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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
{{page should be category}}MOD: To be consistent with Shojo, the category should be named "Shonen Demographic".
[[File:shonenjump3_8018.jpg|frame]]


{{Manga demographic target groups}}
Manga and anime aimed primarily at pre-teen and teenaged boys. Tends to be focused more on "action" than relationships, with romance generally either [[Token Romance|perfunctory]] or played for comedy. Fighting or combat -- even if it is sublimated into a form such as a sports competition -- is a common element. The title character, and most of the cast, is predominantly male.
[[File:shonenjump3 8018.jpg|frame]]
'''Shonen manga''' is [[manga]] published in Japanese magazines aimed primarily at tween and teenaged boys. Shonen anime is [[anime]] based on shonen manga. It is ''not'' a genre.


[[The Other Wiki]] tells us that the word can be pronounced with either a short or long "sho", so "shonen" and "shounen"/"shōnen" are equally correct romanizations of 少年. For ease of typing on a [[American English|US English]] keyboard, and to distinguish the demographic from the magazines, we will use "shonen" here.
Shōnen series were the first to be brought over ''en masse'' to the Western world, and makes up much of the popular American perception of anime. However, it should be noted most anime ''is'' aimed at younger kids simply because they possess the most free time for TV, and nearly all popular western animation is either geared towards males or has [[Multiple Demographic Appeal]]. Pure [[Shojo]] bounces between the realms of cutesy and melodramatically scandalous for most [[Media Watchdogs]], so it does not get shown in the West as much.


Japanese fiction aimed at this demographic tends to be focused more on "action" than relationships, with romance generally either [[Token Romance|perfunctory]] or played for comedy.{{verify}} Physical combat is a common element,{{verify}} and the cast is predominantly male.{{verify}}
Note that while Shonen tends to include a few standard genres, it is first of all an official designation of manga that were published in self-proclaimed shonen magazines, and anime that was based on such manga, rather than a label that is freely chosen to describe their content. That can lead to some series that are different from the typical shonen style but still count as an example, and series that follow all the typical shonen-like tropes, but aren't originating from a shonen magazine

Shonen series were the first to be brought over ''en masse'' to the Western world, because it was the closest match to what was being aired by Western networks at the time (nearly all popular Western animation either is geared towards males or has [[Multiple Demographic Appeal]]). Thus, it makes up much of the popular American perception of anime.

In Japan, "shonen" is a designation of the stories that were published in a particular class of magazines,{{verify}} not a label that describes the genres of the stories in those magazines.{{verify}} That leads to series that are different from the typical shonen style but still count as examples, and series that follow all the typical shonen tropes but aren't shonen because they didn't originate from a shonen magazine.

Contrast [[Shojo]], which is the tween and teenaged girl demographic; [[Seinen]], which is the men demographic ; and [[Josei]], which is the women demographic.


Don't list examples until you checked that they are officially shonen.
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{{examples}}
=== General Examples ===


