Since its debut in July 2023, My Happy Marriage has already proven to be one of the best romance series with the biggest twists and turns. Unlike most romances, this anime features a story that has more to offer than doey-eyed lovers, but a full fantasy epic that is sure to be remembered for years to come. Within the past decade, there is only one other series that has managed this feat – Yona of the Dawn.
Based on the manga of the same name, Yona of the Dawn is a shojo fantasy series that combines action, mystic lore, an open world, and a fantastic adventure to follow. Though less of an adventure per se, My Happy Marriage is following down the same path as a series with Shojo elements that strays far from expectations and tropes and offers a deeply detailed story of action, fantasy, and romance combined. Fans of either series should watch both series by this Summer's end as these unique takes on the Shojo demographic may reshape the future of this genre.
Two Series For Shojo and Shonen Fans Alike
Both Yona and My Happy Marriage take place in fictional fantasy universes that are filled with history, politics, and magic. Their stories follow women who must overcome the challenges of their surroundings which range from emotionally damaging to life-threatening. While the end goal for both these women is a happy ending, preferrably with their eventual romantic partner, along the way other goals of fostering friendship and strength become just as important. There's a unique emphasis on action in both these series and surviving physical battles with either physical skills or powerful magic. Viewers might initially think the romance in these series are for Shojo fans, but the thrilling battles will keep Shonen fans entertained.
With a mix of romance and action, there is a large audience for both series. In Yona of the Dawn, Shojo fans can enjoy the reverse harem that is tied to the deep lore of an ancient legend with the protagonist Yona at the center of it all. At the same time, Shonen fans can enjoy the fantasy adventure that challenges the main party with battles and moments of personal and physical growth. While it's unfortunate that Yona of the Dawn only has one season, it's worth the watch. With My Happy Marriage, Shonen fans may be turned away by the rosy romantic appearance, but there is much more to the story after Episode 1. By the second episode, the rules of magic and mysterious lore of the supernatural is introduced, though the focus is definitely on Miyo and her relationship with Captain Kiyoka. With carefully built up characters that have great potential and hints of the action to come, this anime can also be enjoyed by Shonen and Shojo fans alike.
Rarities Among Romance
Shojo series aren't animated enough, along with Josei series as well. The focus and attention appears to be more on Shonen and Seinen series which find more success among readers of manga and light novels. Some of this may have to do with the fact that a vast majority of Shojo and Josei series are roughly the same stories of slice-of-life romcoms. While the Shonen and Seinen demographics utilize various genres to tell far more unique stories, Shojo and Josei are boxed into the same expectations. Yona of the Dawn and My Happy Marriage subvert expectations and can have a much larger and more dedicated following.
The elements in these series fall in line with the typical Shojo tropes. Yona is surrounded by attractive men who will do anything to protect her, while Miyo is the timid woman who is saved by her relationship with the Captain. Neither of these synopses sound interesting on their own, but when more details and nuances are added, it becomes fresh and exciting. In Yona's case, the legend of the dragon that imbues her with power and influence and the hardship of the coup de tat from her own kin that force her to live her life on the run is at the crux of the plot. The reverse harem is treated as a coincidental bonus that isn't as important as the main details. For Miyo, her relationship with the Captain is a catalyst for her growth, but it isn't romance alone that facilitates her development. The societal hierarchy of supernatural powers and how that caused deeply traumatic wounds onto Miyo's psyche also holds significance. From that, the story is about how she and the Captain find peace in one another equally with the help and support of many other characters despite the pressures and challenges from the rigid society they live in. In short, Yona of the Dawn and My Happy Marriage showcase layered and uniquely engaging stories.
Leading Ladies Worth Rooting For
The female leads in Yona of the Dawn and My Happy Marriage demonstrate incredible growth – which is rare among anime in general. In romance storylines, female protagonists' development is typically only skin deep and so terribly tied to their romantic partner that is takes away from their development. These young girls and women have little to no independence. This is not to say that there aren't any well written female leads in the romance genre, but they are few and far between. Yona of the Dawn and My Happy Marriage have brilliantly written lead characters that have blown away viewers' expectations.
Yona may start out as a bratty sheltered Princess, but she is morphed into an independent leader and warrior with a heart of gold. As she travels across her Kingdom, Yona becomes aware of her father's ignorance, the merits of his beloved compassion, and how to balance out those complexities to pave the way for a better rule if she is to take back her throne. By the end of one season, Yona is the best version of herself and a fan favorite for viewers.
Miyo suffers from the trauma of her upbringing which has forced her to believe that she is worthless because she has no supernatural powers. With the compassion of Captain Kiyoka, his maid Yukie, and many of their close friends, she begins to learn how to hone her own strength of self-worth but not without forces that aim to tear her away from her newfound home with the Captain. With the anime still underway, there is still a lot of growth that Miyo has to go through, but there is also the promise of great potential in this already beloved character.
Granted, Yona of the Dawn and My Happy Marriage may not be the first to subvert expectations, but they are unfortunately the most recent series to do so. Too few series geared towards girls and women have the same level of nuance, worldbuilding, and character building that these two series have. Yona of the Dawn has already cemented itself as an incredibly revolutionary series, and thankfully, My Happy Marriage is surely following in its footsteps. From the success of these series, there is hope that more anime like these will be made in the future.