There are many different types of anime, but shounen anime is one of the most popular, particularly among men. Because initially, the target audience of shounen anime was teenage boys. Coming to the shounen anime, you will be able to follow the process of developing the ability of the male protagonists from weak to strong.
Shounen’s works often revolve around the male protagonist on a fascinating adventure journey to adulthood, conquering evil, fighting for his dreams, saving the world, and finding the meaning of friendship, family, and life. Not only that, thanks to the beautiful graphics, the main characters come out of the manga with an attractive appearance that also makes many female viewers love it.
Every year, many Shounen anime series are released, making the genre a bittersweet arena where only the best anime can survive. And this is a list of 50 Shounen anime that can be considered the best of all time.
1. Tokyo Reverger
Tokyo Revengers is about 25-year-old Hanagaki Takemichi, who is depressed and sad because of unemployment when he sees an announcement on the news that his ex-girlfriend Tachibana Hinata and her younger brother Tachibana Naoto have been accidentally killed after an accident. Tokyo Manji’s notorious gang dispute. The next day, he suddenly returns to 12 years ago and is determined to take action to prevent their deaths.
2. Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen revolves around the main character Itadori Yuji – an ordinary high school boy. One day, he picked up a box of exorcisms without knowing it was the finger of Ryoumen Sukuna – a hazardous and scary particular animal. When the cursed spirits attracted by the animal came and attacked the other club members, Yuji swallowed his finger, allowing Ryoumen Sukuna to possess his body to rescue his friends.
3. Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer revolves around the journey of a kind, brave boy Kamado Tanjiro on the path to bring back his sister Nezuko who turned into a demon once again as a human. Through perseverance and hard work, he officially became a member of the Demon Slayer Team, with Agatsuma Zenitsu and Hashibira Inosuke, to find a way to defeat the strongest demons.
4. Black Clover
Black Clover tells the story of Asta and Yuno, two orphan boys raised in the same church, so they gradually become close and constantly compete. However, while growing up, Yuno has great magical power and control over magic. Meanwhile, Asta was utterly unable to use magic despite his best practice. When they officially turned 15, they received their magic books and magical items and went to the capital together to fulfill their old dream.
5. My Hero Academia
In the world depicted in My Hero Academia, superpowers are possessed by 80% of people. Still, the main character Midoriya Izuku is a sporadic case when he does not have any special abilities. He is always optimistic despite being bullied by his friends and constantly dreams of one day becoming a hero. Fortunately, he suddenly met All Might – the world’s number one hero and was given the mighty superpower “One for All” by him.
6. Nanatsu No Taizai
Elizabeth is the third princess of the kingdom of Liones, where the group “Holy Knights” staged a coup and ruled the country. She, fortunately, escaped from the palace and set out to find the group of knights, “Nanatsu no Taizai,” to ask them to regain their territory and protect the people from the brutality of the Holy Knights. Elizabeth meets the group leader, Meliodas, and joins him on a journey to find the remaining members.
7. Attack On Titan
Attack On Titan is set in the context of humans living behind three giant walls called Maria, Rose, and Sina that were created to protect humanity from Titan. In 845, the Armored Titan and the Colossal Titan destroyed the outermost wall, Wall Maria, leading to many Titans rushing in and eating the people. From here, Eren and his two best childhood friends, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert signed up to join the army with a vow to wipe out all Titans in the world.
8. Hunter × Hunter
Hunter × Hunter revolves around the main character Gon Freecss – the son of the famous Hunter Ging Freecss, but from a young age, he always thought his father was dead. When he discovered the truth, he wanted to find his father, so Gon left home and participated in the Hunter competition. A strict and harsh exam challenges candidates in skills, survival, courage, and teamwork.
9. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
In the anime Fullmetal Alchemist, two brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric to tell the tale of their desperate attempts to use the illegal alchemy of human transmutation to bring back to life their deceased mother. Not only receiving defeat, but Edward also had to sacrifice his left leg and right arm, while Alphonse lost his entire body. Wishing to restore his brother’s body, Edward became the National Alchemist, accepting to work under the command of Amestris’s army in exchange for valuable research materials.
