Fairy Tail is a popular shonen series that was talked about quite a bit when it was in its heyday. While the premise of this title is pretty generic and par for the course when it comes to a fantasy series, the fun characters, good world-building, and intense battle sequences more than make up for it.
Watching Natsu and his allies fight against adversity time and time again is quite engaging, especially when they use the power cultivated in their bonds to attain victory against all odds. While this power of friendship may rear its head a few too many times for the liking of fans, Fairy Tail is worth checking out for fans of great shonen series that are simple yet emotionally engaging. But for fans looking for a different series to check out, here are some to consider.
7 Naruto
Masashi Kishimoto is one of the most renowned mangaka of all time, and the bulk of his popularity stems from the work he did on Naruto. This series is pretty unanimously loved by most shonen fans despite the many times it stumbles in the latter stages. These mistakes do not take away from Naruto's impressive world-building and emotional storyline.
The power systems make a lot of sense (until the end, when Naruto and Sasuke essentially become gods), which is a rarity in most shonen anime. Fans of Fairy Tail will love this complex and legendary anime that is truly in a class of its own.
6 Bleach
It's a shame that Bleach's storyline was constantly marred by poorly-explained powerups and repetitive narratives, since the formula was here for something really special. Watching Ichigo transform from a fledgling Shinigami into a Bankai wielder is a blast, even if the majority of these powerups took place within the first major arc itself.
With The Thousand-Year Blood War's adaptation being pretty beloved in its own right, fans can't wait to see how Yhwach's threat is taken care of, given how powerful he is. The ending of this arc in the manga was pretty disappointing, and fans can only hope that the adaptation changes things somewhat to make the ending easier to digest.
5 My Hero Academia
It's amazing how a storyline about superheroes is somehow relevant in the creative medium of anime, but that's precisely what makes My Hero Academia so riveting. The manner in which the hero-villain dynamic is dealt with in this title is pretty great and does a great job of keeping viewers invested for the long haul.
The story has had its lulls, but the Paranormal Liberation War arc put any doubts to bed with the jam-packed action featured in this epic conflict. With the setting of the show going through a dramatic twist, anime fans can't wait to see how later seasons will tackle the hard-hitting moments of the manga.
4 Fullmetal Alchemist
One of the greatest manga ever written, Fullmetal Alchemist was such a wonderful series that it received the rare honor of being adapted twice, since the first adaptation veered off in a completely different direction. Seeing the entire story be adapted in Brotherhood was a treat for fans who knew that this show deserved better.
Alchemy is easily one of the best power systems in manga history, being clear, concise, and extremely cool to boot. Fullmetal Alchemist is about Edward and his brother Alphonse as they try to recover what they lost after a botched Human Transmutation. The story is a riveting one that will keep many people engaged till the very end.
3 Demon Slayer
A series that has blown up because of Ufotable's incredible animation, many people have refused to read Demon Slayer's manga simply because they're content with enjoying the amazing visuals and weapons. While this is understandable, fans don't realize what they're missing out on.
The manga is excellent in its own right and has already finished, meaning that people whose curiosity can't be controlled already know how the series ends. Given that most people aren't complaining, it's easy to see that the conclusion has been a satisfactory one, and it's only a matter of time before Ufotable injects it with its signature flair.
2 Dragon Ball
A legendary shonen manga that needs no introduction, the fact that Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball is somehow still relevant to this day is a testament to just how successful this series has really been. Goku's story transitioned from an adventure manga to a battle-focused one and hasn't looked back ever since.
The exploits of Goku and Vegeta are still talked about to this day, and fans are still eagerly awaiting the news of a new series or movie that will add another chapter to the legacy of Dragon Ball. Until then, fans can always catch up with the manga, which is still going strong to this day.
1 One Piece
One of the longest-running shonen series that has attracted a large and devoted fanbase, One Piece is the only member of the legendary Big Three that hasn't witnessed a conclusion yet. It's a testament to Eiichiro Oda's brilliant storytelling that fans have gotten even more invested in the narrative, which is impressive for a manga with more than a thousand chapters.
Luffy may be goofy and doesn't seem all that interesting at first, but the simplicity of this protagonist is what makes him pretty likable. The Straw Hat Pirates are full of absolute gems, and fans of Fairy Tail who loved the friendship dynamic will find all that and more when they start reading One Piece.