Unbelievable Shojo Manga Transformations That Blew Our Minds

Summary

Shojo manga isn’t just fluffy love stories; it can offer drama, horror, and chaos like shonen manga.
Some of the best shojo manga have inspired creators of different media to push past boundaries.
Shojo manga like My Love Mix-Up, Hana Yori Dango, and Sailor Moon are iconic for their unique stories and characters.

As a dedicated fan, I’d say that shojo manga is not just about fluffy love stories and magical girl escapades. While it’s true that they often have a sweet, sparkling charm catering to their young female audience, there’s a depth to them that rivals even the most action-packed shonen manga. They delve into intense dramas, chilling horrors, and chaotic events that shonen manga sometimes only hint at!

To be honest, it’s quite possible that some tough competition in the male-oriented manga realm might not have flourished as they did, had it not been for the influence of outstanding and innovative shojo manga. These works, ranging from heartwarming romances to magical girl escapades, intense historical epics, and gripping crime thrillers, are some of the finest examples of shojo manga ever created.

10. My Love Mix-Up!

A Fast-Rising Star in Shojo BL Manga

Creators: Wataru Hinekure (story), Aruko (art)
9 Volumes, 39 Chapters
Available in English via Viz Media’s Shojo Beat imprint

In many popular shojo manga, there’s often a hint of romance, even when it’s not the primary theme. This isn’t always about a girl falling for a boy; it can also involve boys falling for each other, as shojo magazines have been home to BL (Boys’ Love) stories for quite some time now. One well-liked BL manga, titled “My Love Mix-Up“, which concluded in 2022, started off with a boy named Aoki having feelings for a girl called Mio.

Intriguingly, her classmate Ida’s name was found scribbled on her eraser, giving the impression that she harbored feelings for him. However, when Ida picked up the eraser, assuming it belonged to Aoki, he mistakenly believed he had romantic feelings towards him. To clarify matters without revealing Mio’s identity, Aoki navigates this confusion and inadvertently forms a meaningful connection with him. This charming tale of misunderstandings, beautifully told with an undercurrent of tenderness, swiftly gained popularity and was adapted into live-action productions in both Japan and Thailand.

9. Hana Yori Dango

How a Floral Romance Bloomed into a Shojo Classic

Creator: Yoko Kamio
37 Volumes, 244 Chapters
Available in English via Viz Media

Many people may recognize “Boys Over Flowers” (Hana Yori Dango) from its anime series, live-action adaptations such as Meteor Garden (Taiwanese version) and Meteor Shower (Chinese remake), a drama CD featuring Takuya Kimura of SMAP and Judgment fame in his debut, but it all started with the original manga that sparked its Asian popularity.

The heartwarming tale of Tsukushi, a resilient middle-class girl, standing against a clique of tormenting boys at Eitoku Academy, catapulted it to the top as the premier romantic drama manga in the mid-1990s. Its popularity was so immense that it ranked among the best-selling manga ever created. To this day, it continues to hold the Guinness World Record for being a shojo strip authored by a single person with the most published copies.

8. Sailor Moon

The Anime Icon is Just as Strong in Print

Creator: Naoko Takeuchi
18 Volumes, 61 Chapters
Available in English via Kodansha Comics USA

Similarly, the popularity of Sailor Moon has expanded far beyond its manga roots to establish itself as the most renowned magical girl shojo series globally. With numerous animated versions, books, novels, stage productions, ice skating performances, live-action adaptations and more, the Sailor Guardians have earned a level of iconicity comparable to that of Dragon Ball‘s Goku or Mobile Suit Gundam‘s RX-78-2 Gundam.

Nevertheless, the original comic book version of Usagi becoming Sailor Moon maintains all the plot twists and intense moments found in the animated series. However, it intensified the drama even more as the characters and their adversaries were developed more thoroughly in Nakayoshi’s issues than what broadcasters on both sides of the Pacific could portray. Specifically, Minako, also known as Sailor Venus, who initiated the entire storyline in her “Codename: Sailor V” strip, was particularly well-developed in the comic book.

7. Cardcaptor Sakura

Still at the Top of the Tree of CLAMP’s Shojo Series

Creators: CLAMP
12 Volumes, 10 Chapters
Available in English via Dark Horse Combos

A list of shojo mangas wouldn’t feel whole without a work from CLAMP, but choosing their finest shojo masterpiece can be challenging due to their diverse portfolio. The intricate narrative of X/1999, which combines mythologies, homoerotic romance, and conflict, is intense yet incomplete. On the other hand, Magic Knight Rayearth, an early isekai-style manga that beautifully merges magical girl and mecha genres, tends to be undervalued. Some readers might even favor the unfinished Clover and contemplate where its story could have headed.

Cardcaptor Sakura is hard to ignore, despite Sailor Moon‘s greater iconicity. In many ways, CLAMP’s magical girl story has become equally symbolic of magical girl and shojo series. The appeal lies in its straightforward plot – capturing the Clow Cards keeps readers engaged from start to finish. However, it was more than just a simple premise that made it popular; CLAMP’s compelling characters, interactions, and unexpected story twists kept readers hooked until the very end and long after.

6. Fruits Basket

More Than a Reverse Harem

Creator: Natsuki Takaya
23 Volumes, 136 Chapters
Available in English via Yen Press

I must admit, diving into “Fruits Basket” feels like stepping into a shojo-style spinoff of “Ranma ½.” Both series share a delightful blend of romance and comedy, but instead of a vast array of suitors, we’re treated to a love triangle, with Tohru, the orphaned protagonist, inexplicably able to transform the male members of her foster family, the Sohma clan, into creatures from the Chinese Zodiac through her heartwarming embraces. It’s a more straightforward take on the magical transformation theme, making it an engaging and captivating watch.

