People are increasingly nostalgic for the great anime and manga series of the 2000s, but as we get deeper into 2020, some of our favorite series from the 2010s are starting to feel older and older. While the 90s gave us titles like One piece and Narutoand the 2000s had Bleach, All Metal Alchemistand more, the 2010s were home to some of the best shonen manga that make up the modern anime and manga zeitgeist.
Looking back now, the 2010s were absolutely packed with great modern manga shonen titles. Some of the biggest series in the industry today started in the last decade, and while it was hard to narrow things down to just one series for each year, these stand out as the best shonen manga of each year in 2010.
The Best Shonen Manga of Every Year 2000
The 2000s was a great decade for shonen manga, giving us some of the most iconic series ever.
2010: Noragami: The Stray God
noragami may be one of the more underrated manga of its time. Although it received a fairly popular anime adaptation, noragami he never hit the ground running in the same way as some of his contemporaries.
The manga has some great action shots and beautiful backgrounds courtesy of mangaka Adachitoka. But where noragami his characters really shine, with Yato, Yukine, and Hiyori making up one of the most overlooked trios in anime and manga. It's a great read and visually one of the prettiest manga you'll get your hands on.
2011: Your Lie in April
Battle shonen aren't the only series that stand out. Shonen manga can focus on a wide variety of topics and approach their stories in different ways. If you are interested in a real tearjerker, then Your lie in April worth a look.
The series is infamous for its sad, emotionally charged ending, but it's so much more than that. Your lie in April is an incredibly moving story full of complex characters that resonate with readers and feel incredibly well-rounded. The relationship between Kousei and Kaori is sweet and genuine, and while the emotional weight of the ending may be a lot, it just shows how well written Your lie in April the characters are.
2012: Umineko When They Cry Episode 8: Twilight of the Golden Witch
Whether it's scary small-town mysteries Higurashi and Silent Hill for isolated murders by locked doors as UminekoRyukishi07 is a modern master of the mystery and horror genres. Higurashi may be the series that put him in the spotlight, but many feel that Umineko is actually Ryukishi's stronger series.
While many VN fans feel that adaptations often don't do the source material justice (and this is certainly the case when it comes to Umineko anime adaptation). Umineko the manga is actually a solid retelling of the source material. The final installment of the manga adaptation, Twilight of the Golden Witch, is a great conclusion to Umineko's story, providing satisfying answers to some burning questions and giving Ange's arc the attention and care it deserved.
2013: A Quiet Voice
Another ripper, A quiet voice is an incredibly moving series that forgoes the flash and fantasy elements of most shonen and instead focuses on the real struggles of people with disabilities. The series follows a high school student named Shoya Ishida who wants to make amends with Shouko Nishimiya, a deaf girl he bullied in elementary school.
A quiet voice it doesn't try to downplay Shoya's childhood actions, instead focusing on his growth and the friendship he and Shoko develop. The series also treats Shoko as someone with her own hopes and challenges to overcome, rather than a one-dimensional character defined only by her disability. The movie adaptation is also a great way to enjoy the story, but the manga is really the best way to experience it for the first time.
2014: My Hero Academia
Since the anime recently ended, My Hero Academia officially sailed off into the sunset. What was once a mainstay of the modern Weekly Shonen Jump lineup will now be fondly remembered as one of the great shonen titles of its era, and deservedly so.
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My Hero Academia quickly gained momentum early in its run, with both the manga and anime adaptations of Bones earning the series fans around the world. Deku's underdog story is inspiring, but what really makes the manga shine is Horikoshi's amazing art and strong cast of characters. It's a fun ride and with any luck we'll see more of Deku and his friends soon.
2015: Julie's Boarding School
At first glance, it might look like a shoujo series, but Julie's Boarding School is actually one of the many solid shonen romances out there. We've had some pretty creative shonen romance titles over the years and Julie's Boarding School (as the name suggests) sets itself apart from other series by taking some cues from Shakespeare and using his classic play to create this fun rom-com.
The series takes place in the fictional Dahlia Academy Boarding School, where the student body consists of citizens of two countries: the Nation of Towa and the Principality of West. The school itself is split between Towa's Black Dog and West's White Cats dorms. Romeo, the leader of the Black Dog dorm, eventually confesses to Juliet, the leader of the White Cat dorm, who, to his surprise, reciprocates his feelings. Now they have to keep their new relationship a secret and decide to change the world around them.
2016: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Demon Slayer's the anime is arguably more popular than the manga at this point, with Ufotable's amazing adaptation helping to make the series the worldwide hit it is today. But that doesn't mean you should ignore the manga.
It may look less polished than the high-budget animation that Ufotable produced for the series, but the art in the Demon Slayer manga is full of charm and has a unique quality that sets it apart from its contemporaries. The pacing is actually really good and the manga never feels like it's dragging while taking the time to give the characters proper development and time for them to shine when appropriate. It may have ended earlier than some expected, but at the end of the day, Demon Slayer has earned recognition as one of the best shonen series of 2010.
2017: Dr. Stone
The Dr. Stone the anime is still going strong, with season 4, The future of sciencewhich will be renewed this spring. The manga ended a few years ago, so it's another classic manga from 2010 that we had to say goodbye to in 2020. The focus on the science rather than the fantasy elements really makes the series stand out, and while it may not be for everyone, you have to at least appreciate the unique approach the series takes.
How good is Riichiro Inagaki's story, what he really does Dr. Stone the manga stand out is Boichi's amazing art. It goes without saying that Boichi is one of the best modern manga artists and his incredible work elevates everything he collaborates on.
2018: Jujutsu Kaisen
The Jujutsu Kaisen manga ended in 2024 after a solid six-year run, but that didn't mean the end of Gege Akutami's story. Module ends exactly as it began, leading some to believe that a full-fledged continuation of the series is on the way, and the highly anticipated third season of the Culling Game anime adaptation is exceeding expectations.
MAPPA did an amazing job capturing the most visually stunning elements of the manga and putting them into the anime. Where the series ranks among other shonen heavyweights will be debated for years, but there's no denying that it's an interesting read with stunning artwork and some of the best modern shonen characters around.
2019: Spy x Family
Spy x Family has become one of the most popular modern shonen in recent years. With its strong main cast and captivating setting, the series quickly became a hit among manga and anime fans and is one of the most successful. Jump comic series right now.
Spy x Family is a great comedy, and that's definitely the main draw, but it also works with solid world-building and creates great dramatic moments. With Anya's antics being so cute, it's easy to overlook all the tensions in Ostania and the various threats Loid and Yor are trying to deal with when they're not leading their double lives. As fun as the series has been so far, there are probably some pretty heavy chapters to come.
