Shōjo

From Open Encyclopedia

Shōjo or shoujo (少女 lit. young woman) is, in western usage, a style of anime and manga intended for girls (that may have some crossover appeal to boys as well).

Typically, "pure shōjo" manga revolves around love stories and strong female protagonists; however, some shōjo anime and manga are more plot or action-oriented to attract a wider audience. For instance, a lot of older salarymen were drawn to a manga called Banana Fish for its hard-edged yakuza action (which is more often found in seinen manga). What kept female audiences interested in this work was a gentle relationship between two gay bishōnen lovers amongst all the violence.

Shōjo anime and manga often contain elements of shōnen-ai or even yaoi (sexual relationship between male characters), not to mention shōjo-ai and, recently, yuri (sexual relationship between female characters). The aesthetic of the bishōnen is very prominent. Another very popular genre is magical girl, of which the famous series Sailor Moon is a prime example.

Shōjo should be distinguished from bishōjo (pretty young girls); the latter term refers, somewhat confusingly, to content rather than target market. Shōjo is manga/anime for girls; bishōjo is manga/anime that has pretty girls, usually targeted towards a male audience.

Many shōjo titles are often described as dark and moody, which is sometimes counterintuitive from a Western viewpoint.

See also shōnen, anime and manga intended for boys; josei, anime and manga intended for adult women; and seinen, anime and manga intended for adult men.

[edit]