GIRLS OF AZUR LANE: TOP 10

 

Ahoy!

Or should that be ara ara?

The ship girls of Azur Lane earn their own page, counting down my Top 10 Girls of Azur Lane. Of course, we already know Atago, my top girl of Azur Lane, from her third place in my Top 10 Girls of Video Games.

What is it with video games and ‘ship girls’ – anime girls literally personifying Second World War naval vessels? They do it here and they did it before in Kantai Collection. However, the 2017 Chinese game Azur Lane has proved more prolific and enduring than its 2013 Japanese predecessor Kantai Collection (although funnily enough both put the ship-girls personifying the Imperial Japanese navy in their starring roles). Indeed, they keep releasing new girls on the dock in Azur Lane even now seven years later (in 2024 as of this page), which are picked up in fan art and cosplay – such that I had to revise my top ten to reflect the newer releases.

And let’s face it, we’re particularly here for their Race Queen or RQ designs – including Atago where she barely fits in a black and white racing flag-style bikini outfit. Any Azur Lane girl with a Race Queen design automatically ranks either in my top ten or special mentions, which brings me to…

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

But first my usual note on the visual images used in this top ten. Given the copyright in such images, I only use a visual image as fair use for the purposes of comment and review in each entry – an iconic feature image to identify the character, either in general or in their most iconic version as I review it to be (or both), sourced from the published game cover or promotional art, or occasionally captured from gameplay or trailers.

I also include a special section in each entry under the subtitle of art and cosplay – not for any actual art and cosplay as such but instead where I nominate my favorite artists and cosplay models depicting the character, which you can look up for yourself. For art, I award a special ranking for any art by my two favorite artists – the two freelance digital artists Sciamano and Dandonfuga. For cosplay, I award a special ranking for any cosplay by my holy trinity of models – my favorite model Yummychiyo with her insane figure in top spot, followed by Hane Ame and Helly Valentine.

As for the iconic feature image for this top ten, how could I resist more of the game’s promotional art of Race Queen skins?

 

S-TIER (GODDESS TIER)

 

 

(1) ATAGO –
SAKURA EMPIRE: CRUISER
(RACE QUEEN)

 

“Oh my, what a cute commander~ I’m Atago. I might just take good care of you…”

And my top girl of Azur Lane is of course Atago, particularly in her Race Queen style. She also wins her own entry in third top spot in my Top 10 Girls of Video Games,

As usual, Azur Lane came to my attention through cosplay – particularly cosplay of Atago, ship cat-girl for the Imperial Japanese Navy heavy cruiser of the same name. Or more precisely, ship dog-girl, as she sports dog ears (as all the Japanese ship girls have animal ears or tails). Similarly to Kantai Collection, embodying a big ship, she has some, well, big guns – along with her sisters in the Takao heavy cruiser class. While her original appearance features her in white naval-style uniform, she has a number of racier ‘skins’ or appearance – we all know we’re here for Racing Queen (or RQ) Atago, in which she barely fits in a black and white racing flag-style bikini outfit. O my goddess!

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

I’ve already listed my top Atago art and cosplay in her Top 10 Girls of Video Games entry. Of course, her Race Queen skin overwhelmingly predominated those so I went with the game promotional art for her standard design or skin here. Speaking of skins, I’ve compiled my Top 10 Atago skins (and yes I had to cheat a little to add a few unofficial designs that recur in art or cosplay).

 

A-TIER (TOP-TIER)

 

 

(2) ST LOUIS –
EAGLE UNION: CRUISER

 

“Hello, I’m St Louis. People used to call me Lucky Lou. Don’t you think this is your lucky day, finding me like this Commander?”

 

USA! USA! USA!

 

Of course, if it was more closely modelled on history, an Eagle Union or American ship-girl should be in top spot (as representing the best navy)…but I suppose second top spot will have to do.

