If you ask any anime fan in 2022 what their favorite new anime is, the odds are extremely high that it will be Demon Slayer. Given that it doesn't stray far from the typical shonen formula, it's hard to pinpoint exactly why this series is seeing so much success- is it the incredible fight sequences? The gorgeous animation? The wonderful voice acting? No matter why you like this series, it can't be understated just how popular it has become since its debut in 2019. It's already one of the top 10 most popular manga series of all time, and the franchise altogether has generated billions of dollars.
Talk about an anime with a major underdog protagonist. Although it follows the typical shonen formula, Black Clover has a way with foreshadowing future events that will blow your mind. In a world filled with magic wielders, Asta is born without the ability to utilize magic, but still holds onto the dream of one day becoming the Wizard King. He eventually produces a 5-leaf grimoire that contains mysterious swords and is able to utilize anti-magic. Right now is the best time to catch up as both the anime and manga are on break with the latter coming up on its conclusion.
Can you really call yourself an anime fan if you're not intimately familiar with the adventures of Gon Freecess and his adventures in Hunter x Hunter? If you've only seen the beginning of this epic anime, you have no idea just how dark a seemingly innocent shonen series can really get (looking at you Chimera Ant Arc.) If Hunter x Hunter author Yoshihiro Togashi hadn't gone on what now feels like a permanent hiatus, there's a good chance this popular shonen anime would widely be considered the greatest anime ever made.
What started as a popular webcomic ended up becoming perhaps the best satire series that any longtime anime fan can appreciate. Although newer fans can greatly enjoy One Punch Man for its humor and beautiful fight sequences, it's the hardcore fans who have experienced every shonen anime trope who will really appreciate the brilliant satire this series delivers. It's hard to imagine a show about a dude who can destroy anyone in a single punch could sustain itself for very long, but its been running for over a decade now with no sign of slowing down.
If you're a manga purist who thinks an anime adaptation should always be faithful to the source material, then you undoubtedly consider Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood to be the superior version of Hiromu Arakawa's masterpiece known simply as Fullmetal Alchemist. Following two genius alchemists on a journey to get their bodies back, this series is a must-watch for anyone who calls themselves a fan of anime. If you don't fall in love with the main character brothers Edward and his brother Alphonse, you'll be hopelessly attached to the show's fantastic set of supporting characters like Scar, Roy Mustang, or the homunculus Greed.
Much like the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime, The Promised Neverland deviates quite a bit from the source material. The first season is faithful to the original manga while the second season cuts the latter half of the story short. Although many fans were disappointed with its second season, this anime is still worth watching just for the first season alone. The story begins following kid geniuses Emma, Norma, and Ray and their plan to escape the orphanage they grew up on after finding out that it's essentially a farm to breed children for demons to devour. The Promised Neverland is a dark story that deals with survival and keeps you at the edge of your seat.
Who else remembers the debut episode of Naruto Shippuden? Any hardcore shonen anime fan can still remember the first episode when they heard the show's first opening intro “Hero's Come Back!!” when it was originally released back in 2007, where the series immediately jumped into an incredible story arc that instantly upped the stakes from the original Naruto series by taking viewers to the Hidden Sand Village and introducing them to Akatsuki members like Sasori and Deidara. Simply put, anime lovers hadn't seen a successor episodic anime series like Naruto Shippuden since Dragon Ball Z, and it's unclear that any anime sequel has lived up to that hype since.
Although superhero stories had exploded in the west with the arrival of cinematic universes like the MCU and DCEU, the anime world largely did its own thing and paid little attention to the growing fascination of traditional superheroes…until Kohei Horikoshi created My Hero Academia. This series about students who are training to be heroes took the world by storm in the 2010s, quickly becoming one of the most popular anime on the planet. When you talk about the big shonen anime that exist today, this MHA must be included.
