Top 10 Shonen Anime

Shonen can be a difficult genre to define. Typically, shonen anime are defined by being aimed at a young, male audience, and generally having action-focused plots. However, over the years, as entertainment has become (thankfully) less gender-restricted, and many shows have strived to have deeper plots beyond the action on their surface, the lines that define shonen as a genre have become blurred. Particularly when seinen exists as a genre, which is basically a more mature version of shonen, it can be difficult to know what to categorise certain shows as.

With that being said, for today’s article, we’re going to be listing the top 10 shonen anime of all time, categorising shonen as action-focused anime that younger audiences could watch, but can be appreciated by all ages. I say this because, despite shonen being aimed at ‘younger audiences’, a lot of these shows are far more adult than this tag would indicate. The best shonen anime are typically filled with exciting action scenes, engaging characters, and compelling plots, and this list is filled with the best of the best in those essentials. Let’s get into the list, and look at some must watch shonen anime!

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10. Demon Slayer

Image by Ufotable

As far as currently airing shonen anime go, there are few with as much hype surrounding them with each new season as Demon Slayer. Since it began airing in 2019, Demon Slayer made its mark by combining incredible animation with thrilling action sequences, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats throughout each episode. While the show suffered from some slow episodes in its early days, the approach it has taken to its recent seasons have ensured that, if nothing else, you’ll never be bored watching a new episode of Demon Slayer.

The series also boasts the highest grossing Japanese film of all time, with its film adaptation of the Mugen Train arc in 2020. Some shonen fans have criticised Demon Slayer for being all spectacle, using its animation and fight sequences as crutches for a weak, run-of-the-mill plot. However, what Demon Slayer may lack in story craftsmanship, it more than makes up for in all other areas, and with the series coming to an explosive end in the very near future, there’s no better time than the present to get caught up with this standout modern shonen.

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9. Mob Psycho 100

Image by Bones

Manga author ONE has come to be known amongst fans for his work on One-Punch Man, but Mob Psycho 100 is his real masterpiece, combining his unique style and sense of humour with one of the most heartfelt, coming-of-age stories in all of anime. Mob Psycho 100 tells the story of a young boy named Mob who is an incredibly powerful psychic, but wants a normal life more than anything else. The premise is simple, but elevated by the story’s characters and style to heights beyond anything One-Punch Man pulls off.

The show is also short and sweet, wrapping Mob’s story up before its crazy world overstayed its welcome. Mob Psycho 100 can be a little eccentric, and at times, its humour can be off-the-wall, but there are few shonen out there as committed to its zany concept and execution as this one. A definite recommendation for shonen fans looking for something completely different, and a must watch for One-Punch Man fans.

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8. Bleach

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As an honorary member of Shonen Jump’s infamous ‘Big Three’, I would love to rank Bleach a lot higher. The show has been on fire since returning in 2022 after a lengthy, indefinite hiatus, and the anime is integral in shaping the landscape of modern shonen. Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man – these are only a few of the modern shonen hits that owe most, if not all, of their inspiration to the impact of Bleach. However, what really undercuts Bleach is that, while it inspired all of these shows, a lot of them surpass Bleach at its own game.

With that being said, the show definitely has its high points, and while the anime adaptation sometimes feels like it shot itself in the foot, the original Bleach manga by Tite Kubo is absolutely worth a read. The reason Bleach earns a spot in this ranking regardless of some of its weaknesses is that, outside of some of the drawn-out arcs and chunks of filler, there’s a lot of heart to Bleach, as well as some of the strongest shonen arcs in history. The strength of the currently airing Thousand-Year Blood War arc alone is enough to warrant any shonen fan watching through and experiencing Bleach.

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7. Jujutsu Kaisen

Image by MAPPA

On the topic of modern shonen that take inspiration from Bleach, next on our list comes Jujutsu Kaisen, an anime that, in many ways, feels like a modern reimagining of Bleach – and if this show knows how to do anything, it’s take familiar concepts and make them its own. Jujutsu Kaisen follows the story of Yuji Itadori, a young boy who ingests a powerful Cursed Object, becomes the host of an ancient King of Curses, and gets caught up in the madness of a secret society of sorcerers who dedicate themselves to defeating Curses.

Jujutsu Kaisen is a real gem in the modern shonen scene – it’s thrilling, horrifying, action-packed, and emotionally mature, with a power-scaling system so wonderfully detailed, it feels almost impossible to not pit its characters against each other in fantasy fights. The issue with Jujutsu Kaisen is somewhat of a strange one. In a phenomenon that’s somewhat difficult to explain unless you’ve seen the show, a lot of Jujutsu Kaisen’s storyline feels like it has been crafted by the fans themselves rather than being explicitly explored by the story’s author. In short, it can sometimes feel carried by fandom. Regardless, the series is very strong, and despite the manga seemingly coming to a rushed, unceremonious end, there are some incredible seasons ahead for the anime, and one of the greatest shonen seasons in history in its repertoire.

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6. Gintama

Image by Sunrise

Gintama is a comedy-shonen that never really gets its due in conversations outside of Japan. Part of this may come down to the anime’s Japanese-centric sense of humour, which may make the more comedic episodes of the show fall flat for Western viewers. I also think that some people don’t realise how strong Gintama truly is at being an action-based shonen for a lot of its arcs, instead writing it off as a full-on comedy, with nothing to offer to shonen fans.

