The Value of Appropriate

[bluesilo]

I bring this thread up in question of some recent titles.

I'm going to leave Strike Witches til later, but it will be included.

Okay, I think I have a problem. I enjoy reading and watching Shugo Chara and Gakuen Alice. I went to dinner last night and notice two girls (ages 12 and 13) who also like these properties. Is it taboo for me to like these type of shows being that I'm a 22/m? Now I don't want to hear responses of either (People don't know what their talking about) or (your a hentai). What I want is for this to be a discussion of whether or not this is "Okay". I understand okay is in the eye of the beholder and what may be okay for a 18/m who is single and living alone might now be okay for a 25/m with children.

What about the shows that purposly cater to those who are older but showcase perverse or bizarre situations. Was Strike Witches and Nanoha ever really intended for teenage girls even though the characters themselves are not at that age or act an age that far surpasses what they should be? Are we now going to say that a man watching a show like Utena or Salior Moon is Perverted or being a Pedo for liking girls who are far younger than they are?

The reason why I bring this up is because I have people being worried that my enjoyment of things could forshadow future behavior. That I should stop watching and reading (Shugo Chara, Gakuen Alice, Nanoha, Wedding Peach, Strike Witches).

If you feel that this is tl;dr, then are teenage shoujo appropriate for older men is the general question.

[Quarkboy]

The shows you mention actually fall into two categories.

Shugo Chara and Wedding Peach are shows aimed primarily for children that aired in the mornings on Saturday, i.e. saturday morning cartoons. Gakuen Alice, NAnoha, and Strike Witches are shows aimed primarily at 20-something otaku, and are aired late at night (like 2 AM or so).

Now, things get a bit more complicated, however. Shugo Chara actually ALSO airs late at night, in reruns, because the creators understand full well that the show appeals to older otaku as well as children. So a good case could be made that the creators themselves purposefully are trying to attract an older audience.

Other kids shows like Pretty Cure or One Piece have large amounts of older fans in Japan. Heck, when I went to see the latest Pretty Cure movie in the theater, it was about 85% kids aged 6-10 with their parents, and about 15% scary male otaku (myself included).

My point is this: It's not your fault. They, the Japanese, are purposefully trying to attract you to the shows because it's people like you who would buy their heinously overpriced DVDs and merchandise.

[GrateSaiyaman]

My point is this: It's not your fault. They, the Japanese, are purposefully trying to attract you to the shows because it's people like you who would buy their heinously overpriced DVDs and merchandise.

Exactly!!!

Wasn't there just an article about anime DVDs being responsible for like $350 MILLION in sales but the character goods were pushing the $2 Billion envelope?
They want as many people to be interested in this stuff as that can be, it's profitable.

Sooo . . . if you feel drawn to this stuff, they did their jobs well, you're supposed to be interested.
Insofar as how it might affect you, well that is for you to decide.
If you live at home and all you do is watch Lyrical Nanoha and imagine kinky situations to the detriment of any social life, you already have problems.

If you have generally the same worries as most people and anime is one of your ways to escape for a half-hour at a time . . . I don't think it really matters what your genera happens to be as long as you understand it's still a bunch of CGI and illustrations.

Appropriate?
Are you going to show Strike Witches to a crowd of 6th graders? Teach them early that no woman under 30 should wear anything below the waist but her panties at all times?
I think that would be a bad idea....



;)

[Betenoire]

If they fact that the stories feature young characters or are aimed at younger children is wrong there are a whole lot of older people who are in trouble because it wasn't just children reading the Harry Potter books or watching the movies. Not that I'm going to compare literary values but Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn are stories about children but make larger analogies (To kill a Mockingbird's main character is also a young girl)[Of course, all three also have people who try to ban the books from school libraries :sweat: but not because of the characters age). Also, I seem to recall that Tolkien was decried as just writing children stories yet I would bet the vast majority of the readers of his works probably picked up the books a little after the age at which they would refer to themselves as children.

Would these people who worry about your future behavior also worry if you went around quoting Pulp Fiction all the time worry that you might shoot someone. Or if you watch the Godfather or Soprano's that you might to try to put a hit on someone? Part of the fact does come from the age of the characters but also the medium. Fans can refer to it as anime and an art form all they like, but to a large segment it's still just cartoons, and those are for children. Other people who still partake in what's deemed "childrens" media get hassled/derided. Much like comic book guy is stereotyped on the Simpson's or the stereotype of the adult who still buys action figures(or dolls :devil:) or the fact that video game players over 20 still get some grief (though due to the numbers not as much).
And pick your favorite Star Trek/Star Wars fan stereotype.

