The Most Popular Shonen, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the Shonen you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 25, 2024 06:48
In the dynamic world of manga, fans often debate which Shonen series claims the top spot as the fan favorite. Each series offers unique characters, thrilling plots, and relentless action that captivates an audience spanning the globe. Itβs a genre that inspires passionate discussions and fervent loyalty among its followers, creating a lively community eager to support their favorite series.
By casting your vote on this list, you contribute to a community-driven ranking that reflects current trends and fan opinions. This ongoing tally not only fuels fan engagement but also provides newcomers a guide to what's trending and worth watching. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the genre, your voice matters in shaping the landscape of Shonen fandom.
What Is the Most Popular Shonen?
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155votes
Anass_belghrib · CC BY-SA 4.0One Piece
Eiichiro Oda- It has been consistently popular for over 20 years, with a massive fan base and numerous merchandise and media adaptations. -One Piece is a highly popular anime and manga series created by Eiichiro Oda. It follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew as they search for the ultimate treasure known as One Piece, in order to become the next Pirate King. The series is set in a world of vast oceans and diverse islands, filled with intriguing characters, epic battles, and deep storytelling. With its unique blend of action, humor, and emotional moments, One Piece has captivated audiences worldwide.- Genre: Adventure, Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
- Episodes: More than 1000
- Manga Volumes: Over 100
- Original Run: July 22, 1997 β present
- Animation Studio: Toei Animation
One Piece in other rankings- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular animes
- Position 3 of 10 in Most loved anime in Japan
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular anime list
- Position 8 of 10 in Most popular AMV
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244votes- One of the most iconic Shonen series of the 2000s, with a large fan base and multiple media adaptations. -Naruto is a Japanese anime series that follows the adventures of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who aims to become the Hokage, the strongest ninja in his village. The story is set in a fictional world where ninjas possess various abilities and fight against powerful enemies. Naruto's journey is filled with action, friendship, and personal growth as he faces challenges in his quest for recognition and to protect his loved ones.
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Original Run: October 3, 2002 β February 8, 2007
- Episodes: 220
- Main Protagonist: Naruto Uzumaki
- Setting: Hidden Leaf Village, various other ninja villages
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324votes
Dragon Ball
Akira Toriyama- One of the most influential Shonen series of all time, with a massive fan base and numerous media adaptations. -Dragon Ball is a popular Japanese anime and manga series that follows the story of Son Goku, a young Saiyan warrior on a journey to find the seven mystical Dragon Balls. Created by Akira Toriyama, it was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995.- Genre: Action, Adventure, Martial Arts, Comedy, Fantasy, Science Fiction
- Original Run: February 26, 1986 β January 31, 1996
- Number of Episodes: 153 (Dragon Ball); 291 (Dragon Ball Z); 64 (Dragon Ball GT); 167 (Dragon Ball Super)
- Number of Manga Chapters: 519
- Protagonist: Son Goku
Dragon Ball in other rankings- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular Dragon Ball series
- Position 4 of 10 in Most loved anime in Japan
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular cartoon in Mexico
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418votes- A popular Shonen series with a unique premise and a loyal fan base. -Bleach is a strong chemical liquid that is commonly used for disinfecting and cleaning purposes. It is highly toxic if ingested and can cause severe health complications.
- Chemical Composition: Typically contains sodium hypochlorite (NaClO)
- Toxicity: Highly toxic if swallowed; can cause burns, nausea, vomiting, and damage to internal organs
- Disinfectant Properties: Effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, viruses, and fungi
- Whitening Agent: Bleach is commonly used for removing stains and whitening fabrics and surfaces
- Concentration Levels: Available in various concentrations, with household bleach typically containing 3-8% sodium hypochlorite
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524votes
Attack on Titan
Hajime Isayama- A Shonen series with a dark and intense storyline, which has gained a large following in recent years. -Attack on Titan, also known as Shingeki no Kyojin, is a popular dark fantasy anime series set in a world where humanity lives inside cities surrounded by enormous walls to protect themselves from giant humanoid creatures called Titans. The story revolves around Eren Yeager and his friends who join the military to fight against the Titans and uncover the secrets behind their existence.- Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic
- Original run: April 7, 2013 β Present
- Episodes: 75 (and counting)
- Manga: Written by Hajime Isayama
- Animation Studio: Wit Studio (seasons 1-3), MAPPA (season 4)
Attack on Titan in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular animes
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular cosplay
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular new anime
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular anime list
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular AMV
- Position 5 of 10 in Most loved anime in Japan
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610votes
My Hero Academia
KΕhei Horikoshi- A newer Shonen series with a unique take on the superhero genre, which has quickly gained popularity. -My Hero Academia is a popular anime series set in a world where most of the population possesses superpowers known as Quirks. The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a young boy who dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without a Quirk. However, his life takes a turn when he encounters the greatest hero of all, All Might, who offers to pass down his Quirk to Izuku. Faced with challenges and obstacles, Izuku enters U.A. High School, a prestigious academy for aspiring heroes, and embarks on a journey to fulfill his dream of becoming the world's greatest hero.- Genre: Action, Comedy, Superpower
- Original Run: April 3, 2016 β present
