what is bishounen anime

by Ciara Morar V 4 min read
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Bishōnen (美少年) (IPA: [biɕoꜜːneɴ] ( listen); also transliterated bishounen) is a Japanese term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in East Asia: a young man of androgynous beauty.

What is a bishounen?

Bishounen (also known as bishie) is a combination of the terms bi (beauty) and shounen (boy), literally translating to beautiful boy. These "beautiful boys" are famous for their feminine aspects and grace, and have found their place in Japanese pop culture as boy bands, glamorous rock stars, and model-like actors.

Why do girls like bishounen anime?

And where there are boys, there is romance. Bishounen anime are some of the sweetest love stories in this medium, filled with eye candy that come in all shapes and sizes, able to satisfy just about any girl's taste buds. All statistics are taken on the date of publication.

What is a bishōnen in anime?

Some non-Japanese, especially American, anime and manga fans use the term to refer to any handsome male character regardless of age, or any homosexual character. In the original Japanese, however, bishōnen applies only to boys under 18. For those older, the word bidanshi (美男子, literally "handsome man") is used.

What are some examples of bishounen characters?

Some examples of series with bishounen characters are Fushigi Yuugi, Saint Seiya, Saiyuki, The Prince of Tennis, Vampire Knight, and Uta no Prince-sama. Bishounen (美少年) comprises of two kanji: 美人 ( bijin) or beautiful person, and 少年 ( shounen) or young man.

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Who are bishounen based on?

Although the depictions of Bishounen have been around since the Tang Dynasty (618 A.D) it might have been the image of Bjorn that really contributed to the bishounen image of boys.

What's the difference between ikemen and bishounen?

Cleanliness is also a main key point of ikemen. Ikemen, however, should not be mistaken with bishounen. “Bishounen” refers to pretty men, while ikemen are more masculine and good looking (although they may still be seen as feminine in the West).

Who is the most handsome anime?

Bishounen: The Most Handsome Male Anime/Manga Characters EverKuchiki Byakuya ("Bleach") ... Azuma Yunoki ("La Corda d'Oro") ... Mabuchi Kou ("Ao Haru Ride") ... Satsuki Shishio ("Hirunaka no Ryuusei") ... Kazehaya Shouta ("Kimi ni Todoke") ... Mashima Taichi ("Chihayafuru") ... Kuranosuke Koibuchi ("Kuragehime"/"Princess Jellyfish")More items...•

What do you call a male in anime?

~kun (〜君・〜くん) A term of respect that is most commonly used to address young males. If you watch school anime then you may have noticed boys being referred to as ~kun. It isn't necessarily only used for boys though and is often used by superiors to address their subordinates, both male and female. 「ReLIFE」アニメ公式

Can girls be ikemen?

The Female counterpart of the Ikemen There are actually no terminologies or subcultures that could be pinpointed to the female counterparts of Ikemen. But the nearest would be Bijin, or pretty women.

What is a Bishi boy?

Bishi or Bi Shi may refer to: Bishōnen, a modern aesthetic ideal of Asian origin or a beautiful young boy.

Who is the prettiest anime girl?

Bishoujo: The Most Beautiful Female Anime Characters EverAsuna Yuuki: Sword Art Online. ... Kaga Kouko: Golden Time. ... Inoue Orihime: Bleach. ... Chitoge Kirisaki: Nisekoi. ... Inori Yuzuriha: Guilty Crown. ... Kuronuma Sawako: Kimi ni Todoke. ... Boa Hancock: One Piece. ... Hinata Hyuga: Naruto/Naruto Shippuden.More items...•

Who is the coolest anime boy?

Top 55 Best Anime Male CharactersEdward Elric. Edward Elric is a blond-haired alchemist and older brother in the fan-favorite series Fullmetal Alchemist. ... Levi Ackerman. Levi Ackerman is a sophisticated character in Attack on Titan. ... Naruto Uzumaki. ... Light Yagami. ... Killua Zoldyck. ... Takumi Usui. ... Victor Nikiforov. ... Zero Kiryu.More items...•

Who is the fastest anime character?

He is often not in complete control of his body movements when using Godspeed. It is still quite effective during combat. Killua can move at speeds of over 550 mph, which is much higher than the speed of sound. He is also the fastest character in the anime.

What does Ara Ara mean in anime?

Oh me, oh myAra ara (あら あら) is a Japanese expression that is mainly used by older females and means “My my”, “Oh dear”, or “Oh me, oh my”.

What do anime girls call?

shoujo“Shounen” means “boys” and “shoujo” means “girls.” These terms are often used to differentiate between intended audiences.

What is the coolest anime name?

Here are our best-loved anime girl names.Akane. “ Deep red”Asuka. From the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, Asuka Langley Soryu is a powerhouse. ... Aya. ... Chiyoko. ... Chouko. ... Hana. ... Hikari. “ ... Hinata.More items...

