The shōnen anime industry has been entertaining fans for decades, including classics like Dragon Ball Z, Fist of the North Star, and the beloved shōnen big three as well. These time-honored series are still popular to this day, but shōnen anime fans also want something fresh to watch. Every year brings delightful new shōnen manga and anime to enjoy, and plenty of fans want to stay current on the industry’s trends and be a part of something new.
So, shōnen anime fans can check the past five years and dive into the industry’s most recent offerings, many of which are already instant classics. From 2019 to today, a variety of delightful new shōnen anime have hit the airwaves to carry on the torch from older classics like Naruto and Attack on Titan, and many of them are still airing right now, making them a major part of the anime fandom’s discourse. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the best shōnen anime from the last five years are all action series, featuring everything from fiery monsters and cool science to wacky found families and more.
Updated by Sage Ashford on October 26th, 2024: With shonen being so popular, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it has many of the best anime. They get more series than any other demographic, meaning there are more chances for great success stories. Nonetheless, it’s impossible to deny that many of them are helping to redefine anime for the next decade. This list has been updated to add even more great shonen anime from the last five years.
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15 Welcome To Demon School, Iruma-kun Presents A Different Style Of Shonen Protagonist
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Welcome to Demon School ! Iruma-kun has been one of the most successful yet surprising shōnen hits of the last five years. The series centers around Iruma Suzuki, a young boy who learns that his no-good parents have sold him to a demon. Fortunately for him, the demon just wants a grandson he can spoil. This leads to Iruma’s life getting a lot better…as long as he can keep everyone in the Demon World from discovering he’s a human.
Iruma-kun features a protagonist that’s out of place for most shōnen. Rather than being outspoken with big dreams, Iruma is a timid sort who has to be taught it’s okay to even have ambition in the first place. The series turns a lot of classic shōnen tropes on its head just like that, making it perfect for people who want to try a shonen that’s doing something new for once. That said, it ranks near the back of the line because hardcore shonen fans might find it a little too different from what they expect.
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun
A human child is adopted by a demon and sent to a demon school. He must find a way to survive in the dangerous but fun world he has entered.
- Release Date
- October 5, 2019
- Cast
- Ayumu Murase , Daisuke Ono , Saori Hayami
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- Bandai Namco Pictures
- Creator
- Osamu Nishi
- Number of Episodes
- 65
14 Moriarty The Patriot Provides A Hero Driven By Revenge
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Moriarty the Patriot is yet another example of how well anime and classic literature work together. The series puts classic Sherlock Holmes nemesis Moriarty in the protagonist role, as he works to dismantle the corrupt nobility in Britain. While his motivations are more genuine, that doesn’t mean he isn’t still a criminal though, only now the crimes cover up his true motivations.
Based on one of the best manga from Jump Square, Moriarty the Patriot is everything a crime-thriller fan could ask for. The series tells blood-stained stories of revenge, as Moriarty aids common people in balancing the scales against the rich. He’s not the only character who matters though, as Sherlock Holmes makes an appearance as Moriarty’s rival and friend, ensuring the criminal genius doesn’t go unchallenged.
William James Moriarty lives as a regular noble while also being a consultant for the common folk to solve their problems. However, deep inside him lies a desire to destroy the current structure that dominates British society.
- Release Date
- October 11, 2020
- Creator(s)
- Hikaru Miyoshi , Ryosuke Takeuchi
- Cast
- Aron Dismuke , Emily Neves , Chris Guerrero , Howard Wang , Laura Stahl , Theo Devaney , Ryan Colt Levey , J. Michael Tatum , Natalie Van Sistine
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator
- Taku Kishimoto, Go Zappa
- Production Company
- Production I.G.
- Writers
- Gō Zappa , Taku Kishimoto
- Number of Episodes
- 26
- Franchise(s)
- Moriarty the Patriot
- Directors
- Kazuya Nomura
13 Dragon Quest: Adventures of Dai Is An Excellent Classic Battle Shonen
Streaming on Hulu
Dragon Quest: Adventures of Dai is another in a long line of classic anime that got modern, more faithful remakes. The series follows Dai, a boy raised on an island by monsters who wants to become a hero. While Dai’s elders warn him to give up on his dream, he gets his opportunity when the Dark Lord reawakens, causing monsters all over the world to go out of control. Alongside a brave crew of allies, Dai travels the world looking to battle against the Dark Lord and save the world once again.
Adventures of Dai is a great classic-style shōnen anime: it’s a series about beating the bad guys through training arcs, determination, and a belief in oneself and allies. However, it captures the sense of exploration and adventure so well that even longtime shōnen fans can find something to love here. With great character development that leaves no character behind, viewers will become invested in this series in no time. Though it might not be 1:1 with Dragon Quest, Adventures of Dai is still one of the best animated adaptations of a video game.