Fans of Gintama know, however, that the anime excels in both genres that it combines, with some of the funniest comedy content out there, as well as some of the most gripping, exciting shonen arcs of all time. While a spin-off is rumoured for the near future, Gintama also has a very strong ending to its credit, remaining consistent from beginning to end. I would urge any shonen fan to give Gintama a chance, and even if the humour doesn’t completely land for you, bear with it. When this anime gets serious, it does mature storytelling better than most of its shonen contemporaries.

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5. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Image by Bones

There are very few people out there who won’t recommend Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood to viewers looking to get into anime. The show has been lauded by fans and critics alike almost universally since its debut, and it’s not hard to see why. Across its 64 episodes, the show never lets up once, and boasts an incredibly strong story, world, cast, and ending. In short, there’s practically nothing bad to say about Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood aside from the fact that, in some strange ways, its flawlessness makes it feel robotic.

In terms of consistent quality, there’s a strong case to be made for this being the greatest shonen of all time. Sure, there are some strange episodes at the start of the show that feel somewhat out of place at the time, but by the time they loop back around and become relevant to the story, the realisation dawns on the viewer that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has been telling one, grand story all along – and it executes it to perfection. A definite recommendation for any shonen fan, but particularly for viewers looking for a digestible, reliable show that won’t let them down in any area.

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4. Dragon Ball

Image by Toei Animation

From flawless, to deeply, deeply flawed. Dragon Ball, in all of its forms, is a deeply flawed experience, but you’re unlikely to find a more creative, and pioneering shonen anime out there than this one. Dragon Ball is the grandfather of all shonen, and quite literally any other anime that made this list, or even could have made it to this list, owe their existence to the world of Dragon Ball created by Akira Toriyama all the way back in the 1980s.

The story of Goku is a tumultuous one. The original Dragon Ball series is a good time, but has aged horribly, Dragon Ball Z is pretty much universally loved, Dragon Ball GT is pretty much universally hated, and Dragon Ball Super has had such a rocky relationship with fans, it’s hard to define exactly what people think of it. Through it all though, Dragon Ball has remained one of, if not the most iconic anime series and properties of all time. An essential watch for any shonen fan who wants to see where it all started, and with Dragon Ball DAIMA on the horizon, Toriyama’s legacy lives on through the world he created, even after his untimely passing.

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3. Naruto

Image by Pierrot

Naruto is one of those anime that come to mind when anyone says the word ‘anime’. The iconic image of a blonde-haired ninja in an orange tracksuit has marked Naruto and its titular protagonist as a mainstay in shonen history, and its reputation is more than deserved. Though its length has often been cited as the reason many anime fans don’t ever begin their Naruto journey, all you need is a watch guide to steer you clear of any filler, and you’ll be on your way to experiencing one of the greatest shonen stories of all time (and as far as watch guides go, we’ve got you covered).

Naruto has its rocky moments storywise, but there are far more highs than there are lows, and when Naruto hits its peaks, it soars high above the competition, boasting more than a handful of some of the greatest shonen arcs of all time. If you’re anything like me, there’s also a comfort to Naruto that no other anime manages to convey. The environment of the Hidden Leaf Village is untouchable as one of the greatest anime settings ever, and this, combined with a loveable cast of characters makes Naruto stand out as an all-time great. Though it isn’t quite the best of the ‘Big Three’, its legacy in the anime world cannot be overstated.

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2. One Piece

Image by Toei Animation

It’s always difficult for me to choose between Naruto and One Piece when it comes to naming the best of the ‘Big Three’, but there are certain things that make One Piece stand out from the crowd. First, its incredible length. With over 1000 episodes to its name and counting, and with a very low filler percentage, One Piece is such an impressive feat in its very existence, but also in how it hasn’t overstayed its welcome, even with that length. One Piece is still going strong, and if anything, it’s stronger now than it’s ever been.

The worldbuilding in One Piece is by far the greatest in shonen anime history, with a world crafted over the course of over a thousand episodes which feels alive in every corner, and is constantly referenced throughout the story. There have been some arcs that were complete blunders, but One Piece has so many highs to its name across a massive story that it feels wrong to not give it the credit it deserves as one of the greatest shonen and anime of all time. And Luffy is the greatest shonen protagonist of all time – that feels undebatable in my mind.

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1. Hunter x Hunter

Image by Madhouse

It would feel wrong, though, to not crown my favourite anime of all time as the greatest shonen on our list. Hunter x Hunter is the story of an anime cut short far too soon, but what we did get from it is perfection at every step. Unlike many other length shonen shows, Hunter x Hunter really doesn’t make any missteps. The tale of Gon aspiring to become a Pro Hunter to find his absent father is an endearing one, and is elevated by practically every aspect of the show.

Hunter x Hunter can be categorised into six story arcs, and of those arcs, at least two are consistently mentioned in conversations on the greatest anime arcs of all time. The heights of the Yorknew City and Chimera Ant arcs are only indicative though of how consistently amazing Hunter x Hunter is throughout. At 148 episodes, the series is lengthy, but not overwhelmingly long, and with only 2 filler episodes to its name, fans can dive right into the world of Hunter x Hunter without the need for guides. There’s been plenty of talk in recent years about a revitalization of the series in the wake of its abrupt ending due to author Yoshihiro Togashi’s declining health, and we can only hope that one day, the world of Hunter x Hunter will return to our screens. Until then, what we do have from the series is more than enough to name the series as the greatest shonen of all time.

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Conclusion

There are plenty of great shonen anime out there, and plenty of currently airing shows that, with more seasons, could easily end up on a new Top 10 someday. What do you think of our list? Do you agree with our ranking, or did we miss the mark? What’s your favourite shonen of all time? Be sure to let us know in the comments, and thanks for reading!

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