== General Examples ==
* Almost anything with [[Humongous Mecha]].
* Almost anything with [[Humongous Mecha]].
* Sometimes, adaptations of stories with [[Multiple Demographic Appeal]] will create two versions of the story, one Shōnen and one [[Shojo]].
* Sometimes, adaptations of stories with [[Multiple Demographic Appeal]] will create two versions of the story, one shonen and one [[shojo]].
** The [[Cut and Paste Translation|attempted localization]] of ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura (Manga)|Cardcaptor Sakura]]'' in the U.S. could be ''very'' generously described as an attempt to create a Shōnen version of the series (i.e., increase appeal in the proven male market), despite the show being entrenched like a rock in [[Shojo]] tropes.
** The [[Cut and Paste Translation|attempted localization]] of ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'' in the U.S. could be ''very'' generously described as an attempt to create a shonen version of the series (i.e., increase appeal in the proven male market), despite the show being entrenched like a rock in [[shojo]] tropes.
** This practice also occurs in Japan. ''[[The Vision of Escaflowne (Manga)|The Vision of Escaflowne]]'' had a Shōnen-version manga produced of its story, while ''[[Magic Knight Rayearth (Manga)|Magic Knight Rayearth]]'''s [[OAV|OAVs]] have a similar bent as compared to the original series.
** This practice also occurs in Japan. ''[[The Vision of Escaflowne]]'' had a shonen-version manga produced of its story, while ''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]''{{'}}s [[OAV]]s have a similar bent as compared to the original series.
* Nearly all the titles featured in the ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' (or simply ''Jump'') magazine have a kind of legacy with each other, enough that a [[Crossover]] [[Jump Super Stars|video game]] was highly received.
* Nearly all the titles featured in the ''[[w:Weekly Shōnen Jump|Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'' (or simply ''Weekly Jump'') magazine have a kind of legacy with each other, enough that a [[Crossover]] [[Jump Super Stars|video game]] was highly received.
** The ''[[Dragon Ball (Manga)|Dragon Ball]]'' series is by far the quintessential Shōnen, and due to its age, length and influence provides examples of most of the classic tropes.
** The ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' series is by far the quintessential shonen, and due to its age, length and influence provides examples of most of the classic tropes.
** Of all the ongoing Shōnen series, ''[[One Piece (Manga)|One Piece]]'' is by far the most massively popular. It has drawn a great deal of inspiration from ''[[Dragon Ball (Manga)|Dragon Ball]]'', but developed a ''very'' unique and compelling flavor of its own.
** Of all the ongoing shonen series, ''[[One Piece]]'' is by far the most massively popular. It has drawn a great deal of inspiration from ''[[Dragon Ball]]'', but developed a ''very'' unique and compelling flavor of its own.
** Completing the [[Rule of Three|Jump Triforce]] is ''[[Naruto (Manga)|Naruto]]'', the most popular anime in America, period.
** Completing the [[Rule of Three|Jump Triforce]] is ''[[Naruto]]'', the most popular anime in America, period.
** ''[[Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventure (Manga)|Jo Jos Bizarre Adventure]]'', released in 1987, is one of ''Shōnen Jump'''s longest running Shōnen series, having reached over ''90'' volumes in Japan. It was only very recently that it got an official English release, and even then it jumped the gun a little, starting with the more-famous Series 3. With its 7th part, "Steel Ball Run", it has switched magazines and became [[Seinen]].
** ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'', released in 1987, is one of ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''{{'}}s longest running shonen series, having reached over ''90'' volumes in Japan. It was only very recently that it got an official English release, and even then it jumped the gun a little, starting with the more-famous Series 3. With its 7th part, "Steel Ball Run", it has switched magazines and became [[Seinen]].
* [[Three Point Landing]]: They love this to make the characters [[Rule of Cool|look cool.]]
* [[Three-Point Landing]]: They love this to make the characters [[Rule of Cool|look cool.]]
* General rule of thumb on the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism|scale of idealism vs. cynicism]], most Shōnen works (particularly the action fighter types), tend to fall in the [[The Idealist|idealist side]]. [[Deconstruction|Deconstructions]], [[Darker and Edgier]], and/or, those that fall in the opposite side of the scale can easily be mistaken as a [[Seinen]] series and give a [[What Do You Mean It's for Kids?]] reaction (''[[Death Note (Manga)|Death Note]]'' and ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion (Anime)|Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' are some of the notable examples).
* General rule of thumb on the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism|scale of idealism vs. cynicism]], most shonen works (particularly the action fighter types), tend to fall in the [[The Idealist|idealist side]]. [[Deconstruction]]s, [[Darker and Edgier]], and/or, those that fall in the opposite side of the scale can easily be mistaken as a [[Seinen]] series and give a [[What Do You Mean It's for Kids?]] reaction (''[[Death Note]]'' and ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' are some of the notable examples).


