I'm looking for shounen/seinen that uses the typical shoujo-artstyle. What do I mean by this? Um... How to put it. Long limbs? Flower/Dark auras around characters?

I know, it seems silly, but it's so intense to read mangas like Zombie Loan and Monochrome Factor, both of which are VERY dark and deal with death, yet have such strangely cute drawing thrown in at random

What type of typical shoujo art are you talking about? A lot have long limbs. If you are thinking of KURUMATANI Haruko or MINAMI Kanan (both are a type of common shoujo art), I don't think I ever encountered any in shounen.

Maybe these cute and pretty ones:
Superior and Sakura Yuki - look like some Manhwa shoujo
xxxHolic
Karin
"Bungaku Shoujo" to Shi ni Tagari no Douke
1/2 Prince
Pandora Hearts and Crimson-Shell
Nishi no Yoki Majo
E's Otherwise (I don't think I ever read a shoujo with such well-drawn backgrounds though)
Naki Shoujo no Tame no Pavane - the author mainly draws shoujo
Tokyo Innocent - hmm... girls are moe, guys are bishies?

Isn't it weird that we always say they look shoujo-ish but why are their art styles still much better than a lot of shoujo? Is it that because they are shounen, the authors become more serious about drawing? I just found lots of bad art in shoujo. No offence but those I mentioned in the first paragraph are examples. Shoujo art is not necessarily elaborate or pretty.

And Monochrome Factor is shoujo. Do you want strictly shounen or that type of shoujo?

Last edited by base_coat at 5:14 am, Jul 7 2009

Terra e... is by Takemiya-sensei, mangaka of Kaze to Ki no Uta and one of the 24-gumi, so it uses that pretty 70s shoujo style.

Every non-shoujo title by CLAMP, too. Minus xxxHOLiC, they really don't change their style much for different demographics.

Um... I always thought Nabari no Ou was kind of pretty in a shoujo-ish way, given the number of cute bishies. And maybe Spiral and Spiral Alive, as well as Kagerou Nostalgia and +Anima? And if you think Monochrome Factor qualifies (despite being technically shoujo - maybe you mean action-oriented shoujo?) then 7-Ghost definitely qualifies as well. Hope that helps!

If Spiral qualifies, then Snow in the Dark, Tales of Symphonia and Maou - Juvenile Remix do too (all pretty or/and detailed, right?). I have never seen shoujo art like Spiral's. I don't think pretty = shoujo. There are always more varied art styles in shounen so not all types you see in shounen will be seen in shoujo.

Sahara Mizu draws shoujo too and the art doesn't change much.

Night Head Genesis - drawn by a shoujo mangaka.


Last edited by base_coat at 5:09 am, Jul 7 2009

@base_coat: You're right, Spiral isn't "shoujo-ish" necessarily, but the original poster wanted something with occasional flower auras and "strangely cute" art, so I figured... Like this from Spiral? Then again, yeah, generally not shoujo-ish.

Maybe Dawn - Tsumetai Te also qualifies, although it's josei, not shounen - but it's got the darkness that metamike wants along with the pretty. I mean, if Monochrome Factor qualifies, then...

I think that what metamike might be looking for isn't officially "shoujo" art per se, but rather a juxtaposition of the dark and the delicate, the cruel and the cute. Am I right, metamike? Please correct me if I'm not, or my recommendations will go way off course, lol!

EDIT: @metamike, I think practically every manga on this page qualifies, because all the shounen/seinen manga that Storm in Heaven scanlates tends to be very pretty. Seriously, I think you'll find it a treasure-trove!

Speaking of flowery/strangely cute, Kimi no Iru Machi and Princess Lucia definitely are! I find his drawings to be far prettier, nicer-looking and more delicate than those of a common shoujo mangaka such as ANISAKI Yuna (this person's art is already decent compared with a lot of shoujo).

Last edited by base_coat at 5:51 am, Jul 7 2009

THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU for the suggestions so far Found 4 mangas out of those suggested that I haven't read yet, and I'm checking them all out.

I guess I should've specified what I'm looking for a bit more though. I love the contrast of dark storyline/"pretty" artstyle. Most regular shoujo I've read tends to be horrifying only in the aspect of huge eyes and disturbingly optimistic characters.

Spiral - I LOVED. That's one manga that I definitely should've mentioned.

Also, I didn't even realize Monochrome Factor is a shoujo - two manga sites I read both list it as a Shounen, and its storyline focuses on fighting... so other than the art being shoujo-ish don't realy see what else is there.

But yeah, thanks for all the help so far, hope you guys know any others that you can tell me of.

I second Anonymous and Zion, though they are listed by Storm in Heaven as shounen/seinen.

And I am sure most of those serialized in GFantasy, as well as Comic Blade Avarus and Comic Zero-Sum will be suitable for you, such as di(e)ce. Also look in Asuka, Wings and Ward as well. Focusing on fighting doesn't mean it can't be shoujo. Generally shoujo action is softer and a lot of time can have shounen-ai hints.

Try these if you haven't:
Raiders
Akusaga
Persona 3 and Persona 4
Shounen Mahoushi
Category: Freaks
Chrome Breaker
Jinzou Shoujo

That Dawn - Chilly Hands being mentioned makes me think of Boogiepop Dual and Toume Kei. Their art styles are not typical shoujo-ish but nonethless pretty.




Last edited by base_coat at 12:48 pm, Jul 18 2009