<img src="https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&amp;c2=36750692&amp;cv=3.6.0&amp;cj=1"> What is Shonen Anime? The Popular Anime Genre, Explained
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Category:
Anime

What is Shonen anime? The popular anime genre, explained

Even if it does have a target demographic, there are Shonen fans across the board.
Image of Bethany Barber
Bethany Barber
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Published: Nov 10, 2023 07:38 pm

If you’ve ever gone to watch an My Hero Academia, you may have noticed the show was tagged as Shonen. So what’s up with this descriptor?

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Shonen is a common term thrown around for anime series that typically feature younger male protagonists and lots of action. While these elements are not required to make an anime fit the Shonen category, it is popular within the genre. But what exactly does Shonen mean for anime fans?

What does Shonen anime mean?

Image via Crunchyroll

First, it’s worth giving a disclaimer that Shonen is technically more of a marketing term than a genre. Still, many regard it as an umbrella term worthy of categorization. Shonen is a broad genre of anime that is targeted towards older boys and younger men, with 12-18 years old being the typical range. Still, this doesn’t mean that older audiences can’t enjoy works within Shonen, because they often do.

Shonen can also be found in manga, especially the popular monthly manga magazine, Shonen Jump. Many popular Shonen anime series were once manga in the magazine, like Bleach and Yuri On Ice representing them. Both feature more mature themes and subjects.

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Author
Image of Bethany Barber
Bethany Barber
Bethany Barber is a contributing writer at We Got This Covered, where she can be found writing on a variety of topics. She especially enjoys horror movies, indie video games, and permanent wave music. Bethany can also be found across the GAMURS network at Pro Game Guides.