Shonen is a genre of Japanese manga or anime that is geared towards young teen males, but they can be enjoyed by most demographics. Some of the most popular shonen anime series include Attack On Titan, Hunter x Hunter, and Naruto - all of which contain great storylines and amazing combat scenes. For some, however, the fighting themes within these stories can be a little too much, too overdone, or too cliché.
So, when it comes to shonen anime that don’t contain violence, it’s almost uncommon. Yet there are some amazing shonen anime series that any demographic can enjoy that do not contain any violence.
10 Detective Conan – A High School Student In A Child's Body Solving Criminal Cases
In Detective Conan, or Case Closed as it’s sometimes called, Shinichi Kudou is given a drug from a criminal organization that somehow manages to transform him into the body of a seven-year-old.
Instead of telling his closest friend what happened, he decides to hide his identity and create a new one - Conan Edogawa. Conan then decides to investigate the criminal organization behind his unfortunate transformation all the while helping his friend’s dad, a detective, solve crimes. One of the great things about this anime is that there is no violence, aside from the occasional murder.
9 Tsurezure Children - Multiple Perspectives On Young Love
Tsurezure Children follows a group of high school students as they navigate the daunting world of high school whilst unearthing their feelings of young love.
Through the ups and downs, heartbreaks, joy, and wonder, these teens discover what it means to fall in love and to confess their feelings. This anime focuses on the beautiful nervousness of these first-time experiences of falling in love in a way that makes them relatable, funny, and endearing. What makes this anime interesting is that every character is a main character, so viewers can see the story from multiple perspectives.
8 Azumanga Daioh - Teen Girls And Their High School Journey
Starting off her freshman year as the strangest student may seem difficult for Chiyo Mihama. But seeing as she’s a small, 10-year-old prodigy with a love for plushies, it’s to be expected. What isn’t expected is the strangeness of her classmates and her teacher.
Azumanga Daioh focuses on the highs and lows of Chiyo and her peculiar friends as they navigate high school. It’s filled with adventure, laughter, a lot of silliness, and a few bittersweet moments that reflect the reality of being a teen girl in high school.
7 Your Lie In April – The Power Of Friendship And Music
After the death of his mother, prodigy pianist Kousei Arima falls into despair as he becomes unable to hear the sound of his piano. Even after two years, he still avoids the piano, his adoring fans, and his rivals that are only too happy that he’s no longer playing music.
That is until he meets Kaori Miyazono, a beautiful violinist who adds color to his otherwise gray world. Because of her, he sets out on a journey to face what he’d given up all of those years ago. Your Lie In April is an emotional anime that helps a heartbroken boy rediscover his love of music.
6 Flying Witch - A Witch On New Adventures With Her Family
When a witch turns fifteen, it’s tradition for them to leave their home to become independent and to study witchcraft. This is the case for Makoto Kowata, who leaves her family’s home in Yokohama to pursue her training in witchcraft.
Even though she attends high school, her eccentric nature and her fondness for witchcraft set her apart from the rest. With the help of her cousins, the trio makes the most out of each day, balancing their lives as witches and teenagers.
5 Yakitate! Japan - The Beginning Of A Bakery Revolution
Every country has a bread that defines them and is celebrated around the world. Japan, unfortunately, doesn’t have a world-renowned bread. But after discovering how amazing bread-making is, Kazuma Azuma decides that his goal in life is to create Japan’s national bread.
With unusually warm hands that help the yeast within bread to rise, Kazuma can bring his creations to life. When he begins working for a high-class bakery, he meets many talented, yet competitive bakers. But it’s here that he is able to strive towards his goals of inciting a baking revolution.
4 Shirobako - Pursuing Life-Long Dreams Through Perseverance And Creativity
In high school, five best friends discover their collective love for all things anime-related and end up forming an animation club. When they create their first amateur anime together, they vow to one day work together to create their own show.
Fast forward two and a half years later, two from the group have landed jobs at an animation production company. The others, however, are finding it difficult to get their dream jobs. Shirobako follows the story of these five and the pursuit of their dreams through perseverance and creativity.
3 Horimiya – Two High School Students Who Make The Most Unlikely Of Friends
In Horimiya, Kyoko Hori seems like every popular high school girl - jokey, beautiful, and quite brainy. While Miyamura Izumi appears to be an average high school student who’s quiet, studious, and keeps to himself.
But after a chance encounter, the two realize that there’s more to the other than they first thought. Hori is goal and family-oriented and spends her time taking care of her younger brother while her parents work. Miyamura Izumi, on the other hand, is a bit of a bad boy with piercings and tattoos. Together, they form an unlikely friendship where they can both be their true selves.
2 Bakuman - Two Teens And Their Love For Manga
Two best friends have their sights set on becoming amazing manga creators, even if it is a competitive scene. Bakuman follows two male teenagers, Mashiro and Akito, on their journey to achieve their dreams.
What makes this series unusual for a shonen is that the main protagonists want to become manga creators, rather than legendary martial artists or ninjas. Bakuman is a down-to-earth series that focuses on both the writing and art aspects of creating a manga while maintaining all of the things that viewers love about the shonen genre.
1 Rent-A-Girlfriend - Everything Goes Wrong (Or Right) After Hiring A Girlfriend
At one point, Kazuya Kinoshita, a 20-year-old college student, has a beautiful and bright girlfriend named Mami Nanami. That is until he doesn’t. To ease his loneliness and heartbreak, he decides to hire a girlfriend. This is how he meets his partner, Chizuru Mizuhara - the girl he hired to be his girlfriend.
After their date, Kazuya believes that Chizuru really liked him, but after reading the reviews of some of her other dates, he grows angry and rates her poorly, which only causes her to criticize him for his shameless behavior. It’s that moment where her true, fiery nature is revealed. But when Kazuya’s grandmother collapses, the duo rushes to the hospital. Upon noticing her grandson’s beautiful friend and inquiring about her, Kazuya claims that they’re together. In order to keep up the ruse, they go on numerous paid outings (one with Kazuya's ex-girlfriend). Hilarity and an unlikely romance ensue.