Shonen manga target young boys and male teenagers. The extensive "Mecha" genre, which features giant, dueling robots, falls under this category. Stories that revolve around swordfights and forms of magical combat are also common. For example, in Japan and the U.S., "Dragon Ball Z," "Naruto" and "Bleach" are popular shonen series that involve fantasy violence.
Seinen manga target an older, male audience. These series tend to have heavier graphic violence and deeper psychological drama than shonen. For example, "Akira" and "Gantz" are science fiction thrillers that fall into this category. Series that contain adult humor, such as "Crayon Shin-Chan," are also seinen. The line between shonen and seinen is not always clear; "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Death Note" are examples of manga that may stand between the categories.
Girls are the demographic target of shojo manga. While many of these series contain some level of action and comedy, the focus is usually on romance and emotional conflicts. "Fruits Basket" and "Ouran Host Club" are examples of shojo series. The "Magical Girl" genre, which involves female protagonists with magical powers, is a sub-category of shojo. "Sailor Moon" is an iconic "Magical Girl" series.
Women are the demographic target of josei manga. The characters tend to be finishing high school or beginning college. Realistic stories and sexually explicit scenes are common traits of this category; however, "Magical Girl" stories may also appear as josei manga. "Honey and Clover," "Paradise Kiss" and "For Mrs." are josei manga.
The content of kodomo manga aims for a child audience. Moralistic themes are common among these series. "Doraemon" and "Hamtaro" are popular kodomo series.