Not a genre but actually a demographic. Refers to anime based on manga that was originally serialized in a magazine targeting girls of any age. American fans seem to often be confused and classify any show that has romance and/or major female main characters as shoujo-- this is wrong.
Anime based on manga targeting young women would be called josei. (though very little of the manga targetting young women gets made into anime-- the only ones I can think of are Ebichu and Momoiro Sisters.)
Acquired Taste: These are titles which may take a while to get used to. As such, you should watch several episodes before making up your mind. FLCL, Di Gi Charat, & Serial Experiments Lain are examples of such titles.
| Title | Rating | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| A | ||
 Ayashi no Ceres |
Rent | Twin brother and sister Aki and Aya Mikage are about to celebrate their 16th birthdays. Earlier on, Aya had visited a psychic and was told the fated day when the moon and stars of 16 would meet is coming, and that all hell and doom would break loose. Mysteriously their grandfather invites them over for a "birthday party" and gives them a gift which brings out new powers. Now suddenly the entire Mikage family wants Aya killed since "she will bring them nothing but harm." Aki is no longer allowed to see Aya. Along with that, an ancient legend of a Tennyo (girl from the heavens) is said to have come down to Earth and bathed in a river. A nearby fisherman spotted her and stole her hagoromo (feathered robe) that was hanging on a tree nearby. Without it she could not return to her home in the heavens, and was forced to marry the man and have his children. |
| C | ||
| Ceres, Celestial Legend | Rent | See Ayashi no Ceres |
 Chou! Kuse ni Narisou |
Avoid | Ranma 1/2 wanna be |
| F | ||
| Fille Révolutionnaire Utena | Buy | See Shoujo Kakumei Utena |
| I | ||
| I'll make a habit of it | Avoid | See Chou! Kuse ni Narisou |
| M | ||
| Maria Watches Over Us | Buy | See Maria-sama ga Miteru |
 Maria-sama ga Miteru |
Buy | Yumi is a first year student at the Lillian School For Girls, an exclusive all girl's catholic school. The school has a tradition that older girls take a younger girl as their little sister or "soeur" in order to instruct and look out for them. Though Yumi admires Sachiko, a reserved second year student who is a member of the student council, she has no hopes of being chosen as her soeur. When an innocent encounter leads Sachiko to impulsively ask Yumi to be her soeur, Yumi is suddenly brought into the inner circle of the Roses, who are the members of the student council. With Sachiko at her side, Yumi begins to unravel and understand the relationships between the Roses and their soeurs and figure out her own feelings for Sachiko. |
 Maria-sama ga Miteru 3rd |
Rent | A collection of short stories starring the Yamayurikai beginning with Fukuzawa Yumi going on vacation with Ogasawara Sachiko. |
 Maria-sama ga Miteru ~Haru~ |
Buy | It is now Spring, and a new term is about to start at the Lillian Academy. The relationships between the Roses continues to unfold, in this beautifully expressive tale. |
| MariMite | Buy | See Maria-sama ga Miteru |
| MariMite: ~Haru~ | Buy | See Maria-sama ga Miteru ~Haru~ |
 Marmalade Boy |
Rent |
Marmalade Boy begins when Miki Koishikawa's parents decided to go to Hawaii. They fell in love again with another couple by the name of "Matsuura" and decided to exchange partners with them. Miki was informed by her parents that they would be getting a divorce and marry again. She also learned that the couple her parents were intending to exchange partners with had a son named Yuu Matsuura. Now, not only does Miki have to deal with two sets of parents but her sudden feelings for Yuu... (Synopsis is provided courtesy of momoko8@geocities.co |
| O | ||
| Ominous Ceres | Rent | See Ayashi no Ceres |
| R | ||
| Revolutionary Girl Utena | Buy | See Shoujo Kakumei Utena |
| S | ||
 Shoujo Kakumei Utena |
Buy |
Once upon a time there was a princess grieving over the deaths of her mother and father. Before this princess appeared a prince traveling upon a white horse. |
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