Ask John: What are the Most Under Appreciated Shoujo Anime?

Question:
What are the most underrated shoujo anime?

Answer:
Since I don’t feel cognizant enough of the precise acclaim particular older shoujo anime have in Japan, I’ll limit my discussion to titles under appreciated in the American fan community.

During my years as an anime viewer, I’ve sampled shoujo anime from Mahou Tsukai Sally (1966) and Ribbon no Kishi (1967) through current programs like Hakushaku to Yosei and Skip Beat. I’m familiar with brilliant shoujo anime including Fushigi Yuugi, Utena, LoveCom, Princess Tutu, and Hana Yori Dango. I have a particular fondness for shoujo anime series including Fushigiboshi no Futago Hime and the first two seasons of Pretty Cure. I’ve also seen some less than stellar shoujo anime including Corrector Yui, Magical Angel Sweet Mint, and Miracle Shoujo Limit-chan. While shoujo anime has never been especially successful or popular in America (with occasional exceptions), the small, core American shoujo fan community has sustained recognition of the genre and its entries within the American fan community. It’s particularly for that reason that I believe that most shoujo anime titles do have an appropriate level of recognition and respect in the American fan community. Many of the best shoujo anime are respected by American fans. Many of the shows that aren’t well known in America are titles with limited potential to appeal to American viewers. However, there are a few shoujo anime that I believe are under appreciated by today’s American anime fans.

The 1997 Cutie Honey Flash television series took over Sailor Moon’s vacated time slot and targeted a similar preadolescent girl audience. Viewers that have watched the 39 episode series agree that its highlight is episodes 14 through 22, the “Misty Honey” storyline. While the entire Cutie Honey F series was good, these 9 episodes featured Honey Kisaragi’s powerful, emotionally conflicted, antagonistic “younger sister” Seira Hazuki, who has the ability to transform into Misty Honey. Unlike the pure hearted and kind Cutie Honey, Misty Honey is a spiteful, jealous, malicious girl who channels her alienation, sadness, and resentment through outbursts of violence. These emotionally charged episodes are powerful and memorable, and regrettably very few American anime fans have watched them.

The 39 episode Chou Kuseni Narisou television series from 1994 was moderately popular among Americans in the mid and late 1990s, but, at least in America, it hasn’t made the transition from the VHS era to the digital era. Although somewhat similar to other idol singer fantasies including Legendary Idol Eriko, Idol Tenshi Youkoso Youko, and Fancy Lala, “I’ll Make a Habit of It” emphasized charming, witty slapstick comedy that never felt sappy. Chou Kuseni Narisou certainly isn’t revolutionary, but it’s a very fun, lighthearted, and enjoyable show that’s now practically unknown in today’s American anime fan community.

The 1994 Akazukin Chacha television series was one of the first shoujo anime to become popular in America during the early days of the burgeoning American anime fan community, for good reason. Scenes such as a whip wielding teacher organizing an electrified ring death match between two elementary school girls during the middle of class is just as funny today as it was 14 years ago. The pun and sight gag filled “Little Red Riding Hood Chacha” series was hilarious while developing a series of long, continuing story arcs. Unfortunately, the waning American popularity of Akazukin Chacha is probably due to both its age and the contemporary American distaste for cute, “moe” children’s anime.

The 1992 Hime-chan no Ribon television series was another of America’s first fan favorite shoujo anime. This good natured light domestic drama with a magical twist introduced appealing characters and tense situations that didn’t feel manipulative, artificial, or melodramatic. “Hime-chan’s Ribbon” was simply a very well written, effectively produced magical girl tale. It’s simply another series that was very popular in the VHS era of American otaku that hasn’t retained its audience in the contemporary era.

Finally, I’m somewhat conflicted about adding Oniisama e… to this list, but the truth is that this iconic series isn’t remotely as popular or well remembered by American anime fans as it once was. The 39 episode 1991 series known in American fan circles as “Brother, Dear Brother,” is the epitome of overwrought shoujo melodrama. It’s the type of soap opera-ish shoujo that’s now parodied by the current Bihada Ichizoku television series. Love it or hate it, there’s no question that Oniisama E… was one of the highest profile shoujo anime in America during the days of VHS fansubbing. But the show’s intentionally dated visual design and its morose, heavy atmosphere have made it almost impenetrable for contemporary American shoujo anime fans used to conventional transforming magical girls and humorous shoujo dramas like Fruits Basket and Marmalade Boy.