The conversation surrounding shonen is dominated by a particular subgenre – the battle shonen. When you think of the genre, there are the obvious big hitters that have so fundamentally defined eras of anime: Naruto and One Piece, My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, HunterxHunter, Death Note, Bleach, and more, and more, and more. The most popular category of manga and anime, shonen, has historically targeted an audience comprising both adolescent boys and young men.
However, it has been clear for a while that both the audience and the material are reaching far beyond that limited and limiting scope. It’s easy to see why people still equate “shonen” to these classifications. And there’s no denying the popularity of the series that fit within these confines. But as is the case with every genre, medium, and art form, there’s room for growth and, if you’re willing to look, a wide array of series that better define how shonen pushes beyond its margins.
From countless coming-of-age stories to sports anime and even romance, shonen isn’t defined by its target audience. Instead, there’s a varied, ever-growing list of shonen anime worth watching that refuse to adhere to those strict rules of what does and doesn’t constitute. There’s a time and place for those aforementioned battle shonen. Many of which are worthwhile and in need of reevaluation and exploration as the next generation continues to try and establish itself. But the genre is at its best when every corner of it is explored.
From popular titles to smaller series from yesteryear, here are some of the best shonen that will help even the shonen-averse reconsider.
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
No matter how cold-hearted you are, there’s no doubt that The Flower We Saw That Day will manage to ring you dry. A contemplative, melancholy approach to the coming-of-age drama, the series follows a group of friends who splinter apart following the untimely death of one of their own, Menma. However, they’re reunited when, now teenagers, the reclusive Jinta is haunted by Menma’s spirit. She tells him that she can’t pass on to the afterlife until he grants her a wish. In his efforts, he brings together their old friend group, reopening some old and festering emotional wounds.
Created by the artist collective Super Peace Busters and adapted by A-1 Pictures, the series is a gorgeous, reflective piece of storytelling that honors the character’s grief while never forgetting their youth. Their hurts are vivid and distressing, even as the writing seeks humor to avoid drowning the story in misery. The characters are lovable despite all they endure and put each other through as they desperately try to work through a life where one of their own was cut unceremoniously short. The cicada scored summer, the purgatorial sense of leaving one life behind to pursue something new, the tactility of nighttime, ghostly settings, all give way to a textured, lived-in world.
The potency of survivor’s guilt and the sense of stolen youth permeates throughout, aided by the electric score from Remedios, which offers even greater gravitas. But more than anything, The Flower We Saw That Day bottles the volcanic catharsis of healing and letting go. It’s not so much about making peace as it’s about accepting the nonsensical nature of life, which can bring together friends who adore one another only to tear one away. The beauty of the series comes in them – Jinta in particular – realizing that his love doesn’t just stop. With tremendously evocative voice performances and subtle animation touches that give it the countryside feel, the series aches with lost love found and repurposed anew.
Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll
A Silent Voice
In a way, the gorgeous and boundlessly empathetic A Silent Voice has the makeup of other shonen – though mainly with our troubled protagonist, Shōya Ishida. A former bully and current social outcast, he spends the majority of the film trying to make amends for the past hurt he caused. However, it goes deeper than that. Because through his own efforts in redemption he finds closure and meaning – he finds solace in his own beating heart and its ever-evolving capacity for healing.
The romance at the center gives the film it’s emotional core but it’s Shōya’s own journey, his and Shōko Nishimiya’s separate dealings with depression and social anxiety, that lend the film it’s indelible strength. Directed by Naoko Yamada and written by Reiko Yoshida and based on the manga of the same name by Yoshitoki Ōima, the film is a lean coming-of-age portrait that defies easy answers and platitudes. The result is an act of catharsis – a film that, in its totality, understands humans enduring compassion and the necessity of community and friends. It’s life-affirming and disarming in its ability to strike with such efficient empathy.
