Gon Freecss from Hunter X Hunter is one of the best-written shonen protagonists. He's also one of the most controversial across the genre. While he comes off as happy-go-lucky, there's a lot of turmoil and chaos behind his innocent facade. Some would even argue that Gon is one of the most cold-hearted characters in the entirety of Hunter X Hunter.While Gon is undoubtedly a fascinating character to analyze, there's no denying that there are several others across shonen anime who simply execute their role as a protagonist better. These shonen protagonists certainly have beaten Gon at his own game.
10 Emma Always Stayed Optimistic (The Promised Neverland)
None of the kids in The Promised Neverland have it easy. Emma, the protagonist, was one of the first to discover the true corruption and horrors of the Grace Field House. Even when things seemed the grimmest, Emma never lost her hope or conviction.
While Gon is certainly happy-go-lucky and charismatic, that's essentially just a facade. On the other hand, Emma is authentically optimistic and has faith that she could lead the other children out of the slaughterhouse. Fans never questioned Emma's motives because she was so outwardly passionate about leading everyone else to safety.
9 Tanjiro Kamado Is A Gentle Soul, But He's Not Afraid To Get His Hands Dirty (Demon Slayer)
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If Gon and Tanjiro were to get into a fight, Gon would certainly defeat the demon slayer. Gon's Nen abilities are no match for Tanjiro's abilities, regardless of their objective physical statistics and strength.
However, while Gon deals with more internal chaos and mental turmoil, Tanjiro's boundless compassion and never-ending optimism save him every time. He's a genuinely good-natured person, but he isn't afraid to get dirty in a fight against some of the most daunting demons in the series.
8 Shoyo Hinata Is Just More Realistic (Haikyuu!)
Shoyo and Gon certainly adhere to almost every trope for shonen protagonists. They're both cheerful, extroverted, and never back down from a challenge. While the world of volleyball is vastly different from the world of Hunter X Hunter, these two have more in common than one may realize.
However, their significant differences prove that Shoyo may be a better character overall. While Gon put blinders on during his journey, Shoyo remained more open-minded to the possibilities around him. Gon's close-mindedness caused him to make several errors throughout the series, ranging from trivial to significant mistakes that haunted him for the rest of his life.
7 Joseph Joestar Is One Of The Most Unique Protagonists Shonen Has To Offer (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)
Joseph Joestar is the protagonist of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency. He also played significant roles in Stardust Crusaders and Diamond Is Unbreakable. While he certainly falls into many tropes that are synonymous with shonen, he redefines such notions and creates something entirely unique.
While Gon certainly reinvents various attributes of traditional protagonists, Joseph's bombastic personality and his knack for controlling the narrative in the most unexpected ways really set him apart from the rest. While Gon is unpredictable, nobody really knows what to expect from Joseph. His antics are definitely cartoonish in nature.
6 Natsu Dragneel Could Defeat Gon In A Fight (Fairy Tail)
When solely speaking about combat ability, Natsu Dragneel would likely defeat Gon in a fight. With an arsenal of magic techniques and impressive physical skills, Natsu is the superior combatant. Even early on in Fairy Tail, Natsu was able to dodge some of the most powerful attacks, such as Laxus' lightning attack.
Since then, Natsu has become immensely faster and his combat abilities have only improved. Now, Natsu can walk through Bluenote Stinger's Gravity manipulation like it's nothing. Even as an adult, Gon couldn't hope to defeat Natsu.
5 Ichigo Kurosaki Is Open-Minded & Proactive (Bleach)
Ichigo Kurosaki is certainly one of the best protagonists that shonen anime offers. He's a bit rough around the edges, but his heart is always in the right place. He's reliable, open-minded, and one of the most proactive main characters.
While Gon is somewhat immature and selfish, Ichigo has proven that he cares about the well-being of those he cares about and has fought tooth and nail for them. He established his negotiation and fighting skills when he risked his life to convince Byakuya to call off Rukia's execution. Though the fight came to a draw, it's undeniable that Ichigo was the de-facto victor.
4 Mob Would Defeat Gon In An Instant (Mob Psycho 100)
Mob's ability to absorb everyone else's psychic energy is one of the most overpowered in anime. Gon's Nen abilities, no matter how much they've improved, simply don't stand a chance against Mob—especially when he releases 100% of his rage.
Mob has destroyed infrastructure on a massive scale, plus he can move faster than the eye can see. While Gon's adult form is certainly strong and makes him a formidable opponent, objectively, he's no match for Mob in any of his forms.
3 Naruto Uzumaki's Character Development Was Much Better
Naruto Uzumaki is undeniably one of shonen anime's most courageous, admirable heroes. However, underneath this bravado, Naruto struggled with a lot of pain. Naruto has undergone some of the most impactful character development ever seen. His development was gradual, but it felt relatable and realistic to the audience.
On the other hand, Gon didn't undergo much significant growth until Kite's death. While Naruto's character development feels heroic, Gon's feels much more like he's turning towards the dark side. Naruto's character growth toward realizing his Hokage dream represents the idea that you can rise above hardship and become a stronger person no matter what trauma you endure.
2 Yuji Itadori's Rage & Grief Didn't Drive Him Down The Path Of Madness (Jujutsu Kaisen)
One of the biggest mistakes that Gon ever made was using his Vow to kill Pitou. Gon was enraged, grieving, and out for blood. He was ruthless and beat Pitou far more than what was necessary. This was Gon's lowest point in the series. Ultimately, he allowed his grief to drive him mad. By comparison, Yuji Itadori's response to grief and anger is much more productive.
This was best seen after Junpei's brutal execution at Mahito's hands. After Mahito used his Idle Transfiguration on Junpei, Yuji begged Sukuna to heal him. However, Sukuna refused. Then, Mahito and the King of Curses laughed at Yuji's expense. For the first time, Yuji truly felt homicidal, but he nevertheless focused on the task directly in front of him: killing Mahito, no matter what.
1 Yusuke Urameshi Is Just More Badass (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Before Hunter X Hunter, Yoshihiro Togashi's original masterpiece was Yu Yu Hakusho. The protagonist of this series was named Yusuke Urameshi, and he was a total badass. While Gon appears more as a typical young boy, Yusuke was an absolute delinquent who could even rival Jotaro Kujo.
Yusuke was angsty and edgy and many fans relate to him for various reasons. Many fans also praise him for being one of the genre's most realistic protagonists. He's got several hundred enemies. Every time he defeats one, there are at least a few handfuls of new ones looking for a piece of him. Yusuke is a fighter at heart and is always the first to jump into action.