=== Other Examples in ''[[Shonen Jump (Magazine)|Shonen Jump]]'' ===
== Other Examples in ''[[Shonen Jump]]'' ==
* ''[[Angel Densetsu]]''
* ''[[Bakuman｡]]''
* ''[[Beelzebub]]''
* ''[[Beet the Vandel Buster]]''
* ''[[Black Cat (manga)|Black Cat]]''
* ''[[Bleach]]'' — though it does have a sizable female fan following. The third of the "Big Three" among currently active ''[[Shonen Jump]]'' series.
* ''[[Blue Exorcist]]''
* ''[[Bobobo-Bo Bo-bobo]]''
* ''[[Butsu Zone]]''
* ''[[Captain Tsubasa]]'' — up until the ''Road to 2002'' saga, that is: then it moves into [[Seinen]] territory. Makes sense, the readers are mostly adult males ([[Periphery Demographic|and some adult females]]) who grew reading it in ''[[Shonen Jump]]'.
* ''[[Claymore]]'' — although it seems to be aimed at girls more than at boys, since it features an almost all-female cast of characters. It is sometimes thought to be Seinen for the same reason and because of its dark themes.
* ''[[Death Note]]'' — although even plenty of anime fans still mistake it for Seinen, mostly because Light is an adult for most of the series and there's the [[What Do You Mean It's for Kids?]] factor. Played with in the ''[[Bakuman｡]]'' series (by the same creators), in which several characters support Seinen-type stories running in shonen magazines.
* ''[[D.Gray-man]]'', even when its [[Estrogen Brigade]] says otherwise.
* ''[[Dokonjo Gaeru]]''
* ''[[Embalming]]''
* ''[[Eyeshield 21]]''
* ''[[Fist of the North Star]]'', although ''Yuria Gaiden'' and ''Juuza Gaiden'' (the most recent ones) are Seinen.
* ''[[Hikaru no Go]]''
* ''[[Hunter X Hunter]]''
* ''[[Katekyo Hitman Reborn]]''—though its audience appears to consist mostly of [[Periphery Demographic]]
* ''[[Kimagure Orange Road]]''
* ''[[Kochikame|Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo]]''
* ''[[Kuroko no Basuke]]''
* ''[[Mazinger Z]]'' — its first run, anyway. In 1974, it was moved to Kodansha's ''TV magazine''.
* ''[[Medaka Box]]''
* ''[[Naruto]]'', but it arguably has an even larger female following than ''Bleach''.
* ''[[One Piece]]'', but it attracts nearly every demographic, from kids to teens and adults. Currently Japan's most popular ongoing manga.
* ''[[Papa no Iukoto o Kikinasai!]]''
* ''[[Psyren]]''
* ''[[Rokudenashi Blues]]''
* ''[[Rookies]]''
* ''[[Rosario + Vampire]]''
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]''
* ''[[Saint Seiya]]''
* ''[[Shaman King]]''
* ''[[Sket Dance]]''
* ''[[Slam Dunk]]''
* ''[[Space Adventure Cobra]]''
* ''[[Toriko]]''
* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! (manga)|Yu-Gi-Oh]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh First Anime Series]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh]] (Duel Monsters)''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! R]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's]]''
* ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' — another archetype of shonen.


