Shonen is one of the most popular manga/anime genres. The Japanese word Shonen (少年) means “son”, which means that the genre is aimed at young males. However, the great storyline, interesting characters, and power-up themes can be enjoyed by any audience, regardless of gender or age.
Shonen is very popular because people naturally want to see the noble hero defeat the vile villain. In addition, Shonen has a wide variety of themes and motifs that define the character of this line. While some might say the story is too stereotypical, the genre has proven its versatility and originality.
Anime Shonen shows great moves in battle
One of the defining elements of the Shonen anime is its bold action. Heroes fight against villains in great battles, which become the most dramatic scenes, such as the Stand in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure or the dramatic confrontation between Naruto and Sasuke in Naruto: Shippuden.
The paper-to-animation battles come to life, and each one showcases the unique power system of their own world and the abilities of the characters. Although criticized for being predictable, the battles in the Shonen anime still have charm and make viewers restless.
Shonen is a dish for everyone
Anime Shonen can appeal to audiences of all ages. Most of it comes from pure, family-friendly humor that captures the strong spirit of the story, all intended to influence younger viewers. There are also more mature Shonen anime, such as Attack On Titan, that make the audience analyze the events in the plot deeply.
In addition, there is also a display of noble comradeship, thereby connecting the anime fandom community, especially with prominent names like Naruto or One Piece.
Common sense of bravery does not overshadow individuality
The most important aspect of any anime of the Shonen genre is the courage of the protagonist and his allies. The typical image of a Shonen protagonist is optimistic, outgoing, and always cheerful. Examples of this would be Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia, Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen, or Shoyo Hinata from Haikyuu!!.
However, there are also more introverted and reserved protagonists, such as Jotaro Kujo in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure or Tetsuya Kuroko in Kuroko’s Basketball. Even so, they both carry courage in battle and are always a source of encouragement to their allies.
The power of friendship is an indispensable theme in Shonen Anime
The power of friendship has always been an important part of Shonen anime. Any hero needs a group of allies behind them to back them up in battle or cheer them on with inspirational mid-battle words to energize the protagonist.
Usually, the protagonist’s friends will be equally popular, if not even more popular than the protagonist because of their charisma/characteristics.