10. Death Note
Death Note is about the character Yagami Light – a brilliant high school student who accidentally finds a mysterious black notebook called “Death Note” with the user manual stating that those whose names are written here will die. Light decides to kill dangerous criminals using the notebook. After several criminals mysteriously passed away, the renowned detective L suddenly appeared and claimed to have discovered the truth.
11. Gintama
Gintama is set in Japan at the end of the Edo period, in an era when samurai became useless and incompetent; there is still an eccentric but full of samurai spirit, Sakata Gintoki – who was not afraid of danger but came to the rescue of Shimura Shinpachi’s older sister. Touched by that action, Shinpachi decided to study Gintoki to become a samurai and, together with the alien girl Kagura formed a group of three called a Thousand Things Snail Gin-chan.
12. Naruto
Naruto tells the life of the main character of the same name. To protect the village of Konoha from the ferocious attack of the Nine-Tails fox, the leader Minato Namikaze sacrificed his life to seal it into the body of his newborn son Naruto Uzumaki. After growing up, he was shunned and hated by the villagers for being the host of the Nine-Tails. To prove his ability and gain the attention of everyone, Naruto is determined to become a brave ninja.
13. One Piece
One Piece revolves around the thorny, challenging journey of Monkey D. Luffy and the crew of pirates nicknamed the Straw Hat Pirates with the desire to find the legendary treasure of One Piece to become the Pirate King. Despite facing many other pirates and government troops and having to travel through deadly seas, the Straw Hat Pirates, with their talent and unity, still keep moving forward.
14. Meitantei Conan
Meitantei Conan revolves around the main character Kudo Shinichi – a highly famous teenage detective with ingenious deduction ability that has solved many complex cases. During a follow-up to the Black Organization, he was forced to drink poison by them, but fortunately did not die, but only shrunk into a 6-year-old child. To find the clues and antidote to this drug, he changed his name to Edogawa Conan and went to live at the house of his best friend, Mori Ran.
15. Dragon Ball
Although Dragon Ball was born long ago, it still retains a solid attraction to countless audiences. Son Goku, the story’s main character, is a boy with highly outstanding martial arts skills. He and his friend Bulma begin an adventure to find the Dragon Balls because it is said that whoever gathers all seven will summon a dragon and be granted a wish.
16. Noragami
Noragami is a popular comedy shounen anime series about Yato – a little god who is so poor that he doesn’t even have a shrine or clothes to wear. Yato’s bad luck has changed since meeting high school girl Hiyori Iki. When Yato was about to be hit by a car, Hiyori bravely pushed him away, and was injured. Although she is still alive, her soul has become loose and can leave the body anytime.
17. Mirai Nikki
Mirai Nikki revolves around Yukiteru Amano – a shy high school boy who often records life events with an electronic diary on her phone. One day, Yukiteru discovers that some events he encountered were displayed in the electronic diary. He realizes that she can see the near future thanks to this diary, and Yuno Gasai – his classmate, also owns the same diary.
18. Akame ga Kill!
In the context of Akame ga Kill, the nation’s young emperor was manipulated by the treacherous Prime Minister Honest, causing the people to fall into poverty and chaos; an assassin organization of the revolutionary army was formed. That’s the Night Raid. Their goal is to assassinate Honest to bring a better life to the people. Tatsumi – an innocent boy from an impoverished countryside, applied to join the Night Raid after being persuaded by the organization’s ideals.
19. Ao no Exorcist
Ao no Exorcist revolves around Rin Okumura, a young man who had a very everyday life until a demon attacked him. Since then, Rin’s world is completely turned upside down when he discovers the truth that he is the son of Satan. His Satanic father wants him back to conquer Assiah together. However, Rin did not want to participate in this war. He decides to start training to become an exorcist, accompanying his brother Yukio to fight to protect Assiah.
20. Assassination Classroom
Assassination Classroom is a school shounen anime that is funny and different about the stories of students in class 3E. A strange creature appeared at the film’s beginning and slashed the moon into a permanent crescent shape. To prevent that tragedy from happening again on Earth, the students of Class 3E have taken on a seemingly impossible task: to find a way to assassinate that strange creature – the class teacher.
