No otheranimecategory rivals shōnen in worldwide popularity. With each passing season, fans are always on the hunt for the next potential shōnen mega-hit, and recent years have pumped quite a few out. Long-running classics likeDragon BallandOne Piececontinue to pull in impressive viewership decades removed from their debuts, while titles likeJujutsu KaisenandSpy x Familywaltzed into the 2020s and completely stole the spotlight. Though shōnen is typically targeted towards younger audiences,fans of all ages have continued to discover excellent stories brandishing the label.
However, there are some series that have embraced more mature themes, despite their shōnen tags. Many of which have appeared in recent years, following the trends started by a few specific series that came before them. Some deal with topics typically found in seinen anime and manga, which are targeted towards an older audience, and are only labeled shōnen because of the magazine in which their source material is published. Any fans looking forthe classic shōnen structure, but with a more mature narrative, will want to check these shows out.
Over the past nearly 20 years,few shows have been more important to the growth of anime in the West thanDeath Note. The supernatural crime thriller from studio Madhouse acted as a gateway series for countless fans who wanted to step foot into the medium,and continues to do so years after its finale. The series' cat and mouse chase between super-genius detective L and anime’s quintessential edgelord himself, Light Yagami, packs in enough suspense and mystery to keep viewers glued to their screens.
Some ofDeath Notecan come off a bit cheesy in retrospect, but its commentary on morality and the gray areas between good and evil make for a rewarding viewing experience nearly two decades on. It isn’t the first series to touch on such subjects, but it does so in an incredibly entertaining package.
For a series with such a strange history of anime adaptations,Hunter x Hunterhas long beenone of the most popularShōnen Jumptitles ever featured in the legendary magazine. In terms of more mature shows,Hunter x Hunterlikely falls more in line with other popular battle shōnen titles, following, or even establishing, many of the popular modern tropes of the genre.
What allows the series to stand out among its peers, however, aside from its incredible adventure fantasy through a superbly built world,is its willingness to dive into some darker subject matter. Coming-of-age stories run rampant through shōnen anime, but few are as willing to take as thorough a look at the uglier human growing pains thanHunter x Hunter. The 2011 adaptation remains a staple for fans beginning to dive deeper into theShōnen Jumpcatalog.
Though it’s often overshadowed by One’s other massively successful manga series,One Punch Man,Mob Psycho 100is arguably the artist’s magnum opus. Following protagonist Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama, the series explores themes like moral ambiguity, the responsibility that comes with power, and self-acceptance.The fact the series can kick up the action with incredibly high visual quality is just the cherry on top.
Mob Psycho 100can be largely unassuming, and then suddenly transition into heavy emotional beats and exceptionally strong character writing, before just as suddenly moving into the next gag or fight. The series keeps its shōnen tropes close by whenever they’re needed, but is lifted by its willingness to dive into extremely human themes.
From the artist that crafted the poignant andhorribly underratedA Silent Voice, Yoshitoki Oima’sTo Your Eternityis one of the most unique stories in modern shōnen. A white orb with the ability to take the shape of others plays the leading role, and leads viewers ona powerful journey of grief, loss, and moving on, as Fushi etches his own place in the world and forms connections with others.
The main themes found inTo Your Eternityare similar to those in a series likeFrieren, with quite an increased focus on heartbreaking moments. Though slower moments take center stage throughout the series,it doesn’t hesitate to turn up the action when the moment calls for it. Like Oima’s previous major series,To Your Eternityhas become one of the most underrated shōnen stories in recent years.
The premiere break-out hit of 2024,Dandadancan often feel like an artist throwing every idea he has at the wall and seeing what sticks.With high-energy action, elements of romance, horror, and mystery,Dandadanhas something for anyone willing to give it the time of day, and that includes drama. The anime’s episode #7, “To a Kinder World”, made quite a lasting impact on the community when it premiered.
From comedic and lighthearted, if not strange, encounters with the supernatural,Dandadandove straight into one of the most harrowing backstories in the series without much warning. The sequence includes graphic violence, a kidnapping, and ends with what can be assumed as the human Acrobatic Silky jumping to her death. The moment is shocking and onlya taste of what’s to come later down the road.
Beastarscan be somewhat of a curveball for the average anime fan. Many come across its unique visuals and anthropomorphic characters and decide against diving in, ultimately denying themselves the experience of an incredibly impressive story. A coming-of-age series that dives into drama and romance, while touching on themes of discrimination and social inequality,Beastarshas been a surprising watch for countless anime fans.
Its unique cast of characters may take some time to get used to, but they’re all used brilliantly within the world and narrative of the series.The series remains one of the most underrated of the last decade, and is set to end later this year. Any anime fan who has ever been hesitant about getting intoBeastarswon’t regret giving it a chance by the time it reaches its conclusion.
LikeDeath Note,Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodhas become something of a gateway series for newer anime fans to begin diving into some of shōnen’s strongest stories. Over 15 years since its premiere, the anime by Bones studio hascemented itself as one of the medium’s all-time greats, helped immensely by its universally acclaimed conclusion.
Despite its popularity,Fullmetal Alchemistdoesn’t shy away from darker subject matter, as one of its most disturbing momentstakes place within the anime’s first five episodes. The Elric brothers' journey of overcoming tragedy and reclaiming their bodies in a war-torn world contains highly emotional moments woven in-between its energetic action sequences, and has left countless fans in tears over the last decade and a half.
Though its popularity has faded somewhat in recent years,Great Teacher Onizukawas once one ofShōnen Jump’s biggest titles. The anime adaptation by Pierrot has aged a bit, but despite straying from the source material in many ways,it retains the spirit of Fujisawa’s original manga. The series follows 22-year-old ex-gang member Eikichi Onizuka, who becomes the titular great teacher after pursuing the career for nefarious reasons.
Onizuka is horrible in a number of ways, but has an undeniable knack for connecting with and getting through to his class of troubled students, while guiding them towards better lives than they were leading before. He may be off-putting,but his heart is always in the right place when it matters, which makesGTOan unexpectedly moving watch on many occasions.
Attack on Titanis one of the most popular anime and manga franchises of the last decade,and one that’s undoubtedly labeled shōnen strictly because of the magazine in which it was published. The post-apocalyptic tragic downfall of Eren Yeager stole the attention of the anime community during its debut season, and refused to let go untilits drawn-out conclusioncame to its final resting point in 2023.
The world ofAttack on Titanis cold and unforgiving, and the series rarely holds back in its depictions of violence, culminating in the shocking and brutal Rumbling in its final act. Touching on subjects likewar, cycles of violence, and freedom,Attack on Titanhits as hard now as it did when the anime first debuted in 2013.
Those familiar with the work of Tatsuki Fujimoto know thatShōnen Jumpis the least likely place for his manga to survive, yet his ongoingChainsaw Mancontinues to tell a story that flirts with being called a psychosexual drama,while touching on subjects like desire, abuse, trauma, recovery and more. Since breaking into the mainstream,Chainsaw Manhas ushered in a new generation of shōnen stories which aren’t afraid to address sensitive topics.
The anime is set to return under a new directorthis upcoming October, whenChainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arclands in theaters. Many believe the section is where the source material began to show signs of something special, and fans won’t want to miss out on the introduction of Denji’s latest love interest.
