Anime generally has unique, colorful characters, with the shojo genre being no exception. Due to how strongly most characters are written, fan reaction tends to be equally intense, leading to most characters being either loved or hated depending on who one asks.
For example, romantic interests that are written with little to no flaws may appeal to some, while others find their lack of realistic complexity boring. Other characters may rely on uncomfortable tropes that some aren't as bothered by. No matter the reasoning, shojo anime is home to a host of characters who are met with polarizing fan opinions.
10 Takumi Usui's Perfect-Boy Persona Isn't For Everyone
Kaichou wa Maid-Sama!
One of the main traps that anime falls into with its love interests is making them perfect in order to appeal to both the protagonist and the audience. This doesn't always work favorably, though, and is the main reason why Takumi Usui from Kaichou wa Maid-Sama! is so divisive.
Usui is portrayed as the perfect man who's multilingual, immediately talented at whatever he tries, and constantly hit on by his female classmates. While some viewers love him for this, others are annoyed by it and feel that his creepier actions, such as stalking and being possessive of Misaki, aren't portrayed well.
9 Hikaru & Kaoru Hitachiin Lean On Uncomfortable Tropes
Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High School Host Club is a beloved anime classic, with each host leaning into their own unique gimmick. Not all of these tropes are well-executed, though, with the Hitachiin brothers' twin romance shtick sticking out the most.
Most fans understand that Hikaru and Kaoru's brotherly love act is just that, amplified for the enjoyment of their customers. Not everyone is comfortable with their actions just because it's merely a performance, and they would prefer their gimmick be removed from Ouran entirely.
8 Kyouya Sata's Sweet Facade Hides His True Nature
Wolf Girl And Black Prince
Kyouya Sata from Wolf Girl and Black Prince is an incredibly polarizing character. There are many fans who are able to relate to his backstory and why Kyouya acts so cold and detached. However, just because a character has a tragic and compelling backstory doesn't mean every fan will be able to look past their actions because of it.
Underneath Kyouya's sweet facade lies a cruel, manipulative person who treats the female lead like his dog. Kyouya slowly warms up to Erika over the course of the series, and Erika genuinely falls in love with him. Still, many fans can't look past Kyouya's behavior at the start.
7 Shigure Sohma's Surface-Level Charm Doesn't Win Over Every Fan
Fruits Basket
Shigure Sohma from Fruits Basket initially comes across as a cool, comedic-relief type character. He much prefers slacking off to doing actual work and has a pronounced perverted side. Many fans either appreciate his personality or are charmed by him.
Not everyone falls for this side of Shigure, with many fans coming to intensely dislike his character by the end of Fruits Basket. Underneath his charm lies a manipulative, cold-hearted man who's willing to do anything for the sake of his goals, and not everyone can get behind him.
6 Yuki Cross' Naive, Frail Nature Doesn't Appeal To Everyone
Vampire Knight
Vampire Knight's Yuki Cross may be its protagonist, but she isn't able to accomplish much without the help of both Zero and Kaname. Yuki's an optimistic and kind girl, but she's also incredibly naive, often leading her into trouble given how dangerous Vampire Knight's world is.
A human in a world of powerful vampires, Yuki often winds up in dangerous situations with no way to defend herself. Yuki's damsel-in-distress personality is charming to some, while others quickly become bothered by her lack of agency.
5 Mamoru Chiba's Portrayal In The Anime Makes Some Viewers Uncomfortable
Sailor Moon
Usagi and Mamoru's relationship is incredibly iconic, and not just within the realm of Sailor Moon. They're one of the most well-known and beloved couples in all of anime, but the way their relationship is written in the classic '90s anime makes it difficult for some viewers to support them.
In the original source material, Mamoru is only a few years older than Usagi. In the '90s anime, however, Mamoru is entering college while Usagi is still a middle-school student. The huge gap between them doesn't bother everyone, as it's technically not canon, but this portrayal of their relationship leaves a sour taste in some fans' mouths.
4 Ikuto Is A Cool Catboy With A Creepy Side
Shugo Chara!
Shugo Chara!'s Ikuto is cool, confident, and has the typical "bad boy" personality that many fans in the early 2010s were drawn to. Those who have a problem with Ikuto have less of a problem with his character and more take issue with how his relationship with Amu is portrayed.
Amu is an elementary school student at the start of the series, whereas Ikuto is 15. Despite this, he frequently flirts with and stalks Amu. Amu and Ikuto's relationship is canon in the manga and isn't treated as creepy or inappropriate by other characters.
3 Quiche's Treatment Of Ichigo Is Hard To Overlook
Tokyo Mew Mew
One of Tokyo Mew Mew's main antagonists, Quiche, initially wants to destroy Ichigo for the sake of his leader's goals. Over the course of the series, Quiche's feelings morph into a twisted, obsessed form of love. Many newer fans who experienced Tokyo Mew Mew around its initial release were drawn to Quiche's playful, teasing personality.
Revisiting Tokyo Mew Mew as an adult shows how inappropriate many of Quiche's actions are. He forces Ichigo to kiss him and takes pleasure in toying with Ichigo and seeing her afraid. Quiche even makes multiple attempts on Ichigo's boyfriend's life out of jealousy. Many fans are unable to look past these actions to derive enjoyment from his character.
2 Yui Komori's Anime Depiction Is Devoid Of Agency
Diabolik Lovers
Diabolik Lovers' protagonist, Yui Komori, is sent to live with the Sakamaki brothers as their sacrificial bride. While the original game version of Yui's character has more agency, anime Yui is portrayed as meek and weak-willed, going along with whatever twisted treatment the brothers put her through.
There are many Diabolik Lovers viewers who adore Yui's character and want her to escape from the Sakamaki brothers. There are even more viewers who are instead infuriated by Yui's anime portrayal, as she's made out to be yet another helpless shojo protagonist.
1 Risa Koizumi Is Blinded By Unhealthy Love
Lovely Complex
Risa Koizumi from Lovely Complex is mocked by those around her for being incredibly tall. Her long-time crush rejects her, telling Koizumi that he doesn't see her as a real woman just because of her height. Female viewers who grew up with similar struggles find Risa to be sympathetic and relatable.
However, others take issue with how quickly Risa falls for Atsushi, despite being constantly belittled and bullied by him. She becomes blinded by her feelings for Atsushi and is unable to see how horribly he treats her. Despite his treatment, Risa continues to fall deeper in love with Atsushi, and many viewers are off-put by their dynamic.