21. The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland tells the story of Grace Field House – an orphanage isolated in the woods with only one entrance. The children here live happily together and are cared for by Isabella – “mama”. However, more and more strange things happen that make the three oldest siblings in the orphanage become suspicious. The three decide to find the truth about the children’s lives after leaving Grace Field House and the true face of the person they still love called mama.
22. Dr. Stone
Dr. Stone tells the story of a mysterious event that made all humans on earth petrified in the 21st century. Millions of years later, Taiju- a high school student, awakens and realizes that the world has completely changed. Human cities have become ruins, and nature has regained its inherent beauty. On the way to explore, he was fortunate to meet Senku. Since then, thanks to science, Taiju has accompanied Senku to save the petrified people and build a new civilization for humanity.
23. Fire Force
Fire Force is about a world where humans face a significant threat because they can be turned into fire monsters anytime. Shinra Kusakabe, the film’s main character, is also a fire brigade member. He is nicknamed the “Devil’s Footprint” because he can burn his feet at will. After encountering and fighting the person behind the creation of fire monsters, Shinra also gradually uncovers the secret of the fire that claimed the lives of her family in the past.
24. Dororo
Dororo revolves around the character Hyakkimaru – a pitiful boy born with a defective body of 48 parts. His father, the shogun, Daigo Kagemitsu, made a pact with 12 demons to gain strength and power. Because of that contract, tragedy befell his son Hyakkimaru. After being thrown into a river, Hyakkimaru was fortunately saved by a physician. Hyakkimaru’s mission is to fight the demons to regain his body parts.
25. Boruto
After Naruto, shounen anime continues to welcome Boruto – the anime that follows the story of the next generation of Naruto. The guilt and loneliness turned Boruto into a rebellious and destructive boy. However, in his soul, Boruto is still an honest boy and profoundly respects his father. The film is about Boruto’s growing up journey to overcome his father’s too-big shadow and, at the same time, make his mark in the new era.
26. One Punch Man
The One Punch Man story revolves around the main character Saitama. After three years of non-stop training by doing 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10 km run daily, Saitama can now deal with any monster with a single punch! With the help of his pupil Genos, Saitama joins the hero association and deals with absurd issues involving monsters and his bald head.
27. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
Originating in an ethereal palace unknown to all, Aladdin made his first step into the world. Accompanied by a magical flute containing a djinn named Ugo, Aladdin travels the world to witness everything. One day, he meets Alibaba Saluja, a young man who wants to enter one of the mysterious mazes called Dungeons to prove his worth. And so Aladdin joins Alibaba in his endeavor. This challenge will be the source of all adventures in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic involving not only the two but the fate of the whole world!
28. Fairy Tail
Magic is a vital component of daily life in the fabled land of Fiore. There were many strong magic guilds here. Fairy Tail stands out from the rest with its grit, spirit, and sense of community. Lucy Heartfilia is a young mage looking for the spirit portal’s key and aspires to join Fairy Tail as a full-fledged mage. During her search, Lucy stumbles across Natsu Dragneel and his best friend, Happy, who are on a quest to find his adoptive father, a dragon named Igneel.
29. D-Gray Man
Based on the manga series by Hoshino Katsura. D-Gray Man revolves around Akuma – a monster born from the blind love of loved ones, the weapon of The Earl of Millennium to destroy the world. Allen Walker, with a weapon to kill Akuma and an eye that can see Akuma’s soul, has joined an organization called the Black Order – which gathers people who are trying to fight the Earl of Millennium.
30. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan revolves around the main character Rikuo Nura – the grandson of the youkai ruler Nurarihyon, but he is only 1/4 youkai blood and the remaining 3/4 human blood. Therefore, he can only wholly transform into an elf at night. Although he refused to be the third-generation ruler to succeed his grandfather, his grandfather still hoped that the youkai spirit in him would awaken and lead a legion of youkai of his own.
31. Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches
Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches revolves around the main character Yamada Ryuu – a 2nd-year student at Suzaku High School. He’s a guy who comes to class late, falls asleep in class, and gets terrible grades. He finds life boring. Shiraishi Urara, on the other hand, is the brightest student in her class, clever and beautiful in every way. Then one day, a strange thing happened, and these two people swapped bodies.