 

Again, based on her historical counterpart, I wouldn’t have expected this light cruiser to be the top American ship-girl but there you have it. The blue hair and proliferation of skin designs might have something to do with it, but most of all it’s the plethora of art and cosplay that predictably came in the wake of her Luxurious Wheels skin – which combined the sensuous appeal of the Race Queen designs for other ship girls with the luxuriousness of evening cocktail wear. The end result is a shimmery silvery dress barely hanging on to her incredibly buxom figure and long legs – combined in the original art with her reclining in the titular luxurious wheels of a McLaren P1. Hence I regard this skin as something of a de facto Race Queen skin, although she has no official Race Queen skin. (Unofficially, there’s been adaptations of her skins as Race Queen designs in cosplay).

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

What else could it be? Of course my feature image is the promotional game art for her Luxurious Wheels or party skin, particularly given how I featured it as her top skin.

 

ART – SCIAMANO

 

“Wait – it’s all Stunning Wheels art?”

“Always has been.”

 

Sadly, Dandonfuga is conspicuously absent when it comes to Azur Lane art, but Sciamano absolutely rocks St Louis in her Stunning Wheels design. As for my other favorite St Louis art, there’s Kikol Draws and Wickellia – and yes, they’re both in her Stunning Wheels design

 

COSPLAY – YUMMYCHIYO & HANE

 

Yes – St Louis scores both my Yummychiyo and Hane rankings for their cosplay of her. Indeed, it would be in my top ten Hane Ame cosplays, particularly as Hane Ame has done cosplay of almost every St Louis game skin – and a few more of her own design to boot. And yes – I have my Top 10 St Louis skins (but had to cheat a little to add a few unofficial designs from Hane Ame or other art and cosplay).

 

My other top St Louis cosplay models include Azami and Biya.

 

 

(3) PRINZ EUGEN –
IRONBLOOD: CRUISER
(RACE QUEEN)

 

“Mmm… Are you the Commander? I wonder how long you’re going to amuse me. I’m expecting something from you”

Everyone’s favorite Ironblood girl – that faction standing in for the German navy or Kriegsmarine – and arguably the most iconic, Prinz Eugen is of course based on an actual historical ship, a German heavy cruiser of the Admiral Hipper class during the Second World War and indeed one that survived the war (and even survived being used in atomic testing by the Americans, who essentially acquired the ship at the end of the war). Arguably the flagship girl of Ironblood as well as its fanservice girl, she’s another statuesque white-haired pretty girl in fetishistic uniform and with some big…guns – and a barely-there bikini in her summer outfit, skimpier even than her Race Queen design. Also, she’s quite fond of alcohol, so how can I resist?

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

I’m as surprised as you are – one of the few Azur Lane Girls to have a Race Queen skin, yet it is eclipsed by one of her other skins. But what a skin! It’s her summer or Unfading Smile skin, with a microkini that outdoes even her Race Queen outfit. In fairness, that’s partly because it came first – but also because of its popularity in art and cosplay as her most iconic skin.

 

ART – SCIAMANO

 

Prinz Eugen scores my Sciamano ranking with art of her in both her Unfaded Smile skin but also her standard design.

As for other Prinz Eugen art, there’s Kittew.

 

COSPLAY – YUMMYCHIYO & HANE

 

Yes – Prinz Eugen scores both my Yummychiyo and Hane rankings for their cosplay of her, the latter for cosplay by Hane Ame featuring a number of skins. And again speaking of skins, I have my Top 10 Prinz Eugen Skins (with all but my tenth place entry from her official skins).

 

 

 

(4) TAIHOU –
SAKURA EMPIRE: CARRIER
(RACE QUEEN)

 

“My body is burning and my heart is throbbing… at last, I get to meet you, Commander! I may not be much, but I hope I’ll be of service to you”

With that tagline, how could I resist? She’s even in her own ship class – the Taihou carrier class of the Imperial Japanese navy. Sorry – Sakura Empire in-game. Red-eyed black-haired aircraft carrier ship-girl Taihou has rocketed to second top spot of my girls of Azur Lane. And for two reasons. No – not those two reasons, although Taihou has the usual big guns of the Japanese heavy cruisers (hello Atago!) and carriers, but for two of her character ‘skins’ that recently came to my attention. She’s impressive enough in her original ‘skin’ – an adaptation of Japanese-style costume with a phoenix motif. (No cat or animal ears here). However, her red cocktail dress ‘skin’ boosts her higher – but even more so, we know we’re here for her “Enraptured Companion” Race Queen ‘skin’, as I am for all Race Queen skins.