In contrast to the romantic comedy genre, Fruits Basket emphasizes its family drama more than Ranma ½. Tohru, our protagonist, experiences isolation and rejection from others, while the Sohma family is bound together by a curse and the tyranny of their leader, Akito Sohma. Yet, this tragic situation endears them to readers as Tohru integrates with the Sohmas and endeavors to liberate them from their affliction.

5. Skip Beat!

How Following a Dream Can Repair a Broken Heart

Creator: Yoshiki Nakamura
51+ Volumes, 331+ Chapters
Available in English via Viz Media’s Shojo Beat imprint

While love might triumph over everything, resentment can also serve as a powerful driving force. In the story “Skip Beat, Kyoko tirelessly helped her childhood friend Shotaro achieve his goal of becoming an idol in Tokyo. However, instead of gratitude, she received coldness and disrespect from him, being treated like a servant and even being called a pushover. Thus, to get back at him, she decides to pursue a career in the entertainment world to outshine him.

I found myself utterly captivated by this unique storyline! Instead of following the usual romantic comedy formula, it delves deeper into Kyoko’s passionate journey towards performing arts. It was tempting to outshine Shotaro, but finding my zest for life again through acting, singing, and dancing was a far more rewarding experience than any act of revenge could ever be. It transformed an ordinary goal into something truly meaningful and sweet.

4. The Rose Of Versailles

Still One of the Best Historical Shojo Stories Ever Made

Creator: Riyoko Ikeda
10 Volumes, 82 Chapters
Available in English via Udon Entertainment

Without much ado, The Rose of Versailles stands as a renowned narrative, largely recognized for its captivating tale about Marie Antoinette and her cross-dressing bodyguard, Oscar Francois de Jarjayes. In the 1970s, it was the must-read historical shojo manga, and even today, after five decades, it continues to hold considerable impact. Its nuanced exploration of history, sexuality, gender identity, and French culture solidified its position as one of the most influential mangas ever created.

The raw narrative of this manga demonstrated that shojo stories could be tough and emotionally intense, prompting creators from various genres to explore similar themes, such as Kentaro Miura with “Berserk.” Moreover, its gender-bending aspects challenged traditional notions of femininity, leading to its widespread adaptation in stage plays (notably by the all-female Takarazuka Revue) and influencing future series that explored the fluidity of gender and sexuality, like “Revolutionary Girl Utena.

3. Banana Fish

A Shojo Strip Showing Hard Life on the Streets

Creator: Akimi Yoshida
19 Volumes, 110 Chapters
Available in English via Viz Media’s Pulp Graphic Novel imprint

The manga “The Rose of Versailles” demonstrated that shojo manga could be intense, even though it was published half a century ago, making it somewhat challenging to locate, especially when compared to more contemporary titles like “Banana Fish.” In contrast to its 1780s France setting, “Banana Fish” is set in 1980s New York. The series follows gang leader Ash Lynx as he pursues a conspiracy surrounding the eponymous drug, eventually confronting the mobsters who had wronged him in the past.

The story could be easily confused with a typical shōnen/seinen genre, given its predominantly male characters and intense violence. However, it deviates from the norm as it doesn’t portray Ash as a tough guy. Instead, it highlights his struggles and sacrifices during his journey, showcasing what he has lost and his longing for a normal life. This approach gives depth to the story, making it appear more mature and complex compared to many of its shōnen counterparts.

2. Nana

Josei-Level Maturity in a Shojo Strip

Creator: Ai Yazawa
21 Volumes, 84 Chapters (on hiatus)
Available in English via Viz Media’s Shojo Beat imprint

It’s not necessary for a shojo story to contain explicit violence or mature content to be considered adult-themed. At first glance, “Nana” seems to revolve around two friends, Nana O and Nana K, each with dreams of becoming a successful musician and finding love in the city respectively. Their stories eventually become entwined, but there are no undercurrents of criminal conspiracies or revolutions. Instead, it explores fame similar to that portrayed in “Skip Beat!“.

The charm of Nana lies in its romantic elements, yet it delves deeper into the complexities of the music world, encompassing intraband conflicts, substance issues, and the intense scrutiny that comes with media attention. Furthermore, it weaves in various love stories, making for an enthralling read. Though not as graphic or violent as The Rose of Versailles or Banana Fish, Nana is equally impactful in its narrative.

1. Yona Of The Dawn

A Shojo Manga That’s Epic in Scale and Storytelling

Creator: Mizuho Kusanagi
45+ Volumes, 269+ Chapters
Available in English via Viz Media’s Shojo Beat imprint

In “Yona of the Dawn,” the storyline initially appears to be a straightforward account of Princess Yona attempting to reclaim her kingdom Kouka from her former love, Su-won, who has staged a coup. However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Yona’s quest to reunite with the legendary Dragon Warriors offers more than just a royal restoration; it reveals the harsh realities of life beyond the palace walls and subtly hints at the possibility that Su-won may have had compelling motives for his actions.

This subtle aspect, along with numerous other elements, sets it apart as one of the most captivating fantasy stories in print, not just within the shojo genre. Its diverse cast of characters, interwoven subplots, and themes exploring rebellion, upheaval, and an uneasy truce lend it an epic scope both in its narrative depth and length. Those who experienced its anime version were merely sampling what its ongoing manga continues to deliver to readers in its entirety.

2025-05-12 08:56