Why Anime Men Look So Feminine | The Story Of Bjorn Anderson "Most Beautiful Boy In The World"

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[@justahumanbean_]

Tbh i feel bad for Bjorn Anderson when he was heavily objectified at such a young age. His case remind me of Brooke Shields as well. It's sad that child actors in risks of constant sexual pressure without having respect of them merely as individuals.

[@Ida09]

his name is björn not bjorn

[@madhukarjonathanminj2772]

Thank God Brooke Shields was able to have a happy life

[@yahyenoor7446]

@@Ida09 im sorry but not everybody has the same keyboard as you.i have an english one

[@sin1656]

@@Ida09 There's no difference if you can't hear the pronunciation. Aimless correction.

[@hundvd_7]

@pikapikachuuu It is literally not the same. That was literally a lie. But it's also unreasonable to expect people to always write with letters that they *literally* don't have on their keyboard.

[@verdean11]

In K-Dramas the male protagonist is usually very feminine as well, extremely noticeable when next to other male characters.

[@CarolineNiggAyaLee-Janet]

sorry, they aren’t “feminine” they are just not the same as a very particular western image of being masculine. Western idea of masculinity is actually not universal.

[@yuuyy2621]

@@CarolineNiggAyaLee-Janet thats... what he means?

[@illarionbykov7401]

@@CarolineNiggAyaLee-Janet they are feminine from a biological point of view. Testosterone causes faces to be wider, jaws to be heavier, more prominent brows, larger muscles, larger and more protruding genitalia, etc. And men have much higher testosterone levels than women in the vast majority of cases.. These are biological characteristics which show up in every cultural and ethnic group of humans, so the world over, people have similar views of what looks feminine and what looks masculine. It is true that in some cultures, usually among the upper class in very civilized cultures, various feminine traits become valued in men, even in ancient Greece and among western European aristocracies where small genitalia and delicate hands and facial features were considered beautiful on young men. But whatever the fashion of the day may be, feminine features remain feminine features. It's a question of biology, not the whims of fashion.

[@verdean11]

@@CarolineNiggAyaLee-Janet As I said, it's extremely noticeable when they are next to other male, also Korean, characters. Nothing to do with "Western idea", they have more feminine features compared to the other men on the show.

[@EriGab99]

Korea fans try not to mention K- stuff in Japanese focused content challenge

[@zitronentee]

Please note than even before Bjorn Anderson, Japan has something that's called 'wakashu'. This is what I found : "Four hundred years ago in Japan, male youths, called wakashu, were the objects of sexual desire for women and men. Creating a third gender, wakashu looked different from both women and adult men and played distinct social and sexual roles." There is a wikipedia article about it.

[@Kurostyle21]

They allegedly "peaked in beauty" when they had puberty induced acne and pimples.

[@GCT98]

@@Kurostyle21 christ that's scary to think of

[@princesseville6889]

Linfamy has a great video about it - japanese history was always very fluid with the concept of femininity and masculinity, even queerness and performing gender roles. Compared to our christian medieval history they were supremely gay. Which is awesome.

[@GCT98]

@The Black Swordsman Mikaal they weren't hermaphrodites, they were just young feminine boys.

[@sholos4478]

@@princesseville6889 as open minded as their modern age of consent lol

[@capitanmarmota8562]

You didn't touch the last part "while retaining masculine traits" I think that the great appeal these characters have is in the combination of the feminine and the masculine which makes them feel more complete, like the yin is not divorced from the yang in them

[@LadyBoy_Barbie]

The idea that women and men have different perspective on what women want is very apparent. Men think women want the muscular gym bro or hyper masculine guy but she doesn’t. Yes women do like muscle and masculine in general just not to the extent men think they do. Men projected the male gaze on the world that it even overridden the biological female gaze of some women and made women adopt it subs consciously (brainwashing) which is what led to many women being hyper sexual. The female gaze is very not touched on much which is why niches like yaoi or BL exist and is made of mostly straight women to have a field of literature and art that actually understand their desires in men. They like feminine and masculine features men balanced with muscle being more like Justin bieber in his prime for reasons as explained in the video. I think this is why many women like gay male relationship coz in BL or yaoi the men show emotions and are caring and the women fantasies for men in real life to be like that but because of traditionalism and biology men are more rigid and closed in general(on average) even in more open liberal countries like in Scandinavia which perhaps means this is biological because studies show women tend to have high emotional intelligence and love the romantic emotional kind of vibe side of relationships. If you don’t believe this clear difference in male gaze vs female gaze that exists; look at gay erotic fictions. Women tend to consume yaoi which has very feminine looking men and who are slender, tall and extremely “pretty” while you’ll find gay men tend to consume bara which is very hyper sexual, erotic, has less romance and the men are more muscular, super traditional looking typical hot guy, and got big shlongs or big butts because that is what gay men like in general. So you can see even when a man is gay, they still biologically have the male gaze because men are visual creatures and whether gay or straight they tend to like those more sexual than romantic (which women prefer on average) and the general difference in types of BL content consumption from straight women conspired to gay men proves that. From my perspective who is transgender, after starting hormone therapy I literally went from only liking men to liking women too and I started to like romantic emotional sides to things and started watching BL. This is because women are more emotionally intelligent and accepting which is why the hormones literally made my sexuality from rigid (only liking men) to fluid liking men and women. I still have my male gaze but after starting HRT I’m having this strong female gaze growing in my mind and I can weirdly control my emotion better and be accepting of myself. Idk how to describe it but yh

[@aradhyasaraf_]

@@LadyBoy_Barbie Very well put up 👍

[@chosenrubric7308]

​@@LadyBoy_Barbie There's definitely some truth to what you say, but I think you're way too caught up on this strange biological essentialism. This is almost wholly cultural, and the effects from your HRT are likely you simply changing your outlook on things to fit this biased cultural perspective; you have internalized feminine behaviour the same way cis men do with the "male gaze". The reason I say this is because I found myself becoming more as you describe simply because I allowed myself- a cis gay man- to embrace the more feminine side of myself, and thus adopted preferences more in line with the "female gaze" as you call it, despite never having transitioned hormonally.

[@davipenha]

Is not that, the hormones does also affects how women perceive men. The lower their lvl of estrogen the lower interest for masculine men. That's why you see girls more into those feminine looks and matured women interesting in George Clooney and some old fashion male. Also there are some researchs about women that take contraceptive which manipulate your hormones drastically and once they stop they can't find their boyfriend or husband attractive anymore.

[@LadyBoy_Barbie]

@@chosenrubric7308 I’m not saying it’s all 100% but I’m suggesting it likely mostly biological. It’s common knowledge men are more visual creatures and women are more like the romantic emotional kind of mental vibes to things. For example when you said about yourself trying to be more self accepting of your masculine and feminine and kind of exploring the female gaze, it’s more of you literally intentionally and consciously doing it while when I went on hormones or for biological women, it is almost second nature and natural. There isn’t an attempt to even “try” it comes naturally as breathing is the best way to describe it. Which is why I’m saying in general the female gaze is biological to women almost like second nature and ingrained. While a male who hasn’t transitioned hormonally can still be able to try to see through the female gaze, but it is more like a “try” and attempt with effort being put in until you condition yourself to maintain being able to function like that second nature which can be difficult while biological women and transwomen who transitioned hormonally, it becomes almost like biologically programme and I think this is likely due to hormones and how hormonal profile shape the sense of self and instincts and kind of second nature aspects of women and transwomen who started hormones compared to cis men or transmen.

[@harfir7169]

I love the point made at the start that women value emotional intelligence etc so much more than men understand. My BFF is dating a guy that shows he cares and doesn't make it seem like a hassle to stay in touch and to be honest, calm and vulnerable: and she is falling so hard because it's so rare to find a man like that!

[@alphadawg7360]

Wanna make it clear for the men reading this comment: you dont have to imagine or think yourself as feminine to have emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is as masculine as they come. I personally struggled with the terminology and associated it with feminism or “weakness to be able to feel”. But thats not the case, when paired or exude with your own masculine energy or masculinity self, emotional intelligence is seen as extremely masculine

[@KshipsinKchups]

😍😍😍

[@KshipsinKchups]

That guy is a gem. I want a guy like that who isn't kokky

[@KshipsinKchups]

@@alphadawg7360 feminism isn't a bad thing. Get out fool

[@KshipsinKchups]

@@alphadawg7360 you are against feminism you are an in cel. Periodt

[@minsugamaxsalt]

The combination of masculine and feminine makes them very attractive

[@mahogania5536]

@naruto and jojo fans are cringe he's so energetic and it shows, too. It almost feels like a moth to a flame

[@cyberpunkfashionblyawesome]

Does anyone know what anime is at 0:26

[@Skadi609]

@@cyberpunkfashionblyawesome Kaze to ki no uta

[@haneen853]

@naruto and jojo fans are cringe Gojo is feminine and angelic He's the only jjk man I find attractive Nanami and toji are too buff and manly

[@pponkshe7729]

@naruto and jojo fans are cringe I like sukuna more 🥵

[@hannahbull]

I find androgyny so attractive in men and women. But especially in men, I think a man being comfortable in leaning into more ‘feminine’ traits or styles is just very appealing.