Dai is the only human living on the island and his dream is to grow up to be a hero.
- Release Date
- October 3, 2020
- Cast
- Griffin Cork , Atsumi Tanezaki , Toshiyuki Toyonaga , Ai Furihata , Mikako Komatsu , Tomokazu Seki , Mitsuo Iwata , Tomoaki Maeno
- Seasons
- 1
12 Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Revitalized A Beloved Franchise
Streaming on Hulu
Bleach has undergone a complete reputation shift since the arrival of Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, an adaptation of Bleach‘s final arc. While some fans might have argued that Bleach was the “weakest” of the big three, it’s been near impossible to argue over the last few years. Each new season feels like a major event in anime fandom, a must-watch for anyone keeping up with the most popular series.
What helps with Thousand-Year Blood War is its “all killer, no filler” approach. Adapting four or five chapters per episode, every episode feels like a quick watch because they’re so jam-packed with detail. Studio Pierrot is also putting out some of the best work they’ve ever done, as every episode’s animation is masterfully done and the direction is on another level even from the original.
Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War
The peace is suddenly broken when warning sirens blare through the Soul Society. Residents are disappearing without a trace and nobody knows who’s behind it. Meanwhile, a darkness is approaching Ichigo and his friends in Karakura Town.
- Release Date
- October 10, 2022
- Cast
- Masakazu Morita , Johnny Yong Bosch , Takayuki Sugô , Richard Epcar , Ryûsei Nakao , Aleks Le , Karen Strassman , Neil Kaplan
- Seasons
- 1
- Story By
- Tite Kubo
- Writers
- Tite Kubo
- Network
- TV Tokyo
- Directors
- Tomohisa Taguchi , Mitsutoshi Satô , Hikaru Murata , Hodaka Kuramoto
- Showrunner
- Tite Kubo
11 Mashle: Magic and Muscles is a Terrific Fantasy Comedy With Pointed Social Themes
Streaming on Crunchyroll
The Mashle: Magic and Muscles anime is more than “Saitama at Hogwarts,” though it has plenty of that, too. Protagonist Mash Burnedead is an incredibly strong young man who punches his way to victory without magic, but the real problem is that he lives in a world that hates Muggles. Mash’s world operates by Voldemort’s rules, so Mash has everything to prove as a physically gifted non-wizard.
Mash Burnedead is now a student at the Easton school of magic, where he will fight hard to overcome Muggle prejudice and carve out a place for himself in the world with his physical feats and his inspiring power of friendship. Even the Draco Malfoys of that school may be inspired to join Mash’s side and embrace the power of friendship over wizard supremacy. It’s a solid anime, but the shōnen industry has several stronger offerings for fans to check out, too.
Into a world of magicians is born Mash, a young boy who lacks magic but is the strongest person around. His existence and destiny will change his world.
- Release Date
- April 8, 2023
- Cast
- Chiaki Kobayashi , Katsuyuki Konishi , Takuya Eguchi
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Creator
- Hajime Kōmoto
- Number of Episodes
- 12
10 Tokyo Revengers is a Brutal and Taut Time-Travel Adventure to Save One Girl’s Life
Streaming on Hulu
The Tokyo Revengers anime, based on the complete manga of the same name, is a shockingly brutal action anime whose hero, Takemichi Hanagaki, gets a surprise chance to save his childhood friend Hina’s life. In 2017, when Takemichi is in his 20s, Hina dies after getting caught in the middle of gang violence, but time travel may save the day.
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Takemichi journeys back to 2005, in his junior high days, where he must join the Tokyo Manji delinquent gang to alter the course of history and make sure Hina never meets her tragic end. That quest will involve plenty of drama, fistfights, and meta-knowlege so Tokyo’s weakest punk can do what no other thug ever could — change the future for the better.
Tokyo Revengers
Hanagaki Takemichi lives an unsatisfying life right up until his death. Waking up 12 years in the past, he reckons with the eventual fate of his friends and tries to prevent an unfortunate future.
- Release Date
- April 11, 2021
- Rating
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- Creator
- Main Cast
9 Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Subverts the Zombie Genre in Resonant Ways
Streaming on Hulu
Author Haro Aso once wrote the grim manga series Alice in Borderland, then moved on to a more lighthearted, but no less bloody series titled Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead. While Alice in Borderland was a “death games” manga roughly similar to Squid Game, Zom 100 is a colorful genre subversion where the hero is actually glad to see zombies overrun modern society.
Akira Tendo suffered greatly in his job, feeling like the living dead day after day, but the zombie apocalypse freed him from that suffocating existence. Now, he will enjoy his life of freedom and do everything on his bucket list, all while rallying new and old friends like Kencho and the smart and tough Shizuka.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
A worker in a foreign finance company is bullied and worked around the clock, before a zombie outbreak finally makes him feel alive.
