Seinen can be thought of as the grown-up form of shonen, targeted mainly at adult men rather than younger male audiences -- although, of course, both genres are enjoyed by every demographic.
Because they are associated with a more "mature" audience, people usually expect seinen series to be full of violence, gore, and other serious and graphic content; and, while some of it does, there are plenty of other series that are the furthest thing from what people would assume. Here are 1o series that defied stereotypes, and prove that there are no rules for what kind of anime is "for men."
10 XXXHolic Has CLAMP's Signature Shoujo-Style Art
It's impossible to look at CLAMP's art and not think of shoujo manga. Not only is the group's most famous work, Cardcaptor Sakura, quintessential shoujo, but the long, thin limbs and exaggerated proportions evoke shoujo at its most classic.
This association is even stronger in the group's seinen series XXXHolic, thanks to the ornate outfits that main character Yuuko likes to wear. But that shoujo prettiness ends up being the perfect complement to the series' mysterious, gothic atmosphere -- which is why it was marketed as seinen in the first place.
9 Aldnoah.Zero Feels Like A Shonen Mecha Series
With its teenage protagonists fighting in giant robots, many people assumed that Aldnoah.Zero was a shonen. Those who knew it came from the mind of Gen Urobuchi might have guessed correctly, though, since he has a habit of writing stories with a large amount of death and violence -- including the similarly non-stereotypical seinen Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
Even with all the dark and dramatic things that happen in the series, however, it's still a good example of how arbitrary the line between shonen and seinen can be.
8 Non Non Biyori Follows The Daily Lives Of Schoolgirls
Those who think seinen is all blood, guts, and gloominess would be shocked to watch an episode of Non Non Biyori, a laid-back series that follows a girl as she moves to the country and discovers all the quirks of rural life. It's cute, heartwarming, and almost completely conflict-free.
The popularity of shows like Non Non Biyori as seinen mirrors the way slice-of-life comedies like Lucky Star succeed as shonen; as it turns out, everyone likes to sit back and watch moe characters do silly things. These "healing" shows are particularly good at letting older fans relax after a long day at work.
7 Tiger & Bunny Is A Shiny Superhero Show
Superhero shows are normally more associated with teenagers than young adults, especially in the anime world, where shonen series My Hero Academia rules the subgenre. However, Tiger & Bunny, despite its bright colors and elaborate costumes, proves to be a truly grown-up take on superheroes.
It's not just that the main characters are all adults, some approaching middle-age (as opposed to the teenage protagonists of MHA); the series is a scorching satire of capitalism and what it would truly mean to be a superhero in today's brand-obsessed society.
6 Chi's Sweet Home Is The Thrilling Story...Of A Cat Doing Cat Things
Chi's Sweet Home is the absolutely adorable story of Chi, a lost kitten, and her daily life with the family that takes her in. With its overload of sheer cuteness and simple, appealing art, it's perfect for kids, families, and fans of Hello Kitty.
And yet, the original manga was definitely targeted towards grown men. Well, can anybody blame them? The cuteness of cats has no age limit (or gender, too, for that matter) and, with its bite-size three-minute episode lengths, Chi's Sweet Home is the perfect pick-me-up for any lifestyle.
5 Land of the Lustrous Is Everything But Stereotypical Seinen
This is a series that looks like it could be either shonen or shoujo -- so most people don't guess it's actually seinen. Land of the Lustrous features superpowered action scenes (lovingly animated in Studio Orange, who make the best CGI work in the business) that would be at home in any shonen series, whereas the elegant, willowy character designs call to mind classic shoujo manga.
Whatever genre this belongs to, it's certainly unique. Don't be put off by the CGI -- it's about as far from EX-ARM as it could get.
4 KumaMiko: Girl Meets Bear Hides Its Mean Streak Behind Cute Characters
One look at the titular cuddly companion of KumaMiko: Girl Meets Bear will definitely have younger audiences squealing in delight, and the apparent plot of a young girl trying to overcome her social anxiety with the help of her friends certainly sounds like the sort of thing that would be suited to a shoujo.
But beneath that fluffy exterior, there's a dark, satirical streak to some of the humor in KumaMiko -- something that became most apparent when it ended on a note that many felt was downright cruel. The negative fan reaction proves that's sometimes it's best for a show to pick one tone and stick to it.
3 Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto Stars A Hilarious High Schooler
With its brilliant humor and incredible main character, Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto quickly became one of the most popular comedies ever. One thing that most fans didn't know, however, is that this story of a hilariously perfect high school student was actually marketed towards an audience that had already graduated,
In hindsight, this actually makes sense -- seinen is known for being able to take more risks than shonen, and this irreverent comedy is certainly unique. Plus, who doesn't look back at high school and wish they'd been a bit more like Sakamoto?
2 Emma: A Victorian Romance Is Anime Jane Austen
With its understated art, realistic romance, and setting in Victorian England, Emma: A Victorian Romance has more in common with a Jane Austen novel than just its title. It doesn't seem like there'd be much overlap between the readers of this and, say, Tokyo Ghoul, but Emma is a testament to how a romance with loveable characters can appeal to just about anyone.
The manga series won many accolades, and the anime received just as much critical acclaim; all in all, it's one of the most famous romances outside of the world of shoujo.
1 Wandering Son Is Thought-Provoking And Gentle
The soft, pastel watercolors of Wandering Son evoke popular josei series like Usagi Drop rather than the "typical seinen look, and while this is certainly a show with a gentle atmosphere, it explores themes far more complex than the cute slice-of-life series which sometimes appear in seinen magazines.
It's easy to equate the idea of 'serious' anime with violence and a dark atmosphere, but Wandering Son's delicate portrayal of growing up as a transgender girl offers a different kind of seriousness altogether -- and one that proves just how many kinds of stories can be told through the seinen genre.