What is Shonen? A genre you need to know 2023

What is Shonen? The anime genre you know and need to know more about

Anime and manga are entertainment media that have gained great popularity around the world. One of the most popular genres within these media is shonen, which focuses on the adventures of young characters struggling to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

Although many anime and manga fans have heard of this genre, they may not know much about its origins, the subgenres that exist and the recurring topics in its stories.

Therefore, this text will explore in detail what shonen is, how it has developed over the years, the key elements that define it and the most popular titles in the genre.

If you are a fan of anime and manga, or simply want to learn more about one of the most exciting and popular genres of Japanese animation, read on to discover everything you need to know about shonen.

What is shonen?

The term "shonen" is used to refer to a genre of manga and anime aimed primarily at a young male audience. The term shonen itself means "young" or "teenager" in Japanese, and refers to the age of the target audience.

Manga and anime of this genre tend to have a number of characteristics in common. For example, they tend to focus on the adventures of a young, heroic main character struggling to achieve an important goal.

Mostly the protagonist has the goal of reaching the top of his chosen field, be it the world of ninjas, pirates, superheroes, sports, wrestling or any other he encounters and wants to overcome.

Characters in this genre also tend to have a strong sense of justice and morality, and are often seen fighting powerful villains who pose a threat to their world or community.

In addition, these manga and anime tend to be very popular among young people, both in Japan and around the world, due to their exciting and action-packed storytelling style. In fact, it is these stories that are most often adapted for video games, toys and other consumer products.

What are the key elements of shonen?

There are several key elements that are usually present in the shonen genre of anime and manga, among which are:

Young protagonist

The main character is usually a young teenager or a child, who is in charge of driving the plot forward and facing the challenges presented to him or her.

Action and adventure

Shonen is usually filled with action and adventure scenes, in which characters fight villains and overcome obstacles to achieve their goals.

Superpowers or special abilities

Many of the shonen characters have special abilities, either through supernatural powers, special combat techniques, or the use of special weapons or tools.

Character development

As the story progresses, the characters evolve and develop, learning from their mistakes and facing challenges that allow them to grow and mature.

Positive values

Shonen usually focuses on positive values such as friendship, loyalty, courage, perseverance and justice.

Humor

Many shonen series include comic elements to relieve the tension of the action and adventure scenes.

Subgenres

Shonen encompasses a wide variety of subgenres, such as science fiction, fantasy, sports and school drama, allowing for options for all kinds of tastes and preferences.

These key elements of shonen have been the basis of the genre since its inception, although they have evolved and adapted to the needs and tastes of new generations of anime and manga fans.

What subgenres exist in shonen?

As with other genres of anime and manga, shonen has several subgenres that focus on different themes, styles and tones. Here are some common examples of shonen subgenres:

Action and adventure

This is the most common subgenre of shonen, which focuses on action and adventure for the main characters as they fight villains and dangerous challenges. Popular examples include One Piece, Naruto, Dragon Ball and Hunter x Hunter.

Comedy

Comedy shonen focuses on making viewers and readers laugh, often through absurd situations and exaggerated characters. Popular examples include Gintama, One Punch Man and The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

Science fiction and fantasy

Science fiction and fantasy shonen focus on imaginary worlds and advanced technology, and may feature themes such as time travel, aliens and magic. Popular examples include Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist and My Hero Academia.

Sports

Sports shonen focus on specific sports, often featuring main characters competing in tournaments or championships. Popular examples include Haikyu!!!, Kuroko's Basketball and Eyeshield 21.

Superheroes

Superhero shonen focus on characters with superhuman abilities who fight evil and protect society. Popular examples include Boku no Hero Academia and One Punch Man.

These are just a few of the common subgenres in shonen, and as with any genre, there are a wide variety of styles and themes that can be found in different works of shonen anime and manga.

What is the relationship between shonen and seinen?

Shonen and seinen are two different genres of anime and manga that are often compared and contrasted with each other due to their differences in terms of audience, themes and tone.

Shonen is aimed primarily at a young male audience, while seinen is aimed at an adult male audience. Therefore, seinen content tends to be more mature, with more realistic and complex themes and situations. In contrast, shonen often focuses on adventure, action and fighting evil, with a lighter focus on emotional development and internal character conflicts.

Despite these differences, there are some similarities between shonen and seinen. Both genres often feature strong and dynamic characters, as well as epic stories involving challenges and struggles against evil. In addition, some themes, such as friendship, determination and self-improvement, are common to both genres.

How to differentiate between shonen and seinen?

The main difference between shonen and seinen is the target audience. Shonen is aimed at a young male audience, while seinen is aimed at an adult male audience. Therefore, the themes and tone of works in the two genres can differ significantly.

Here are some characteristics that can help differentiate between shonen and seinen:

Age of the protagonist

In shonen, the protagonist is usually a teenager or a young adult who is in early adolescence. In seinen, the protagonist is usually a young adult or a mature adult.

Topics

Themes in shonen tend to focus on adventure, fighting evil, friendship and self-improvement. In seinen, themes can be more mature and complex, such as politics, psychology, human drama and the exploration of social and cultural issues.

Level of violence and sexual content

The level of violence in shonen can be high, but is generally less explicit and graphic than in seinen. Similarly, sexual content may also be more explicit and graphic in seinen than in shonen.

