Shoujo vs Shounen Romance

[Marie August]

I don't know if most people notice the difference, but I sure do. I've conversed with guys before who will talk about how they've discovered they like romantic girl anime, and then list things like Love Hina and Clannad. I will then respond by saying, that is not girl anime. It is created by a guy for a guy. It's a market and a genre that just doesn't exist in the US.

I think it's great that this unexplored market is getting attention, but honestly, I don't really like Shounen romance most of the time. I don't usually like the hero (he's often perverted and/or pathetic and is often humiliated for comedic purposes, which I personally don't enjoy in my romance), and I don't usually find the girls believable. I wonder if guys sometimes feel similarly about Shoujo.

[MichaelArkAngel]

I don't know if most people notice the difference, but I sure do. I've conversed with guys before who will talk about how they've discovered they like romantic girl anime, and then list things like Love Hina and Clannad. I will then respond by saying, that is not girl anime. It is created by a guy for a guy. It's a market and a genre that just doesn't exist in the US.

I think it's great that this unexplored market is getting attention, but honestly, I don't really like Shounen romance most of the time. I don't usually like the hero (he's often perverted and/or pathetic and is often humiliated for comedic purposes, which I personally don't enjoy in my romance), and I don't usually find the girls believable. I wonder if guys sometimes feel similarly about Shoujo.

I feel the same way about Shounen also, it just irritates me with some of the male leads and the way they have to be portrayed...every now and then I do stumble across a male lead that "has a pair", but man are those far and few between....


As afar as shoujo...eh, not my cup of tea, I keeo watching them due to recs hoping one will do it for me, but I just can't get into it as much as shounen... Although I really did enjoy Kimi Ni Todoke-both seasons...

[Jack]

I dislike shounen romance due to the same reasons. Not to mention it's very childish. Shounen en Shoujo come from different perspectives. From a male, and from a female one.

In Shoujo's you often see bishounen, and in shounen you see often bishoujo. That's the way it works. Shoujo often speculates with the whole ''prince on a horse'' idea, with every male character perfect. However, I find that shoujo romances are sometimes more realistic in development of the romance.

But do you really think male characters are believable in shoujo anime? Because thats the same way for shoujo, no way in hell that you can find such perfect boyfriends.

I just would like to state that most shounen and shoujo are childish romances, because it's aimed at a younger audience. You will always have those perspectives thing, and apparently the Japanese find it funny that the main male lead is a wuss, and then he gets surrounded by beautiful girls. Nowadays the romance genre is rare, and when it has a romance genre in it, it's foten accompanied by ''harem'' or ''ecchi''.

That's why I will always prefer a seinen or Josei genre for a romance, since it's that more realistic and most of the time, no one is perfect.

But this is all imo ofcourse.

[Dropdeadfred<3]

To me, they're both just like any other genre. There's shounen I do like, and shounen I don't like. Same for shoujo.

[Malarki]

To me, they're both just like any other genre. There's shounen I do like, and shounen I don't like. Same for shoujo.

What she said.
The biggest problem with Shoujo is the drawing style, for me that is. Most of the times its just not appealing to me.
Besides that, i don't care as long as its good. Anyway i prefer Seinen and Josei way more.

[Marie August]

In Shoujo's you often see bishounen, and in shounen you see often bishoujo. That's the way it works. Shoujo often speculates with the whole ''prince on a horse'' idea, with every male character perfect. However, I find that shoujo romances are sometimes more realistic in development of the romance.

But do you really think male characters are believable in shoujo anime? Because thats the same way for shoujo, no way in hell that you can find such perfect boyfriends.

You can see bishoujo in shoujo anime sometimes. Especially with magical girl anime.

I think any character that is perfect is boring. For example, in Inuyasha, if Miroku was not a bit perverted, he would be boring. You have this talented, polite, pretty guy with one fatal flaw that makes him funny.

Characters need layers, especially in romance. And romance needs conflict. If you have two perfect people who just instantly fall in love with eachother because they're perfect, it's pretty boring. Just being beautiful doesn't do it for me. For instance, I'm watching Hanasakeru Seishonen right now, and I have yet to really like any of the romantic interests. Because they are all too perfect, and there is pretty much no conflict except that the heroine doesn't want to make a decision until she meets all of her eye candy pretty boys. Then again, I suppose the prince character is slightly interesting because I like his spoiled arrogant streak.

[Jack]

You can see bishoujo in shoujo anime sometimes. Especially with magical girl anime.

I think any character that is perfect is boring. For example, in Inuyasha, if Miroku was not a bit perverted, he would be boring. You have this talented, polite, pretty guy with one fatal flaw that makes him funny.

Characters need layers, especially in romance. And romance needs conflict. If you have two perfect people who just instantly fall in love with eachother because they're perfect, it's pretty boring. Just being beautiful doesn't do it for me. For instance, I'm watching Hanasakeru Seishonen right now, and I have yet to really like any of the romantic interests. Because they are all too perfect, and there is pretty much no conflict except that the heroine doesn't want to make a decision until she meets all of her eye candy pretty boys. Then again, I suppose the prince character is slightly interesting because I like his spoiled arrogant streak.