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

What else? As usual for girls with Race Queen skins (except Prinz Eugen), my iconic feature image is the promotional game art for her Enraptured Companion or Race Queen skin – which is also the overwhelming majority of her art and cosplay. Speaking of which…

 

Sadly, no art from my favorite artists Sciamano or Dandonfuga. Or indeed any of my favorite artists – where’s the Taihou love?!

 

COSPLAY – YUMMYCHIYO & HANE

 

Where Taihou comes into her own is in cosplay, scoring my Yummychiyo ranking for cosplay of her Race Queen skin and my Hane Ame ranking for cosplay of her other skins – sadly, Hane Ame doesn’t seem to have done cosplay of her Race Queen skin, which would have rocked. Speaking of skins, there’s my Top 10 Taihou skins (with only a few ‘cheat’ entries).

 

 

 

(5) ENTERPRISE –
EAGLE UNION: CARRIER
(RACE QUEEN)

 

“Enterprise…has arrived. I neither sympathize with nor hold back on my enemies, and always use my full strength. That is my way.”

USA! USA! USA!

Finally, the best navy of the Second World War – the US navy – got its Race Queen, and not just for any ship-girl but one for the best carriers and most decorated ship during World War 2, with her Race Queen skin styled as her “Wind Catcher” skin. Like Prinz Eugen (whom she resembles as white-haired pretty girl), Enterprise has become something of a flagship girl for her Eagle Union faction – and an icon for the game itself.

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

As usual, the Race Queen skin wins when it comes to iconic feature image.

 

ART – SCIAMANO

 

And her Race Queen skin also scores my Sciamano ranking with art of her in a couple of versions.

 

COSPLAY – YUMMYCHIYO

 

Her Race Queen skin also scores my Yummychiyo ranking for some knockout cosplay. And again speaking of skins, here’s my Top 10 Enterprise Skins – she actually had ten official skins.

 

 

(6) BELFAST –

ROYAL NAVY: CRUISER

 

“Are you my master? Pleasure to meet you. I am Belfast the maid. From now on, I dedicate myself to you.”

It’s another white-haired pretty ship-girl from Azur Lane (after Prinz Eugen and Enterprise) – this time from the Royal Navy, indeed my top Royal Navy ship-girl as reflecting her apparent popularity within the game and status as head maid. It’s also due to her proliferation of game ‘skins’ and cosplay for them. Not bad for a light cruiser – normally it’s the bigger capital ships that bring the, ah, big guns to the game. Interestingly her historical namesake – like other cruisers of its class named for towns in the United Kingdom – still survives as an Imperial War Museum ship, permanently moored in the Thames.

The Royal Navy seems to have a thing for buxom white-haired pretty girls in maid costumes – Royal Maids in-game – and Belfast is no exception in her default ‘skin’. However, Belfast rocks a number of other ‘skins’ – foremost among them her casual shopping ‘skin’ (apparently dubbed her Pocky or Shopping with the Head Maid skin) which brought her to my attention and hence my featured image for her top ten entry.

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

What else? Of course my iconic feature image is her ‘Pocky’ or Shopping with the Head Maid skin.

 

ART – SCIAMANO

 

That’s right – she scores my Sciamano ranking for Sciamano’s art of her in her Shopping with the Head Maid skin.

