Roronoa Zoro is the resident swordsman of One Piece‘s Straw Hat Pirates and one of the strongest people on Monkey D. Luffy’s crew, second only to the captain himself. Since he was a child, Zoro has aimed to become the strongest swordsman in the world, and as a result, he has made it his goal…
Shonen anime are the most popular shows among the anime demographics. The tales of inspiring adventures entice audiences worldwide. Fans love watching their favorite characters perform harrowing feats to defeat their enemies and achieve their goals. Unfortunately, a lot of the same character tropes are frequently used, so the shonen genre can feel a little…
Yuki Suetsugu needs no introduction. She’s one of the most prominent mangaka in the industry. Yuki is the genius behind the widely popular manga and animated series Chihayafuru, which took the world by storm with its depiction of the traditional Japanese card game called karuta. Yuki’s inspiring take on an unconventional sport combined with the…
Anime is full of unique characters, narratives, and settings, but despite this level of diversity, there are still some common tropes that appear across the medium. One well-known cliché that is repeatedly used in a variety of genres is timeskips, which often completely change the tone of their respective series. Since anime rose to international…
Summary Some popular romance anime, like The Wallflower and Inuyasha, have stood the test of time and still appeal to new audiences with their unique characters and storylines. Fruits Basket and Sailor Moon have timeless romances that transcend generations, making them beloved by fans old and new. Ouran High School Host Club and Kamisama Kiss…
The following contains spoilers for various anime series. The Japanese anime industry is adept at depicting wacky comedy and exciting, larger-than-life action scenes with the use of colorful and expressive visuals, but that’s not all anime can do. Plenty of anime fans are more interested in heavy drama and darker stories, which calls for some…
Since 1998, Hunter x Hunter has been one of Shonen Jump’s most popular series. It has produced a manga as well as two separate anime adaptations. Despite several frequently prolonged hiatuses, the ongoing manga is currently up to 400 chapters. Unfortunately, fans haven’t had any new updates since late December 2022. Over the years, Hunter…
Death Note is a supernatural crime thriller anime that depicts the brilliant Light Yagami on his quest to rule the world as Kira, the embodiment of brutal justice. To change the world, Light kills off not just criminals, but people who get in his way. Plenty of tragic and gruesome deaths unfold in Death Note‘s…
The Hashira are the strongest warriors in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. They’re arguably the most significant characters in the story, as they seek to eradicate the demon menace and bring peace to the world. The Hashira are led by Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who only allows the strongest fighters to join the Corps. They are always…
Anime embrace many different genres and extremes, but some of the medium’s most popular series are those that are dense in combat. Fight sequences may be crucial to many anime, especially the shonen genre. However, there’s still a lot of room for interpretation when it comes to the depiction of this combat. Heightened anime series…
Summary Takeaway 1: Some anime characters talk a big game but can’t back it up, making fools of themselves in battle. It can be due to overestimating themselves or relying on psychological warfare. Takeaway 2: Characters like Spinner and Lilynette Gingerbuck are examples of being all talk and no bite. Spinner idolizes a hero killer…
Since debuting in 1997, One Piece has become one of the most recognizable media franchises in the world. The series is the best-selling manga of all time, and as indicated by the massive wave of hype surrounding the release of its live-action adaptation, Monkey D. Luffy and his crew show no signs of slowing down….
