BEST Shonen Anime(RANKED BY FANS)

The shonen series that anime produces, such as Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece, are often some of the most popular in the industry. However, which of these options is superior to the others?

In spite of the fact that it is sometimes mocked for being too predictable, shonen continues to be one of the most popular types of anime

This is largely attributable to the fact that the majority of series are aware of their strengths and consistently play to those strengths throughout the entirety of their narratives. 

These strengths include impressive battle sequences, powerful and frequently likable character archetypes, and compelling narratives revolving around the ideas of family, brotherhood, and being an all-around good person.

Because of Shonen Jump and its numerous other rivals, there has never been a lack of remarkable shonen anime during the course of its history. 

Within the realm of anime fandoms, the question of which titles represent the absolute pinnacle of the medium is a topic of intense contention. The finest titles, on the other hand, will almost always provide something that is not found elsewhere.

The shonen genre of anime is often considered to be the most well-known. The fact that the genre has such legendary works as Naruto and Dragon Ball as its canonical examples explain why it has grown to become such a dominant force within the medium. 

On the other hand, there are a number of masterpieces from the newer generation that demonstrate the adaptability of the genre.

There’s more to shonen anime than simply earth-shattering bouts and grueling training arcs, however. On the other hand, these components were unquestionably crucial in laying the groundwork for the genre. 

This list has been improved with the addition of even more incredible shonen titles, and further information has been included about the anime that was previously mentioned.

20. YuYu Hakusho (1992-1994)

112 Episodes

YuYu Hakusho is a perfect example of a shonen anime in its purest form, with a cast of really cool and strong characters going toe-to-toe with a cast of incredible and terrible antagonists. 

Using Yusuke Urameshi, a teenage miscreant who is returned to life after rescuing a small girl, as the main character in his first big series, Yoshihiro Togashi proved that he could master the shonen formula.

The nicest part concerning Yu Yu Hakusho is that it is neither overly short nor too long. It consists of 112 episodes that are filled with kindness, and then the credits roll. 

Besides performing every shonen cliche about as perfectly as it is possible, this is the finest thing about the show. In addition to that, it features one of the most well-known opening themes in all of anime, as well as one of the finest training arcs in all of the shonen.

19. Death Note (2006-2007)

37 Episodes

Death Note serves as an introduction to the world of anime for a lot of individuals. Even if it isn’t a fighting shonen, it’s nonetheless one of the many intriguing animes in the genre overall. 

Because Light Yagami and L. Lawliet are engaged in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse, viewers are compelled to investigate the significance of justice and morality in their own lives.

The manga and anime series Death Note is an intense psychological battle between two brilliant minds. One of them has anointed himself as a god, while the other is working to put a stop to the tyrannical rule of the first. Titles such as Death Note are illustrative of the vast variety that can be found within the shounen genre.

18. Haikyuu! (2014-Present)

85 Episodes

There’s more to shonen than simply supernatural abilities and epic conflicts between the forces of good and evil. The action-packed intensity of a traditional shonen brawl is brought to the sport of volleyball in the anime series Haikyuu! 

Due to the character-driven and action-packed storyline of Haikyuu!, even fans who are completely unfamiliar with the sport are certain to get captivated by the show.

The bar that Haikyuu! raised for other sports anime was quite high. Every time Karasuno comes out on top, the audience is sure to join in the celebration along with their favorite characters. 

In the same vein, supporters will commiserate with their teams’ defeats and cheer for them as they dust themselves down and get ready for the next round.

17. Jujutsu Kaisen (2022 – Present)

24 Episodes

After the anime adaption of Jujutsu Kaisen debuted during the Fall 2020 season, the show caused a commotion all over the globe. Around 31 million copies of the manga were sold in various countries in 2021. There are many different reasons why people like watching this series. 

Besides the fact that Jujutsu Kaisen includes a large cast packed with endearing characters, it also showcases a variety of innovative battle scenarios that are groundbreaking in comparison to other shonen titles.

