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Shōnen-ai
: 少年愛 【しょうねん-あい】
The Japanese words "shōnen" and "ai" individually mean "boy" and "love," which is exactly what shōnen-ai means, boy-love. It refers to anime and manga that focus on love and romance (as opposed to sex) between boys or men (typically bishōnen). The euphemistic Japanese borrowing of the English translation of this phrase, "boys love," is now used instead of shōnen-ai by publishers and fans alike in Japan.
Some boys-love is pornographic but much of it is not. Examples of boys-love include Gravitation, Seimaden, Earthian, and Mirage of Blaze.
Of late, it has become increasingly popular in North America for boys-love titles to be labelled "yaoi," both by fans and distributors.
See also: shōjo-ai, yaoi, yuri
Some boys-love is pornographic but much of it is not. Examples of boys-love include Gravitation, Seimaden, Earthian, and Mirage of Blaze.
Of late, it has become increasingly popular in North America for boys-love titles to be labelled "yaoi," both by fans and distributors.
See also: shōjo-ai, yaoi, yuri
Recent Articles
Interview: Blood-C's Tsutomu Mizushima and Junichi Fujisaku
Director Tsutomu Mizushima and screenwriter Junichi Fujisaku sit down with us to discuss their work on the hit summer anime, Blood-C, which reimagines the franchise from Clamp's point of view!
2011-09-01
Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga - Please Save My Earth
Jason tries to hold back his psychic blasts long enough to talk about the beloved and notoriously difficult to find Please Save My Earth. 2011-09-01
Jason tries to hold back his psychic blasts long enough to talk about the beloved and notoriously difficult to find Please Save My Earth. 2011-09-01
The X Button - Blade Meridian
Xenoblade Chronicles and Growlanser lead the imports! There's also much talk about Black Rock Shooter, Rhythm Phantom Thief R, and a surprise Persona game. 2011-08-31
Xenoblade Chronicles and Growlanser lead the imports! There's also much talk about Black Rock Shooter, Rhythm Phantom Thief R, and a surprise Persona game. 2011-08-31
RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - Bakuman Battle Brawlers
Are the pens of Bakuman mightier than the swords (and fists) of Tenjo Tenge? And where does Bloody Monday fit on that scale? See for yourself in this week's column! 2011-08-30
Are the pens of Bakuman mightier than the swords (and fists) of Tenjo Tenge? And where does Bloody Monday fit on that scale? See for yourself in this week's column! 2011-08-30
Shelf Life - I Am Number Six
Erin rides out the hurricane with some dueling and a bromance.
- Ghost in the Shell - SAC: Individual Eleven BD
- No. 6 ep. 1-7
- Utena DVD Set 2: Black Rose Saga
2011-08-29
Erin rides out the hurricane with some dueling and a bromance.
- Ghost in the Shell - SAC: Individual Eleven BD
- No. 6 ep. 1-
- Utena DVD Set 2: Black Rose Saga
2011-08-29
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Recent Reviews
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The focus shifts to the next generation (but the originals are still involved) as the daughter and son of the first half's two main couples team up for a new round of adventures, humor, and romance. If you enjoyed the first half then you should enjoy this half, too.
The focus shifts to the next generation (but the originals are still involved) as the daughter and son of the first half's two main couples team up for a new round of adventures, humor, and romance. If you enjoyed the first half then you should enjoy this half, too.
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Deeply Gothic, nicely mysterious, and well – if not somewhat confusingly – drawn, this penultimate volume moves us rapidly towards an ending that may very well mimic those of many of the original fairy tales.
Queen's Blade 2: The Evil Eye part 2
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After dragging the characters into their future and radically rewriting their relationships and relative positions last volume, it's a bit of surprise to discover that this volume is as timid as it is.
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Ikigami on autopilot is still better than most other series on their best days. This volume may not dig deep into political issues, but it handles the emotional ones well.
Random Fun
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