The animation stuns, unsurprising for a Yamada project. And the score by longtime collaborator Kensuke Ushio further imbues the world with a twinkling, youthful and melancholy energy. The emphasis on light line work and physicality as a focal point enhances the tangible nature of the world. The animation is sensitive to realism without being beholden to it, more concerned with how a character moves that how photorealistic the backdrops look. Everything from the coloring, to the background scenery, to the subtle and evocative performances grant A Silent Voice a tangible sensation. So much so that every beat, every big, emotional moment, hits us straight in the gut. By the time the fireworks begin, until the closing moment of euphoric catharsis, we’re holding our breath.
Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime or Fandango at Home
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K
Sometimes, the most ridiculous, crude anime is the one to build a schedule around. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K is beautifully, wonderfully, ridiculous in every conceivable way. Based on the manga by Shūichi Asō, the series follows high-school student Kusuo Saiki, who goes to desperate levels to hide his psychic abilities. His only desire – aside from coffee jello – is to be perceived as nothing more or less than a perfectly average student.
Of course, as the series progresses, this becomes increasingly difficult due to the rowdy and unlikely individuals who, somehow, manage to become his friends. The fact that it’s his friends – Perfect Girl Kokomi Teruhashi, the enigmatic and socially obtuse Riki Nendo, and the delusional Shun Kaido, who believes he’s living in a fantasy world, along with many other outcasts – who are the oddballs rather than himself, is what makes the series such active fun. Because he’s always the straight man despite his immense power. It’s those around him and their desire to be close to him that give him such constant grief.
The animation doesn’t surpass any existing bars, but it doesn’t matter when the comedy is so hilarious. Aided by a tremendous roster of voice actors, with the dynamic Hiroshi Kamiya delivering a pitch-perfect dry performance, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K pushes the envelope by refusing to adhere to any form of convenience. It’s weird from the minute go.
Where to watch: Netflix
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
As the title suggests, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a story about what happens long after the action concludes. Instead of a narrative that weaves from one big action set piece to the next, each arc of Frieren passes with quiet contemplation. The anime uses long stretches of time with the same kind of mastery as a fight scene in any other anime. It deserves just as much praise for doing so. Even with avoiding much standard shonen action, as a hard fantasy series, there’s a lot for fans of similar but more bombastic series to chew on. All while becoming enamored by a group of travelers taking the long way around.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Haikyu!!
Following the endings of several long-running series, Haikyu!! remains the gold standard. Both in how to end a story that gives justice to the characters and closure to the readers, but also in exemplary storytelling. Based on the manga written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate, the sports anime tells the underdog story of Shoyo Hinata and his aspirations in volleyball. The art style of the series is notably kinetic, finely tuned into the athleticism and physicality of its diverse group of characters and their differing playing styles. This is best highlighted in the OVA, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle in a breathtaking final sequence that acts as a crescendo of all the show has succeeded thus far, with animation that matches, if not surpasses, some of the most epic-scale shonen battles in anime. (Try not to hold your breath as you wait for the ball to drop.)
But the greatest achievement in Haikyu!! is the development of its characters and the painstaking patience that pays off in the significant moments of triumph or loss. Because while the series is light on its feet, as buoyant and airborne as its protagonist, there’s a thematic core that makes it so emotionally rousing.
These aren’t just miraculously talented characters. Even the strongest on the main team, Tobio Kageyama, is only as strong as the years he’s dedicated to the sport. All of them – none more so than Hinata – put time and increasing effort into their goals of being the best, of being stronger, of being the last on the court. And the series ensures that we witness their sweat as sneakers slip and slide on the court, and the bloodshed from rushed saves, with kneecaps slapping against the floor. We care about their triumphs as a team because we see the work that was put into it.
These details come together, creating one of the best shonen anime due to the same perseverance of its characters. The work pays off.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix
Horimiya / Horimiya: The Missing Pieces
Adapted by CloverWorks, Horimiya and its follow-up, Horimiya: The Missing Pieces, visually articulate the turbulence of coming-of-age. Its sparkling effects and dazzling color stories offer the series a necessary sense of nostalgia that helps place us in this world and the eclectic ensemble. But the heart is its two leads: the bright, brazen, and popular Kyouko Hori and the timid Izumi Miyamura, whom their classmates believe to be a nerdy loner. However, when the two come together and the truth of their personalities is revealed, they develop a quick romance that allows them to build on one another’s strengths. Miyamura’s journey, in particular, to self-acceptance is moving; Hori’s affection bolsters his confidence in public.
