Ranging from caring and helpful to bratty and ridiculous, there is no question why anime creators and anime fans love the younger sister. While they are immature and a fertile area for comedy, they are often supportive of their older siblings, even if that is hidden between occasional bouts of tearing them down for fun. The imouto is youthful. The imouto is energetic. The imouto is devilish.
The imouto often steals the show away from their older siblings just like they stole away their parent’s love, but you don’t need to be a siscon in order to appreciate these lovely little sisters.
Best Anime Little Sisters
Chiaki from Minami-ke
Miname-ke is special because it has two very standard imouto tropes. You have the middle child, Kana, who is energetic and a whirlwind of chaos, and then you have the youngest child, Chiaki. She spends a good portion of her time either idolizing her oldest sister Haruka or torturing Kana due to her very nature. Although seemingly cold and emotionless, you do get a look at her softer side at various moments throughout the show.
Mashiro from Engaged to the Unknown
Mashiro is young, but fierce. She is the younger sister to her now-engaged brother and moves into his fiancé’s house with him in order to play the sister-in-law. She tries her best, but her youth shines through in various faults like her hate for natto and love for mild curry.
While Kobeni also classifies as an imouto, she is more best girl material.
Komachi from My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
Komachi is everything her bother isn’t. As student council president, she is as popular and as loved as her older brother is unpopular. Of course, this isn’t unexpected with the cheerful and lively personality that makes even her cold brother somewhat kind to her. At home, she offers support and advice to her older brother, even if he doesn’t particularly want it.
Mei from Clannad
Mei takes the imouto trope and turns the dial up a few notches. Although she goes overboard with the whole “Onii-san” thing, it is her mannerisms that make her a welcome comedic addition to Clannad. Although her brother is kind of a lazy bum, Mei plays the dutiful little sister to the fullest, trying to motivate him to do better. She also extends this kindness to her brother’s friends as well.
Shiro from No Game No Life
Although she is only a step-little sister, Shiro bonds well with her step-brother. They both become NEET elite gamers that both excel in their hobbies. However, while Sora is more emotional, Shiro comes off cold and calculative. As she excels in solving logical problems and is described as a genius, she has a problem understanding emotions, but still clings strongly to her older brother.
Mero from Sankarea
Mero may come off cold, but she is really a kind and supportive little sister. Even as his brother goes through his trials with the newly undead Sanka, Mero suspects something is up and casually aids her brother without unraveling his secret. Who doesn’t love a well-behaved little sister that stays out of the way?
Doma Umaru from Himouto! Umaru-Chan
Outside of the house, Umaru seems like a dream little sister. She is popular, beautiful, and seems very caring. However, once she does get back to the house she shares with her older brother, she sits at the completely opposite end of the trope. She is a greedy and selfish otaku. She does nothing but engage in her hobbies and makes her older brother take care of her. Even still, her brother finds the charms in his two-faced little sister.
Haru from Nisekoi
Haru is the rare example of a younger sister that wants to protect her older sister. When she first encounters Raku, she finds him malicious and wants to prevent him from tainting her older sister’s purity. So, she wedges herself into their relationship. Oh, what lengths she goes to in order to take care of her sibling.
Kirino from Oreimo
Kirino is not always the best little sister, but she has her moments. For the most part, she is ungrateful to her brother and uses him to indulge in her eroge lust, but it is her passion for her little sister H-games that inspires him to find his passion.
Kobato from Haganai
Kobato is almost a textbook little sister. She loves her brother and even goes so far as to join his high school club despite being in middle school. When she feels like she is not getting attention, she becomes clingy and jealous. Of course, this all obviously points to her brother complex.
Miyuki from The Irregular at Magic High School
Although she is a little sister to the male protagonist of the show, she is still a protagonist herself. As such, Miyuki possesses show-stopping beauty, modesty, and excellent manners that makes everyone love her. Even her emotionless brother is enthralled by her, which is essentially her purpose in the show.
Hikari from Digimon
Hikari is one of the few characters in Digimon that you see grow up throughout the seasons. As the little sister of Tai, he is very protective of her, and a bit of a worrier when she becomes a DigiDestined. However, despite this, Hikari grows up to be energetic and caring. Although she loves her brother, she still isn’t afraid to confront him and set him right when he is being stubborn.
Nunnally Lamperouge from Code Geass
Although crippled and blind, Nunnally is a literal princess in both title and mannerisms. She has a kind heart and would do anything for her brother, and despite being handicapped, she is always smiling. She makes for the perfectly sympathetic little sister to her progressively evil brother.
Ui from K-On!
Ui is another rare breed of little sister that is more mature than her older siblings. She is smart and takes care of the household while her older sister Yui is significantly less dependable. However, alongside being a reliable little sister, she is also a virtuoso on the guitar.
Nazuna from Working!!
Nazuna is the youngest child of the five Takanashi siblings. Although she is still in elementary school, she is as tall as he high school-aged brother. While this irritates her brother, he is endeared by her mature nature. While her other sisters are abusive to her brother, she is kind to him, and he often seeks her out for support.
Hinata from March Comes in Like a Lion
While Hinata and her sisters aren’t the main characters of the show, you see them a lot. They adopt Rei in like a brother and you get a good look at their family dynamic. Middle child Hinata has some typical middle child tropes, but ultimately she plays a good little sister role by being occasionally selfish and occasionally kind-hearted.
Hikari from Interviews with Monster Girls
Although Hikari is a twin, she and Himari act like a typical sisters. Himari is responsible and more mature while Hikari is your typical energetic wild child that is more typical with little sisters. Either twin could fit your little sister dream tropes, which is what makes them so perfect.
Hina from Listen to Me, Girls I Am Your Father
As the youngest of the three sisters, Hina is only three years old. However, she features more personality than your typical toddler. She maintains cute toddler quirks like mispronouncing words, but otherwise she is friendly and just a bit snarky to her uncle Yuta.
Are we missing your favorite imouto? Shows us your siscon side in the comments below.
Sagiri from Eromanga Sensei