The world of anime is diverse. Beyond simple genres like action, comedy and fantasy, there is also a wealth of Japanese terms used to describe particular shows. In this article, we’re asking what is shoujo anime? Both the genre and its actual meaning in Japan.
What is the Shoujo Genre?
Shoujo – also spelt ‘shojo’, ‘shōjo’, or ‘少女’ – indicates either an anime or manga aimed at a teen female demographic. The word shoujo translates as ‘young woman’.
As with similar terms such as shounen or josei, shoujo is primarily a way of categorizing Japanese comics. Manga, from which many anime are adapted, are commonly sold by chapters in magazines featuring many different stories, and each magazine targets a particular demographic.
Some of the most popular shoujo magazines in Japan are Ciao, Ribon and Hana to Yume.
As you can see by their websites, all of them are designed to appeal to a young female audience. This audience, however, can include children as young as eight all the way to mid-teens. Older teens and women tend to fall into the josei genre.
Related: Anime Genres Explained: From Shonen to Seinen, Shoujo, Josei, Isekai, and More
Shoujo Anime Meaning
As with manga, a shoujo anime is one whose main target audience is a young female demographic.
Many of the most popular shoujo anime have been adapted from manga that first appeared in shoujo magazines. Fruits Basket was first published in Hana to Yume in 1998, while the Studio Ghibli film Whisper of the Heart was based on a 1989 manga published in Ribon.
However, not all shoujo anime have come through the manga route. Original series such as Kaleido Star that share similar characteristics are also classed as shoujo anime.
Are Shoujo Romance Anime?
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.
Banana Fish is a great example of a shoujo series that breaks the stereotypical mould. The series stars a New York gang leader and features lots of action, while still hitting some common points in a shoujo series. Banana Fish was well received by a wide audience, despite being classed as shoujo and first appearing in a shoujo comic.
Another good example is Yona of the Dawn. Starring an exiled princess seeking to save her kingdom, the story features many of the plot points you would see in most action adventures. However, by starring and being written from the viewpoint of a teenage girl, the series achieves much more success with the shoujo demographic.
Related: 20 Pure Romance Anime Series
What Type of Anime is Shoujo?
Shoujo anime can encapsulate a huge range of stories and traditional genres, including action, adventure, fantasy and so on. However, an easy way to differentiate shoujo anime from other genres is the increased importance placed on romantic relationships and personal emotions.
While not always the central focus, these will commonly play a part and are usually handled with a lot more care and nuance than seen in shonen manga, which is targeted at young males.
Below are some popular shoujo anime, along with a small description of their plot. As you can see, many of them follow similar themes, although some are more fantasy, slice-of-life or have an action element:
- Fruits Basket – A young lonely girl lives on her own until she befriends an attractive and rich family of boys after discovering their secret.
- Sailor Moon – Clumsy student Usagi is suddenly given the responsibility of becoming Sailor Moon, a guardian with the power to protect the world from evil monsters.
- Maid Sama! – A respected student council president works in a maid cafe to earn extra money for her family when the most popular boy in school discovers her secret.
- Kamisama Kiss – Kind-hearted Nanami, left homeless by her gambling father, becomes a shrine’s deity after saving someone and develops affections for the spirit she works with.
- Kiss Him, Not Me! – High-school student Kae dreams of watching her male classmates get together until she suddenly becomes beautiful and attracts their attention herself.
- Vampire Knight — Yuki helps protect a school teaching humans at day and vampires at night until her feelings for one of the handsome vampire students threaten the delicate balance.
While these are some of the most popular shoujo series, there is a rich history of shows to discover! No matter who you are or what genre you enjoy, there is a shoujo anime for you to fall in love with.
If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got a list of the best shoujo anime for beginners for you to check out, perfect for starting your shoujo journey!