The Soul Eater prologue chapters lean heavily into the ecchi tradition, sexually objectifying the female protagonists both in dialogue and visual representation. One of the notable differences between the manga and anime adaptation is the reduction of sexualized framing, allowing viewers to consider the necessity of “fanservice” in the first place.
The classic 1980s Banana Fish manga is a painful read because it’s able to capture how pervasive white supremacy is throughout all sectors of society. The series also depicts how that ideology is perpetuated through interpersonal relationships and how it has an influence on real-world policy decisions.
The Promised Neverland begins as a sharply crafted horror story, but it soon reveals itself to be a sophisticated critique on restrictive social practices—including the hellishly limited roles expected of girls.
Underneath Chise’s still demeanor and all her magic capabilities is a 15-year-old girl with barely enough energy to keep her head above the water. The Ancient Magus’ Bride dresses its narrative with sparkly romance, but Chise’s journey is far more personal. I know it, because it’s my journey too.
Mental illness is a part of life for many people, yet it’s still a taboo topic that has a lot of stigma attached to it. Often times in fiction it’s portrayed through a “crazy” person, and there haven’t really been a lot of realistic discussions about it. Anime is no exception.
Most western fans first heard of Tsubaki Izumi thanks to the anime adaptation of her manga Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, but Tsubaki’s work goes far beyond that. A look at how her manga has evolved over the years shows that she’s a master at making cutting commentary, crossing demographic lines, and poking fun at gender stereotypes.
There is a double standard at play: media targeted at or starring women is “for girls,” while media targeted at or starring men is “for everyone” (unless, of course, someone who isn’t a man is critical of it; then it wasn’t “for them”).
My Hero Academia is one of my favorite series in recent years. Regrettably, though, it’s not entirely free of some of the most frustrating (and typical) shounen stereotypes that frequently undermine its strong female cast.
The pairing of a meek young woman with a self-assured and wealthy man is common in shoujo manga, sometimes leading to depictions of abusive or unhealthy relationships that are tacitly treated as acceptable by the story and audience. It’s worth examining how The Ancient Magus’ Bride does (or doesn’t) fall into these patterns.
When I read Ranma 1/2 during my first year of high school, I fell in love with Rumiko Takahashi’s signature expressive art. ad colorful cast. Yet the older I get, the harder it is to ignore some of the most problematic aspects of the series, especially how it deals with femininity.
When I watch these heroes-in-training attend U.A. High and compete in an elaborate sports competition, I’m much more impressed with its commentary on the inequality sports competitions breed, particularly in regard to gender.
The success of My Hero Academia can be attributed to many factors, but most prominent among them, at least to me, has been Horikoshi’s ability to break from traditional narratives to create a truly unique story. One such example is in his handling of female characters in that shounen staple: the tournament arc.
Nobody can deny that Bruno is a very smart prince. But what truly makes him special is his hyper-awareness of the invisible forces that have allowed him to devote so much time to the pursuit of knowledge.
Suburban horror plays on the anxieties of people living in these quiet communities, and as such, they tend to focus on the victimization of women. By making Kira’s first victim, Reimi Sugimoto, an active player in the story through the final act, Jojo’s reverses that victimization and turns into something far more empowering.
Trigun is difficult to fit into a genre, so it’s fitting that the women in this singular series can’t be neatly categorized either.
The Nodame Standard is the romantic version of a great shounen rivalry: two characters who love each other pushing each other to achieve their goals.
