Anime has a long history of portraying female characters with exaggerated facial expressions. This is usually seen in light-hearted anime with scope for character development in female characters.
There are usually two types of expressions for female characters: the exaggerated ones, where they are happy, angry, embarrassed, or sad (drawing circles in the sand in a corner). The other is a serious expression which means that the tone of the scene is not going to be lighthearted or comedic anymore.
For a very long time, this has been the trend, unlike the male characters who have individual personas and have different sets of expressions (like Ichigo, Killua, Sung Jinwoo), the female anime characters seem to have their expressions set in stone. Apothecary Diaries has subverted this sexist trope to emphasize Maomao’s expressions.
How The Apothecary Diaries subverts the trope
The anger that the female characters portray makes them bow their heads a little, making their eyes disappear and then they act out in their anger. This is usually because of a guy or because they have been embarrassed.
But when it comes to a series like Apothecary Diaries, where the female character is the main lead, there is a need for an emphasis on her emotions, much more than that of the male characters.
It will be very shallow and lacking if the fixed set of sexist ‘female expressions are the only things in her expression inventory. So, the creators of Apothecary Diaries did something that was extremely innovative and, at the same time, turned the sexist trope around.
Instead of a comedic outburst or meaningless anger that is usually seen from the one-dimensional female characters, we see the ‘dark forehead’ trope used to signify genuine fury in Maomao. When there is a shadow cast on the eyes and forehead of the character, it signifies somewhat of a comedic and evil emotion.
Tapping into female rage the right way
But in Apothecary Diaries, Maomao notices that one of the ladies in waiting is using rouge, which is poisonous and banned by the royal concubine, leading to her becoming extremely weak, having sunken and falling into an unconscious sleep without able to eat or drink.
This isn’t just a simple twist—it’s a clever reversal of how anime often handles female emotions. The expression that Maomao showcases is not an irrational one that can be seen on a jealous girlfriend but somewhat chilling, like that of Killua Zoldyck’s, adding to the demeanor and effect of the character.
The rage that Maomao displays isn’t one that requires attention or pacification from another person. And it surely isn’t about being seen as cute or temperamental. Maomao’s expression conveys something more humane, her protective side with a fury that is evident to the viewer,
The Apothecary Diaries is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
