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Despite this lack of attention, however, there is still no shortage of anime sisters that are well-known among fans for their personalities. Moreover, biological sisters may be more at the forefront, but as of late, adoptive anime sisters have been getting more love. These anime stepsisters show that sometimes love can transcend bloodline.
Updated December 20, 2022, by Izabella Molina: Just like their biological counterparts, a good deal of anime stepsisters serve as loving companions or caretakers to their siblings, with some being notable for that very reason. At the same time, however, with so many stepsisters gradually being introduced in anime comes a slew of new characters with far more unique backstories and personalities. These characters are not simply limited to more lighthearted genres such as the slice-of-life or harem genres. As Rukia Kuchiki and Mikasa Ackerman prove, stepsisters can also be featured in more action-packed genres, making the possibilities endless for more stepsisters with colorful backstories.
12 Suguha Kirigaya – Sword Art Online
Despite Suguha looking to Kirito as a brother, it is later revealed that the two are cousins, with Kirito having been adopted after the death of his parents. Since then, she and Kirito have been very close, with Suguha even taking up kendo to spare Kirito their grandfather’s ire.
It is through Kirito that Suguha started to develop an interest in the virtual reality genre of MMORPGs. An avid player of Alfheim Online after learning about it from her friend Nagata, Suguha, under her avatar name Leafa, later becomes Kirito’s most crucial ally in his bid to rescue Asuna from the clutches of Oberon.
11 Kotori Itsuka - Date A Live!
Though her outward appearance is typical of a cute anime step-sis, Kotori’s personality fluctuates wildly whenever she changes her hair ribbon. Regardless of whether she is meek, domineering, or even bloodthirsty, however, one thing remains certain: Kotori treasures her older stepbrother Shido above all else, both as a family member and as a means to seal her powers.
Initially an ordinary girl, Kotori later developed Spirit powers after receiving a crystal from a mysterious being during her childhood. Since then, and much to Shido’s shock, she has become the commander of the Ratatoskr organization, which serves to deal with Spirits in a peaceful yet decisive manner.
10 Kanako Urashima - Love Hina
The mature yet devious Kanako is a master of both impersonations and martial arts, the latter of which is especially surprising given her gentle appearance. Despite being a high school student upon her debut, it is Kanako who briefly oversees the Hinata Apartment complex in her stepbrother Keitaro’s stead.
Usually the calm and collected type, Kanako has no qualms about messing with the other employees of the Hinata Apartments, even going as far as to physically examine another employee while disguised as Keitaro’s friend Naru. Initially possessive of Keitaro, to the point that she makes a hobby of thinking about him, Kanako eventually becomes less so when Keitaro reveals his love for Naru.
9 Saya Otonashi - Blood+
The main protagonist of Blood+, Saya is initially a shy but kindhearted girl who has a close sibling relationship with her stepbrothers Kai and Riku. The only thing that seemed to make her unhappy would be her amnesia, which becomes a source of insecurity for her in some parts of the series.
Upon regaining her memory, Saya becomes far more melancholy, having been broken down by Riku’s death and her identity as a Chiropteran. Originally intending to kill both herself and Diva in order to rid the world of Chiropterans, Saya ultimately regains the will to live after encouragement from Kai and her lover Hagi.
8 Mikasa Ackerman – Attack on Titan
After being saved from a group of human traffickers, Mikasa was adopted into the Yeager family, whom she loved as much as her birth parents. She especially developed a close relationship with Eren, often helping him out of tricky situations when he was a child.
Much like Eren, Mikasa chose to join the Survey Corps after the attack on Wall Maria and the death of their mother. In her own right, she is currently one of the strongest members of the Survey Corps, but she still prioritizes Eren’s safety and well-being above all else.
7 Rukia Kuchiki – Bleach
Having been abandoned on the outskirts of Rukongai, Rukia was eventually taken in by the Kuchiki family, becoming Byakuya’s younger stepsister in the process. Throughout the entire Bleach series, it is very clear that the two of them are very protective of one another, coming to each other’s aid whenever the situation calls for it.
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Even when Byakuya coldly refused to acknowledge her at the time of her execution, Rukia still took solace in the fact that she was able to meet and see him one last time. Later on in the series, Byakuya reciprocates her love, even going as far as to call Rukia his pride.
6 Ema Hinata – Brothers Conflict
The heroine of Brothers Conflict, Ema Hinata lost her parents to separate accidents, resulting in her subsequent adoption by Rintarou Hinata. Upon Rintarou’s second marriage, Ema moves in to live with her new parents, where she meets her thirteen new stepbrothers.
Ema treasures her stepbrothers greatly but is oblivious to the fact that the boys have developed romantic feelings for her, causing them to feud among themselves. Upon realizing this fact, she blames herself for being the source of their conflict and destroying their peaceful family life, sending her into a deep depression.
5 Nojiko – One Piece
Arguably the most recognizable stepsister in all anime, Nojiko, alongside Nami, was raised by the former marine Belle-mere in Cocoyashi Village after she found the two of them in the midst of a battlefield. Unlike Nami, however, Nojiko was aware of her status as an adoptive child. Nonetheless, she still loved Belle-mere and was devastated when she was murdered.
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When the Arlong Pirates occupied Cocoyashi Village, Nojiko served as the voice of reason for the village, trying to stop any villagers from being reckless or throwing their lives away. Even after Arlong’s defeat, Nojiko still cares about Nami’s well-being and is content with the fact that Nami is happy with the Straw Hat Pirates.
4 Akeginu – Basilisk
Acting as Oboro’s bodyguard, Akeginu also cares for her as she would a younger sister. When it came time for Oboro to meet Gennosuke as per their arranged marriage, it was Akeginu who helped her get ready and cured her hiccups when she got nervous.
Out of all the Iga ninjas, Akeginu is one of two people who are more lenient with Oboro’s lack of combat skill, the other being Koshiro. Even when Oboro decided to seal her eyes shut, an act that very nearly constituted betrayal, Akeginu still supported her to the best of her ability.
3 Aika Fuwa – Zetsuen no Tempest
The mysterious Aika Fuwa had a rather detached personality toward the people around her. Wise beyond her years, Aika’s overwhelming presence, coupled with her status as the Magician of Exodus, makes those in her vicinity rather uncomfortable.
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Despite these traits, however, Aika proves to have a softer side, having cared greatly for her stepbrother Mahiro and boyfriend Yoshino. Before her death, she wanted the two of them to carve out their own futures. It is her supposed murder that inspires both Mahiro and Yoshino to search for her killer.
2 Sagiri Izumi – Eromanga Sensei
Initially, Sagiri has trouble opening up to her stepbrother Masamune. She would refuse to interact with him whenever he was around. It was only when she found out that Masamune also worked in the light-novel industry that she finally started to interact with him, willingly illustrating her stepbrother’s works.
Sagiri also had a loving relationship with her mother; it was her mother who taught her how to draw, and her death ultimately drove Sagiri into reclusiveness. It is only when she is streaming live, using the pen name Eromanga Sensei, that Sagiri is at her most extroverted.
1 Shiro – No Game No Life
Compared to her stepbrother Sora, Shiro is far more level-headed, rarely showing any emotions and possessing an analytical mindset. She still finds herself very dependent on Sora, to the point that she will become immobile when she is separated from him for a long period of time.
In the midst of a game, Shiro is ruthless, not hesitating to show off her skill at any given chance. Despite her childlike appearance, Shiro has no qualms about making others perform degrading tasks for her, a trait that shocks even her stepbrother.
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