You will probably just have to deal with some derision and scorn. Society as a whole does not have a great fondness for those who live outside their preconceived definitions. I wonder how many anime/manga fans over the age of 22 have at some point seen/heard a teen/preteen talking about an anime or manga series they also enjoy and had an internal twinge. Or asked themselves why they enjoy this.

As long as you don't find yourself wanting to spend with kids or anything else there is probably not much harm (and I stress I'm not saying these shows lead to pedophilia or anything along those lines). Do adults who watched High School Musical get equally derided (OK a little older target group but not a lot)? Pedophilia is a term that gets tossed around a little to freely. There are very specific diagnosis used by psychiatrists in the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

Sadly it's probably best that you just chose this area of your life not to bring up with these people unless you feel they may have a point. As long as your functioning as a person it shouldn't matter if your watching Nanoha or American Idol and calling the number 12 times a night to vote for your favorite singer. Entertainment is where you find it and it's impossible for someone else to tell you you need to watch this. (Obviously criminal things like snuff films and the like don't count, because then you do have a problem).

Of course I am a bit biased on this subject.:catgirl:

[BonifaceVIII]

The reason why I bring this up is because I have people being worried that my enjoyment of things could forshadow future behavior. That I should stop watching and reading (Shugo Chara, Gakuen Alice, Nanoha, Wedding Peach, Strike Witches).
Would they be okay with you watching more appropriate mid-20s-male entertainment like torture-porn Hollywood movies such as Saw and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre?

Cuz, you know, glorified rape, torture and sadism is awesome.

(and for those of you wondering, this post wasn't sarcastic. you should watch horror movies.)

[Betenoire]

Are you going to show Strike Witches to a crowd of 6th graders? Teach them early that no woman under 30 should wear anything below the waist but her panties at all times?
I think that would be a bad idea....
;)

Judging by the number of Girls Gone Wild ads that invade late night TV and a number media stories about underage kids using their camera phones to send nude pics of themselves I think the problem may be a little past being Strike Witches fault. Going by some of the current fashion trends the current American culture seems to have this covered on its own.;)

[bluesilo]

The reason why I bring this up is because I have people being worried that my enjoyment of things could forshadow future behavior. That I should stop watching and reading (Shugo Chara, Gakuen Alice, Nanoha, Wedding Peach, Strike Witches).
Would they be okay with you watching more appropriate mid-20s-male entertainment like torture-porn Hollywood movies such as Saw and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre?

Cuz, you know, glorified rape, torture and sadism is awesome.

(and for those of you wondering, this post wasn't sarcastic. you should watch horror movies.)

You have a point. I think the general populace is starting to come around to the idea of games as entertainment for an older audience and not just teenagers, but anime ("cartoons") will still have this problems. I think I understand what I like and don't like given I tried watching Tweeny Witches and really didn't enjoy it at all. Yes, I guess the status quo would be to enjoy sadistic horror movies and the like. The fact of the situation is a don't think any of us is the world's definition of 'normal' and that what makes us get along and enjoy the same things.

I certinely like the direction this thread is going because there are a lot of interesting ideas being thrown out.

[Fencedude]

The reason why I bring this up is because I have people being worried that my enjoyment of things could forshadow future behavior. That I should stop watching and reading (Shugo Chara, Gakuen Alice, Nanoha, Wedding Peach, Strike Witches).



Who cares what they think?

[Draneor]

Was Strike Witches and Nanoha ever really intended for teenage girls even though the characters themselves are not at that age or act an age that far surpasses what they should be?

I don't even know why you consider this debatable. Of course they weren't.

Most anime is made for Japanese otaku (some with otaku partly in mind--like Pretty Cure). If you think like one, you're part of the intended audience. Nothing else matters. Trying to find some sort of broad, cultural acceptance for liking say Kanokon is misguided at best. It's not that way in Japan, and it won't be elsewhere. But there is joy in the dark. :)

[Fencedude]

Was Strike Witches and Nanoha ever really intended for teenage girls even though the characters themselves are not at that age or act an age that far surpasses what they should be?

I don't even know why you consider this debatable. Of course it wasn't.

