The world of Japanese anime is a broad and diverse one, and it has something for just about any viewer of any age. This has allowed anime to maintain its appeal since the 1960s, and the catalog of titles is truly impressive. But what genre is best for a newcomer? There are four major ones to consider: Shonen, Seinen, Shojo, and Josei.
Today, we want to talk about Shonen and Seinen anime, and what sets them apart. Shonen anime is meant for younger boys, such as middle schoolers. Think of Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and the like. Meanwhile, Seinen anime is meant for older viewers, such as college-aged guys, and popular titles include Elfen Lied, Attack on Titan, and Tokyo Ghoul, among others. We love all anime, but it's worth pointing out what sets Shonen and Seinen apart. Which genre is best for you?
10 Shonen: Optimistic Stories
This is a major difference between fiction meant for younger audiences and fiction geared for older viewers. Shows, movies, and comics aimed at kids is nearly always optimistic and hopeful, to inspire youngsters to never give up, and to pursue their dreams no matter what.
Kids need encouragement to become confident and strong-willed, and this is abundant in Shonen. It's so uplifting to watch a narrative that unquestioningly has faith in its hero's hopes and dreams, and by extension, those of the viewer. It's empowering in a way Seinen rarely deals with.
9 Seinen: Like A Movie Trilogy
Some viewers may like how long the biggest Shonen titles run (more on that soon), but plenty of viewers, mainly older ones with busy schedules, would rather have a short and more digestible narrative. They don't have all day to watch Dragon Ball Z reruns, after all.
Many Seinen titles run for 12 to 24 episodes (or at least under 100), and this is long enough for a fully fleshed out story, minus any marathon story arcs or dragged-out conflicts or filler. In this way, a high-quality, 12-episode Seinen series can provide similar entertainment to a tightly-knit movie trilogy. Nice and efficient entertainment.
8 Shonen: Themes of Friendship
In many ways, Shonen anime is designed to inspire and educate younger viewers on wholesome attitudes and personality traits, like the aforementioned optimism and faith in oneself. Here's another classic: the power of friendship.
Some animated shows can make this pretty cheesy, but Shonen isn't always cheap and silly. Many times, this genre's best titles show friendships enduring all kinds of hardship, and they teach us that a close and trustworthy friend is worth a hundred strangers. If you're having tough times, a friend will reach out a helping hand. Keep that social circle strong.
7 Seinen: More Horror Elements
Not everyone loves horror, but many do, and horror has more psychological depth than it gets credit for. Forget cheap slashers and jump scars; true horror taps into primal fears and instincts, and can provide excellent commentary about the darker side of humanity and society.
Seinen anime dives much deeper into this than Shonen usually does, and horror fans may rejoice. Anything from monsters to tightly-wound suspense to an eerie sense of isolation and becoming prey is enough to keep a viewer riveted. Even if a Seinen title isn't primarily horror, it can add some horror elements wherever they're needed.
6 Shonen: Lots To Love
While not everyone has the time or patience for a marathon Shonen franchise, other viewers do, and their patience is going to be rewarded. Many of Shonen anime's most beloved titles are also the longest-running, and some have (or soon will) pass the two-decade mark.
These series are a bottomless treasure chest for interested viewers, and if someone starts a Shonen show as a kid, they can grow up alongside their favorite characters, and this can be wonderfully nostalgic later in life. Many people today largely define their childhood by the shows they watched, and anime fits the bill 100%.
5 Seinen: Brain Food
No, we're not trying to say that Shonen anime is shallow or dumbed-down for viewers! Far from it. Many Shonen titles explore some thought-provoking themes, but we argue that Seinen does this even better.
Seinen will cover topics and ideas that are too grown-up, nuanced, or R-rated for Shonen titles to handle, and viewers who really want to face the tough questions or moral quandaries are encouraged to try out some Seinen titles. Many of them, such as Death Note or Ghost in the Shell, can inspire friendly (and maybe intense) debate about anything from war atrocities to justice to what it really means to be human. That's deep.
4 Shonen: Courage and Loyalty
A good story is one in which the hero has courage and grit. They are not passive (just letting things happen to then); they go out there and try to accomplish something with their own two hands. And they are loyal to the people important to them along the way.
These are vital lessons to teach younger viewers, and Shonen titles are ready to showcase the virtues of hard work, courage, and faith in one's friends. This ties in directly to the optimistic tone we love so much about Shonen, and it can inspire viewers to fulfill their dreams later in life.
3 Seinen: Serious Action
Both Shonen and Seinen titles typically include action scenes, and they can involve fists, magic powers, bows and arrows, or even guns or improvised weapons. For the most part, Shonen keeps it relatively tame.
Seinen, meanwhile, is ready to bring us R-rated action sequences, and older viewers will find this a lot of fun to watch. Titles like Attack on Titan and Elfen Lied hold nothing back, and they unflinchingly show us how graphic, brutal, and cruel violence and fighting can be. It makes for excellent entertainment for older viewers, for sure.
2 Shonen: Mainstream Titles
This is a more meta-reason why we're into Shonen anime. If you are in the mood to watch anime shows, many of the titles you'll see are indeed Shonen, and they dominate the market and the advertising. You'll see them everywhere.
And yes, these Shonen titles totally earned their prominence, and anyone who starts watching Bleach or Naruto or One Piece will have a lot of company, and they can join huge fan communities. It pays to follow the trends and join the crowd sometimes.
1 Seinen: Hidden Treasures
This is the flip side of our last entry, and while good Seinen titles are hardly obscure, they aren't featured nearly as prominently as many Shonen titles. Major Seinen series like Attack on Titan and Death Note are easy to find, but Seinen goes deeper.
This genre is loaded with excellent and engaging series that aren't household names, and viewers may enjoy finding these hidden gems to get a breath of fresh air and take a break from the nonstop Dragon Ball Z and Fairy Tail coverage. Mainstream is cool... but sometimes you need a vacation.