Honestly, it’s hard to name all great shonen anime series, because there are surely a lot, I mean a lot of them. And of course, there are shows that might be great for you but only decent for others. That being said, it’s hard to argue with the fact that Shonen has given us some of the best anime series over the years.
From Supernatural Murder Mysteries to The Most Over-the-Top Cooking Competitions, These Are The Best Shonen Anime Series For Beginners
Finding the perfect anime to start out with can be tough. These shonen titles are perfect for newcomers.
On top of that, each year we get a few more Shonen series that make us stay connected with this genre. However, it’s worth wondering exactly what anime shows made Shonen as popular as it is today. On that note, let’s discuss some of the very best Shonen anime series of all time.
Death Note
Death Note is one of the best shonen manga and anime series that can give you nausea with its mind-bending twists every now and then. It features one of the smartest villains of all time. It’s not your typical anime that relies on fight sequences to justify its genre; instead, Death Note is a masterpiece where the main characters don’t fight each other with their fists, but their confrontation is all mental. The cat-and-mouse chases in Death Note occur intellectually and not physically. Moreover, it is an anime that raises every viewer’s standard for storytelling.
The anime follows a boy named Light Yagami, whose life changes after he accidentally gets his hands on one of the shinigami’s Death Note. This diary gives him the ability to kill anyone by just writing their name on its pages. Light Yagami initially decides to kill the criminals and create a perfect world. However, over time, his god complex makes him ruthless, and he starts killing anyone who gets in his way. Throughout the story, only a mysterious detective called L shows the skill to compete with Light, as he is as much of a genius as the opponent.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is another entry on this list that you should definitely watch before you die. This is truly a peak in storytelling. The narrative keeps on transforming consistently, pushing you to think about what is happening. Each season feels like an entirely new story that introduces viewers to new segments, a new version of the characters they’ve been watching from the start, and whatnot. In addition, once you watch Attack on Titan, you will get professional at judging what a mind-blowing character evolution actually looks like.
Attack on Titan revolves around Eren Yeager, who vows to kill every titan in existence after watching his mother being eaten by one. He joins the 104th Training Corps and gets his initial military training. Later, he joins the survey corps to finally fight the Titans outside the walls. However, things seem normal initially, but as the story moves forward, AoT becomes a wild ride filled with shocking revelations and some of the most brutal and tragic character deaths.
Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga features a story that is so deep and meaningful that it stays in your mind and even in your heart after you have wrapped up the second season. It starts as a revenge saga, but after the first season, it becomes a philosophical anime that reshapes our perception of life. Vinland Saga not only makes us feel for the protagonist but also makes the villains seem extremely important and layered with their own motivations. Even though this anime couldn’t get the popularity to be as big a deal as the mainstream ones, those who have watched it already know that Vinland Saga is truly one of the most thought-provoking series the anime industry has offered to date.
Vinland Saga Has Ended, But Fans Aren’t Happy With One Character’s Fate
Vinland Saga reached its epic conclusion, but fans are split between gratitude and sorrow. A beloved character was denied of his happy ending.
The story is about Thorfinn, the son of the great warrior Thors. His father taught him that a warrior doesn’t need a sword. Thorfinn was a mischievous kid whose life was shattered when Thors was killed in front of his eyes. He was too young to tackle the situation, so he joined forces with Askeladd, who murdered his father, not to be one of his loyal troops, but to train with the man whom he would be killing one day. However, things change when Askeladd gets murdered by someone else, and Thorfinn is left behind to think about the purpose of his life now.
Naruto/Naruto: Shippuden
Naruto is undoubtedly an anime that basically shaped the shonen genre. It is the inspiration behind the modern hits, including Jujutsu Kaisen. It is packed with some of the heavy themes that will not let you stop talking about the anime, even though several years have passed since you finished watching it. The incredible fight scenes, the power-ups, the complex characters, and even the evil ones, nothing about this anime is ordinary, and that’s what makes it a shonen anime that you have to watch once in a lifetime.
The story revolves around a boy named Naruto, a lonely kid, whose journey truly begins after he joins Team 7 at the ninja academy. He faces several tough opponents, finds some of the most reliable allies, and also has an enemy named Sasuke Uchiha. Naruto was basically powerful since the very beginning, but his loneliness never let him shine, so with the dreams of becoming the strongest ninja, he just paved the path for himself without paying much attention to the ones who tried to pull him down.
One Piece
One Piece features a vast world filled with incredible characters and powers, of course. However, as it is one of the longest-running anime series, it surely does require patience. So, it’s a journey that’s worth experiencing to understand what rich storytelling truly means. Unlike many anime out there, One Piece never feels dull, as everything in the story matters. Each arc takes you to a new journey where you end up on a new island, meet new characters, and get to experience new cultures. On top of everything, the main crew, ie, the Straw Hat Pirates, led by Monkey D. Luffy, includes characters that will be remembered for eternity. Each member of the crew has their own motivations, and the way they are connected to one another feels genuine.
