Forum Settings
Forums
New
Do you like Shoujo?
Yes
49.3%
209
Yes, but I am not a man
14.2%
60
No
9.2%
39
maybe sometimes
27.4%
116
424 votes
Jan 25, 2023 5:34 AM
#1

Offline
Feb 2020
1718
I wonder how much of Shoujo's animanga populations consist of fully grown men? 
even outside of anime a lot of content made for young girls is enjoyed by older guys

I personally like some shoujo series like Sailor Moon, Vampire Knight, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Ouran High School Host Club, Fruits Basket

and I'll probably enjoy more in the future.



This topic has been locked and is no longer available for discussion.
Pages (2) [1] 2 »
Jan 25, 2023 5:40 AM
#2

Offline
Sep 2020
5413
I do like it, though I haven’t watched a lot of them, one my my favorites is Fruits basket.
Jan 25, 2023 5:45 AM
#3

Offline
Jul 2021
1915
Not really a fan of shoujo anime but Card Captor Sakura was really good. I watched it when I was just a few months off of turning 21.

I also remember liking Fruits Basket 2019 and Host Club, but I don't really care much for them anymore.
Jan 25, 2023 5:50 AM
#4

Offline
Feb 2018
3047
a 41 year-old Representing the Mambo here, if you don't mind;

Jan 25, 2023 5:51 AM
#5

Offline
Feb 2016
2782
Fruits basket remake claps.

I find myself enjoying Shoujo more than any shounen, idk, some feels far more fresh than the usual mainstream.
"We could make the world better, but it's easier to just shut our eyes."
~Blackwall
Jan 25, 2023 5:55 AM
#6

Offline
Oct 2021
170
I dont think every shoujo is targeted for young female audience only, for example Akatsuki no Yona
Jan 25, 2023 6:02 AM
#7

Offline
Aug 2021
4859
I've seen several shoujo and I liked it, but they didn't look like the "ordinary shoujo", ex: Banana fish, Patalliro, Shoujo Kakumei Utena, Ghost Hunt.
I think a shoujo that I really liked and looked like a shoujo was CardCaptor Sakura.

Jan 25, 2023 6:04 AM
#8
🍅 Tomato 🍅

Offline
Feb 2020
122990
I absolutely love Pretty Cure franchise. :3



SerafosJan 25, 2023 6:07 AM
Jan 25, 2023 6:04 AM
#9
Cranberry Sauce

Offline
Nov 2019
6794
You have to keep digging so as to find gold.

Help! I need somebody. Help! Not just anybody. Help! You know I need someone. Helpppppp!

Jan 25, 2023 6:10 AM
Offline
Dec 2021
853
Demographics are not very accurate. For example I don't see how shigatsu wa kimi no uso or kono oto tomare are shounen. 

Anyways, out of my favorites: 
-2 are josei 
-2 are shoujo
-2 are wrongly listed as shounen imo 

then I checked my 10/10's
gave a perfect score to 3 more shoujo lol

Looks like I really like shoujo, probably the demographic I enjoy the most.
AnimeIs4KidzJan 25, 2023 6:17 AM
Jan 25, 2023 6:15 AM
Offline
Nov 2015
55
what shoujo? There is barely any now. Maybe an occasional otome game but it has died out hard in anime. Manga and live action are where it exists now. Plus i think in 2021 there was ONE new shoujo anime
Jan 25, 2023 6:19 AM

Offline
May 2020
84
Honestly, I've stopped paying attention to those 'shounen/shoujo' demographic categories long ago, otherwise I wouldn't have watched gems like Rose of Versailles or Revolutionary Girl Utena, which are among my top favorites. Vampire Knight I liked as well.

Think the genres and synopsis are more informative about whether you should give the show a go or if it's likely not your cup of tea.
I see. Your only option is to revolutionize the world.
Jan 25, 2023 6:21 AM

Offline
Apr 2022
7908
average shoujo consumer

                         
Jan 25, 2023 6:34 AM

Offline
Jul 2022
1394
I actually like Shoujo more as an adult since when I was a kid I had a tendency to say "Eww, a girl show" and missed out on a lot.
Jan 25, 2023 6:52 AM

Offline
Feb 2020
1718
MasterTasuke said:
a 41 year-old Representing the Mambo here, if you don't mind;

Everytime I see you postin' you're always showing off something cool!

