He shoujo It is a demographic of manga and anime that is aimed at young girls between 12 and 18 years old (this is just a recommendation, since anyone could start reading shoujo at any time). However, demography not only means that it is directed towards a sector of the population, but that its stories have a distinctive seal between elements and identity. (reading a shonen romcom is not the same as reading a shoujo romcom).
However, it seems that there are fewer and fewer adaptations of shoujo manga to anime. Although the demographic remains popular in manga and live-action formats, anime studios have been very selective when selecting which franchises to convert to anime. Among dozens of premieres each season, only one or two new anime are of the shoujo demographic, which has led fans to think that this demographic is in decline.
The best time for shoujo demographics was between 2000 and 2010. Many stories of high school romance and first love from the perspective of a female protagonist managed to win the hearts of viewers. From “Kimi ni Todoke” until “Suki tte Ii na yo. (Say “I Love You.”)“, both series focus on a quiet female protagonist who wants to connect with her peers, but her introverted nature is an obstacle. They receive the help of the most popular boy in school and the rest already know.
The popularity of shoujo also came from the rise of reverse harems. “Ouran High School Host Club” is the most emblematic example of this trend, following the story of Haruhi Fujioka, a girl who joins a high school’s hosts club to pay for an antique vase she broke by accident. Although gender-bending or crossdressing had been seen before, “Ouran High School Host Club” executed this theme in an intelligent and humorous way, leaving an impression on the public that still lasts today. It is even said that this franchise led many women to discover genres such as Boys’ Love (BL) and Yaoi for the first time, unintentionally increasing the popularity of both.
But shoujo definitely entered a period of decline. The demographics could not be updated properly, presenting the same stories over and over again. The romantic plots of shoujo became repetitive ad nauseam: two people meet, fall in love, confess and finally become a couple. This is completely different from shonen romance, which knew how to survive thanks to the incorporation of other subgenres to captivate the public.
With these combinations, rom-coms were able to survive within the shonen demographic, so studios began producing more anime adaptations for this demographic for the simple fact that there is more opportunity for success. Studios are primarily looking to make a profit, and they likely won’t produce a manga adaptation if it doesn’t have a solid fan base.
Furthermore, we cannot ignore the fact that women themselves no longer think the same as they did twenty years ago. The male protagonists of shoujo series are assertive and outgoing, and take on the role of “prince charming who saves the female protagonist.” Nowadays there is talk of women’s empowerment, so they want to get rid of traditional gender stereotypes, and shoujo did not know how to adapt to these changes in time.
Or that’s what many thought. Certainly, shoujo has adapted to the new perspectives and interests of modern young girls. There are more and more series starring brave women motivated by their own success. “Akagami no Shirayuki-hime (Snow White with the Red Hair)” and “Akatsuki no Yona (Yona of the Dawn)” are two clear examples of independent and strong female protagonists, who allow modern young women to identify with them.
The rise of isekai also ended up hitting the shoujo demographic like a meteorite. Studios began to adapt many light novels on this theme, especially where a young woman is reincarnated in another world and must learn to survive and create a new life. This combination of shoujo and isekai led to the creation of a new subgenre: that of reincarnated villains. Did it seem like a coincidence that we see these adaptations one after another every season?
So if you think the shoujo demographic is on the decline, you’re actually stuck in the 2000s. Today, shoujo is no longer just focused on serious romance, but has evolved to take a new perspective on the formula. romantic love story. It’s not that shoujo is in a dark age, but rather that it has evolved to adapt to recent times. In fact, you’d be surprised how many popular series in recent years are, in fact, from the shoujo demographic.
Fountain: CBR
