The world of shonen anime is famed for its many conventions, running jokes and themes, and hit series such as Naruto, Bleach, Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia are genre staples, among many others old and new. One of the best parts of shonen fiction is the protagonist, and shonen protagonists rank among the best-known heroes in all of anime.
Shonen protagonists don't just come out of a mold. In the modern era, these characters vary widely in their appearance, personality, skills, powers, worldview and more, from Monkey D. Luffy to Senku Ishigami and Izuku Midoriya, among others. Still, there are some simple, basic traits that unite all these characters, serving as the building blocks for any shonen hero. These traits are the bedrock for any shonen story.
10 Shonen Heroes Are Proactive
Being proactive is a great trait not just for a shonen character, but indeed, the protagonist of any story of any genre. For contrast, a passive character is one with no initiative, and they might just sit around until something happens to them. Conversely, things happen because of an active lead character.
Only active lead characters are fun to watch or read about, since they get things done and impact the story around them. This is especially true for shonen, because young viewers want to cheer on a hero who gets things done. Luffy, Ichigo, Yusuke and Eren are always up to something.
9 Shonen Heroes Have Clear Goals
This is another universal trait of all fictional protagonists, shonen or otherwise. A hero shouldn't just do things; they should be doing these things with a clear purpose in mind. In real life, some people have clear goals for themselves, such as getting into grad school, getting a promotion, buying a house or getting into shape. Having goals is highly relatable.
Fictional characters need goals to drive them and give the story a sense of progress, and it's immensely satisfying when a shonen lead accomplishes a major step in achieving those goals. Naruto strove to become Hokage or Izuku seeks to become the new symbol of peace, for example.
8 Shonen Heroes Have Grit
This is yet another trait that is fairly universal in all types of fiction, but it is especially relevant for action heroes, such as in thriller novels and, of course, shonen anime. Grit is when the character can withstand failure and hardship without giving up, and persist in their endeavors.
Grit is most common to underdogs and people who have everything to prove, since they can't simply use their immense powers or influence to get what they want. This is usually what sets heroes apart from villains. Sosuke Aizen doesn't need grit, but Ichigo Kurosaki sure does, if he intends to save the day.
7 Shonen Heroes Are Underdogs
Being an underdog is a status as well as a trait, and it's a status that might gradually change over time as the hero gets stronger. Shonen protagonists shouldn't start off powerful and influential; they must start with little, and face rivals and villains who hold all the cards.
Being an underdog gives the hero a chance to show off their true grit, and underdogs undergo many changes in the story as they fight to close the gap between them and their enemies. Izuku Midoriya was born Quirkless, for example, and Jonathan Joestar was a mortal man facing an immortal vampire, Dio Brando. Those are steep odds.
6 Shonen Heroes Are Brave
Having incredible courage is loosely similar to having grit, and any gritty underdog is bound to have a serious dash of courage. Often, shonen heroes need unbreakable courage because they are the underdog who faces overwhelming odds, in fact.
A cowardly or timid hero won't get much done, and they'll cut and run if things get too tough. But a brave action hero will stand up to powerful villains and rivals and fight, no matter the risks, and this is always an admirable trait. But it shouldn't be confused with reckless arrogance or a lack of self-control.
5 Shonen Heroes Are Loyal To Their Friends
Having good friends is a wonderful thing in real life and fiction, and friends can support a person in all sorts of ways, from emotional support to aiding them in a fight or just providing some inspirational words. In fact, "the power of friendship" is a common trope in shonen fiction.
Shonen heroes never fight for just themselves. They also fight to save the world and protect the people important to them, such as Naruto fighting for his fellow villagers, Ichigo fighting to defend his pals, or Natsu Dragneel battling fearsome foes to protect his Fairy Tail guildmates.
4 Shonen Heroes Are Optimistic
This is one factor that sets shonen apart from seinen fiction. In seinen, the protagonist might be a bitter or jaded antihero, such as Guts the mercenary or Thorfinn Karlsefni, and they might be downright pessimistic. But that's not how shonen heroes operate.
Shonen heroes always see the best in themselves, their friends and the world, and they may inspire onlookers or even the villain with their stubborn optimism and faith in the future. Senku Ishigami, for example, firmly believes that all of humanity is worth restoring, and he won't leave anyone behind. He envisions a wonderful future, unlocked with brilliant science.
3 Shonen Heroes Have Their Humble Side
Some shonen heroes are much more humble than others are; some are actually arrogant and vain much of the time, but even they have their limits. Only villains totally lack humility, while shonen heroes will admit their weaknesses, especially if they're pushed to the brink.
Sooner or later, every good shonen hero will directly or indirectly admit that they must grow stronger and smarter to achieve their goals, and accept help from trainers and allies. Such humility might go unspoken the entire time, but it's definitely there. Edward Elric, meanwhile, freely admitted that he's just one guy who can't even save one little girl (Nina) who needed him.
2 Shonen Heroes Are Cooperative
Being a team player is related to the shonen values of humility and being loyal to friends, and everyone likes a cooperative person. In fact, My Hero Academia's official character stats always include a metric for how cooperative people are. Izuku is particularly cooperative, while Katsuki Bakugo is not.
Cooperative heroes can get much more done in a group than alone, and this can change everything when the heroes are facing powerful foes. Team-oriented shonen heroes can devise creative combos and new attacks with their allies, too.
1 Shonen Heroes Are Compassionate
Only villains have a total lack of compassion or kindness toward others. In fact, some villains actually do have their charitable side, and if they can have compassion, then shonen heroes can, too. Shonen heroes vary somewhat on this, but they all have at least a little compassion, and typically have a lot.
A kind, generous personality is always an asset for a shonen hero, and characters such as Tanjiro Kamado, Izuku Midoriya and Yuji Itadori are all great examples of this. A shonen hero is far more likable if they aren't just strong, but also gentle. Their strength doesn't mean much if they can't or won't help the people around them.