I did not say they don't feature bishoujo is shoujo anime. This is also because shoujoa nime tends to go with ''cute'' as one of its main appealing factors.
And I totally agree characters need layers, but you can't expect that from Shoujo or shounen anime. If it gets too difficult, the younger audience can't relate anymore. But like I said, the perspectives are different and ofcourse, there are exceptions to this stereotypical movement but it's pretty common.

If you want characters with proper layers, try reading some manga featuring Josei or Seinen elements. They often show things ''after high school'' and real life problems.

If I were to reccommend you something ( int erms of manga) it would be this;

Mars
Kimi Wa pet
Dengeki Daisy( Shoujo with a fresh air. This is one of the few exceptions, with actually some depth to the story)
NANA
Koukou debut ( Also an exception. Sometimes kind of typical, but an enjoyable shoujo manga.)


But these are just some examples. If you want proper recommendations you should create a Recommend me! thread.

[Marie August]

I did not say they don't feature bishoujo is shoujo anime. This is also because shoujoa nime tends to go with ''cute'' as one of its main appealing factors.
And I totally agree characters need layers, but you can't expect that from Shoujo or shounen anime. If it gets too difficult, the younger audience can't relate anymore. But like I said, the perspectives are different and ofcourse, there are exceptions to this stereotypical movement but it's pretty common.

If you want characters with proper layers, try reading some manga featuring Josei or Seinen elements. They often show things ''after high school'' and real life problems.

I totally expect layers and depth, no matter what the demographic is. People sometimes assume that just because you're creating something for kids, you need to make the characters boring and stupid, and I disagree. A child may not be able to fully grasp how awesome something is, but they aren't going to be bothered if they watch something that is sophisticated and well motivated, and you can reach a larger audience if you make a quality story that can be consumed by all ages.

Sure, there's plenty of bad stuff out there that rides the coattails of the success from quality stories by simply imitating the cliches. But that doesn't mean that it's the standard. Just he lowest common denominator of the genre.

If I were to reccommend you something ( int erms of manga) it would be this;

Mars
Kimi Wa pet
Dengeki Daisy( Shoujo with a fresh air. This is one of the few exceptions, with actually some depth to the story)
NANA
Koukou debut ( Also an exception. Sometimes kind of typical, but an enjoyable shoujo manga.)


But these are just some examples. If you want proper recommendations you should create a Recommend me! thread.

I've read and like all of those. :)

I think Mars is also a shoujo. Maybe I should create a recommendation thread. I do have very specific tastes that I know, understand and can define.

[Jack]

I totally expect layers and depth, no matter what the demographic is. People sometimes assume that just because you're creating something for kids, you need to make the characters boring and stupid, and I disagree. A child may not be able to fully grasp how awesome something is, but they aren't going to be bothered if they watch something that is sophisticated and well motivated, and you can reach a larger audience if you make a quality story that can be consumed by all ages.

Sure, there's plenty of bad stuff out there that rides the coattails of the success from quality stories by simply imitating the cliches. But that doesn't mean that it's the standard. Just he lowest common denominator of the genre.

Well that's up to you. Though I just like to point out that nowadays that isn't popular. If you want that, you need to search for older animes, when the romance genre was popular. And the aim is important when you are considering character depth. Maybe the kid's won't care if it's sophisticated, but the marketing purpose simply doesn't fit in there. And I agree that that doesn't have to be, but it just happens most of the time. These kind of stories and characters work, so why make it more difficult?

And I think it is the biggest denominator right now. Like I said, romance is a rare genre nowadays. Maybe stories are based on clichés, but almost everything has been done already. it's hard for something to be original now. And I think it works sometimes.

I've read and like all of those.

I think Mars is also a shoujo. Maybe I should create a recommendation thread. I do have very specific tastes that I know, understand and can define.

Ah Yes, I totally forgot about that. Though it has a more ''Josei'' feeling to it. This is because it's rather mature sometimes.

[Pearliology]

I totally expect layers and depth, no matter what the demographic is. People sometimes assume that just because you're creating something for kids, you need to make the characters boring and stupid, and I disagree. A child may not be able to fully grasp how awesome something is, but they aren't going to be bothered if they watch something that is sophisticated and well motivated, and you can reach a larger audience if you make a quality story that can be consumed by all ages.

Sure, there's plenty of bad stuff out there that rides the coattails of the success from quality stories by simply imitating the cliches. But that doesn't mean that it's the standard. Just he lowest common denominator of the genre.

I completely agree about depth in an anime. I know plenty of kids that watch both shoujo and shounen expecting both to have plots that aren't ridiculously out of the park. I love comedy but there's some in shounen that just make me go "wha?!" o.0

I like a little bit of both so trying to determine which is better would difficult.

I own more shoujo anime so I guess that's what I lean towards. <3