The most standard elements of shonen anime are reimagined in Jujutsu Kaisen, which is a Japanese anime series. 

The show is not afraid to explore the darker aspects of its subject matter; in fact, it is at the most disturbing parts of the show that Yuji Itadori shines the brightest.

Yuji is distinct from any other shonen hero, and he is continually coming up with new twists on the tried-and-true cliches that were established by his contemporaries.

16. Black Clover (2017-2021)

170 Episodes

Even though Black Clover is one of the more recently produced shonen anime, it has already amassed a following that is significant and noteworthy. The program first debuted in 2017 and is continuing in production today. 

Studio Pierrot, which is also responsible for the production of such massive shounen successes as Naruto and Bleach, was the company that developed it.

The story of Black Clover centers on 2 young boys called Asta and Yuno who were both left as youngsters and were brought up together. Their only objective is to one day attain the position of Wizard King, which is held by the most powerful sorcerer in the kingdom.

15. Gintama (2007-2018)

367 Episodes

The series Gintama has been running for many years. It’s a shonen anime that any lover of the genre owes it to themselves to check out. A straightforward idea is elevated to the level of incomparable brilliance by virtue of its brilliantly funny title. 

There is no mystery as to why Gintama made such an indelible impression on the world of anime; the series has hundreds of running jokes and a cast of likable characters.

Gintama’s narrative is amazing. It is an unexpected combo that could defeat any full house since it combines tales that will make you cry with humor that is absurd in nature. In addition to this, Gintoki is a likable main character, and viewers will easily be able to identify with him in many aspects than just one.

14. Demon Slayer (2019-Present)

37 Episodes

Along with My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen, the new shonen series Demon Slayer is regarded to be one of the genre’s “big three.” The series does not provide any groundbreaking new concepts, yet it is among the most original titles that the shonen genre has to offer. 

There is no debate as to why anime is so captivating since it has both an intriguing subject and a stunning visual style.

Fans are so passionate about Demon Slayer due to the numerous characters that they really care about and so many action-packed battles. 

The anime does not include any pointless filler episodes, which means that every scene is certain to deliver a powerful punch. Furthermore, MAPPA Studios did an outstanding job bringing the story to life.

13. Bleach (2005-2002)

418 Episodes

Bleach is often mentioned in the same breath as Naruto and One Piece when discussing the “big three” of shounen anime. Bleach is the title that shonen fans appear to appreciate the least out of the three, in part because of its excessive usage of filler, which is one of the reasons why. This in no way detracts from the popularity of the series as a whole.

On the other hand, Bleach remains extremely popular, and it has eventually made a comeback to tv screens with its most recent anime sequel, Thousand-Year Blood War. 

Ichigo Kurosaki, the central protagonist, is a young man who is a student at a high school who grows up to become a Soul Reaper and takes on the responsibility of defending humans from evil spirits called Hollows.

12. Spy X Family (2022-Present)

25 Episodes

Animes such as Spy X Family are evidence that shonen anime is a genre that encompasses a wide variety of storylines and characters. When they start watching a new shonen series, most people go in with the expectation that the conflicts between the heroes and villains would be fierce and include distinct power systems. 

Despite the fact that there’s a great deal of action in Spy X Family, the film concentrates more on its humorous themes of finding family and even includes a possible romance subplot between Yor and Loid. Spy X Family is a very different film from its predecessor.

The story of Loid Forger, a skilled agent who stars in Spy X Family, centers on his mission to bring down a strong politician by posing as a student at a famous school. In order for Loid to be successful, he has to marry and adopt a kid. 

Loid adopts Anya, who is a young telepath. After that, he wed Yor, a covert assassin who is also known as the “Thorn Princess.” Spy X Family was a very popular series in 2022, and its audience is eagerly anticipating the conclusion of this crazy tale.

11. Assassination Classroom (2015-2016)

47 Episodes

The middle school known as Kunugigaoka serves as the setting for Assassination Classroom. It is an exclusive institution with a strict hierarchy structure, and the students who do the worst academically are sent to a separate facility off campus to complete their coursework. 

