EPTBlasterion's Guide to Yuri
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Yuri is.....according to wikipedia.....
Yuri (百合?), also known by the wasei-eigo construction Girls' Love (ガールズラブ gāruzu rabu?),[3] is a Japanese jargon term for content and a genre involving love between women in manga, anime, and related Japanese media.[4][5] Yuri can focus either on the sexual, the spiritual, or the emotional aspects of the relationship, the latter two sometimes being called shōjo-ai by western fans.[6]
Foreigners call this Lesbianism.
Why Watch Yuri?
Yuri is good because it is different from regular drama and relationships we see. Something that goes against the norms is enjoyable.
Also watching 2 girls go at it is never a bad thing
Sometimes it's hard to point out good things in yuri so let's evaluate a few good yuri series.
Strawberry Panic
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There are several pairings of yuri in Strawberry Panic. And most of the time when I recommend someone a gate to yuri anime I recommend this piece.
Now the main element of this yuri piece is the Characters
Hanazono Shizuma (White hair) is mysterious, near superhuman level, and very capable, oh yes and she's gay.
Nagisa (Red Hair) is more or less a klutz, she's shy, not very good at stuff, but tries her best, she's not exactly gay, but she is curious.
The way the ShizumaXNagisa chemistry works is that Nagisa sees Shizuma not as someone of romantic interest in the beginning. but she looks up to Shizuma, because she is this near perfect human being, who for some reason is especially kind to her. While Shizuma, sees Nagisa as a potential love interest. Now the way yuri in this anime works is that Shizuma leads Nagisa for most of the part and acts pretty much as the Prince on the White Horse for her. But at the same time Nagisa has her own part to do in the series. Both character gets action and plenty of interaction. And interactions is what drives yuri.
Kannazuki no Miko
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Not the best example, but it's still a great yuri series. It kinda failed as a anime series but it's still a worthwhile yuri series. The main key in yuri of this series is the Himeko vs Male Protagonist struggle for Chikane. (Yes I have forgotten the name of the male lead lol, He didn't feel important for me to remember). Himeko is obviously gay for Chikane, and Chikane likes Himeko,, but doesn't see her as a potential love interest. At the same time. There is the threat of the male lead breaking the HimekoXChikane pairing. Himeko plays the lead in this pairing and Chikane plays the submissive role.
Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito
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In Yamibou what makes this yuri compelling is the addition of more than one pairing girl. Unlike in Strawberry Panic where you had pretty much 1 girl x 1 girl + 1 girl that would be shafted and always be in a big disadvantage in terms of progress (ahem Tamao) In Yamibou, both Hatsumi and Lilith are both pretty good potential candidates for Hazuki. Even more Hatsumi and Hazuki are unbloodrelated sisters. This pseudo-incest scenario makes the series even more compelling. Hazuki's character is also great since she's is pretty much in self denial that she's gay for Hatsumi and early in the series she almost tried to have sex with her. And for most of the series Hazuki's mentality is "I need to apologize to Hatsumi."
Kuttsukiboshi
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Kuttsukiboshi (くっつきぼし?, lit. Stars that stick together) is a two part original video animation, The protagonist, Kawakami Kiiko is a person that has gained slight psychokinesis powers after her car accident, She's in love with the other female protagonist Aaya, whom like experimenting with Kiiko's powers, is in a yuri relationship with her, Her brother is a famous musician,+ Show Spoiler +
whom she actually shares an intimate incest sexual relationship with.
Part 2 is not out yet, I hope it'll be good
Sono Hanabira Ni Kuchizuke O: Watashi No Ouji-sama
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From the a Kiss for the Petal series, is the chapter My Prince. now personally, This is one of my favorite yuri piece. quoting the premise
'I am Kitajima Kaede, and I am not really good at dealing with people. I'm also the class rep.
In school, I run into my cousin Kitajima Sara, and suddenly I find myself sharing a passionate kiss with her!
In the years that I haven't seen her, she's grown into a cute, outgoing girl who has become a famous model.
Even fashion magazines know about her, and many in my school idolize her. She makes me look extra dull by comparison.
And yet she calls me out from afar and clings to me, heedless of the stares people give us.
Because I don't like to stand out, I instinctively act coldly towards Sara.
But then she suddenly pushed me down. She whispers to me,
"I want everything there is you."
Such joy, such bliss and such embarrassment. What's to become of me?'
In school, I run into my cousin Kitajima Sara, and suddenly I find myself sharing a passionate kiss with her!
In the years that I haven't seen her, she's grown into a cute, outgoing girl who has become a famous model.
Even fashion magazines know about her, and many in my school idolize her. She makes me look extra dull by comparison.
