looking for Utena-like anime and investigation anime with female character

[libba]

1) I loved the concept of duels with the modern (more or less) background, and the girl as the main character. So that's what I'd like to find. No historical settings (as in the 18th century or smth like that), but futuristic ones would do.

I'd also appreciate suggestions of some tournament anime, but with the girl in the center of events. (Say, Katekyo Hitman Reborn is pretty much one long tournament with pauses for comedy, but there are very few female characters, and pretty much none of them takes part in action).

2) A mystery or a thriller, with the female investigator. Fantastic or horror or fantasy elements are very welcome. Preferably completed.

Thanks in advance.

[Deus ex Digital Boy]

closest series to utena are Princess Tutu and Ouran High School Host Club, especially the latter, both highly recommended.

[james0246]

Female Driven Detective Series:

Dennou Coil
Ghost Hunt
Ergo Proxy
Angel Heart
Shion no Ou

[SeijiSensei]

Tournament anime with female leads? The best choice is probably Shion no Ou, if you're willing to accept a show about board-game tournaments. Shion is a young girl who aspires to be a professional Shougi ("Japanese chess") champion. There's a murder mystery as well.

Angelic Layer is a CLAMP story where middle-school kids, mostly girls, compete in arena battles using dolls controlled by their minds.

Seconds for James's picks, and I'd add Nijuu Mensou no Musume to the list for detective shows.

Edit: He grabbed Shion, too!

[Cynor]

You may want to check out Read or Die The TV. Three of the main female chars run a detective agency and take on some jobs based on that... there really isn't that much investigating to it though iirc, but it is a modern setting* so could work.

*well, there are maybe 3 or 4 episodes that take place in a pastish setting, and those also have some of the more investigative episodes iirc.

[Last Sinner]

The Read or Die OVA is way better than the series. The Paper and Miss Deep get a full run in the OVA. The series doesn't focus on them at all and meanders.

[Frans]

Yakushiji Ryoko No Kaiki Jikenbo. It's about a female investigator (Ryoko) solving bizarre cases.
Another mystery/thriller would be Ghost in The Shell series. Very nice futuristic action/sci-fi/mystery/thriller...
For duel, if you just want fighting anime with girl as the main protagonist, then something like Ikkitousen and Sekirei is nice... although for some it's too much fan services .
Mai series (Hime and Otome) also about girls fighting each other. All of this are 'duel' animes, but not in a tournament format.

And I second or third all the previous suggestion... (yes, I have watched them all..) although I think Ouran maybe pushing it a bit.

[Shadow Kira01]

These are all completed animes. Personally, I prefer 13 episodes anime and 26 episodes are also fine, but I also included 2 long ones.

Taiho Shichau zo (51 episodes)
Blood+ (50 episodes)

Claymore (26 episodes)
Ghost in the Shell (26 episodes)
Madlax (26 episodes)
Noir (26 episodes)
Taiho Shichau zo (26 episodes)
Witch Hunter Robin (26 episodes)
Shakugan no Shana (24 episodes)
Taiho Shichau zo: Full Throttle (23 episodes)
Taiho Shichau zo Special (21 episodes)

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (14 episodes)
Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo (13 episodes)

[BetoJR]

Female? Investigation? Fantasy? Horror? What, no Mnemosyne recommendation?

[Cynor]

Originally Posted by BetoJR

Female? Investigation? Fantasy? Horror? What, no Mnemosyne recommendation?

Mnemosyne is a good series for sure, and probably would fit the OP's request. I'm kind of surprised I didn't think of that personally... I just finished watching it like 5 days ago...

[Last Sinner]

Burst Angel fits the bill. 4 fiesty females do investigations and covert ops against corrupt police and dodgy corporations.

[BetoJR]

They do investigations? Sheesh, I didn't remember that... maybe it's time to watch it again?