As a shōnen fan, I couldn't have asked for more in 2024. 2024's lineup of shōnen anime was unbelievable, and that's putting it lightly. 2024's lineup was exceptional for two key reasons. First, we saw a host of new series dominate the screen, showing off new powers, amazing transformations, and everything else that makes shōnen anime as great as everyone knows it can be.
Second, we saw a return of absolute classics. There's nothing better than the series you've been following for the past few seasons returning with a bang. Some of the best shōnen series in 2024 were shows that have been around for years, rewarding us loyal fans with downright dominant cours that urged fans who hadn't caught up yet to binge-watch just so they could get in on the action too.
2024 Was an Unreal Year for Shōnen
Fans of the Shōnen Genre Couldn't Ask for More
If you take a look at everything that was included in the 2024 shōnen lineup, you'd feel overwhelmed. As an anime lover with just under 2,000 hours of anime watched according to MyAnimeList, I'm more than used to anime seasons with maybe 2 or 3 must-watch anime series in the shōnen category. 2024 was different though. Each of the four seasons within the year had at least 3 of their own top-tier shōnen anime series, breaking the mold and giving us shōnen lovers everything we could have asked for and then some.
Last year made me truly grateful to work here at Screen Rant. When I saw how many great series were coming out, I watched all of them, telling myself it was "for work". It kind of was, as I got to increase my overall knowledge of the art form to write even better articles, but that was just the surface level reason.
5 Anime Characters Who Dominated Anime in 2024 (And 5 Others You Overlooked)
2024's run of anime was a fun one, with 5 exceptional characters stealing the spotlight and 5 others who deserved more time in it
The real reason I watched so much anime last year was because there was a ton to watch. I've been watching seasonal anime for about 8 years now, and I can say with confidence that there has never been a year like 2024. The only other year I've watched so much anime was back in 2020, during the first year of the Pandemic, but that wasn't because there was a ton of exceptional anime, it was because I wasn't allowed to leave the house. Last year I was allowed to go outside, but with all the shōnen series on the menu, how could I?
Old Shonen Series Had Colossal Returns With All-New Seasons
The Old Guard Showed Up in Style
As someone who is loyal to a myriad of different shōnen series, I was beyond thrilled with what I got to watch in 2024. I saw the return of some of my favorite series, and they didn't disappoint. Some of the best moments in 2024 came from series well into their stories, showing that even dozens, or even hundreds of episodes in, these series still had something to bring to the table. There are two standout moments I want to highlight from the returning series in 2024 that I know every shōnen lover will heartily agree with.
The first was in Demon Slayer, one of the most beautifully animated shows of all time. The Hashira Training Arc itself wasn't the most thrilling season of Demon Slayer we've seen, but the finale was unreal. Not only did the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, Ubuyashiki, detonate one of the most well animated bombs in anime, but the Hashira themselves finally got to see the Demon Lord, Muzan Kibutsuji, in the flesh for the first time. I still get chills thinking about Gyomei holding him off for the Hashira to converge on him, and nothing was better than seeing Tanjiro ready to fight before even the Hashira themselves.
"The Series Would Carry Shonen Jump On Its Shoulders": My Hero Academia's Creator Always Knew How Big Jujutsu Kaisen Could Be
My Hero Academia's creator, Kohei Horikoshi, expressed his iration for Jujutsu Kaisen and revealed his favorite illustration in the series.
The second moment was in My Hero Academia in the Coffin in the Sky. It was actually two moments, with both Bakugo and Midoriya fighting better than they ever have before. Bakugo basically teleporting through his explosions was as exciting as it gets, and Midoriya's entrance onto the battlefield made for one of the best fights in My Hero Academia.
New Series Came in With a Bang
Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, and So Many More Prove Shonen Is Still at Its Best
Old, fan favorites weren't the only series to dominate 2024. Part of what made the year so amazing was the litany of amazing new shōnen series that hit the scene. There were a variety of different new shōnen series that came out, and luckily, I got to watch a ton of them. Some of the standout series are one of the best edgy anime series of all time, Solo Leveling, the new stand-out hit, Kaiju No. 8, and Wind Breaker, one of the most straightforward fighting-based anime around.
Solo Leveling isn't just one of the best anime of 2024; in just one season, it might be contending for the spot of one of the best anime series of all time. It has everything a series needs to be great. Jinwoo, the main character, doesn't know the meaning of the word quit. He's a powerful, brooding protagonist who is quickly moving from the position of one of the weakest characters in the world to one of the strongest.
Wind Breaker and Kaiju No.8 have their fair share of thrilling fights too. They both have a cast of lovable characters, interesting worlds just waiting to be explored, and everything else you'd want to see from your favorite shōnen series. 2024 was made even better by these new additions to the shōnen library, and the three series mentioned above did so well last year that they're each getting at least a second season to show off more of what they can do.
Not Many Years in Anime Can Compare to 2024
2024 Was Unbelievable for Shōnen, Making It Clear That the Genre Is One of Anime’s Strongest
2024 feels like shōnen anime at its peak. We got new series like the already amazing Dragon Ball DAIMA, returns of some of the biggest franchises in anime like Bleach and One Piece, and so much more. There have been plenty of solid years for shōnen anime as a whole, but it truly feels like 2024 was on an entirely different level than past years have been.
With Solo Leveling season 2, Sakamoto Days, Zenshuu, a new season of Dr. Stone, and more standouts slated for 2025, this year is off to a promising start for the shōnen genre. Even with those stellar series taking center stage this year, there's no way 2025 is going to be able to top what 2024 brought to the table for us shōnen fans.
