from the future as a young child, she is unsure of what action to take because of her separation from her family. Because of her experiences early in life though, Kagari is suspicious of everyone she meets but has a very friendly and shy demeanor. She is emotional and sympathetic but is very insecure in herself. Her shyness and general behavior does not match the tenacity of the typical Cancer so this puts her towards the bottom of our list.

Akeno is not your typical high school girl. This busty gal is a fallen angel and a demon. However, her tenacity and loyalty is matched by none. She is sympathetic and extremely emotional. She is high ranking in her court and this is accompanied by tremendous power. Armed with her skills as a demon and a fallen angel, she can defeat almost any enemy and has powerful skills in persuasion. She does not exhibit the more negative traits of a Cancer. Her weakness lies in criticism exhibited by others towards her loved ones. Her temper is not the most stable but this also lends to her innate power.

Hiyori Iki was initially your average high school girl, kind of… She loved wrestling and could see spirits. However, when she runs into a god, her life will change forever. Hiyori is very protective of everyone she meets and will rush to save them regardless of any consequences. This also leads her to be very naive and childish. Hiyori does not entirely understand the world of spirits and the effects that it can have on her. This leads her to make rash decisions. Hiyori represents many of the positive traits that are found in Cancers but does not exhibit the negative ones which is why she earns a lower spot on our list.

Tamaki is extremely protective of her friends and even in her helpless state in the first season, she tries her best to protect even her guardians. She has a cheerful demeanor and is not easily discouraged. Unlike most Cancers, Tamaki is can be incredibly insecure and tries to overcome it when it surfaces. Tamaki is sympathetic to those around her, making her an admirable character in anyone’s eyes. She truly treats all of her friends and loved ones as family, despite some of their negative attitudes towards her. Her loyalty is unmatched and she is deserving of a spot on this list.

Serena may seem like a crybaby but she has a strength of character that is not often seen. Despite her insecurities, she rises to face every challenge that confronts her and will stop at nothing to protect the world from the evil Queen Beryl. She is loyal to her friends, though her childish antics often come through in these interactions. Serena’s transition into Sailor Moon made her evolve as a person and allowed her to become the admirable princess that she was destined to be.

Kaori is musically gifted and free-spirited. This tenacious girl makes us as viewers want to live life to the fullest just by allowing us to see into her world. Kaori is sympathetic and imaginative and seeks to bring joy to everyone she meets. However, Kaori hides a dark secret that impacts the lives of everyone around her. As with any middle school girl, she can be moody. This is seen in particular with her interactions with Kosei Arima who has given up his talent with the piano. She thinks he is wasting his gift, which is something that she cannot abide by. Kaori represents the positive aspects of a Cancer to the fullest and lives her life through her passion on the violin.

Yachiyo’s strength lies in her ability to help others. She acts as an almost motherly figure to everyone who works for her and those who enter the café. This demeanor puts everyone at ease practically immediately. Her compassionate nature keeps the customers coming back and also lends to a more romantic attraction to her as exhibited by some of the characters. Her loyalty is unmatched and she often shows kindness to those who obviously don’t deserve it. However, if given the chance she can be very moody, especially when approaching romantic situations. This makes her character seem more naive and is very stereotypical of a female Cancer.

As a ghoul, Touka must be careful to not reveal her true identity. She must also have the self-control to not let her ghoulish instincts show. While Touka was initially seen as cold and calculating, she eventually gave way to the more positive aspects of the Cancer. After meeting Ken Kaneki she became more docile and sympathetic, both towards humans and ghouls. Her double life allows her to experience the positive and negative aspects of both sides of her which deepened her understanding towards both species. She is an incredibly loyal friend and admirable Cancer which puts her towards the top of our list.

Kikyo is a difficult character to analyze because of her change in demeanor after her death. In life, she was loyal and compassionate, sympathetic and tenacious. Kikyo and Inuyasha had a great love and she carried her feelings to her grave and beyond. After she was resurrected, she harbored a hate that made her much more villainous than ever before. Kikyo was manipulative and moody and did not seek closeness with anyone. After Kikyo’s death, she became a person that was the embodiment of the negative traits of a Cancer unlike her previous exhibition of the positive ones. This flip earns her the top spot on our list of the top Cancer females.