Manga artist Hagio Moto’s work in particular opened my eyes to how versatile the iconic shoujo style can be as a storytelling tool—not just for romance, but for horror, mystery, and mind-expanding science fiction.
Jun 14, 2024 • Subscribe
More like this
Unpacking: A life and romance told through stuff
I’m always on the look-out for some new indie games to play, and saw this one pop up when it was still a free demo on Steam. I…
15 Shoujo Anime Not About Romance
Shoujo anime has long been the demographic genre of choice for the love-addled anime fan. Unlike the shounen genre where series of big action and epic
Midnight Occult Civil Servants, Natsume's Book of Friends, Yona of the Dawn, Children of the Whales, Hell Girl
My Dress-Up Darling ep6 – Shoujo Sparkles
My Dress-Up Darling has been quite the darling of the anime season so far. Let me tell you all about the latest episode.
My Challenges Writing About VTubers (It’s Not Just About VTubers)
I’ve been struggling a bit with the blog lately. I decided to re-read some of my posts from the last year or so, and I noticed that my…
Sci-fi and Sparkles 2: Shoujo and Scott Talk Christmas Anime (pt 2)
This is part two of a two-part collaboration post. The first half can be found over on Mechanical Anime Reviews! Without further ado, on to the rest of…
Sci-Fi and Sparkles 2: Shoujo and Scott Talk Christmas Anime – Part 1
Hello everyone one and all. Welcome to another collaboration by Shoujo from Shoujo Thoughts and myself. We meet once again under our title of Sci-Fi and Sparkles to…
Takemiya & Hagio
Edited by Arianna, Oscar, Nabilah, and Hilal Content Warning: Mentions of pedophilia, pederasty, and sexual abuse. Please read our introduction to this series here. Setting The Stage This…
Naruto and Sasuke: Not Just Rivals
I edited this whole video in a week 😤 00:00 AMV 02:13 Track 7 (Naruto and Sasuke) songs used: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrU8zs0tzKSEpiwx9ObgdjbPaXC3Errpd https://www.patreon.com/Cariboukun Thanks @linesinmotion for the thumbnail! This is the last long video I…
"Not Like Other Shoujo"
"These aren't like other shoujo, these are cooooool shoujo" and the myth of competitive femininity. Other Great Video Essays on the Topic: Sarah Z https://youtu.be/BNCWW80WTPY?si=V6NdXhRWTEf3k1gT Tiffany Ferg https://youtu.be/7nL-kgbbcBA?si=K_YqAgEC-c-zNXTg Maia C https://youtu.be/3n0pofzTutw?si=cI_Eoq8p1gytL4kA Jordan Theresa https://youtu.be/Ngz0D1J8Zb0?si=7GThZZszsPlqdPRI SOCIAL MEDIA: https://beacons.ai/colleensmangarecs SUPPORT ME ON…
Making Assumptions: Violet Evergarden, Disability, and Imperfection
Our final thematic post this Holy Week was written by Twwk and originally posted two years ago this past Thursday in the now-discontinued Area of Effect magazine. It…
Naruto – Not just nostalgia
Hey guys what is up welcome back to my blog I’m so thankful that you guys took the time out of your day to read my blog post.…
Adventures in the Key of Shoujo: Stepping on Roses Vol.1
Stepping on Roses Vol. 1 | By Rinko Ueda | Published by Shojo Beat | Rated: Older Teen, Ages 13+ Ah, getting back to old habits can be…
This Anime Should NOT Work.
Gintama is one of the most unique anime ever made. It sounds like something that shouldn't work but it does. Let's talk about it. My manga: https://mangadex.org/title/bd2146ff-c86b-41c9-bd2b-f02d253516de/devoro https://bato.to/series/164190/devoro Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/maskedasura Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/masked_asura Instagram:…
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie
There is only one great thing about this anime, and the rest is very ordinary. But that one thing is so exceptional I must say I haven’t seen…
Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie
Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie is currently streaming on Crunchyroll....
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie addresses interesting themes. Let’s get to them! But first, the summary for those who haven’t seen the anime yet. Not Just a Cutie…
Star Trek: Lower Decks is All About Assumptions and the Ass They Make Out of You and Me
At first glance, Star Trek: Lower Decks seems to be about the wild adventures of the incompetent crew of the starship Cerritos. But its heart, it’s a show…
The Assumptions that Isolate Us
What do ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, and an anime movie about a single mother raising wolf children have in common? A lot more than you’d think. Wolf Children is…
Shoujo and the Bride of Christ (and IV): Just Because!, Utena, and Princess Tutu
Just Because! starts with a certain Haruto trying again and again to achieve a home run in an empty school field. If he does, he will confess his…
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie – 03 – Not Clowning Around
It’s been established that Yuu is accident-prone, but his misfortunate is mitigated by the fact he has a cute and amazing girlfriend in Micchon, made only cuter by…
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie (1)
Author & Artist Keigo MakiReleased October 2020 by Kodansha ComicsTranslation: Karen McGillicuddyEditor(s): Ben ApplegateGenre: Romance, Comedy, School Life
Which series ended just about perfectly?
