what is shojo anime

by Dr. Delia Reichert 9 min read
image

What is Shoujo

Shōjo

Shōjo, shojo or shoujo is a Japanese word for "girl". The word is derived from a Chinese expression written with the same characters. The Chinese characters literally mean little and woman respectively. In Japanese, these kanji refer specifically to a young woman approximately 7–18 years old.

Anime? Shoujo literally stands for "girl" or "young woman" in Japanese. Therefore it is easy to guess that it is aimed at the readership that mostly consists of teenage girls and young women.

Full Answer

What is the best shojo anime?

The 15 Best Shoujo Anime Of The Decade, According To IMDb

  1. Bloom into You. Yuu has always loved shoujo mangas and has been waiting for her whole life for someone to confess their love to her.
  2. Kaichou wa Maid-sama! The school just went co-ed and the first female president is Misaki Ayuzawa, and she feels she's got to prove herself.
  3. Angel Beats! ...
  4. Your Lie in April. ...
  5. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. ...

More items...

What is the difference between Shoujo and shounen anime?

shoujo is targeted to young girls and shonen is targeted to young boys but the difference is that shonen anime girls are busty,yandere or a Tsundere but in shoujo the girls aren't busty and prettier than shonen anime girls and some of them are Tsunderes like in shounen.shoujo anime boys are hotter than shounen anime boys.

What are some good, fantasy Shoujo animes?

  • PEACH GIRL!!!! its my all time favorite shoujo anime thats extremely underrated. ...
  • His and Her circumstances
  • Ceres Celestial Legend
  • Boys over Flowers (its a classic shoujo anime, that technically isn't underrated in the shoujo genre overall, but is forgotten by people nowadays)
  • Nana
  • After the Rain
  • Natsuyuki Rendezvous
  • Orange Road

Is shoujo anime underrated?

Westerners, I think, prefer it if the relationship buildup is fast. The concept of young love (as in shoujo anime) isn’t really a big thing in America because the younger generations like to mimic the older ones even when it comes to romantic relations. And so that’s probably why shoujo anime is underrated in America.

image

What kind of anime is shoujo?

Shoujo is the opposite of shonen, translated in English as young girl. Shoujo focuses more on the interpersonal relationship and romance in the story rather than the fighting and action. The series tend to be more dramatic, but also still include the adventure, comedy and action that are prevalent in shonen.

Is shoujo a romance?

It's sometimes assumed that shoujo refers to romance anime, due to its most popular series featuring romance as a key element. However, shoujo simply refers to the target demographic and can encapsulate all genres, not just romance.

What's the difference between shounen and shoujo?

Shoujo and shonen are both Japanese terms commonly used as categories for entertainment media. Shoujo refers to young girls, often “magical girls” like Sailor Moon, and shonen respectively means young boys from about 12-18 years old. Many of the most popular anime in the world fall into either of these two categories.

Are shoujo anime for girls?

In the world of anime that can feel like a boy's club, shoujo is targeted towards females. Here are the highest-rated ones, according to MyAnimeList. The world of anime often feels like it's directed primarily at the male portion of the fandom.

Is Fruits Basket a shoujo?

Fruits Basket is one example of a popular shojo anime. It originally debuted in the early 2000s as an anime, but it received a full remake in 2019.

Why is shoujo not popular?

While there are a good deal of shojo anime that aren't just about magical girls or high school romances, there are very few of them. This lack of variety is what prevents the genre from further expanding its audience. Anime with romance as its focal point also do not have the luxury of time on its side.

Is AOT shonen or seinen?

Attack on Titan進撃の巨人 (Shingeki no Kyojin)Published byKodanshaEnglish publisherKodansha USAImprintShōnen Magazine ComicsMagazineBessatsu Shōnen Magazine14 more rows

Is demon slayer a shonen?

Demon Slayer is one of the most popular shonen anime in the world. Ever since the anime's first season aired, avid anime watchers have flocked to it like bees to a honeypot. The anime's story is very interesting, which is enough to keep the watchers on the edge of their seats.

