What are the five main categories of anime?
The five main categories of anime are: shonen, seinen, shojo, josei, and kodomo. Each category can be further divided into genres and even sub-genres.
Note: We will use the term "category" only for the lack of a defining term. You may refer to the same "categories" as "styles", genre, classification, etc.
Each category represents a certain target audience (but are not limited to this specific audience).
Shonen
Shonen are directed towards young males. The stories tend to be adventurous or action-packed with a light-hearted tone.
Popular Shonen include:
- Dragon Ball
- One Piece
- Naruto
Seinen
Seinen are directed towards adult males (18-25 and older). These stories will typically be more complex than shonen with a more serious tone. Often, seinen will have elements of adult life like politics, sex, drugs, etc.
Popular Seinen include:
- Berzerk
- Ghost in the Shell
- Vinland Saga
Shojo
Shojo are directed towards young females. These stories tend to have a strong romance (again, this is not always the case) that is maintained throughout the story. Style and beauty are usually prominent in shojo.
Popular Shojo include:
- Fruits Basket
- Ouran High School Host Club
- Sailor Moon
Josei
Josei are directed towards adult females (18-25 and older). Josei will typically feature a more realistic romance and mature characters.
Popular Josei include:
- 07 Ghost
- Honey and Clover
- Paradise Kiss
Kodomo
Kodomo are directed towards children. The characters actions tend to be predictable. Humor is common throughout this category and the content should be straightforward.
Popular Kodomo include:
- Pokemon
- Digimon
- Astro Boy
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