Despite not being as well-renowned as its shōnen counterparts, shōjo manga is still one of the most popular genres to date. Titles like Sailor Moon and the PreCure franchise spark the imagination of little girls all over the world while Ouran High School Host Club and Vampire Knight seek to fulfill the romantic dreams of older teens and young adults.
There's no denying that many aspiring manga artists have taken inspiration from their predecessors when creating their own works. Beautiful men, large, emotive eyes, gothic-inspired settings, and love triangles are all popular among these types of stories. Thanks to the likes of TokyoPop and Viz Media, many of these stories made their way to foreign consumers during the early to mid-2000s. These are just a few of the many shōjo artists English-speaking audiences were introduced to during this time.
Arina Tanemura
Arina Tanemura's style is one of the more well-known in the genre. The large, soft eyes and detailed hair are distinctive and convey so much emotion. She is cited as using traditional mediums, particularly Dr. PH. Martin's colored inks. Many of her stories were about young love and following your dreams, as seen with arguably the most popular of her series Full Moon wo Sagashite.
The story followed young Mitsuki as she strived to become a singer and reconnect with her first love Eichi despite a tumor on her throat and a music-hating grandmother. Tanemura is also widely known for Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne, a magical girl series, and The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, a story following 15-year-old Haine as she struggled to find her place in the world and figure out which of the twins she truly loves.
Yuu Watase
One of Arina Tanemura's inspirations, Yuu Watase has a more distinctive art style when compared to other artists of the time. While she still incorporates large, expressive eyes, they're more on the side of semi-realistic when compared to other styles. Fushigi Yugi is one of her most popular titles, which tells the story of Miaka and Yui as they are pulled into the magical universe of the book The Universe of the Four Gods. Many of her stories feature loved ones turning against the protagonist out of jealousy or because they feel threatened. Alice 19th and Ceres, Celestial Legend both have family members turn against the protagonist and attempt to harm them.
CLAMP
A group of artists rather than just one person, their works are some of the most famous examples of shōjo manga. Cardcaptor Sakura, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, xxxHolic, and Chobits all feature their distinctive style, iconic fashion, wispy hair, and adorable mascots. Many of their more well-known stories have romantic elements to varying degrees. They also feature some sort of magic system, though not in every story. Sometimes the limbs are highly exaggerated, as with the xxxHolic art style, while other times they are more realistic like in Chobits. Their magical girl stories are what many fans remember from their childhood, whether it was CCS or Magic Knights Rayearth.
Kaori Yuki
Kaori Yuki's work features beautifully drawn men and gothic-inspired settings. Drawn in a more semi-realistic style, Yuki's stories range from the dark, apocalyptic tale of Angel Sanctuary to the dangerous streets of Victoria-era England in Godchild. While many of her contemporaries were drawing magical girls and love triangles, Yuki was crafting stories of tragedy and loss. Her style is reminiscent of porcelain dolls, with the characters being tall and slender with large, expressive eyes. She delves into the darker aspects of humanity and explores topics not usually seen in her genre. Murder, betrayal, and suspicion feature in many of her works. Many of her artwork could be found on sites like Gaia Online and Quizilla being used for roleplaying back in the day.
Matsuri Hino
Vampire Knight is one of Matsuri Hino's most beloved titles. Coming out at a time when vampires were captivating young hearts, Hino's manga was prime material for manga fans who wanted more vampire romance. The love triangle between Yuki, Zero, and Kaname enthralled her readers, leaving them wondering who Yuki would choose and fueling the shipping wars on message boards. Characters sport the typical shōjo features of large eyes and wispy hair, but male characters often have large hands as well and often sport a brooding demeanor.