Shonen Demographic: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:shonenjump3_8018.jpg|frame]]
[[File:shonenjump3 8018.jpg|frame]]


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.
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.


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.
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.
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Don't list examples until you checked that they are officially shonen.
Don't list examples until you checked that they are officially shonen.
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=== 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 Shōnen and one [[Shojo]].
** 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 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 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.
** This practice also occurs in Japan. ''[[The Vision of Escaflowne]]'' had a Shōnen-version manga produced of its story, while ''[[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 Shōnen-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 ''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.
** The ''[[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 Shōnen, and due to its age, length and influence provides examples of most of the classic tropes.
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** ''[[JoJo's 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 ''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]].
* [[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]]'' and ''[[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 Shōnen 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]]'' ===
== Other Examples in ''[[Shonen Jump]]'' ==


* ''[[Angel Densetsu]]''
* ''[[Angel Densetsu]]''
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* ''[[Butsu Zone]]''
* ''[[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]]'.
* ''[[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.
* ''[[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 Shōnen magazines.
* ''[[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 Shōnen magazines.
* ''[[D.Gray-man|D Gray Man]]'', even when its [[Estrogen Brigade]] says otherwise.
* ''[[D.Gray-man|D Gray Man]]'', even when its [[Estrogen Brigade]] says otherwise.
* ''[[Manga/Dokonjo Gaeru|Dokonjo Gaeru]]''
* ''[[Manga/Dokonjo Gaeru|Dokonjo Gaeru]]''
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* ''[[Hikaru no Go]]''
* ''[[Hikaru no Go]]''
* ''[[Hunter X Hunter]]''
* ''[[Hunter X Hunter]]''
* ''[[Katekyo Hitman Reborn]]'' -- though its audience appears to consist mostly of [[Periphery Demographic]]
* ''[[Katekyo Hitman Reborn]]''—though its audience appears to consist mostly of [[Periphery Demographic]]
* ''[[Kimagure Orange Road]]''
* ''[[Kimagure Orange Road]]''
* ''[[Kochikame|Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo]]''
* ''[[Kochikame|Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo]]''
* ''[[Kuroko no Basuke]]''
* ''[[Kuroko no Basuke]]''
* ''[[Manga/Mazinger Z|Mazinger Z]]'' -- its first run, anyway. In 1974, it was moved to Kodansha's ''TV magazine''.
* ''[[Manga/Mazinger Z|Mazinger Z]]''—its first run, anyway. In 1974, it was moved to Kodansha's ''TV magazine''.
* ''[[Medaka Box]]''
* ''[[Medaka Box]]''
* ''[[Naruto]]'', but it arguably has an even larger female following than ''Bleach''.
* ''[[Naruto]]'', but it arguably has an even larger female following than ''Bleach''.
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** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh GX]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh GX]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|Yu-Gi-Oh 5 Ds]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's|Yu-Gi-Oh 5 Ds]]''
* ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' -- another paradigm of Shōnen.
* ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]''—another paradigm of Shōnen.