History tones

The tone of the story in shonen is usually lighter and more upbeat, with a focus on action and adventure. In seinen, the tone can be darker and more realistic, with a focus on drama and exploration of complex themes.

It is important to keep in mind that these characteristics are not absolute and that some manga and anime may share characteristics of both genres. In addition, the drawing style and story direction may also vary between works of both genres.

What is the opposite of shonen?

The opposite of shonen is the genre of anime and manga known as "shojo". While shonen is aimed primarily at a young male audience, shojo is aimed at a young female audience.

Shojo manga and anime usually focus on interpersonal relationships, romance, friendship and everyday life, with female characters as protagonists. They often feature emotional and dramatic plots, and the drawing style may be softer and more detailed than in shonen.

However, like shonen, shojo can encompass a wide variety of genres and themes, from drama and romance to comedy and fantasy. There can also be overlap between the shonen and shojo genres, as both can deal with universal themes and appeal to a diverse audience.

Who is the daddy of the shonen?

The so called "father of shonen" is Osamu Tezuka. Born in 1928 in Osaka, Japan, Tezuka was a prolific artist and comic book artist and a pioneer in the manga industry.

Throughout his career, Tezuka created and contributed to numerous manga works, including many that are now considered classics of the shonen genre, such as Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack.

Tezuka's best known work is Astro Boy, which debuted in 1952 and became a great success not only in Japan, but also in other countries around the world.

The series, which tells the story of a robot boy who fights for justice, has been considered one of the first anime and shonen manga series and has influenced many manga and anime creators around the world.

What was the first anime to be classified as shonen?

The first anime to be categorized as shonen and considered the forerunner of the genre was "Tetsujin 28-go" ("Man of Steel 28" in English), which first aired in Japan in 1963.

Tetsujin 28-go was created by mangaka Mitsuteru Yokoyama and produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha animation studio. The series tells the story of a boy named Shotaro and his giant robot, Tetsujin 28, as they fight against evil and injustice.

The series was a huge success and laid the foundation for the shonen genre in anime and manga. Since then, many other shonen anime and manga have been created and have continued to influence popular culture in Japan and around the world.

What was the first manga to be classified as shonen?

The first manga to be categorized as shonen was "Manga Shonen", which was published by the Japanese publisher Kodansha in 1895. However, this publication was an anthology of various manga genres and did not focus exclusively on the shonen genre.

The first shonen manga that focused specifically on a young male audience and is considered to be the forerunner of the genre was "Rakudai Manga", created by Rakuten Kitazawa in 1902. The story focused on a high school student struggling to improve his academic grades and athletic skills.

Since then, many other shonen manga have been created and have continued to influence popular culture in Japan and around the world, becoming a very popular genre in the manga industry.

The evolution of shonen, from its origins to today's most popular titles.

The shonen genre has had a significant evolution from its origins in the 1950s to today's most popular titles. In its early days, shonen focused on adventure and action stories, with young male characters as protagonists, and themes mainly focused on heroes fighting evil and characters seeking strength to overcome their own limits.

As the genre became more popular in the 1960s and 1970s, stories began to diversify to include themes such as friendship, love, school life and comedy. In addition, female characters became present, and more complex themes such as identity and social justice were addressed.

In the 1980s and 1990s, shonen became darker and more violent, with stories dealing with more mature and complex themes, and subgenres such as mecha (giant robots), sports and science fiction began to be explored. Popular titles also emerged that defined the era, such as Dragon Ball, One Piece and Naruto, which have become benchmarks of the shonen genre.

Today, shonen remains a popular genre in anime and manga, with titles exploring everything from epic fantasy stories to realistic school dramas and light comedies.

The inclusion of female characters, LGBT themes and the exploration of more mature and complex themes have become increasingly common, which has kept shonen relevant and exciting for new generations of anime and manga fans.

Why is it so popular around the world?

Shonen is one of the most popular anime and manga genres worldwide for several reasons:

Action and adventure

Shonen is usually full of action and adventure scenes, which keep viewers on the edge of their seats and create a sense of excitement and adrenaline.

Charismatic protagonists

Shonen protagonists are usually young, charismatic characters who are easy to identify and connect with.

Positive values

Shonen tends to focus on positive values such as friendship, loyalty, courage and justice, which appeals to many viewers looking for inspirational stories with an uplifting message.

Diversity of subgenres

The diversity of shonen subgenres has also contributed to its popularity. From action and adventure titles to romantic dramas and comedies, there is something for everyone. Furthermore, shonen is not limited to one genre and often blends with other genres to create unique and exciting stories. For example, sci-fi shonen such as Gurren Lagann combines elements of mecha and action with an epic plot and exciting characters.

This variety in subgenres allows fans around the world to find something they like and connect with characters and plots that resonate with them. In addition, the different subgenres allow manga and anime creators to explore a wide range of themes and narrative approaches, which in turn allows the anime and manga industry to stay fresh and innovative.

In addition, the evolution of shonen over the years has allowed it to adapt to the demands and preferences of the public. In recent decades, there have been a number of shonen titles that have achieved worldwide popularity, including series such as Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, Bleach and Attack on Titan, among others.

These series have managed to transcend Japanese culture and have reached audiences around the world, becoming international phenomena. The popularity of shonen has also led to the creation of conventions and events dedicated exclusively to this genre, where fans can gather and share their love for these stories.

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