Forum - View topicLack of Shoujo-Ai and Yuri
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Kouji
 Posts: 978 |
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This is something I've always been curious about, but why is it that there's such a lack of shoujo-ai and yuri available in the U.S. yet shounen-ai and yaoi has quite a lot of titles available and quite a large fandom? We have a lot of shounen-ai series that are pretty big hits with anime fans like Gravitation and Loveless and we even have some hardcore yaoi licensed but when was the last time you saw a shoujo-ai or yuri anime licensed? And you always hear complaints about how annoying yaoi fangirls are but you never really hear anything about yuri fanboys. In fact, while a lot of my friends who are girls love yaoi, I only have one guy friend who likes yuri. The other guys I'm friends with might like shoujo-ai but they don't seem to like yuri as much or if they do they don't rave about it like the yaoi fangirls do. I've just always found this to be strange especially since I always thought that there were more male anime fans in the U.S. than female, so one would think that shoujo-ai and yuri would be more popular than it is. So, why is it that shounen-ai and yaoi are more popular but there's such a lack of shoujo-ai and yuri available in the U.S.?
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Nagisa
Moderator
 Posts: 6128 Location: Atlanta-ish, Jawjuh |
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As far as yuri goes (assuming you intend "yuri" to mean more sexualized shoujo-ai), I'd say it's been around a while, it's just that nobody noticed. Girl-on-girl action in hentai or ecchi anime is nothing new, and it doesn't stand out as much as two guys going at it because it's exactly what the target audience (horny males) wants to see. Sexualized yuri has existed in this country for ages, we've just been lumping it in with the general hentai pile.
Now as for shoujo-ai, I think it has more to do with a lack of shoujo-ai anime in general than any sort of American aversion to it. Shounen-ai as its own genre has existed for a few years more than shoujo-ai, and has had more of a chance to shore up its numbers and amass a specific, dedicated shounen-ai fanbase. It's only been within the last couple years that shoujo-ai has begun to make its presence genuinely known, with shows like Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito, Maria-sama ga Miteru (arguably the "Gravitationesque" flagship title for shoujo-ai), Strawberry Panic, Kannaduki no Miko, and Simoun only recently popping up, where before 2003, all that really existed on the shoujo-ai front was Utena (well, Miyuki-chan in Wonderland, but then that might fit more into the ecchi yuri bracket). Now that shoujo-ai has begun to assert itself in the same way that shounen-ai had done for a good three or four years prior, we should now expect to see more shoujo-ai coming into the American market, and more of a similarly dedicated fanbase forming. |
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darkchibi07
 Posts: 5466 |
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Hmmm, if that's the case, I guess we could start by supporting Seven Seas' future releases of the Kashimashi manga and the Strawberry Panic novels. I mean, it does make sense to support what we have available despite the lameness of the actual title (like Kannazuki no Miko even though I'm still in the process of buying it because Chikane's and Himeko's relationship is freakin' hot).
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Richard J.
 Posts: 3367 Location: Sic Semper Tyrannis. |
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Nagisa has a good point. Shounen-ai has been around longer as a stand alone genre. Still, I think a large part of the problem is the fan base itself.
I think everyone here is familiar with the classic yaoi/shounen-ai fangirl. 
Now, have you ever met a yuri/shoujo-ai fanboy who is as dedicated? Heck, have you even MET a yuri/shoujo-ai fan period? For some odd reason, it seems like people just aren't as willing to call themselves fans of these types of series nor do they seem as willing to buy them when they come out. The only way for companies to judge a genre's popularity is through sales. Darkchibi07 is right about supporting titles that you might not feel are the best, in order to give better titles a chance to come over. The slightly "lame" titles are generally cheaper to license than the better ones (although the quality of a title is really a personal issue. Insert cliche about trash and treasure.) Up until now, I haven't bought anything from Seven Seas, but I'm picking up the Strawberry Panic! light novels and the Kashimashi manga when they come out. (Also Kodomo no Jikan manga, the one by K Watashiya not the hentai, because its ecchi loli comedy.  )
Fans need to buy the official releases. If they don't, they have no right to get pissed when the licensing companies don't license similiar titles. Fans need to promote the titles that are available by selling their strong points to other fans, buying the official products, and by just being willing to say "yes I watch this and yes it is good!"
