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Well-madeshonen anime(or shounen anime, as it is sometimes spelled) tend to be massive hits — just look atAttack on TitanorDragon Ball. It is by far one of the most popular “genres” of anime, with countless numbers of manga adaptations and original series being created for fans. Shonen is also a demographic rather than a traditional genre, so it covers a wide spectrum of shows.
In a category with countless anime to watch, it can be difficult to choose which series to get into. Still, some shonen anime are so excellent that they stand above the rest and should be on every fan’s must-watch list until they’ve seen them all. Let’s go over thebest shonen animeof all time, and the picks will cover more than just battle shonen.
While each anime’s MyAnimeList score will be included, it is just a reference and not the deciding factor for the rankings. Also, the rankings are ultimately quite loose, since shonen covers such a wide variety of shows and genres. Ultimately, the goal is to provide recommendations.
Updated June 22, 2025 by Mark Sammut:TheSummer 2025 seasonis underway, bringing forth a plethora of new shonen anime. Honestly, I think this might be the strongest lineup in years, and that goes for nearly every demographic. I’ve added a section covering a few of the season’s better new shonen series.
Most Exciting Summer 2025 Shonen Anime
Takopi’s Original Sinis a 6-episode ONA that is technically not part of theSummer 2025 lineup. Although nowhere near done, this show is shaping up to be the best shonen anime of the year so far. The anime deals with depression, bullying, child abuse, and suicide, so it is far from an easy watch; that said, if you are craving a mature shonen that pushes the envelope, give this series a watch on Crunchyroll. It follows a girl who is being badly bullied, along with an alien who really wants to help her.
Call of the Nightis all about freedom. Although he is a good student, Kou Yamori finds that he struggles to relate to other teenagers, particularly when it comes to matters of love. While suffering from insomnia, he ventures out in the night, a decision that changes the guy’s life forever when he meets Nazuna Nanakusa, a vampire.
Enamored by her approach to life, Kou sets out on a path to become a creature of the night, but he will need to first fall in love with Nazuna to actualize this dream.Call of the Nightis whimsical, stylish, and funny. Kou and Nazuna have instant chemistry, and they are hardly the only great characters to exist in this world.
Based on a manga by the same author responsible forSoul Eater,Fire Forceis a relatively traditionalbattle shonen anime, albeit one that benefits from above-average execution and consistently great animation. Except for questionable fanservice, the series mostly gets everything right, delivering a well-told plot drenched in religious imagery, intense and consequential action,likable characters, and interesting world-building that complements the story’s political and social themes.
While arguably falling just short of the absolute top-tier action anime,Fire Forceis nevertheless a pretty easy recommendation for anyone who is generally fond of shonen’s tropes and traditions.
Awell-liked 2010s shonen anime that seems unlikely to ever completely adapt its source material,Noragamiis still worth a watch, just because the available content is highly enjoyable and could entice newcomers to seek out Adachitoka’s manga. Yato is a god who has mostly been forgotten but wishes to have a shrine, something that requires followers. One day, he saves a girl named Hiyori, starting a cute friendship that ultimately benefits both of them.
Initially,Noragamileans quite heavily into humor, almost coming across as a comedic slice of life with occasional bursts of drama and action. However, the story gradually expands the world’s scope while diving deeper into the main characters' histories, with Yato’s journey being particularly fascinating.
One of the very few shonen stories to eclipseOne Piecein episode count,Case Closedhas been a fixture of the anime scene since 1996. Also known asDetective Conan, the series follows a teenage detective who is turned into a child by a mysterious organization, forcing him to find unique ways to help the police solve cases.
Putting aside the occasional development to the overarching narrative,Case Closedprimarily consists of stand-alone investigations that, more often than not, last only a single episode. Although arguably not reaching the same heights as some of the otherbest shonen anime,Case Closedis surprisingly consistent, with most episodes serving up entertaining and easily digestible mysteries. Characters like Conan, Ran, Kogorou, and Kaito are icons.
Except for the biggest sequels,Kaiju No. 8was Spring 2024’s most highly-anticipated anime. Based on Naoya Matsumoto’s popular manga, the adaptation benefits from Production I.G’s production value, with the first few episodes standing head-and-shoulders above most currently airing shows. Going beyond its aesthetics,Kaiju No. 8has a premise that simply sells itself, even if it is not necessarily breaking new ground.
