10 upvotes, 1 direct replies (showing 1)
View submission: Where Is All the Sad Boy Literature?
Idk.
I feel like they just gravitate to different types of literature. Maybe Anime/Manga.
Comment by Certain_Giraffe3105 at 22/02/2025 at 08:22 UTC
12 upvotes, 2 direct replies
That's what I was thinking too. Thinking about many of the most popular animes/mangas of the last decade or so (Naruto, AOT, Demon Slayer, JJK, Chainsaw Man, Vinland Saga) and even some of the most evergreen series that always have a new generation of readers/watchers (Berserk, Neon Genesis Evangelion, most Gundam series) all have "sad boy" qualities and most feature a "sad boy" protagonist. Granted, many of these series usually have their emotionality hidden under the bluster of the genre (absurd gag humor, bombastic action scenes, cute waifus). But, that emotionality and exploration of the human experience is still present in these stories and it's clear that it resonates with its viewers. I always joke about the fact that Naruto is an underrated Emo institution.