Shonen Anime dominated the anime industry for a very, a very long time. To date, it is the most popular genre, with new successful titles Shonen constantly taking the spotlight, as Solo And Slug. But, it is impossible to mention Shonen animates without discussing the “big three”.
The three large ones refer to the most popular and influential, animal anime, One piece,, Bleach And Naruto. These anime franchises have been working for some time and have never lost vapor. Although there have been conferences on the currency of a new Big Three to follow the New Gen Shonen, many fans refuse to put the title back. However, as big as the Big Three anime are, it is time to admit that there are anime titles which have better intrigues, atmospheres and characters than the three great.
Takopi’s original sin tells a complete story in six episodes
One of the largest anime of 2025, Takopi’s original sin is not for the low hearts. The brutal history founded in realistic suffering follows two young girls, Shizuka and Marina, whose life changes radically when a foreigner arrives to help them. The two girls experience horrible violence and severe parental negligence, which, respectively, led to coarse intimidation and suicidal thoughts.
Takopi’s original sin is not easy to look at. It is an extremely dark anime that transforms the stomachs of its viewers, but that testifies only to the way it is well written. The message is clear – Marina and Shizuka should not be harshly blamed for their actions, even when they do terrible things. Contrary to One piece“Soil Narutospin-offs, Takopi’s original sin does not need a lot of time to tell such an impactful story. This anime does not waste time with only six episodes, and they are anything but forgettable.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica continues to be an influential magic girl anime
When you talk about anime magic girl, SailorRightly, always comes back. But the anime of dark and desperate magic girls, Madoka Magica. Madoka Magica Works so well because of his twists and turns, but also because of the way he deceives viewers as much as he deceives his own characters. Until the end of episode three, viewers expect something rather light in which the power of friendship is all of. However, a violent death forever changes the tone of the series.
Madoka Magica is one of the best animated series because of the way he explores his themes of sorrow, loss, manipulation, solitude and, above all, love. He makes viewers guess all the time, slowly revealing the dynamic sides of the characters when the time has come. Regarding rhythm, characters and adjustment, Madoka Magica is difficult to beat. The artistic style is sometimes creative and beautifully terrifying.
Violet Evergarden is a slow story about self -understanding
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Beauty can be found in the most commonplace aspects of life, and Violet Evergarden dissect this. Although this anime is extremely slow, that’s all the interest. Violet was raised to be an effective child soldier, so she has trouble understanding the complex emotions of ordinary people. Thus, the anime details his journey to undress his feelings and find words to put them.
Violet Evergarden Proves that intense action is not necessary for a great history. The only thing necessary to make a big anime is emotion, whether sadness, happiness or even anger. Kyoto Animation nails the art of Violet EvergardenMake sure that each color glow in sunlight is a reaction from each spectator. The extraordinary of Violet Evergarden is in the most ordinary.
The SPY X family has captured the heart of anime lovers
Spy x Family Mix the action, comedy and family in a perfect anime package. The concept of a family united with circumstances that overlap while they all hide major secrets from each other are incredibly executed. Anya, the young child, is a secret telepathe. Yor, a day official and a day of day, is a ruthless assassin at night. Finally, strong, father and “doctor”, is in fact a leading spy.
Spy x Family is an incredible anime because he manages to be comforting, worthy of Gag and suspense at the same time. The Forger family quickly became one of the best anime families. The most interesting thing with Spy x Family is that it reaches almost all demographic groups of anime fans, which testifies to the quality of the series. The three tall people are addressed to young boys and men, as Shonen does, but these same viewers will connect for Spy x Family Alongside everyone.
Fruit basketball is an essential shojo
Shojo is considered the opposite of Shonen, targeting his stories towards young girls and women instead of boys and men. What the three large are to Shonen, Fruit basket is like shojo. This romantic anime follows the influences of the Chinese zodiac, while the young and orphaned tohru honda find themselves becoming a human friend for the gods. Tohru’s endless kindness and respectable driving wealth has made it one of the most popular anime tracks of all time.
But, tohru alone does not wear the series. Fruit basket is an exceptional example of how the anime can shine much brighter outside the limits of the shonen tropes. The idea of the fantasy of male power does not exist in this anime. Instead, Fruit basket focuses on the comedy and drama of Tohru’s life, with the 2019 version of Fruit basket Press the dramatic aspect more opposed to the anime of 2001.
