Well Revolutionary Girl Utena has a decent amount of action...but I wouldn't say it looks very good (at least by today's standards.)
I know Kuroshitsuji is supposed to be a shonen anime but it just reeks of shoujo art.
D.N. Angel had action too.
I believe Rose Of Versailles did as well.
Ooh I forgot about that. Should probably watch it at some point.
edited 4th Apr '11 6:47:41 PM by Edmania
If people learned from their mistakes, there wouldn't be this thing called bad habits.What is shounen? What is shoujo?
Some possible shows she might like that have female leads and some attraction to female viewers:
- Madoka Magica
- Read Or Die (and ROD The TV Series)
- Crest Of The Stars
I believe they are actually classified seinen, shounen, and shounen. But each of them do have some shoujo elements.
You might also try showing her Kimi Ni Todoke, the ultimate shoujo of all shoujodom. She'll claim to hate it- but secretly she'll watch every episode. The sparkles and bubbles can not be resisted!
edited 4th Apr '11 6:52:54 PM by Sackett
Anything from CLAMP is worth to be looked at. If the few things they do which is not shojo have some 'shojo' feeling on it. The shonen Angelic Layer is a good example.
For more specific example, the already mentioned MagicKnightRayearth is pretty good, so is Card Captor Sakura.
Aside Clamp, I second Ouran suggestion. There is also Fruits Basket, a favorite of mine.
Maybe the first Futari Wa Pretty Cure series, since it had some of the same staff as Dragonball Z and has a lot more kicking and punching than your average magical girl series. I agree about Rayearth, too, it has sword fighting and the second series has a lot of mecha action in it. Also, each of the main girls is accomplished in some sort of weaponry sport.
edited 4th Apr '11 7:57:45 PM by Rainbow
For a good oddball comedy Shoujo, check The Wallflower anime. But I understand the manga has become a Franchise Zombie.
Magic Knight Rayearth, definitely. Seconding almost everything by CLAMP, as well as Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Ouran High School Host Club. Fushigi Yuugi and Ayashi No Ceres have a fair amount of violence/action in them. I haven't watched Simoun, but apparently it has mecha in it so she might like that? Princess Tutu, definitely. I would also say Nana, but that doesn't really have any action at all. The Wallflower is hilarious, has some moments of action, and is one of my favorite shoujo series of all time. Definitely a must watch/read.
edited 4th Apr '11 8:57:06 PM by Anarchy
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is not Shoujo.
Can people at least attempt to understand what the term means before they start tossing shows into that category?
Something not mentioned yet: Nanoha is good for strong action fights with female leads.
Yu hav nat sein bod speeling unntil know. (cacke four undersandig tis)the cake is a lie!To be fair, Belian did not said Nanoha is shoujo, just that it is action series with a female lead. If you are not used used with such thing, it might, indeed, be a good start point.
There is a long list of shows mistaken for Shōjo... The big ones are
- ARIA (Seriously trying to nail this one down is nuts but it ran in a Shounen mag),
- Azumanga Daioh,
- Ichigo Mashimaro,
- Lucky Star,
- Nanoha,
- Shakugan No Shana.
edited 5th Apr '11 12:56:25 AM by Raso
Sparkling and glittering! Jan-Ken-Pon!Believe it or not, I think Saiyuki is technically classified as shounen despite being possibly the biggest smorgasbord of josei pandering I've ever seen. Get your pal to try that; it'll get him used to the prettiness without depriving him of violence. After that you can ease him in anywhere.
Also, I've given up on figuring out what Pet Shop Of Horrors is supposed to be, aside from fucking awesome.
A True Lady's Quest - A Jojo is You!

A friend of mine seems to only think that Shonen anime is good and needless to say, it's been bugging me. I'm trying to come up with a list of Shojo series that I think she would find appealing, but I'm not having much luck. Any suggestions?
(FYI, they apparently need some sort of action in it for her to find it remotely enjoyable.)
edited 4th Apr '11 6:49:08 PM by JenKunoichi351
Don't mind me. I'm just a creepy little lurker.