Despite the abundant success of series like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer, concern is growing over the future of Shonen anime. While shonen anime is making headlines worldwide, the lack of big new battle shonen manga is fueling fears that the dominant genre is on the way out.
It’s easy to see why so many fans are afraid of shonen dying. Shonen Jump, the genre’s most famous publisher that gave fans titles like Dragon Ball and Naruto, has seemed to move away from classic battle shonen almost entirely. Aside from legacy titles like One Piece, the only recent battle shonen success out of Shonen Jump is the much-loved Kagurabachi
A closer look at recent Shonen hits, however, proves that fans have no reason to fear. Shonen isn’t dying, it’s flourishing, and there’s no better proof than the top 2 anime streaming on Crunchyroll at the moment.
Gachiakuta and Kaiju No. 8’s Unprecedented Success Prove Shonen Is Doing Just Fine
At the time of writing, Crunchyroll’s two biggest anime according to their popularity rankings are Gachiakuta and Kaiju No. 8. The former is still in the middle of its epic first season, while the latter just wrapped up its second season in late September.
Both series offer classic battle shonen stories that are sure to please fans of big series like One Piece and Attack on Titan. Some have even gone so far as suggesting that Gachiakuta is the true successor to Naruto.
What’s notable about the series, in addition to their popularity, is their source. Shonen Jump rival Kodansha publishes Kei Urana’s Gachiakuta, while Naoya Matsumoto’s Kaiju No. 8 is handled by Shonen Jump’s sister publication, Jump+.
The Shonen Landscape is Undeniably Shifting
All of this hints at a broader shift in the shonen landscape. While Shonen Jump is still publishing a few battle Shonen such as Kagurabachi, Sakamoto Days, and One Piece, other publications have upped their game.
Jump+ has Dandadan, Spy x Family, and Chainsaw Man, while Kodansha has a handful of big series like Blue Lock and Gachiakuta.
Looking at the big players in Shonen right now, it’s obvious that Shonen isn’t dying, but Shonen Jump’s monopoly on the genre is. The fact that the two biggest shonen anime series on Crunchyroll right now weren’t published by Shonen Jump is huge and shows a shift in the industry that few could have predicted during the heyday of Naruto and One Piece.
The end result will probably be great for anime fans. Weekly Shonen Jump never had a true monopoly over the Shonen genre, but now that it’s facing much stiffer competition, anime and manga fans will probably benefit. The breakout success of Gachiakuta and Kaiju No. 8 on Crunchyroll ensures that the future of Shonen is looking bright.
- Release Date
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July 6, 2025
- Network
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TBS, MBS, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, HBC, RKK, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, tbc, RKB, SBC, KUTV, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC
- Directors
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Satoshi Nakagawa
- Writers
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Ikuro Sato
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Aoi Ichikawa
Rudo (voice)
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Katsuyuki Konishi
Enjin (voice)
