What is the ‘shojo’ and how does it often function in anime?
The ‘shojo’ according to Cavallaro (2006) is a term that literally means “little female” and “is used to designate girls aged 12 or 13” (p. 11). This type of character is common among anime and appeals largely to Japanese males because they offer a dramatic shift and excitement which is not available to them in their demanding work life.
Its function in anime is one that depicts the transitional age between childhood and adulthood, youth and maturity, sexlessness and eroticism, powerlessness and power, inexperience and understanding, masculinity and femininity. The ‘shojo’ stories are usually light-hearted and “bathed in an atmosphere of magic and wonder” (p.11). This is a stark contrast to the protagonists of Miyazaki who fit the shojo bill in terms of their physical appearance but are more self-sufficient, brave, curious and proactive (for example San in Mononoke).
Refernces:
Cavallaro, D. (2006). Introduction. In The Anime Art of Hayao Miyazaki (pp.5-13). London: McFarland & Company.
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