Ask John: Where Have All the Dark Bishonen Anime Gone?

Question:
A few years back, there were a handful of dark shoujo anime such as X, Weiss Kreuz, Yami no Matsuei, Angel Sanctuary, etc. I really enjoy this type of show, but I’ve noticed there don’t seem to any dark shoujo series around lately. So my question is, why have shoujo anime with a large male cast and dark themes become so rare?

Answer:
If you’ll forgive me for attempting to be thorough (in other words, a bit nitpicky) I must first say that it’s bit debatable to refer to titles like Weiss Kreuz, X, Yami no Matsuei, and Angel Sanctuary as “shoujo.” I think “bishonen” would be more appropriate. But I do recognize your point. These are bishonen titles with moody atmosphere and dark themes that appeal to female viewers and fans of dramatic, shoujo-esque relationship and emotional conflicts. I also apprehend your impression that these types of anime seem to be less prominent now. However, in fact, this type of anime hasn’t diminished at all. On the contrary, the advent of this type of anime has actually increased, but due to various circumstances average American anime fans may not have noticed.

The original Weiss Kreuz television series premiered back in 1998, reaching American DVD in 2002. The Angel Sanctuary OVA series premiered in Japan in 2000, and reached American DVD the following year. Yami no Matsuei also premiered in 2000, but didn’t hit American DVD until 2003. The X TV series premiered in 2001 in Japan, and 2002 in America. The Weiss Kreuz Gluhen series premiered in 2002 and reached American DVD in 2004. So these series premiered in Japan over a span of five years. They premiered on American DVD over a span of four years.

For comparison, let’s examine what similar dark, gothic, and atmospheric bishonen anime have premiered within the past five years – the same length of time between the debut of Angel Sanctuary and Weiss Kreuz Gluhen. My lists are subjective and don’t include all bishonen anime – just the relatively “dark” ones.

2004
Harukanaru Toki no Nakade ~Hachiyosho~
Legend of Duo
Meine Liebe
Saiyuki Reload Gunlock
Tactics

2005
Cluster Edge
Loveless
Trinity Blood

2006
Black Blood Brothers
Death Note
Ghost Hunt
Meine Liebe -wieder-
Night Head Genesis
Shounen Onmyouji

2007
Saiyuki Reload Burial
Suteki Tantei Labyrinth

2008
Bus Gamer
Himitsu
Monochrome Factor
Nabari no Ou
Neo Angelique Abyss
Vampire Knight

That’s actually quite a few titles. However, if we examine what’s been released in America during the past four years – the same span of time between the American release of Angel Sanctuary and “Knight Hunters Eternity,” only five titles have premiered on American DVD; among them Shounen Onmyouji was canceled after only two volumes, and Death Note is still unfinished. In effect, there have been numerous dark bishonen anime in Japan recently, but most of them have had minimal exposure in America.

American fans of atmospheric bishonen anime can look forward to the fall re-release of Shonen Onmyouji, the October debut of Ghost Hunt, and an eventual release of Night Head Genesis from Media Blasters. Although not exactly “dark,” fans of action oriented bishonen anime can also anticipate FUNimation’s October 7 release of Jyu Oh Sei. Viewers that watch imported anime can look forward to the Kuro Shitsuji television series and the Switch OVA series.