I'mma watch cardcaptor sakura eventually

Jan 25, 2023 7:02 AM

Offline
Mar 2021
1501
I do like nana
Currently reading fruba, its quite entertaining so far
ryzxgum said:
average shoujo consumer

                         

W
Jan 25, 2023 7:26 AM

Offline
May 2018
316
Age just a number. I like anime, I like everything.
Jan 25, 2023 7:31 AM

Offline
Jun 2012
461
I like reading shoujo and josei because the characters can be written better than in male demographic manga, although sometimes the male characters aren't written that well. Also, I read them just for a different perspective. I wouldn't read magical girl stuff though, probably.

I don't watch much shoujo anime or anime in general. Honey and Clover, Ghost Hunt and Orange are good though.
"The f**ker who goes round beating people to a pulp. He thinks it'll never happen to himself. But there's gonna be a day when the f**ker gets f**king beaten to a pulp too. But that day's f**king today and the guy doing the beating is a f**king c**t." - Sang-hoon, Breathless (2009)
Jan 25, 2023 7:34 AM
Offline
Dec 2022
4353
Not a man, but shojo anime is usually my go-to preference. Simply I gravitate to girly stuff due to how I like things. Funny because my youth wasn't that girly.
Jan 25, 2023 7:37 AM

Offline
Dec 2012
75260
From the top of my head I can name Mirmo, Aishiteruze Baby, Furuba and Chicchana Yukitsukai Sugar. I didn't discriminate between genres and these (minus Aishiteruze Baby) are my childhood anime.

I was even accused of being gay in the 2000s for liking them
┍━━━━»•» «•«━━━━┑

🎖️ mal badges
🏠 blog navigation
🏆 graph badges


┕━━━━»•» 📷 «•«━━━━┙
Jan 25, 2023 7:38 AM

Offline
Oct 2010
21946
nana, sailor moon and orange and some of the best anime ever made
I read more shoujo than watch it because the adaptations always lack something, whenever I look at 3d kanojo I begin to cry, the manga is a romance masterpiece yet the anime is cringey and forced, anyways I watch shoujo whenever I can
Jan 25, 2023 7:45 AM

Offline
Aug 2017
644
I watch or read shoujo once in a while to diversify my watchings, follow a recommendation or if someone lends me the volumes but it's not my go-to "genre".
I guess you could tell just by looking at my favorites.
Jan 25, 2023 7:49 AM

Offline
Dec 2018
148
I used to think shoujo just meant all girl cast and as such I thought I watched exclusively shoujo for a couple years when I was super into Moe shows. Since then I've learned that boys actually were the target audience lol. That's said I do still love some shoujo. Cardcaptor Sakura is the GOAT, as is princess tutu and Sailor moon is great too. One I haven't seen too many people mention is Gakuen babysitters tho. Super comfy and enjoyable
Jan 25, 2023 7:50 AM

Offline
Nov 2020
1078
I'm growing man and I watch some shoujo anime. There's nothing to shame about that.

One of my favorite Shoujo is Natsume Yuujinchou.
What Does Pot of Greed do?
Jan 25, 2023 7:50 AM
Offline
Jul 2019
160
Nana is one of the best written manga of all time.
Jan 25, 2023 7:50 AM

Offline
Feb 2021
2731
I have no problem with watching shoujo. I just need the right time and mood for it. These days I don't watch much anime and if I watch I will watch only some action stuff.
Jan 25, 2023 8:40 AM

Offline
Nov 2022
2756
The only true shoujo I watched are Kaichou wa Maid sama and Kareshi Kanojou no Jijou

They are not that enjoyable from men's perspective.

Revolutionary Girl Utena is a special case. Here anime director added symolism to otherwise plain shoujo manga. Elevating it to the level of literary fiction/symbolism show.

The magaka of Utena complained that anime changed everything and ruined her characters.

I often criticize studios when that happen. I criticize Madoka Rebellion Movie, 2nd season of Kaiji, Code Geass recap version, Roberta Blood Trail and so on for butchering the original characters, story and idea.

However in case of Utena I would rather praise the director of Utena for doing just this. He turned otherwise plain boring shoujo manga into something uniquely wonderful.


@MikuMousepad that is a common misconception. All moe girls cast is often seinen genre/demographics. Cute girls to appeal to male viewers thing.