Before Koro-sensei came along, the students in Class 3-E had very little to no possibility of increasing their marks. He is a peculiar creature that looks like a large yellow octopus, and it is the responsibility of Class 3-E to eliminate him in an effective manner before he destroys the Earth.

Assassination Classroom has a group of individuals who are endearing and fun to spend time with. In spite of the fact that the pupils are instructed to murder Koro-sensei, he is very difficult to find offensive. 

These children have been fortunate to have him as their educator. The conclusion of Assassination Classroom is very heartbreaking, despite the fact that the majority of the film is humorous, uplifting, and joyful.

10. Attack On Titan (2013-Present)

87 Episodes

Although there has been much debate over whether or not Attack on Titan ought to be categorized as a shonen anime, the reality of the matter is that it was first released in a shonen magazine and has a number of characteristics that are typical of the genre. 

It is undoubtedly probably one of the best anime series ever produced.

The story of Attack on Titan features Eren Jaeger after he enlists in the Survey Corps in order to get revenge for the death of his mother at the hands of a man-eating Titan after the collapse of the walls that surrounded his community. 

Both WIT Studio and MAPPA did an excellent job with Attack on Titan, which is an action-packed masterwork that was done masterfully.

9. My Hero Academia (2016-Present)

120 Episodes

We would like to welcome you to the exciting adventures of Class 1-A, which is home to the most amazing boys and girls that anime has to offer. Izuku Midoriya, a young boy who begins the story without any special abilities while living in a world where practically everyone possesses a “Quirk,” plays the role of the primary Best Boy. 

When Midoriya finally gets the chance to see his hero and the most powerful of all the superheroes, All Might, he finds himself drawn into a journey that will ultimately lead to him turning into the most powerful hero in history.

Even while My Hero Academia may not be accomplishing anything totally original, the creator Kohei Horikoshi is taking the cliches of the genre and executing them better than anybody else working in the industry at the moment. The only thing that is holding back the series is the fact that it is just too new since the franchise didn’t even begin until 2016.

8. Fairy Tail (2009-2018)

328 Episodes

Over the last 10 years, the tale that Hiro Mashima wrote about a group of magic users who, for some inexplicable reason, like fighting with their fists, kicking, and slicing objects more than really casting spells has gained a significant amount of notoriety. 

There have been not one but two new adaptations of Fairy Tail, with the most recent one bringing the plot of the original manga to its conclusion.

The most notable aspects of Fairy Tail are its likable cast and its ridiculous storylines. 

There is no doubt that despite the fact that some people claim that it is a rip-off of its contemporaries such as One Piece, it is still an excellent anime that is worth watching.

7. One Piece (1999-Present)

1,035 Episodes

There are a number of compelling reasons to believe that Eiichiro Oda’s narrative of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew of pirates searching for ultimate riches is the finest shonen series ever created. 

Over 20 years after it first appeared in Shonen Jump, it continues to be the most loved of the magazine’s “big three,” and Oda never ceases to amaze readers with fresh revelations and references to storylines from years before.

According to rumors, Oda is practically finished with the plot at this point. Yet, if there is one thing that might be improved in One Piece, it would have to be the tempo. Due to the fact that the tale has been told for 20 years, the anime needs to resort to quite a few different strategies in order to keep up with the manga.

6. Komi Can’t Communicate (2021-Present)

24 Episodes

Another anime that demonstrates that shounen isn’t just about dramatic characters and action-packed conflicts, Komi Can’t Communicate is a perfect example of this. 

Because it was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday, it can unquestionably be classified as a shonen work. In the anime series Komi Can’t Communicate, the main character, Komi Shoko, is a high school student who suffers from severe social anxiety, which makes it very challenging for her to interact with others. 

On the other hand, she has set herself the challenge of accumulating 100 friends by the time she graduates from high school.

Arriving on the scene is Tadano, Komi’s first buddy, who discovered that exchanging written notes as a means of communication is an efficient method of chatting. 