Just for clarification, the Nanoha manga runs in MEGAMI, which makes any thought that it was ever aimed at girls utterly hilarious.

[BonifaceVIII]

Isn't Nanoha a spinoff of an h-game anyway?

[Draneor]

Isn't Nanoha a spinoff of an h-game anyway?

Technically, it was spun off of a fanbox of an eroge. But yes.

Just for clarification, the Nanoha manga runs in MEGAMI, which makes any thought that it was ever aimed at girls utterly hilarious.

Definitely! Although the actual demographics are a bit more complex than just the primary. For example, a small but significant percentage of all bishoujo game players are female. I'd expect the same holds true to something like Nanoha (or Clannad). Most doujin authors are female too (even circles that do stuff like Leaf). Things are always more complex then they seem. ^^

[Fencedude]

Isn't Nanoha a spinoff of an h-game anyway?

Very obliquely, but yes.

[bluesilo]

Okay so we've canceled out Strike Witches and Nanoha from the conversation. What about Tweeny Witches, Gakuen Alice, and Shugo Chara? I mean sure its easy to strike out the first two for us (for others they just look weird and it doesn't matter how you try to explain it), but the others could you? I think its more difficult. I'm saying shows that are watched by people not in there intended audience. Some of you think its crazy talk, but its a legit discussion.

[Draneor]

I'm saying shows that are watched by people not in there intended audience.

And we're saying that Pretty Cure and Shugo Chara were made with otaku (partly) in mind. As QB said, someone has to buy those DVDs.

Regardless, it shouldn't matter. Watch what you like.

[Ty]

If you feel that this is tl;dr, then are teenage shoujo appropriate for older men is the general question.

Enjoy the things you enjoy without guilt or regret. All that matters is what you think, you know? If you are having a good time watching those shows then any other thoughts on the matter are fluff. You aren't doing anything wrong by enjoying something you like. I like Gakuen Alice and I'm quite a bit older than you are. Many of those shows are meant to be watched by older men.

If you honestly feel like you are doing something "bad" then maybe it is a problem, but aside from that I think you are just self-conscious and need to let it go so you can enjoy your hobby.

[bluesilo]

Thank you to the last two posters with the comments. My situation was just a little unique because the person in question was my SO and she understands the otaku culture being one herself. Given from a woman's POV its certinely going to be squeued, but it was just an argument we had this morning and I was pissed off about it and I guess I felt like I needed justification from people I don't know that my hobby is alright. Sometimes I think I know the people here since we exchange thoughts regularly, but then again ....

[Suwako Moriya]

Many of those shows are meant to be watched by older men.

True. Also regardless of what the intended target audience for a show happens to be, it's perfectly normal for some people outside the said target audience to be watching a show anyway.

[something]

but it was just an argument we had this morning and I was pissed off about it and I guess I felt like I needed justification from people I don't know that my hobby is alright.
Oh silly bluesilo. =P Darn near any sort of entertainment can be used as justification for deviant behavior, but by and large very few people will ever do anything bad because their movies/games/books/music influenced them to. And those that do are by and large going to be people who suffer from serious issues and circumstances that lie outside their choice of entertainment and exacerbate their problematic behavior (mental illness, poverty, abusing family situations, etc).

Can the confused, uninformed or just plain ignorant assumptions of others still nonetheless cause real problems for you, or me, or any other fan? Sure, absolutely. But that's their fault, their failing, their shortcomings, not yours. So long as you're not pushing it on others against their will or being influenced by it in ways that adversely affect your daily life, the solution will never, ever, be to simply give up doing what you enjoy. Whether it's watching shoujo anime (which as has been noted is often expected to reach you as a secondary demographic anyway) or anything else.

[something]

Many of those shows are meant to be watched by older men.True. Also regardless of what the intended target audience for a show happens to be, it's perfectly normal for some people outside the said target audience to be watching a show anyway.
A world where I was only able to watch what the marketing execs at big media companies (or the creators themselves, for that matter!) thought I wanted to watch would be an awful, awful place indeed.

[Betenoire]

Thank you to the last two posters with the comments. My situation was just a little unique because the person in question was my SO and she understands the otaku culture being one herself. Given from a woman's POV its certinely going to be squeued, but it was just an argument we had this morning and I was pissed off about it and I guess I felt like I needed justification from people I don't know that my hobby is alright. Sometimes I think I know the people here since we exchange thoughts regularly, but then again ....