What show absolutely nailed its ending? What makes a conclusion satisfying? Have any of your faves hurt their stories by adding more on?
I Just Wanna Talk About Tsukumogami
It’s what it says on the can folks.. It’s been a while since I took the time to write about Yokai and I just got a hankering for…
I Just Wanna Talk About Tsukumogami
It’s what it says on the can folks.. It’s been a while since I took the time to write about Yokai and I just got a hankering for…
Stories About Toxic Work Environments in Japan
Toxic work environments in Japan can be incredibly challenging to navigate. However, by understanding your rights, you can empower yourself.
A conversation between Moto Hagio, Hideaki Anno, and Shimako Sato
For the 189th issue of the Magazine House publication Hato yo! published January 1st 2000, movie director and screenwriter Shimako Sato leads a three way conversation between herself…
Osamake – 02 – The Cost of Assumptions
Maru Sueharu was indeed a famous and talented child actor, while his dad was a stuntman and his mother an “unsuccessful” actress. Abe Mitsuru asks why Sueharu suddenly…
Unpacking & Moving Past Jujutsu Kaisen’s “Peak” Shonen
Lucas DeRuyter reflects on the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, a crystallization of the best and worst elements of the shonen genre.
Shikimori’s not just a cutie – Not a masterpiece but overhated
Hey guys what is up welcome back to my blog I’m so thankful that you guys took the time out of your day to read my blog post.…
Anime is Not Just in Tokyo: Part3!
Welcome to Part 3 of my series on Japanese destinations outside of Tokyo, Japan and the amazing anime that happen there! Though there have been hundreds of anime…
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie – Episode 1
A seemingly promising premiere that's ultimately too many tropes doing... nothing at all.
Remember the Comrades, Not Just the Cowboys
Some interesting psychological research I found recently is pointing out that collectivism found in Eastern cultures is more creative than individualist Western cultures in ways that aren’t promoted...
First Impression: Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie
Second-year high school student Izumi sets off on the first day of the new school year. His mom’s warning as he leaves sounds like a joke…until we learn…
Holiday Review: MAKEUP IS NOT (JUST) MAGIC
The strangest josei manga we got this year was also technically another nonfiction manga in the same vein as something like My Lesbian Exper...
First Look: Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie
Izumi is perpetually unlucky, clumsy, and unassertive. Fortunately, he has a cute and capable girlfriend to protect him! WAIT, you’re saying she’s a girl, she’s cute, AND she…
Fan Perception Does Not Accurately Represent a Work
I noticed people recently saying that people only care about Nier Automata for 2B’s ass and that the game isn’t actually good. This is a type of comment…
Just the Weapons, and a Leg? Work-in-Progress #2: MODEROID Ingram Double Build
Just chugging along with this double build and I’m a good portion of the way complete with both kits. With just the hands, weapons, and a leg of…
How To Learn About Japanese Culture Through Anime
I was looking through my twitter feed when I suddenly remembered how a lot of people kept telling me that I know so much about Japanese culture and…
Hard Work and Guts
Another section reaches parity today with the addition of mecha profiles. This time, it’s Gainax’s Aim for the Top! series, and the following sections have been updated: Gunbuster Diebuster…
Eiyuu Kyoushitsu - Episode 7 - Yessica Sparkles
Yessica doesn't mind a mixed bath with boys staring at her. Instead, she encourages it. Look at her more, boys! Eiyuu Kyoushitsu - Episode 7
Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete – Episode 6 – That Secret About Haruka and Koritsu
Episode impressions of Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete Episode 6 as there is more to Koritsu after she join Venalita's team. Magenta seems to enjoy playing with her without…
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie – 01 (First Impressions) – My Shield and Defender
So many rom-coms play will-they-won’t-they for the entire season (or three!) before the couple officially exchanges confessions or starts dating, making shows like this almost a novelty. Izum…
It’s Not Always About the Sex
The more things change, the more they stay the same. For as long as I can remember there has been a raging debate about how characters get frequently…
Anime is Not Just in Tokyo: Part 1!
Tokyo might seem like the most anime-est of locations, after all it’s the home of the cosplay and kawaii capital -Harajuku, the iconic city crushing monster that started…
Lets Just Not: Elitism in the Anime Community
So there’s something we really need to talk about–as an anime community. As you know, anime has become more mainstream than ever before. No longer are the days…
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie – 05 – River Dance
Exams are over and summer break is here, so the gang takes the train to the river for a day of sun and fun…but not too much sun, since…
Shikimori’s Not Just Cute #01 — Cut to Sparklies
A+ direction. This show and RPG Real Estate are likely to be delayed if not next week, then in the near future, because Dogakobo was in the news yesterday for…
Anime is Not Just in Tokyo: Part 4!
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Tokyo might seem like the center of all things anime and Japanese, but far from the bustling mega city where over 35…
Horimiya – 01 (First Impressions) – Not Just Being Nice
What if there was a rom-com airing concurrently with Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki that did away with game metaphors and meditations on the right way to live? But was instead just…
Bocchi the Rock! – 05 – Not Just for Me
Seika distributes the girls’ pay, and for a moment Bocchi dreams of all the nice things she can spend it on. Unfortunately, she forgot that every one of…