What is a bishounen?

Bishounen (also known as bishie) is a combination of the terms bi (beauty) and shounen (boy), literally translating to beautiful boy. These "beautiful boys" are famous for their feminine aspects and grace, and have found their place in Japanese pop culture as boy bands, glamorous rock stars, and model-like actors.

What's a bishounen anime list without Ouran Koukou Host Club?

What's a bishounen anime list without Ouran Koukou Host Club? It's about a common girl who went for an elite academy with the help of a scholarship. Incidentally, she ends up joining an eccentric all-male host club by breaking a vase.

What is Bakumatsu Rock?

Rock and roll! Bakumatsu Rock is a musical anime where the characters are rebellious and edgy! They also lose their tops every once in a while so better watch out for that.

What anime should I watch if I like Aristocrats and Butlers?

If you like aristocrats and butlers in suave tuxedos, you should watch this anime! It has an amazing story line and a great musical score too. This anime will hook you to watching every episode of all seasons!

Is the anime "The Great Gatsby" entertaining?

Though every episode is short, this anime is really entertaining! The story is all about exaggerated country stereotypes put into motion by the charming main characters. Reward yourself with these adorable guys while learning something about their nations.

Is Bishounen a romance?

And where there are boys, there is romance. Bishounen anime are some of the sweetest love stories in this medium, filled with eye candy that come in all shapes and sizes, able to satisfy just about any girl's taste buds. All statistics are taken on the date of publication.

What is a bishounen?

Bishounen is a Japanese word referring to a young man possessing androgynous beauty. Unlike the Western ideal of masculinity, bishounen is more feminine, youthful, and angelic. A bishounen can either assume or reject gender roles. He can be assigned as the main protagonist, supporting character, rival, or antagonist.

What does "bishounen" mean in Japanese?

The original Japanese meaning of bishounen was “beautiful child” for both genders. There are also words associated with bishounen, except each of them are categorized by age: 美正太 ( bishouta) or beautiful pre-pubescent boy, 美青年 ( biseinen) or beautiful man, and 美中年 ( bichuunen) or beautiful middle-aged man.

Why did the Bishounen women in Kabuki get called Oyama?

This was done to prevent prostitution and quarrels for the actresses’ affection.

When did Bishounen exist?

According to Web Kanbun Taikei (Web漢文大系) or Web Chinese Literature, bishounen existed during the Tang Dynasty around 618 A.D. The poem (飮中八仙歌) Inchuuhassenka or Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup by Du Fu included bishounen in one of its lines (宗之瀟灑美少年) or roughly translated as “Zong Zhi is a dashing and beautiful young man.”#N#One of the earliest Japanese literary genres about bishounen was Chigo Monogatari (稚児物語) or Tales of Acolyte Children during the Muromachi Period around 1336. Those proses depicted a pederastic romance between a Buddhist monk and his youthful attendant. Chigo monogatari would either depict erotica or incite enlightenment under the guidance of Buddhism. Some of the occurring themes of Chigo Monogatari were tragic endings and forever youthful lads.

Why was the word "wakashuu" replaced with "shounen"?

During the Meiji Period in 1867, the word wakashuu was replaced with shounen due to its perverse connotation. There were also non-Japanese influences that could have affected the bishounen aesthetics.

What is the Manga Planet?

and FANTASISTA, INC. to research and explore the ways manga is read throughout the world. Aiming to bring new manga to fans from all over the world and support artists and the industry, Manga Planet pushes for affordability and access to manga through a subscription-based service.

What are some examples of bishounen?

Some examples of series with bishounen characters are Fushigi Yuugi, Saint Seiya, Saiyuki, The Prince of Tennis, Vampire Knight, and Uta no Prince-sama.

What is a bishounen?

bishounen. One of the 3 stages of male beauty most men will never achieve , esp. if they're 3 dimensional & non-asian. Bishounen (commonly mispelled as bishonen ); A boy around 14-19 who has femanine qualities & youthfullness that enhance his physical appearence.

What does "bishounen" mean?

bishounen. Literally means "pretty boy," as in an attractive member of the male gender. Also spelled " bishonen ," and sometimes shortened to "bish" and " bishie / bishy .". It is a Japanese word, adopted by female anime fans in the rest of the world to denote any male anime, manga, or video game character they happen to find good looking.

How to tell Vincent is a Bishounen?

As an adjective, the word means "having or displaying the traits of a bishounen.". "You can tell Vincent is a bishounen because he's thin, he has long hair, and he's really angsty .". Get the bishounen neck gaiter and mug.

What age should I use Bishounen?

Strictly speaking, " bishounen " should only refer to boys under age 20, since a " pretty man " would be " biseinen .". However, most people prefer to use bishounen for men and boys of all ages, as it is so widely used. Opinions on which males are bishounen and which are not vary according to personal tastes.