[@ScarlettRoseOfficial]

Exactly!

[@flohwalzer]

IKRRR like its obvious that hes not a man filled with toxic masculinity yk

[@flavortown6280]

Me too!

[@Rene-ie4im]

THIS

[@finessinhearts]

yes samee

[@princesseville6889]

How did you forget to add that women see bishonen as less of a threat than Hypemasculine men? I mean, its nobodys fault, but some guys just naturally look meaner and more aggressive than others - which makes feminine men seem a safer option.

[@DefineMorena]

True

[@Kiwikick238]

there are some men who just look so tough an aggressive it actually makes me kinda nervous until I get a chance to know them or hear about them

[@nithi9638]

Masculinity femininity aside, what women really find attractive is just non threatening men.

[@matheussanthiago9685]

@@Kiwikick238 the jason momoa archetype

[@LordFakmorIII]

I'm a guy who can look both cute enough to have babies smile when they see me and mean enough to have women constantly look over their shoulder in fear. Not at the same time, but depending on my clothing definitely. I'd say girls prefer stability over safety. If you're a normal looking guy, you're better off than being either mean or opposite of mean.

[@Swagdonalds]

Can you talk about the appeal of “tomboys” and why many people are attracted to women with masculine traits?

[@matheussanthiago9685]

I'd presume that one's simple to explain some hetero men love the idea of having a fun bro in a body they feel attraction towards

[@mariapaulas199]

Is not the same concept? It's the best of both worlds too.

[@ハーフ-r1m]

It's because tomboys are often pretty fit and look nice physically and also have a more masculine personality which is a lot easier for most guys to approach.

[@MoonStarr-02]

@@ハーフ-r1m @ハーフ Exactly but in some cases we just become one of the bros 🤧

[@LordFakmorIII]

Tomboys are attractive to straight men for the same reason that trans women are attractive to straight men.

[@blackfish86]

One of the things about some bishonen characters is that they look white and pure but are often manipulative, cunning or pure calculated evil (Griffith, Ryo devilman crybaby). flipping the white=good guy black=bad guy thing on It's head. It's a great anime trope.

[@Miuranger1]

Definitely its a unique trope. Go nagai sorta invented it in 1970s with devilman and sussano oh. paved the road for berserk

[@sleepycowboy18]

Depends on what you watch or read, bishonen in female oriented mangas and anime have way more variations, there s more tropes and all of em are all bishonen.

[@brontebell7748]

It’s my favourite villain trope haha!

[@dearrationals]

I'm assuming you mean "white" symbolically otherwise damn.. it's problematic.

[@blackfish86]

@@dearrationals obviously symbolic race and anime is different discussion.

[@10shhi]

its interesting how all shoujo male characters have these features given its a genre that depends heavily on its female audience. this effect is not only seen in japan's pop and acting industry, but also in skorea china etc. makes sense why mlm fanfics are so loved specially in these countries

[@sholos4478]

more than not fetishization of mlm.

[@drunkpekka4284]

In the case of shounen, it is the lack of a well-written female character that makes mlm more appealing. Possibly the most obvious case to date is Naruto. Shoujo, not so much.

[@imani7979]

@@sholos4478 which is very unfortunate, i wish there was more information for young people (especially girls) getting into mlm media and teaching them boundaries because a lot of them don’t seem to know them :/

[@loliithaay]

@@drunkpekka4284 it's very sad but it's true :( a lot of writers just don't spend much effort into creating interesting female characters. well i guess it's a topic for another day! lol

[@yoongitrash2699]

thats more than likely because there are very few interesting female characters, especially in genres like action, sci fi, shounen, ect

[@Mhkkvvyl]

I think regardless of the actual gender both men and women have a certain percentage of feminine and masculine traits. It's an individual thing. Some men have higher percentage of masculine than the feminine traits. Some men have higher percentage of feminine traits. And some have it balanced somewhat 50% feminine , 50% masculine . The same thing applies to women. We all have it to some degree. But most people suppress it to fit society expectations. We all have the mix of both feminine and masculine traits, it just varies from person to person. The society wants us to show only one either masculine if you are a man or feminine if you are a woman. And its stressful for both genders to meet these unrealistic expectations. It's about setting yourself free, finding and embracing both sides of you. The most attractive people are the ones who know and who are according to this.

[@eri-zj8kr]

i completely agree with you but... how do you classify traits as masculine or feminine?

[@davipenha]

The levels of testosterone and estrogen can indicate this

[@oooooofburger4232]

Gender roles exist for a reason lmao. You ever seen a woman beat men in UFC?

[@davipenha]

@@oooooofburger4232 it's more than that. There are structures in the way humans organizate society, these structures follow the best of many aptitudes of each gender which humankind were capable of discovering throughout thousands of years living on the earth and they're are deeply craved in our consciousness for countless generations. What we see is just the tip of the iceberg of such wisdom that our brain can process and we call "gender roles".

[@imani7979]

@@oooooofburger4232 um what?

[@Alicapy]

I love seeing Howl featured in any media, he's quite literally one of my favorite characters. I already had a good idea on why androgynous men are so appealing, but I like how you summarized it.

[@thegermthatlivesinsideyour9328]

Gay

[@JuniperGal-ek2pu]

@@thegermthatlivesinsideyour9328 🙄

[@wowwie6485]

I'm from Asia, and although I'm not an East Asian, I can still kinda explain the reason why these "bishounen" men are often drawn with white, porcelain skin. First, in feudalism times, a farmer who had to work hard outside will have dark skin while the nobles, who could sit inside all day, will have lighter skin. This led to classism based on skin tones, and we're still affected by it. Second, it is also the effects of colonization from Western countries, plus Japan's homogeneity. As long as you're a foreigner, you can experience racism no matter your race, but POCs still suffer the most.

[@TheManWithThePsychoGun]

Same pale vs tanned skin classism existed in Europe, from feudal times to 19th/20th century. The term "blue blood" originated from aristocrats and royalties having so pale skin one could see their veins and arteries, which look blue rather than red. This started to change with industrialization, when workers were inside factories and offices, while the upper classes started to get outside to do amateur sports, travel, and be outside in general. When workers started to get paid vacations (at least in Europe) and even more so when air travel became affordable even to workers and lower middle class during the 1950s and 1960s, *everybody* in Europe suddenly wanted to get tanned. Then we discovered the ozone hole and skin cancer... 😢

[@muraismybby4617]

@@TheManWithThePsychoGun Same in the United States all these people using fake tans. It makes them look orange like it's literally looks unnatural. People should be happy with their skin the way it is I think.

[@stacyharris4824]

Young white males suffer the most. They have been demonized. The government wants to keep the people divided. They want us to be distracted so we won't realize want they are doing until it is to late. DIVIDE AND CONCOR.

[@goodbad-boy]

japan has always been self-hating and white worshiping. this is why anime characters that look asian are usually the villain or a clown while the characters that look white are depicted as heroes and good looking

[@memeomeme8351]

The perfect balance of feminine and masculine is incredibly important in a truly beautiful person. In particular, male models will rarely be seen as beautiful unless they have certain feminine traits. Ultimately the time of hypermasculine archetype is behind us in terms of being the prime example of male attractiveness.

[@asmodeus235]

This is incorrect. Effeminate men are preferred in fashion because fashion appeals to women. Androgyny has nothing to do with ‘true’ beauty to the vast majority of people like you claim.

[@no-b-rainn-cells]

@@axosunder2625 agreed, I’m the same as you! It honestly really just depends on the person’s type.

[@chilael6892]

Can you give me an example of a hypermasculine man? Someone who has very little feminine traits or none at all.

[@thegermthatlivesinsideyour9328]

Your really unintelligent

[@uepa4986]

​@@asmodeus235agreed,atractivness is too relative,even tho there is science behind it,its really hits a personal level

[@hopefaith4595]

Speaking of Howl, you should cover on his Japanese VA Kimura Takuya, he was such a pretty boy when he was younger, but he definitely still is a good looking dude after all these years.

[@oodo2908]

Guts facial design is half cute. I wonder if there is a term for that look. You see the same boy-man look in comic heroes all over Asia. One of the classic comics with this look is called 'Wind and Cloud' from Hong Kong. The oldest one is probably 'Golgo 13' from Japan. It's a popular look even in S.E. Asia. The Philippines has a comic named 'Panday'. Bishonen characters are often villainous whereas the boy-man type is always heroic.

