Female Protagonists in Movies and TV Shows

Mulan:
- Believable portrayal as she goes through training and struggles like everyone else.
Ellen Ripley in Alien:
- The original strong female protagonist.
Dana Scully in The X-Files:
- Inspired an uptick in women pursuing STEM studies.
Margie from Fargo:
- Moral, responsible, and deals with insanity in the town.
Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs:
- Intelligent and brave.
Sarah Connor in Terminator:
- Played by Linda Hamilton, showing grit and determination.
Elle Woods in Legally Blonde:
- Surprising intelligence and strength.
Chihiro in Spirited Away:
- Shows courage and independence.
Samantha Carter in Stargate:
- Strong, intelligent, and capable.
Amy Adams in Arrival:
- Portrays a strong, intelligent character.
Fiona in Shrek:
- Admits mistakes, stands up for herself, and doesn't fall for superficial charm.
Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon:
- Multidimensional character who shows femininity and strength.

Female Characters in Video Games

The study on female video game characters found:
- Women preferred feminine characters but disliked overly sexualized ones.
- Women may gravitate towards the most feminine character available.
- There's a difference between sexualized and sexy characters.
Study limitations:
- The study focused on fighting games, limiting its generalizability.
- Research didn't account for the complexity of character designs and player preferences.
Suggestions:
- Female characters in games should offer a variety of appealing qualities, not just sexualization.
- Appeal encompasses confidence, coolness, and attractiveness, not just sexualization.

Notable Women in Anime and Animation

All the Ghibli protagonists:
- Strong, well-developed female characters in Studio Ghibli films.
Chihiro from Spirited Away:
- Shows growth, courage, and intelligence.
Fiona from Shrek:
- Not swayed by superficial charm, admits mistakes, and stands up for herself.

Each discussed female character embodies different qualities of strength, intelligence, growth, and individuality, resonating with audiences for various reasons.