Its all about the Yaoi…or Yuri…or…what?

Hey, addicts! This week, in addiction to my usual review (coming soon, so keep your cosplay on!) I’d like to talk about a subject that holds a bit of controversy in the anime fan base: Yaoi & Yuri. What makes yaoi or yuri, where can it be spotted, and what are the typical implications of same-gender love in anime, and finally we’ll answer the question once and for all: will they or won’t they? Okay, not really. Even I can’t tell you if your latest OTP is destined for each other, but odds are…well, let’s just save that for later.

First off, a a glossary for those who might have not know certain terms that will be used.

“Boy’s Love” or “shounen ai“= instead of just plain yaoi,  this sub-genre is more of a sweet, innocent type of same-gender relationships in anime. Alternatively, “Girl’s Love” or “shojo ai” would be the equivalent for girls.

Fujoshi= this is a nickname for fangirls of yaoi, or in some rare cases, yuri. Literally means “rotten girl”, so this term is less than affectionate towards the typical yaoi fangirl. Can refer to anime fans or even characters in universe. If used for the latter, it’s usually by a boy who is only mistaken for gay.

 Seme= this is the Japanese equivalent of a “top”, though it literally means “pitcher”. Semes are typically taller than the uke, more worldly or tough, and usually have shorter hair and narrower eyes. In most semes, their hair and eye color, even their clothes, might be darker than their partner, who is called the…

Uke= the “catcher” is often the cute half of the couple, with effeminate features if a boy, or more feminine if a girl. Ukes are usually shorter, and depicted as innocent and sweet, though there are some examples which aren’t too sweet, but most Ukes are naive in some way.

These two terms usually refer to yaoi couples, but the same logic could apply to yuri as well.

Alrighty, so what makes your typical yaoi or yuri anime? I’ve already described the typical pairing (see Seme and Uke above), but the plot is usually like your typical romantic comedy, whether the series is a dramatic action anime or just a slice of life school anime. Cue the show to start up. Here’s your hero, a new student or solider or whatever, and he’s walking down the hallway when he spots the most reclusive, and infamous delinquent. Maybe he’s a year up in high school, or a military superior. Our beloved seme glances up, wondering what all the fuss is about. The uke and the seme lock eyes. Insert lots of filtered closeups of the uke (or even the seme!) blushing shyly, as well as plenty of glitter.

At first, the uke and seme will hate each other, or at least not hang out together all that much because one irritates the other, or they don’t have the same interests. But sure enough, before you are about to rip out your DVD and break it into a million pieces because the plot is going nowhere, behold! Our young uke will be walking the hallways late in the afternoon and  who does he spot? Yes! The seme, elegantly pwning at archery club, or shooting practice, what have you. He will spot the uke and lose his focus, the two will sit down, and the irritated seme will ask what exactly the uke wants with him that can’t wait to tell him until he’s finished with practice. Uke apologizes. They talk. Get to know one another. More eager coples will kiss right then and there. Fujoshis run around the school or military base gushing over the fledgling couple and writing embarrassing doujinshi.

If it’s only implied, which unfortunately for many fangirls, is all too common, there will still be some general ingredients to suggest that a yaoi or yuri pairing is canon (or at least not complete crack):

-slight shounen ai/shojo ai  in best-case scenario for fangirls. May include some:

–VERY meaningful hugs,

–other characters teasing the two about being such a cute couple,

–for the more fiesty uke, hostile arguements that result in some smokin’ hot sexual tension. (Fangirls, we all know these couples are your favorite kinds, because then you get to relieve EVERYONE’s tension with a good doujin or fanfiction. )

-an uke-like character & a seme-like character, or even more than one of each. May not fill ALL criteria for either description, but that’s because it’s IMPLIED, and besides, stereotypes are made to be broken.

-made by CLAMP (I mean, really now. This is real reason we love their manga.)

Well-known examples of implied yaoi/yuri in anime:

– Obviously, Sailor Uranus (seme) & Sailor Neptune (uke). These two are the gold standard for yuri couples everywhere. But CLAMP isnt about to be best, as they counter with…

-Tomoyo Daitoji & Sakura Kinomoto. Whether you see these two in Cardcaptor Sakura or Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, these two have the ultimate girl’s love implications (even if a bit one-sided in affection). I mean, who doesn’t wish that their best friend sewed cutesy costumes for them and videotapes them wherever they go?

-Colonel Roy Mustang & Edward Elric. I tried to keep my own personal favorites out of here, but this is the one that got away. Check my fancy little “ingredients” list above. This one’s got it all: hostility, teasing on both sides, uke and seme-like tendencies. Mazal tov, you two!

-And finally, from one of the finest yaoi mangas of all time, I give you Taki and Goh from Yellow by Makoto Tateno. This manga is a must-read for any yaoi fan, as it nearly breaks all stereotypes of yaoi as we know it. I won’t say any more on the subject, you should just read it yourself sometime.

And with that, addicts, enjoy your love doujins until I come crawling back to review a classic: FullMetal Alchemist. Ja ne!!