2021 has almost come to an end, and with it, another year of great anime. This year has seen a slew of great original shonen series come out, as well as the continuations of some extremely popular fan favorites. While there has been the occasional weak entry, many of the shows coming out this year have been very enjoyable.
With exciting action scenes using imaginative powers and abilities, these shows are extremely popular amongst anime fans, and demonstrate the best the genre has to offer. Here are some of the best shonen anime that have come out this year, and what made them so brilliant.
Updated March 24, 2022, by Danny Guan: With the first anime season of the year 2022 coming to an end, it's a good time to look back at last year's anime and see which series stood out. Anime fans have had some time to solidify their opinions about last year's anime, which has had many shonen series come to the forefront. 2021 had a lot of great shows come out, so here are some more of the best shonen anime that graced screens that year.
15 Dr. Stone: Stone Wars
The second season of the sci-fi epic Dr. Stone continues the adventures of Senku and his allies as they continue to attempt to revive the petrified human civilization. The newly established Tsukasa Empire, who believe that only the best of humanity should be revived, are all that stand in their way.
Dr. Stone was a big hit, and this second season continues to impress. Its fantastic story is a riveting tale and an absolute must-watch for any fan of science fiction.
14 Shaman King (2021)
This classic series was cut short in its original adaptation, leaving much of the original manga unadapted. This new series makes a second attempt at adapting this supernatural tale following Yoh Asakura, a young boy who aims to become the Shaman King, a being that can become one with the Great Spirit.
Shaman King is a dream come true for fans of the series who regretted that the original never managed to fully adapt the manga. Although the anime speeds things up in order to fit everything into 52 episodes, it is still a must-watch for fans.
13 Those Snow White Notes
Setsu Sawamura moves to Tokyo after the death of his grandfather. Unable to play the shamisen due to his grandfather's dying wish, Setsu looks for a way to further understand his shamisen playing and recover his lost passion for the art.
Those Snow White Notes is a calming slice of life anime that delves into the struggles of musicians and those who have passion. Setsu's struggle to find his own playing style is something that many musicians, artists, and creatives can certainly relate to.
12 Komi Can't Communicate
Of the many anime series that came out in 2021, Komi Can't Communicate was easily the most popular. The show follows the adventures of the beautiful yet shy Shoko Komi, who wants to make 100 friends at her new high school.
Viewers immediately fell in love with the show's quirky characters and delicate mix of offbeat humor and sweet adolescent romance. Komi Can't Communicate is easily one of the best romantic comedies of the year 2021, and fans wait with bated breath for the next season to arrive.
11 The Case Study Of Vanitas
In a world where vampires live secretly with humans, those bearing malmomen are cursed, causing them to desire human blood. While vampires who are cursed must be killed, Vanitas, a human “doctor,” claims to have the ability to cure them of their curse.
The Case Study of Vanitas is a series by Jun Mochizuki, the creator of Pandora Hearts, and it clearly shows in its gorgeous artstyle and distinctive characters. This story puts a unique spin on the vampire genre and is a must-watch for supernatural anime fans.
10 SSSS.Dynazenon
Yomogi Asanaka is a normal high school boy. However, when he crosses paths with his mysterious classmate Yume Minami, the unemployed Koyomi Yamanaka, and self-proclaimed "Kaiju User" Gauma, he becomes caught up in a battle against the kaiju laying waste to his city.
SSSS.Dynazenon is the follow-up to the popular SSSS.Gridman, and fans of the former will get the same heroic mecha action here. Dynazenon's mechanics are interesting, and the relationships between the main characters are intriguing. It may not be the best mecha anime out in 2021, but that doesn't mean it's not great.
9 Kemono Jihen
Supernatural detective Kohachi Inugami meets a strange boy during one of his cases. He soon learns that the boy, whose real name is Kabane Kusaka, is a hanyo, and invites him to join his detective agency, where he deals with incidents surrounding supernatural kemono.
