Similar Characteristics in Yuri Characters

I was reading Dezo's latest fic and I came across this in his ending author's note: "[...] no surprise, really, given Shizuru and Chikane's similarities in projecting a polished public facade)"

It made me stop and think because I disagree with what he says about those two particular characters. Then that made me think further about a lot of different yuri series with similar characters, especially the more popular ones.

Everyone that's a fan of this genre probably recognizes the student council/class president (or something equivalent to it) that sips tea and it's the most popular yuri archetype. But I was wondering if any two characters across yuri series (in yuri pairings) had anything in common.

Given what I've watched so far, I see some basic similarities between Shizuru and Natsuki from Mai Hime & Michiru and Haruka from Sailor Moon. Haruka and Natsuki are both independent and drive motorcycles, and Shizuru and Haruka are both the admired skilled female that play instruments. (Shizuru from Mai Otome plays the piano.)

There's also the obvious "onee-sama/imouto" angle that so many yuri manga use. I wonder if we have Marimite to thank, or if it's from something older?

Funnily enough, when I was first watching yuri anime, the first few I watched, the "seme" of the two was always the tall, angsty one with darker hair and the "uke" was always the shorter, lighter haired, stupider ditzier one so I thought that's how they all were. Thankfully it's now. XD

Has anyone else noticed any similarities? Or perhaps you want to bring something else up in relation to this?

Demon wrote:I was reading Dezo's latest fic and I came across this in his ending author's note: "[...] no surprise, really, given Shizuru and Chikane's similarities in projecting a polished public facade)"

It made me stop and think because I disagree with what he says about those two particular characters.

Oooh, discussion point! We need a thread to talk about this one. *hunts for thread*

Then that made me think further about a lot of different yuri series with similar characters, especially the more popular ones.

Everyone that's a fan of this genre probably recognizes the student council/class president (or something equivalent to it) that sips tea and it's the most popular yuri archetype. But I was wondering if any two characters across yuri series (in yuri pairings) had anything in common.

Given what I've watched so far, I see some basic similarities between Shizuru and Natsuki from Mai Hime & Michiru and Haruka from Sailor Moon. Haruka and Natsuki are both independent and drive motorcycles, and Shizuru and Haruka are both the admired skilled female that play instruments. (Shizuru from Mai Otome plays the piano.)

There's also the obvious "onee-sama/imouto" angle that so many yuri manga use. I wonder if we have Marimite to thank, or if it's from something older?

Funnily enough, when I was first watching yuri anime, the first few I watched, the "seme" of the two was always the tall, angsty one with darker hair and the "uke" was always the shorter, lighter haired, stupider ditzier one so I thought that's how they all were. Thankfully it's now. XD

Has anyone else noticed any similarities? Or perhaps you want to bring something else up in relation to this?

On-topic, the girls'-school onee-sama crush dates kind of to forever; it's rooted in the "Class S" relationship dynamic and pretty much predates yuri as we know it. Lillian's soeur system basically formalizes it in MariMite, which is kind of an interesting twist all by itself. But you'll get it in a lot of older stuff as well.

I too have noticed some similarities as well. For example (and this is in my opinion) some of the more coy characters are or should be alone/single in the end.

Let me explain, Sei Satou (hah,gotta love the name of person and sugar) in the end is not paired up in the end with anyone. I love that. She's a strong enough character to stand on her own, her fandom doesn't come out of her potential pairings but her kick-ass personality. Shizuma from Strawberry Panic, in the end is unfortunately paired with Nagisa who is an airhead with a one track mind whom I can not stand. She would have been better off by herself like Sei and oh my god. How awesome would SP be without Nagisa? See, in Marimite I would almost say the same thing about Yumi, however; Yumi does have a pairing and that is Sachiko. I think they compliment each other so much more than ShizumaXNagisa because they both are naive and have a one track mind! Sachiko's just more..gifted..talented...and smart than Yumi but they have that naivety and passive(yumi) to aggressiveness(sachiko) about them in common which makes them work.

Come to think of it, another similarity amongst these two strong female leads, they both have had a relationship hurdle/bad memory/bad experience/ spicing up the complexity of the character. The only yuri anime I can think of that does this (to my knowledge which is limited) is Strawberry Panic and Marimite.

this was longer than I intended it too be..and slightly off topic I think..

Marimite!! Satou Sei? xD

Wait... I forgot my original train of thought.

Similar characteristics I've noticed... I'm not complaining cos I have a weakness for such characters..

Long blue hair, eyes of some special colour, ice princess who is tough/capable who slowly learns to -insert life lesson-

Oh so many. I liked the one who was in that anime with music.. Where they are in a wr and the girl plays a trumpet... Can't quite recall the name. Hmm.

I love my Shizuma/Chikane/Natsuki/Sachiko's (and Teresa!) of the anime world!

Tall, dark and bishoujo. Yum

Alaeri wrote:I love my Shizuma/Chikane/Natsuki/Sachiko's of the anime world!

Tall, dark and bishoujo. Yum

For some reason I put Sachiko and Natsuki in a completely different faction from Shizuma/Chikane.

I put Sachiko and Natsuki in the one-track mind,determined, and competitive group, and I put Shizuma/ Chikane in the "psshaw, I so got this and am all knowing when it comes to everything nothing really surprises me as I'm acting sexy and coy as fuck" group

err, in the seductive group...

All four are tall, dark and bishoujo though: Tall, pretty, aloof, and composed. They fit the trope to a T.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TallDarkAndBishoujo

I had no idea there even was a trope for this....

Yes, that trope/description, exactly.