What is a charater in anime?

A hot anime/ manga guy that catches the eyes of the female readers or watches. But is mistaked to much by parents & non-anime/manga people to be female charaters. Usually the charater is either a sad one or has a hidden past which draws people to them. Also known as a charater they the watches or reader will never forget.

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What is a bishunen?

A popular Asian character type, the bishōnen, or "beautiful boy", is a male character that possesses androgynous or "feminine" physical traits. He is usually tall, slender with almost no fat and little to no muscle, and no body or facial hair. Large, expressive eyes are almost a given, though Tsurime Eyes are also common in more serious examples.

Who wore kimonos in Germany?

Germany noticed this, even more, when they both wore kimonos. Sengoku Basara. In misakiyu 's illustrations of SilfofinaDragon 's Sengoku Basara fanfics, Date Masamune and Sanada Yukimura 's son Masa resembles his mother with his father's hair color, and is shown to be quite attractive.

Who is Gohatto Szaburu?

Gohatto: Sōzaburō is a new recruit who joins The Shinsengumi in the 1860s. He is a Bishōnen straight from central casting: young, slender, smooth of chin, and very pretty, androgynously pretty, with long hair that falls over his brow. He's also an Uke.

Is Taichi ugly in Cross Channel?

Taichi in CROSS†CHANNEL has a rather androgynous but attractive appearance. He, on the other hand, is convinced he is horribly ugly for reasons that are never really revealed. Dev and Dominic from the Death Room. Evie flirts with Dev, while Dominic is very, very self-aware of his good looks.

Is White Phoenix prettier in Qin's Moon?

White Phoenix from Qin's Moon, does not help that he gets prettier each season due to Art Evolution. It was even lampshaded during a mini-documentary. Zhang Liang and younger Wei Zhuang qualify as well.

Do bishunen have female voices?

In anime, many bishōnen have female voice actors, although those that don't will instead get startlingly deep, sexy voices. It is not uncommon for those at the more feminine end to be mistaken for women by other characters, or for savvier examples of the type to take advantage of such an assumption.

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Overview

Bishōnen (美少年) (IPA: [biɕoꜜːneɴ] (listen); also transliterated bishounen) is a Japanese term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in East Asia: a young man of androgynous beauty. This word originated from the Tang dynasty poem Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup by Du Fu. It has always shown the strongest manife…

Origin

The prefix bi (美) more often than not refers to feminine beauty, and bijin, literally "beautiful person", is usually, though not always, used to refer to beautiful women. Bichūnen (美中年) means "beautiful middle-aged man". Biseinen is to be distinguished from bishōnen as seinen (青年) is used to describe men who are of age, including those who have entered or completed tertiary education. The …

Usage

Some non-Japanese, especially American, anime and manga fans use the term to refer to any handsome male character regardless of age, or any homosexual character. In the original Japanese, however, bishōnen applies only to boys under 18. For those older, the word bidanshi (美男子, literally "handsome man") is used. In the place of bishōnen, some fans prefer to use the slightly more sexually neutral bijin (美人) or the Anglicized slang term "bishie" (also spelled "bishi…

Popular culture

The enduring preference for bishōnen males can clearly be seen in Japan and throughout parts of East Asia to this day.
In particular, Japan's largest male talent agency, Johnny & Associates Entertainment Company, specializes only in producing male Tarento idols. Accepted into Johnny & Associates in their early teens, these boys, collectively known as 'Johnnys', are trained and promoted to become the next …

Art

Besides being a character type, bishōnen is also a distinct art style not usually forgotten in books about drawing manga. In art, bishōnen are usually drawn delicately, with long limbs, silky or flowing hair, and slender eyes with long eyelashes that can sometimes extend beyond the face. The character's "sex appeal" is highlighted through introducing the character by using an "eroticized…

Bishōnen and bishōjo

Bishōjo ('beautiful girl') is often mistakenly considered a parallel of bishōnen, because of the similar construction of the terms. There are major differences between the two aesthetics. The bishōjo aesthetic is aimed at a male audience, and is typically centered on young girls, drawn in a cute, pretty style; bishōnen is aimed at a female audience, centered on teenage boys, and drawn elegantly. Another common mistake is assuming that the female characters in bishōnen manga …

Critical attention

Several cultural anthropologists and authors have raised the multifaceted aspect of what bishōnen represents and what it is interpreted as, mostly to fit a particular external viewpoint. Ian Buruma noted that although Western comics for girls also included "impossibly beautiful men" who are clearly masculine and always get the girl in the end, the bishōnen are "more ambivalent" and sometimes get each other.

See also

• Shōnen
• Bijinga
• Bishōjo
• Dandy
• Himbo