Horimiya is more of a straightforward love story, while The Missing Pieces digs deeper into comedy, the premiere being a particular highlight. Directed by Masashi Ishihama, the series earns its romanticism through detailed touches, such as wind-flushed fingertips and oversized sweaters. Despite the relative familiarity with the general premise—opposites attract and high-school romances—the show finds ways to make it visually stand out. The strength is in the details. It’s also a welcome reminder that shonen excels in romance too.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu
Mob Psycho 100
While Mob Psycho 100 has moments of intense action that help cement its place in the shonen genre, those moments are mere footnotes. The core of Mob Psycho 100 lies in its characters and how they choose to live their lives. Mob’s search for his own place in the world leads to humor and tears in equal parts, all while being instructive to the audience. There’s a surprising kindness in being told that you’re not actually all that special. Instead, that lack of specialness is beautiful in its own way.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu
Nichijou
This pure gag anime, Nichijou (translated as “Everyday Life”), leans heavily on absurdism. Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Keiichi Arawi and adapted by Kyoto Animation, the series brings the world to life with joyful elasticity and an abundance of livewire humor. This playful slice-of-life series is brimming with talent, with episodes directed by Naoko Yamada (The Colors Within, A Silent Voice) and Hiroko Utsumi (Sk8 the Infinity, Banana Fish). The talent pool at the series disposal is evident with the energy and kinetic physical comedy.
It’s also one of those series that beautifully defies the narrow scope in which ‘shonen’ is viewed through. This isn’t just not a battle shonen. It also leans away from the basic demographic with its female-led ensemble. Set in the pools of the strange and surreal, the series follows the everyday lives of an eclectic group, which ranges from students to androids and talking black cats. Despite its simplified character designs, the animation itself is stunning with its fast and loose approach, resulting in an ecstatic explosion of color and style that is gleeful and boisterous in its rendering.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Spy x Family
If you need an easy series to get non-anime fans into the medium, look no further than Spy x Family and its tremendous crossover appeal. Based on the manga series from mangaka Tatsuya Endo and adapted by Wit Studio and CloverWorks, the anime chafes against the standard ‘shonen’ assumptions. The espionage-leaning, found-family comedy certainly has its moments of hilarity, but it also features deeper threads and unlikely protagonists that showcase the genre’s range. Shonen isn’t just about teenage boys seeking immense power and authority.
Instead, Spy x Family follows Loid Forger, a master spy, who, for his next assignment, must find a fake family to go undercover. Through this process, he finds Anya, a little girl who, unbeknownst to him, is a telepath, and Yor, who moonlights as an assassin (again, unbeknownst to super spy Loid). Unsurprisingly, the animation is fantastic, capturing the necessary movements of a master spy and assassin. But the real abundance of charm and heart comes from Anya and the many, many, different facial expressions she can and will pull in any given episode. The commitment to her elastic reactions and the fact that she’s kind of an idiot (affectionately so) add to a world in which so much would be fixed if the three people at the center were able to be honest.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Summer Time Rendering
Due to scheduling/licensing shenanigans over at Disney, the series Summer Time Rendering didn’t receive the rollout it deserved. Based on the manga written and illustrated by Yasuki Tanaka and adapted by OLM, the series follows Shinpei Ajiro (a superb and driven protagonist) after he learns that there might be more going on following the death of his closest friend, Ushio. The mystery of her “death” and her reappearance, plus the added time travel thread, creates a series that is difficult – near impossible – to hit stop on once you’re in the middle of it. The intrigue is so dense, so looming in its threat that we can’t help but tear through each episode in chase of easy answers that don’t come.