[@Miuranger1]

Its the masculine good looking guys. The ones with great drawing, They have some boyish features such as full lips. I think miura based him on what the Japanese society deem attractive

[@oodo2908]

@@Miuranger1 Is there a name for the archetype? I didn't even know there was a name for this 'bishonen' archetype. Come to think if it, the reason Spike Spiegel looked so cool was that he was a boy-man but with Clint Eastwood's body. They removed Eastwood's uber-masculine face and gave him the boy-man face, but they made the face long to match the height.

[@davipenha]

When he's young, Yes.

[@tobyjohn4682]

I think ohma Tokita from kengan asura/omega kinda falls in that same category.

[@oodo2908]

@@tobyjohn4682 Yeah, actually! Come to think of it, its normal for these boy-men to be either celibate or monogamous, even if they are hardcore fighters like Tokita or superkillers like Guts. Golgo13 is the only exception I can think of, but he doesn't seem to enjoy women and he always makes sure they're paid even if they aren't hookers. The bishonen guys are often after power and will use women to reach it. A common Chinese archetype is the trans-woman powerhouse. A guy does a ritual bottom procedure to gain ultimate power.

[@reibubbles2505]

"Taller, slender men, are a rarer sight at the gym because the androgyny works to their advantage, and as such, they don't have as much as an incentive to get big and strong." BOOM! This! 1000 times this!

[@DevlVergil]

I actually disagree. I think current western culture is way more accepting towards overweight guys than skinny ones. The reason why you will find more fat dudes in the gym is because overweight is just way more common than underweight. Though, asian standard is different in that regard, especially japanese.

[@commanderkenobi7974]

I feel horrible for Bjorn Andresen, he was exploited throughout his childhood and teen years, my heart broke watching a documentary on his life 'The Most Beautiful Boy in the World' Also a small correction, his surname is Andresen, not Anderson

[@tegamingother]

i believe that would be kinda of the same pronounciation of his last name. Andresen "Ander-sehn"

[@Nezakurni]

Exactly

[@iidentifyasaPSLGoddess]

Who is bjorn, is it the boy who acted it PR is he a real person, I can esteem to find the real person anywhere only this actor!

[@debutriah2854]

@@iidentifyasaPSLGoddess he’s a real person huh

[@nskfsr]

Tbh I love feminine beauty both on men and women. Idk why but I'm not attracted to wide jaws, buff muscles. I really find Korean actors and anime characters so handsome. And I realized majority of the East Asian male celebrities have kind of angel skull with V shaped jaw with or without surgery, and they're very slim+tall, these are the features what make them so different from celebs of other countries -especially Western ones. And I'm living for it, they seem like beautiful ethereal creatures to me sometimes.

[@lavonnealexander6936]

I agree , that muscle shit is annoying now.

[@deligreen5811]

@@lavonnealexander6936 how is it annoying. Everyone has autonomy over how they want their body to look. If men said all this fat/thick/skinny shit is annoying it would be seen as offensive. Let’s keep the same energy here

[@nskfsr]

@@MrJr_MrJr Yes I'm aware of it. I was talking about celebrities and fictional animated characters. Usually celebs and models are the representation of a country's general beauty perception.

[@helvete_ingres4717]

slim/tall isn't a feminine trait, lol short/fat is feminine

[@nskfsr]

@@helvete_ingres4717 Idk if my english is confusing but why these replies twisting my words. I didn't mention they being slim and tall is feminine, they look feminine OVERALL. I just pointed out how their face shape and being *very* slim and tall makes them *different* from celebrities of other countries. I'm not even talking about ordinary people. Because obviously there are many type and shape of people exist all over the world.

[@acatssoftnose3940]

I'm someone who enjoys being a feminine guy. I'm really glad anime has made people like me feel desirable.

[@flohwalzer]

pls dont change 😭😭

[@zujuice8241]

@@nikolairose2739 lol it's not a crime, why isn't it something to enjoy?

[@amajing6568]

Never change.Please 🙏

[@piroshk1968]

@@nikolairose2739 being a feminine guy is enjoyable for him. go be an undesirable meathead somewhere else?

[@dog_curry]

I like men with feminine physical features that dress masculine. Is that you? Or maybe you mean an average to masculine featured man who dresses in feminine clothes? Or a feminine featured man that dresses in feminine clothes?

[@golbinnom]

cha eunwoo is the perfect pretty boy in my eyes, he has both masculine features (height, muscles, good proportions,) while having very delicate and pretty facial features

[@Artaxerxes.]

who the fuck is that

[@nga88nguyen]

It's fastinating how different the west and the east define masculinity. You rarely saw extremly muscle men in the east media. And when there is they was portrayed mostly as villians (not even the boss, but the lowly stupid one)

[@nga88nguyen]

Tbh the prasing of muscle macho guy in the west was quite a culture shock for me at first. I guess that how you guy feel when seeing feminine boy dominate anime too :"))

[@makotomachiyuki]

meanwhile in Jojo universe

[@nga88nguyen]

@@makotomachiyuki But that serie was strongly inspired by the West aesthetic, wasnt it. Bc of that it also create its unique charm.

[@amish613]

Not true. In india, bangalesh many south asian nations and middle east muscled men are prominent in movies even in african movies per se. Many women prefer muscular men who are strong willed an big heart and have helping nature. They are given a role of provider and protector.

[@myrmyles]

@@amish613 you're not eastern, you're a southerner.. well technically

[@Eloquentphony]

As an artist who has been primarily inspired by anime since I started ,this video made me really happy to see a profesional outsider view of how facial proportions are inspired in anime art.

[@acekatsu9115]

I think we should clarify that being [a] beautiful/pretty [guy] doesn't mean you're "feminine/metro". I wouldn't call Howl feminine, neither the soft-faced anime boys that you showed as examples either. They're just pretty, but they can still have masculine traits too (like, for example, Howl).

[@angramainyu335]

You are right but there is a correlation there especially if you prefer and express yourself in a feminine way.

[@joannelee6652]

It’s interesting how different people perceive a character as feminine or masculine. When I got into this C-drama called the Untamed, as an Asian American person I thought the main lead was an attractive man and didn’t think much about his gender expression. I only realized his character came off as feminine when I went online and read posts by a lot of English-speaking fans describing him as feminine. I wonder if because of the prevalence of bishounen aesthetics in East Asian media, people who grew up consuming anime and Kpop and C-dramas would consider certain characters like Howl as attractive men while more Western audiences would consider them feminine men. Maybe it’s because the ‘ideal man’ looks different in different cultures. In American media, the big, macho, muscular men seem to be one ideal model of masculinity. But in East Asia, I think the slim, scholarly, dignified archetype is more common.

[@tunkytunky]

The movie and book “Death in Venice” do not have a bad Message - the main character first sees Tadzio as an artistic muse then slowly becomes obsessed. He then becomes like a character he is disgusted by early in the movie, by wearing makeup to try to look younger to (I assume) attract the boy - then he dies as if by divine punishment. It isn’t a romance and it is a warning against crossing a certain line in admiring youthful beauty. The main character experiences negative growth in the story which is something younger audiences may not be used to these days but it existed in older literature as a way to explore the darker side of the human experience and the negative consequences of letting baser instincts go unchecked. The movie is beautiful and has an outsized influence on anime for a good reason, but it’s tainted by the fact that Visconti dragged Andresen to gay clubs with him. His beauty ended up being a curse for much of his life which is a shame.

[@asmodeus235]

I also think the movie serves well today as a microcosm of the absolute romanticisation of effeminate men and it’s appeal to women. It’s toxic. Most men grow into their masculinity, it takes time. As they develop their physique and grow to take on responsibility, more often than not; they lose a lot of their effeminate appeal since it was an attribute of their youth, not necessarily themselves. In the film, it’s a man that obsesses over the boy, but today far more often you see young women glorifying this. It demonises men. It shouldn’t necessarily have to, but girls do it anyway. It shows to young boys that only when you are incredibly competent AND capable AND vulnerable AND emotionally intelligent AND fit AND angelic are you worthy of somebodies attention. It’s objectification. It demands complete perfection of a young man to an angelic degree. You see this in newly popular Korean dramas. The women have to be seen as perfect feminine role models, yet men have to achieve the same standards as well as all of their traditionally masculine responsibilities as well. I haven’t completed my opinion on this subject, there’s still far too many angles of this topic to observe before I think I can come to any real conclusion as to where this behaviour is coming from, how it impacts young men and the issues it presents.

