Summer is for Shoujo's !!!

lopezzceciliaa1999
Aug 4, 2024
4 min read

It is no secret that 2024 seems to be the year we all want to please our inner child, heal the parts of ourselves we may have hidden away and get back to the "me" we once were. It is the renaissance of all things self care, loser-ism, 2014-esque vibes if you get what I mean.

What that means for me is that this summer has been full of reading novels and manga, watching anime and kdramas, crafting and listening to middle schools me favorite bands. Incredible what a little soul searching can do to heal your heart and how tapping into what you've always loved can help you feel whole again.

Shoujo anime and manga have always had a special place in my heart. It is not only the romance that is captivating, it is the growth and transformation the characters have that inspire me. The displays of platonic love and how that on its own can move the audience to tears, i.e. me. And it is also the aesthetics and art styles that blow my mind every time.

These stories are everything to me, and I know even if I tire of them in some distant future I can always come back. Surely it will only take one or two episodes for me to be entirely obsessed and involved again.

I hope this will inspire you to start a new shoujo or pick up a new manga! Get out there and try new things, or revisit something you once loved :,)

Here is a comprehensive list of my shoujo recommendations and opinions that no one asked for!

KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR

Three words best describe this series: cat and mouse. The age-old trope of the push and pull between two people and testing the limits. Full of fluff, angst, unmatched humor and memorable characters that you can't help but love. There is of course the best trope found family between the student council members and also arguably the best grand gestures and love confessions. Of all the shoujo's I have seen this one holds the top spot for sure.

( 4 Seasons available for streaming on Crunchyroll)

2. FRUITS BASKET

Found family strikes once again! Noteworthy for the most iconic shoujo protagonist of all time Tohru who could in theory take on any villian or antagonist by simply having a heart to heart ( Lol I know you all have seen the Sukuna vs Tohru memes). Tohru is truly the final boss. This anime is also known for its insane plot about the Chinese zodiac. It is worth the heartbreak, this anime is not for the weak.

(3 Seasons + 1 prelude film available on Crunchyroll)

3. FROM ME TO YOU: KIMI NI TODOKE

Friendships, romance and the worst miscommunications in any shoujo, but nonetheless a perfect story. This is a peak high school anime that makes you want to be a better person and friend. It also has side romances that rival, and even at times outshine our main couple. Big ups to Netflix for giving us a thrid season nine years after the first episode aired in 2009. As to whether or not we will be getting a season four I am unsure, potentially in another decade! But alas we will wait.

( 3 Seasons: 1-2 available for streaming on Crunchyroll and 1-3 on Netflix)

4. A SIGN OF AFFECTION

Yuki, a college student who is deaf meets impossibly hot guy on the train by chance, he is a polyglot. She teaches him sign language while he teaches her about the world. Wholesome, mature and a perfect display of a healthy relationship that grows organically. Yuki and Itsuomi will capture your heart with their banter and cute expressions. #lovetriangle

(1 Season available on Crunchyroll- manga is currently ongoing)

5. ORANGE

Has nothing to do with oranges (shocker)! Second lead syndrome has possibly never second lead syndromed this hard before. Heartache personified, this anime will make you cry more times than you can count. It makes you question your morals and if you would sacrifice everything to give the person you love a chance at happiness even if it meant losing them. Past, present, the future, alternate timelines, this story does it all. Depicts how the choices we make matter and how your actions affect those around you no matter how small. Bingeable because you simply cannot look away.

(1 Season available on Crunchyroll)

Honorable mentions that I will not go into detail about are: Horimiya, The Saints Magic Power is Omnipotent, Your lie in April, Blue Spring Ride, and Psychic Princess to round out my top 10 favorites.

Additionally here are a few shoujo mangas I hope get screen adaptations: