Otomechikku

[5] The protagonist of an otomechikku manga typically does not possess any particularly notable traits: she is neither especially beautiful nor intelligent, is frequently shy and unassuming, but is invariably kawaii ("adorable" or "loveable").

[7] This protection and validation is most commonly granted to her by a male love interest, who accepts her as she is and maintains a chaste relationship with her,[6][7] but it can also come from professional achievement in a kawaii field, such as a picture book author or puppeteer.

[6] The visual style of otomechikku is distinguished from that of other shōjo manga of its era through its use of fine and delicate lines, as well as by the significant use of white space in order to suggest emotion and contemplation.

[1][5] Year 24 Group member Yumiko Ōshima was an exception in this regard, with many of her works featuring contemporary Japanese settings and ordinary characters who readers could easily identify with.

[1][9] Sociologist Shinji Miyadai considers otomechikku manga as serving as a learning framework for young female readers, allowing them to position themselves in relation to the world around them.

[4] Anthropologist Jennifer Prough similarly likens otomechikku manga to monogatari and the Bildungsroman genre through its focus of stories about teenage girls as they mature into adulthood.

Miyadai notes how otomechikku takes a "realistic" approach to its narratives, with heroines that reflect their female readers and their environments, contrasting the other two categories which may focus on material that is unfamiliar or difficult to relate to.