 

COSPLAY – HANE

 

And yes – she also scores my Hane ranking for Hane Ame’s cosplay of her in a number of skins. You know the drill – here’s my Top 10 Belfast Skins

 

B-TIER (HIGH TIER)

 

 

 

 

 

(7) OWARI:
SAKURA EMPIRE – BATTLESHIP

 

“I’m Owari, and you must be the boss o’ this here fleet… Nah, you’re obviously the Commander! Ahahahah! Nice meetin’ you!”

Owari is one of the newest girls on the dock to make big waves in art and cosplay, particularly with a costume release for Halloween 2024. Of course, it helps that like all the girls for big ships, she brings the big guns, not surprisingly given the signature voluptuous art style of Dishwasher1910 as her artist.

Azur Lane has long mostly used up the actual historical ships of World War Two, so it’s resorted to planned ships – in this case, the Kii class of four battleships that Japan planned but then suspended construction for after the Washington Naval Treaty in 1922. Only two of the ships had names – but one of those was Owari, named for a province in Japan.

Otherwise, she has the classic traits of a Gyaru girl – “tanned, blonde hair, busty, revealing outfits, flirty personality, and kind of dim” – and her animal motif is a sheep (which explains her horns like a ram?).

 

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

Owari was launched into my top ten as the subject of prolific recent art and cosplay – despite being one of the newest girls in the Lane with only two game skins.

As for which skin to choose for her iconic feature image, I went with her default uniform skin, but it was a close call with her Shimmering Forsythia skin – and her 2024 Halloween costum release, My Wish is for Love, both of  which I also feature here.

 

 

COSPLAY – YUMMYCHIYO & HANE

 

Sciamano would rock Owari art but sadly has done no art of her. She does score a Hane ranking – the standout for Owari cosplay in both her skins.

 

 

 

 

(8) AGIR –
IRONBLOOD: CRUISER

 

“I am Ägir, named after the very same mythological ruler of the sea. Though, compared to a god who smote adversaries with storms and crashing waves, my way of dealing with my enemies is much more subdued. Ahahaha.”

Another Crimson Axis Ironblood ship-girl in the usual style of Ironblood ship-girls – a white-haired pretty girl with big guns. And…horns!

She’s also entirely fictional – in that her historical kriegsmarine counterpart was little more than a planned supercruiser design as opposed to a ship in actual service or even construction.

 

 

 

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

Agir was launched into my top ten as the subject of prolific recent art and cosplay – quite impressive as one of the newer girls in the Lane with only three game skins.

As for which skin to choose for her iconic feature image, I went with her default uniform skin, but it was a close call with her Golden Dragon Among Auspicious Clouds skin – which I also feature here. (Her third skin is her maid skin, Iron Blood’s Dragon Maid).

 

ART – SCIAMANO

 

Agir scores a Sciamano ranking – Sciamano’s art of her in her default skin is what pushed that skin into top spot for iconic feature image

 

COSPLAY – YUMMYCHIYO & HANE

 

And she scores a Yummychiyo and Hane ranking – the former for Yummychiyo’s cosplay of her Golden Dragon skin, the latter for both her standout skins. My other top Agir cosplay (in her Golden Dragon skin) includes By0ru and Natsume.

 

 

 

 

 

(9) IMPLACABLE –

ROYAL NAVY: CARRIER

 

“A most blessed meeting, Commander. I am Implacable, Royal Navy armoured carrier. There’s no need to be in such a hurry to tell me about yourself. Your past, your future; your mind, and your body – heehee, shall all be revealed to me in due time. So, let’s get to know each other, slowly but surely, little by little.”

Hello, sister!

What can I say? I have a soft spot for naughty nuns. Yes – they’re a thing, at least as a surprisingly subject of art and cosplay, perhaps even enough for a top ten of their own.

And for naughty nuns, there’s none (heh) more so than Implacable. She’s also horny – literally sporting horns under (or perhaps part of) her habit.

As for her historical namesake, she’s actually the third of the name.

The first Implacable was originally a French ship captured and recommissioned by the British during the Napoleonic Wars. The second Implacable was a battleship in the First World War. The third Implacable was the lead ship of her class of aircraft carriers in the Second World War, launched in 1942 – and Azur’s Lane brings the big guns to her flight deck. Like Owari and Agir in seventh and eighth place, she jumped straight into ninth place with her recent launch in the game.