Fixed  (I actually like this one, but a certain scene disturbed the hell out of me.)
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Animefreak6969
 Posts: 587 |
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I for one HAVE met a few shoujo-ai fanboys as i am one but not uber serious about it, and they, like me, willingly tell and state that we are shoujo-ai/yuri fans. I love Yuri, they seem to make more emotional love stories then straight up love stories (Kannazuki no Miko and Kashimashi and Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito are all some of my favorites because they do or almost make me cry every time i see them) However if nobody actually buys them or is afraid or shy to buy them then we have no say in whether more should be made or be brought state-side. I for one wish everyone was a Yuri fan so we could all talk loudly about it at school or wherever, however most of my friends wont admit that they are but to me in what seems to be secret, because I always do or say anything that, in other peoples minds is unacceptable, but Im just a fan and admit it.
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omar235
 Posts: 1572 Location: Florida, Jacksonvile |
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I also wondered this....I am a huge fan of yuri and have often wondered why so many people are quite about it. A friend of mine is also a huge fan of yuri but he won't purchase any (he borrows them from me) cause he dosen't want them to be up on his shelf in plain view, he thinks people will think he's weird. I tell him he's already weird since his rooms walls have nothing but hentai chicks, he has a mess of figurines, and a wide dvd collection. He thinks gay romance anime is embarassing compared to that.
 I didn't know it wasn't very popular, though I did wonder why not many are made or at least I've haven't found many but I do hope they keep makeing them cause I need my yuri. 
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Siilent
Posts: 184 Location: Canada |
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Unfortunately this isn't answering your question (which seems to have been done already), but starting one of my own that this thread reminded me of.
Er, is [b]Kiddy Grade[/i] shoujo-ai? I mean, I haven't seen any of it yet and, although I dislike female characters for the most part, it looked quite interesting so I looked at the opening theme and it seemed kind of suggestive to me. 
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cyrax777
 Posts: 1825 Location: the desert |
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compared the the amount of yaio fangirls yuri fanboys pales in comparassion. would be my guess.
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PantsGoblin
 SubscriberEncyclopedia Editor  Posts: 2969 Location: L.A. |
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No, not really. There's fanservice, but there isn't any of that kind of relationship going on between the two main characters (at least of what it shows, I guess it could be possible). Although I have no objection to it, I also don't have any strong feelings for shoujo-ai. I mean, it's okay, but there isn't anything I love about it. Nowhere near the level of absolute insanity of shounen-ai fan girls. Also, I really disliked Kashimashi. Probably one of the most boring and uninteresting anime I've seen... it was my first shoujo-ai I can think of (other than pornographic). I'll certainly give other ones chances though... they just better not be as boring and repetitive as Kashimashi though. |
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HitokiriShadow
 Posts: 6251 |
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No, its not. The suggestive artwork is just fanservice. There enough little things to get Yuri fans' thinking/wishing there was, but there is nothing in the series to substantiate it. They are partners and good friends, thats it. |
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Pleroma
 Posts: 443 Location: Eromanga island |
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Nanoha Strikers will make al the pain go away
Would be nice to see more Yuri, but the problem is that unlike with Yaoi where its almost universally fangirls, yuri actually draws both sexes so a rabit comunity is unlikely to form due to the diferent perspectives. |
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Kruszer
 Posts: 7983 Location: Minnesota, USA |
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Well, you can go out right now and pick up Kannazuki no Miko, from Geneon if you want some of that. Closet lesbians, mecha, action, drama, romance, it's great. I don't usually go for the subject matter personally, however, it was just an amazing series, I'd highly recomend it. |
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Animefreak6969
Posts: 587 |
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Kannazuki no Miko is like every anime put into one and isnt a comedy!!
and i cant wait for NANOHA STRIKERS!!! |
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