The Apothecary Diaries is an anime that does everything correctly
Apothecary newspapers Perhaps is the best example of a very successful anime that has almost nothing to do with typical shonen tropes. Maomao is a young apothecary who finds himself working in the Royal Palace. As a historic fiction, being a woman is anything but easy, but Maomoo is satisfied with the cards she has dealt with. Although there is the fascinating romance with slow combustion between Maomao and the Secret Prince, Jinshi, the romance is far from being the most important aspect of Apothecary newspapers.
Apothecary newspapers is a mystery after the next in the field of the palace. By first looking at the anime, the different crimes and events may seem completely unrelated, but the real beauty of Apothecary newspapers is that everything happens for a reason. While the episodes of filling the three large are often useless and forgettable, Apothecary newspapers Ensure that even his more boring episodes have a weight in global history.
Frienen: Beyond Journey’s End perfectly performs Shonen’s art
Shonen is a genre dominated by men. It is not a surprise, given the word “shonen” generally translates into “boy”, but Freeze went beyond to prove that the Shonen type anime can also be worn by female tracks. Freeze has the ingredients of an anime Shonen, with his main controlled character and his bad bad, but Freeze is so far from being a recycled story about becoming more and more strong.
Frieren, the main holder character, is one of the strongest mages, formerly a member of the hero’s famous party who defeated the demon king. But, the series itself almost never concerns fights. Instead, the series adopts an introspective approach, plunging into the nuances of Friren’s long life as a very short life of his human companions. The action sequences are fabulous, but they are far from the best Freeze has to offer. It is not a secret that the anime led by women does not receive the same love and the same audience as the anime led by men, but Freeze Beate the three big ones to their own game.
The revolutionary girl Utena looks at her abstract ideas and her symbolism
In fact the product of an abandoned history for the Neptune and Uranus sailors of Sailor,, Revolutionary girl UTENA is a tragic battle for love. A fine example of anime of the old school, Utena Dazzles with its particular aesthetic, but it is known as an anime which can sometimes be quite difficult to understand. In essence, the plot should be simple, but a large part of UtenaHistory obliges viewers to read between lines and focus on little things.
However, just because Revolutionary girl UTENA Calls to a rewatch do not mean it is a bad show. On the contrary. Utena is one of the greatest anime to go out. It offers a very different experience from the popular anime like The Big Three, but that is what distinguishes it. It is an art performance and an absolute treat to understand and explore. Stopping the anime and slowly drawing the diapers makes something extremely rewarding.
Cowboy Bebop drop with his own personal style
The 90s house some of the greatest anime of all time. Classic artistic style is difficult to beat, but few can hold a candle to Cowboy Bebop. An absolutely legendary anime, Cowboy Bebop Take viewers in a jazzy space with its crew of futuristic bonuses. Of course, the face of Cowboy Bebop is none other than Spike Spiegel, one of the coolest animated animals ever created.
Despite the decades, Cowboy Bebop continues to be an inspiring anime that has influenced countless works. Aside from the fantastic musical scores and the impressive characters, Cowboy Bebop Do something with which the three large ones are fighting, and it is the choice of quality rather than quantity. Cowboy Bebop tells its story through its 26 episodes, and that’s it. He doesn’t need more than that to present the ups and downs of his group of figures. Each part of Cowboy Bebop Fong together to make a glorious anime worthy of being a favorite anime of anyone.
Berserk shame the anime of the black trio
The most mature act of counterpart of the three Big is the Dark trio. Composed of Jujutsu Kaisen,, Chainsaw And Hell ParadiseThe Dark trio should offer harder and more violent worlds compared to the three large ones. But, the Dark Edgy trio has nothing on the bloody and dark world that is Furious. Far exceeding the limits of the three large too, Furious is the story of the spiral of a man in a battle against his own humanity.
Guts is one of the most emblematic anime protagonists for the stained blood path he runs and the tragedies that haunt him. Like the ultimate anime of Dark Fantasy, Furious Never hold the hands of his viewers. Instead, viewers are thrown into a disgusting story ready to be dissected and discussed every moment. Furious continued to inspire countless works, especially since Soul Games. Regarding captivating stories and deep characters, it is not much better than Furious.