Is Haikyuu shonen or shojo?

Haikyu!!ハイキュー!!English publisherViz MediaImprintJump ComicsMagazineWeekly Shōnen JumpDemographicShōnen60 more rows

Is death note a shonen?

Death Note is a shounen series because it was made to target middle school aged boys.

Is Violet Evergarden a shoujo?

I took a flyer on Violet Evergarden (streaming on Netflix) as it is not the typical genre of anime I watch. Usually I go for the shoujo romances, slice of life, josei, and other fairly realistic fare.

Is Sailor Moon a shoujo?

Sailor Moon is what's called a shoujo anime, which means that it's Japanese animation expressly designed for young girls: candy-colored, giggly, and studded with excitingly mounted action set pieces.

What does Shoujo mean?

The Japanese Word Shoujo. The Japanese word shoujo is spelled 少女 and means “little girl” or “maiden” when translated into English. This generally refers to an age range which can go from as low as grade school to as high as the end of high school.

What age can you be a shoujo?

In other words, girls in the 7 to 18 year old range can fall into this category of being a shoujo.

What is the difference between boy and girl manga?

I’m not entirely sure how to put the differences into words, but typically the characters in boy’s manga have more rounded features whereas the ones in the girl’s manga have longer, more narrow ones.

What is the magic girl type of show?

One of them is the well-known “magical girl” type of show such as the incredibly successful Salior Moon. For shows such as these, there are action elements with bad guys, mystery, and magical powers.

What is Shoujo manga?

Shoujo (少女), sometimes written as shojo, are manga that target a particular female age group. Shoujo is most often defined as 'girl', but can more accurately be translated as 'young woman'. While there is no definite age range, shoujo is targeted to girls as young as seven to ten years old to those as old as eighteen. For this reason, they can include anything from innocent girls' stories to those containing stronger material advised for more mature readers.

How to know if a manga is a shoujo?

However, in the end, there is only one true way to know whether a manga is shoujo, and that is by knowing what magazine it was originally published in.

What is the male counterpart of Shoujo?

Manga written for older females are called josei (女性漫画), redisu (レディース), or redikomi (レディコミ), and the male counterpart of shoujo manga is shounen (少年), boys' manga. Nonetheless, shoujo manga and anime does not only appeal to female readers, but is also often read by boys and men.

Is a manga a Shoujo manga?

Simply put, a manga is a shoujo manga when it is published by a shoujo magazine .Today, shoujo manga are abundant not only within Japan, but the number of English shoujo manga has increased over the years. The Ribon magazine, published by Shueisha, is currently the most popular magazine for shoujo stories, with a circulation of over one million subscribers per month. Shoujo Beat, released by VIZ media, is yet another such magazine that is distributed monthly.

Is Shoujo based on romance?

Today, the drawings and stories of Nishitani Yoshiko are considered to have created the basis of what are now popular high-school romance shoujo manga.For many, shoujo manga have come to represent manga that are based upon romance and contain little adventure or action, this is not necessarily the case. Shoujo manga can cover a broad range of genres and is not limited to those that may be considered more feminine, such as fantasy or romance.

When did gender change in manga?

It was later on, in 1902 , that a clear division in gender for manga appeared, when a magazine known as Shoujo Kai (少女界), "Girl's World", was published. The wars that soon followed created changes in manga, ultimately resulting in the longer, more detailed stories that we have today.

Is Shoujo manga in English?

Shoujo manga released in the form of tankoubon (単行本), paperback versions of series that have been serialized, are also increasing in numbers. The past few years have also seen a large number of manga translated into English, as manga became more and more popular in the Western world.

What is Shojo genre?

Since shojo is a demographic it can be just about any genre, from straight up horror or action all the way to fluffy or racy (but not too racy since it is aimed at girls who aren't legally adults) romance. What makes is different from shonen is that it's made to appeal to girls instead of boys, so if you compare a shonen romance to a shojo one you can find that there are subtle (or not so subtle sometimes) differences in how it's handled that make it appeal more towards boys or girls (although multiple demographic appeal can come into effect in some cases, especially in better handled examples of a genre).

