The Evolution of Shonen Anime: From Dragon Ball to Jujutsu Kaisen

     

    Shonen anime is one of the reasons why anime is so popular around the world. This is because of the epic battles involving great powers, which attract the attention of viewers, especially teenagers. Not only that, but the power of friendship and heroism give shonen anime its own hype. This makes it even more popular because of its excitement. Over the decades of anime history, shonen anime has seen numerous variations, including character designs, main character personalities, and diverse plotlines. Curious, aren't you? How did the evolution of shonen anime become so popular? Well, in this article, I'll share the evolution of shonen anime from the very beginning of anime history.

    The first popular shonen anime at that time, and even now, is none other than Dragon Ball. Airing around the 1980s and 1990s, this anime became one of the precursors to the many shonen anime that exist today. This anime features a character who clearly shows his development, namely Son Goku. Starting from when he was a child, he was trained at a young age, and he continued to train as he grew older, such as when he was a teenager, and even as an adult, he continued to train to become even stronger. The portrayal of a character who is always motivated and never gives up has made this anime an inspiration for some people to never give up and keep getting back up no matter what the circumstances.

source image: otaku.fandom.com

    Since its success and popularity, the broadcast of Dragon Ball has inspired other authors to create similar shonen anime works. Examples include One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach, which are collectively referred to as “The Big 3” by the anime fandom. It's no surprise that these three anime have been extremely successful in popularizing shonen anime with plots and stories that are more appealing to audiences. It's not just the popularity of the anime itself, but each author of these three titles is increasingly motivated to develop their work, for example, Eichiiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. To this day, he has not finished or completed his work, as evidenced by the fact that the anime is still ongoing and has reached thousands of episodes. It's hard to imagine the effort and dedication required to create such a masterpiece.

    Despite its many fans, there are several problems with shonen anime, one of which is clichéd or template plots. Many anime fans also complain about anime plots that are predictable and easy to guess. For example, most shonen anime characters are cheerful, always enthusiastic, and motivated to achieve their dreams or goals. They encounter a powerful enemy, then lose, and then enter a training phase, usually called a training arc. After training hard, they begin to develop little by little, and eventually they succeed in defeating the powerful enemy. Added to this are elements of friendship and family when the main character is in a critical situation. This raises fans' expectations even higher, leading to a lot of criticism of shonen anime.

    This has led people behind the anime industry, including authors, to see this as an opportunity for them to change the system. One of the most striking changes in modern shonen animanga is the shift towards psychological and moral complexity. Anime such as Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, and My Hero Academia introduce protagonists who do not rely solely on optimism or physical strength. Instead, they face trauma, ethical dilemmas, and internal conflicts. Heroes in shonen today are not limited to their  ideology, but are more human. They doubt themselves, question their environment, and show weaknesses that are more relatable to the audience. 

    Despite these changes, the core essence of shonen remains intact. The genre still explores themes of growth, resilience, and the search for meaning in life, as well as the quest for identity. What has changed is the way these themes are expressed. Rather than relying solely on physical combat, modern shonen balances action with self-reflection, world-building with character studies, and spectacular displays with emotional authenticity. The result is a richer, more refined genre that continues to innovate while maintaining its roots. What do you think? write down your thought in comment section below! Thank you!