* ''[[Angel Densetsu (Manga)|Angel Densetsu]]''
* ''[[Bakuman｡ (Manga)|Bakuman｡]]''
* ''[[Beelzebub (Manga)|Beelzebub]]''
* ''[[Beet the Vandel Buster (Manga)|Beet the Vandel Buster]]''
* ''[[Black Cat (Manga)|Black Cat]]''
* ''[[Bleach (Manga)|Bleach]]'' -- though it does have a sizable female fan following. The third of the "Big Three" among currently active ''[[Shonen Jump (Magazine)|Shonen Jump]]'' series.
* ''[[Blue Exorcist (Manga)|Blue Exorcist]]''
* ''[[Bobobobo Bobobo (Manga)|Bobobobo Bobobo]]''
* ''[[Butsu Zone (Manga)|Butsu Zone]]''
* ''[[Captain Tsubasa (Manga)|Captain Tsubasa]]'' -- up until the ''Road to 2002'' saga, that is: then it moves into [[Seinen]] territory. Makes sense, the readers are mostly adult males ([[Periphery Demographic|and some adult females]]) who grew reading it in ''[[Shonen Jump (Magazine)|Shonen Jump]]'.
* ''[[Claymore (Manga)|Claymore]]'' -- although it seems to be aimed at girls more than at boys, since it features an almost all-female cast of characters. It is sometimes thought to be Seinen for the same reason and because of its dark themes.
* ''[[Death Note (Manga)|Death Note]]'' -- although even plenty of anime fans still mistake it for Seinen, mostly because Light is an adult for most of the series and there's the [[What Do You Mean It's for Kids?]] factor. Played with in the ''[[Bakuman｡ (Manga)|Bakuman｡]]'' series (by the same creators), in which several characters support Seinen-type stories running in Shōnen magazines.
* ''[[D Gray Man (Manga)|D Gray Man]]'', even when its [[Estrogen Brigade]] says otherwise.
* ''[[Manga/Dokonjo Gaeru|Dokonjo Gaeru]]''
* ''[[Embalming (Manga)|Embalming]]''
* ''[[Eyeshield 21 (Manga)|Eyeshield 21]]''
* ''[[Fist of the North Star (Manga)|Fist of the North Star]]'', although ''Yuria Gaiden'' and ''Juuza Gaiden'' (the most recent ones) are Seinen.
* ''[[Hikaru no Go (Manga)|Hikaru no Go]]''
* ''[[Hunter X Hunter (Manga)|Hunter X Hunter]]''
* ''[[Katekyo Hitman Reborn (Manga)|Katekyo Hitman Reborn]]'' -- though its audience appears to consist mostly of [[Periphery Demographic]]
* ''[[Kimagure Orange Road (Manga)|Kimagure Orange Road]]''
* ''[[Kochikame (Manga)|Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo]]''
* ''[[Kuroko no Basuke (Manga)|Kuroko no Basuke]]''
* ''[[Manga/Mazinger Z|Mazinger Z]]'' -- its first run, anyway. In 1974, it was moved to Kodansha's ''TV magazine''.
* ''[[Medaka Box (Manga)|Medaka Box]]''
* ''[[Naruto (Manga)|Naruto]]'', but it arguably has an even larger female following than ''Bleach''.
* ''[[One Piece (Manga)|One Piece]]'', but it attracts nearly every demographic, from kids to teens and adults. Currently Japan's most popular ongoing manga.
* ''[[Papa no Iukoto o Kikinasai (Light Novel)|Papa no Iukoto o Kikinasai]]''
* ''[[Psyren (Manga)|Psyren]]''
* ''[[Rokudenashi Blues (Manga)|Rokudenashi Blues]]''
* ''[[Rookies (Manga)|Rookies]]''
* ''[[Rosario to Vampire (Manga)|Rosario to Vampire]]''
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin (Manga)|Rurouni Kenshin]]''
* ''[[Saint Seiya (Manga)|Saint Seiya]]''
* ''[[Shaman King (Manga)|Shaman King]]''
* ''[[Sket Dance (Manga)|Sket Dance]]''
* ''[[Slam Dunk (Manga)|Slam Dunk]]''
* ''[[Space Adventure Cobra (Manga)|Space Adventure Cobra]]''
* ''[[Toriko (Manga)|Toriko]]''
* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh (Manga)|Yu-Gi-Oh]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh First Anime Series (Anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh First Anime Series]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh (Anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh]] (Duel Monsters)''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh R (Manga)|Yu-Gi-Oh R]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh GX (Anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh GX]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh 5 Ds (Anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh 5 Ds]]''
* ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho (Manga)|Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' -- another paradigm of Shōnen.


== Non-''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' Examples ==

* ''[[A.I. Love You]]''
=== Non-''Shōnen Jump'' Examples ===
* ''[[Air Gear]]''

