Knowing if the anime is shoujo/shounen-ai

[CyphearionUniverse]

I was shopping around for anime at Best Buy and I bought this short series called Avenger. It seemed alright.

Got Home.

Watched it.

It was shoujo-ai.

Now I have nothing against this kind of thing, in fact I prefer shounen-ai/yaoi over heterosexual anime, however...

My family already has suspicisions that I'm a lesbian and this isn't helping one bit.

I still like the series and all, but I was wondering, how do you know when you buy the series if it contains this sort of thing? I looked at the box set and it said nothing about it. Sure, with some anime dvds/vhs it's obvious that the romance in it goes a certin way, but what if it doesn't? Is there some sort of symbol if the main characters and storyline have to do with homosexuality?

[Thanks for the help. I'm new here so....yeah. The forum seems simple enough. Also, sooner or later you'll see my first amv up hopefully. I'm just got a dvd player/burner and Pinnacle Studio v10 for Christmas. It probably won't be all that good since it'll be my first try however. Wish me good luck!]

[Malificus]

No symbol. You just have to look it up or ask somebody to know if it's shonen/shojo-ai.

[angelx03]

Uh, exactly how Avenger is a shoujo-ai series? I know Layla and Nei has a bit of a protective relationship, but I haven't heard anyone mention in various reviews and forums that those two have an intimate, loving relationship.

And in determining whether a series is a shoujo-ai series or has themes in it, you really need to research on certain series. Other then that, it's mearly chance since there are times shoujo-ai themes get sprinkled in series. My favorite example for that is Loveless and that's primarily a shounen-ai series!

Of course, if you need help on what titles that are primaraly shoujo-ai, I'll happy be in some assistance!

[O-Kagachi]

Dude, that sucks. I hate it when your family memebers suspect something like that of you..... ive had a few friends with families like that.

If you want to tell if an anime is of that type, usually just ask around here. Its not something you can do at the store, but it works nontheless. If you arent into Shoujo Ai, here are a few shows to avoid:

Kannaduki no miko (hawt priestess on priestess action!!)
Yami to boshi to hon no tabibito (great show though)


That's all for now I guess, but there are a few shows out there with both shounen/shoujo-ai themes to them though, like loveless (which is a great show ive heard)

If you're into the whole yaoi thing, (which I hate) watch Gravitation. My friend is obsessed with that damn manga AND the anime, and she occasionally tortures me by showing me pictures without warning..

[Feria]

Usually I look for manag and anie I have heard about or have been recomended, with a whole lot of choice out there alot of it gets generic and hard to tell what contains what... I used to attend an anime soc which would show odd bits of things, then if I liked it and wanted to see more of one I would save up and get it myself... most of what I have brought has either been somethign I've seen some of elsewhere, borrowed and liked, or been recommended.

Although that said, I had a CD with one of the chobits songs on it, my mum heard it and really liked it (it was the theme tune) and brought herself the CD and really likes it... I still havent got the guts to show her the manga or anime X_X although its not too bad... I couldnt see she'd get past the first episode without going into shock! ^^;

[Feria]

Also, look at site recomendations etc, find out what something's about first. It will probably list if its shoujo-ai or shonen-ai given a genre and a bit of information. I dunno, thats what I woudl do if unsure... else look into why things have higher ratings if they do, and if they dont, you havent got much to be worried about tbh.

[AquaSky]

A good rule of thumb tends to be that if there are two or more people on the front cover and none of them are women, it may be shounen-ai. That's how I found stuff like Eight Clouds Rising.

[CyphearionUniverse]

Ah, thanks everyone. I really just sort of window shop for anime, and when I see something I like and that I can afford I buy it (which I guess really isn't window shopping afterall). So in other words, I don't do much anime series research on the net.

I haven't really bought any yaoi/shounen-ai anime yet....That may be a bit too soon...

Angelx03: I can see how you may think it's not a shoujo-ai. I guess it could go either way. Maybe I just look [i]way[/i] into those kinds of things. (though the credits can throw you off a bit when they kiss) In fact, last night I just finish the last disk. Layla may actually be Nei's mother, however, the whole thing is still a bit mixed up since Nei finally became an official girl in the last episode(or second to last). I was a bit dissapointed in the subtitles, however. They are suppose to be done by proffessionals, but from the few bits of Japanese that I know of, they did make a few mistakes, but nothing too major.

Anyways, thanks again for all of your help. I'll know next time to always look up for reviews first, though I really should have learned that when I bought some Love Hina manga...

[hypes]

Alot of animes have what I call "unofficial" lesbian relations. For instance, my friend and I constantly argue about Read or Die, cus I swear that Nancy and the yomiko (the main character, I can't remember her name right now) are diggin' each other. Battle Athletes is the same way. So sometimes, its implied...