Top 5 Shonen Anime of All Time That Defined Generations

Shonen anime may be formulaic in its approach to storytelling, but decades of unforgettable anime can't be wrong. Shonen knows exactly what it's good at, and it sticks to its basics, producing impressive fight scenes, powerful character archetypes, and memorable stories drawing on themes of heroism, coming of age and friendship. Here are top five of them:

1. Dragon Ball Z – The Foundation of Modern Shonen

No shonen list is complete without Dragon Ball Z. It was created by Akira Toriyama and the series revolutionized action anime during the 1990s. The story follows Goku and the Z Fighters as they defend the world against various villains ranging from galactic conquerors to androids.

Dragon Ball Z’s lack of character development and simplistic plots can leave something to be desired, even among shonen fans. Still, one must pay homage to the genre’s origins and acknowledge Dragon Ball Z as one of the most popular series of all time. Especially since so many creators even now regard it as one of the greatest anime series ever created, not to mention the franchise's ability to churn out great spin-offs.

2. Naruto – The Ultimate Story of Perseverance

Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto captured the imagination of 2000s anime fans, regardless of their age at the time it aired. Its outcast titular character, Naruto Uzumaki, enamored fans with his unflinching optimism, hard work and singular goal to earn everyone's respect by becoming the village hokage one day.
Naruto was so popular, it inspired a legacy manga series following Naruto’s son, Boruto, and adding a generational aspect to the series. The only thing holding this series back from even greater heights is the absurd amount of filler. Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden were gradually followed by a sequel titled Boruto: Next Generations, which unfortunately fails to match up to its iconic predecessors.

3. One Piece – The Greatest Adventure Anime Ever Made

There are some pretty strong arguments for Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece being the best shonen series of them all. It stands as the most popular of Shonen Jump’s "big three" over thirty years after it began, and Oda just keeps surprising people with new reveals and callbacks to plotlines from years prior.

That said, if there’s one flaw to One Piece, it has to be the pacing. Twenty years of storytelling means the anime has to use a few tricks to slow things down and not outpace the manga. Regardless, it remains an incredible journey for shonen lovers.

4. Attack on Titan – The Dark Evolution of Shonen

Although darker than traditional shonen anime, Attack on Titan completely changed modern anime storytelling. It was created by Hajime Isayama and the anime presents a brutal world where humanity fights giant humanoid Titans.

The series is known for its shocking twists, political themes, and intense action sequences. Characters like Eren Yeager, Levi Ackerman, and Mikasa Ackerman became global pop-culture icons.

5. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – The Perfect Blend of Story and Emotion

Edward and Alphonse Elric’s journey to recover their bodies -- following a mistaken attempt to bring their mother back to life using alchemy -- is definitely one of the most captivating stories in anime. That’s why it’s no surprise Hiromu Arakawa’s manga received a second adaptation once it was clear her story was winding down. The first Fullmetal Alchemist anime was weak and impotent in comparison with its brilliant successor.