What is Benitsu the Snake Woman?

Benitsu the Snake woman: A middle-aged, vlong-haired, snake-charming woman. She is sadistic and promiscuous.

Is there a genre of action with a male protagonist?

Many are action/supernatural genres with a male protagonist. But not all are like that.

Is pandering good in anime?

Pandering generally is not a good thing and there are lots of dreck that come out as a result of pandering. Stuff like this for example:

Is Shojo a Shonen?

Some like to act like there's a clear way to divide shojo and shonen based on the but it's really not so clear. The fact that some manga have switched from being serialized in shojo magazines to shonen ones or the other way around proves this. There's also cases where manga start off in a shonen magazine and switch to a josei one like what happened with Saiyuki. If you don't know what josei is it's the demographic aimed at adult women. Another odd example is Brave 10, which started in a seinen (adult male demographic) magazine and switched to a shojo one.

What is Shojo anime?

These shows are essentially those that are aimed at the young teen female demographic and can cover a variety of narrative styles from historical drama to science fiction. There is also often, but not always, a focus on romantic relationships and the character's internal emotions. Here are some of the best of shojo anime, according to MyAnimeList.

What is the Shojo-Ai romance in Revolutionary Girl Utena?

6 Revolutionary Girl Utena Contains A Shojo-Ai Romance (8.20) Revolutionary Girl Utena is yet another perennial classic in the anime world , one which some fans say was an early precursor, in theme, concept, and surrealist imagery, to Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

Why does Haruhi work for the host club?

As a result, she must work for the club to pay off her damages, and in doing so she finds herself occupying a host role due to her natural charm and boyish demeanor . Before long, Haruhi is drawn into the intrigues and excitements of the host club and the people within it.

Is anime directed at males?

The world of anime often feels like it's directed primarily at the male portion of the fandom . Despite this bias towards the masculine demographic, there are still a lot of female fans out there who appreciate a good anime when it's not buried under layers of gratuitous fan service. For these female viewers, many may have gotten their first kick ...

Is Shojo a medium?

The shojo genre of anime and manga is a long-lasting staple in the medium and dozens of new shojo manga are released every year. Moreover, there's always the possibility that a shojo series could become even more popular over time.

What does Shoujo mean?

Shoujo literally stands for "girl" or "young woman" in Japanese. Therefore it is easy to guess that it is aimed at the readership that mostly consists of teenage girls and young women. The first shoujo magazine ever was published in 1903 and it is interesting that the majority of shoujo artists were actually male. Only after the 1960s did female artists start emerging from the shadows and presenting their works, inspired by the post-war events, American TV shows and female empowerment.

What anime is Kaichou wa Maid Sama?

Kaichou wa Maid-sama is one of the most famous shoujo anime out there. A handsome and arrogant guy starts falling for the class president, who, as it turns out, secretly works at a maid cafe. Hilarity ensues when her secret is busted, and the two soon realize that they are both completely different people when they are not at school.

What is the anime Ao Haru Ride about?

Ao Haru Ride is probably one of the most popular shoujo anime out there that asks the question: can you really forget your first love? Set in high school with an outgoing girl and a reserved, grumpy boy, the anime is based on one of the most selling shoujo manga ever.

What is Akatsuki no Yona?

Akatsuki no Yona is a popular historical shoujo anime which focuses on action and politics but also does not lack in the romance department. Princess Yona gets banished from her kingdom and the only comfort is that she is protected by her bodyguard Hak. They are on the run, and Yona must finally learn to mature and grow up.

How old is Kinomoto Sakura?

Kinomoto Sakura is only 10 years old, but it is her responsibility to protect the world from the mystical Clow Cards (which she accidentally released, by the way). This classic anime is packed with adventure and fantasy, including a cute and kind heroine who can manage both her normal school life and secret magical life.

