What is Shounen Anime? Definition, Meaning, Example
What is Shounen Anime? Shounen anime, also known as action anime, is targeted primarily at young boys. Shounen anime often features action-packed stories with male protagonists who go on adventures, develop their skills, and overcome challenges. Examples include “Naruto,” “Dragon Ball,” and “One Piece.”
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Where Did the Shounen Word Come From?
Shounen is a Japanese word meaning young boy. Shonen words mostly target the male demographic. The term “shounen” is derived from the kanji characters “少年,” which literally mean “few” and “year.“
“Shonen” (少年) refers to a Japanese word meaning young boys and defines a manga and anime niche aimed at a teenage male audience. This genre gained prominence in the early to mid-20th century as manga and anime became popular. Notable early series like “Astro Boy” and “Doraemon” by Osamu Tezuka and Fujiko F. Fujio set the foundation. Shonen works are characterized by action, adventure, and themes like friendship and personal growth. Today, the niche covers diverse topics, from sports to fantasy.
Famous contemporary shounen series include “Dragon Ball” and “My Hero Academia.”
Is Shounen anime an action anime?
Yes, Shounen anime is an action anime. But Shounen anime is not exclusively limited to action, it covers Adventure, Friendship and Camaraderie, Sports, Fantasy and Supernatural, and Comedy.
Here are all the genres with highly-rated movie examples.
Action: Many Shounen series feature intense battles and action sequences. Examples include “Dragon Ball,” “Naruto,” and “One Piece.”
Adventure: Shounen often involves characters embarking on epic journeys or quests, such as “Hunter x Hunter” or “Fullmetal Alchemist.”
Friendship and Camaraderie: Themes of friendship and the importance of teamwork are central to many Shounen series, like “My Hero Academia.”
Sports: Some Shounen series focus on sports and competitions, such as “Haikyuu!!” and “Kuroko’s Basketball.”
Fantasy and Supernatural: Many Shounen anime explore fantastical and supernatural elements, like “Bleach” or “Demon Slayer.”
Comedy: Shounen anime can also incorporate humor and comedic elements, providing a balance to the action and drama. “One Punch Man” is a good example of a Shounen series with a strong comedic component.
What is Shounen vs Manga?
“Shounen” is a genre of manga and anime aimed at a young male audience, while “manga” is the medium itself, encompassing various genres and demographics. Shounen manga is a subset of manga, and it’s characterized by its appeal to the interests and preferences of young boys. Here, we understand through this table.
| Shounen (少年) | Manga |
“Shounen” refers to a specific genre of manga and anime that is primarily aimed at a young male audience, typically boys in their early to mid-teens. | “Manga” is a term that refers to a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels. |
| Shounen anime and manga feature themes and content that are designed to appeal to this demographic, including action, adventure, friendship, rivalry, and personal growth. | Manga can cover a wide range of genres and target various demographics. In addition to Shounen, there are other categories like “shojo” (targeted at young girls), “seinen” (targeted at adult men), and “josei” (targeted at adult women). |
| Notable examples of Shounen anime and manga include “Naruto,” “Dragon Ball,” “One Piece,” and “My Hero Academia.” | The term “manga” does not necessarily imply a specific demographic or genre but rather describes the medium of Japanese comics. |
What is a Shounen Jump?
“Shounen Jump” is a popular and influential manga magazine in Japan, known for publishing a wide range of Shounen (young boys) manga. It has played a significant role in the manga and anime industry and has a long history. There are several key aspects which Shounen Jump includes, i.e. Magazine, Serialized Manga, Diverse Genres, Influence and Anthology Format.
Action Anime To Watch In 2024 and These are the Shounen Anime (Examples)
I can recommend some popular and highly regarded Shounen anime series that was anticipated for that time frame or may have already been released by then. I suggest checking the most up-to-date sources, such as anime streaming platforms, to find the best Shounen anime for 2022-2023. Here are some series that were expected to be worth watching:
5 Shounen anime movies to be watched in 2024:
1. FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD: IMDb (9.1)
Plot: Edward and Alphonse Elric are two brothers who live with their mother in Resembool. Their father, who is really good at alchemy, left when they were young. After their mother dies, their friend Winry and her grandma Pinako take care of them. The boys learn about alchemy from Izumi Curtis. They try to bring their mom back to life using forbidden human transmutation, but it doesn’t work. Ed loses his leg, and Al loses his body as a result. To save Al, Ed binds his soul to some armor. They become State Alchemists and look for the Philosopher’s Stone while also discovering a secret plan by the government involving strange creatures called homunculi and their dad’s past.
2. ATTACK ON TITAN: IMDb (9.0)
Plot: Eren lives in Shiganshina and is protected by walls from Titans. When the Colossal and Armored Titans break through Wall Maria, Eren’s mother dies. Seeking revenge, Eren joins the military with Mikasa and Armin. After five years, Eren discovers he can turn into a powerful Attack Titan during an attack on Trost. Memories reveal his father’s secret, and they find a basement in Shiganshina that holds the truth about their world. Historia and her father are targeted because of their royal bloodline until Rod transforms into an abnormal Titan but is defeated by Historia with help from the Survey Corps. After these events, Historia becomes Queen.
3. One Piece: IMDb (9.0)
Plot: The series is about Monkey D. Luffy, a man made of rubber who ate a special fruit. He wants to find the legendary treasure called “One Piece” that belonged to Gol D. Roger, the deceased King of the Pirates. To do this, Luffy makes friends with Zoro, a pirate hunter, and together they set out on their adventure. During their journey at sea, they come across other pirates, people looking for rewards for capturing criminals or traitors, and organizations trying to change things in society through rebellion or revolutionizing it in some way or another’s will, aside from government forces while chasing after what they want most in life.
4. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End: IMDb (9.0)
Plot: The story is about Frieren, a magic user from the elf community. She was part of a team that defeated the Demon King. After fifty years, Frieren comes back and sees that her old friends have gotten older. Himmel passes away, and at his funeral, Frieren feels sad because she didn’t know him well enough. She visits her other friends and agrees to take care of an orphan named Fern. Frieren also sets out on a journey to say goodbye to Himmel and express her emotions. Along the way, she is joined by Stark, a young warrior trained by Eisen. The story covers many years with flashbacks and character growth.
5. Hunter x Hunter: IMDb (9.0)
Plot: The story is about a young boy named Gon who finds out that his father, who he thought was dead, is actually alive. Gon wants to become a hunter like his father, so he decides to take the Hunter Examination. Along the way, Gon makes friends with Kurapika and Leorio, who also have their own reasons for wanting to become hunters. They also meet Killua, a former assassin who wants to change his life. After passing the exam, Gon and Killua learn about Nen (a special power) and play a video game called Greed Island. In the end, they successfully finish the game, and Gon gets the opportunity to see his father again.
