In its essence, the shounen genre includes anime that befit the taste of young male anime viewers and it is often held synonymous with action-centric shows. However, there's a lot more to the genre than that. It spans across several sub-genres covering everything from high school dramas to rich fantasies, from relatable comedies to intriguing mystery thrillers.
Like every year, 2020, too, had its share of both good and bad shounen series, among which some were new releases while others were highly anticipated sequels. Because of the vast reach of the genre, it can often be hard for viewers to filter out the best. So for those who are looking forward to watching 2020's best shounen offerings, the list below could come in handy.
In/Spectre
In/Spectre breaks the golden rule of storytelling: "Show, don't tell." But despite telling more and showing less, the series weaves a compelling world, rich with mythology. At its fore is an intriguing mystery that blurs the lines between supernatural reality and insanity.
The anime centers on Kotoko Iwanaga, a young girl who serves as a mediator between the human and Yokai realm. When the rumors of a murderous beam-wielding Yokai woman called Nana wreak havoc. Kotoko along with Kurou and his ex-girlfriend unravel the mystery behind the rumor.
Talentless Nana
Nanao Nakajima is a misfit among the gifted students of an academy that only accommodates talented kids with supernatural abilities. As a result, he is often bullied. One day, however, two zany transfer students named Kyouya Onodera and Nana Hiiragi show up and mark the inception of the mysterious disappearances of students at the academy.
There is little shounen-esque shock-and-awe action in Talentless Nana. But it still manages to appeal to viewers by bending many archetypes of the genre and throwing in some well-timed twists.
Baki: The Great Raitai Tournament
After the events of the first season of Netflix's Baki, the titular character has a near brush with doom because of being poisoned. However, salvation comes his way when he learns about the centurial Raitai Tournament, which holds the key to his survival. But just when he decides to join the tournament, a shocking revelation catches him off-guard: his own father, labeled as the "Strongest Creature on Earth," is also competing.
As it has always been, Baki is a typical battle shounen, with less story-telling and more action. The second season goes all-in with its gory fight scenes and never leaves a dull moment for fans of martial arts.
Toilet-bound Hanako-kun
Among all the anime that premiered in 2020, only a few come on par with the world-building of Toilet-bound Hanako-kun. But more than that, it's the show's unique animation style and color scheme that'll appeal to many viewers.
Drawing its inspiration from the “Seven Wonders of the School" Japanese urban legend, the series focuses on Nene Yashiro, a young girl who dares to summon the ghost of Hanako-san. Hoping that the ghost would grant her wishes of having a romantic future with her crush, she visits the school's bathroom. To her surprise, neither is the ghost a girl nor does he have the ability to grant her wishes.
Moriarty the Patriot
Set in the late 19th century Great Britain, Moriarty the Patriot shows a world with serious class divides where aristocracy rules all. For everyone, William James Moriarty is just another privileged noble who, time and again, serves as a consultant for the common people. But deep inside, James despises the rigged system and along with his two brothers, he's willing to do just about anything to change it.
The show's period setup and didactic themes are enough to compel most viewers. Not to mention, its main character, James, is actually an antagonist from the original Sherlock series.
Fire Force Season 2
After season 1, Fire Force received a mixed bag of reviews. But in season 2, many viewers lauded it for its balanced approach towards action and storytelling. Being the new-gen shounen that it is, the anime might still take some time to find its feet. It is, however, seemingly heading in the right direction according to many.
The second season picks up right where the first one left. While the terror of the infernals continues to spread, Shinra Kusakabe tries to unravel the mysteries behind the Evangelist.
Sleepy Princess In The Demon Castle
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle is a light-hearted anime show that does not take itself too seriously. Releasing close to the end of 2020, the anime struck a chord with many viewers with its wholesome characters and well-thought-out gags.
It revolves around Princess Syalis, who wants nothing from life; except for some good sleep. So even after she gets kidnapped by an evil demon king, she's bereft of the snags of a typical damsel in distress. Instead of looking forward to her Knight in Shining Armor, all she cares about is "getting in some Z's." Unfortunately, she suffers from insomnia.
Kakushigoto
The titled "Kakushigoto" is polysemic. For starters, it alludes to the name of the show's protagonist Kakushi Gotou, who is a single father. Secondly, it means "Hidden Things" in English which comes in tandem with the show's themes.
Kakushi Gotou makes a living by writing inappropriate comedy manga. Due to this, he's too embarrassed to tell his daughter what he truly does. But keeping this secret is an everyday struggle for Kakushi. Other than highlighting all the hilarious lengths Kakushi goes to keep his secret from his daughter, the anime also has an undertone of serious themes where it portrays the struggles of a single parent and reflects the plights of mangkas.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is more or less of a sleeper hit of 2020 that is slowly catching up with the anime community. It is about a typical shounen protagonist, Idly, who, at first, is a regular high schooler. However, his life soon turns around when he unknowingly swallows the finger of the demon Sukuna Ryoumen, the "King of Curses."
As a result, he triggers a series of supernatural events that lead him to join the Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu Technical High School. This marks the inception of a new journey for him where he's on his way to becoming a Jujutsu sorcerer. While keeping the very spirit shounen intact, Jujutsu Kaisen brings some unique elements to the table.
Haikyuu!!: To The Top
Haikyuu's recent arc was initially supposed to have only one season. However, because of the pandemic, it was divided into two parts, both of which premiered in 2020. The volleyball anime needs no introduction. Regardless of whether a viewer is into sports or not, this one always has something to offer. While its volleyball action never goes dull, its cathartic portrayal of its high school characters can be enjoyed by everyone.
In Haikyuu!!: To the Top, the central Karasuno High School volleyball team earns the highly coveted ticket to the National tournament. However, now, they've got bigger demons to face, both inside and outside the volleyball court.