- Release Date
- July 9, 2023
- Cast
- Shūichi Uchida , Makoto Furukawa , Tomori Kusunoki
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Bug Films
- Creator
- Haro Aso
- Number of Episodes
- 10
8 Fire Force is a Colorful Adventure With the Power of Fire and Family
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Fire Force, the newest series from the creator of Soul Eater, imagines a new world order being built on the ashes of a fiery apocalypse. Japan has been rebuilt into the Tokyo Empire, a nation that doesn’t always enjoy the new peace. People often sponteaneously combust into Infernals, or deadly fire monsters, and it’s up to fire soldiers like Shinra Kusakabe to put them down.
As Shinra will soon learn, there’s more at stake than protecting citizens from Infernals, because someone, for whatever reason, is making Infernals on purpose. Shinra will soon discover the grim truth of the White-Clad cult and their Knights of the Ashen Flame, who have big plans for the Pillars and the entire world around them. If Shinra is too late, everything may burn down once again.
Fire Force
A superhuman firefighter force is formed to deal with supernatural fire incidents.
- Genre
- Anime
- Language
- Japanese/English Dub
- Number of Seasons
- 2
- Debut Date
- July 6, 2019
- Studio
- David Production
7 Dr. Stone Sets a New Standard For Edutainment Anime
Streaming on Netflix
The Dr. Stone anime isn’t quite isekai, but it comes close with its heroes being trapped in stone for 3,700 years, only to awaken in a new Stone Age. Scientist protagonist Senku Ishigami has big plans for this post-civilization world, aiming to free all people from petrification to rebuild society, all with the power of science.
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The resourceful, optimistic Senku Ishigami will then recruit an ever-growing team of heroes, from fighters to sailors to math experts, to create the Kingdom of Science and thus build a bastion of hope for the scattered, desperate humanity. All the while, Senku will look into the mystery of how and perhaps why that green energy wave trapped humanity in stone to begin with.
Awakened into a world where humanity has been petrified, scientific genius Senku and his brawny friend Taiju use their skills to rebuild civilization.
- Release Date
- August 25, 2019
- Cast
- Ayumu Murase , Karin Takahashi , Kengo Kawanishi
- Seasons
- 3 Seasons
- Creator
- Riichiro Inagaki
- Production Company
- 8PAN, TMS Entertainment
- Number of Episodes
- 55 Episodes
6 Demon Slayer is a Beautiful, Emotionally Impactful Monster Hunter Story
Streaming on Crunchyroll
By now, the Demon Slayer anime has established itself as a must-watch, instant classic among the newest shōnen anime series out there. Even if Demon Slayer feels formulaic in many ways, the story still has a strong emotional core with themes of empathy, salvation, the power of friendship, and overcoming grief and loss. Fans also adore the gorgeous animation from Studio UFOtable.
Demon Slayer‘s main story kicks off when Muzan Kibutsuji, the demon king, slaughters the Kamado family, leaving only Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko alive, with the latter becoming a demon. Tanjiro’s quest to restore Nezuko’s humanity is his main drive for becoming a demon slayer, but he will also fight for all of humanity and free society from the never-ending nightmare that is demonkind. All this makes Demon Slayer ranks in the middle among the best shōnen anime to start airing since 2019.
- Release Date
- April 6, 2019
- Cast
- Natsuki Hanae , Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Akari Kitō , Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
- Seasons
- 5
5 Chainsaw Man is a Memorable Deconstruction of the Shonen Formula
Streaming on Crunchyroll
While Zom 100 was a playful deconstruction of genres, the Chainsaw Man series by author Tatsuki Fujimoto is a truly vicious subversion of shōnen norms. Deep down, this anime still follows the basic rules, such as giving the teenage hero special powers, so he can fight monsters, and he will even join a shōnen trio of heroes. Other than that, Chainsaw Man has unpredictable hilarity and brutality.
Denji went from a starving loner to a half-devil known as Chainsaw Man, fighting devils for pay while obeying his increasingly sinister and suspicious boss, the enigmatic Makima. Denji will also confront the heartbreaking reality that many people get themselves killed in this line of work, even if they vow to survive for each other’s sakes.
Following a betrayal, a young man left for dead is reborn as a powerful devil-human hybrid after merging with his pet devil and is soon enlisted into an organization dedicated to hunting devils. When his father died, Denji was stuck with a huge debt and no way to pay it back.