* ''[[A.I. Love You (Manga)|A.I. Love You]]''
* ''[[AKB49: Ren'ai Kinshi Jourei]]''
* ''[[Air Gear (Manga)|Air Gear]]''
* ''[[Aku no Hana]]''
* ''[[Angelic Layer]]'' — by [[CLAMP]], a mangaka team well known for their work in [[Shojo]].
* ''[[AKB 49 Renai Kinshi Jourei (Manga)|AKB 49 Renai Kinshi Jourei]]''
* ''[[Aku no Hana (Manga)|Aku no Hana]]''
* ''[[ARAGO]]''
* ''[[Area no Kishi]]''
* ''[[Manga/Angelic Layer|Angelic Layer]]'' -- by [[CLAMP]], a mangaka team well known for their work in [[Shojo]].
* ''[[Aria]]'' - Although it contains elements commonly found in [[Shojo]], [[Seinen]], and [[Josei]] manga, it was serialized in a shonen magazine and it tends to be labelled as such.
* ''[[ARAGO (Manga)|ARAGO]]''
* ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', which is often mistaken for seinen or shojo.
* ''[[Area no Kishi (Manga)|Area no Kishi]]''
* ''[[B't X]]''
* ''[[Aria (Manga)|Aria]]'' - Although it contains elements commonly found in [[Shojo]], [[Seinen]], and [[Josei]] manga, it was serialized in a shonen magazine and it tends to be labelled as such.
* ''[[Baby Steps]]''
* ''[[Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|Azumanga Daioh]]'', which is often mistaken for seinen or shojo.
* ''[[B't X (Anime)|Bt X]]''
* ''[[Bakugan]]''
* ''[[Black Butler]]'' — even though it resembles a mix of seinen and shojo much more than actual shonen.
* ''[[Baby Steps (Manga)|Baby Steps]]''
* ''[[Bakugan (Anime)|Bakugan]]''
* ''[[Blue Exorcist]]''
* ''[[Chuuka Ichiban]]''
* ''[[Black Butler (Manga)|Black Butler]]'' -- even though it resembles a mix of Seinen and Shojo much more than actual Shōnen.
* ''[[Blue Exorcist (Manga)|Blue Exorcist]]''
* ''[[Code Breaker]]''
* ''[[Chuuka Ichiban (Manga)|Chuuka Ichiban]]''
* ''[[Deadman Wonderland]]''
* ''[[Code Breaker (Manga)|Code Breaker]]''
* ''[[Detective Conan]]''
* ''[[Digimon]]''
* ''[[Deadman Wonderland (Manga)|Deadman Wonderland]]''
* ''[[Detective Conan (Manga)|Detective Conan]]''
* ''[[Dino Zaurs]]''
* ''[[Digimon (Franchise)|Digimon]]''
* ''[[Eiken]]''
* ''[[Dino Zaurs (Anime)|Dino Zaurs]]''
* ''[[Et Cetera]]''
* ''[[Eureka Seven]]'' — the anime can go into many genres, but both the manga adaptations were published in shonen magazines.
* ''[[Eiken (Manga)|Eiken]]''
* ''[[Et Cetera (Manga)|Et Cetera]]''
* ''[[Fairy Tail]]''
* ''[[Flame of Recca]]''
* ''[[Eureka Seven (Anime)|Eureka Seven]]'' -- the anime can go into many genres, but both the manga adaptations were published in Shōnen magazines.
* ''[[Fairy Tail (Manga)|Fairy Tail]]''
* ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''
* ''[[Flame of Recca (Manga)|Flame of Recca]]''
* ''[[Gamble Fish]]''
* ''[[GetBackers]]''
* ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (Franchise)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]''
* ''[[Gamble Fish (Manga)|Gamble Fish]]''
* ''[[Getter Robo]]''
* ''[[Get Backers (Manga)|Get Backers]]''
* ''[[Ghost Talker's Daydream]]''
* ''[[Getter Robo (Manga)|Getter Robo]]''
* ''[[Girls Bravo]]''
* ''[[Great Teacher Onizuka]]''
* ''[[Ghost Talkers Daydream (Manga)|Ghost Talkers Daydream]]''
* ''[[Girls Bravo (Manga)|Girls Bravo]]''
* ''[[Gunslinger Girl]]''
* ''[[Guyver]]''
* ''[[Great Teacher Onizuka (Manga)|Great Teacher Onizuka]]''
* ''[[Gunslinger Girl (Manga)|Gunslinger Girl]]''
* ''[[Hajime no Ippo]]''
* ''[[Guyver (Manga)|Guyver]]''
* ''[[Hanasaku Iroha]]''
* ''[[Hajime no Ippo (Manga)|Hajime no Ippo]]''
* ''[[Hekikai no AiON]]''
* ''[[Hanasaku Iroha (Anime)|Hanasaku Iroha]]''
* ''[[Hyakuen]]''
* ''[[Hekikai no Ai ON (Manga)|Hekikai no Ai ON]]''
* ''[[Ichigo Mashimaro]]''
* ''[[Hyakuen (Manga)|Hyakuen]]''
* ''[[Inazuma Eleven]]''
* ''[[Karakuridouji Ultimo]]''
* ''[[Ichigo Mashimaro (Manga)|Ichigo Mashimaro]]''
* ''[[Inazuma Eleven (Video Game)|Inazuma Eleven]]''
* ''[[Karakuridouji Ultimo (Manga)|Karakuridouji Ultimo]]''
* ''[[Karakurizoushi Ayatsuri Sakon]]''
* ''[[Karakurizoushi Ayatsuri Sakon]]''
* ''[[Katteni Kaizo (Manga)|Katteni Kaizo]]''
* ''[[Katteni Kaizo]]''
* ''[[Kekkaishi (Manga)|Kekkaishi]]''
* ''[[Kekkaishi]]''
