3 Shonen Anime That Rival the Big Three With Unique Stories and Memorable Characters

The shonen anime Big Three, being One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach, are monumental titles that revolutionised the shonen landscape in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They effectively set the standard for the demographic over several years, holding an undeniable monopoly on mainstream anime with no other series coming close.

Their massive success created an enormous shadow, making it incredibly difficult for newer series to find their identities without drawing comparisons to the three titans. Nonetheless, multiple series have emerged capable of rivaling their quality. They feature unique stories that are just as exciting, and many subvert the popularised tropes in brilliant ways that draw endless intrigue from fans.

Blue Excorsist

Set in a world split between the human realm of Assiah and the demon realm of Gehenna, Blue Exorcist follows twin brothers Rin and Yukio Okumura. They are the biological sons of Satan and were raised by the exorcist Shiro Fujimoto. After Shiro’s death at the hands of Satan, Rin and Yukio are forced to confront their true heritage together.