Out of curiosity, what are some of your critical favorites in the yuri genre, the ones that have set your standards for this kind of critique?

Pieta for sure. Love My Life for entirely different reasons. Two By This Side, Three By the Other Side is an amazing Touhou piece.

This might be a good topic to make its own separate post, see what other people's favourite "serious" yuri is, outside of just Citrus readers (and me, who doesn't actually read it).

Well then, let's continue here...

We started this topic in the Citrus thread, but it's bigger than just one series. What are your favorite "serious" yuri series, the ones that really set your critical standards for the genre?

We started this topic in the Citrus thread, but it's bigger than just one series. What are your favorite "serious" yuri series, the ones that really set your critical standards for the genre?

Oh! I haven't finished it yet (as a matter of fact, I'm really not up-to-date with even the scans), but Gunjō also impressed me very much.

last edited at May 28, 2015 4:20PM

Is "serious" simply "lack of comedy"? In that case i find myself with not much stuff to say here... I'd like to say Blank but that ain't a series so i'd go with Kimi Koi Limit i guess?
I'd also like to say Qualia The Purple but the yuri isn't the reason i like that one so much so i'll refrain from mentioning it

Is "serious" simply "lack of comedy"? In that case i find myself with not much stuff to say here... I'd like to say Blank but that ain't a series so i'd go with Kimi Koi Limit i guess?
I'd also like to say Qualia The Purple but the yuri isn't the reason i like that one so much so i'll refrain from mentioning it

I'd say Blank and its follow-up Blank, Continued qualify in this case.

I personally wouldn't say comedy is out, but more stories with some depth to them even if they have comedic parts. I can't speak for Kadamon on that matter though.

Agree on Qualia, Pieta and Gunjo.

Other good, serious works are The Feelings we All Must Endure don't hate me!, Fragments of Love really, please don't!, Ohana Holoholo and Aoi Hana. There's more but that's off the top of my head.
If Sasameki Koto counts, than that would be my favorite, I guess.

Is "serious" simply "lack of comedy"? In that case i find myself with not much stuff to say here... I'd like to say Blank but that ain't a series so i'd go with Kimi Koi Limit i guess?
I'd also like to say Qualia The Purple but the yuri isn't the reason i like that one so much so i'll refrain from mentioning it

I'd say Blank and its follow-up Blank, Continued qualify in this case.

I personally wouldn't say comedy is out, but more stories with some depth to them even if they have comedic parts. I can't speak for Kadamon on that matter though.

By "serious" I just meant the series that really met or exceeded your personal expectations for the genre. If that includes comedy, cool.

When we started discussing this, I made reference to the fact that some posters call Citrus' writing weak or repetitive, so I wanted a frame of reference -- if Citrus is "weak", then what is "strong" from your critical perspective?

I actually love Citrus, so that's why I'd like to hear recommendations. I've personally had a hard time getting into some of the ones I tried reading, but maybe I've missed some really great yuri along the way. Who better to recommend those than the Dynasty community, right?

Well, the discussion in the Citrus thread seemed to have gone into the Drama direction and what series had better written drama and what-not, if we're going with "what series is better than Citrus" then everyone will obviously list their personal favourites and i feel like we had this thread at least thrice

last edited at May 28, 2015 4:56PM

Well, if that is the case, then somebody has to add Girlfriends. Judging by MAL, my other favorites are Murcielago, The Real Her and Poor Poor Lips.

For writing, the ones in my other post though. And Girlfriends.

last edited at May 28, 2015 4:58PM

Well, the discussion in the Citrus thread seemed to have gone into the Drama direction and what series had better written drama and what-not, if we're going with "what series is better than Citrus" then everyone will obviously list their personal favourites and i feel like we had this thread at least thrice

No, I'm simply stating how the thread started, and upon Nezchan's recommendation, I split it into a new topic. This is not Citrus-centric, as that's what we were separating it from.

I also changed the thread's title to be clearer.

I recommend Prism (even if it's unfinished)
I don't recommend Girlfriends. It may be just me, but it was 95% girly bullshit (veeery girly) and 5% substance. The boyfriend subplot was great, however.