* ''[[Kiba (Anime)|Kiba]]''
* ''[[Kiba]]''
* ''[[Kimi to Boku (Manga)|Kimi to Boku]]''
* ''[[Kimi to Boku]]''
* ''[[Kunisaki Izumo no Jijou (Manga)|Kunisaki Izumo no Jijou]]''
* ''[[Kunisaki Izumo no Jijou]]''
* ''[[Kurogane Communication (Manga)|Kurogane Communication]]''
* ''[[Kurogane Communication]]''
* ''[[The Law of Ueki (Manga)|The Law of Ueki]]''
* ''[[The Law of Ueki]]''
* ''[[The Legend of the Legendary Heroes (Light Novel)|The Legend of the Legendary Heroes]]''
* ''[[The Legend of the Legendary Heroes]]''
* ''[[Live On Cardliver Kakeru]]''
* ''[[Live On Cardliver Kakeru]]''
* ''[[Log Horizon]]
* ''[[Lost Brain (Manga)|Lost Brain]]'' -- which is mistaken for [[Seinen]] for just about as much as ''[[Death Note (Manga)|Death Note]]''.
* ''[[Lost Brain]]'' — which is mistaken for [[Seinen]] about as often as ''[[Death Note]]'' is.
* ''[[Love Hina (Manga)|Love Hina]]''
* ''[[Lucky Star (Anime)|Lucky Star]]''
* ''[[Love Hina]]''
* ''[[Magic Users Club (Anime)|Magic Users Club]]''
* ''[[Lucky Star]]''
* ''[[Maken Ki (Manga)|Maken Ki]]''
* ''[[Magic Users Club]]''
* ''[[Maken-ki!]]''
* ''[[Manga/Mazinger Z|Mazinger Z]]'' -- second run.
* ''[[Mazinger Z]]'' — second run.
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima (Manga)|Mahou Sensei Negima]]''
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''
* ''[[Mai-HiME (Anime)|Mai-HiME]]'' -- again, has been mistaken with both Seinen and Shojo.
* ''[[My-HiME]]'' — again, has been mistaken with both Seinen and Shojo.
** ''[[Mai-Otome (Anime)|Mai-Otome]]''
** ''[[Mai-Otome]]''
* ''[[Maoyuu Maou Yuusha (Light Novel)|Maoyuu Maou Yuusha]]''
* ''[[Medabots (Video Game)|Medabots]]''
* ''[[Maoyuu Maou Yuusha]]''
* ''[[Mirai Nikki (Manga)|Mirai Nikki]]''
* ''[[Medabots]]''
* ''[[Mitsudomoe (Manga)|Mitsudomoe]]''
* ''[[Mirai Nikki]]''
* ''[[Mitsudomoe]]''
* ''[[Muv Luv (Visual Novel)|Muv Luv]]'' -- the manga adaptation of ''Unlimited'' only; the other adaptations are Seinen.
* ''[[Muv-Luv]]'' — the manga adaptation of ''Unlimited'' only; the other adaptations are [[Seinen]].
* ''[[Neko De Gomen (Manga)|Neko De Gomen]]''
* ''[[Neko-de Gomen!]]''
* ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion (Anime)|Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''- often mistaken as pure Seinen, but most of its manga adaptions as well as the anime are either Shōnen or Shōjo.
* ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''- often mistaken as pure Seinen, but most of its manga adaptions as well as the anime are either shonen or shojo.
* ''[[Nichijou (Manga)|Nichijou]]''
* ''[[Nichijou]]''
* ''[[Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo (Anime)|Oku-sama wa Mahou Shoujo: Bewitched Agnes]]'' (a.k.a. ''My Wife is a Magical Girl: Bewitched Agnes'')
* ''[[Oku-sama wa Mahou Shoujo|Oku-sama wa Mahou Shoujo: Bewitched Agnes]]'' (a.k.a. ''My Wife is a Magical Girl: Bewitched Agnes'')
* ''[[Outlanders (Manga)|Outlanders]]''
* ''[[Patlabor (Anime)|Patlabor]]''
* ''[[Outlanders]]''
* ''[[Patlabor]]''
* ''[[Phi Brain Kami no Puzzle (Anime)|Phi Brain Kami no Puzzle]]''
* ''[[Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle]]''
* ''[[Pokémon (Anime)|Pokémon]]'', which, along with ''Dragon Ball Z'', helped to popularize the genre in the West.
* ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'', which, along with ''Dragon Ball Z'', helped to popularize the genre in the West.
* ''[[Princess Tutu (Anime)|Princess Tutu]]'' -- the manga, [[Shojo|ironically]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Tutu according to] [[That Other Wiki]].
* ''[[Princess Tutu]]'' — the manga, [[wikipedia:Princess Tutu|according to]] [[That Other Wiki]].
* ''[[Rave Master (Anime)|Rave Master]]''
* ''[[Red Eyes (Manga)|Red Eyes]]''
* ''[[Rave Master]]''
* ''[[Red Eyes (manga)|Red Eyes]]''
* ''[[Ronin Warriors (Anime)|Ronin Warriors]]'' -- the manga adaption was aimed at a younger male audience with heavy depictions of violence and gore.
* ''[[Ronin Warriors]]'' — the manga adaption was aimed at a younger male audience with heavy depictions of violence and gore.