Well no one says even otaku always understand each others taste in shows *pointing at the recent Love Hina review among others* There are people who have a wide variety of taste and some whose views are more narrow (not in the negative sense). Plus you're probably going to find a whole lot more support here (with maybe a hint of rationalization :P) than in an average setting. Being an otaku doesn't give someone any more grounds to dismiss your taste on generalities than someone who has never seen a cartoon other than Disney. "You're tastes suck cause the characters are young" is a lazy argument. She should get familiar with the material and then criticize if she chooses to (says the person who is down on the new Dragon ball Evolution movie without seeing :)). Just treat it as in-person trolling and move the conversation in another direction if you can't beat a polite retreat.

[Isuzu Inugami]

What about Tweeny Witches, Gakuen Alice, and Shugo Chara? I mean sure its easy to strike out the first two for us (for others they just look weird and it doesn't matter how you try to explain it), but the others could you? I think its more difficult. I'm saying shows that are watched by people not in there intended audience.

A well-told story is a well-told story, regardless of who it's intended to be told to. Nobody gets their motives questioned for reading The Wind in the Willows, or the Narnia books, or Lewis Carroll, right?

[Betenoire]

but it was just an argument we had this morning and I was pissed off about it and I guess I felt like I needed justification from people I don't know that my hobby is alright.
Oh silly bluesilo. =P Darn near any sort of entertainment can be used as justification for deviant behavior, but by and large very few people will ever do anything bad because their movies/games/books/music influenced them to. And those that do are by and large going to be people who suffer from serious issues and circumstances that lie outside their choice of entertainment and exacerbate their problematic behavior (mental illness, poverty, abusing family situations, etc).

It does make for a great low hanging fruit for people and politicians that want something easy to blame though. Isn't the average about 6 month in between Hollywood or video games being blamed for some incident? Not just in America either. There is a line about this concept in an episode of Lucky Star. Media can play some role on behavior, but people are still responsible for what they do themselves.

[something]

Being an otaku doesn't give someone any more grounds to dismiss your taste on generalities than someone who has never seen a cartoon other than Disney.
In fact, a fellow fan doing it is significantly worse, because they should really know better - and because they're more likely to harp on it because you'll run into them in contexts where you'd only expect to see other anime fans. If anything, it's other anime fans who are the most tactless and dismissive and discriminatory - we see it all the time, even here on AOD.

[Quarkboy]

If you need to convince a person of the merit of adoring shows featuring pre-pubescent girls in frilly outfits, then I have one suggestion:

Watch Card Captor Sakura together with your SO. Only the most hard hearted of grinches won't enjoy that show, which FYI actually aired during prime time, so was originally intended for a wide audience. That show exemplifies the good aspects of the types of shows you are trying to justify yourself liking, and can appeal to a wide variety of tastes.

[bluesilo]

If you need to convince a person of the merit of adoring shows featuring pre-pubescent girls in frilly outfits, then I have one suggestion:

Watch Card Captor Sakura together with your SO. Only the most hard hearted of grinches won't enjoy that show, which FYI actually aired during prime time, so was originally intended for a wide audience. That show exemplifies the good aspects of the types of shows you are trying to justify yourself liking, and can appeal to a wide variety of tastes.

Great suggestion because I've just been trying to watch that show and find mind numbingly cute. Thanks for the advice.

[Betenoire]

Being an otaku doesn't give someone any more grounds to dismiss your taste on generalities than someone who has never seen a cartoon other than Disney.
In fact, a fellow fan doing it is significantly worse, because they should really know better - and because they're more likely to harp on it because you'll run into them in contexts where you'd only expect to see other anime fans. If anything, it's other anime fans who are the most tactless and dismissive and discriminatory - we see it all the time, even here on AOD.

True. When I wrote it I kind of had a rosey picture in my mind that at least a fellow fan might have some more experience and could make a more rational argument. Getting blind sided by some one you think should some what understand does tend to suck worse.
:sweat: This may be why I avoided Media Play's anime nights and didn't go to the local libraries similar gatherings (well, that and the age gap). Thinking about it, one of my strongest con going memories was overhearing a group of jaded fans bad mouthing the Toonami generation and all the people dressed as characters from it (particularly Witch Hunter Robin).
I coincide the point completely.

