Overarching all of the countless genres and subgenres of anime are the ways they are marketed, which splits up popular anime into 5 main demographics: Shonen, Seinen, Shojo, Josei, and Kodomomuke. Shonen anime may be the most popular and well known marketing demographic, catering to younger boys from tweens to teens.
Iconic Shonen Anime Protagonists, Ranked By Their Power
Seinen anime is similar to Shonen, but is targeted towards adult males over 18 years old. The differences between Shonen and Seinen aren't always clear, since a lot of the shows are similar in genre, ideas, characters, and more, yet the main difference is how mature the content is. Anime fans who love Seinen anime and manga are sure to enjoy these Shonen anime with more intense, gorey, dark, or mature themes.
Updated March 10, 2022, by Jourdan Silva: As more exciting Shonen anime are on the rise, there are Seinen anime fans all over opening their horizons to the younger-audience shows. Mature topics can be found in most Shonen anime, featuring violence, relationships, social controversies, and injustice. With so many wonderful Shonen anime out there, it would be remiss for a Seinen anime fan to pass up watching them. While some Shonen shows are still being released and aren't complete yet, others are finished and just waiting to be binged. Tick off each show on this list and enjoy the thrills of deep themes, complex story lines, and relatable characters.
14 The World Ends With You
Based on the Square Enix video game from 2007, The World Ends With You follows a collection of unfortunate youth who are stuck in a world in between life and death. Here, they must complete in a Reaper's Game to earn their chance to come back to life. The show depicts the challenge occurring in an alternate version of Shibuya, Tokyo, where the players must fight enemies with their newfound powers alongside their game partners.
It is the perfect show for those who enjoyed playing the original game back in the early 2000s, as it keeps the same charm and action as the game while diving more into the scenic and deep elements of the story and characters. The show accurately depicts the loneliness, confusion, and darkness of the alternate world the characters have to survive in, with a mysterious plot that keeps viewers hooked until the last episode.
13 To Your Eternity
Though this impeccable anime is marketed in Weekly Shonen Magazine, it could very much so be marketed as Seinen. The intricate themes are incredibly deep and powerful, following a shape-shifting immortal being learning what it means to be human. Starting from a rock and developing into a human boy, the main character learns about the various complex aspects of living through many influential people he meets in his journey.
The main character's growth is unlike any other Shonen series currently airing, and the beautiful music, colors, and animation are not to be missed. Life, death, love, and bravery, are only a few of the powerful themes built upon in this visually stunning series. A second season is set to air later in 2022, so be sure to catch up before it comes out.
12 Death Note
Odds are, most fans of Seinen anime have already seen this masterpiece of an anime. Anime fans who haven't yet seen Death Note are few and far between. This dark crime anime is filled with all the fantastic elements that build up a Seinen anime: incredibly complex characters, mature situations, life-threatening risks, and intricate relationships between the main protagonists and antagonists.
The show follows Light Yagami, a young adult who gains the power of the Death Note, a book that allows its holder to kill any person by writing their name in it. As Light begins ridding the world of criminals, top detective L aims to identify the mass killer and take him down. The main point-of-view in the show is from the eyes of the murderous anti-hero, rather than the typical "good guy detective" character, which makes for a very interesting series. It is truly a must-watch for all fans of dark shows.
11 Fire Force
Set in a post apocalyptic world after a massive solar event wiped out most of earth's inhabitants with raging fires, a large community in Tokyo depends on the Special Fire Force Company, a group of outcast pyrokinetics with the ability to produce fire from their limbs.
The plot thickens as main character Shinra uncovers the secrets of the death of his family when he was younger. He sets his sights to stop the White Clad doomsday cult who want to trigger another earth-shattering solar event. While the story of this anime is exciting enough to entertain fans of all kinds of anime, the characters, mysteries, music, and action-sequences absolutely elevate the viewing experience.
10 Jujutsu Kaisen
It's no surprise that Jujutsu Kaisen was Crunchyroll's 2020 Anime of the Year winner, being a fantastic anime with a fresh, unique storyline, fully developed characters, and incredible action scenes. It may be marketed as a Shonen, but it definitely stands out as an anime for people of all genders and ages. It is dark, gruesome, deep, emotional, fun, and a thrill to watch.