Rearrange the covers into the correct Japanese release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct Japanese release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy who desires to become the king of the pirates. However, his wish will only come true if he succeeds in finding the treasure called One Piece, left by Gol D. Roger. The boy doesn’t travel alone; instead, he gathers a crew including Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji. Each of them has a personal goal to follow Luffy, so together they sail through unique islands, meeting new enemies and allies. Throughout the series, the story keeps getting better, as what started as a treasure hunt slowly evolves into a complex narrative filled with insane world-building and high-stakes conflicts that keep you hooked for what’s coming.
Dragon Ball/DBZ/Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ball isn’t just another anime, but it’s a massive experience you shouldn’t sleep on in life. It is basically a blueprint that shaped the anime industry we are familiar with today. It‘s a franchise with hype no anime has matched to date. Even if you haven’t watched it yet, you might have heard the name of Goku from your friends or others. Besides that, Goku is also an inspiration for several gym-goers around the world. It’s not that formulas like power-ups, training arcs, or tournaments didn’t exist before Dragon Ball, but this anime mainstreamed and popularized these.
It revolves around Goku, who begins as a kid who wants to protect everyone he loves. One day, he meets a girl named Bulma, who is looking for the magical dragon balls, which can summon a dragon that grants wishes. Goku joins her, and together they embark on a fun journey. However, over time, Dragon Ball evolves into a mature narrative, pushing Goku beyond his limits to fight the most terrifying villains to protect Earth and its inhabitants.
Hunter X Hunter
Hunter X Hunter is an anime that can confuse you at the start. Actually, it starts straight, but eventually it shows its true colors to the audience. The anime gets way darker than anyone could have guessed, given the story’s beginning. It keeps on reinventing itself and crossing every boundary to keep the viewers entertained. Also, HXH is a morally grey story that consistently pushes you to think about who is good and who is evil here.
Hunter x Hunter: 7 Strongest Emission Nen Users, Ranked
Hunter x Hunter’s emission nen users range from average to the absolute strongest of the verse created by Yoshihiro Togashi.
The story begins with a boy named Gon, who learns that his father, who pretended to be dead, is actually alive. This shocking revelation pushes him to decide that he will become a hunter so that he can confront his father, Ging, who is one of the elite hunters, by the way. He starts with the hunter exam, where he meets some of the story’s key characters. Gon trains rigorously, and as he grows stronger over time, he meets several deadly opponents, who constantly test his skills.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is seen as one of the best anime ever made, and trust us, the saying isn’t a bit wrong. This anime tells a fully structured story that doesn’t waste a single arc or character; everything feels planned through to the very end. That’s one of the reasons it has been at the top of sites like MyAnimeList. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood explores deep themes and gives us some of the emotional moments and bonds that stay with us forever.
After their father abandoned them, brothers Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric were raised by their mother single-handedly. When their mother passes away, the boys try to bring her back to life using their alchemy knowledge. However, the experiment goes horribly wrong, and Ed and Al have to bear the consequences. While the former loses an arm and a leg, the latter loses his entire body. Having no other option left, the brothers set out on a journey to find the miracle philosopher’s stone, as that’s the only way to restore their lost body parts.
Bleach
Bleach is one of the Big 3, and it has every right to be in that spot; be it the iconic story, the transformations like Bankai, or the minimalist aesthetics, this anime has everything. The soul society arc instantly hooks the viewer, and Ichigo’s journey is something that will not let anyone leave the series midway. Our protagonist is not an underdog or an overpowered hero, but he is a teenager whose identity is quite confusing, like whether he is a human, a soul reaper, or a hollow. In addition, Bleach also introduces you to one of the most intelligent villains of all time.
Ichigo Kurosaki is a human boy who can see ghosts because he has a very high spiritual energy. He leads a normal life until one day a soul reaper, Rukia, enters his life and changes him completely. Rukia gives Ichigo his powers to fight a hollow that attacks his family. However, giving powers to a human leads to her arrest in the Soul Society, and that turns out to be the true beginning of Ichigo’s journey.
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia brings the superhero energy to the shonen genre. It gives the audience a unique take on a society that recognizes the ones who are born with powers and ignores the ones who aren’t gifted. MHA features the beautiful journey of a boy who earns a reputable place among those who are born with powers, aka quirks, despite not having any. Besides that, the anime also blesses the anime community with one of the best mentors, i.e., All Might.
My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya, who dreams of becoming a hero even though he wasn’t born with any quirk. When he comes across All Might, the world’s greatest hero, Midoria’s life takes a rather unexpected turn. Not only does Izuku become a hero, but he also becomes one of the best to ever exist. During his journey, Midoria creates several amazing and powerful friends and, of course, fights some crazy, powerful enemies.