[Betenoire]

An idea I just had: If you (or someone else) think it might be wrong for you to watch shows with girls/young women would the reverse also apply? Would this line in the sand rule out 20+ women from watching or reading many series that feature underage boys like Naruto, Yu Yu Hakusho, Ouran High School Host Club (about the same age as Utena) Bleach, Full Metal Alchemist, the earliest Dragonball and the like? It would also mean Detective Conan is right out (if we're going to go with the appearance argument). EVA, early Gurren Laugann, Full Metal Panic or most Gundam series either as they all feature characters under 18.

Is it OK if the majority of the characters are your gender or do they have to also be about your age? Frankly, it doesn't seem that the percentage of series available in R1 that feature 20+ yr old characters is as high as those with younger ones.

[Suwako Moriya]

A world where I was only able to watch what the marketing execs at big media companies (or the creators themselves, for that matter!) thought I wanted to watch would be an awful, awful place indeed.

I'd prefer to use the term depressing, but more or less I'm going to agree with what you're saying. In the end the person who can best determine what I'll enjoy is myself. About the only things other can do is make suggestions and pretend they know me too well.

[malazar]

Thank you to the last two posters with the comments. My situation was just a little unique because the person in question was my SO and she understands the otaku culture being one herself.

Overall, I think your question is something all of us have faced as we have gotten older and still been into anime as much or more than when we were more age appropriate teens. Just wait until you hit 30 and it will be even worse. :P

Anyways, I assume your SO is of an adult age and everything so she should have first hand knowledge that you don't have the potential to be some sort of pedo freak. For most well adjusted adults like yourself, I don't see any issue with watching whatever shows you find entertaining since, as others have mentioned, they are intended for older audiences as well as younger audiences from a marketing standpoint.

The only people who have issues with this sort of thing are those who start actually being attracted to the underage characters and say stuff like "I don't like real women, I prefer my anime girls." There are people like that on here that pop up from time to time. Once someone reaches that point is when they start deviating into a more questionable category that could potentially present a real life perversion. That's not the case with you, so don't worry about it and just enjoy what you enjoy.

[something]

The only people who have issues with this sort of thing are those who start actually being attracted to the underage characters and say stuff like "I don't like real women, I prefer my anime girls."
And even that is very, very rarely meant seriously. Even when it is, because sure it does happen sometimes, it's also likely to be a result of external real life concerns - like total failure in love - manifesting through (but not because of) their fandom, rather than a normally well adjusted individual who is attracted to other humans getting into anime and only then deciding that they no longer care for a "real girl/boy". Entertainment can always have an element of escapism, which is not in itself unhealthy unless taken to extremes.

[BonifaceVIII]

yes, bluesilo's girlfriend should not be jealous of the underaged anime girls too much because she has the trump card of actually existing.

[Classical]

I pretty much agree with some of the other people that have posted and said that it's perfectly normal to not be part of the intended audience and still enjoy the show. I have a liking for cute things and I have no problem watching cute shows like A Little Snow Fairy Sugar. I've come to realize that it's just best to be comfortable with your tastes. Everyone is different and as such it's illogical to hold people to some universal standard of what is appropriate for them to watch. Not to mention it really shouldn't be up to others to decide what you should watch in the first place.

[Citizen Klaus]

yes, bluesilo's girlfriend should not be jealous of the underaged anime girls too much because she has the trump card of actually existing.

That's not always a good thing, though. One could argue that the unattainable is inherently more attractive because it can never be attained.

I have to wonder if Pygmalion was really all that thrilled with Galatea three years later.

[Fencedude]

I have to wonder if Pygmalion was really all that thrilled with Galatea three years later.

Thats a fantastic idea for a show, actually.

[Mateo_home]

Nothing else I can throw in but I'll add in my share. I'm a 24year old male I happen to like cute and somewhat shoujo anime such as Snow Fairy Sugar, Rozen Maiden, Karin, Strawberry Marshmallow, Shugo Chara, CardCaptor Sakura, and Gakuen Alice (which is on pre-order). Some of those aren't targeted towards younger girls, but the average person won't know that. I've learned to not care what other people think. Not even my own family. Only rough experiences was my dad telling me that Strawberry Marshmallow was for girls and I told him it wasn't, don't remember how that ended but I still have the DVDs in my room on display. And the other was when I got home with some manga I just purchased she wanted to see, I refused. She found out shortly and it was the vol. 1 cover of Shugo Chara. Surprisingly she just asked "Why are you embarrassed about reading this?"

