Battle shounen anime refer to series that are, naturally, based on shounen manga and focus on competitions or fights to decide their storylines. While shounen tends to be heavily associated with these types of anime, in reality, they only make up a sliver of the category's offerings. They just happen to be the most marketable and beloved.

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While the likes of Dragon Ball ZJoJo's Bizarre AdventureOne PieceHunter x Hunter, My Hero Academia, and Demon Slayer dominate the public discourse, there are many other great battle shounen shows that deserve more attention. Here are 10 lesser-known battle shounen anime worth checking out once the heavy hitters are out of the way.

10 GetBackers

The main cast of GetBackers.

More often than not, time is a product's worst enemy. Adapted into an anime in 2002, GetBackers was well-received at the time and still has a positive reputation, but it never quite managed to reach "classic" status.

Focusing on two friends who run a retrieval service, GetBackers blends an action-heavy and compelling central narrative with standalone episodes that tend to be more comedic in nature. It handles both styles quite well. At 49 episodes, GetBackers does not overstay its welcome and might even motivate some viewers to pick up the manga.

9 World Trigger

With season 2 finally confirmed to be in production, it has never been a better time to jump into World Trigger. Toei's action series takes place in an alternate version of Earth that has to contend with the emergence of a strange gate to another world and the entities, Neighbors, that come out of it.

World Trigger has an admittedly slow start, as its main characters come across as quite bland during the first few episodes. However, it picks up a lot of steam around episode 22 and only gets better from there.

8 Karakuri Circus

By the same author responsible for Ushio and ToraKarakuri Circus's anime does not quite reach the heights touched by the former's adaptation, but it still delivers some great moments. Following three characters who are all dragged into a puzzling and slightly terrifying underworld ruled by puppeteers, Karakuri Circus' first cour is a burst of high-octane battles, character development, and '90s-esque imagery.

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After that point, the anime tries to sprint through the manga's chapters and ends up losing its way, although the fight scenes remain enjoyable throughout.

7 Zatch Bell!

Gash Bell & Kiyomaro Takamine in the Zatch Bell anime.

Lasting for 150 episodes, Zatch Bell! was a decent hit on Toonami during the mid-2000s. Nowadays, the anime tends to not be mentioned all that frequently, which is a shame as it is likely to impress fans of Beezlebub or any of the big three battle shounen series.

In this universe, the ruler of the demon world is determined through a battle royale that requires each contender to align with a human. Consequently, Takamine Kiyomaro ends up with the adorable (but hardly weak) Gash Bell. Zatch Bell! can be lighthearted, intense, and even surprising; most importantly, it is always entertaining.

6 Unlimited Psychic Squad

While 2008's Psychic Squad is also worth seeking out, 2013's spin-off can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of its parent series. Unlimited Psychic Squad improves upon its predecessor by shifting its main focus to Hyoubu Kyousuke, a powerful esper driven to protect his own kind from the persecution of humans. He is an antagonist in the main series but an anti-hero in the spin-off.

At just 12 episodes, Unlimited Psychic Squad moves at a frantic pace that never lets up. Every moment feels consequential, which is heightened by the fantastic animation and strong writing.

5 Flame of Recca

Recca Hanabishi from Flame Of Recca Powers Up

Flame of Recca is a '90s series that is an easy recommendation for fans of Naruto and Reborn! While it is not as good as either of those properties, Studio Pierrot's series more than holds its own as a fun anime about a high school student who follows the path of the ninja.

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While the action is quite bombastic, Flame of Recca grounds its fights in martial arts, a creative decision that adds weight and style to the battles.

4 Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan

Spawning two seasons, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan uses its first 24 episodes to carefully set up its rather expansive roster of characters. With the groundwork already done, the second season ramps up the excitement and action to craft a sequel that far surpasses its predecessor.

The anime revolves around Rikuo Nura, a teenager who is part-human and part-youkai. He is also the next in line to lead the Nura Clan, which is basically an army of demons. The first season can be a bit underwhelming, but it is worth sitting through for its follow up.

3 Ramen Fighter Miki

Ramen Fighter Miki is a forgotten comedy that pokes fun at battle shounen tropes. Mean-spirited and prone to violent outbursts, the titular character's daily routine involves heading out to deliver ramen before dropping everything to get into a fight. There are few things in life Miki Onimaru loves more than spreading a bit of pain.

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Ramen Fighter Miki does not divert from its status quo all that often, but its basic structure produces its fair share of hilarious scenarios and explosive battles.

2 Kekkaishi

Kekkaishi proves that sometimes simplicity is the way to go. As Kekkaishi, Yoshimura Sumimura and Tokine Yukimura are charged with protecting their high school from creatures known as Ayakashi. That is basically the entire premise of this 52 episode anime, but Kekkaishi makes the most of its basic concept.

With strong characters, entertaining action, and consistently memorable villains, Kekkaishi distills the tropes associated with battle shounen series to their purest forms. The end result is a fun anime that plays to its strengths and maintains a consistent level of quality.

1 The Law of Ueki

Ueki from The Law Of Ueki.

The Law of Ueki's protagonist can turn waste into trees. Suddenly, Luffy's stretching ability does not seem so uncool. Regardless of Kousuke Ueki's underwhelming power, The Law of Ueki is a surprisingly effective battle shounen series. Junior high school students are endowed with powers to compete in a contest to determine the next Celestial King, who is essentially this universe's god. Naturally, this leads to a lot of mayhem and many neat abilities.

Despite the unoriginal premise, The Law of Ueki stands out due to its characters. The anime does a great job of fleshing out most of its roster, with the majority being quite endearing.

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