Anime make up some of the most popular television series and films, animated or otherwise. It’s remarkable to notice how certain anime series can turn into sweeping pop culture phenomena that drive forward passionate fandoms. It’s not unusual for an anime’s entire cast of characters to resonate with audiences, but there are also plenty of…
Everybody knows how dominant Star Wars has been in the sci-fi genre for years, and this huge franchise has inspired countless others to follow suit in exploring space, time, and beyond. While Star Wars itself is still going today having been established back in the 1970s, it does still have plenty of competition, even from…
Controversy and media are eternal partners. There’s no escaping from the scrutiny of the audience over objectionable stories and content, even if it’s anime. There’s no shortage of mind-boggling anime series that left the audience shocked, if not traumatized. Some anime titles have been so off-putting that even the fans across the Pacific couldn’t handle…
In anime, a villain’s depravity was usually intended to make the hero look better in comparison. Though sometimes given sympathetic qualities, they’re meant to represent forces fundamentally opposed to the beliefs of the hero and audience. In this regard, a villain was almost as responsible for making a protagonist likable as the hero themselves. However,…
The following contains spoilers for all anime discussed. The best anime feature a multitude of plot twists, emotional climaxes, and intense fights. Almost every series has a beloved and memorable episode, scene, or moment that changed the entire franchise forever. Select few moments not only changed their anime but ultimately defined the rest of the…
When it comes to supernatural romance anime, vampires tend to make the most popular love interests. But yokai and demon love interests follow swiftly behind in popularity – and they are just as fantastic in a romance plot. Demons are incredibly varied creatures with diverse lore, powers, and backstories. Demons tend to be moody and…
Anime is extremely versatile when it comes to its subject matter and these series can tackle grandiose fight sequences in something like Dragon Ball Z or tell fantastical tales of empowered females in magical girl anime like Sailor Moon. Anime is also no stranger to controversy and the limitless nature of this medium means that…
The first time an anime fan watches a juggernaut series like Naruto, they want to know the essentials of how each character functions, such as their best ninjutsu, their motives, and their relationships to other people. Later, a fan may wonder about the more intimidate, mundane details of these characters to make those characters feel…
This article discusses sensitve topics surrouding viloence and assault. Season One of Heavenly Delusion thrust viewers into a dystopian world rich with shocking twists and unforgettable moments. As the dystopian anime progressed, though some answers were revealed by the end of season one, viewers were left with even more questions. Heavenly Delusion is told through…
Anime history is full of memorable deaths, with many shows using a sudden passing to raise the stakes or change the cast’s dynamics. Fans rarely forget a well-timed and well-executed death, with many famous ones getting referenced or talked about years after their initial airing. But sometimes viewers might realize that, while the death might…
Sometimes an anime has such subtle foreshadowing that fans watch the series over and over, hunting for clues of what unfolds later in the series. Even if an anime’s foreshadowing is ham-fisted and plainly in the face of the audience, it’s still effective because it adds tension and audiences can’t help but ponder how foreshadowed…
Romance is an easy genre to adore. The stories are set around love and belonging, and make fans feel safe. Even tragic romances are appreciated because of the love that was shared along the way. Romantic anime do both happy and sad romances justice by enhancing the emotion and putting it to a more expressive…
The announcement of the anime adaption of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, has led to plenty of excitement. The series has long been a cult classic, with fans desperately waiting for more content based on the series. One of the most intriguing things about Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is that…
Berserk is among the most compelling seinen manga and dark-fantasy epics ever told. The late, great Kentaro Miura’s artwork comprised some of the best panels in the medium. Many longtime fans were elated that the series came back on track to finish Miura’s vision following his untimely passing, but his artistry wasn’t easily replicated. Miura…
My Hero Academia‘s shonen superhero mash up became a trailblazer in the anime genre. Though the series has comedic and action-packed scenes, it still has its fair share of dark moments as well. In most anime, a dark moment tends to involve one or more characters dying, and that is certainly true with My Hero…
Although isekai stories have had their share of ups and downs, the genre’s also been responsible for some classic series over the years. Fans of the genre enjoy isekai because they offer interesting fantasy settings while remaining relatable through their grounded protagonists. While several isekai get their start as light novels before being adapted into…
Anime is an endlessly versatile animated storytelling that grows more ambitious and creative with each passing year. There are modern anime classics like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, or Fruits Basket, but it’s fair to say that none of these current hits would be where they are without the innovative series from…
Naruto became a shonen icon for many reasons, including its outstanding combat system, delightful characters, and certainly its plot twists and best moments. Naruto‘s story is packed with hard-hitting plot twists that keep viewers guessing, and some of them are downright shocking and brutal. Naruto won’t hesitate to shake things up and throw viewers for…
After more than two decades, One Piece has cemented its position as the best anime and manga series of all time. Fans love the action and characters, but they also appreciate the deep and emotional storytelling. Every popular Shonen has its share of memorable moments, and One Piece has a lot of them because of…
One Piece is packed with not just cool worldbuilding and exciting fight scenes, but also some incredible dialogue to bring all these characters and their world to life. Dialogue is often the best way for characters to express themselves and comment on the world they live in, and the best quotes will stick in viewers’…
One Piece prides itself on many things, but since its debut in 1997, one thing has continued to define the series: its unique character designs. Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates rarely come across boring or uninteresting characters, which helps keep their adventures exciting and original no matter what corner of the seas…
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has been a consistent source of entertainment for anime and manga fans for more than 35 years and this has led to a strong synergy between Dragon Ball’s audience and its creator. Dragon Ball understands how to embrace certain shonen storytelling tropes and patterns while also subverting these conventions in ways…
The values of friendship are one of the most prominent in anime and manga, and there’s nothing in the medium quite as joyous as watching the formation and development of its strongest bonds. Come hell or high water, anime heroes know they have their friends to rely on, and the power of their friendship will…
Romance is one of the main components of most shojo anime. Classic titles all feature a doe-eyed heroine who falls head-over-heels for a handsome and charming love interest. Even as the demographic has evolved over the years, this time-old tradition has held true in many modern titles. Shojo romances have changed a lot over the…
As one of the most influential shonen anime of all time, the Naruto franchise consistently balances its high-voltage action scenes and heavy drama with lighter, more pleasant fare such as comic relief. However, while the series puts romance on the back burner during its preliminary arcs, it eventually introduces several canonical couples that fans know…
Inasmuch as Jujutsu Kaisen is a narrative-driven story rather than a character-driven one, Gege Akutami’s supernatural horror shonen manga has an obvious main character, even if it might not seem like it sometimes. Since the story began, Yuji Itadori has had more character development and progression in strength than any other sorcerer revealed so far….
