Akira Toriyama Dragon Ball has become one of the most popular anime in the world, shonen or otherwise. It’s remarkable how much it has captured the passion of an international audience for nearly four decades. Dragon Ball has gradually evolved over the course of its 600-plus episodes, 20 feature films, and countless video games and other expanded universe content, but there’s a core sensibility to the series that remains unchanged across Goku’s many action-packed adventures.

There are many elements that fans associate with Dragon BallWhether it’s the grandiose fight sequences, the mind-blowing transformations, or the deadly energy attacks that punctuate the series’ biggest battles. There’s a lot of Dragon Ball content for fans to discover and there is even a new anime, Dragon Ball DAIMAwhich is set to premiere in October and end on a strong note in 2024. However, there are plenty of other satisfying anime that offer comparable characters, combat, and storytelling that are sure to resonate with die-hard fans. Dragon Ball fans who want to discover something new.

ten Sand Land: The Series is another action-packed adventure from Akira Toriyama

Sand Land: the series is streaming on Hulu

Dragon Ball is Akira Toriyama’s greatest claim to fame, but he is responsible for over a dozen diverse manga series, several of which have been adapted into anime. Doctor Slump is another huge hit from Toriyama that stays true to the mangaka’s gag series roots and is likely to reach most Dragon Ball fans. Her main character, Arale Norimaki, even joined Dragon Ball on several occasions. However, Sand Land: The Series is a better bet for those who are fans of Dragon Ball‘s over-the-top action series and compelling world-building. Originally a single-volume, 14-chapter manga from 2000, Sandy land was made into a feature film and now a 13-episode series that beautifully expands on Toriyama’s source material.

Sandy land The story takes place in a barren wasteland where water is the ultimate resource. An optimistic sheriff with a mysterious past recruits Beelzebub, the demon prince, to aid him in his quest to rehydrate his desolate land. Sand Land features an enriching mix of diverse and complex characters, not to mention beautiful creatures and impressive machinery, technology, and artillery. Sand Land deftly balances action, comedy, and character-driven storytelling as Beelzebub becomes a reluctant hero and makes friends along the way. The anime’s second story arc, “The Story of the Angel Hero,” introduces a villainous angel, Muniel, who becomes a fantastical foe for Beelzebub.

9 One Piece is an epic pirate anime packed with action, adventure and excitement.

One Piece is streaming on Crunchyroll

One piece is part of Weekly Shonen JumpThe illustrious “Big 3” titles, alongside NarutoAnd Bleachand it continues to be strong after more than 1100 episodes and 15 feature films. Eiichiro Oda has made no secret of his admiration for Akira Toriyama and the way he Dragon Ball had a major influence on his iconic shonen series. Monkey D. Luffy aspires to become a world-renowned pirate, assemble the perfect crew, and retrieve the mysterious “One Piece” treasure that has eluded even the greatest explorers. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates crew have come a long way, and their adventures along the Grand Line have exposed them to incredible challenges and even greater lessons.

One piece taps into the same level of adventure, fantasy and action associated with Dragon BallLuffy and Goku also have a lot in common between their unwavering heroism, selflessness, and insatiable appetite. One piece‘s Devil Fruit also ensures that there are always unexpected powers on display and that there is never a dull moment in the series. Luffy’s powerful Gear transformations also seem very in line with Dragon BallThe iconic forms of Super Saiyan.

8 Ranma ½ Opens to Sensational Martial Arts with Fantastic Pranks

Ranma ½ is streaming on Hulu

Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma ½ Ranma Saotome is a 90s shonen classic that elegantly combines action, slapstick comedy, and romance in a way that has become Takahashi’s trademark. Ranma Saotome is a young martial arts delinquent who suffers from a unique curse in which he transforms into a girl whenever he is exposed to cold water. Ranma attempts to live a normal life at the Tendo residence, but he frequently encounters other people who are also cursed, though they succumb to transformations that turn them into animals.

Ranma ½ is no stranger to an increased flight of fancy, but there’s still an emphasis on ground-based martial arts and meticulous hand-to-hand combat that harkens back to the original. Dragon BallThe Battles of . It also celebrates a very similar sense of humor. Ranma ½ is an undeniable ’90s classic, but the recent announcement that MAPPA will be rebooting the series for modern audiences means now is the perfect time to check out the original before 2024. Ranma ½ becomes the next big hit.

7 Naruto & Naruto: Shippuden delivers exceptional Shonen action that rivals the chaos of Dragon Ball

Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are streaming on Crunchyroll

Masashi Kishimoto Naruto is completely consistent with Dragon BallNaruto and Goku are both very close in action, and it’s easy for a fan of one to fall in love with the other. Naruto Uzumaki aspires to become a revered Hokage ninja who can lead his humble village to respect and success. It’s not hard to draw comparisons between Naruto and Goku, but these similarities are also found with the rest of the series’ cast. Anyone interested in the ongoing rivalry between Goku and Vegeta will enjoy the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke.

NarutoThe fight sequences are just as extreme as Dragon BallNaruto’s combat and many transformations – such as Kurama Mode, Ashura Mode, and Six Paths Sage Mode – can put Super Saiyans to shame. Naruto is also split between its original series and its more mature successor, Naruto Shippudenwhich is no different from the delimitation between Dragon Ball And Dragon Ball ZThe story of Naruto continues to evolve even now, in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

6 Fist Of The North Star is an archetypal action series full of brutal brawlers

Fist Of The North Star is streaming on Crunchyroll

There are plenty of shonen anime that feature hulking heroes and villains who seem more like ridiculous stereotypes than real people. Buronson and Tetsuo Hara Fist of the North Star helped popularize this trend and its protagonist, Kenshiro, continues to be considered a prototypical action hero.