[@tunkytunky]

@@asmodeus235 very thought- provoking comment. It's probably coming from couple places. I don't know a lot about k-dramas but kpop men are very feminine because they are trying to appeal to a teenage fan base, so they try to emulate the appearance of a teenager. Most of the fans of these types of men are in fact teenage girls which isn't a big issue, it makes sense and you'd expect them to grow out of it ... But I think in the last few two decades we've seen a rise in "womanchildren" as bad or worse than manchildren that don't get talked about at all. I'm in my 30's and about 40% of the women I went to school with aren't married and don't have children. Incidentally, these were the only women who were expressing surprise and horror that they were being referred to as "middle-aged". Rather than just enjoying some youthful hobbies, some of these womanchildren really conceive themselves to still be "the youth". It follows that some of these still-single women who haven't had the life experiences that cause their peers to mature would be drawn to more feminine (that is, more youthful looking) boys and men. It's a way of clinging to youth. Also in very safe societies, man's role as protector is not a concrete reality of everyday life so they lose a little of that instinct to get a masculine man. The things that make a masculine man a good protector also make him a little intimidating and at times scary to deal with. I think that's part of the reason the feminization of men is going most hard-core in East Asia - these are the safest societies in terms of crime rates. I also think that beautiful youthful men have always drawn hordes of fangirls but it just got glossed over in history books. There is probably some sort of reproductive benefit, I mean you could imagine a "pretty boy " type would potentially father more beautiful daughters... If we really want a conspiracy theory though... a lot of these Korean celebrities are wearing makeup to get their looks. If makeup companies could get the other 50% of the population to feel insecure about themselves and turn to makeup like they did with women, they'd make bank.

[@asmodeus235]

@@tunkytunky Really interesting point about the women your age, that’s kind of worrying. I’m not terribly concerned about the problematic behaviours of teenage girls, chances are most will grow out of it; but a concept of a ‘womanchild’ isn’t something we’ve acknowledged at all really as a society. I’m willing to bet that there will be an uptick in those kinds of women as the years go on. And yeah Korean dramas are all the rage with young girls today, it’s kind of like the anime boom guys had a decade ago. If you’re 30+ then that’s probably a bit before your time as well.

[@forgotmyun]

As a girl, this was 💯 my type. Now that I’m older, I still fall for the more grown version of this look, somewhere almost in the middle. Overtly masculine, LEGO jawed, big bulky low-browed men just terrify me tbh. Men have this ideal for themselves, and have no actual idea what women want. When women tell them, they go “no you’re wrong” You don’t get an opinion on that, beefcake 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@vatefairefoutre0]

haha oh yes same here. it's so annoying how they try to tell me what I'm attracted to is somehow wrong and that I should really like their disgusting muscles and bald heads. I love when they say "well you must be a lesbian then"... uh NO. I'm a female, very much into dick, and I like me a pretty man. always have, always will.

[@junjae.]

ehh I'm sure a lot of western women would pick Henry Caville over BTS any day.

[@forgotmyun]

@@junjae. good for them, you just proved my point. I’m not talking about them. I’m just so sick of women pointing out their individual preferences and having this shit thrown in as an attempt to discredit them.

[@caitthecat]

@@junjae. True, but Henry Caville is still has some obvious feminine traits. He's also older and dresses differently than bts, but the mix.of masc and fem is still there.

[@koobifossils7495]

@@junjae. not really a good example because henry doesn’t have extremely masculine features. he’s a beast and has a very admirable physique i don’t deny that.. but cmon lol he isnt the epitome of masculinity like all the teenage boys consider him to be. him and bts (some of the members) are similar masculinity wise. the only reason a western women would pick henry over someone like rm is because henry is “western” too lol .. plus preferences exist beyond such gender attributes.

[@Darwini]

You Should do a video on why Villains have certain face types (For example the joker with his pointy nose and V-shaped jaw) Vs why superheroes get cast with similarly distinct face shapes (Henry Cavil, Chris Evans, etc).

[@hetastic_bro]

I studied character design in my animation course and the reason why many villains are drawn with more pointy, sharp features is simply because pointy/sharp shapes = dangerous & antagonistic. Stereotypical male heroes are drawn with masculine features such as short hair, square faces and a strong brow coz it makes them look strong and capable (and attractive)

[@ju59]

@@hetastic_bro thanks for the info!

[@Darwini]

@@hetastic_bro Cool thanks! But do you know why sharp features = antagonistic?

[@hetastic_bro]

@@Darwini you wouldn’t touch or interact with a sharp object, would you? Same with villains with sharp features. They’re like human cactuses. They will hurt you if you mess with them. It’s called ‘shape language’.

[@Darwini]

@@hetastic_bro That's super interesting, thanks.

[@GudetamaSit]

Didn't expect this to be covered! Think it's interesting how, in manga, I see the characters getting more feminine looking over its run but never really see the reverse in them getting more traditionally manly (unless it's a shounen). Even in Berserk, Miura in the later arcs drew everyone a bit softer and feminine, even Guts to some level. And you see this all the time in shoujo- take Banana Fish and how the MC's looks shifts partway. As you pointed out it could be anything from appealing to the female demographic or making them a little easier to draw by simplifying them down. And each person has their type, but agreed on that whole emotional openness thing completely - in RL I'll assume a cuter looking boy is more open and approachable. Poor Guts ain't that.

[@yannickjohn6930]

Maybe it's the effect of how Guts had that effect on women too. He's pretty oblivious to it unlike Griffith. He's used to people not liking him because of that stereotypical male image. Darker, taller, and plainer if not crazy. Guts had it hard.

[@adroitws1367]

I think it just easier to draw or simply more popular style

[@yannickjohn6930]

@@adroitws1367 It's somewhat easier for Japanese to just go for the majority preference. However, this can make the culture saturated.

[@capricorn8426]

Well, people also tend to forget that most East Asian men tend to have a more feminine juvenile face compared to western, so I guess it also makes sense for the Japanese to draw the men to be more juvenile and slender. Bjorn Anderson seemed to be about 14 years old when he became a model, and he looked more mature as he grew older, but most Asian Men tend to look more younger even at an older age (based on my observation).

[@Miuranger1]

His artwork just got worse tbh. Miura always drew guts like the classical handsome masculine type.

[@sunnychiu3872]

Interesting. Being an Asian dude living in Asia for my whole life. I just thought of this simply as different beauty standards. Dressing stylish and being a pretty boy is highly desirable in Asia. Often more so than the typically buff, masculine man. This could be hard to imagine for westerners but this is how it is here. He also touched on some beauty standards in Asia which is true. Having pale and smooth skin was always seen as attractive as it symbolized nobility. And more pronounced facial features typically aligned with western faces is also desired. Sharp and tall nose, big eyes, etc.

[@daniegrand6315]

he was the prettiest boy too

[@Givemegrace009]

Most Japanese actors look like it since anime has a huge impact on Japan . Usually the actors are tall, they have that "V" body type which means the shoulder is board and the waist or hip is small giving that Greek god look, they usually have high cheekbones, a v jawline and they mostly cover their forehead which gives them the v look even though they don't have a sharp jawline and they take great pride in looking good and are heavily into skincare too which explains alot why they have a beautiful skin

[@MoonStarr-02]

I agree most East Asians go for that look especially Kpop idols

[@brook117]

Its the other way around… anime men are modeled after these popular boys in japan. You are looking at it at an anime fan’s perspective and not a person from japan

[@daniegrand6315]

who are you talking about there are many pretty ones you don't know personally

[@dearrationals]

Maybe masculinity and the "perfect man" is just viewed differently in different places and cultures. I read about the Wodaabe tribe where men wear make and adorn themselves to attract women. Some women prefer big beard Jason Mamoa types and some prefer more pretty boys like Kpop/K drama leads, or even a combination. People should just accept that humans are different and like different things. The in-depth analysis over stuff this is a bit weird to me.

[@bluewhiskers273]

The best comment👏👏👏👏👏

[@no-b-rainn-cells]

Agreed completely, I feel like a lot of the comments here often generalize a lot of things about what people are attracted to when in reality, everyone’s different, and that’s totally fine!

[@mikloridden8276]

Definitely a cultural thing though, for example in the US you’ll have more success in dating being a Jason mamoa type

[@WeavileShiny]

Your comment must be pinned 👍

[@AnaLu07]

I live in Brazil, and the beauty standard here is basically "be hot", but i've always liked pretty boys much more than "hot masculine guys". Now, that i'm a kpop and kdrama fan, i'm in heaven. Even for my own persue of beauty for myself, i still prefer to persue being cute girl than a hot girl with big boobs and butt, which is the beauty standard here (like Anitta). Beauty is really in the eyes of the beholder.

