Shounen vs shoujo manga

[inkhana]

I don't remember if we've done this before, but for the purposes of research I'm wondering which type people prefer - shounen or shoujo manga (please vote above). You don't have to give any special reasons if you don't want to.

[Ashley]

I really prefer shojou although I haven't read that many shonen. I prefer shojo mostly because I find the art more appealing, and the storylines a little more likeable to my personality (ok so I'm a romanticist, so what) Oh, and of course Tanemurai-sensei is a shojo artist

[shooraijin]

Shoojo. I'm sappy. Hee hee.

[TheMelodyMaker]

I voted shoujo... I think that's the cuter-looking one, if I remember correctly. (Please pardon my terrible memory. ^_^; )

[Psycho Ann]

What? I'm the only one so far voting for shonen? XD I've read triple the amount of shoujo than shonen... but I still like shonen better ^^ Where else can you get your healthy amount of "Friendship! Rivals! Training! VICTORY!!!" XD

Oh, and high dreams declarations!
"I want to be the Pirate King!"
"I want to be the Shaman King!"
"I want to be the Hokage!"
"I want to..." ad nauseum. I meant that in a good way.

[Omega Amen]

I have a question for inkhana and Psycho Ann.

Is Steelblood shoujo or shounen? Is Psychoteers shoujo or shounen?

How I vote depends on your answers.

[Psycho Ann]

Off-topic (sorry Inky!): You know... Psychoteers is drawn in a shonen style, but seeing how the main male characters aren't out yet... *gasp* Is it shoujo??? O_o;; Paladin, however, would count as shonen, at least I'm aiming for it to be XD I personally see Steelblood as shonen, though Inky would have a better say on this ^^

[Omega Amen]

You know... Psychoteers is drawn in a shonen style, but seeing how the main male characters aren't out yet... *gasp* Is it shoujo??? O_o]Okay... do you want Psychoteers to be in the shoujo or shounen direction or are you not sure at this point?

I personally see Steelblood as shonen, though Inky would have a better say on this ^^

I am patient. I can wait for inkhana to respond.

To me the question is not really off-topic since those two works are really the only manga I have read so far. I would like to answer the poll question, but I am not sure of these works' classification.

[MasterDias]

I personally perfer shonen titles over shojo at this point... The themes and such contained in them are more attractive to me.

But, I have only read a few shojo titles currently...

[inkhana]

SB is shounen...^^ Definitely. You were right on, Ann...

[TheMelodyMaker]

You both do shonen? *slaps forehead* I voted for the wrong one, then; I should have voted for both! I'm so confused... *shakes head in disbelief*

[Saint]

oh yeah, Shonen. i like it all, but shonen is just so much more to my style.

[ShiroiHikari]

I'm the only one that voted "both" ._. I like manga like Hikaru no Go, and Fruits Basket. Although I do lean more toward shoujo most times.

[Elric_kun]

i like them both^^ but im starting to like shoujo more

[Psycho Ann]

Psychoteers wouldn't count as shoujo due to the lack of romance (it's going to be there... um, kinda) but it's hardly shonen either due to lack of action -_- I would label it 'alternative' but yeah... just think it as shoujo.

Heh, Steelblood is shonen! Come to think of it... the majority of online Christian manga are shonen or 'shonen-like' in having action and all that without the typical shoujo romances and screen tones.... ah, just me rambling off there. ^^;

[Saint Kevin]

Don't read manga (save for Ann's and Inky's) so I guess I can't vote.

[CobaltAngel]

I'm pretty close to liking both, but sometimes all the mushy stuff gets to me. But its wrong to say that one is more plot centered then the other, because it depends on what your reading. Some shonen is all about fighting, and the plot is just a little side thing to give the main character an excuse to beat the crap out of people. This happens with shoujo mangas too, only with love storied and cutsie outfits instead of fighting. But there are really, really good mangas for both too. I frankly don't care which it is as long as it has a good story.
(If the above doesn't make sense, I'm sorry. I just typed it as it came into mind so it might be hard to follow XD)
But still, like I said, I think I like shonen just a tad better. I'm not sure why, maybe because my brothers will read it too so I have someone to talk to about it?

I'd also like to throw out there that I think alot of shoujos were meant more for guys and alot of shonens were meant for girls. Cuz of the whole bish thing. ^^;;

[RoyalWing]

I voted for both! Even though, all the comic books I have are "gal's comics"! But I find the ones for boys interesting too!

But I would say that I like the just in between ones, for example by Inkhana and Psycho Ann their comics I consider them neither because they are mostly adventure stories, where love, action, and all that other stuff mix up. And those ones are the best! *^-^*

[Kesshin]

>>>What? I'm the only one so far voting for shonen? XD I've read triple the amount of shoujo than shonen... but I still like shonen better ^^ Where else can you get your healthy amount of "Friendship! Rivals! Training! VICTORY!!!" XD<<<

Right you are, Ann my friend! *high fives Ann* Adventure, friendship, rivals, training!! [ninja_mode]I will become the village champion, and prove my worth to the villagers, especially that show-off Sasuke![/ninja_mode]

[AngelSakura]

I like shojo. ^^ Mostly shojo is without violence or fanservice, and I am very romantic (in my mind).

[Vyse]

Inky, do you mind if I steal your idea and put up a version of this one the anime board? ^_^

[Mave]

I like both equally. Both have their own fair share of pros and cons. ^^

I think Ann and Inky do shonen. XD I happen to be pretty bad at shonen comics. T_T

[RoyalWing]

Don't Worry Mave! I like Kingdom Come just the way it is!

[inkhana]

Inky, do you mind if I steal your idea and put up a version of this one the anime board? ^_^

No prob. I'm doing this for someone else's info. ^^

[Ducky]

I like most of the manga I've read... I love the fighting in shonen, but the shoju bishies are so cute... I would've said shonen, but then I had to go and read furuba so now I have to say both.

[uc pseudonym]

In all honesty, I cannot vote for any of the three selections. I prefer manga that trascends the shonen/shoujo lines in some manner. Both, in my opinion, are extremely specialized on their own. I will recognize that both terms have significant variances in definition (for girls, for boys, female leads, male leads, romance based, action based).

Shonen: Fighting alone becomes dry. The genre needs interesting characters with full personalities and real emotions. Characters should change and develop over time, in more ways than physical.

Shoujo: I have my own life, why should I read about other people's lives? Without some other element, the genre has little interest for me. If the focus is honest romance, very well, I have no real issue with that as long as the focus is not the entirity of the manga.

There are faults associated with both (drawn out fight scenes/moronic, predictable plots) but I consider these to be mistakes made in the given genre, not characteristics of the genre.