10 Shonen Anime That Can Be Called Masterpieces, Ranked
Shonen anime is, undeniably, the most popular category of anime countless fans adore for its immersive storytelling, universal appeal, and boundless narrative creativity. While its image in the community is closely tied to explosive battle epics, shonen anime is also outstandingly diverse, having excellent picks for fans of every genre, from thrilling action-adventure to romance to realistic drama.
As such, it’s not surprising that this anime category originally aimed at young men has managed to win over so many people and produce numerous must-watch classics. Calling an anime a masterpiece is always rather subjective. Some series deemed flawless by fans can be equally disliked by just as many people. Yet, when it comes to the shonen anime demographic, these anime series might be the closest it has to offer to perfection.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Is the Latest Addition to Shonen Anime’s Hall of Fame
Despite premiering just two years ago, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is already considered a masterpiece in the making, with many fans going as far as calling it the best anime in the new-gen lineup. An unorthodox fantasy adventure that, instead of grand heroic feats, focuses on what comes after the glorious defeat of the Demon King for an ageless elven mage named Frieren, the series is both immersive in the best traditions of classic fantasy and refreshingly unafraid to ponder deeper themes.
Albeit not your typical battle shonen anime, Frieren is a masterclass of slow-burn character development that fearlessly goes against genre conventions. With only a single season out and the manga still ongoing, it might be a bit early to call Frieren a timeless classic. Yet, if it continues to exceed fans’ expectations, Frieren will undeniably remain a revered masterpiece.
Aria the Animation & Its Sequels Are Unique Works of Art One Wouldn’t Suspect to Be Shonen Anime
Battle anime might be the shonen demographic’s most popular category, yet it’s far from the only type of shonen storytelling there is. Aria the Animation has the complete opposite tone of action-packed spectacles, being a somber iyashikei title that ponders the subtle beauties of living.
Set on the futuristic yet down-to-earth planet Aqua, Aria brings magic to the mundanity of Undines — gondola tour guides who introduce their clients and viewers alike to the wonders of their city, Neo Venezia. The Aria series is a quiet masterpiece: it doesn’t have a riveting overarching plot nor breathtaking fight scenes most expect from shonen anime. What makes this forgotten anime a classic, however, is its unrivaled atmosphere and the subtle depth of its writing, which contribute to Aria’s regard as an iyashikei masterwork.
Hajime no Ippo Holds Up as the Gold Standard of Shonen Sports Anime
Sports anime have always been in demand among shonen fans, and the genre has no shortage of masterful exemplars. At first glance, little separates Hajime no Ippo, a simple series about a high schooler, Ippo Makunouchi, rising to the stardom of boxing, from countless other similar sports flicks. Yet, as is often the case with sports anime, Hajime no Ippo’s brilliance hides in the details.
A straightforward underdog story, Hajime no Ippo excels at the fundamentals that make a sports narrative shine, presenting viewers with an emotionally poignant, inspiring tale of hard work and determination with unrivaled character development. The fighting itself is also a highlight of Ippo’s story, as every match is not only thrilling but also filled with palpable emotional stakes. As far as shonen sports anime goes, one would struggle to find a title that rivals this classic.
Hunter x Hunter Is a Shonen Anime Adventure Viewers Eagerly Get Lost In
Manga author Yoshihiro Togashi established himself as a master of shonen storytelling long before the release of Hunter x Hunter — his previous shonen adventure, Yu Yu Hakusho, is also revered by many as a masterpiece. Gon Freecss’ exploration of the world of Hunters, however, is the series most fans recognize Togashi by, and it improves on the rather uncomplicated merits of Yu Yu Hakusho by making the story endlessly more ambitious and immersive.
Hunter x Hunter is both a rather classic shonen story and a bold deviation from genre clichés, as the series doesn’t revolve around its protagonist in the slightest. Every part of Hunter x Hunter’s universe is excellently realized and exhilarating to explore. However, the true scope of Hunter x Hunter’s narrative and worldbuilding remains to be uncovered for both anime watchers and manga readers.
A Silent Voice Is Rich With Poignant Emotions
Another shonen anime many don’t immediately recognize as shonen, Naoko Yamada’s A Silent Voice is a drama film that certainly packs a punch. At the heart of it lies an intimate and complicated story of reconciliation, following a tentative reunion between a former bully, Shoya Ishida, and the victim of his past cruelty, a deaf girl named Shoko Nishimiya.