While I don't care what others think, I'll admit I'm still publicly embarrassed by it. If they were to find out it's another thing but I wouldn't want to bring up "I watch/read stuff catered to girls" in a conversation. While not as embarrassing, in HS I'd just be hanging by myself playing Pokemon and someone would come up and say to me "How old are you?". The think the problem is people are too concerned about their "manly" image.
:P

[meganly_chan]

If you feel that this is tl;dr, then are teenage shoujo appropriate for older men is the general question.

Well, there are a lot of things meant for kids that adults are finding themselves fans of. Ever heard the term "TwiMoms"? There's also Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, etc.

In the case of anime, or shoujo specifically, I think as long as you aren't lusting after the main character or inviting 12 year olds to come over at night to watch it with you, I don't see what the big deal is. Actually, I'm seeing a lot of fanservice in the manga I read recently. Since these are printed in magazines meant for middle schoolers (or even younger), I can't see why most of them would want to see up a girl's skirt or a boob grab (which I detest). So I think there's definitely a "hidden" audience there.

[Citizen Klaus]

Since these are printed in magazines meant for middle schoolers (or even younger), I can't see why most of them would want to see up a girl's skirt or a boob grab (which I detest).

I can.

When I was in middle school, I coveted my secret stash of Urusei Yatsura doujin.

[zaldar]

As one who has been dissmissime of others tastes and of my own....let me just say that like what you like unless it makes you start to have thoughts that you know are wrong. Did you find yourself attracted to the 11 and 12 year old girl? That would be an entirley different thing, that has ABSOLUTLEY nothing to do with the anime. Now finding people who will deal with you likeing it and not think it is weird is another issue. My friends and parents still don't completly understand my fasination with anime even things as moving as Hainabine Remnei (sp) (where my avatar comes from) and have questioned why I like it. Mostly I ignore it.

Wether you give it up for other things to fit in with more people or just hang with people who understand you is a decision you have to make yourself.


\
Being an otaku doesn't give someone any more grounds to dismiss your taste on generalities than someone who has never seen a cartoon other than Disney.
In fact, a fellow fan doing it is significantly worse, because they should really know better - and because they're more likely to harp on it because you'll run into them in contexts where you'd only expect to see other anime fans. If anything, it's other anime fans who are the most tactless and dismissive and discriminatory - we see it all the time, even here on AOD.

[zaldar]

Agree completly and was what I was trying to say earlier. (wether we should not have this type of entertainment because it might cater to people who ALL READY had other problems is an entirly different issue)

The only people who have issues with this sort of thing are those who start actually being attracted to the underage characters and say stuff like "I don't like real women, I prefer my anime girls."
And even that is very, very rarely meant seriously. Even when it is, because sure it does happen sometimes, it's also likely to be a result of external real life concerns - like total failure in love - manifesting through (but not because of) their fandom, rather than a normally well adjusted individual who is attracted to other humans getting into anime and only then deciding that they no longer care for a "real girl/boy". Entertainment can always have an element of escapism, which is not in itself unhealthy unless taken to extremes.

[Mr. Nail Bat]

Time to bring out the classic quotation:

When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty, I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.

[Asf]

Shugo Chara and Wedding Peach are shows aimed primarily for children that aired in the mornings on Saturday, i.e. saturday morning cartoons. Gakuen Alice, NAnoha, and Strike Witches are shows aimed primarily at 20-something otaku, and are aired late at night (like 2 AM or so).

Just wanted to issue a quick correction on Gakuen Alice. It ran at 8AM on Saturday morning on NHK BS2, and is based on a girl's comic (in Hana to Yume). So it belongs with Shugo Chara and Wedding Peach rather than Nanoha and Strike Witches.

Though, like you said:

Shugo Chara actually ALSO airs late at night, in reruns, because the creators understand full well that the show appeals to older otaku as well as children. So a good case could be made that the creators themselves purposefully are trying to attract an older audience.
...which I'm sure applies to Gakuen Alice and pretty much every show with cute girls since the CC Sakura phenomenon. (And we know for a fact about PreCure (http://pya.cc/pyaimg/pimg.php?imgid=6984).)

It's been said that as fujoshi took over Shounen Jump, moe otaku took over Nakayoshi.

those who start actually being attracted to the underage characters and say stuff like "I don't like real women, I prefer my anime girls."
As long as the former is accompanied by the latter, I think we're OK. :P