An Exploration through Shojo and Shonen Manga through Sailor Moon and Black Cat

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Recommended: Common themes in literature

An Exploration of Shōjo and Shōnen Manga through Sailor Moon and Black Cat

Genres are one of the first things readers look at to help determine whether or not a book should be read. Although there are many similarities between the genres shounen (manga intended for males) and shoujo (manga intended for females) that make a manga seem like it could be either genre, there are differences that are meant to distinguish between their respective audiences. As a more specific example, the shared themes of fighting, love, and superhuman powers as well as the character in Black Cat and Sailor Moon suggest a similar genre and audience; however, upon closer inspection, subtle differences between the use of these themes and characters in each manga reveal that the intended audiences are the opposite.

Themes are an important part of a genre in manga. For example, a mecha manga would be much less interesting without a technological theme. The same goes for shounen and shoujo manga. Themes such as fighting, love, superhuman powers, etc. are found both in Black Cat and Sailor Moon and work to tell the story. Though these themes are in both manga, how these themes are used is what sets them apart.

Fights the main characters have help keep the stories interesting, and come up many times in both manga. In Sailor Moon, the main character has to continually fight off the forces of evil just like the main character in Black Cat. Both characters even have companions to aid them most of the time. However, the portrayal of conflict in each manga is very different. For example, on page 36 of Sailor Moon (Act 1), Sailor Moon is fighting an energy collecting creatu...

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...tended audiences are distinct. The characters and how they are depicted also contribute to the difference in target audience. Black Cat is intended to be for males and Sailor Moon for females. However, this is not to say that they can only be read by their respective audiences. The fact that these manga have so many similarities implies that there is meant to be crossover in terms of types of readers. The next time you dismiss a book because it is a certain genre, just remember that it might have elements you enjoy incorporated into it.

Aaron, good job. I thought that a lot of your discussion was interesting, though I agree with Gen that there were some issues, especially the lack of original research, To which I’d add that you didn’t.

Works Cited

Takeuchi Naoko, Sailor Moon I, Tokyopop: 1998, pp3-119.

Kentaro Yabuki, Black Cat, Shueisha: 2000-2004

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