- Release Date
- October 11, 2022
- Cast
- Kikunosuke Toya , Ryan Colt Levy , Tomori Kusunoki , Suzie Yeung
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Creator
- Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Main Characters
- Denji, Makima, Pochita, Power, Himeno, Kishibe
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Network
- Crunchyroll
4 Spy x Family Tells the Tale of Ostania’s Wackiest Found Family, the Forgers
Streaming on Hulu
Spy X Family is a winning blend of goofy comedy, heartwarming found family themes, the school life genre, a bit of romance, and Cold War spy intrigue. The nations of Westalis and Ostania are locked in a Cold War on the brink of armed conflict, so it’s up to spies like Agent Twilight to keep the peace. He is now in Ostania’s capital Berlint, posing as a man named Loid Forger.
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To get closer to his target, Donovan Desmond, Loid must assemble a found family, so his foster child can get close to Donovan’s younger son, Damian. Thus, Operation Strix begins, but Loid doesn’t know that his new foster daughter Anya is a telepath who’s perfectly aware of her father’s true mission. Anya can’t wait to be a superspy like her cool father, but first, she must get her grades up and befriend the tsundere Damian somehow.
Spy x Family
A spy on an undercover mission gets married and adopts a child as part of his cover. His wife and daughter have secrets of their own, and all three must strive to keep together.
- Release Date
- April 9, 2022
- Cast
- Takuya Eguchi , Atsumi Tanezaki , Saori Hayami , Alex Organ , Megan Shipman , Natalie Van Sistine
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Creator
- Number of Episodes
3 Solo Leveling is an Empowering Tale of One Young Man’s Quest For Greatness
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Solo Leveling is based on the Korean web novel of the same name. In this world, portals to fantasy dungeons have appeared all over the place, with deadly monsters emerging from them to threaten humanity. Only professional hunters can handle this threat with their RPG-style antics, including a certain Jin-Woo Sung.
Jin-Woo is the weakest E-ranked hunter who can barely survive the weakest dungeons, but after seemingly dying in a double dungeon, Jin-Woo will awaken in good health, ready to level up. Normally, hunters can’t boost their ranks, but Jin-Woo can, and the sky’s the limit as he pushes himself to get stronger and take on high-level dungeons, so he can earn enough cash to support his mother and little sister.
In a world of gifted hunters and monsters, a weak hunter Sung Jin-Woo gains extraordinary powers through a mysterious program, leading him to become one of the strongest hunters and conquering even the strongest dungeons.
- Release Date
- January 7, 2024
- Cast
- Aleks Le , Taito Ban
- Main Genre
- Action
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Creator
- Chugong
- Writers
- Noboru Kimura
- Main Cast
2 Dragon Ball DAIMA Lands Goku & Friends Back In Action
Streaming on Crunchyroll
There’s no denying that Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball franchise has been a shonen staple for decades. The launch of Dragon Ball DAIMA in the Fall 2024 anime line-up brought the iconic Son Goku and his friends back into focus, only this time everyone’s in adorable kid form. As part of his plot to ensure that the Z Fighters don’t interfere with his plans, the newly crowned Supreme Demon King Gomah wishes for them to be reverted to their potentially more manageable child forms, with the adults becoming kids and the kids becoming mere infants.
Unfortunately for Gomah, Goku was always pretty powerful, even as a child. As he acclimates to his child form, Goku must summon his strength and gather allies to face off against forces of evil like never before. Despite only being in its infancy as a series, DAIMA has already proven itself, both to longstanding Dragon Ball fans and new viewers, making it one the best from the last five years.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Due to a conspiracy, Goku and friends are transformed into children. They intend to travel to a mysterious new world to undo this change
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Akira Toriyama
- Story By
- Akira Toriyama
1 Jujutsu Kaisen is a Leaner, Meaner Version of Bleach
Streaming on Crunchyroll
The smash hit Jujutsu Kaisen anime borrowed plenty of elements that made both Bleach and Naruto so great and spun them into a lean, exciting action series with its own voice. This is the story of Yuji Itadori who, like Ichigo Kurosaki before him, is a punk high schooler who obtained supernatural powers overnight to fight monsters. In this case, Yuji swallowed one of Ryomen Sukuna’s fingers to become a sorcerer.
Now Yuji fights curses for a living, but he also has enemies on his own side, since the sorcerer leaders aren’t too keen on keeping Yuji around as the living vessel of Ryomen Sukuna, the curse king. At least Yuji has some friends and classmates to support him, like Nobara and Megumi, and he also has his overpowered teacher, Satoru Gojo, to look after him. All that, combined with excellent action sequences and great humor, make Jujutsu Kaisen the best shōnen anime to arrive in the last five years.
Jujutsu Kaisen
A boy swallows a cursed talisman – the finger of a demon – and becomes cursed himself. He enters a shaman’s school to be able to locate the demon’s other body parts and thus exorcise himself.
- Release Date
- October 2, 2020
- Cast
- Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Creator
- Gege Akutami
- Main Characters
- Yuji Itadori, Satoru Gojo, Ryomen Sukuna
- Production Company
- Mappa, TOHO animation
- Number of Episodes
- 47 Episodes
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