It works like that: if they are cute enough to appeal to men, then show is for male audience. So shows targeted at men often have all female cute cast.
EmperorThorJan 25, 2023 8:44 AM
Buy my awesome BDSM male domination book here  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1174760

Visit my Discord https://discord.com/channels/1047490147794550844/1047490149161898039 I am not there most of the time but you can leave a message.

Or my blog here https://BDSMAnime.blogspot.com/
Or here https://BDSMAnime18.blogspot.com/

Submit to me and become my subject here https://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=88107
Jan 25, 2023 9:15 AM
Offline
Jul 2018
561867
I dropped FB but watched villianess.
I don't watch a lot of them but I won't exclude them from my list.
Jan 25, 2023 9:26 AM

Offline
Jul 2021
10679
I think I only watched 1.
Josei maybe, but shoujo?
I just really can't find anything that'd look interesting in there.
Most of it is just high school romance.
Jan 25, 2023 9:27 AM

Offline
Sep 2018
5287
Something good can be found in any genre, you just have to dig deeper if it's not one of your favorites. What I like the most about shoujo anime is the effort put into the soundtrack, usually higher than shounen. P.S. Nana best anime
Jan 25, 2023 9:30 AM

Offline
Dec 2021
1613
I’ve watched a few and they’re pretty okay. Don’t really have a particular preference for them. 

My favourite shoujo anime is definitely Kamisama Hajimemashita (Kamisama Kiss)

I’ll watch Furuba and Ouran HSHC at some point. Nana is just…. okay imho.
SaiteiDaOretteJan 25, 2023 9:33 AM
Jan 25, 2023 9:35 AM

Offline
Jun 2022
535
I've seen only a few Shoujo and it's been hit or miss. Personally I couldn't stand My Little Monster, Children of the Whales had potential but ultimately didn't deliver for me, Slow Step was enjoyable but had some issues in my opinion.
Jan 25, 2023 10:31 AM

Offline
Feb 2022
2969
DoisacChopper said:
I wonder how much of Shoujo's animanga populations consist of fully grown men? 
The entire mahou shoujo loving western male population from observation pero~
Jan 25, 2023 11:52 AM
Offline
Dec 2013
6441
I watch it but there's only a few that I like. Magic Knight Rayearth is probably my favourite shoujo anime.
Jan 25, 2023 12:00 PM

Offline
Jan 2008
3504
I voted no but doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed "some" shoujo. (of the 422 anime I've seen 8 of them were Shoujo)

Overall I'm not really that interested in it
Jan 25, 2023 12:18 PM

Offline
Jun 2017
499
Karekano is pretty good.
Fruits Basket? One of the worst shows I've ever seen.
If you have time to think of a beautiful end, then live beautifully until the end.
” -Gintoki Sakata
Jan 25, 2023 12:35 PM

Offline
May 2018
3831
Because why not. 
I've read/watched and loved Sailor Moon only when I was already 30. I've watched and liked a few shoujo/josei shows in past 10 years. I am in process of watching Cardcaptor Sakura and I extremely love it.
Not sure if I'll like Precure but I'll try it, too. Also, Fruit Basket didn't impress me at all. Seemed too generic and silly.
I am aware that most of shoujo shows are meh, but I know that good ones still exist.
We, men, probably like shoujo for other reasons than girls do. And our reasons are legit, too.
Nemo_NiemandJan 25, 2023 12:39 PM
Jan 25, 2023 12:36 PM

Offline
Aug 2018
8518
I've got a lot of shoujo on my dropped list. I've kinda given up on it at this point. Best one I've watched to completion is Ore Monogatari. First half was very cute, funny and charming. Second half felt like it had run out of ideas.
Jan 25, 2023 1:07 PM
Offline
Jul 2018
561867
I don't really care about a "targeted audience/demographic" so I sometimes watch shows which are "Shoujo" without even knowing it and I do enjoy watching them as much as any other shows.

I also just noticed, if you look at the first page of Shoujo shows here on MAL, you'll see that most of them are either Romance, Romantic-Comedy or Romance-Drama shows, and personally I don't see a reason why those shows/categories (especially Romantic-Comedy) even have Shoujo as targeted audience, after all love is universal and jokes are a matter of taste/humor so Men/Boys can enjoy those shows just as much. 