Anime is filled with all sorts of supernatural beings, and demons are undoubtedly some of the most popular in the medium. Anime demons come in a variety of forms and often possess an impressive array of powers. They’re usually portrayed as morally gray, though they can be good or evil, depending on the situation. Despite…
The world of One Piece is filled to the brim with peculiar characters, but none are more memorable than its main character, Monkey D. Luffy. Over the course of 25 years, he has left an indelible mark on not only the Grand Line but the entire anime medium, gaining a reputation as one of the…
It’s safe to say that Sui Ishida is one of the most recognized and instantly iconic manga artists working today. Ishida quickly rose to fame when Tokyo Ghoul was first published in 2011, especially after it was adapted into a hit anime in 2014. Even after Tokyo Ghoul ended, Ishida remained as iconic as ever,…
Summary Chainsaw Man sets itself apart from classic shonen anime tropes with its unique and original ideas, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. The anime adaptation of Chainsaw Man does a great job of staying true to the source material while adding its own twists, setting a precedent for future shonen anime…
The Demon Slayer anime has quickly established itself as a modern shonen classic due to several reasons. It has stellar animation, a strong emotional core, and best of all, ample plot twists and shocking moments to keep viewers on their toes. Demon Slayer‘s plot and premise feel largely conventional, but those twists help keep things…
Twentieth-century shonen titles like Fist of the North Star and Dragon Ball helped set the stage for today’s shonen anime world, but it was the “big three” that really made shonen the #1 demographic for anime. Those three titles redefined what shonen can be, introducing or reinventing staples such as the power of friendship, the…
The juggernaut One Piece shonen anime series has dazzled fans time and again with iconic, impactful scenes that helped make it one of the best anime to ever hit the airwaves. Some moments in One Piece helped change the game for all of shonen anime, like Luffy’s awakening of Gear 5, while other classic One…
As one of the most popular anime today, there’s a lot other shonen series should take note of from Jujutsu Kaisen. While JJK pays homage to classic shonen series in many of its general plot devices, it always puts a new spin on things that make it stand out and keep the formula fresh. There…
For anime fans today, much of Dragon Ball‘s most shocking moments are nothing out of the ordinary. That’s because the very standard of shonen anime today was dictated by what Dragon Ball pulled off during its heyday. While they may not come as any surprise to modern anime fans, Dragon Ball‘s most jarring scenes were…
This article contains mention of suicide. There is quite a charm to watching detective anime, especially old-school shows that are purely about solving mysteries and, hopefully, proving the authorities wrong about underestimating the main character who solved said mysteries. While watching one detective anime after the other can be quite mentally exhausting, a good mystery…
The isekai subgenre of Japanese anime has been soaring in popularity in recent years, and every anime season adds a few more titles to the isekai pool. Even if some anime fans feel burnt out by now, plenty more are eager for new isekai anime series to lose themselves in. Isekai anime features main characters…
Isekai is one of the most popular genres of anime. The anime industry has released many series that fall under its umbrella in recent years. These series share many tropes, namely having an overpowered — usually male — protagonist be transported to another world and show up everybody in it, often by fighting. They usually…
