Best Shounen TV Shows

2026 • Rating 9.0 • action & adventure, animation

In the year 199X, the world was engulfed in nuclear fire!! Yet...humanity somehow survived!! A lone man with seven scars on his chest emerges. His name is Kenshiro, heir to Hokuto Shinken. In a world where only the strong survive, Kenshiro forges a path with his iron fists!

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation

Style: Futuristic

Audience: Adult, Family

Plot: Martial Arts, Post Apocalyptic Future, Remake, Based On Manga, Shounen, Anime, 1990S, In The Year, The World Was Engulfed In Nuclear Fire, Yet

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, Future, 2026-04-11

Place: Japan, Japanese, Future City

Cast: Shunsuke Takeuchi, Daiki Yamashita, Mao Ichimichi, Wataru Takagi, Tsuguo Mogami, Taiten Kusunoki

2023 • Rating 8.8 • animation, action & adventure, drama

Decades after her party defeated the Demon King, an old friend's funeral launches the elf wizard Frieren on a journey of self-discovery.

Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style:

Audience: Date Night, Family, Teens

Plot: Elves, Way Of Life, Magic, Immortality, Friendship, Slice Of Life, Female Protagonist, Based On Manga, Combat, Human Relationship

Time: Year 2023, 2020S, 2023-09-29

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Atsumi Tanezaki, Kana Ichinose, Chiaki Kobayashi, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Hiroki Touchi, Yoji Ueda

2009 • Rating 8.7 • animation, action & adventure, sci-fi & fantasy

Disregard for alchemy’s laws ripped half of Edward Elric’s limbs from his body and left his brother Alphonse’s soul clinging to a suit of armor. To restore what was lost, the brothers seek the Philosopher’s Stone. Enemies and allies – the corrupt military, the Homunculi, and foreign alchemists – will alter the Elric brothers course, but their purpose will remain unchanged and their bond unbreakable.

Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama

Style:

Audience: Date Night, Family, Teens

Plot: Politics, Supernatural, Remake, Revenge, Travel, Steampunk, Conspiracy, Based On Manga, Alchemy, Military

Time: Year 2009, 2000S, 2009-04-05

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Romi Park, Rie Kugimiya, Shin-ichiro Miki, Fumiko Orikasa, Megumi Takamoto

1999 • Rating 8.7 • action & adventure, comedy, animation

Years ago, the fearsome Pirate King, Gol D. Roger was executed leaving a huge pile of treasure and the famous "One Piece" behind. Whoever claims the "One Piece" will be named the new King of the Pirates. Monkey D. Luffy, a boy who consumed a "Devil Fruit," decides to follow in the footsteps of his idol, the pirate Shanks, and find the One Piece. It helps, of course, that his body has the properties of rubber and that he's surrounded by a bevy of skilled fighters and thieves to help him along the way. Luffy will do anything to get the One Piece and become King of the Pirates!

Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy, Animation

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: One Piece, Ocean, Sea, Boat, Treasure, Fight, Liberation, Ship, Friendship, Friends

Time: Year 1999, 1990S, 1999-10-20

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Mayumi Tanaka, Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata

2013 • Rating 8.7 • animation, sci-fi & fantasy, action & adventure

100 years ago, the last remnants of humanity were forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that roamed the land outside their fortress. Only the members of the Scouting Legion dared to stray beyond the safety of the walls – but even those brave warriors seldom returned alive. Those within the city clung to the illusion of a peaceful existence until the day that dream was shattered, and their slim chance at survival was reduced to one horrifying choice: kill – or be devoured!

Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Mind Bending, Surreal, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Family

Plot: Fascism, Dystopia, Politics, Revenge, Gore, Survival, Tragedy, Giant Monster, Based On Manga, Super Power

Time: Year 2013, 2010S, 2013-04-07

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue, Kisho Taniyama, Hiro Shimono, Yoshimasa Hosoya

1993 • Rating 8.7 • animation, comedy

Sakuragi Hanamichi is a junior high punk used to getting into fights and being rejected by girls but upon entering high school he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko Akagi. He will do anything in order to win her heart including joining the school basketball team that is aiming to conquer the nation lead by Haruko's brother. The problem is that Sakuragi has never played basketball before and a freshman sensation is stealing the spotlight and Haruko's affection from him.