[@냥됴디]

I watched spirited away a lot while growing up, and it took me 10 years to realise that Haku is a male. I always thought it was just sisterly love between Haku and Chihiro until that one time i watched it with my classmates, and wondered why they were all squealing over the "sisterly interactions"

[@deathsplat8620]

It took me a really long time to realize Haku was meant to be a male character as well. Though I just assumed they were gay.

[@Kamisuitendo]

I knew Haku was male before hand due to memes

[@davipenha]

@@deathsplat8620 you assumed the worse. The sisterly love is more on point

[@ytuseracct]

I watched it in English dub and the voice is a guy so...

[@Kamisuitendo]

@@ytuseracct No, he's voiced by a female. Her name Susan Dalian

[@fmls8266]

I've had testosterone deficiency since when I was born so I was very feminine until my 30s. Slim, no body hair, no beard, pretty boy face, I always had medium or long blondish hair too, many guys thought I was gay. To be honest most girls liked me, and often prefered me to the masculine guys. Things changed a bit when I got older tho, older women prefer the masculine type, but I realized it's not really the case in East Asia.

[@erenistrash875]

u literally look masculine lmao

[@The_Man_Who_Sold_the_World.]

I'm so jealous 😭

[@fictionlover695]

What was the age range of those who liked you and those who didn't​@@The_Man_Who_Sold_the_World.

[@disco_depression]

As a Code geass fan I did notice Lelouch, like other "smart intellectual elegant" anime guys has those feminine gestures but it never bothered me. It looks witty and goes well with the artstyle of the tall skinny characters

[@soulhologram3786]

Atsushi Sakurai's looks in the 90s got really popular because of it's androgynous appearance as well. He also influenced in the way some characters, and specially villains, were portrait, showing a very mysterious and vapire like presence.

[@kiravampira1456]

Indeed, he had such an alluring handsomeness and it would've been a dream come true to gracefully move my fingers through his long, sleek hair. Come to think about it, give him golden lenses and we would have a real-life Lord Orochimaru🐍

[@jane-rv4gi]

I will always choose 'pretty/soft boys' 'feminine boys' than 'alpha male' 'hypermasculine men' at anyday 😫

[@eo0-g9j]

alpha men don't exist, western boys hey just love pretending to be one

[@nerdyprique9083]

YESSS

[@fruitykrueger]

@@kaeez it's not a meme, some men really think of themselves as the "alpha" and make fun of the "beta" type, usually very insecured ppl. Also that's their preference, both masculine and feminine traits exist on men and women. If they prefer one over another, let them be.

[@framework333]

@@kaeez focus on spiritual growth bruh. This world is falling apart and isn't worth it anymore. Don't let these women or society drag you down to hell when you're almost to the finish line. All these people with these twisted beliefs will reincarnate into this world over and over until they become children of this world. Their soul will be unable to leave this world that is becoming progressively worse

[@vanza-z]

Alpha male are masculine, not hypermasculine, hyper masculine face not attractive and you know orc? Feminine combine masculine face are veryattractive

[@sergregorsigmillius7519]

My personal experience as a "Bishonen" man in the West is very mixed I have super hollowed cheeks with pretty eyes like Jordan Barret but my face is very long and I have a weak feminine side profile. It has helped me be successful with modeling work as I am a signed model. Though in terms of dating I would say its tough. A lot of western women dont fancy a Bishomen man in terms of sex appeal IMO. Any girl can find a feminine man pretty, but very little in the west do they also find them sexually desirable. I guess we are alt men. The most attention I get is from alt girls, which are primarily bi or pansexual which sees attraction in a more complex way.

[@ebukaobieri]

Thats why I find this interesting. I see so many women in these comments saying how much they love more effeminate men , yet by and large most statistics show that white women date Asian men (who are generally more effeminate than other men) far less than the other races.

[@sergregorsigmillius7519]

@@ebukaobieri exactly its a lie, or its a bias statistic in the comments where those that would date effeminent men are more likely to comment on a video that relates to them. When a majority of women see this video and are not sexually attracted to bishomen men wont bother to comment.

[@f3rryisnothere.mp3]

*me being non binary* yeah...it's not like we can't get along

[@krimtok8384]

What is alt men? Like the second option men LMAO

[@leavemealone3198]

@@krimtok8384 no he means alternative as in the style

[@periteu]

Cartographies of Desire (1:23) (3:27) (7:28) Sexual dimorphism in growth from 8 to 18 years (4:01) Perceptions of Beauty (7:34)

[@Sebastian_PM]

I am a guy with feminine features on my face and I had always believed that women preferred masculine and muscular guys (which I am the opposite of), but now seeing this video and the comments, my self-esteem has risen a lot

[@nosferatuzodd8553]

you are uncommon and therefore more in demand for women who prefer a feminine face

[@sunoo_love923]

It all really depends on facial proportions lol

[@yourblurryeyes8137]

I’ve noticed even musicians in rock/visual kei bands from Japan also tend to have such an androgynous look, i mean probably this applies for all entretainment industry in that country, but all this thing about achieving the androgynous look is completely on another level. Mindblowing.

[@kukuandkookie]

As an East Asian myself, I’d say this is actually pretty common throughout East Asia. If you watch Chinese animation (donghua), you can see this too-lots of pretty boys. In fact, I see a comment remarking on how popular Korean male celebrities are also quite effeminate (by perhaps western definitions) lol. It’s sort of just how East Asia is right now. Going back to China-since a lot of the media I look at now is Chinese-cdramas and cpop also feature similarly “effeminate” men. For example, Xiao Zhan is one of China’s biggest celebrities right now due to the popularity of _The Untamed,_ adapted from _Mo Dao Zu Shi_ (its genres, danmei (boys’ love) and xianxia (ancient Chinese-inspired fantasy), are also now often filled with these sparkly young men). And as another example, Zhu Zhengting is a popular cpop idol who is known for regularly wearing make-up. And many male Chinese celebrities have helped advertise make-up brands. It definitely helps that traditional Chinese hanfu and xianxia-style hair (long, flowing hair, inspired by the fact ancient Chinese people did not cut their hair) are all rather “feminine” when we are using western standards of beauty as criteria. That’s why pretty boys are especially common _in_ danmei and xianxia, genres that I’ve mentioned previously. You can see it in characters like Chu Wanning, Shi Mei, Xie Lian, Kong Hongjun, and more. And while China has definitely recently become influenced by Japanese and Korean media, it’s also got its own influences in-as I previously mentioned-ancient Han Chinese traditional dress, culture, and more. While China has been influenced by the west too where older Chinese people expect clearer depictions of masculinity, it hasn’t always been that way. One article I read said that it fluctuates; when China is in times of crises (eg WWII to Mao’s Cultural Revolution), more “masculine” traits are emphasized, while in times of peace, it’s less so (and the focus shifts to a more “scholarly” nature that is much softer). Right now, young Chinese people enjoy looking at and looking like those famous hua nanzi (flower boys). You can see it a lot on Douyin; fashion videos by young men often include make-up _and_ dressing up. But yeah, the bishounen is a common trend in arguably all of East Asia! Sorry I rambled so long lol; I have a tendency to do that. Many people forget about China in discussions of East Asian media, so I got a little excited there. 😆

[@aba4055]

This was really interesting! I knew about this culture in Japan, and noticed it in Korean media, but didn't know as much about the culture in China as well.

[@sayurivkg]

I am fan of Danmei and Xianxia/Wuxia dramas. I love the aesthetics of somehow feminine soft men but at the same time they are strong and heroic.

[@Pascha284]

@@aba4055 thanks for all the first-hand info!

[@ekozoidmajiker6186]

East Asia you say? does that include North Korea, Macao & Mongolia?

[@ja-nathen]

Bold of you to assume I work out for women. I get that PUMP cause it gives me happiness and self fulfilment

[@MrM9819]

9:35-9:55 That’s NOT a boy. That’s Lady Oscar from The Rose of Versailles.

[@whynot6266]

Right. Did they even bother to google her??

[@nikki3224]

I think it has to do with the connection to the bishonen trope. Oscar is female, yes, but a lot of the women were attracted to her soft boy appearance and her masculinity. Think that would be a whole interesting concept itself tho, with how masculine women in anime capture everyone, regardless of sexual identity. Maybe he meant to present Andre in the shot, itself? On a side note, Rose of Versailles is my all time favorite anime. ❤

[@ElisaLesmana]

Maybe Oscar is included because she is a tomboy. Masculine women were quite the rage back then. Like Utena.

[@Sharon-ro7br]

Yeah, she's mascile but when they kissed on the clip, he said "gay or bisexual undertone". Dunno if he used the clip as an specific example or just happened to be played while he said that. In any case, that kiss is a fully straight interaction tho

[@Allwedoismog]

That character design is inspired by Bjorn

[@kosmosblue]

I am a female and if I don’t find a guy physically attractive I won’t look a second time, so to a big degree females look for good looking males, but this fact somehow is widely denied. I am asking myself why. As a biological being, I am as superficial as everyone else.