But I don't see a reason in any of those gender differentiations because any show can be enjoyed by any one person no matter the gender. 
The only differentiations I see as useful are "for kids" "for teens" and "for adults". 
Jan 25, 2023 1:10 PM
Offline
Feb 2021
528
Sometimes you just need some wholesome friendship shenanigans to counteract all of the bombastic battle screams.
"Tomatoes are nutritious and scrumptious."--Ryuunoske Akasaka, "The Pet Girl of Sakurasou"

Sword Art Online is mid, not utter trash. Oh yes, I'm such a rebel. 😎
Jan 25, 2023 1:12 PM

Offline
Sep 2018
14390
I sometimes like shoujo such as Yona of the Dawn and Cardcaptor Sakura.  I do dislike a lot of widely popular shoujo like Fruits Basket and Nana since I do not care for drama at all.  Drama is my lowest rated genre.  Hypnosis mic rap battle is a pretty fun series too.  
Jan 25, 2023 1:17 PM

Offline
Jun 2017
6603
I've seen a couple and enjoy them. It's not something i go out of my way to watch, i don't really even know a show's considered a shoujo. I just watch what i enjoy or come across that looks interesting.
My waifu is the most wonderful waifu. Mai Valentine.

We're freaking out that we're running out of time, but to do what? Should i stop and think of that? Is there something i could do to slow it down? Live in a day for once, instead of watch it sprinting by
Jan 25, 2023 2:12 PM

Offline
May 2018
12394
"Fully grown men who watch Shoujo..."

If it has interesting ideas (for example shows like Ghost Hunt and Princess Tutu), the target audience is irrelevant.
Jan 25, 2023 2:14 PM

Offline
Aug 2018
8518
Yveltal1612 said:
I don't really care about a "targeted audience/demographic" so I sometimes watch shows which are "Shoujo" without even knowing it and I do enjoy watching them as much as any other shows.

I also just noticed, if you look at the first page of Shoujo shows here on MAL, you'll see that most of them are either Romance, Romantic-Comedy or Romance-Drama shows, and personally I don't see a reason why those shows/categories (especially Romantic-Comedy) even have Shoujo as targeted audience, after all love is universal and jokes are a matter of taste/humor so Men/Boys can enjoy those shows just as much. 

But I don't see a reason in any of those gender differentiations because any show can be enjoyed by any one person no matter the gender. 
The only differentiations I see as useful are "for kids" "for teens" and "for adults". 

Typical shoujo has many distinct traits in terms of art style and general presentation. How can you miss something so obvious?
epidemia78Jan 25, 2023 2:21 PM
Jan 25, 2023 2:56 PM
Offline
Jul 2018
561867
epidemia78 said:
Yveltal1612 said:
I don't really care about a "targeted audience/demographic" so I sometimes watch shows which are "Shoujo" without even knowing it and I do enjoy watching them as much as any other shows.

I also just noticed, if you look at the first page of Shoujo shows here on MAL, you'll see that most of them are either Romance, Romantic-Comedy or Romance-Drama shows, and personally I don't see a reason why those shows/categories (especially Romantic-Comedy) even have Shoujo as targeted audience, after all love is universal and jokes are a matter of taste/humor so Men/Boys can enjoy those shows just as much. 

But I don't see a reason in any of those gender differentiations because any show can be enjoyed by any one person no matter the gender. 
The only differentiations I see as useful are "for kids" "for teens" and "for adults". 

Typical shoujo has many distinct traits in terms art style and general presentation. How can you miss something so obvious?
Art styles are nearly as varied as there are anime out there. 
I am not nearly well informed enough to differentiate them all, the best I can do are either era based differentiations (late 90's/early 2000's vs mid 2000's/early 2010's vs late 2010's/ 2020's) or studio based differentiations (I can recognise Ufotable, Kyoto Animation or Studio Ghibli shows and movies immediately).
That doesn't mean every anime not from those distinct looking studios looks the same to me because they don't, but if you were to ask me to tell the demographic/targeted audience between lets say Chihayafuru and Ore Monogatari!! based on visuals alone (genres, themes, story and so on are obviously different) I could not tell you. To me they could both be Shoujo or not. 