As Japan has akaiju problem, the country relies on a special teamto take down these monsters whenever they appear. Driven by a childhood tragedy, Kafka aspired to join this task force, only to fail the entrance exam. Now in his early 30s, the odds of him making the grade are very low; or, at least, that was the case before Kafka received an unexpected power-up that allowed him to transform into a kaiju.
Kaiju No. 8knows its main selling point and instantly gets to it. The anime starts with a great kaiju sequence that also does a fantastic job of setting up the story’s key players, especially Kafka, Reno, and Mina. Although a bit loud at times, Kafka is a charming and frequently funny protagonist who fits the everyman role while still very much having a strong personality. As it progresses, the show transforms into an almost ensemble action show, with Kafka and Reno joining a team of very talented rookies.
Chainsaw Manwas by far and away one of 2022’s most hyped anime, which speaks to the popularity of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga. As its title suggests,Chainsaw Manis about a man who can transform parts of himself into chainsaws. The story includes the Yakuza and devil hunters, along with a lot of gore.
Yes, this is abattle shonen animefor adults, and this goes beyond just grotesque villains. The source material touches upon mature themes, even if they are presented through Denji’s juvenile perspective. The adaptation delivered on its promise for the most part, although the show’s legacy will depend on the quality (and existence) of the sequels.Chainsaw Mancould dominate the shonen anime scene for a few years.
Assuming the movie and eventual sequel season are great,Chainsaw Manshould move up considerably. The manga only gets better from here.
While hardly the first to feature superheroes,My Hero Academiais anime’s most famous example of the theme. With six seasons and a couple of movies under its belt, the show has enjoyed a long and successful run, and Deku’s story is not done yet.
At its best,My Hero Academiaoffers unforgettable fights, chilling villains, decent humor, and a constant sense of growth for its protagonist. Now, the series has had a few flat arcs; in fact, seasons 4 and 5 are both considerably weaker than the rest of the show, and they can be difficult to get through since they span almost 50 episodes. Fortunately, seasons 6 and 7 are much better.
Rumiko Takahashi is an all-time great mangaka, and her stories should ideally be experienced in their original forms. That said, for the most part, adaptations based on her works are pretty good, andRanma ½is probably Takashi’s most famous masterpiece alongsideInuyasha. The manga received two adaptations, one that aired during the early ’90s and a new iteration released in 2024. Both do a splendid job of showcasing Takashi’s incredible talent for humor and romance, all the while throwing in creative fight sequences.
Now, when it comes to choosing a version to watch, the modern remake is arguably the better pick. MAPPA’s animation is beautiful, and the anime really nails its pacing. That said, the classic version has two great seasons that advance Ranma and Ayane’s relationship. After that, the series enters filler territory, which means a lot of amusing but inconsequential episodes.
A highlight of Spring and Fall 2022,Spy x Familychronicles the Forgers' comedic escapadesthat can range from school break-ins to terrorist attacks with potentially widespread consequences. Tasked with befriending an important diplomat, Twilight, the eponymous spy, crafts a fake family man persona and adopts a girl named Anya, who just so happens to be a mind-reader. As Loid, Twilight also marries Yor, a woman who moonlights as an assassin.
These secrets simultaneously separate and bring this family together.Part 2starts to develop the characters' relationships, showing that something genuine is threatening to blossom from this artificial connection.Spy x Familyseason 2 aired as part of the Fall 2023 season; for the most part, the show remained very entertaining, although the story’s lack of forward movement did begin to grate after a while.
At its best,Bleachcompares favorably with any other action anime out there. The Soul Society arc is widely recognized as one of the strongest early sagas in shonen, and those 40 episodes feature fantastic action, world-building, and storytelling. TheThousand-Year Blood War, which started airing in Fall 2022, is another high point that brought backBleachin a big way after a long hiatus.
While the positives outweigh the negatives,Bleachnotoriously overuses filler arcs to the point that they regularly derail the show’s momentum. Sagas like The Bount arc have their moments, but they are so overly long that they drag down the rest of the series. However, as they are filler, these arcs can be skipped, and that is arguably the best way to enjoyBleach.
Honestly,Thousand-Year Blood Waris among the best battle shonen anime of all time, at least in terms of animation and fight sequences. However, when the series is taken as a whole,Bleachis pretty inconsistent.