[@ManuelGarcia-oz9uo]

This video is wrong. Woman are human with attraction like anyone. If a woman doesn't find you attractive she wont want to have sex you! Unless you have money and status, and in that case shes only with you because that. Attraction is #1. For both men and woman.

[@kosmosblue]

@@ManuelGarcia-oz9uo thank you!

[@kosmosblue]

@@TylerTong yeah but when I am looking to date someone I have to be attracted to hin physically, otherwise I will not sleep with him

[@kosmosblue]

@@TylerTong what we first see is the visual and women have eyes too - if it werent for the looks we wouldnt be able to tell ugly from pretty apart and it has good evolunary reasons for that. If I strongly disagree to sleep with a person, how in the world could I potentially have a real relationship with them? Yeah an ex of mine was pretty ugly but he was extremly good in psychology of attraction. It was pure coincidence because we never met to date in the first place. But it was chemistry/psychology which has nothing to do with looks and due to me spending a lot of time together in the work field. I would otherwise never want to get to know him, if not for the work. So physical attractiveness is a huuuuge deal in initial contact with a potential partner.

[@mcatherine36]

​@@TylerTong Romantic love sure seems like a complicated thing. Even if I like someone's personality, or their looks, or even both, that doesn't guarantee that I will be romantically and/or sexually attracted to them.

[@rubal1109]

Please give some insights on tomboys also. They are really attractive have masculine features.

[@dog_curry]

Oh really? You just think of the short haired ones with masculine hobbies who still look really feminine. What about women with facisl hair

[@someguycalledcerberus9805]

@@dog_curry Short hair, more sporty, or outdoorsy clothes (like overalls) Male hobbies _are_ a masculine trait. A woman with facial hair would be like a man with narrow shoulders, wide hips, and thick thighs. Not very popular.

[@cristagalli8684]

@@dog_curry Even these feminine men shown in the video are conventionally attractive. Of course we men would find conventionally attractive masculine women hot lol

[@thegermthatlivesinsideyour9328]

Your clearly gay

[@BigV24]

Loved the concept, this would’ve been great if you compared this animation with the typical Western animation with superheroes. The subtle differences and similarities would’ve been very eye opening. I always wondered why animators knew which facial features were attractive and what these conveyed and now I have a little more knowledge about why. Interesting stuff.

[@sqwid12]

Curious if this resonates with anyone else: For a while now, I've been working out. Trying to refine the traditionally masculine look. I find it empowering as something to strive for, the Muscle man with the glorious mustache seems like a wonderful goal. Lately in my closer friend group, some one the women have tried to push me towards painting my nails, jewelery, and other traditionally feminine traits. As a disclaimer, I don't think there's anything wrong with this, pursue the archetype that makes you happy at the end of the day, but I've begun to feel rather isolated in my pursuit. People keep telling me how off-putting the rugged, muscular look is. At the end of the day, I'll follow my goal and passion, but I'm wondering of other lads have experienced this kind of thing?

[@bengal_tiger1984]

Pursue what you desire. I find painting nails and jewelry to be more superficial than working out for the sake of yourself, as a female who doesn't enjoy those at all but I too, as I grew older, have softened towards conventional practices of my gender, such as wanting to wear skirts and dresses, due to wanting to please my partner even though he is never adamant about it. As long as your gender identity isn't the most accentuated aspect of your personality, you'll be fine and dandy.

[@Rrrrahhhh]

As a woman, don't listen to them, as long as you are happy, do what you want to. There is no shame in being masculine, and some women do find them attaractive.

[@notaclue822]

I am female and looks are as important to me as they are to men. I wish it was not that way.

[@lavonnealexander6936]

It was always that way, no need to feel sorry.

[@RANDOM-pf1ve]

its just biology

[@nikolairose2739]

Women look for good looking men because evolutionarily they are the ones in possession of the best genes and in optimal physical health. A handsome man is someone who developed properly as a child and carries genes which make him more capable than other men.

[@notaclue822]

@@nikolairose2739 Yes, I agree. My point is, many commentators keep telling women we don't care about looks in men, when we definitely do. I think women have had no choice at times in history, and had to marry someone who could support them. That's probably where this myth came from, but it isn't actually a preference. Just ask women!

[@krabbykat9918]

@@notaclue822 yeah I'm tired of being told we don't give a damn for looks when it can'tbe further from the truth.

[@alpha_jasperflair1097]

YESSS FINALLY someone who know Bjorn Andersen I was screaming cuz nobody knew this man and how anime soft Boys were created. But to be honest I really felt bad about what he has been through he was just a teen and people started treating him like an object because of how attractive he is but you know what he didnt really care for his looks.

[@DewyDough]

Interesting you decided to do this topic. I always wondered what kinda beauty standard does these pretty anime boys fit

[@riyaathomas2548]

Amazing video! I'm 18 and have been watching anime for as long as I can remember. I'm not very knowledgeable about Korean culture and K-Pop so I can't really say much about it. But I've noticed that in anime, it's mostly the male characters with beautiful silky long hair (not saying that only girls have long hair) that always catch my attention. It all started with Yue in Cardcaptor Sakura! 😊 Other of my anime crushes include Hauru (Howl's Moving Castle), Jaeha, Kija (Akatsuki no Yona), The Undertaker (Kuroshitsuji), Neji (Naruto), Ayame (Fruits Basket)....etc 😅😁 Younger me used to think that's weird. I've accepted myself. Also, I've been able to learn about Bjorn Anderson and his story just made my heart sink. Thanks for making this video.

[@sm0kei38]

this swedish boy, björn andersen is one of the most handsome boys i have ever seen. from sweden myself i am so proud of him even though he went through so much trauma.. i hope he knows he has changed the world!

[@mshin291]

Some people (especially those who hate "feminine males") really don't understand that being androgynous does not guarantee attractiveness. One can be a "feminine" man and look like a baba yaga. Attractiveness is more in line by their healthiness(not in terms of being buff, but in a medical sense) and how they seem to be capable of taking care of themselves. Usually looking clean and sharp will give off this vibe.

[@Riversongslo]

As a girl I desired this look very much. But as a woman I do not find any attraction to feminine men. Its amazing just how different our attractions change in our lifetimes

[@JuniperGal-ek2pu]

Yes. Some women even grow to like feminine men when they’re elderly. 😂

[@sayurivkg]

I always liked androgynous men. I think I was influenced a lot by Anime, Jrock bands, K-pop and K-dramas. In recent years I also discovered the Wuxia/Xianxia Chinese dramas which also have makes use of the androgynous/soft aesthetics. Usually the East Asian men have those type of features and for this reason I tend to prefer them. In the West is hard to find men with such features or style. As being too feminine is frowned upon and labelled as "gAy".

[@RockSolitude]

I want to add that flawless, porcelain skin has always been a beauty standard of east and south east asia. It makes sense that this beauty standard is carried over to bishonen given that being a pretty boy (by Japanese/east asian standards) is one of the main points of their design. Moreover, it also points to a confluence between historical east asian beauty standards and culture which are passed down to the modern day, and the objectification and influence of figures such as Bjorn Anderson, which just furthers the apatite for said beauty standards, and has even influenced to a large degree what type of male appearance women in Japan prefer.

[@LordFakmorIII]