With gory scenes and plenty of exciting battles between supernatural forces and those trained to protect humanity from them, it's a must-watch for plenty of anime fans. Anyone who enjoys shows about exorcism, curses, magic, and moody teenagers will have a blast watching Jujutsu Kaisen.
9 Elfen Lied
This dark anime from 2004 features very mature themes, including discrimination, criticisms of humanity, and vengence. The story follows Lucy, a person of the Diclonii species, who escapes her enslavement from a group of scientists and runs into two humans, Kouta and Yuka. Diclonius are a new species that nearly entirely resemble humans, except they have two horns protruding from their skull and invisible telekenetic arms that can be used for destruction. It's an interesting concept that offers a lot of critical thought to our modern society, something many Seinen anime fans would enjoy.
8 The Promised Neverland
A show that took the anime world by storm is The Promised Neverland, the dark fantasy series that offers a plethora of mystery and horror. The first episode alone is enough to scare the socks off of viewers, and the rest of the first season will chill them to the bone. It's a unique concept that was portrayed in an incredibly creepy way, with enough mystery to keep fans of the show wanting more and more.
Even with the main characters being children, the themes are very mature and are too scary for a child to want to watch. Murder, enslavement, terrifying mystery, and high suspence fill this spooky anime. However, since the original manga was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump, it is officially classified as a Shonen.
7 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
This highly acclaimed anime truly has it all. Epic fight scenes, deep storylines, fantastic character developments, interesting relationships, and such a beautifully designed sci-fi world that will keep fans binging the series over and over. It's likely that most Seinen anime fans have already seen this anime, as it is over a decade old and reigns as one of the most beloved shows in anime history.
The second series in the franchise, FMA: Brotherhood, is an engaging and exciting to watch anime that all anime fans are sure to enjoy. The show isn't too drawn out like some other Shonen anime and is highly praised for its satisfying ending.
6 Deadman Wonderland
After a devastating earthquake destroyed a majority of Tokyo, a combination prison and amusement park was built to bring in revenue to the city. The main protagonist, Ganta Igarashi, is framed for the murder of his entire classroom and is thrown into the dangerous and disgusting world of the prison, named Deadman Wonderland.
The concept is fresh and new, offering a dark mystery and evil scheming characters that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. Be warned that the animation studio went out of business so there won't be a second season, but the first season is too good not to binge.
5 Attack on Titan
There are few anime fans who haven't at least heard of this award-winning show. It is set in one of the creepiest, bone-chilling fantasy worlds, with characters who are faced with constant turmoil and death. Eren Jeager and his two childhood friends join the military after their once peaceful home is destroyed by Titans, the gigantic humanoid creatures that haunt the earth.
They meet some of the most fantastically developed characters and must band together to find out the secrets of the Titans and how they can stop their murderous rampage over their home. Every plot twist will leave jaws on the floor.
4 Tokyo Revengers
Stuck in a supernatural predicament where he can transport his consciousness 12 years into the past, Takemichi Hanagaki is determined to change the past and save his ex-girlfriend and her younger brother from being killed by a notorious Tokyo gang.
A story featuring violent gangs and street wars, along with the fantastical time-traveling twist, this show is perfect for anyone looking for a unique new story. A live action film adaptation of Tokyo Revengers was released in July 2021.
3 Demon Slayer
There's no question as to why Demon Slayer's debut cinematic film broke records and became the highest grossing film of 2020. The series gained an immense fan following and the movie was released at the peak of the anime's hype.
Though the show definitely has some typical Shonen tropes, it approaches them in a new and refreshing way. The characters are lovable, the cinematography is stunning, and the music compliments the story beautifully. The show is very successfully put together and will take viewers on a nail-biting journey through the mystical side of Japan.
2 Akame Ga Kill
Another anime that creates a violent fantasy world to criticize our own modern day government is Akame ga Kill, a one season show with deadly villains and so many plot twists, audiences won't know how to feel by the end of it.
The entire show is an emotional rollercoaster with relatable characters, powerful foes, and cherished relationships. Seinen fans are sure to enjoy the deeper themes in this fantastic series.
1 Seraph of the End
The post apocalypic world in this anime is one unlike any other. After a supernatural cataclysm killed off every single adult in the world and released demons and vampires to prey on the remaining humans.
A human orphan named Yuu joins Japan's most powerful military group after he loses his entire family in an attempt to escape their vampire-ruled prison. Now Yuu must rise in the ranks and utilize the power of demons to avenge his family... or be reunited with them.