* Every work by [[Rumiko Takahashi]] [[Seinen|except for]] ''[[Maison Ikkoku (Manga)|Maison Ikkoku]]'':
* Every work by [[Rumiko Takahashi]] [[Seinen|except for]] ''[[Maison Ikkoku]]'':
** ''[[Ranma ½]]''

** ''[[Ranma ½ (Manga)|Ranma One Half]]''
** ''[[Inuyasha]]''
** ''[[Inuyasha (Manga)|Inuyasha]]''
** ''[[Mermaid Saga]]''
** ''[[Mermaid Saga (Manga)|Mermaid Saga]]''
** ''[[Urusei Yatsura]]''
** ''[[Urusei Yatsura (Manga)|Urusei Yatsura]]''
** ''[[RIN-NE]]''
** ''[[RIN-NE (Manga)|RIN-NE]]''
* ''[[Cromartie High School]]''
* ''[[Sakigake Cromartie Koukou (Manga)|Sakigake Cromartie Koukou]]''
* ''[[Satou Kashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai]]''
* ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei]]''
* ''[[Satou Kashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai (Manga)|Satou Kashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai]]''
* ''[[School Rumble]]''
* ''[[Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (Manga)|Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei]]''
* ''[[School Rumble (Manga)|School Rumble]]''
* ''[[Shitsurakuen]]''
* ''[[Shitsurakuen (Manga)|Shitsurakuen]]''
* ''[[Spiral]]''
* ''[[Spiral (Manga)|Spiral]]''
* ''[[Spriggan]]''
* ''[[Spriggan (Manga)|Spriggan]]''
* ''[[Soul Eater]]''
* ''[[Soul Eater (Manga)|Soul Eater]]''
* ''[[Star Driver]]''
* ''[[Star Driver (Anime)|Star Driver]]''
* ''[[Super Dreadnought Girl 4946]]''
* ''[[Slayers]]''
* ''[[Super Dreadnought Girl 4946 (Manga)|Super Dreadnought Girl 4946]]''
* ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]''—although ''[[High School AU|Gakuen-hen]]'' is technically [[Seinen]], as it runs in Comp Ace.
* ''[[Slayers (Light Novel)|Slayers]]''
* ''[[There Beyond the Beyond]]''
* ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (Anime)|Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' -- although ''[[High School AU|Gakuen-hen]]'' is technically [[Seinen]], as it runs in Comp Ace.
* ''[[Tiger Mask]]''
* ''[[There Beyond the Beyond (Manga)|There Beyond the Beyond]]''
* ''[[Trigun]]''—until it switched publisher and became [[Seinen]].
* ''[[Tiger Mask (Manga)|Tiger Mask]]''
* ''[[Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle]]''—yes, despite the genre of the various series it's a crossover from it runs in ''[[w:Weekly Shōnen Magazine|Weekly Shōnen Magazine]]''.
* ''[[Trigun (Manga)|Trigun]]'' -- until it switched publisher and became [[Seinen]].
* ''[[Ultimate Mop Daisuke DX]]''—an [[Affectionate Parody]] of Shōnen tropes.
* ''[[Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (Manga)|Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle]]'' -- yes, despite the genre of the various series it's a crossover from it runs in Shōnen magazine.
* ''[[Watashi no Messiah-sama]]''
* ''[[Ultimate Mop Daisuke DX (Manga)|Ultimate Mop Daisuke DX]]'' -- an [[Affectionate Parody]] of Shōnen tropes.
* ''[[Yotsuba&!]]''
* ''[[Watashi no Messiah-sama (Manga)|Watashi no Messiah-sama]]''
* ''[[Yotsuba&! (Manga)|Yotsuba&!]]''
* ''[[Yakitate!! Japan]]''
* ''[[Yomeiro Choice]]''—the majority of the series, the first few chapters were published in a [[Seinen]] magazine, then it got transferred to a shonen magazine and it stayed till the very end. The strong content from its [[Seinen]] day still remains through the whole run, making it ''very'' hard to label as suitable for the younger audiences outside the Japanese demographic rating of shonen.
* ''[[Yakitate!! Japan (Manga)|Yakitate!! Japan]]''
* ''[[Zatch Bell]]''
* ''[[Yomeiro Choice (Manga)|Yomeiro Choice]]'' -- the majority of the series, the first few chapters were published in a [[Seinen]] magazine, then it got transfered to a Shōnen magazine and it stayed till the very end. The strong content from its [[Seinen]] day still remains through the whole run, making it ''very'' hard to label as suitable for the younger audiences outside the japanese demogtaphic rating.
* ''[[Zatch Bell (Manga)|Zatch Bell]]''
* ''[[Zettai Karen Children]]''
* ''[[Zettai Karen Children (Manga)|Zettai Karen Children]]''