Fist of the North Star takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where strength and martial arts reign supreme. It’s almost as if Mad Max were made into an anime and also starred Goku. An 80s classic, Fist of the North Star evokes a more retro sensibility, but its conflicts and villains are certainly reminiscent of Dragon Ball ZThe first antagonists of.

5 My Hero Academia celebrates the superhero genre and makes it its secret weapon

My Hero Academia is streaming on Crunchyroll

My Hero Academy has become one of the biggest shonen success stories of the decade, and it’s poised to succeed as Kohei Horikoshi prepares to end his long-running manga on his own terms. My Hero Academy came at the perfect time, when the superhero genre was at its peak, which powerfully fuels the series’ triumphant shonen storytelling. My Hero Academy takes place in a world where the majority of the population possesses super-powered “Quirks” that span a seemingly endless range of abilities that can be both powerful and impractical.

Izuku “Deku” Midoriya begins his education at UA High School, a school designed to train the next generation of pro heroes, as he goes from a Quirkless kid to Japan’s number one hero. My Hero Academy The fact that each season gets more mature and intense as Deku and the rest of the characters get older. The first two seasons are clearly aimed more at a younger audience, but the later ones are genuinely scary, shocking, and sometimes violent. Deku’s ideals align with Goku’s, and his friendly rivalry with Bakugo is definitely reminiscent of the Goku and Vegeta dynamic.

4 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba masters bloody hack-and-slash combat

Demon Slayer is streaming on Crunchyroll

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has quickly become one of the biggest anime of recent years, shonen or otherwise, and has literally broken box office records with its feature-length films. Demon Slayer The game doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it still finds success thanks to its spunky characters, endless optimism, and stunning animation that is a sight to behold. Ufotable has exceeded expectations with its visuals and it’s easy on the eyes. Demon Slayer without sound and still in awe of its magnificent fight sequences. Tanjiro Kamado is a humble boy whose family is massacred by demons and he is eager to find a cure to turn his now demon sister, Nezuko, back to normal.

Tanjiro immerses himself in the hardened life of a demon slayer and gradually rises to legendary status among his peers. Demon Slayer The season introduces impressive new demon slayers and equally resilient demons. Demon Slayer undoubtedly makes action sequences its priority, but that’s not necessarily a problem when they look this good. After its fifth season, Demon SlayerThe anime should conclude with a trilogy of feature films.

3 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure excels with generational storytelling that continues to innovate

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is streaming on Crunchyroll

that of Hirohiko Araki JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has been innovating in the battle shonen genre for over 35 years with revolutionary and truly daring storytelling. Jojo The story follows the adventures of the special Joestar family as they use their Stand powers to fight evil individuals. Jojo begins with Jonathan Joestar, but each new saga follows a different descendant in order to engage in true generational storytelling that is not afraid to take risks and constantly reinvent itself. Jojo transforms from a road trip adventure into a slice-of-life serial killer mystery, a mafia epic and more.

These gender changes were essential for JojoThe success of the series and somehow the series keeps getting better. Dragon Ball gives the audience a taste of generational storytelling when it comes to Goku’s maturity as an adult and the narrative shifts its focus slightly to Gohan, who is becoming an adult and also starting a family of his own. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure indulges in some truly incredible action sequences with over-the-top villains that are in a league of their own, but its ability to master the heroics of “passing the torch” really helps the shonen series stand out from its peers and develop a unique identity.

2 One-Punch Man beautifully subverts Shonen stereotypes through empowered heroes.

One-Punch Man is streaming on Crunchyroll

The one-punch man works so well because it’s able to channel decades of shonen and superhero storytelling in order to push it to the next level. The one-punch man takes place in a world overrun with monsters and heroes to the point that they have become bureaucratic institutions instead of incredible anomalies. The series follows Saitama, the titular One-Punch Man, who is so strong that he has become complacent about his ability to defeat any foe he faces with a single punch.

Saitama’s disappointment at being able to face a worthy villain is an exciting change of pace and brings up conflicts in other areas. There have been many playful debates among fans about who would win between Goku and Saitama because The one-punch man explores exaggerated power sets that are on par with Super Saiyan and Ultra Instinct strength. It’s been five years since The one-punch manThe second season of , but the third is finally on its way and is set to reach greater heights than ever before. Now is the perfect time to catch up on this gonzo superhero and shonen hybrid.

1 Yu Yu Hakusho is a worthy companion to Battle Shonen that matches the action of Dragon Ball

Yu Yu Hakusho is streaming on Crunchyroll

Yu Yu Hakusho is a notable shonen series from the 90s that chronicles Yusuke Urameshi’s journey from a lazy teenager to a heroic spiritual detective and demon hunter. Yusuke cultivates a powerful group of friends who compete Dragon BallGoku’s main cast is very similar to Yusuke and Kuwabara’s heroic evolution and what Goku experiences. Yusuke and Kuwabara’s training under the wise and elderly Genkai is similar to Goku and Krillin’s studies under Master Roshi. Yu Yu Hakusho really finds its groove when its characters participate in the Dark Tournament, which also has a lot in common with Dragon BallThe recurring world martial arts tournaments.

Yu Yu Hakusho offers constant, unpredictable and emotionally rich combat. It is easy to fall in love with these characters and become incredibly invested in their adventure. With only 112 episodes, Yu Yu Hakusho captures the same energy and excitement as Dragon Ball, but can be watched in a fraction of the time. Yu Yu Hakusho was also one of the first major anime dubs that Funimation picked up after Dragon Ballso fans of Dragon BallThe English dub of ‘s will find much to enjoy in Yu Yu Hakushothe faithful production of.