- Episodes: Currently over 100 episodes
- Manga Volumes: Currently 30 volumes
- Main Protagonist: Izuku Midoriya
My Hero Academia in other rankings- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular cosplay
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular new anime
- Position 7 of 10 in Most entertaining anime
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular animes
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular anime list
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73votes
Fullmetal Alchemist
Hiromu Arakawa- A classic Shonen series with a compelling story and memorable characters, which has remained popular for years. -Fullmetal Alchemist is a popular anime series that follows the story of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who use the power of alchemy to search for the Philosopher's Stone. Set in a fictional universe, the series blends elements of fantasy, action, and drama as the brothers encounter various challenges and epic battles in their quest to restore their bodies and uncover the secrets of alchemy.- Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Drama, Action
- Number of Episodes: 64
- Original Run: October 4, 2003 β October 2, 2004
- Studio: Bones
- Main Characters: Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, Roy Mustang, Winry Rockbell, Scar, Riza Hawkeye, Homunculi
Fullmetal Alchemist in other rankings- Position 9 of 10 in Most loved anime in Japan
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84votes
Yu Yu Hakusho
Yoshihiro Togashi- An older Shonen series with a dedicated fan base, known for its memorable characters and unique storyline. -Yu Yu Hakusho is an anime series that follows the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a delinquent teenager who is unexpectedly killed while saving a young boy from being hit by a car. After his death, Yusuke is given a second chance at life by becoming a Spirit Detective, tasked with protecting the human world from supernatural threats and solving mysterious cases. Throughout the series, Yusuke forms a team of supernatural allies and faces powerful adversaries in thrilling battles.- Title: Yu Yu Hakusho
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural
- Original run: October 10, 1992 β December 17, 1994
- Episodes: 112
- Studio: Studio Pierrot
Yu Yu Hakusho in other rankings- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular anime involving reincarnation
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94votes
Hunter x Hunter
Yoshihiro Togashi- A popular Shonen series with a complex storyline and memorable characters, which has gained a following in recent years. -Hunter x Hunter is a popular anime series based on the manga of the same name. It follows the story of a young boy named Gon Freecss who embarks on a journey to become a Hunter, a licensed individual who can pursue dangerous tasks such as capturing criminals and discovering hidden treasures. Along the way, Gon meets other aspiring Hunters and faces various challenges and enemies in order to achieve his goal and find his absentee hunter father.- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- First Episode Date: October 16, 1999
- Last Episode Date: September 23, 2014
- Number of Episodes: 148
- Studio: Madhouse
Hunter x Hunter in other rankings- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular anime list
- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular animes
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107votes
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Hirohiko Araki- A unique and eccentric Shonen series with a dedicated fan base, which has gained a following in recent years due to its memes and pop culture references. -JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a popular Shonen manga and anime series that follows the adventures of the Joestar family and their supernatural encounters. The story spans multiple generations, with each part featuring a different protagonist from the Joestar lineage. It is known for its unique blend of action, horror, comedy, and the creative use of superpowers called 'Stands'.- Publication Year: 1987-present
- Number of Parts: 8
- Number of Volumes: 130+
- Anime Adaptations: 5
- Main Protagonists: Jonathan Joestar, Joseph Joestar, Jotaro Kujo, Josuke Higashikata, Giorno Giovanna, Jolyne Cujoh, Johnny Joestar, Josuke Higashikata (JoJolion), and Joseph Joestar (Part 2 and 3)
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Ranking factors for popular Shonen
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Sales figuresA Shonen's popularity can be gauged by the number of manga volumes sold or the viewership ratings of its anime adaptation.
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Fan followingThe fan base that a Shonen has, including social media engagement, fan art, discussion forums, or cosplay.
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Critical acclaimShonen series that receive rave reviews from critics and other industry experts should also be taken into account.
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Cultural impactA Shonen has a lasting impact on popular culture, such as inspiring spin-off merchandise, video games, and other adaptations.
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LongevityShonen series that have been around for many years and have maintained a consistently high level of popularity should also be given consideration.
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GenreThe genre of the Shonen should also be accounted for as some genres such as action, adventure, and sports are more popular than others such as romance and school life.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Shonen. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Shonen is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1527 views
- 190 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Shonen once every 24 hours. The rank of each Shonen is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular shonen
Shonen is a popular genre of Japanese manga and anime that is primarily targeted towards young male audiences. The term "shonen" literally translates to "young boy" in Japanese. Shonen series are known for their action-packed storylines, epic battles, and charismatic heroes. Some of the most popular shonen series include Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and Attack on Titan. These series have gained a massive following not just in Japan, but all over the world. Many fans are drawn to the genre for its relatable characters, intense action scenes, and thrilling plot twists. So, what is the most popular shonen series of all time? Let's take a look at the results of our StrawPoll to find out!
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