I thought I’d do this list because the josei genre is so small but
there are titles under shoujo that I think older women can still enjoy
and relate to. You might disagree with some titles on this list, but
perhaps keep your mind open to some alternate titles that you might not
have considered. So on with the list!
This anime/manga has a lot of endearing qualities that make it enjoyable for both young and older women. Off beat characters, a complicated relationship, and character development as they mature and learn from one another. It’s about Shizuku’s and Haru’s complicated relationship that struggles as Shizuku is focused on her grades and self-betterment whereas Haru has violent tendencies but a straightforward honest personality. Both characters attempt to break down their walls by learning from each other, neither is perfect but they’re better off together than separated. They have friends and family for support who also help them to mature and understand their feelings for their relationships as well as for their own self improvement. It’s a story of development with love mixed in, and an enjoyable watch or read.
This anime/manga has a lot of shoujo aspects about it (note over the top looks and open shirt above) but if you look beyond the flash there is substance to the story. It’s about Kyoko Mogami who travels to Tokyo to live with her childhood friend Sho and live the dream of being with an idol. Too bad for her Sho is prepared to drop her almost immediately as dead weight, and rather than feel sorry for herself Kyoko vows revenge. There’s love and all that fluff that comes with it, but there’s also the story of a girl who wants to make something of herself and doesn’t need a man to do that for her. Her diligence is admirable, and the story is as much about her development as it is about her love life. It’s a light comedy which helps make it fun to watch and read.
I was surprised when I realized this title falls under shoujo because I’d never considered it anywhere near a shoujo story, but I guess the elements are there. I grew up watching this show when I was younger and I still enjoy it to this day. The story follows Hitomi who finds herself trapped in the world of Gaea fighting alongside Prince Van to save the land against the Zaibach empire that has suppressed Gaea. It’s a fantasy story that centers around Hitomi’s hidden ability and her contribution to this mysterious place. There’s romantic tension but mostly adventure, and with the expansive world of Gaea there’s always something exciting going on. For anyone who might have grown up in North America and remembered when this show played on tv, it’s a nice nostalgic revisit, and definitely something older women can enjoy.
The anime for this show is derived from the otome games of the same title. But if you’re turned off by that idea you shouldn’t be, because a lot of the story for Hakuouki delves into Japanese history involving the tension between the Shinsengumi and rivaling samurai who wish to overthrow them during the Meiji Period. The characters are derived from real people, and the story focuses on the story before the romance (but the romance adds for a nice change in the drama that occurs). The female protagonist Chizuru fights alongside the men and pretends to be a man. So we have an interesting historic anime with a strong female lead, it’s a nice change of pace for the typical fare marketed to young women. Because of the complexity of the story I believe this anime would be appropriate as well for older women as the history is very fascinating and the action scenes are exciting too. The romance is more of an after thought I would say.
Lovely Complex is more of a typical shoujo title than the others on this list, but I think it has redeeming qualities that make it an interesting watch for women young and old. The two love birds/main characters are Risa and Otani who have a complicated relationship as Risa is very tall while Otani is very short. They make for an odd pair and have to deal with their complexes to make their relationship work. It’s a slice of life comedy but I think it goes the extra mile by having characters who learn to stop being bothered by societal norms and enjoy their relationship outside of outsider’s opinions. It’s a charming romantic story that does something different by telling a relatable story.
Why would I include this title in the list? Sailor Moon is one of the most typical shoujo stories that can come to mind, you think shoujo you think magical girls and romance, of course Sailor Moon fits the bill! But the revamp coming this winter is going to do something different, as it’s going to follow the manga more closely than its previous anime counterpart. The manga in contrast to the anime we grew up with is much more mature (alluding to sex, etc.) and it didn’t have all that repetition that we remember from the hundreds of episodes from the anime. I think this revamp is targeting the old audience to revisit a title with all that nostalgia while making a more faithful anime that can appeal to the new audience it’s gathered from the rerelease of the manga. So I’m definitely going to be watching this, and it’s shoujo aspect will not hinder my viewing experience as I think this time around it will be more mature.
I hope you like my list, and that it gave you some ideas for shows to watch if you haven’t already!