 

 

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

Looks like I’m not the only one who likes naughty nuns, as she exploded on to the scene with cosplay from my favorite models.

She only has two skins but there could only be one…the nun skin that is her default skin. Although if it wasn’t for the nun thing, her other skin Shepherd of the Lost – basically a pinup “school” outfit – might well have been her iconic skin.

 

COSPLAY – YUMMYCHIYO & HANE

 

Sadly no art, at least from my favorite artists, but she’s racked up an impressive array of cosplay – scoring Yummychiyo and Hane rankings for their cosplay of her, as well as some outstanding cosplay by By0ru.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10) SHINANO –
SAKURA EMPIRE: CARRIER
(RACE QUEEN)

 

“This sensation… is that of reality… Was it you who awoke this one from her long slumber? Such is the inevitability of fate… Please allow Shinano, third ship of the Yamato-class, to guide you forward upon the right path”.

As one of the newer additions to Azur Lane’s Race Queens (in her Moonlit Chrome skin), Shinano automatically ranks at least special mention in my Girls of Azur Lane – but she’s shot up to my Top 10 Girls of Azur Lane with the recent release of a sizzling new swimsuit skin.

Her historical counterpart is quite interesting in its own sake. Originally laid down as the third of Japan’s Yamato-class battleships, her partially completed hull was converted to an aircraft carrier after Japan’s defeat and loss of carriers at Midway – but was sunk when torpedoed by a submarine ten days after being commissioned (to which serious design flaws contributed), on a supply mission before a proper outfitting was completed. In-game, she’s a fully converted and fully completed carrier. She’s also a fox-girl or kitsune.

 

 

ART & COSPLAY

 

Once again, the Race Queen skin wins iconic feature image – with the exception of Prinz Eugen, the Race Queen skin always wins. Although it was a close run thing with her swimsuit Dreamy White Sands skin.

 

 

COSPLAY – YUMMYCHIYO & HANE

 

No art from my favorite artists but Shinano scores Yummychiyo and Hane rankings for their cosplay of her in various skins.

 

RATING: 4 STARS****
B-TIER (HIGH TIER)

 

 

So counting down my Top 10 Girls of Azur Lane

 

S-TIER (GODDESS TIER)

*

(1) ATAGO –

SAKURA EMPIRE: CARRIER

(RACE QUEEN)

 

A-TIER (TOP TIER)

 

(2) ST LOUIS –

EAGLE UNION: CRUISER

(3) PRINZ EUGEN –

IRONBLOOD: CRUISER

(RACE QUEEN)

(4) TAIHOU –

SAKURA EMPIRE: CARRIER

(RACE QUEEN)

(5) ENTERPRISE –

EAGLE UNION: CARRIER

(RACE QUEEN)

(6) BELFAST –

ROYAL NAVY: CRUISER

 

B-TIER (HIGH TIER)

*

(7) OWARI –

SAKURA EMPIRE: BATTLESHIP

(8) AGIR –

IRONBLOOD: CRUISER

(9) IMPLACABLE –

ROYAL NAVY: CARRIER

(10) SHINANO –

SAKURA EMPIRE: CARRIER

(RACE QUEEN)

 

And yes – it’s a video game with ship-girls based on actual (or planned) WW2 ships

And because I’m obsessive about keeping track of such things:

The Crimson Axis dominate the top ten – with the Sakura Empire (Japan) with four entries and Ironblood (Germany) with two entries.

Eagle Union (USA) has two entries, while the Royal Navy (Britain) has two entries.

As for types of ship, carriers are half of the top ten with five entries – while there are four entries for cruisers and one entry for battleships.

Finally, half of the top ten – Atago, Prinz Eugen, Taihou, Enterprise and Shinano – have Race Queen skins, although personally I think St Louis’ Luxurious Wheels skin should also count.