While One Piece and Dragon Ball may still be going strong, the current era of Shonen series is well past their generations. Long gone are the days of the Big Three and early 2000’s Shonen as anime sweethearts like Naruto, Bleach, and Death Note have seen their arguably fitting end.
Within the past few years, fans have seen a new crop of series arise from the time-tested magazine, with several of them even getting anime adaptations of late and conquering the Japanese airwaves. As modern readers and viewers begin to get tired of the same old, battle series formula, the new generation has seen popularity spread between a strong variety of genres, reinventing the wheel between suspense, sports, and even cooking. In celebration of the new era, let’s break down the 10 series that are currently ruling the Weekly Shonen Jump label.
Updated May 25, 2020 by Sean Cubillas: Weekly Shonen Jump is a constantly moving publisher whose lineup of greats and upstarts is always growing. When this list was originally written, it encapsulated what appeared to be the premier series of that time, but recent adaptations and growing successes within the publication have called for a check-up. Whether these are To-Be Heroes or series that left their mark in other ways, here are a few more Shonen series that this list just couldn't keep off its shelf.
15 Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man is by far the freshest on this list. Released in December 2018, this series helped qualm any worries that Shonen Jump was running out of ways to portray high-octane action. Denji is another young protagonist forsaken by a dead beat father whose actual death leaves him with a nearly insurmountable debt. With only his chainsaw dog, Pochita, at his side, Denji has to work odd jobs for the Yakuza.
That is until they betray him and sacrifice him to the Zombie Devil. However, Pochita sacrifices himself to save Denji, having him reborn as a Devil himself! Having been picked up by a Devil-fighting organization in the aftermath, Denji now struggles to fight Devils and find purpose in life.
14 We Never Learn
With Gintama ending within recent weeks, a giant hole developed in Shonen Jump’s comedy lineup. Comedy is a bit of a gimmick act within the magazine and the anime industry as a whole, as the rule of diminishing returns kind of keeps these series from picking up any real momentum. For the magazine, comedy manga are usually kept as the back issues, a little extra something to entertain dedicated readers and kids. Few series are able to escape the back let alone make the weekly rankings’ top ten, but We Never Learn somehow does it, currently standing as Jump’s top comedy series.
The series as a whole is typical for the high school/harem formula but with a neat gimmick in that the protagonist has to tutor girls who are geniuses within their own right but are terrible in their dream fields. The cast from there grows as the series begins to develop its own formula, gaining enough momentum to actually get its own anime within the most recent season. It certainly won’t break any ground against series like KonoSuba or even Gintama, but this series is keeping the comedy name alive for Japan’s leading magazine.
13 The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.
We Never Learn isn't the only comedy series on the block. Another entry to Shonen Jump's rogue's gallery of jokers is The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., a series that proves Mob Psycho 100 could be funnier. Kusuo Saiki isn't a normal, everyday high schooler, but he sure wants to be.
Gifted at birth with extraordinary psychic powers, Saiki seems to attract all sorts of trouble and odd characters when he lets his powers loose. Having to hide his powers from his friends and society as a whole, Saiki is a prime example that overpowered mutants have problems, too.
12 World Trigger
World Trigger is a sleeper hit that's been helping build the modern generation of Shonen series without many people knowing. However, it's developed a strong cult following, currently surviving its move to Jump Square, and has a second season in the works. The series itself focuses on a world ravaged by an alien invasion.
The Border Defense Agency must fight against strange creatures called "Neighbors," using the power of Triggers. Though the battle has gone on for ages, Border now seems to have a new weapon, when a Neighbor, Yuuma Kuga, suddenly joins their ranks in disguise.
11 Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Despite what was said earlier with Naruto supposedly ending and all, the classic series has actually recently taken upon the spinoff/sequel series route and decided to tell story of Naruto’s son. To give the series some unique credit, it does have some right to stand on its own as Masashi Kishimoto, in a similar fashion of Naruto to Boruto, actually passed off the series’ torch to one of his old assistants, Mikio Ikemoto, and Ukyo Kodachi, the writer for the Boruto: Naruto the Movie.
With the classic formula and fresh minds, the duo in recent years have been able to breathe in fresh life to the brand. With all the classic Naruto elements like exams, eccentric character designs, and fight animation that still puts other Shonen series to shame, Boruto puts a fresh coat of paint on a series that was beginning to be more known for its filler than actual content.
10 Hinomaru Sumo
No good generation of Jump can go without a good sports manga, and when a series like Hinomaru Sumo innately includes battles into its content, it’s destined for a strong following. The series focuses on the below-average-heighted Ushio Hinomaru as he tries to bring the prestige of sumo back into his school.
Using Shonen protagonist spunk, passion for the sport, and some genuinely interesting knowledge about combat sports, Hinomaru is able to beat the odds and actually make people interested in sumo wrestling. If you’re looking for a fun series with an underdog protagonist and great style/animation for its body anatomy, then maybe give this series a good look/watch through.
9 Black Clover
While not exactly looking to shift the genre too much, Black Clover is one of the earliest of its contemporaries to be released, meaning that it helped paved the way for the generation that we currently know.
Telling the story of the magically inept Asta as he tries to become the Wizard King (Note: This is not a Gintama parody.), Black Clover has kept the classic Shonen formula alive bringing high-octane battles, power systems, and friendship to the modern fan. The anime adaptation even has plenty of content, as it may be the first of its generation to surpass 100 episodes.
