Why Maomao WORKS (and Hollywood's Female Leads FAIL)

The Apothecary Diaries is a special anime. Maomao, its protagonist, is beloved by practically everyone within the story and by fans worldwide.

In recent years, Maomao has emerged as a leading example of a fun, intelligent, and genuinely independent female protagonist. Basically the very archetype Western media has attempted to portray repeatedly but with surprisingly limited success. According to research, Western female protagonists receive ratings roughly 30% lower than their male counterparts.

I'm sure this is not related to the culture war, but whatevs.

That's sarcasm.

Could Maomao be the key to fixing this issue? Let’s dive deep into what makes Maomao different from typical Western protagonists and what Western media could learn from her.

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