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Guide 04 Independent notes

Classic shoujo manga

Ten series that come up again and again when people talk about classic shoujo, with the creator, the magazine and the years of the original run.

A neat stack of glossy pastel magazines tied with a satin ribbon beside a cup and a cherry blossom sprig

How to read this list

Classic is a matter of taste, so this is not a ranking. It is a set of series that shaped what came after, chosen to cover several eras and moods. Dates are for the original Japanese serialisation. Not every title is easy to find in every language, so check what your library or a licensed digital shop offers.

The 1970s

  1. The Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda, Margaret, 1972 to 1973. A drama set before the French Revolution, centred on Oscar, a woman raised to be a soldier.
  2. Candy Candy by Kyoko Mizuki (story) and Yumiko Igarashi (art), Nakayoshi, 1975 to 1979. The story of an orphaned girl growing up in the early twentieth century.
  3. Glass Mask by Suzue Miuchi, Hana to Yume, begun in 1976. A girl discovers a talent for acting and chases the lead in a legendary play.

The 1990s

  1. Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi, Nakayoshi, 1991 to 1997. A schoolgirl becomes a guardian of love and justice, with friends who share her powers.
  2. Marmalade Boy by Wataru Yoshizumi, Ribon, 1992 to 1995. Two teenagers end up under one roof after their parents swap partners.
  3. Hana Yori Dango by Yoko Kamio, Margaret, 1992 to 2004. A scholarship student meets a group of wealthy classmates at an elite school.
  4. Angel Sanctuary by Kaori Yuki, Hana to Yume, 1994 to 2000. A dark fantasy of angels, demons and forbidden love.
  5. Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP, Nakayoshi, 1996 to 2000. A girl must gather magical cards that she released by mistake.
  6. Revolutionary Girl Utena by Chiho Saito, Nakayoshi, 1996 to 1998. Fencing duels at an academy, told as a fairy tale turned inside out.
  7. Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya, Hana to Yume, 1998 to 2006. An orphaned girl lives with a family bound by a curse of the zodiac animals. It has 23 volumes and is finished.

Why these ten

Together they show the range inside the label: historical drama, orphan stories, show business, magical girls, school romance, gothic fantasy and a comedy with a sad heart. They also show how many of the same magazines come back: Nakayoshi, Ribon, Margaret and Hana to Yume. For the background on those, read shoujo manga magazines.

If you are new, you do not need to start with the oldest title. The beginner list picks finished or easy to enter series, and the history page places each of these in its decade.

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