Highlights:
* Here is a list of the best five Shonen anime to watch.
* Hunter X Hunter has fewer episodes compared to One Piece and Bleach.
* One Piece even got a live-action adaptation, thanks to its popularity.
Shonen genre in the anime industry caters to young and teenage audiences. Compared to seinen which caters to adults, shonen has less vulgarity and more action, which makes it a visual feast for any age group. Over the years, many shonen anime have gained tremendous popularity in the media such that they have had live-action adaptations, movies, games, merchandise, and even sequels due to high fan demand.
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5 Shonen Anime That Is Worth Your Time
Over the years, there have been multiple entries in the shonen genre. Each presents a unique narrative with likable characters that begin the story as a hero brimming with potential and end it with their goals accomplished. Unlike seinen, shonen always has a happy ending that excites young viewers.
Listed below are the best five shonen anime to watch:-
Bleach
| Writer | Tite Kubo |
| Where To Watch | Netflix, Crunchyroll, Amazon |
Bleach is among the most memorable shonen anime. The story is about Kurosaki Ichigo getting appointed as a Substitute Soul Reaper and helping the Soul Reaper order defend Karakura town from Hollows, soul-eating spirits created from negative emotions. However, they aren’t the only threat, as a sinister conspiracy compels Ichigo to increase his powers and play the savior.
Due to the health concerns of Kubo, Bleach aired 16 seasons till 2013. The anime’s abrupt ending during the Fullbringer arc disappointed fans and they pleaded for its return. Weekly Shōnen Jump and Tite Kubo heard their request, resulting in the last arc, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War getting animated.
One Piece
| Writer | Eiichiro Oda |
| Where To Watch | Crunchyroll |
Spanning more than 1100 episodes, One Piece is a shonen anime that keeps getting better. Monkey D. Luffy’s obsession with finding the One Piece treasure seems childish at first but his goal eventually becomes the cogwheel of the narrative. Eiichiro Oda’s masterpiece has the classic shonen theme of friendship, politics, and lessons about the bigger evil, all taking place in a ‘piratey’ world where characters communicate through snail telephones.
A live-action adaptation was created by Netflix, under the supervision of Eiichiro Oda, and it became a massive hit. Even One Piece merchandise like t-shirts and hoodies are available in stores that feature live-action superstars posing as their OP personas.
Hunter X Hunter
| Writer | Yoshihiro Togashi |
| Where To Watch | Crunchyroll, Netflix |
Hunter X Hunter is smack dab in the middle of shonen and seinen. On one hand, we have Gon, a strong-willed character, and his search for his father. He trains himself to be strong and develops meaningful friendships with popular characters like Kurapika and Killua. On the other hand, gruesome battles and character deaths will make viewers think twice before growing attached to a character.
The unpredictability of Hunter X Hunter is what makes it famous. The Chimera Ant arc is the most remarkable as it focuses on a different power hierarchy – ants squashing humans and literally consuming them to become more powerful. The ending of the arc, after insane fight scenes, is heartwarming as the Chimera Ant King finally realizes the purpose of his life during a game of Gungi.
Naruto
| Writer | Masashi Kishimoto |
| Where To Watch | Crunchyroll, Netflix, Funimation |
Naruto has been an inspiration for multiple manga authors including Jujutsu Kaisen creator Gege AKutami. Masashi Kishimoto’s magnum opus has every defining quality of a shonen — a compelling storyline, rivalries, coming-of-age of multiple characters, and each character’s own story arc. Chipped in are romance arcs and ninjutsu action that will make fans imagine if they could clone themselves.
The protagonist, Naruto, aims to be a Hokage after a series of events gives him the power of a Tailed Beast. He makes friends and foes and friends that turn into foes (such is life). A sequel to Naruto, based on his son’s saga, is ongoing in both manga and anime. However, Boruto has comparatively less popularity than Kishimoto’s previous work.
Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z
| Writer | Akira Toriyama |
| Where To Watch | Crunchyroll |
If One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach are considered the Big 3 in Shonen, Dragon Ball is touted by fans as the grandfather of Shonen. Akira Toriyama is responsible for creating many iconic fictional characters like Goku, Vegeta, and Beerus, and giving them world-destroying powers in a few episodes.
Dragon Ball is loaded with action. Characters practice martial arts but the anime is mostly about channeling spiritual energy to create earth-shattering blasts. It also presents a heartwarming coming-of-age story of Kid Goku, the protagonist who aspires to be a Saiyan. DB also has a fair share of filler arcs to give viewers a change of taste from the usual battles.
Unlike most other shonen, Dragon Ball features a few scenes of blood and death but the characters come back, thanks to wishes granted by a dragon named Lord Shenron. Resurrection is a recurring theme in shonen anime. Currently, Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 262 is preparing for Gojo’s return.