Debuting in 2013, Attack on Titan has become the gold standard for what an excellent anime should be. The voice acting is superb, the animation is beautiful, and with a story that subverts expectations every step of the way, it's a master class in how to make a story come full circle and flip everything the viewer thought they knew on it's head. With two of IMDB's top ranking television episodes of all time in “Hero” and “Perfect Game,” it's no wonder that Attack on Titan is widely considered classic anime, and one of the best of all time in the anime genre.
Imagine being petrified for nearly 4,000 years. Now imagine staying conscious for that long all the while keeping track of every second before being released from your petrified prison. That's exactly what kid genius Senku Ishigami does in Dr. Stone after a mysterious flash of light petrifies nearly all human life. He then sets out to release others from their stone prisons and create a modern society he names the “Kingdom of Science.” But he soon finds out that there are others who don't agree with his version of what modern society should look like. Dr. Stone makes science fiction seem interesting as it followsSenku trying to create something out of raw materials and primitive technology, while also explaining the process to the viewer. If you're into post-apocalyptic shows about survival, then Dr. Stone is a great choice for you.
What's your favorite memory of the original Naruto anime? Is it the Chunin Exams Arc? The Sasuke Recovery Mission? It's hard to say what the modern shonen anime scene would look like had Masashi Kishimoto never written Naruto, but thankfully we don't have to speculate. From the insanely catchy opening themes to the badass fights that still stick in our heads today, Naruto will go down as not only one of the best, but also as one of the most influential anime ever made.
Even with much criticism for how the source material was adapted for the anime's second season, Tokyo Ghoul is still good enough to be considered a contender for one of the greatest anime ever made. The dark fantasy series follows protagonist Ken Kaneki as he descends into a violent underworld after being bitten by a ghoul. If you love anime where the MC becomes a completely different person by the end of it, then Tokyo Ghoul is about as good as it gets.
The Seven Deadly Sins is a fantastical adventure anime filled with action, magic, and demons that takes place in a Midde-Age European setting. The story follows a young princess named Elizabeth Liones and her journey to take back her kingdom from the Holy Knights with the help of Meliodas and his bands of knights properly named the "Seven Deadly Sins.” Yes, they each bear one of the seven deadly sins and their personalities reflect thats as well, which leads to interesting character interactions. There's also a cute talking pig, and who doesn't like talking animal companions?
Don't go into this show while hungry because Food Wars! will definitely have your mouth watering in more ways than one. This series does an amazing job of explaining how certain dishes are made while also serving up a great show about competitive cooking. The show also has an interesting way of depicting people enjoying the flavorful dishes created throughout the series. The story follows aspiring chef Soma Yukihara in his journey to surpass his father's culinary skills by attending Totsuki Culinary Academy, an elite culinary school.
How cool would it be to suddenly have the ability to make someone do whatever you say while simultaneously leading a rebellion against the empire that exiled you? You can probably already tell that this series is filled with a ton of drama, tragedy, and supernatural powers. In this action-packed mecha anime series, Lelouch vi Britannia vows to take revenge on his father with the help of the the Japanese rebels, known as Elevens, in an alternate world. The series is also produced by Sunrise, a studio well-known for their other mecha franchise Gundam, so that should you a good idea of what you're missing if you haven't already seen this masterpiece.
“The human whose name is written in this note shall die.” If the premise of Death Note doesn't grab you immediately, watch a few episodes and you'll immediately be hooked by one of the greatest cat and mouse detective stories the world has ever known. Even after all these years anime fans are still arguing about whether or not Light Yagami is a villain, which is a testament to Tsugumi Ohba's ability to create compelling and multi-dimensional memorable characters. Some say the series falters in the second half, but either way Death Note is still undoubtedly one of the top anime you can watch in 2022, especially if you're new to the medium.
Where were you when you watched Goku turn Super Saiyan for the first time? If you grew up in America, coming home after school and watching Dragon Ball Z on Toonami was likely your gateway drug that made you an anime fan for life. It's hard to argue that Dragon Ball Z isn't the most influential anime ever made, with so many series that followed taking inspiration from Akira Toriyama's masterpiece.
