3 Classic Shonen Anime That Every Modern Anime Fan Should Watch
Shonen anime, while not a genre per se, are series that are geared to a younger male demographic. There’s tremendous variety in what’s covered in shonen anime, with some of the more mature series pushing boundaries and feeling more like seinen titles that are aimed at older males.
There are still many commonalities shared in shonen anime, particularly when it comes to action-centric battle shonen that run for dozens or sometimes even hundreds of episodes. It’s easy for these series to dominate their respective decades, and it’s no coincidence that shonen anime like Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Dandadan, and Daemons of the Shadow Realm are some of the anime industry’s current top titles. For any newer fans who love these shows, the following classic battle shonen all stand as must-watch series.
However, Yu Yu Hakusho quickly subverts expectations by killing its main character, Yusuke Urameshi, within the very first episode. Death becomes the best thing that has ever happened to Yusuke and his tenure as a budding Spirit Detective kickstarts an incredible adventure.
Ranma ½ is an adept blend of relatively grounded martial arts and supernatural shenanigans, the latter of which comes courtesy of an ancient curse that leads to its protagonist, Ranma Saotome, turning into a girl whenever he’s exposed to cold water. This curse has contrasting effects on a wide range of characters that leaves powerful players turning into a panda, pig, or duck.
Naruto was far from the first shonen anime to feature superpowered combat, but it develops a powerful combination of trauma-driven storytelling and morally complex villains that make sure that battles are as much philosophical showdowns as they are physical clashes. Expansive worldbuilding and an even more expansive supporting cast worked to cement Naruto's legacy.
There are still many commonalities shared in shonen anime, particularly when it comes to action-centric battle shonen that run for dozens or sometimes even hundreds of episodes. It’s easy for these series to dominate their respective decades, and it’s no coincidence that shonen anime like Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Dandadan, and Daemons of the Shadow Realm are some of the anime industry’s current top titles. For any newer fans who love these shows, the following classic battle shonen all stand as must-watch series.
Yu Yu Hakusho
Yoshihiro Togashi's Yu Yu Hakusho is one the strongest battle shonen anime to come out of the 90s, and a retro classic that holds up incredibly well. Yu Yu Hakusho features many ideas that are familiar to shonen storytelling, like conflicted villains who become allies, a wise and sage martial arts mentor, and a brewing conflict between humans and a supernatural realm.You may also like
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However, Yu Yu Hakusho quickly subverts expectations by killing its main character, Yusuke Urameshi, within the very first episode. Death becomes the best thing that has ever happened to Yusuke and his tenure as a budding Spirit Detective kickstarts an incredible adventure.
Ranma ½
Rumiko Takahashi is a legendary mangaka who is responsible for iconic franchises like Maison Ikkoku, InuYasha, and Mao. However, Ranma ½ is often regarded as her greatest accomplishment, and a standout series that helped push the shonen genre forward.Ranma ½ is an adept blend of relatively grounded martial arts and supernatural shenanigans, the latter of which comes courtesy of an ancient curse that leads to its protagonist, Ranma Saotome, turning into a girl whenever he’s exposed to cold water. This curse has contrasting effects on a wide range of characters that leaves powerful players turning into a panda, pig, or duck.
Naruto
Naruto Uzumaki is one of anime's most influential shonen heroes and someone who confidently led his ninja allies through complex combat for over 700 episodes between Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. Building upon the framework of popular 90s shonen anime like Dragon Ball Z and Yu Yu Hakusho, Naruto helped define the energy of 2000s shonen storytelling that irrevocably changed how these stories are being told.Naruto was far from the first shonen anime to feature superpowered combat, but it develops a powerful combination of trauma-driven storytelling and morally complex villains that make sure that battles are as much philosophical showdowns as they are physical clashes. Expansive worldbuilding and an even more expansive supporting cast worked to cement Naruto's legacy.
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