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Whether you're an anime newbie or a seasoned viewer, you'll want to check out these age-old shojo anime series. Got favorites of your own? Let us know
at letters@shojobeat.com.
Marmalade Boy
Imagine your divorced parents merging families with another set of divorced parents, leaving you with a new—and pretty darn hot, but inscrutable—stepbrother. Add to that your best guy friend suddenly kissing you out of the blue, your stepbrother's gorgeous ex-girlfriend making you feel insecure, and your best friend's shocking,
secret boyfriend. Now you've got the makings of
Marmalade Boy's swirling romantic drama.
Don't miss...the cute half-hour movie special, which is a prequel to the story. (Be sure to watch episode 1 first.)
Ouran High School Host Club
It's one thing to be mistaken for a boy, it's another to pretend to be one in order to pay off a massive debt. Meet Haruhi, who finds herself in exactly this situation after breaking a vase that belongs to a group of six super-hot male students known as the Ouran Host Club. This series is full of comedy and screwball antics to the extreme. (The guys finding out that Haruhi's actually a girl? Priceless.) And did we mention there's unlimited appeal in cosplaying characters that get you instant recognition?
Don't miss...how Haruhi ends up in her first kiss!
Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon
This megafranchise was the first taste of Japanese anime (and specifically shojo anime) for many budding anime viewers when it first aired in the English-speaking world in the mid-nineties. At its heart is Usagi Tsukino—a clumsy, crybaby schoolgirl who discovers that she is Sailor Moon, destined to fight evil. True to its shojo roots, Sailor Moon combines friendship, loyalty, duty, and love, with
faraway kingdoms and magic powers.
Don't miss...how creator Naoko Takeuchi embeds astrology and mythology into her tale. If you're a
New Age buff, pay close attention to the interactions
of the sailor soldiers!
Kodomo no Omocha (Kodocha)
Become a TV star at age 11? Total snap. Deal with your jerky classmate? Not as easy, but within the first episode of Kodcha, spunky Sana takes down Hayama, the class bully, starting them down a path of childhood friendship and romance. This series is sweet and light at its heart: Though you'll find love triangles, heartbreak, and first kisses, nothing ever keeps any of the characters (especially Sana) from finding humor in a dramatic situation.
Don't Miss...Sana's spur-of-the-moment rap songs about the various issues she's thinking about right then. Whenever you need a pick-me-up, just watch her bounce around a room spitting out rapid-fire Japanese while jamming on her fake guitar, and you'll feel your energy levels start to rise.
Fushigi Yûgi
Miaka and her best friend Yui get more than they bargain for when they're unexpectedly transported to ancient China during a study break. Torn apart, they abruptly find themselves facing off: Miaka as the Priestess of Suzuku, destined to find the seven celestial warriors and summon the patron god of Konan; and Yui as the Priestess of Seiryuu, desperate to find her celestial warriors and block Miaka from achieving her goals. Between the two priestesses, their fourteen warriors, and the characters, you'll watch as people defend one another, quarrel, seek revenge, lie, sacrifice themselves, and fall in love. And if you get hooked, there's three OVAs and a prequel manga series.
Don't miss...the moments when Taiitsukun and the Nyan Nyan pop up—they provide easy comic relief, no matter how dark the episode is.
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