Shounen, Shoujo, Seinen and more: main anime genres

We will tell you everything about each of them so that you have no more doubts!

Japanese animation has become extremely popular all over the world, which has allowed the market for Japanese animation to expand. anime on a large scale in recent years. But did you know that this type of content is divided into different genres targeting different audiences? shonen, shojo as well as seinen they 3 main that are coming to the West and today we are going to explain the differences between them as well as introduce other important genres. Let’s go there?

shonen

Dragon Ball Z

When we talk about anime, what usually comes to mind for most people is popular works with a lot of struggle it’s called anime Shounen.

shonen, literally means “for boys” – so it will be something like “anime for boys” – which makes it more demographic than the genre itself. My hero academy???????? Dragon Ball Z???????? naruto… All those big anime names Shounen!

This type of anime is aimed at a young male audience in the age group from 12 and 18 years old, considered the most popular among anime and manga. Their stories and narratives often focus on one main thing: The hero’s journey and your development on itbasically a character male like the main character.

But don’t think that shonen limited only by actions! Sub-genres such as comedy, melodrama, sports etc. may also be of this genre, although they are much less common. A well-remembered example among fans of this anime genre long dialogues among explosive battles, as if the opponents had all the time in the world to wait for each character to have their own personal reflection.

Examples:

• Knights of the Zodiac
• kaisen jujutsu,
• Chainsaw,
• naruto,
• one piece,
• Bleach.

shojo

fruit basket

shojo, on the other hand shonen, means “For girls” in free translation. It is also a genre aimed at a younger audience, but feminine.

The plot of these serials always presents girl in the title role, all of its events focus on his dramas, personal life, dilemmas, romances and everything that marks the development of women. But don’t be fooled by this softer pattern, because just like shōnen, there are different sub-genres that can change the perspective of these pieces.

Examples

• candy candy,
• Colegio Ouran Host Club,
• Vampire Knight.
  

Maho Shojo

Sailor Moon

O Maho Shojofor example, is one of those sub-genres that has characters female warriors and with magical powersas in the case with Sailor Moon???????? In addition to Sailor Moonsome other anime are also very popular among the genre which is one of the most profitable in the industry.

Examples

• Sailor Moon;
• Sakura Card Collector,
• Puella Magi Madoka Magica,
• franchise Precure (Pretty Cure)????????

seinen

seinen means (loosely translated) “adult” or “adult” and, as the name suggests, they are intended for the general public. mature, usually between 18 and 40 years old???????? These are also works dedicated to the genre male, containing some more complex themes and developments that are not suitable for the little ones.

scenes from violence surplus, inappropriate languagecontent erotic… It’s all part of the productions seinen and how the authors of these works approach certain topics can change the mindset of the public on several scales.

Examples

• Berserk;
• Ghost in armor;
• Monster;
• homunculi;
• Akira;
• the work of Junji Ito.

Josei

The voice of silence

Josey, just like the floor seinen, are works aimed at a wider audience. adult, although feminine.

He brings maturity shojo, featuring more mature stories revolving around daily as well as women’s problemsusually expressing a point of view realist for stories.

Examples

• The voice of silence????????
• Nodame Cantabile;
• Usagi Drop;
• Paradise kiss.

Kodomo

pokemon

Kodomo anime made with a focus on children, the largest audience among 4 and 10 years old????????

These anime usually have important life lessons for young people to learn in a fun and easy way: respect elders???????? Team work???????? the importance of friendship… All of these are some of the most common examples. The plots of these works are usually more simply it’s from easy understandingas well as the importance family values oriental are very present.

Examples

• Hamtaro,
• pokemon,
• beyblade

Boys love and girls love

the

Boys love as well as girls love it’s an anime with a main character LGBTQIA+even though their demographic is often made up of girls.

O girls love brings romantic stories involving characters feminine, while Boys love does the same, only with symbols the male. In the past, the works were also known by the terms shōjo-ai and shōnen-ai, respectively, but these names fell into disuse due to the usually given negative connotations.

It is worth remembering that in this category of work no explicit scenes or many hints of sexual overtones. It’s because of the subgenres Yuri (with explicit scenes between women) and yaoi (with explicit scenes between men).

Examples

• Citrus;
• The;
• Yuri on ice

Observation

naruto

Even though the main genres of anime differ between “content for boys” as well as “content for girls”, it is always worth noting that both genres can watch any work, without restrictions. The settings above are for anime and manga market be able to correctly direct each of the works to its own magazine certain target audience, but does not limit those who consume something.

you can be the one woman who loves shonen as well as seinen this is the person who loves shojo???????? or love the work in general, not caring about demography everyone.

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