And yet she calls me out from afar and clings to me, heedless of the stares people give us.
Because I don't like to stand out, I instinctively act coldly towards Sara.
But then she suddenly pushed me down. She whispers to me,
"I want everything there is you."
Such joy, such bliss and such embarrassment. What's to become of me?'
The important part here is that the game puts you in the view of Kaede. Whjom is the submissive chara in the relationships. It's something I love from the Sono Hanabira series. Note, Kaede isn't really gay, but is actually lead around by Sara. Which the whole series builds upon the fact that Kaede is being lead into yuri. Can you imagine the story if Kaede was gay from the start? The story would suck. It's because of Kaede's resistance to yuri that makes the series interesting.
Sono Hanabira Ni Kuchizuke O: Tenshi No Hanabira Zome
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Another good Sono Hanabira, The key here is the Oujo X Oujo relationship. While RichXPoor is a interesting pairing. It's just too common. But here it's not just RichXRich. They're fundamentally different in character. One is a much more Yamato Nadeshiko type Oujo, The other more of a large Wealthy family, a more westernized Oujo. Definitely make for some interesting yuri.
Starting off Mangas we have my favorite Yuri series from Morinaga Milk-sensei
Girlfriends
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such a short title but so good. It's a pretty long read, the Akko X Mari relationship pure and sweet, a good innocent type love story, And is mostly about the two resolving their differences and try to make a girl X girl relationship work, and should be what a yuri story be mostly about anyways, The cute art is definitely a plus.
Marriage Black
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Marriage Black-by Hayase Hashiba-sensei, this Yuri is kick ass, 2 rival mafia families, their daughters in love with one another, yet forced to fight each other while loving each other, comes out like once a year or something, extremely slow only up to 3 chapters so far but so good.
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Ludie is so cute, Lilithia, is pretty ruthless while cute, both girls have their for my family mafia thing going on but this yuri is so good, highly recommended
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Edit: 4th closing Chapter just came out, It was quite good.
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Kuroyome
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WTB wife! hahaha, Single Hardworking women hhave it hard so why not rent a wife? this is a fun type story about A perfect girl, who was visited by a girl of the Global Wife Allocation Beareau. who is less capable and definitely too klutzy to be a wife. how will these 2 fare together?
Chatting at the Amber Teahouse
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Fujieda Miyabi-sensei! I must say Fujieda-sensei really impress me with her cute art work, making every piece of her work enjoyable to me, Chatting at the Amber Teahouse is just a very cute yuri manga of the relationship between Sarasa the main protagonist working at the teahouse and the master of the tea house Seriho. The story is very fluffy and slice of life paced. Slow but enjoyable. Cafe yuri with Miyabi art, what is there not love?
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Blue Friend
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Ah Blue Friend by Ebin Fumi-sensei, This is yuri. When rejection is your best ticket to a soulmate, yes your heroine is cold hearted! and it's the job of the protagonist to melt that ice wall she has around her heart. A very story driven yuri and definitely one that I have trouble putting down without finishing. It is very satisfying. 2 Volumes so far but I see great potential
Blue Friend Season 2
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\The New Blue Friend with new Premise, Characters, and Plot, while not as engaging as the first one and leave alot more to be desired. It does deserve a mention, It's kind of hard to walk in the shadows of Blue Friend and shine, I would definitely give this manga higher feedback if it didn't have Blue Friend in the name. I guess I am kind of doing a Brood War vs SC2-esque talk now. Both Manga are great. The characters are pretty interesting. and with only 3 chapters out most of the story hasn't been fleshed out yet. But definitely worth the read, just Because Ao is so cute.
Iono the Fanatic
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Going back to Fujieda Miyabi-sensei, I really love this manga, it's great fun to watch a Queen of a nation go to japan incognito just to recruit sobame for her.....harem. My only complaint is her favoritism towards to main female heroine. When you are royalty, and have a harem,. you should always love your heroines equally, but that's just my personal belief.
Wife and Wife
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Serious plot and engaging yuri interactions are great but sometimes you just have to kick back with some yuri gag comic. From Minamoto Hisanari-sensei is Wife and Wife, where two girls' daily lives are sure to make you giggle for a bit just for some stress relief, Kinako speaks with an accent, It'll be the foreigner's version of, Texas speak I guess.
Kisses Sighs and Blossom Pink
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Once again Morinaga Milk-sensei, this is a collection of short yuri stories that are somewhat interconnected. The stories stand well by themselves as well. The yuri is pretty good as expected of Milk-sensei. "Even if We're Not Friends," "If I Kiss Her Ring Finger," "Chocolate Kiss Kiss," and "Wishing on the Moon" feature the same protagonists, and all the stories take place at the same school.
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