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


* ''[[A.I. Love You]]''
* ''[[A.I. Love You]]''
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* ''[[AKB49: Ren'ai Kinshi Jourei|AKB 49 Renai Kinshi Jourei]]''
* ''[[AKB49: Ren'ai Kinshi Jourei|AKB 49 Renai Kinshi Jourei]]''
* ''[[Aku no Hana]]''
* ''[[Aku no Hana]]''
* ''[[Manga/Angelic Layer|Angelic Layer]]'' -- by [[CLAMP]], a mangaka team well known for their work in [[Shojo]].
* ''[[Manga/Angelic Layer|Angelic Layer]]''—by [[CLAMP]], a mangaka team well known for their work in [[Shojo]].
* ''[[ARAGO]]''
* ''[[ARAGO]]''
* ''[[Area no Kishi]]''
* ''[[Area no Kishi]]''
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* ''[[Baby Steps]]''
* ''[[Baby Steps]]''
* ''[[Bakugan]]''
* ''[[Bakugan]]''
* ''[[Black Butler]]'' -- even though it resembles a mix of Seinen and Shojo much more than actual Shōnen.
* ''[[Black Butler]]''—even though it resembles a mix of Seinen and Shojo much more than actual Shōnen.
* ''[[Blue Exorcist]]''
* ''[[Blue Exorcist]]''
* ''[[Chuuka Ichiban]]''
* ''[[Chuuka Ichiban]]''
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* ''[[Eiken]]''
* ''[[Eiken]]''
* ''[[Et Cetera]]''
* ''[[Et Cetera]]''
* ''[[Eureka Seven]]'' -- the anime can go into many genres, but both the manga adaptations were published in Shōnen magazines.
* ''[[Eureka Seven]]''—the anime can go into many genres, but both the manga adaptations were published in Shōnen magazines.
* ''[[Fairy Tail]]''
* ''[[Fairy Tail]]''
* ''[[Flame of Recca]]''
* ''[[Flame of Recca]]''
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* ''[[The Legend of the Legendary Heroes]]''
* ''[[The Legend of the Legendary Heroes]]''
* ''[[Live On Cardliver Kakeru]]''
* ''[[Live On Cardliver Kakeru]]''
* ''[[Lost Brain]]'' -- which is mistaken for [[Seinen]] for just about as much as ''[[Death Note]]''.
* ''[[Lost Brain]]''—which is mistaken for [[Seinen]] for just about as much as ''[[Death Note]]''.
* ''[[Love Hina]]''
* ''[[Love Hina]]''
* ''[[Lucky Star]]''
* ''[[Lucky Star]]''
* ''[[Magic Users Club]]''
* ''[[Magic Users Club]]''
* ''[[Maken-ki!|Maken Ki]]''
* ''[[Maken-ki!|Maken Ki]]''
* ''[[Manga/Mazinger Z|Mazinger Z]]'' -- second run.
* ''[[Manga/Mazinger Z|Mazinger Z]]''—second run.
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''
* ''[[Mai-HiME]]'' -- again, has been mistaken with both Seinen and Shojo.
* ''[[Mai-HiME]]''—again, has been mistaken with both Seinen and Shojo.
** ''[[Mai-Otome]]''
** ''[[Mai-Otome]]''
* ''[[Maoyuu Maou Yuusha]]''
* ''[[Maoyuu Maou Yuusha]]''
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* ''[[Mirai Nikki]]''
* ''[[Mirai Nikki]]''
* ''[[Mitsudomoe]]''
* ''[[Mitsudomoe]]''
* ''[[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!|Neko De Gomen]]''
* ''[[Neko-de Gomen!|Neko De Gomen]]''
* ''[[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 Shōnen or Shōjo.
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* ''[[Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle|Phi Brain Kami no Puzzle]]''
* ''[[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]]'' -- the manga, [[Shojo|ironically]], [[wikipedia:Princess Tutu|according to]] [[That Other Wiki]].
* ''[[Princess Tutu]]''—the manga, [[Shojo|ironically]], [[wikipedia:Princess Tutu|according to]] [[That Other Wiki]].
* ''[[Rave Master]]''
* ''[[Rave Master]]''
* ''[[Red Eyes (manga)|Red Eyes]]''
* ''[[Red Eyes (manga)|Red Eyes]]''
* ''[[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]]'':
* Every work by [[Rumiko Takahashi]] [[Seinen|except for]] ''[[Maison Ikkoku]]'':
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* ''[[Super Dreadnought Girl 4946]]''
* ''[[Super Dreadnought Girl 4946]]''
* ''[[Slayers]]''
* ''[[Slayers]]''
* ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' -- although ''[[High School AU|Gakuen-hen]]'' is technically [[Seinen]], as it runs in Comp Ace.
* ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]''—although ''[[High School AU|Gakuen-hen]]'' is technically [[Seinen]], as it runs in Comp Ace.
* ''[[There Beyond the Beyond]]''
* ''[[There Beyond the Beyond]]''
* ''[[Tiger Mask]]''
* ''[[Tiger Mask]]''
* ''[[Trigun]]'' -- until it switched publisher and became [[Seinen]].
* ''[[Trigun]]''—until it switched publisher and became [[Seinen]].
* ''[[Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle]]'' -- yes, despite the genre of the various series it's a crossover from it runs in Shōnen magazine.
* ''[[Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle]]''—yes, despite the genre of the various series it's a crossover from it runs in Shōnen magazine.
* ''[[Ultimate Mop Daisuke DX]]'' -- an [[Affectionate Parody]] of Shōnen tropes.
* ''[[Ultimate Mop Daisuke DX]]''—an [[Affectionate Parody]] of Shōnen tropes.
* ''[[Watashi no Messiah-sama]]''
* ''[[Watashi no Messiah-sama]]''
* ''[[Yotsuba&!]]''
* ''[[Yotsuba&!]]''
* ''[[Yakitate!! Japan]]''
* ''[[Yakitate!! Japan]]''
* ''[[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.
* ''[[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]]''
* ''[[Zatch Bell]]''
* ''[[Zettai Karen Children]]''
* ''[[Zettai Karen Children]]''
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[[Category:Anime Genres]]
[[Category:Anime Genres]]
[[Category:Anime Fan Speak]]
[[Category:Anime Fan Speak]]
[[Category:index]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Shonen Demographic]]
[[Category:Shonen Demographic]]

Revision as of 16:15, 26 February 2015

Manga and anime aimed primarily at pre-teen and teenaged boys. Tends to be focused more on "action" than relationships, with romance generally either 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.

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.

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

Don't list examples until you checked that they are officially shonen.

General Examples

  • 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.
    • The attempted localization of 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.
    • This practice also occurs in Japan. The Vision of Escaflowne had a Shōnen-version manga produced of its story, while Magic Knight Rayearth's OAVs 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 video game was highly received.
    • The 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.
    • Of all the ongoing Shōnen 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 Jump Triforce is Naruto, the most popular anime in America, period.
    • JoJo's 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.
  • Three-Point Landing: They love this to make the characters look cool.
  • General rule of thumb on the scale of idealism vs. cynicism, most Shōnen works (particularly the action fighter types), tend to fall in the idealist side. 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 and Neon Genesis Evangelion are some of the notable examples).

Other Examples in Shonen Jump


Non-Shōnen Jump Examples

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