Hey, I believe I had commented once before about making a video for androgynous/bishonen look. And I'm so glad to find you months later making this video, especially bringing up Björn Anderson. Similarly to him, I'm from Sweden (though am not Swedish by ethnicity) and I've got that bishonen look. I started growing my hair out shortly after finding your channel I think and it has been growing for at least one and a half year, if not two - I've lost count lol. But even prior to that, I had always taken many selfies to track my aesthetics and document its progression as I age. I have a baby face with big eyes, clear skin, thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, and I also grow a beard very quickly. Currently my hair is slightly longer than shoulder-length, and I've got a really light beard going on since I shaved last week. One of the reasons that I grew my hair this long and tried to play up my feminine side for my face is because I found Björn Anderson's title as "The world's most beautiful boy" to be peculiar. In many videos of him, people wrote about how he looked perfect and like a girl. I thought it was peculiar because one usually doesn't ever call men *beautiful*, that's something reserved for things like bouqettes of roses, sunsets or a lady. Your videos also gave me several reasons. I thought that if I could be considered "beautiful" and masculine at the same time, I would stand out more than other guys and maybe be seen as more attractive in that case; and I had a shot at it because I do have a lot of feminine (which are actually just neotenous; a word I learned from you-) features and am generally considered to be more attractive than the average joe even with short hair. The results of undertaking this look are many, here are some for dating: 1. Whilst I do get many looks from guys and girls alike in public regardless of their orientation, I don't get many matches on Tinder. I'm used to getting looks even from when I had shorter hair because I've always stood out if not from my face then from my body (I'm muscular), but the looks I've gotten ever since I grew my hair are all directed towards either my face or my hair, sometimes people whisper and stare at me (usually girls), which never happened to the same degree as when I had shorter hair. On that note, it's much harder to blend in a crowd. 2. Majority of my Tinder likes I've received come from LGBTQ people. I'm talkin' every 8-9 out of 10 girls is either bi, queer, pan, whatever. I've even seen some girls change from showing "straight" in their profile to "bi/queer" only after matching with me, which made me seriously wonder wtf was going on. After being on Tinder for a while, I can sort of tell what kind of girls are likely to take an interest in me and I found that the majority of girls that I'm physically attracted to don't have me as their type, which just makes me want to cut my hair bald, grow the beard long and unkempt and go on a viking. 3. People are surprised when you show your masculinity off, EVEN IF YOU'RE MUSCULAR AND HAVE A BEARD. If you're seriously pulling the bishonen look off well, you're going to look feminine regardless of facial hair, body hair and body shape. If you're talking with a girl that you feel like you have good vibes with and then casually pick up the pace to start flirting, she'll be discomforted 99% of the time and nope out of there, which rarely happened when I had short hair. If you're with your boys and you start roasting somebody or you talk in a deeper voice than expected, they'll be like "holy shit what" and just generally overplay anything masculine that they normally wouldn't when you didn't look as feminine. All in all, having long hair is 50/50 tbh. Even if you can rock it, it's not for most people even here in Sweden where people are very inclusive. If you want to do it for yourself purely and you're fine with those results that make you want to shave your head, then go ahead and grow your hair long and look more andro. But if you're straight like I am, just remember that you're going to be giving off a representation of what you are not. And taking on this look will change you mentally, you will start speaking in a lower voice and pick up certain feminine characteristics together with the look no matter how muscular you are, no matter how deep your voice is or how long you grow your beard. You won't feel 100% masculine and that'll be portrayed in your aesthetic. I can't imagine what Björn Anderson felt like, being so small and looked at as if he were a girl. He was even sexualized openly, I've never had to experience that and I'm grateful for it. I'm thinking of eventually opening up a blog together with a teenage lifestyle/fitness channel that I've been thinking on for a while on a different account, and if I do, I'm likely to post my aesthetic progression there. For now, thank you for reading about my bishonen aesthetic experience.

[@odeliamili7129]

Can I request something about you? Can you send me your tinder account? I'm curious of your face.

[@mamoru1836]

share the blog link when you start it! :)

[@Meimoons]

Did you regret going androgynous? Would you try it again?

[@LordFakmorIII]

​@@Meimoons I wouldn't call myself androgynous despite referring to this look as such in the original comment But yeah, I would grow my hair out again. I haven't cut my hair yet but will do it very soon and I want to shave it bald and then see it all regrow, with this current hair I really haven't put much effort into it. There's quite a few styles I haven't been able to try out with this long hair because it was originally a mullet and I just let it grow, so the sides are still shorter than the top & back. Also I'm going to be moving out of my home very soon for uni aswell and I feel like the new environment warrants a change of sorts / an opportunity for more aesthetic experimentation

[@LordFakmorIII]

@@mamoru1836 Will do, though I'm worried I won't be able to as I tried to share my discord ID earlier and it seems to have been deleted. If anyone's reading this and wants my discord ID, you can find it on my channel in the "about" section.

[@MochaxMatcha]

Wow! As someone who's studied anime and it's style I'm shocked I've never heard of bjorn before now! Thank you, I'm always happy to learn more about Japan, especially about anime art.

[@user-in1yw9ty5t]

They embody the best of male and female phenotypes and features that make them so appealing and different as an individual. They are attractive to both male female and lgbt+ community

[@kittaamon]

It also has to do with projection, the more androgenous or perhaps generic a face looks, the easier it is to project one's own self onto the character. The less distinct the characters, the more the character is meant to be relatable. One could say the same about stick figures. It only has minimal characteristics of sticks but we presume it to be the likeness of us. Anyone else that is different from the self will have emphasized characteristics only based on the relative difference between them and the self. For example, a man will draw a stick figure to demonstrate himself and add a dress to the stick figure to demonstrate someone of different gender in relation to him.

[@Therealmykag]

Ykw I always wondered how no one noticed Haruhi was a girl in Ouran High School Host Club… but I completely forgot about the bishounen of it all 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@silynita]

She was written as ' not the typical girl' that the guys interact with on that school, and also Tamaki is kinda dumb 😆

[@lucrezia6923]

Regarding the skin color: There’s a very long history of paleness being considered beautiful in many Asian countries (this really isn’t exclusive to Japan lol). And the origin has nothing to to with race. It is related to social and economical classes. Basically, rich and influential people stayed indoors while the servants and the poor worked outside under the sun, in the fields and got tanned. So the paleness was the sign of a wealthy and comfortable life and was desirable. This beauty standard is still pretty strong in most countries and “tanning” is very unpopular compared to the west.

[@Felicite-Etoile]

Do you have an opinion regarding the blue/green eyed, blonde/ginger *AND* fair skin? I’ve never seen a Native Japanese with all of those features combined, yet they’re all over Japanese media…

[@JuniperGal-ek2pu]

Then again, there are subcultures/sub fashions in Japan where tanning is popular. For an example: gyaru.

[@brianmwangi6220]

Can we just appreciate the sophistication at which Qoves delivers it's videos......I mean I'd literally pay this narrator to just talk to me.His grammar is really good and the video quality sheesh

[@sarahh3061]

I have always been curious about this! Thanks!

[@BlondedOcean.mp3]

It’s funny (and I guess good?) that nowadays,dudes realise that working out and gaining muscle mass should be more for yourself and humourlessly (as pointed out on TikTok) for other men, romantically or otherwise. It’s really interesting watching this kind of development happen as a dude myself as I realised that I no longer worked out for “others” like you were inclined to do when you were younger.

[@LA-cm9uo]

I dated a bishonen-looking guy. He was attractive to me at first, but some people mistook him for a woman and that got kind of tiring (for us both).

[@よろしく-u5l]

In Japan, for centuries up until the Meiji period (the period of westernization) there was something called the third gender where young feminine men were the envy of men and woman everywhere. In Japan, masculinity is somewhat different. There is still misogyny, however, things like hygiene, fashion, and grooming are not so stigmatized for men as they are in the west. Also, most likely due to the influence of a collective society, outward appearances carry more weight for both genders in regards to fitting in with the group and being respected by the group and society. People want to be presentable, both men and women. Also, many men carried satchels and I was impressed by how no one called them “girly” or “purses”.

[@kiravampira1456]

They also seem to show much more admiration towards long hair on men. And since Japanese hair is usually sleek and naturally straight, it looks wonderful🌙

[@witchingbrew3]

I remember seeing Rei in Mars manga and I had never seen a more beautiful thing before drawn. I didn't know it was possible in fiction yet real life.

[@supershysoty]

Omg this is so true

[@VoltaMagica]

It's funny how you showed Lady Oscar, a woman who was raised as a boy and confuses people with her beauty lol

[@nah_.]

Ikr lmao

[@coffeefrog]

There's an uncanny objectifying quality to these characters. In extreme cases, they're depicted as being ethereal and otherworldly, even angelic, as if they're hiding some kind of emotional wisdom that puts them in a league high above the rest of us mortals. That might make them easy for some people to fantasize about, but it also denies these boys a sense of humanity. It's tragic to hear this fetishization happens to real people. The depiction of characters like these as having a mystery to uncover is often a mask for... nothing, no secret emotional wisdom at all, as their beauty can often be analyzed to serve no purpose greater than fetish fuel, ironically making them less than human. In the pursuit of beauty, it teeters on the grotesque.

[@May-ky4lu]

+

[@bres.4806]

Beautifully said.💮💮💮

[@crios8307]

The ironic thing is that even Guts, who is usually presented as a very masculine guy, lacks something that westerns consider peak masculinity, and also defines bishonen: The beard.

[@aligensa]

Lady Oscar, arguably the most famous anime character that was modeled on Bjorn, is actually a girl dressing as a boy, something that was also popular in Shakespeare plays - with the added twist that all roles where played by men in his day.

[@chimchimchococones]

i like "pretty boys" and "masc girls". i guess i have a type.

[@justahumanbean_]

Ikr, there's something appealing about those types, probably bc it contradicts the traditional view on stereotypical gender appearances.