32. InuYasha
A half-demon named InuYasha attacked a small village in Japan during the Warring States period in an attempt to steal Shikon no Tama to become a “pure” youkai. Still, he was stopped by the village’s chief mage Kikyo after being struck by a sealing arrow to the chest, where he fell asleep for 50 years. EraBleach 550 years later, Kagome Higurashi accidentally passed through a shallow well to the warring states era in the village where InuYasha was sealed. She accidentally frees InuYasha, and Shikon no Tama is stolen and shattered.
33. Bleach
Bleach revolves around Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager with the ability to see spirits. His life is rapidly changed by the sudden appearance of a Shinigami – one of the people who regulate the flow of souls between the human world and the afterlife named Kuchiki Rukia, who comes to the human world to find and destroy Hollow, a very dangerous lost spirit. When Rukia is mortally wounded protecting Ichigo from Hollow, she attempts to transfer half of her Reiryoku to Ichigo so he can defeat Hollow.
34. Reborn!
Reborn tells the story of a boy named Tsunayoshi “Tsuna” Sawada, who was chosen to become the head of the Vongola clan because he was the great-grandson of the first owner of the Vongola clan. Reborn told Tsuna that he would become the head of the tenth Vongola clan. Therefore, Timoteo, aka “Vongola IX”, the current head of the clan, sent a young assassin named Reborn from Italy to train and train Tsuna to prepare for his new mission.
35. Soul Eater
Soul Eater takes place in a world where Meisters and Weapons exist; the story revolves around three groups of characters who are students of Shibusen (Meisters and Weapon training school founded by Death); their mission is to collect 99 evil spirits and one witch soul to turn the weapon into a Death Scythe.
36. World Trigger
World Trigger takes place after a portal to another world opens on Earth, and humanity faces an invasion from people known as the Neighbors. Osamu Mikumo is a member in training, one day; he gets caught up in a Neighbor attack. Prohibited from using his weapons outside designated areas, he is forced to rebel to do what he thinks is right, save an innocent civilian. However, he discovered this ordinary person was a Neighbor in disguise.
37. Re:Zero
Re:Zero revolves around Subaru Natsuki – an ordinary high school student lost in another world. After being saved by a beautiful silver-haired girl, he stayed by her side to repay the favor, but the fate she suffered was more significant than he imagined. The enemy kept attacking relentlessly, and both of them were killed. Then he discovers he can reverse time, back to when he first came to this world. However, no one remembers what happened except him.
38. Sword Art Online
In 2022, virtual reality has made great strides, and a vast online role-playing game called Sword Art Online was released. Kazuto Kirigaya, nicknamed “Kirito,” was one of the lucky few players to receive the game’s first version. However, players soon realize they cannot log out; The game’s creator locks them in this world until they complete all one hundred levels of the game. Kirito must adapt to this reality, fight for his survival and hope to escape this virtual hell.
39. Tokyo Ghoul
The protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul is shy college student Ken Kaneki, a voracious reader who is drawn to Rize Kamishiro immediately. Rize, however, is not who she seems to be, and as a result of this unfortunate encounter, Kaneki is thrust into the shadowy corners of the ghouls’ nonhuman world. In a strange turn of events, the mysterious waitress Touka Kirishima saves Kaneki, and so begins his new covert existence as a half-ghoul who must work out how to blend into both societies.
40. Angel Beats!
Angel Beats tells the story of Otonashi, who wakes up only to know that he is dead. A rifle-wearing girl named Yuri explains that they are in the afterlife, and Otonashi realizes the only thing he can remember about himself is his name. Yuri tells him that she led the Shinda Sekai Sensen and waged war against a girl named Tenshi. Otonashi decides to join the SSS and fight Tenshi, but he is strangely drawn to her.
41. Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch
Code Geass revolves around the character Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian student who is unfortunately caught in a skirmish between the armed forces of Britannia rebels and Area 11. However, he can escape, thanks to the appearance of a mysterious girl named C.C., who bestowed on him Geass, “The Power of Kings”. Realizing his newfound great potential, Lelouch embarks on a perilous journey leading a resistance against Britannia for revenge once and for all.