The animation is gorgeous, featuring both the scenery and background details, along with the character designs and physical acting. Directed by Ayumu Watanabe (Children of the Sea and the upcoming Witch Hat Atelier), the artistry is crisp and cinematic. Dynamic action sequences are anchored by bold direction and the utilization of both 3D backgrounds and 2D animations. The lean narrative allows for little to no fat, even as the cast expands, forcing us to grow increasingly attached to each character even as their chances at survival seemingly dwindle. The kinetic physicality of its characters and the eclectic personalities only heighten an already intense storyline as we, along with them, enter a deadly race to the finish.
Where to watch: Disney+, Hulu
Toradora
On some days, it wouldn’t be a stretch to dub Toradora the best romance anime, period. It may come as a surprise to some that this romance is shonen. Yet, the series is based on the manga by Yuyuko Takemiya, with illustrations by Yasu, which ran in the Shonen manga magazine Dengeki Comic Gao!. A story about a reserved, severe-looking teenage boy and the diminutive spitfire who lives next door to him, the series explores their ever-evolving relationship as both promise to help the other with their respective crushes.
It comes as little surprise that, ultimately, Taiga Aisaka and Ryūji Takasu fall for one another. No, the magic lies in how it unfolds and the slow-burn narrative that confidently guides the way. Patience isn’t often associated with modern anime adaptation (or really any media) which makes series such as this one so special. The writing takes it’s time and the animation follows suit.
With its contemplative direction and melancholy color palette, it comes as little surprise that its director, Tatsuyuki Nagai, is one-third of the collection who directed The Flower We Saw That Day. He demonstrates a keen eye for detail that helps emphasize the developing bond between Taiga and Ryūji, especially as the two learn to deal with those who orbit their lives. The beauty is in those details, and it earns every declarative moment between the two. Aided by a soft and understated score that adds to the serene quality of the series, even when Taiga is shouting, Toradora hits the right notes in capturing nostalgia for a time that isn’t even over yet. At least, not for the characters.
Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Your Lie in April
Shonen can and will make you weep. And no, I’m not just talking about the sinking of the Going Merry or the Todoroki family drama in Season 7 of My Hero Academia. I’m talking about the glorious, moving, and tear-inducing drama Your Lie in April. There’s room to argue that Your Lie in April is the greatest anime of the 21st century. The effect it has is, in its simplest terms, profound.
Centered on two musical prodigies as they deal with loss, terminal illness, and loneliness, the series explores their relationship and their two closest friends. Based on the series written and illustrated by Naoshi Arakawa, the coming-of-age story is unflinching in its depictions of abuse, isolation, and illnesses that haunt the margins of the story. Following 14-year-old Kōsei Arima, who loses the ability to play the piano after his mother’s death, the series carefully navigates a fine line when he meets violinist Kaori Miyazono. She inspires him, but she’s only the start of his healing journey.
Watching their journeys as they both must contend with death, though in varying levels of visceral, existential severity, is often a breathless, life-affirming yet heart-aching experience. They help one another despite the finite time they have. However, that healing is hard-won, and the series depicts it with grace and compassion. The animation is superb. The scenes where the world melts away due to the music beautifully depicts the medium’s ability to transport us while simultaneously highlight how music offers these characters a tether and lifeline – a window to their souls. The score from Masaru Yokoyama imbues these sequences with startling efficiency. The performance scenes possess a level of clean dexterity in the animation only rivaled by the best action sequences.
From the character animation and physical acting, to the backdrops and scenic, atmospheric shots that help embody the nostalgia of the springtime of our youth, to the heart-wrenching performances, Your Lie in April is a modern classic about how our lives are a series of unlikely encounters and subscribes to the notion that we are who are because of those who see and understand the truth of us. It’s truly unforgettable.
Where to watch: Netflix
What are we missing that you’d include on your list? Let us know at @inbetweendrafts.bsky.social.
Based in New England, Allyson is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of InBetweenDrafts. Former Editor-in-Chief at TheYoungFolks, she is a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics and the Boston Online Film Critics Association. Her writing has also appeared at CambridgeDay, ThePlaylist, Pajiba, VagueVisages, RogerEbert, TheBostonGlobe, Inverse, Bustle, her Substack, and every scrap of paper within her reach.
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