Shonen Demographic: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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m (“Tween” sounds more accurate than Pre-Teen. Cuz Tween refers to 12 year olds. Pre-Teen can mean 10, 11 or 12. But 10 and 11 aren’t confirmed part of the age range of Shonen.)
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Manga and anime aimed primarily at tween and teenaged boys. Mostly around 12 to 18 years of age. 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 manga''' is [[manga]] published in Japanese magazines aimed primarily at tween and teenaged boys. Shōnen anime is [[anime]] based on Shōnen manga. 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. Physical combat is a common element, and 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, 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.


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


Contrast [[Shojo]], which is aimed at tween and teenaged girls; [[Seinen]], which is aimed at men; and [[Josei]], which is aimed at women.
Don't list examples until you checked that they are officially shonen.


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* ''[[Beet the Vandel Buster]]''
* ''[[Beet the Vandel Buster]]''
* ''[[Black Cat (manga)|Black Cat]]''
* ''[[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.
* ''[[Bleach]]'' — though it does have a sizable female fan following. The third of the "Big Three" among currently active ''[[Shonen Jump]]'' series.
* ''[[Blue Exorcist]]''
* ''[[Blue Exorcist]]''
* ''[[Bobobo-Bo Bo-bobo]]''
* ''[[Bobobo-Bo Bo-bobo]]''
* ''[[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]]'', even when its [[Estrogen Brigade]] says otherwise.
* ''[[Manga/Dokonjo Gaeru|Dokonjo Gaeru]]''
* ''[[Dokonjo Gaeru]]''
* ''[[Embalming]]''
* ''[[Embalming]]''
* ''[[Eyeshield 21]]''
* ''[[Eyeshield 21]]''
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* ''[[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''.
* ''[[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''.
* ''[[One Piece]]'', but it attracts nearly every demographic, from kids to teens and adults. Currently Japan's most popular ongoing 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!|Papa no Iukoto o Kikinasai]]''
* ''[[Papa no Iukoto o Kikinasai!]]''
* ''[[Psyren]]''
* ''[[Psyren]]''
* ''[[Rokudenashi Blues]]''
* ''[[Rokudenashi Blues]]''
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** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh First Anime Series]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh First Anime Series]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh]] (Duel Monsters)''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh]] (Duel Monsters)''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! R|Yu-Gi-Oh R]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! R]]''
** ''[[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 Yu Hakusho]]''—another paradigm of Shōnen.
* ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' — another paradigm of Shōnen.




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* ''[[A.I. Love You]]''
* ''[[A.I. Love You]]''
* ''[[Air Gear]]''
* ''[[Air Gear]]''
* ''[[AKB49: Ren'ai Kinshi Jourei|AKB 49 Renai Kinshi Jourei]]''
* ''[[AKB49: Ren'ai 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]].
* ''[[Angelic Layer]]'' — by [[CLAMP]], a mangaka team well known for their work in [[Shojo]].
* ''[[ARAGO]]''
* ''[[ARAGO]]''
* ''[[Area no Kishi]]''
* ''[[Area no Kishi]]''
* ''[[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.
* ''[[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.
* ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', which is often mistaken for seinen or shojo.
* ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', which is often mistaken for seinen or shojo.
* ''[[B't X|Bt X]]''
* ''[[B't X]]''
* ''[[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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* ''[[Hajime no Ippo]]''
* ''[[Hajime no Ippo]]''
* ''[[Hanasaku Iroha]]''
* ''[[Hanasaku Iroha]]''
* ''[[Hekikai no AiON|Hekikai no Ai ON]]''
* ''[[Hekikai no AiON]]''
* ''[[Hyakuen]]''
* ''[[Hyakuen]]''
* ''[[Ichigo Mashimaro]]''
* ''[[Ichigo Mashimaro]]''
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* ''[[Live On Cardliver Kakeru]]''
* ''[[Live On Cardliver Kakeru]]''
* ''[[Log Horizon]]
* ''[[Log Horizon]]
* ''[[Lost Brain]]''—which is mistaken for [[Seinen]] for just about as much as ''[[Death Note]]''.
* ''[[Lost Brain]]'' — which is mistaken for [[Seinen]] about as often as ''[[Death Note]]'' is.
* ''[[Love Hina]]''
* ''[[Love Hina]]''
* ''[[Lucky Star]]''
* ''[[Lucky Star]]''
* ''[[Magic Users Club]]''
* ''[[Magic Users Club]]''
* ''[[Maken-ki!|Maken Ki]]''
* ''[[Maken-ki!]]''
* ''[[Manga/Mazinger Z|Mazinger Z]]''—second run.
* ''[[Mazinger Z]]'' — second run.
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''
* ''[[My-HiME]]''—again, has been mistaken with both Seinen and Shojo.
* ''[[My-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!]]''
* ''[[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.
* ''[[Nichijou]]''
* ''[[Nichijou]]''
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* ''[[Outlanders]]''
* ''[[Outlanders]]''
* ''[[Patlabor]]''
* ''[[Patlabor]]''
* ''[[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, [[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]]'':
** ''[[Ranma ½]]''
** ''[[Ranma ½]]''
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* ''[[Cromartie High School]]''
* ''[[Cromartie High School]]''
* ''[[Satou Kashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai]]''
* ''[[Satou Kashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai]]''
* ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei|Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei]]''
* ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei]]''
* ''[[School Rumble]]''
* ''[[School Rumble]]''
* ''[[Shitsurakuen]]''
* ''[[Shitsurakuen]]''
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* ''[[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 demographic rating of Shōnen.
* ''[[Yomeiro Choice]]''—the majority of the series, the first few chapters were published in a [[Seinen]] magazine, then it got transferred 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 demographic rating of Shōnen.
* ''[[Zatch Bell]]''
* ''[[Zatch Bell]]''
* ''[[Zettai Karen Children]]''
* ''[[Zettai Karen Children]]''

Revision as of 12:28, 30 May 2019

Shōnen manga is manga published in Japanese magazines aimed primarily at tween and teenaged boys. Shōnen anime is anime based on Shōnen manga. Japanese fiction aimed at this demographic tends to be focused more on "action" than relationships, with romance generally either perfunctory or played for comedy. Physical combat is a common element, and the cast is predominantly male.

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

Contrast Shojo, which is aimed at tween and teenaged girls; Seinen, which is aimed at men; and Josei, which is aimed at women.

Examples of Shonen Demographic include:


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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