| At the most basic level, shojo anime is Japanese | | | | girls. One example of this would be Kuroshitsuji, or |
| animation that is specifically intended for young girls. It | | | | Black Butler, which is set in Victorian England and |
| can cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from | | | | features the adventures of a young boy named Ciel, |
| idealized romantic relationships to girls who fight crime | | | | who investigates crimes for the queen and is assisted |
| and monsters with their magical powers. The animation | | | | by his demonic butler. |
| style that is typically used in shojo anime is very pretty, | | | | Though each anime is different, and though there are |
| and many shojo anime tend to use the "big eyes, small | | | | exceptions to every rule, shojo anime tends to be |
| mouth" convention of art. The truth is that even though | | | | focused more on emotions and feelings over action. |
| shojo anime is aimed at young girls between the ages | | | | There is special emphasis on how the characters |
| of eight and thirteen, it is actually a genre that can be | | | | behave and what they think, and though all of the |
| enjoyed by fans of any ages. For instance, Sailor | | | | series listed above have action sequences, there is a |
| Moon was one of the very first anime imported and | | | | fair amount of time spent on what those actions mean |
| widely distributed in America, and it has a cult following | | | | and what the consequences might be. |
| that covers fans of every type! | | | | One terrific example of a great shojo anime is |
| When looking at shojo anime, you may be a little bit | | | | Princess Tutu, which tackles love, relationships, |
| surprised at the diversity of topics. For instance, one | | | | responsibility and fairy tales! In this anime, a small duck |
| common type of shojo anime is the magical girl story, | | | | called Ahiru is granted her wish to become a girl and |
| where a young girl realizes that she has magical | | | | to dance with the "prince," a beautiful silent boy named |
| powers and must use them to fight evil and to save | | | | Mytho. She realizes that his heart has literally been |
| the world. Sailor Moon is one anime that falls neatly into | | | | shattered and that she must restore it, which can she |
| this type, though there are certainly others. Another | | | | can do by touching an amulet and becoming Princess |
| common theme that you might see is a more realistic | | | | Tutu. The story takes place at a ballet school, and |
| story about a young girl who deals with romance and | | | | Ahiru slowly learns that nothing is as it seems, and that |
| friendship in a familiar setting like a junior high school. | | | | the ones she originally believed were enemies are |
| One example of this type of anime includes Hana Yori | | | | nothing of the sort. |
| Dango, also known as Boys Over Flowers, where | | | | Shojo anime is a wonderful genre to explore and if |
| Makino Tsukushi, a working class girl, attends an elite | | | | you have ever wanted a great story with plenty of |
| academy and must deal with both bullying and her first | | | | drama and lots of great artwork, search the shojo |
| real relationship. | | | | anime titles out there and see what your options might |
| Interestingly, some anime do not deal with girls as main | | | | be! |
| characters at all, and are merely directed at young | | | | |