Kemono Jihen is a fun supernatural anime that explores Japanese mythological demons in an inventive way. The characters are quite quirky, and the cases are always unique. While it is a little generic, it still has some very exciting moments for viewers to enjoy.
8 Mushoku Tensei
An unemployed, overweight man with no prospects in life suddenly performs his first deed of heroism – and dies in the process. He is unexpectedly reincarnated as a young boy named Rudeus Greyrat in a world of swords and sorcery, and resolves to make the most of his new life.
Mushoku Tensei is an isekai with a familiar premise, but it that utilizes its setting to its fullest potential. Rudeus's motivation to make sure that he doesn't waste his life is a very relatable feeling, and his fear of possibly returning to his former ways makes him a sympathetic protagonist.
7 The Duke Of Death And His Black Maid
A young nobleman is cursed by a witch so that anything he touches dies. Shunned by his friends and even his family, the duke now lives alone in a mansion, but his loneliness is abated by his maid Alice, and romance begins to bloom between the two of them.
The Duke of Death and His Black Maid is an incredible supernatural romance story, and while it might not seem like it, it has a fair amount of conflict as well to keep the story interesting. This anime is a very heartwarming series that will capture the attention of any romance fan.
6 Sakugan
In a world where humanity is stuck underground for mysterious reasons, an unusually intelligent young girl named Memempu dreams of becoming a marker and finding the place that constantly appears in her dreams. Though her father Gagumber is against the idea, a tragic event serves as the catalyst for them to start their adventure.
Sakugan is an exciting adventure anime that has moments of comedy, drama, and suspense. The main cast are hilarious and rambunctious, and their silly shenanigans are a delight to watch unfold.
5 My Hero Academia (Season 5)
One of Weekly Shonen Jump's most popular series is back with another season of exciting superhero action. This season starts with a competition between Class 1-A and Class 1-B, but suspicious actions by numerous villains under the surface threaten the state of hero society itself.
While Season 5 is not on the level as some of the preceding seasons, it proves that My Hero Academia is still going strong as always. Fans of the ever-popular superhero anime will have their hunger satiated by this season's events.
4 Attack On Titan: The Final Season
Attack on Titan returns with a brand new season taking place four years after the previous season. This season switches perspective to the land of Marley, and Warrior Unit candidates Gabi Braun and Falco Grice are the new protagonists.
The new season of Attack on Titan changes the landscape considerably, altering the viewpoint of the audience temporarily while also advancing time four years into the future. The anime is as tense and action-packed as it has always been, and the animation is better than ever.
3 86
The Republic of San Magnolia is under attack by Legions, autonomous machines that attack relentlessly and endlessly. To combat them, they send Juggernauts piloted by the denizens of district 86, though they cover this up and pretend that the Juggernauts are autonomous. Vladilena “Lena” Milize wants to end this cruel treatment of the 86, but finds herself stuck between her ideals and reality.
86 is a wartime mecha series that covers themes of racism, inequality, and the horrors of battle. Lena Milize's attempts to connect with Shinei Nouzen and the members of the Spearhead Squadron are both heartrending and tragic.
2 Tokyo Revengers
Takemichi Hanagaki wakes up one day to find out that his ex-girlfriend Hinata Tachibana has died in an incident caused by the Tokyo Manji Gang. Later, when he accidentally falls onto train tracks, he is suddenly sent back in time twelve years, and soon realizes that he can use this ability to save Hinata.
Tokyo Revengers is a riveting tale about delinquent gangs in Japan and time travel. Takemichi's desperate struggle to save his friends and his former girlfriend is full of tension, and it makes for an exciting series that is beloved by viewers everywhere.
1 Ranking Of Kings
Prince Bojji is deaf, mute, and extremely weak – a combination that leads the people of his kingdom to consider him completely unfit to be king. However, a chance encounter with someone who turns out to be his first true friend sends him on a path to find his destiny.
What initially seems like a childish show quickly gives way to one of the most tragic yet heartwarming shows of 2021. However, there's more to it than that. There's a lot of darkness and complex motivation hiding under the surface, making Ranking of Kings a complex story.