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Bishoujo Series

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"Bishoujo" simply means "pretty girl" in Japanese.

A bishoujo series, however, is a more loaded term. They are Fanservice series aimed towards male audiences. These series will use highly attractive female characters (often of The Beautiful Elite variety, although this is not necessary) up to about twenty-five years old whenever possible. This is especially noticeable in a series where male characters and older women make unusually few to no appearances, even if the story's setting and premise would suggest otherwise.

Lately, among fans, it often takes a self-derogatory tone. Many bishoujo series blatantly appeal to male audiences with pandering tropes, causing large amounts of Values Dissonance that help cement the otaku stereotype. Adding a guy to the mix ironically just gets it labeled as a Harem Genre story.

When a series of this kind does attract Fangirls, the series often loses this term. Compare and contrast Shōjo Demographic and Magical Girl, in which there are cute girls, but the target audience is female. Also contrast Puni Plush, Gonk, Hunk, Bishōnen. Often overlaps with Cute Girls Doing Cute Things.

Improbably Female Cast is a Sub-Trope.


This is an East Asian media only trope. Please do not put Western examples here.

Examples:

    open/close all folders 

    Anime and Manga 

    Literature 
  • Strawberry Panic! is a Yuri Genre example, as the entire cast is made up of cute schoolgirls who have romantic feelings for each other.

    Video Games 

Alternative Title(s): Bishoujo Genre, Bishojo Series

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