42. Kill la Kill
Kill la Kill is about Ryuuko Matoi, who has roamed the land in search of her killer. Following in her footsteps – the missing half of her invention, the Scissors Blade – she arrived at the prestigious Honnouji Academy. The academy is ruled by the student council president Satsuki Kiryuuin and her subordinate, the Elite Four. In the school’s fiercely competitive hierarchy, Satsuki bestows those at the top with unique clothes called “Goku Uniforms,” giving the wearer unique superhuman abilities.
43. Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop tells the story of Spike Spiegel – a peaceful and carefree man balanced by his pragmatic, boisterous teammate Jet Black; the pair earn their living by chasing bounties and collecting rewards. Deviated as new members – who they meet on their travels – Ein, an intelligent Welsh Corgi, genetically engineered; femme fatale Faye Valentine, a mysterious con man with amnesia; and the strange computer boy Edward Wong — the crew embarks on thrilling adventures that unravel each member’s dark and mysterious past.
44. Parasyte
In the science fiction anime Parasyte, aliens invade Earth as parasites and quickly infiltrate humanity by penetrating the brains of weak targets. Shinichi Izumi, a 16-year-old high school student, contracts one of these parasites, but it affects his right hand rather than his brain. The parasite, Migi, cannot leave and must rely on Shinichi to survive. Thus, to keep themselves safe from other parasites and cohabit, the couple is compelled to do so.
45. Gurren Lagann
Gurren Lagann tells the story of Simon and Kamina, a hidden legend born and raised in a village deep underground. One day while exploring the earth, Simon stumbles upon a mysterious object that turns out to be the activation key of an ancient war artifact, which the duo names Lagann. Using their new weapons, Simon and Kamina fend off a surprise attack from the ground with the help of Yoko Littner, a red-haired girl wielding a giant gun, a world wanderer.
46. Mob Psycho 100
Mob Psycho 100 tells the story of the main character Kageyama Shigeo, an “ordinary” 8th grader possessing supernatural powers. From an early age, with his spiritual power, he could bend spoons and lift objects, but gradually Mob began to suppress his strength because of the troubles he caused in the past. Right now, the only thing he wanted to do was make friends with the girl in his class that he liked. Along with his “spiritualist” master Reigen, Mob gradually realizes his goals in life.
47. Psycho-Pass
In the 22nd century, Japan implemented the Sibyl System, an objective means of determining each citizen’s threat level by examining their mental state for signs of criminal intent, which they called Psycho-Pass. Entering this world, Akane Tsunemori is an honest young woman with a desire to uphold justice. However, as she works alongside veteran Tactical Advisor Shinya Kougami, she soon learns that the Sibyl System’s judgment is not as perfect as her fellow Inspectors assume.
48. Elfen Lied
Elfen Lied revolves around Lucy – a particular human race known as “Diclonius”, born with short horns and invisible hands, making her the victim of an inhuman government science experiment. . However, once circumstances allowed her to escape, Lucy, corrupted by captivity and torture, shed blood as she escaped her captors. During her escape, she suffers a traumatic brain injury that gives her a distinct personality: one with the mentality of a harmless child and limited speech abilities.
49. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion was set in 2015; the world stands on the brink of destruction. Humanity’s last hope lies in the hands of the Nerv, a unique agency under the United Nations, and the Evangelions – giant machines capable of defeating the Angels. Shinji Ikari, 14, must become the pilot of Evangelion Unit-01 with the fate of humanity on his shoulders as he confronts his father for the first time in a long time. Shinji’s everyday life is irrevocably altered when he is swept into the depths of the Nerv.
50. Fate/Zero
In Fate/Zero, the almighty Holy Grail has waged three previous wars, each so brutal and fierce that there was no one victor. Kiritsugu now stands in the middle of this thrilling survival game, facing off against six other participants, each armed with an ancient artifact. With Saber, Kiritsugu soon finds his strongest opponent in Kirei Kotomine – a priest seeking salvation from his inner emptiness in pursuit of Kiritsugu.