Shonen vs. Shojo

[Wolf Kanno]

sho·nen

ˈSHōnən/

noun
noun: shonen; noun: shonen manga

• a genre of Japanese comics and animated films aimed primarily at a young male audience, typically characterized by action-filled plots.
  "manga artists use the eyes to indicate emotions and sensitivity, not a high priority in early shonen manga"
  
  
  
  

Examples: Dragon Ball, Mobile Suit Gundam, Naruto, Fairy Tale, and Death Note

sho·jo

ˈSHōˌjō/
noun
noun: shojo; noun: shojo manga

• a genre of Japanese comics and animated films aimed primarily at a young female audience, typically characterized by a focus on personal and romantic relationships.
  "the world of shojo manga is the natural habitat for love stories of all possibilities and combinations"
  
  
  
  

Examples: Sailor Moon, Inu-Yahsa, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Ouran Host Club, Fruits Basket, X/1999, and xXx Holic

Which is your preferred style?

[Ayen]

Shojo. Most of my prefer anime tend to lean towards that side of the spectrum than Shonen.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

Shojo. Shonen tend to go on too long and get overly convoluted. Also, Sailor Moon.

To be honest, there are shows I enjoy from both but I tend to prefer shojos.

XXXHOLiC is technically a seinen not a shojo but is excellent!

[Shauna]

They're all acceptable in their own ways. But I am more likely to pick up a shoujo anime than a shonen one.

[blackmage_nuke]

I like when it's a Shonen anime disguised as a Shojo like Girls Und Panzer. If I cant have that then I guess I generally prefer Shonen as long as it keeps the action relevant and stimulating plotwise

[Karifean]

I couldn't tell a shoujo series if I watched one. Shounen on the other hand are usually really obvious to me. Most of my favorites are more on the shoujo side, I guess, although I do like a good shounen sometimes.

Though it's a bit weird because by those 'characterizations' galges would fall on the shoujo side even though they're mainly aimed at young male adults... actually I'd say anime culture has pretty good male-oriented romances in general which don't really fall into either spectrum. So I guess my preferred choice is... neither? Well, Shoujo if I had to pick.

[Fox]

Ah, flimsy genre labels. Gotta love em! With the anime I watch, I tend to lean towards Shoujo. And if it's Shoujo-ai​, even better!

[Zanmato]

Shojo? Naaaah.. It's too girly to me... :V
Yeah, I'm a romatic guy, but I don't like romantic stuff that much...

I prefer Shonen, but the shorter ones... :P
I love action with funny stuff generally.

[Christmas]

But a lot of shojo artstyle feature malnourished characters that are so skinny, the wind could blow them away.