The first anime that people think of as "shonen" would be series like Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Demon Slayer. They're all familiar and well-loved titles, but most parents wouldn't be too comfortable with screening them for their children.
There are plenty of excellent shonen anime across subgenres, including sports, fantasy, and slice of life. Looking for a shonen to watch with the kids or with parents? These titles may be family-friendly, but they're nothing to sneeze at.
10 Haikyuu!! - The Newbie Takes On The Prodigy
Who doesn't love a good volleyball anime? Haikyuu!! is an excellent start for anyone getting into sports anime.
After watching Karasuno High School's match on TV, Shoyo Hinata is inspired to revive his own middle school volleyball team. Unfortunately, his team is brutally beaten by Tobio Kageyama, also known as the "King of the Court," in their very first tournament match. Frustrated by the defeat, Shoyo enrolls at Karasuno High School, vowing to surpass Tobio. Despite his short stature, Shoyo's confident he can utilize his impressive jumping skills to overtake his rival.
9 Hikaru no Go - When A Ghost Becomes Your Teacher
Sports fans of all ages will find themselves rooting for their favorite go players in Hikaru no Go. This classic series focuses on Hikaru Shindo, a sixth-grader who discovers a go board while exploring his grandfather's attic. As soon as he touches it, he hears a mysterious voice and falls unconscious.
When Hikaru wakes up, the voice still echoes in his mind. He realizes that the voice belongs to the Fujiwara-no-Sai, the ghost of a talented go player. Sai's passion for go remains even after his passing; he strives to master a highly advanced technique that no player has achieved and is determined to reach his goal through Hikaru.
8 Yowamushi Pedal - An Otaku Learns The Beauty of Competitive Cycling
Fellow anime fans may see themselves in Sakamichi Onoda's shoes. A new school can be tough to maneuver, and there's nothing more nerve-wracking than trying to make new friends. Sakamichi is eager to join the school's anime club, only to discover that it's no longer in operation and no one's interested in starting it up again. Discouraged, Sakamichi takes his usual trip to Akihabara to cheer himself up. His transportation of choice? An old bicycle he's been using since fourth grade. His route of choice? A steep hill.
There, he runs into Shunsuke Imaizumi, an up-and-coming cyclist who uses the same route for practice. Shunsuke sees Sakamichi climb the same hill with his seemingly homely bike and challenges him to a race, promising to join the anime club if he loses. And this is how Sakamichi becomes immersed in the world of high school cycling.
7 My Hero Academia - Heroes Can Come From Anywhere
My Hero Academia is the perfect combination of comic book superheroes and battle shonen. Fans who love a good fighting anime without much gore will love this action-packed series. In the world of My Hero Academia, the majority of humans possess superpowers known as "Quirks," which can range from shapeshifting to super strength. Izuku Midoriya is the complete opposite — he's Quirkless. Bright-eyed, kind, and cheerful, Izuku wants nothing more than to be a hero and spends all his time jotting down notes about heroes of all shapes and sizes.
His dream comes true when he meets his idol, Japan's number one hero, All Might. To Izuku's surprise, All Might reveals that his Quirk can be passed down and chooses the middle schooler to be his successor. The story truly begins when Izuku enrolls at U.A., an elite school that trains those with Quirks to be heroes. Here is where he learns about what truly makes a hero a hero.
6 Noragami - A Young Girl Gives A God Another Chance At His Dream
Those who seek assistance and have five yen to spare can find a mysterious phone number etched out in red. This phone number belongs to a god known as Yato. Despite being a minor, nameless deity, Yato strives to have a large number of worshipers someday, but he's resorted to occasional odd jobs, much to the annoyance of his servant. She finally becomes fed up and leaves, and things aren't looking too good for him — until a middle schooler saves him from being hit by a bus.
The middle schooler, Hiyori Iki, survives the accident, but her soul can leave her body without warning. She can now see the "Near Shore," the supernatural realm within the living human world. The frustrated Hiyori asks Yato for help, offering him the five yen fee. It looks like Yato's back in business, but he still needs an assistant.
5 Doraemon - An Unexpected Friend For the Friendless
Known as the "Mickey Mouse of Japan," Doraemon has captured the hearts of children since the 1970s. The anime continues to inspire audiences all across Japan, making itself a staple of countless childhood memories.
Doraemon, a cat robot from the 22nd century, was created by Sewashi Nobi, the grandson of Nobita Nobi. Sewashi tasks Doraemon with traveling back in time to help Nobita get on the right path to a better life. At the moment, he's weak-willed, failing his classes, and constantly bullied in school. Equipped with a mysterious four-dimensional pouch, Doraemon can create various strange gadgets and tools to aid Nobita with his everyday problems.
4 You and Me - Finding Excitement In The Mundane
Want a break from the intensity of sports and battle-oriented shonen anime? Looking for a more lighthearted slice-of-life comedy? You and Me is the perfect fit.
Four childhood friends are starting their second year in high school. Their days are peaceful until a foreign transfer student, Chizuru Tachibana, breaks his way into their friend group. He's reckless and mischievous but also cheerful and friendly; all he wants is to fit in in an unfamiliar country. Chizuru wastes no time making the boys cater to his whims, indirectly bringing more excitement to their normally quiet high school days.
3 Silver Spoon - Searching For A Simpler Life
Those who are familiar with Hiromu Arakawa may know her from Fullmetal Alchemist. As impressive and unforgettable as Fullmetal Alchemist was, the story's content may be too heavy for younger viewers.
Anime viewers can instead follow Yugo as he leaves his city life to enroll in a new school — a farming school, to be exact. Tired of constantly pursuing good grades, he decides to change his career path by entering Ooezo Agricultural High School. The problem is that he knows next to nothing about agriculture.
2 Your Lie In April - Learning To Face Your Fears Head-On
Kosei Arima is a piano prodigy known as the "human metronome" for his particular playing style. Well, at least he was until his mother's death. His mother, Saki, was unbearably strict but remained the source of Kosei's success, and after her death, Kosei can no longer hear his piano playing.
Two years later, Kosei's still a shell of his former self. He's abandoned his piano altogether, quietly following in his childhood friends' shadows until he meets Kaori Miyazono. An unpredictable violinist, Kaori captures his attention with her free-spirited nature. She frustrates Kosei, but also challenges him and pulls him out of his shell. He feels like he can face music again but with a fresher take.
1 Case Closed - The Adventures of A Miniature Sherlock Holmes
Like Doraemon and Hikaru no Go, Case Closed is another old anime but a must-see for all shonen fans. Shinichi Kudo is a teenage Sherlock Holmes who's highly praised for his detective skills, having solved multiple cases around town. After witnessing two shady characters committing a crime, he's knocked unconscious by a strange substance. He survives the ordeal, but wakes up in the body of a seven-year-old.
Shinichi decides to keep his secret from his childhood friend, Ran Mouri, and her father, a private detective. Taking on the name Conan Edogawa, a combined name based on two of his favorite mystery authors, he continues to solve cases under a new identity.