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[[Category:Anime Genres]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Manga Demographics]]
[[Category:Anime Fan Speak]]
[[Category:Anime Fan Speak]]
[[Category:index]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Shonen Demographic]]
[[Category:Pages with working Wikipedia tabs]]
[[Category:Trope]]
[[Category:Trope Names from Japanese]]

Latest revision as of 17:55, 31 October 2022

MOD: To be consistent with Shojo, the category should be named "Shonen Demographic".

Manga demographic target groups:

  • Kodomomuke: children age 10 or younger
  • Shonen: "tween" or young-teen boys
  • Shoujo: "tween" or young-teen girls
  • Seinen: older-teen boys or young men (in modern usage, up to age 40)
  • ヤングレディース (literally "young ladies", does not appear to have a Western name): older-teen girls or young women
  • Redikomi (literally "ladies' comics"): women who are older than the audience for ヤングレディース
  • Josei: females age 18-40 (an academic and Western-fan term, not in general use in Japan)

Other Japanese comic styles:

  • Gekiga (literally "dramatic pictures"): adults

Shonen manga is manga published in Japanese magazines aimed primarily at tween and teenaged boys. Shonen anime is anime based on shonen manga. It is not a genre.

The Other Wiki tells us that the word can be pronounced with either a short or long "sho", so "shonen" and "shounen"/"shōnen" are equally correct romanizations of 少年. For ease of typing on a US English keyboard, and to distinguish the demographic from the magazines, we will use "shonen" here.

Japanese fiction aimed at this demographic tends to be focused more on "action" than relationships, with romance generally either perfunctory or played for comedy.[please verify] Physical combat is a common element,[please verify] and the cast is predominantly male.[please verify]

Shonen series were the first to be brought over en masse to the Western world, because it was the closest match to what was being aired by Western networks at the time (nearly all popular Western animation either is geared towards males or has Multiple Demographic Appeal). Thus, it makes up much of the popular American perception of anime.

In Japan, "shonen" is a designation of the stories that were published in a particular class of magazines,[please verify] not a label that describes the genres of the stories in those magazines.[please verify] That leads to series that are different from the typical shonen style but still count as examples, and series that follow all the typical shonen tropes but aren't shonen because they didn't originate from a shonen magazine.

Contrast Shojo, which is the tween and teenaged girl demographic; Seinen, which is the men demographic ; and Josei, which is the women demographic.

Examples of Shonen Demographic include:


General Examples

Other Examples in Shonen Jump


Non-Weekly Shōnen Jump Examples

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