Anime is predominately focused toward younger audiences. The stories that come from the dozens and dozens of authors mainly focus on coming-of-age stories with light-heated themes that are not graphic or sensitive. Still, those stories carry significant weight and provide important messages like self-confidence, empathy, and self-accountability. Shōnen series likeNaruto,My Dress up Darling, andMy Hero Academiado great jobs at telling inspiring stories with strong characters made for expressing positive traits while at the same time being entertaining.
However, Shōnen’s variety of stories is enormous. There is undoubtedly a series for everyone, even adults who enjoy more mature storytelling with themes that match that maturity. Action-packed series with intense situations and impactful character depth are abundant in Shōnen anime, which has a touch of seinen in its story. Here are some of the best anime series to watch for adults.
Bleachis a classic series and is one of the Big Three anime series that were the highest performing stories running in Shōnen Jump for nearly a decade.Bleachis authored by Tite Kubo and tells a story about Ichigo Kurosaki, who becomes enthralled in a world outside his own where gods of death battle horrific creatures and protect the world of the living.
Bleachhas gone on for more than four hundred chapters and has multiple arcs that explore grief and responsibility and have significant weight to its encounters.Bleachshines in its characters, where each one gets the spotlight, and their core beliefs are explored. WhileBleachdoesn’t stare into the abyss, it does dabble in more serious stories, specifically in the recentThousand Year Blood-War arc.
After exploding onto the scene with high-octane combat and a gritty story, Jujutsu Kaisen took the anime world by storm. Yuji Itadori was an average teen enjoying life until he was dragged into a confrontation with a cursed object. This would send Itadori down a path of violence and hardship as he became a vessel for the most dangerous curse user in history, Sukuna.
Jujutsu Kaisen tells a gut-wrenching story where no one is safe, and the stakes are always high, no matter the encounter.Author Gege Akutamihas proven to be a master at foreshadowing and character depth with the backstories of his main roster of characters.
Devilmanhas a long history in anime, starting in the late seventies, and has continued to be considered one of the top occult anime that has stood the test of time. While there have been numerous adaptations of Go Nagai’s creation, the most recent isDevilman: Crybaby.
The series was released on Netflix and was highly praised for its symbolic nature and violent action. The story follows a teen named Akira Fudou, who becomes the host of a powerful demon. This sends his life in a downward spiral as he and his best friend find themselves on opposite sides.Devilman: Crybabywas a brilliant work of art and is a great homage to the classic series.
Hunter x Hunteris filled with the typical Shōnen content, such as friendship, joy, and heroes in search of stopping or preventing a clear threat. However, the story ofHunter x Hunterelevates itself above most typical Shōnen and becomes anything but the longer the story is followed. Gon lived on Whale Island most of his life on his own until he decided to step out on his own, become a hunter and find his father.
The turn of events that would trigger from his decision sends Gon down a road of challenges that any normal person would crumble under the pressure. However, Gon, being an exceptionally bizarre young man, is up to any task, even taking on an elite group of lethal individuals at the age of ten.Hunter X Hunterhas garnered a cult following and is a must-watch for any anime fan.
An anime with an absolute classic story isFullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. A re-telling of the manga-accurate story,FullMetal Alchemist Brotherhoodfollows the Elric brothers fresh off the heels of a tragedy. In the world ofFullmetal Alchemist, Alchemy is the practice of equivalent exchange where talented individuals can enact miracles of science by manipulating the laws of physics. A taboo among alchemists is never to attempt to create living beings like humans.
Unfortunately, after the death of their mother, Ed and Al push the boundaries of what is allowed with alchemy and attempt to bring their mother back to life. This results in Edwards losing an arm and a leg and Alphonse losing his entire body. Edward sets out on a journey to undo his mistake and get his brother’s body back by becoming a state alchemist.Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis a spectacular series that has a mature setting from start to finish.
Chainsaw Manis also one of the darker-themed series that Shounen Jump has serialized along withJujutsu Kaisen. In a world that has been overtaken by supernatural beings called Devils, the human race lives in constant fear of everyday attacks and cataclysmic events caused by extremely powerful devils based on some of humanity’s most feared and worshiped idols.
Denji, who has been a street orphan most of his life, finds a new path after joining the protection agency and becoming a devil hunter in hopes of losing his virginity. A winding road of shady deals, monstrous attacks, and Denji’s own evolution makesChainsaw Manone of the year’s top releases. With the animated film quickly approaching, it would be an excellent time for new fans to binge the season’s twelve episodes.
Death Noteis another classic cult anime that has garnered a dedicated following and is argued to be one of the most creative stories of the animation boom of the two-thousands. Light Yagami was an exceptional high school student on his way to university, headed to become a police officer like his father.
With a sparkling, prestigious reputation, the true Light comes out of hiding after receiving a mysterious book called The death note. Now armed with the power over life and death, Light decides to better the world and become its new god and slaughters thousands to do so. Death Note should be on every anime fan’s watchlist as a must-see show.
Attack on Titanis perhaps the most creative and draw-dropping series of the last twenty years. Created by Hajime Isayama, the masterfully writtenAttack on Titanis largely responsible for bringing a slew of new fans from all over the world into the anime community and pushing anime as a whole to more mainstream audiences.
In a world where people on an island must fight to survive on a daily basis as predatory giant monsters threaten their lives, the only thing that separates the two is a series of walls keeping the monsters at bay. Eren Yager seeks to kill all the Titans after his mother is killed by one, and his drive pushes him to succeed at any cost, even the rest of the world. What starts off as a violent action series quickly escalates into a dramatic thriller with dozens of twists and turns.
