Have you ever thought of falling in love with a girl of your age? Of course, you would, and if you want to witness an anime with such themes, that’s where the term “Shoujo” comes in.
So, what is the meaning of Shoujo in anime or manga? In Japanese, Shoujo refers to a girl, and Shoujo anime/manga is nothing but directed towards young men and women.
Let’s learn more about it in the article below in a detailed way and how you’ll better understand the whole Shoujo genre.
Shoujo Anime Meaning!
As I said, Shoujo is a genre that focuses mainly on young boys and girls. Does that mean adults can’t enjoy it? Absolutely not, even adults can enjoy this genre, but it typically targets the younger generation.
In other words, younger boys/girls tend to have more crushes or feelings than they have in any stage of life. So, obviously, they prefer to watch anime shows related to this concept.
What is the Content?
Like every other anime, Shoujo anime features characters, a good storyline, but it does have the main focus. Yes, it is “Romance.”
While most of them revolve around high school life, some even consist of a totally different setting.
Romance in Shoujo anime feels more natural, and it constantly adapts themes related to “Love at First Sight” and “Love lasts Forever.” While younger boys feel this genre as something they can relate to, girls consider it a dream world.
It has relationship goals, obstacles the couple face, cute little things they do to each other, and what else. Literally everything you wish to do in your teenage life.
Characters in Shoujo!
Does Shoujo anime feature otherworldly characters that you haven’t seen before? Nope.
It consists of an ordinary couple with quite different personalities or the same personalities.
In most Shoujo anime I’ve watched, any one or both the main couple is always unexpressive, and the other fills the void. I’d say it is sweet, reasonable, and genuine love.
Categories Shoujo Genre Cover:
- Fantasy
- Yuri
- Yaoi
- Historical Fiction
- Supernatural
- Harem
- Reverse Harem
- Romance
- Shoujo-Ai
And a lot more! With all these concepts, Shoujo anime is more like a package with Romance as the central theme. So, if you’re into any of these concepts, then you’ll find Shoujo interesting.
A Diverse Opinion on Shoujo Genre!
While most anime series are clearly Shoujo with all the concepts merging, more than a few ones are categorized into other genres like Seinen, Shounen, etc., but give you the similar feel as Shoujo genre.
For instance, Horimiya is categorized as a Shounen, but can’t you distinguish it as a Shoujo anime after watching all these episodes? The setting, couple, and even the storyline is directed towards teenagers.
Also, Nodame Cantabile is strictly Josei anime, but it gave me a feel of Shoujo. So, this is the diversion opinion we have on the Shoujo genre. Regardless, it is the most preferable and lovely genre for Young minds.
Shoujo Anime Recommendations:
- Natsume’s Book of Friends
- Fruits Basket
- Skip Beat
- Nana
- Kimi no Todoke
- Blue Spring Ride
- My Little Monster
Frequently Asked Questions:
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What is the difference between Shoujo and Shounen?
Shoujo takes upon the characters’ romance life, and Shounen features a protagonist who goes on adventures while covering all the subgenres.
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What is the difference between Shoujo and Josei?
Like Shojo anime/manga, the Josei genre portrays romance that aims at young girls. But the only difference is here it also features some sexual content quite often.
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What is the difference between Shoujo and Shoujo-Ai?
Shoujo focuses on the main couple with opposite genders. On the other hand, Shojo-Ai shows the sweet romance and love between two girls.
A Word from Us!
Well, there you go! The perfect and most straightforward explanation of Shoujo anime meaning. Whether you’re reading Shoujo manga or watching anime, the outcome is you’ll be faced with some complexities.
But that’s what makes this genre worth checking out. The couple falls in love with each other, facing complexities, and understanding the partner the better.
So, what you think about the Shoujo genre? Have you watched any Shoujo anime yet? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
You might also like:
- 13 Greatest Shoujo Manga of the Decade!
- 13 Splendid Yuri Manga for Yuri Admirers!
- 10 Best Romance Anime to Watch With Your Girlfriend!
- 13 Best Romance Manhwa Worth Reading Twice!
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