From non-yuri mangas I remember Bitter Virgin being a very mature drama.

Chatting at the Amber Teahouse, Ebisu-san and Hotei-san, Kase-san, Kissing Mars, and Fluttering Feelings. These 5 I think have something about them that sets them apart, not necessarily above, my other favorites. Each one of these excells at whatever it is that they do well and makes them all very memorable.

last edited at May 28, 2015 5:16PM

For a good story, I have to go with Prism

For something so sweet that it will give you diabetes, Kase-san

Supposing that by "serous" you mean "drama".

I am not someone who is fazed by drama and I find myself rarely ever gripped by those stories (unfortunately my tendency of magnifying details when it comes to "serious entertainment"/drama makes its glaring flaws much more apparent, impossible for me to deem it entertainment worthy of my time).

But I will force myself to pick some...

Dandelion Among Lilies - dealing with a couples drama from a 3rd person's perspective makes it different to the usual stuff, a breath of fresh air to the usual format, so to speak. Beware: Contains many flashbacks.

Octave - A drama with multiple arcs with good writing, pacing, and a natural flow. Also what I found the most noteworthy was the quarreling and arguments and the way the MC handled them was really realistic to the character (as despicable as some might see it), something I rarely ever stumble upon and do appreciate.

...

Now, picking what I consider serious, as in not comedy/silly focus:

Prism - I can't really say anything that has not been said before. Overall superior writing when it comes to yuri... Also by proxy Stretch even tho it's not yuri (but teasing it enough to overload and kill the readers) the writing actually becomes better on just about every aspect.

Dang, I shoulda just popped links to the mangas or something, typing all this instead of reading hentai.

Also, this is the best ever /trolololol

For one shots:
Present - It's just a nice story no matter how you look at it.
Blank and its sequel - Unrealistic when it comes to amnesia (apparently most media and public perception actually is though so that's excusable) but an interesting story nonetheless.
Blue Flame, Fragrant Clay - Despite its awkward translation is a rather cute story
A Cold and After That - Nice art and good writing for such a short story.

For longer series:
Chatting At The Amber Teahouse - Low drama and nice art, very interesting read.
Aqua Blue Cinema - Nice art, just enough drama, not too unrealistic.
Pieta - I haven't read this one in awhile so I can't give specific details but despite not being the biggest fan of the art and actually finding the first third of the story a bit boring this is still one of my favorite yuri mangas. The last two-thirds more than make up for the other issues.
Notes From the Garden of Liles - Can't really say why for certain, I just find myself rereading this one pretty often.
Kisses, Sighs, and Cherry-Blossom Pink - I'd probably have to rank this one as my overall favorite yuri manga. (Or series since it seems to be two parts no matter where you find it.) It's like Girl Friends if that one were a little bit more realistic and less fluffy.

I could actually add quite a lot more (especially some of the more sad one like Shiroi Heya no Futari) but I tried to keep it down to just a small list of some of the ones I enjoy reading most.

I recommend Prism (even if it's unfinished)
I don't recommend Girlfriends. It may be just me, but it was 95% girly bullshit (veeery girly) and 5% substance. The boyfriend subplot was great, however.

From non-yuri mangas I remember Bitter Virgin being a very mature drama.

Yeah, I remember seing somewhere on dynasty a discussion about how rape and it's consequences in manga often isn't much realistic and I remembered that Bitter Virgin made a strong impression on me but I didn't have the name. Well I was like in the beginning of high school when I read it and it wasn't my brightest period so I may not be totally objective x)

To go back to the subject, I found Nezchan view more interesting, now it's becoming the typical what's your favorite yuri manga (just without the comic focused ones)...

last edited at May 28, 2015 5:42PM

Here's a question I've often pondered and would like to hear opinions on -- Do you believe it's possible for a male author to write heartfelt yuri? Or will that almost always degenerate into fan service and/or feel insincere by nature? It's obvious that most of the critical favorites are penned by females.