Is Natsume Yuujinchou a romance?

Natsume Yuujinchou is a unique shoujo anime because not only does it have a male protagonist, but it also has no romance at all. The anime has a calm pacing, with mysteries revolving around supernatural entities and their life stories. If you're looking for something relaxing and magical, then this is it.

10 Shojo Series Always Have The Most Beautiful Art

One thing all shojo series have in common is their stunning art styles. Even those who dislike the genre can agree that shojo anime are some of the most aesthetically pleasing series out there.

9 The Heroines Of Shojo Are All Lovable

One of shojo's greatest strengths is its leading ladies. Shojo heroines are sweet, kind, and lovable. Though they may appear meek and helpless at first glance, the more audiences get to know them, the more they see that true strength lies within. Shojo protagonists are starry-eyed dreamers with big goals for their lives.

8 Romance Has Depth And Feels Real

Romance is a central theme in almost all shojo anime. Whether it's the main plot point or not, shojo girls are always finding themselves swept off their feet by charming and handsome love interests.

7 The Male Leads Are Irresistible

While the leading ladies of shojo are beloved by fans, they aren't the only ones who get the spotlight. Shojo series have some of the most charming and lovable leading males of anime. They differ greatly from the typical male protagonists that fans see, with basic looks and personality yet somehow surrounded by flocks of beautiful girls.

6 The Love Stories Get Fans Highly Invested

Romance is a big part of anime in general, let alone just shojo. From shonen to isekai to seinen, everyone loves a good romance in their anime. However, there's just something special about shojo romance that really gets fans into it. The genre knows how to create a great dynamic between couples.

5 The Drama Keeps Fans At The Edge Of Their Seats

If there's one thing that shojo is known for, it's drama. Whether it's a heated love triangle or a character's dark past, fans can always expect to find intense drama in shojo anime.

4 Shojo Focuses On Inner Strength More Than Outer

While there are some physically strong shojo protagonists, it can easily be said that they all have an abundance of inner strength. Shojo takes special care in showcasing intense emotion, and it usually takes center stage in place of action.

image

Overview

History

As the Japanese publishing industry boomed during the Meiji era, new magazines aimed at a teenage audience began to emerge, referred to as shōnen. While these magazines were ostensibly unisex, in practice the editorial content of these magazines largely concerned topics that were of interest to boys. Faced with growing demand for magazines aimed at girls, the first shōjo maga…

Terminology

The Japanese word shōjo (少女) translates literally to "girl", but in common Japanese usage girls are generally referred to as onna no ko (女の子) and rarely as shōjo. Rather, the term shōjo is used to designate a social category that emerged during the Meiji era (1868–1912) of girls and young women at the age between childhood and marriage. Generally this referred to school-aged adolescents, with whom an image of "innocence, purity and cuteness" was associated; this contr…

Style

The visual style of shōjo manga was largely similar to that of shōnen manga until the late 1950s, a function of the fact that both shōjo and shōnen manga were created by the same, mostly male, artists. During the pre-war period, these artists were especially influenced by the modernist style of George McManus, while in the post-war period the dynamic style of Osamu Tezuka became the pri…

Themes

Among the most common concepts in shōjo manga is that of ningen kankeil (人間関係, "human relationships"), which refers to interpersonal relationships between characters and the interaction of their emotions. Relationships between characters are central to most shōjo manga, particularly those of friendship, affection, and love. Narratives often focus on the interiority of their …

Culture

Manga in Japan is serialized in manga magazines before being published as books and collected volumes. To encourage repeat readership, magazines seek to foster a sense of community with their readership; this is especially true of magazines aimed at an audience of younger reader aged ten or younger, sometimes referred to as imōto (妹, "little sister"). Magazines seek to appeal to this young readership by publishing content related to anime, video games, and toys in addition t…

External links

• Media related to Shōjo at Wikimedia Commons
• The dictionary definition of 少女 at Wiktionary