[@ぼじん-o5r]

*Sad Masc boys and pretty girls noises*

[@chimchimchococones]

@@justahumanbean_ yes, i thought of that too hehe.

[@SilverSnook7966]

It's called being bisexual

[@oof3479]

Wow you are so *quirky*

[@amjanwaters6142]

One Anime that inspired by Bjorn is Rose of Versailles, forgot the mangaka's name. Hey it's already in the video.. Androgynous and feminine looking men are good in drawings.. Are muscly men always mean alpha? Who put that attribute?

[@trendorina]

The mangaka is Riyoko Ikeda

[@RANDOM-pf1ve]

Not always but most times it might instinctive

[@JoJoboiWav]

always

[@user-kp4jh6jo3r]

ANDROGYNOUS DOESNT mean feminine ALEXANDER THE GREAT WAS ANDROGYNOUS many men were and they had more testosterone than your either bloodline of men combined

[@oyasuminerd]

@6:58 from an artist perspective ,wrinkles are very hard to execute just right especially in anime and manga. the linework makes the wrinkles look harsher and they significantly age a character so at best you might see some crows feet

[@lsuzicosbw644]

Your voice is incredibly soothing.

[@mint1720]

can you make a video about why face masks makes a person more attractive than without? I also have a question, Why do some people seem to be more attractive the more they cover their face?

[@MoonStarr-02]

I believe it may have something to do with the way your eyes look thats what ik from personal experience

[@asmodeus235]

A big aspect is symmetry. A known tip for guys is to look more attractive with sunglasses on, it’s uniform and creates a perfect mirror across the face. You can’t see the faults of a person so you assume it’s uniform under there.

[@daniegrand6315]

What

[@weirdsock3032]

2:40 No type of seducing technique will make you physically attractive. If you're not handsome enough you simply won't attract women (save for those who are extremely rich or famous, but their relationships are extremely fragile). Men believe going to the gym will make them considerably more desirable (it might if you're already attractive enough), but the crushing majority of a man's attractiveness will be tied to unchangeable aspects such as his height, facial structure and frame. It's ignorance to believe only guys prioritize physical appearence over personality, this has already been proven to be the case for both sexes.

[@dickottel]

beautiful personality is very attractive

[@weirdsock3032]

@@dickottel And yet it doesn't matter nearly as much as physical attractiveness

[@spasmicwaves]

@@dickottel There are countless cases of attractive felons who have hundreds/thousands of groupies.

[@princessazula624]

Cliche Cold comfort words

[@a1s1inn]

A man can make up for a lack of height if they have a good face and vice versa

[@AyubuKK]

I love the concept of bishounen. Androgyny has always been something so cool to me. Tomboys are super cool too.

[@thegermthatlivesinsideyour9328]

Gay

[@yanijen9733]

@@thegermthatlivesinsideyour9328 cry about it

[@AnaLu07]

I think men who are a mix of masculine and feminine traits are the most attractive

[@Nemesis-jh6wq]

could you do a video about why some anime characters are seen as attractive for the majority of the fandom, like Levi or Eren, ecc. It would be interesting

[@SmartyPoohBear]

I only watched season 1, but eren wasn't considered attractive until he sported long hair (plus got older, character development, etc), right?

[@Nemesis-jh6wq]

@@SmartyPoohBear for some people (like me) he always got a handsome face and liked him since the beginning, but since he grow up he got also a more muscular body and long hair looks good on him because his face has a nice mix between feminine and masculine characteristics

[@adinab478]

Small/youthful face, smooth jawline, small nose, regular size mouth, attractive hair-cut etc. Androgynous features in general. I personally find Levi's sharp eyes to be more attractive than the usual anime boy doey-eye tho🤭

[@SmartyPoohBear]

​@Kariya Dunno about others, but to me, it's so common for anime characters to be good-looking, that I think personality plays a huge role on how attractive they end up being. I can totally understand how someone would forget light is canonically hot by the end of the series (cause I sure did).

[@TricksterLawlet]

They're main characters

[@zontzooit2415]

i feel like another huge reason would be the fact that men in japan have more softer looking futures compared to men in other parts of the world. skin care is also a big thing in easy asian countries especially Korea.

[@pia_fiaa]

he reminds me of brooke shields so much but brooke shields have a much more happy and peaceful life. i hope björn will find peace in his life.

[@No-Stack-Developer]

But but, I just got the ronaldo fade 🥺

[@lavonnealexander6936]

😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AyubuKK]

Oof

[@wllulu]

I find interesting how in for example berserk guts is draw hypermasculine and that makes him look aggressive and violent while Griffith if more androgynous and looks more peaceful and kind and at the end the roles are the opposite and Griffith is the terrible person, also in Monster Johan also is a feminine man and he looks very kind and trust worthy while being a monster

[@NaturalNihilist]

It is worth mentioning that the beauty ideal for men back in the 40s and 60s, and even before in Japan and even China was more "masculine", men with strong jawlines, beards and mustaches sometimes, and elegant style of hair and clothing. Going to the topic of "white skin in japan and anime features" it could be influenced by those things that you mention but as a fact we know that in Asia darker skin was viewed as undesirable because it mean that you worked in the field under sun exposure, same applies to Europe in Victorian times and even before. Pale skin rather than being a "sickly look" it was viewed as a privilege of people who had wealth so technically meaning the whiter you are the more wealth you have, although that is not the case at all, it is still prevalent in today's Asian standards sadly. I find darker Asian skin tones so beautiful but the beauty standard is not on my side. On the perspective of anime, yes many many anime are drawn "European" but we also have to think of the context in which they're placed, Howl's takes place in England, Naruto although it has the Japanese written language, clothes and atmosphere it is an imaginary world, if you go to a show that actually takes place in japan like INUYASHA, you'll see all the characters have brown eyes, brown or black hair and very Japanese like features with the exception for the Yokai (demon) characters that have fantasy hair and eyes.

[@raaaamen3421]

Wow Bjorn Anderson really did look like an bishounen anime character and also some kpop boy vibe too.

[@ledot2037]

Seriously underrated channel 😤

[@sandrasim46]

i was not expecting this video to be as fascinating as it is, great video!

[@amivivi6420]

as a woman i dont think there is one beauty standard that all women like. some prefer more masculine and some less

[@creedmaxmaster]

Not really 99.9 like musculine

[@Summonization]

I think beauty has always changed in human history. Pretty boys with feminine auras are more popular now. But it can change on a dime so 🤷‍♂️

[@blueblanketlens]

0:15 I never thought i would see Kaze to ki no uta in this channel.

[@sheikaejulius4441]

YAY! I've been waiting for a video like this.

[@FriedRice3519]

I rly love how informative and well-composed this video is. The comments are very interesting as well.

[@mstr293]

Weird that a lot of women criticize guys for having unrealistic standards when selecting potential female mates when their standards include above 6 feet in height and looking feminine like your bishounen and K-pop stars.

[@mstr293]

For those who don't get it, short height is a predominantly feminine trait. So height + feminine facial features are rarely seen on guys.

[@The_Man_Who_Sold_the_World.]

Kpop stars and anime characters are typically below 5'10

[@DedeDede-pb6xr]

I think Ash Lynx from Banana fish is a great example as well.

[@crestfire8008]

I think in general all around the world, the "pretty boy" trope is often given to men with feminine face. Feminine doesn't mean they act feminine. Just men with feminine face doing extremely masculine things

[@calutanneohage6152]

Actually the traits of Bishonen has existed in at least from 13th centuries too, if you look at the old paintings and literature, young and androgynous, pale boys are often talked about. So it’s not as easy as it is explained here like “this guy was all the inspiration”

[@せん-r9k]

It's a very interesting topic, can you please do a facial analysis of the Japanese actor Ryo yoshizawa, he played a really successful role in Tokyo revengers (2021)

[@せん-r9k]

He also has androgenous facial features, and he played a very distinctive role in the popular drama Reach beyond the blue sky (2021)

[@StarryHoshi]

loved him in his role for kamen rider fourze, he was very pretty there

[@せん-r9k]

@@StarryHoshi I know right, and in (Tomodachi game) he was also so beautiful ❤️😍

[@dwiretno2782]

I think ryo more looks like an Indonesian daddy or sometimes looks like old daddy, if you wanna see the real pretty boy or the real androgynous face with tomboy girl & goddess face with perfect look, cute -beautiful baby eyes and attractiveness you should watch "Kento Yamazaki" even when he grows some moustache he still look like a girl 😆 his neotenous face is the best and it looks like he never get olds because his Iris eyes and his west (German) nose are the best features of him to stay younger 🔥 kento yamazaki is so perfect

[@せん-r9k]

@@dwiretno2782 I agree with you, that now he looks like a daddy but he used to have this androgynous aesthetic when he was younger