The very popular Jujutsu Kaisen was the breakout shonen series of 2020 when it first debuted. The series features a main character that channels the power of a mighty and evil spirit named Sukuna. He manages to be both the antagonist of the series and a forced ally.
Although Jujutsu Kaisen may be the new big anime to utilize spiritual assets, it's nowhere near being the first to do so. In fact, there are much more anime that have used spiritual power and beings as elements in their shows that Jujutsu Kaisen fans would love.
10 Bleach Is A Classic Spiritual Anime
One of the "Big Three" shonen series that everyone knows and loves despite all of its issues is Bleach.
This manga and anime series follows the teenager Ichigo Kurosaki, who has always had the ability to see the supernatural. This hotheaded youth gains the powers of a Soul Reaper and must defend humanity from evil spirits along with guiding souls to the afterlife.
9 Shaman King Is An Often Underlooked Supernatural Adventure
Most fans remember Shaman King from its time on television blocks such as Toonami and the infamous 4kids. This has led to it losing a bit of popularity, but fans of the manga series have a lot to say about the anime adaption.
However, Shaman King is still a great series following the character, Yoh Asakura, who is on a quest to become the Shaman King utilizing his shaman spirit to defeat others like himself.
8 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Is One Of The First Big Breakout Spiritual Manga
There aren't many anime fans out there who have missed the train to the bizarre world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, a series about channeling spiritual power into energy from day one.
While most fans would think about the main spiritual power of mystical Stand power, the series featured a spiritual power, Hamon.
7 Death Note Is A Look At Dark Spiritual Power
While many think of epic battles using the spirits and their powers when it comes to spiritual anime, others like a darker and more "real" approach to how things could work in modern times.
Enter: Death Note, a series where the spirits aren't truly on one person's side and are just along for the ride. This is the case with Light Yagami, a boy who's been gifted the power to kill anyone just by writing their name in the book of the Shinigami, Ryuk, called the Death Note.
6 Naruto Is Just As Spiritual As Jujutsu Kaisen
Anyone that has looked into Jujutsu Kaisen is probably familiar with the classic shonen series, Naruto, due to it feeling like the father of the new series.
Much like Jujutsu Kaisen, Naruto stars a youth inhabited by an evil fox spirit, Kurama—and one of the main points is how he befriends him, fights together with him, and works together with his powers alongside his friends.
5 Yu Yu Hakusho Is A Timeless Classic With A Lot Of Spirit Techniques
Yu Yu Hakusho is yet another classic spirit-based anime that starts off spiritual and evolves more and more as the series goes on as characters develop more spiritual power.
The series begins with Yusuke Urameshi dying and becoming a detective of the underworld, tasked with hunting demons and spirits plaguing the human world.
4 Yu-Gi-Oh Isn't Just Fun And Card Games
Many believe that Yu-Gi-Oh is about kids playing card games, but the series delves into the world of the spirits as things progress.
It all begins when a boy named Yugi Moto solves the Millennium Puzzle and becomes the vessel for the spirit that becomes his alter-ego, Yami Yugi. Together they tackle countless foes as they get to the bottom of darker matters while playing card games.
3 Bakemonogatari Is A Different Flavor Of Spiritual Anime
While not as action-packed or as the previously listed series, Bakemonogatari is absolutely worth all the time it takes to get through the series.
This series follows an ex-vampire named Koyomi Araragi. He becomes wrapped up in the ordeals of countless spirits and spiritually in-tune women, to which he must help them through their struggles.
2 Ushio And Tora Is One Of The Most Underrated Shonen Series
When it comes to underrated shonen and anime in general, Ushio and Tora may be near the top, as it's one of those series that doesn't get the recognition it deserves.
The story focuses on Ushio, who is forcefully allied with a spirit tiger named Tora. Together, they fight evil spirits so they can defend innocents people.
1 Zatch Bell Is An Underrated Series Every Shonen Fan Needs To Watch
Yet another underrated anime series is Zatch Bell, which many have heard about because of Toonami, but not many have watched.
The story follows Kiyo Takamine, who is partnered with a mystical being named Zatch Bell. The two work together through an ancient tournament so they can get Zatch the right to rule his world as a king—or in Zatch's case, as a kind king.