Christina
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun/My Little Monster
This anime/manga has a lot of endearing qualities that make it enjoyable for both young and older women. Off beat characters, a complicated relationship, and character development as they mature and learn from one another. It’s about Shizuku’s and Haru’s complicated relationship that struggles as Shizuku is focused on her grades and self-betterment whereas Haru has violent tendencies but a straightforward honest personality. Both characters attempt to break down their walls by learning from each other, neither is perfect but they’re better off together than separated. They have friends and family for support who also help them to mature and understand their feelings for their relationships as well as for their own self improvement. It’s a story of development with love mixed in, and an enjoyable watch or read.
Skip Beat!
This anime/manga has a lot of shoujo aspects about it (note over the top looks and open shirt above) but if you look beyond the flash there is substance to the story. It’s about Kyoko Mogami who travels to Tokyo to live with her childhood friend Sho and live the dream of being with an idol. Too bad for her Sho is prepared to drop her almost immediately as dead weight, and rather than feel sorry for herself Kyoko vows revenge. There’s love and all that fluff that comes with it, but there’s also the story of a girl who wants to make something of herself and doesn’t need a man to do that for her. Her diligence is admirable, and the story is as much about her development as it is about her love life. It’s a light comedy which helps make it fun to watch and read.
Vision of Escaflowne
I was surprised when I realized this title falls under shoujo because I’d never considered it anywhere near a shoujo story, but I guess the elements are there. I grew up watching this show when I was younger and I still enjoy it to this day. The story follows Hitomi who finds herself trapped in the world of Gaea fighting alongside Prince Van to save the land against the Zaibach empire that has suppressed Gaea. It’s a fantasy story that centers around Hitomi’s hidden ability and her contribution to this mysterious place. There’s romantic tension but mostly adventure, and with the expansive world of Gaea there’s always something exciting going on. For anyone who might have grown up in North America and remembered when this show played on tv, it’s a nice nostalgic revisit, and definitely something older women can enjoy.
Hakuouki Series
The anime for this show is derived from the otome games of the same title. But if you’re turned off by that idea you shouldn’t be, because a lot of the story for Hakuouki delves into Japanese history involving the tension between the Shinsengumi and rivaling samurai who wish to overthrow them during the Meiji Period. The characters are derived from real people, and the story focuses on the story before the romance (but the romance adds for a nice change in the drama that occurs). The female protagonist Chizuru fights alongside the men and pretends to be a man. So we have an interesting historic anime with a strong female lead, it’s a nice change of pace for the typical fare marketed to young women. Because of the complexity of the story I believe this anime would be appropriate as well for older women as the history is very fascinating and the action scenes are exciting too. The romance is more of an after thought I would say.
Lovely Complex
Lovely Complex is more of a typical shoujo title than the others on this list, but I think it has redeeming qualities that make it an interesting watch for women young and old. The two love birds/main characters are Risa and Otani who have a complicated relationship as Risa is very tall while Otani is very short. They make for an odd pair and have to deal with their complexes to make their relationship work. It’s a slice of life comedy but I think it goes the extra mile by having characters who learn to stop being bothered by societal norms and enjoy their relationship outside of outsider’s opinions. It’s a charming romantic story that does something different by telling a relatable story.
20th Anniversary Sailor Moon (Out Winter 2014)
Why would I include this title in the list? Sailor Moon is one of the most typical shoujo stories that can come to mind, you think shoujo you think magical girls and romance, of course Sailor Moon fits the bill! But the revamp coming this winter is going to do something different, as it’s going to follow the manga more closely than its previous anime counterpart. The manga in contrast to the anime we grew up with is much more mature (alluding to sex, etc.) and it didn’t have all that repetition that we remember from the hundreds of episodes from the anime. I think this revamp is targeting the old audience to revisit a title with all that nostalgia while making a more faithful anime that can appeal to the new audience it’s gathered from the rerelease of the manga. So I’m definitely going to be watching this, and it’s shoujo aspect will not hinder my viewing experience as I think this time around it will be more mature.
I hope you like my list, and that it gave you some ideas for shows to watch if you haven’t already!
Christina
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