As far as presentation goes, I am not sure if I could tell the difference at all. I guess I just simply don't pay any attention at all to that sort of thing. 
Jan 25, 2023 3:21 PM

Offline
Aug 2018
8518
Yveltal1612 said:
Art styles are nearly as varied as there are anime out there. 
I am not nearly well informed enough to differentiate them all, the best I can do are either era based differentiations (late 90's/early 2000's vs mid 2000's/early 2010's vs late 2010's/ 2020's) or studio based differentiations (I can recognise Ufotable, Kyoto Animation or Studio Ghibli shows and movies immediately).
That doesn't mean every anime not from those distinct looking studios looks the same to me because they don't, but if you were to ask me to tell the demographic/targeted audience between lets say Chihayafuru and Ore Monogatari!! based on visuals alone (genres, themes, story and so on are obviously different) I could not tell you. To me they could both be Shoujo or not. 

As far as presentation goes, I am not sure if I could tell the difference at all. I guess I just simply don't pay any attention at all to that sort of thing. 
Lanky body proportions. Wide mouths, round eyes. VERY pretty guys. Hip clothing designs. Candy-like sparkly or polka dot backdrops. Hazy environment art. Flowers. Lots and lots of flowers.


Jan 25, 2023 7:19 PM

Offline
Mar 2021
4152
DoisacChopper said:

I wonder how much of Shoujo's animanga populations consist of fully grown men? 
Shoujo Anime isn't exactly something I would generally watch unless the premise seems enticing. 

When I was a young adult I would sometimes watch "Sailor Moon" with my Fiancée but I would rarely actively try to specifically watch Anime just for the sake of it being specifically a Shoujo. 

I have also watched a few episodes here and there of "Peach Girl", "Maid Sama!", "Cutey Honey F", etc...

The most notable Shoujo Anime I have actually spent the time to finish watching were titles like "Nana" and "Ore Monogatari!!".


Jan 26, 2023 1:15 AM
Offline
Jan 2023
133
No I don't usually like shojou, but then I do like Banana Fish, sometimes the demographic category doesn't represent the actual genre. It's not a good way to really lump anime and manga together. Because there's lots of Shonen that I think are basically Seinen (more suited for older audience) 
If you were to watch Banana Fish and guess it's category I doubt many of you will guess it's actually a shojou.
Jan 26, 2023 2:10 AM

Offline
Jun 2019
4640
Up until a few years ago I had the narrow mindset that all shoujo was for girls and I wouldn't like it, I couldn't have been more wrong. After watching countless terrible shounen/harem romance, I tried some shoujo romance and found they are usually much better written. Fruits Basket, Kamisama Kiss are great. I recently finished Kimi no Todoke and it is without doubt my favourite romance ever, especially S1. Even shoujo like Cardcaptor Sakura, which a me of 10 years ago would never have touched, was a really good watch. Now I try to keep an open mind and enjoy finding new shojo shows.

It's also been nice seeing some new shoujo shows coming out like Hamefura, Villainess Taming Final Boss, Sugar Apple Fairy Tale, Bibliophile Princess and My Happy Marriage Life (although this is actually a josei I discovered).
23feanorJan 26, 2023 2:16 AM
Jan 26, 2023 7:17 AM

Offline
Feb 2020
1718
ChouunShiryuu said:
DoisacChopper said:
I wonder how much of Shoujo's animanga populations consist of fully grown men? 
The entire mahou shoujo loving western male population from observation pero~
well, every magical girl show is made for adult men

no doubt about that. There's cute powerful schoolgirls afterall.

This topic has been locked and is no longer available for discussion.
Pages (2) [1] 2 »

More topics from this board

» 🍉 Summer 2025: Anime of the Season (AOTS)

nirererin - 7 hours ago

39 by Rivka44 »»
32 seconds ago

» Any figures you would like to see as a Fate Servant?

Fukoku - Oct 5

40 by NS2D »»
18 minutes ago

» Waifu War V5 (Anniversary-Edition!) (Round 1) ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page )

TheMinkalex - Sep 28

263 by NS2D »»
26 minutes ago

» About Horror Anime...

KMIR - Yesterday

24 by JayDaAnimeLord »»
43 minutes ago

» Self insertion

BirdyTheMighty - 1 hour ago

10 by Hiyajo-san »»
48 minutes ago
It’s time to ditch the text file.
Keep track of your anime easily by creating your own list.
Sign Up Login