8 Nisekoi
Perhaps the biggest comedy series in Shonen Jump's modern age, Nisekoi has proven that the lovelorn stylings of a Shojo series can stand against the likes of wizards, pirates, and super powered aliens. The story focuses on two teenagers, Raku Ichijou and Chitoge Kirisaki, who are told that they must marry each other to fix the tensions between their rivaling yakuza families.
Raku, however, not only gets along terribly with Chitoge but also has a romantic promise with a childhood friend that he just can't quite remember. Adding on top a few other romantic interests, Nisekoi does one of the most hilarious juggling acts in romance anime history.
7 Assassination Classroom
Assassination Classroom is, unfortunately, one of the few series of Shonen Jump's modern age that has already ended; but to not give anything away too easily, the ending meshes well with the series' famous shifts between high energy and endearing quality. After an alien-like being destroys a large section of the moon and now threatens to destroy the Earth, the Japanese government is forced to give in to its demands and let it... teach high school.
Assassination Classroom is an incredibly unique series whose mascot is both a kindhearted teacher trying to turn around a down-on-its-luck classroom as well as a dangerous, alien being that the students train hard to assassinate.
6 Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma
Food Wars! is a series seen by everyone and their mother. But, given its content, its one that is not often seen by everyone with their mother. It’s a rare series that proves that Shonen Jump can not only make its fans interested but even excited for a thing like cooking.
And it does so for a variety of reasons, such as great animation, some of the best-looking food art seen outside of a Miyazaki or Shinkai movie, the classic Shonen, battle formula, and, of course, a little fan service here and here. It’s a series that can make its fans excited for food in more ways than one.
5 Haikyu!!
When Kuroko’s Basketball ended, much like Gintama, a giant hole was left in the heart of Shonen Jump, as people waited for their next big, sports anime obsession. They, however, did not have to wait long, as the world of anime was quickly able to change from basketball hoops to volleyball nets and a plucky, orange haired kid entered the scene.
Haikyu! as a manga/anime, not just a sports series, is able to maintain an excitement curve better than most, as its pacing, drama, and characters keep the viewer invested with every point. And with it came a cult following that arguably surpassed that of Kuroko’s Basketball, as it becomes hard to enter any Hot Topic or high school hallway without seeing some Haikyu!! t-shirt or backpack. If it’s able to get people that invested into volleyball, then it’s probably doing something right.
4 Dr. Stone
Not since Death Note have fans gotten a Shonen Jump series that focused more on a thinking man’s game than fighting as well as had asymmetric planning and consequences, let alone one that’s able to do so while crafting a world of fantastical magnitude. Fortunately for us, one such series has been consistently topping the Shonen rankings within recent years and even has an anime adaptation coming very soon.
Dr. Stone explores a world where a massive event has turned everyone into stone, and it’s up to our heroes within a distant future to both save everyone as well as rebuild society. In doing so, they kind of have to make careful choices as to who to save first with moral and ethical dilemmas and enemies developing from there. Be glad that we no longer have to wait too long for the anime.
3 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Demon Slayer is another one of those series that has been topping the recent Shonen rankings, even long before the announcement of its anime, as it spins tales of samurai children fighting demons and family tragedy. If that doesn’t sound special to you, don’t worry. It’s the little things that help Demon Slayer stand apart from other series, such as the fact that its main protagonist isn’t exactly loud mouthed, self-centered, or obnoxious as he is homely and awkward, bringing an almost Andy Griffith vibe to Jump’s lineup.
On top of that, a lot of Shonen protagonists don’t exactly have goals as much as they have dreams, dreams of becoming the best or king of something. As odd as it may seem, something as simple as a revenge story can become incredibly refreshing in Jump, especially given an incredible classic Japanese background. It certainly helps if the anime adaptation is made by Ufotable, a studio known for animating pretty good fights.
2 The Promised Neverland
Within the same vain as Dr. Stone comes a Shonen battle series that goes several chapters and even its entire first season without a single fight. Instead, The Promised Neverland gives excitement to its fans via suspense, horror, and Death Note-like strategy as a group of children have to use their wits to escape demons trying to eat them as well as reform the overlying society that allows it.
And, as much as I’ve been giving Death Note credit as the thinking person’s series, The Promised Neverland gets major points for making altruism actually interesting, as the goal and conflict of saving everyone develops interesting plot points and downright clever and inspiring solutions. Don’t expect any big training montages in this series, as each chapter/episode plays as a domino effect running at the speed of a locomotive. If you’re planning on getting into the series, be prepared for a series with no exact stops.
1 My Hero Academia
While many might’ve been expecting it, there are few series that could top a list such as this, and we kind of have to give it to someone pretty deserving. My Hero Academia is the epitome of success within Shonen Jump’s modern age. It’s had plenty of Western hype and a seasonal release schedule that actually releases plenty of content consistently, which is something that not even Attack on Titan could promises.
In under five years, the series has seen three anime seasons, a widely successful movie, a video game, and even a spot in Jump Force (whatever that’s worth). Taking the reins after Kishimoto finished Naruto and capitalizing on the superhero trend that’s been hitting the world, My Hero Academia has been living proof that the decades old magazine still has plenty of young blood left to offer.