What is Seinen Anime? What kind of themes can you expect to see in these types of anime? How does the seinen genre stack up against the more well-known shounen and shoujo genres? In this article, we’ll explore what the seinen genre is all about, from its history to the best-known examples of the genre today. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons and try something new, this list of must-see seinen anime will get you started.
What does seinen mean in anime?
What is Seinen Anime? While some anime is seen as suitable for all ages, others cater to more mature audiences. Known as seinen in Japan, these anime showcase complex plots, deep themes, and intense violence that would be inappropriate for young children. These shows frequently feature graphic sex scenes and often depict a darker side of human nature. Some examples of seinen anime include Ghost in the Shell, Akira, and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Most often, these types of anime run for at least 26 episodes or longer. Additionally, many are adaptations of manga with adult content that was not present in their source material. Finally, characters tend to speak less than in the shonen series but tend to think aloud more than their shoujo counterparts. There’s nothing wrong with watching seinen anime if you’re over 18 however, you may want to consider parental guidance before letting your kids watch them.
What kind of anime is seinen?
What is Seinen Anime? Its origin can be traced back to a type of Japanese manga aimed at young adult men, and as anime grew into an art form in its own right it evolved alongside seinen manga. As with all forms of entertainment, what makes great seinen anime comes down to personal preference, but there are some common traits that you’ll find in many popular works.
Works of seinen anime often take place in a realistic setting or feature relatable characters who deal with real-world problems or emotions. This makes them vastly different from other kinds of stories, where fantastical settings and alien experiences are more common. Because they have such a distinct focus on character development, seinen anime tend to delve deeply into what motivates people and how they interact with each other.
They might tell self-contained stories or develop their characters over time across multiple episodes. Oftentimes, they’re less concerned about big action set pieces than they are about exploring human relationships and motivations. Because of these factors, it’s easy for even those new to anime to appreciate seinen series; because they follow tropes seen in Western films and TV shows, viewers aren’t put off by unfamiliar concepts like spirit worlds or magic powers. In fact, sometimes not being so outlandish is part of what makes these shows so appealing.
Are seinen anime good?
If you haven’t heard of seinen anime, don’t worry you aren’t alone. Compared to shounen and shojo, seinen anime is a niche market. Despite that, it has been steadily growing in popularity over recent years. Some claim that its growth has made it Japan’s third-largest genre behind shounen and shojo; however, there are no official statistics on how many people actually watch it or buy manga/DVDs featuring characters from those series. So what makes seinen anime so special? Well, for starters, it isn’t aimed at children or teenagers like shounen and shojo.
It’s also not intended for young women like shojo. Instead, these shows focus on more mature themes such as politics, war, existentialism (the philosophical concept that asks questions about human existence), psychology (the study of the mind), social issues (issues facing society), and even violence. : In fact, some critics say that seinen anime appeals only to men who have given up on life because they think these shows feature bleak stories with little hope for redemption.
What is Manga Anime? Seinen anime does take place in an end-of-the-world scenario where humanity has lost all hope, they still offer a glimmer of light at the end of what seems like an endless tunnel. For example, Akira tells the story of two brothers who must survive in Neo Tokyo after World War III destroys everything else on Earth. Even though their lives seem hopeless, Tetsuo and Kaneda refuse to give up on each other or themselves.
