Since I was a wee prepubescent teenager in her cringiest fucking phase, I've been engrossed in the world of Japanese shoujo mangas. If you don't know what the shoujo genre is and you live under a rock, shoujo means 'young girl' in Japanese and it's basically a subgenre of romance manga that is catered towards teenage girls. You feel me?
So yes, I used to have an avid crush on Usui Takumi from Kaichou wa Maid Sama and that was... a questionable time, to say the least, in my life. Everything that had come out of my mouth during that time was worth a session of puking and my grades were disgusting for obvious reasons.
Though I still love the idea of shoujo mangas and keep an eye out for new releases that are worth my time, I'm older now and with that, I guess my interest did die down quite a bit. And my tastes have drastically changed too! I used to like Horimiya a lot. But now when I think about it and after watching the anime adaptation recently... Was it really THAT good? Really...? The current me thinks-- "no." It's not good. It's boring. It focuses way too much on its full and boring roster of boring supporting characters. Horimiya probably isn't even a shoujo romance, and I'm too lazy to look that up.
ANYWAYS, as I've grown older and wiser compared to my 12 y/o self, I've realized that most shoujo mangas are-- sorry not sorry-- actually not very good. They're corny as all hell, problematic, and well... They're catered towards young teen girlies with big dreams, so I don't blame it. It's just that I am no longer the target audience.
However, there are a handful of shoujo mangas and anime that I think are still quite good in my memory. Like, I sometimes remember some of these and it brings a smile to my face! It makes me go-- "Oh, I wish I could read that like the first time again!" or "Oh, that was a good one and I don't really remember any particularly weird thing about it!". Despite of my crush on Usui back in 6th grade, Kaichou wa Maid Sama is-- in fact-- not a part of this list because the manga is pure ass on the last arc and it left a bitter taste in my mouth for LIFE.
So, uh, here's a small list of shoujo manga and/or anime that I think STILL lives up to the hype and are actually/mostly good, even when you're not a teenage girl going through puberty.
Note that this is only my opinion and I've only added ones that I've READ or WATCHED, duh. No definitive ranking.
1. Ouran High School Host Club
KISS KISS FUCK SHIT UP 💖
When I say I like campy stuff, THIS is what I mean. Ouran High School Host Club is PURE camp. It's so ridiculous, and it SWIMS in the fact that it's mostly bizarre. I just love stuff that's self-aware as fuck, and OHSHC is peak in self-awareness. The homosexual supporting cast? Mommy and daddy? Twincest? A 4th year high school student who looks and acts like a 5-year-old??? GIRL GET ME SOME. The homoerotic subtext wasn't even a subtext, and I lived for that.
The comedy is so up my alley, it's outrageous. Amidst shoujo manga like L-DK or Kyo, Koi wo Hajimemasu, OHSHC is a beacon of light. Upon a recent rewatch, fortunately I still think OHSHC is iconic af.
2. Last Game
Academic rivals-to-lovers is a great trope, and delicious SLOW BURN? Even better, in my opinion! Put those two together and-- BAM! Last Game is adorable. I just sometimes think about it out of nowhere for some reason, and guess what? I love it when I do. Sure, the art's a bit wonky around the edges pretty much throughout the entirety of the manga BUT sometimes, art doesn't matter when the story's good. Just like how amazing art can't account for shitty writing.
Also, character development! The male lead starts off as a typical straight-A jerk, but flaws are necessary to a character and character DEVELOPMENT is necessary for genuinely good storytelling. I think, comparatively, Last Game's a bit underrated.
3. Kamisama Hajimemashita
I've got only one thing to say-- TOMOE 😩
Just kidding. I've got more to say. I rewatched this one a few months back, and upon my rewatch, I realized how I'd completely missed the fact about how HOT Tomoe is. He's just... ugh. What a charming character. Also, the comedy is so good in this! Tons of funny scenes, lovable characters and I freaking love the opening and ending theme songs of Season 1. I still haven't really watched the 2nd season, but someday I shall.... Someday...
4. Hibi Chouchou
This relatively short manga is super freaking sweet. Created by the same author as A Sign of Affection/Yubisaki to Renren, I digested this in probably less than a week and it's so cute. A popular girl falling in love with a quiet boy? LET'S FREAKING GO! In fact, I like this one a LOT more than A Sign of Affection. Sure, no hot 6 foot something conveniently attractive senpai BUT who gives a fuck? Put two adorable characters together, make 'em fall in love in the most adorable way, and BOOM, peak romance.
5. Toradora
I know that a lot of people don't like Toradora nowadays for some reason-- I don't fucking know-- and maybe I'll have different opinions about it if I rewatched, BUT please. It was sweet, okay? Enemies-to-lovers is my jam. The whole 'we like each others' best friends, so we gotta help each other out UNTIL we're in love with EACH OTHER' trope is absolutely cracking, in my opinion, and this anime is a lovely exhibit. Oh, and height difference. How could I forget?
I also really like that, unlike most shoujo romance anime adaptations, this one had a packed ending. It didn't have 'OOPS THE END. WANNA KNOW MORE? BUY THE MANGA BITCH!' type ending (Ao Haru Ride, ehem) and that added to my satisfaction.
6. and last but not least... VAMPIRE KNIGHT
Get a load of this incestuous vampire edgy masterpiece!!!
...
I fucking hate this manga. But hey, not bad for a hate read/watch.
Turns out, there's actually no sixth to this list. That's all. I swear I've read and seen tons more, but these are the only ones I reminisce about in a positive way. Thanks for reading, if you did!
Which are your favorites? Comment down below!
See ya on the next one, folks.
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