Genre: Animation, Comedy

Style: Mind Bending, Surreal

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Male Friendship, Sports, High School, Basketball, High School Sports, Slice Of Life, Based On Manga, Sport Competition, Nostalgic, Basketball Team

Time: Year 1993, 1990S, 1993-10-16

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Takeshi Kusao, Hikaru Midorikawa, Kiyoyuki Yanada, Yoku Shioya, Ryotaro Okiayu, Akiko Hiramatsu

2000 • Rating 8.6 • animation, comedy, drama

Makunouchi Ippo is an ordinary high school student in Japan. Since he spends most of his time away from school helping his mother run the family business, he doesn't get to enjoy his younger years like most teenagers. Always a target for bullying at school (the family fishing business grants him a distinct odor), Ippo's life is one of hardship. One of these after-school bullying sessions turns Ippo's life around for the better, as he is saved by a boxer named Takamura. He decides to follow in Takamura's footsteps and train to become a boxer, giving his life direction and purpose. Ippo's path to perfecting his pugilistic prowess is just beginning...

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Action & Adventure

Style:

Audience: Date Night, Family

Plot: Rags To Riches, Friendship, Sports, Based On Comic, Tournament, Based On Manga, Championship, Combat Sports, Comradeship, Shounen

Time: Year 2000, 2000S, 2000-10-03

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Kohei Kiyasu, Rikiya Koyama, Wataru Takagi, Keiji Fujiwara, Jurota Kosugi, Hidenobu Kiuchi

2019 • Rating 8.6 • animation, action & adventure, sci-fi & fantasy

After a demon attack leaves his family slain and his sister cursed, Tanjiro embarks upon a perilous journey to find a cure and avenge those he's lost.

Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style: Dark

Audience: Adult, Family, Teens

Plot: Sibling Relationship, Swordplay, Sword, Magic, Training, Supernatural, Undead, Tragedy, Coming Of Age, Based On Manga

Time: Year 2019, 2010S, 2019-04-06

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Takahiro Sakurai

2006 • Rating 8.6 • animation, mystery, sci-fi & fantasy

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects—and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But will Light succeed in his noble goal, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?

Genre: Animation, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Psychological, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Family, Teens

Plot: Detective, Journalism, Secret Identity, Police, Supernatural, Sociopath, Rivalry, Murder, Serial Killer, Grim Reaper

Time: Year 2006, 2000S, 2006-10-04

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Shido Nakamura, Aya Hirano, Kappei Yamaguchi, Kimiko Saito, Naoya Uchida

2016 • Rating 8.6 • action & adventure, animation, sci-fi & fantasy

After he saves a bully from a Villain, a normal student is granted a superpower that allows him to attend a high school training academy for Heroes.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Saving The World, Competition, Hero, Abusive Father, Training, Bullying, Superhero, Revenge, School, Heroism

Time: Year 2016, 2010S, 2016-04-03

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Daiki Yamashita

2024 • Rating 7.6 • animation, action & adventure, sci-fi & fantasy

In a world where magic reigns, Will Serfort can’t cast a spell. Though hardworking, Will’s classmates think less of him for it. However, he has a secret strength: his sword. Can Will defy expectations with muscle over magic and blade over wand? Find out in this epic sword-and-sorcery adventure!

Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Swordplay, Magic, Promise, Based On Manga, Dungeon, Childhood Friends, Shounen, Anime, High Fantasy, Dungeons

Time: Year 2024, 2020S, 2024-07-07

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Reiko Suzuki, Atsushi Tamaru, Tomohiro Ono, Jun Fukuyama, Makoto Furukawa, Akio Otsuka