Dealing with heavy topics like depression, bullying, and life with disability, A Silent Voice, nonetheless, approaches its themes with realistic nuance and doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truths of forgiveness. And, while a known tearjerker, the film is, above all else, a kind and hopeful tale of coming of age that, due to its powerful writing and sincerity, earned the reputation of an esteemed masterpiece.
Attack on Titan Weaves Together an Unforgettable Story
One of the most popular shonen anime titles of the last decade, Attack on Titan is an example of an anime series that fully deserves its massive success. Unpredictable, gruesome, and consistently engaging, Attack on Titan is one of the most cathartic journeys one can undertake with an anime series, and at no point does it stop surprising its audience.
Beginning as a post-apocalyptic tale of survival, Attack on Titan constantly ups the stakes, elevating its narrative of strife and sacrifice with every arc. Both its thematic depth and level of brutality are something rarely found in shonen anime, and the maturity of Attack on Titan was another merit that contributed to its acclaim and recognition as a series that will go down in history as one of the greatest.
Mob Psycho 100 Is Excellent From Beginning to End
From the wild and energetic visuals to the masterful balance of comedy and heartfelt storytelling, Mob Psycho 100 is outstanding in every aspect that makes it unique, and its multifaceted strengths shine throughout its three seasons. The premise of Mob Psycho 100 is not a novelty to shonen anime — Shigeo Kageyama, nicknamed Mob, is an overpowered hero whose psychic potential is peerless.
However, instead of delivering a conventional power fantasy, Mob’s story focuses not on what makes its protagonist outstanding, but on the very relatable struggles he faces as an awkward middle schooler. While Mob Psycho 100 features no shortage of spectacle one seeks in a shonen action-comedy, it never sidelines the most significant aspect of its narrative — Mob’s strenuous yet rewarding arc of growth that prioritizes internal self-improvement over formulaic reach for power.
Gintama Excels at More Than Just Comedy
Comedy titles rarely become known as masterpieces. Yet, as the most highly-regarded shonen comedy, Gintama has managed to achieve such recognition by proving that even the funniest and most unserious anime could hide something much more profound beneath the surface. The chaotic story of the Yorozuya trio’s adventures in the alien-invaded Edo is certainly hilarious, continuously delivering rip-roaring gags for over 300 episodes.
However, while known as a comedy title, Gintama is just as proficient in close to every other genre, from thrilling action to tear-jerking drama. A soulful, earnest series, Gintama juxtaposes surprising narrative depth and hilarious playfulness better than any other shonen anime title. And, even if it doesn’t seem that significant or profound at the start, most fans finish Gintama deeming it a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
One Piece Has Remained Shonen Anime’s Most Significant Cultural Phenomenon for Over 2 Decades
When it comes to sheer reach and popularity, One Piece stands unrivaled among its counterparts, being basically synonymous with the concept of grand shonen adventures. Yet, even after the Straw Hat Pirates’ search for the legendary treasure has been ongoing for nearly three decades, fans’ investment in anime’s greatest voyage only continues to grow.
One Piece embodies the appeal of long-running shonen epics through an ambitiously expansive world and storyline fans actively want to explore, as the ways in which the series broadens never stop being exhilarating. A master of long-term storytelling, Eiichiro Oda succeeded at crafting a universe of unparalleled scale, all while filling it with heart and sincerity that make the journey feel worthwhile beyond its obvious impressiveness.
Determining a perfect shonen anime is, of course, impossible. Yet, if there’s one shonen anime that came the closest to clicking all the boxes of a flawless masterpiece, it’s Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The tale of the Elric brothers’ search for the Philosopher’s Stone wasn’t always this outstanding. The original Fullmetal Alchemist anime, released in 2003, wasn’t fully faithful to the manga, which led to the series’ reboot in 2009.
The Brotherhood version, however, startled everyone with how masterfully it brought Hiromu Arakawa’s magnum opus to life, leaving no room for improvement. A complex yet riveting adventure with vibrant characters, immersive worldbuilding, clever long-term storytelling, and the charming spirit of a shonen escapade, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an anime everyone recognizes as a masterwork of shonen storytelling.