Here's a question I've often pondered and would like to hear opinions on -- Do you believe it's possible for a male author to write heartfelt yuri? Or will that almost always degenerate into fan service and/or feel insincere by nature? It's obvious that most of the critical favorites are penned by females.

Is possible and we've seen happen already with Higashiyama Shou and his work on both Prism and Stretch.

Most of my favorite mangakas (Shuninta, Takemiya, Akiko, Milk) are into women themselves but male authors don't always have to make fanservice yuri.

Edit: Yeah, also Shou.

last edited at May 28, 2015 5:50PM

Here's a question I've often pondered and would like to hear opinions on -- Do you believe it's possible for a male author to write heartfelt yuri? Or will that almost always degenerate into fan service and/or feel insincere by nature? It's obvious that most of the critical favorites are penned by females.

I mentioned Kissing Mars as one of my favorites. Written by a guy and the same one as Virgins' Empire and Maka Maka, so his manga are on the mature side, but they are decent enough yuri series. Kissing Mars however, I think is by far his best. I feel the MC is one of the most real characters I have had the pleasure of reading about. She is not the "ideal" MC and is kind of an anti-heroine at first, but I think her problems are very real and typical of a teenager. Then her eventual development of feelings towards the the other girl of the series is something I won't forget.

Here's a question I've often pondered and would like to hear opinions on -- Do you believe it's possible for a male author to write heartfelt yuri? Or will that almost always degenerate into fan service and/or feel insincere by nature? It's obvious that most of the critical favorites are penned by females.

Is possible and we've seen happen already with Higashiyama Shou and his work on both Prism and Stretch.

Good answer. I haven't read Prism yet and didn't know the author was male.

Cloud Palette is a guy, tho he has some porny hentai, he has delivered some of the most beautiful (and simple) romantic stories, examples:

Of the Two
Snow Light

Almost poetic, in a way. Perfect morning read with a cup of coffee, quite relaxing.

Even made a hentai with sort-of-drunk sex. Where the characters treat each other with deep affection and care, while also delivering porn, in Marrons Glacés

And his art, oh-so soothing art...

last edited at May 28, 2015 6:07PM

I will check Pieta and Kissing mars just cos I'm not good with titles.

Hum series... I am liking Kase-san , I liked the princess's mirror
I think I'm more of a one shot person...
I know I've read other good stuff..uff.. The Real her, Girlfriends,Yuri Mekuru Hibi which is highly weird.
The only hentai one I've really liked (besides Shoujo sect) was Otome saku if only for Itsuki and Miharu.

Meh can't think of others... Philosophia..HA AS IF,NEVER! Tho I do love Amano-sense's works,usually...not that one..Feelings..well I dunno.

kuniqs

I recommend Prism (even if it's unfinished)
I don't recommend Girlfriends. It may be just me, but it was 95% girly bullshit (veeery girly) and 5% substance. The boyfriend subplot was great, however.

I agree totally with Prism, despite not being finished it's amazing. Although it's funny, I have the exact opposite take on Girl Friends, in that I didn't care that much for the boyfriend subplot (although I can see why it's there), and loved the "girly bullshit" and thought it was valuable in establishing their characters and initial relationship. However, the other side of that is I wouldn't recommend it as a series with a lot of depth. It's basically "here's the events of the relationship", but not much deeper than that.

last edited at May 28, 2015 8:57PM

Kadamon

Here's a question I've often pondered and would like to hear opinions on -- Do you believe it's possible for a male author to write heartfelt yuri? Or will that almost always degenerate into fan service and/or feel insincere by nature? It's obvious that most of the critical favorites are penned by females.

Definitely a male author can write good yuri. I think the issue is there's a higher difficulty in writing an authentic lesbian-oriented story if you're not female, or better yet a lesbian yourself, but it's definitely possible as we've seen. I think this really shows in manga because it's simply not easy for a male in Japanese society to acquire the knowledge required to write that sort of story well. But as others have pointed out, we have standouts like Shou who pull it off all the same.

last edited at May 28, 2015 8:56PM

Is there a particular reason I never hear about Utena any more? Back in 1999, it was the first thing to cross people's lips when you mentioned yuri.