Most of the time, shonen anime stories tend to focus on long arcs. Naruto, One Piece, and many other shonen series focus on long, epic story arcs, and that's what draws many of their fans. The arc-based storytelling style is now emblematic of shonen anime, and many anime lovers starting a new shonen series expect to see big, arc-focused stories.
However, not all shonen anime focus on long story arcs. While they may still have overarching plots and a general goal, these shonen anime focus more on episodic storylines, focusing on shorter, tighter stories than longer narratives that might get exhausting. Here are some shonen anime that land more on the episodic side of things.
10 Lost Universe
Kane Blueriver is a Trouble Contractor, a freelancer who wanders space with his ship the Sword-Breaker, piloted by his onboard AI, Canal Volfield. Along with the rambunctious and carefree Millie, Kane travels space solving trouble wherever he goes.
Lost Universe is a series from Slayers creator Hajime Kanzaka, and it is a science fiction adventure story. Kane Blueriver frequently gets into trouble with his job, and his adventures are both hilarious and exciting. While there are some recurring elements from story to story, the anime generally focuses on episodic adventures.
9 Barakamon
Seishu Handa is an up-and-coming calligrapher who gets sent out to a remote island after punching out a judge. He finds the entire experience stifling, but his experiences with the locals, including a young girl named Naru, help him start to appreciate life in the country.
Barakamon is an easy-going slice-of-life series that focuses on Handa's daily life as he acclimates to his new home. While the anime mostly focuses on small daily events, each story highlights the growth of the main character as he learns how to get along with his new neighbors.
8 Good Luck Girl!
Ichiko Sakura is beautiful, smart, wealthy - as well as spoiled, selfish, and narcissistic. Her life changes when a misfortune god named Momiji appears before her and explains that as a baby, she was born with far more fortune energy than a normal human being. In order to establish balance in the world, Momiji's job is to take her fortune energy away by making her life as hard as possible.
Good Luck Girl! is an action-comedy series with a very unusual protagonist. Ichiko starts off the series as a spoiled brat, but as the series goes on, she undergoes a lot of character development and changes for the better.
7 You're Under Arrest
Natsumi Tsujimoto is newly assigned to the Bokuto Police Station. There, she meets Miyuki Kobayakawa, her new partner who shows her the ropes. The two bond over their shared interest in motorbikes, and they quickly become fast friends.
You're Under Arrest is a story about police officers doing their duty from day to day. While the show is largely a slice-of-life story, there is an ample amount of action due to the nature of the work. The show also has ample amounts of comedy and heart and is a show that nearly anyone can enjoy.
6 The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.
Kusuo Saiki is a normal high school student - except he has numerous supernatural abilities, including psychokinesis and telepathy. Wanting to live a normal life, Saiki tries his best to hide his powers as he is forced to deal with bizarre characters and odd situations.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is an incredibly hilarious series that relies on the unique facets of the many characters, including Saiki. The series is very episodic, but every episode is a raucous bundle of laughs that will keep fans rolling on the floor.
5 Sket Dance
At Kaimei High School, there is a unique club called the Sket-dan, which devotes itself to helping out its fellow classmates. With the technological savant "Switch," the hockey-stick wielding "Himeko," and their multi-talented leader "Bossun," the three members spend their day-to-day solving problems for the school.
Sket Dance is a great comedy series about the Sket-dan as they deal with the varied and bizarre cast of characters that attend their school. The hijinks they get up to are hilarious, and the bond between the three main characters is undeniably strong.
4 Digimon Adventure
While on their school summer camp, seven children are transported to the Digital World by accident. Termed the DigiDestined, the children each befriend a Digital Monster, or Digimon, and work together to find a way home and save both of their worlds from a great evil.
Digimon is nowadays an iconic franchise, and many people who were kids in the 90s remember the show fondly. While there is an overarching storyline, the anime generally focuses on short, episodic adventures for most of its run.
3 Ranma 1/2
Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo are set to be wed by their fathers in order to fulfill an old promise. However, Ranma isn't so much interested in getting married as he is in his current predicament: when he gets hit by cold water, he turns into a girl, and can only turn back with hot water!
Ranma 1/2 is one of many series created by Rumiko Takahashi, and it is certainly one of her best. While there are a few short arcs here and there, the majority of the series is focused on episodic stories, mostly goofy shenanigans that involve the diverse and quirky cast getting into all sorts of trouble.
2 Slayers
Lina Inverse is a genius sorcerer, with spells powerful enough to kill a dragon. With her erstwhile companion Gourry Gabriev, Lina travels the world righting wrongs while wringing out as much money as she can from the people she helps or the bandits she beats.
Slayers is a high fantasy action-comedy, one that parodies the usual conventions of fantasy stories and RPGs. The characters are quirky and hilarious, and the worldbuilding is absolutely fantastic. This series is one of the best shows from the 90s, and its influence is still felt today.
1 Gintama
Feudal-era Japan is invaded by aliens called Amanto, who transform the country into an uber-advanced technological paradise. The samurai who tried to defend Japan are now bereft of their swords, and the Amanto control the planet behind the scenes. As the people of Edo continue to live their lives under Amanto rule, Gintoki Sakata and his Odd Jobs crew keep the spirit of samurai alive.
Gintama is one of the funniest anime series of all time, and it's only more impressive because of its ability to shift tones to darker and more serious subjects. While it too has arcs and overarching storylines, a large part of its run is made up of episodic stories.