After then, everything in Komi’s life is flipped around as she becomes friends with everyone in the school and goes through a variety of bizarre situations along the way. 

The cast of Komi Can’t Communicate is endearing and diverse, featuring characters like Nakanaka, an emo otaku, and Najimi, a wild nonbinary spitfire. Both of these characters are included in the series.

5. Hunter X Hunter (2011-Present)

158 Episodes

The world of Hunter x Hunter is one that is fraught with peril. At any given point, each character has the potential to make a bad choice or come into contact with the wrong character, so ending up in a terrible and horrible death. 

Despite they are in the middle of a huge quest, there is a continual feeling of suspense since this is a world where it is more likely than not that even the central protagonist is fighting a losing battle to escape being murdered by opponents who are far more strong.

Yoshihiro Togashi, the creator of this universe, dismantles a significant portion of what makes this shounen series successful and then reconfigures the tropes in such a manner that they work for him rather than the other way around. 

The incredible amount of attention that he puts into each plot point and character is what makes it possible to overlook the fact that Togashi only publishes around 20 chapters per year.

4. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012-Present)

190 Episodes

In the history of the shonen genre, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure was a groundbreaking work before it began its transformation into a seinen with the introduction of Steel Ball Run. 

Since the late 1980s, Hirohiko Araki has been maintaining this pace, and he isn’t showing any indications of slowing down any time soon. This anime is required viewing for anyone who considers themselves to be a fan of shonen.

The plot of JoJo’s is one that spans several generations and is continually updated. It is a genuine trailblazer for the category, and the level of campiness and ridiculousness in it only continues to rise with each new installment. 

The anime series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is becoming such a cultural phenomenon that it is often referenced in other anime series.

The onomatopoeia for “menacing” has been borrowed by other series, and some characters have imitated JoJo’s stances or the Joestars’ battle cries. This is the most notable of these borrowings.

3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009-2010)

68 Episodes

The journey that Edward and Alphonse Elric endure to find their bodies following a botched effort to use alchemy to revive their mother is undeniably one of the most intriguing storylines ever told in an anime. 

As a result of this, it should not come as a shock that Hiromu Arakawa’s manga was adapted into a second medium after it became apparent that the tale she was told was coming to an end.

Because it proceeds at such a rapid pace, the beginning of Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood isn’t nearly as good as the first few episodes of the original series. This is however because there are so many other places to go in it. 

Fans are treated to not just one of the finest shonen anime ever made, but also one of the best anime ever made overall. New story twists and character development arrive at a dizzying speed until eventually offering viewers a gloriously gratifying climax.

2. Naruto (2002-2017)

720 Episodes

The tale told by Masashi Kishimoto about a young ninja who was shunned by his city and worked tirelessly to one day become the head of his village captivated the attention of every child and adolescent who came of age in the 2000s. 

In the end, Naruto is also considered one of the “big three” titles published by Shonen Jump, along with Bleach and One Piece. When it was all said and done, Naruto was equally compelling as it had ever been, in contrast to Bleach, which had lost a significant amount of its shine by that point.

Naruto was so successful that it ended up being the impetus for a legacy manga series focused on Naruto’s son, Boruto. This gave the narrative a generational angle, which was a welcome addition. 

The excessive quantity of filler content in this series is the one thing that prevents it from reaching even higher heights.

1. Dragon Ball Z (1990-1996)

291 Episodes

In spite of the fact that it wasn’t the very first shonen anime ever made, Dragon Ball Z is undeniably the most impactful. Dragon Ball Z has served as a source of creativity for almost every other successful shounen anime and manga series in some form. 

And besides, a shonen series is not the same thing without its share of transformation and training scenes. Although time jumps became more mainstream as a result of this series.

Even between lovers of the shonen genre, the absence of character growth in Dragon Ball Z and the relatively uncomplicated narratives might leave much to be desired; yet, one must give attention to the genre’s roots and realize that Dragon Ball Z is some of the greatest series of all time.

Final Thoughts

This article covers the best shonen animes that are ranked by our anime fans. We hope you will like this list.