15 Best Shonen Anime Arcs Of All Time

The most well-known anime, such as Dragon Ball and Naruto, are all shonen, and they contain memorable story arcs that catapulted these series to fame. While there is much more to anime than Shonen, it’s undeniable the genre is partially responsible for the anime industry exploding in popularity outside of Japan.

Shonen is possibly the most popular genre in anime and was the gateway for many anime fans into the medium. Action-based series in every medium have always been popular, so it was no surprise that the action-packed shonen genre would become so loved. An arc is a story within an anime that is so significant that it warrants many episodes. It is very important to make an anime popular in that it engages viewers for many episodes and makes the anime more memorable, as opposed to a new story every episode.

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18 Mob’s Full Power is Terrifying

Mob Psycho 100, ???% arc – Season 3, Episodes 9 – 12

Mob Psycho 100‘s final arc sends the series off in incredible fashion. After teasing Mob’s almost limitless psychic power for most of the series, a tragic event sets that power loose, and it’s clear what he’s been afraid of all this time. All the characters that fans (and Mob) have gotten to know as the series progressed step in to attempt to stop this rampage.

Ultimately, though, it’s up to Mob himself, as he realizes he must accept himself fully–and that includes his powers. The Mob Psycho 100 anime adapts the arc perfectly, providing an incredibly satisfying ending.

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17 A Demon Slayer’s Most Hard-Fought Battle

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Entertainment District arc – Season 2, Episodes 8 – 18

The Entertainment District arc sees Tanjiro and friends sent to the red-light district to investigate disappearances that are believed to be demon related. There are actually two demons, and members of the Twelve Kizuki at that, presenting the rookie demon slayers (and the popular Hashira Tengen Uzui) with a deadly challenge. The relationship between the two demons mirrors Tanjiro’s relationship with Nezuko, adding a sympathetic quality to these otherwise despicable beings. The arc is well-balanced between the characters, giving everyone a chance to shine. While the Mugen Train arc is a bit flashier, the Entertainment District stands as a strong follow-up with more resounding success.

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Demon Slayer

Cast

Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Aleks Le , Bryce Papenbrook , Brianna Knickerbocker , Zeno Robinson , Johnny Yong Bosch , Erika Harlacher , Ray Chase , Kira Buckland

Release Date

April 6, 2019

Seasons

3

Writers

Ufotable

Directors

Haruo Sotozaki

Creator(s)

Ufotable

16 A Globetrotting Adventure Comes to a Head in Egypt

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders – Episodes 24-39

Stardust Crusaders is one of the most popular Jojo stories for a reason, and one story arc which really showcases what made it popular is the Egypt arc. After trekking across the planet from Japan, the team is finally closing in on Dio, but there are many challenges awaiting them before the final battle. This arc introduces the popular Stand-wielding dog character, Iggy, and many classic (and bizarre) villains, such as Oingo and Boingo, the sentient sword Anubis, and appearances by fan-favorite Hol Horse. The run up to entering Dio’s mansion is perhaps Jojo at its finest.

Watch on Netflix

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

Created by

Hirohiko Araki

TV Show(s)

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Character(s)

Will A. Zeppeli , Jonathan Joestar , Giorno Giovanna , Jotaro Kujo , Joseph Joestar , Jolyne Cujoh , Johnny Joestar , Josuke Higashikata , Gyro Zeppeli

Video Game(s)

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure , JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R

15 The Dark Tournament Set the Standard for Shonen Arcs

Yu Yu Hakusho, Dark Tournament Arc – Episode 26 – 66

The Dark Tournament of Yu Yu Hakusho was one of the first major tournament arcs to be seen in a shonen series, and really codified what a shonen tournament should look like. It completely changed the nature of the series, which up to that point had mostly been small arcs and episodic stories. Yu Yu Hakusho was much more of a battle series going forward, which helped increase its popularity immensely. While Yu Yu Hakusho is a fairly old series at this point, the Dark Tournament has stood the test of time, and remains one of the greats.

Watch on Crunchyroll

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Yu Yu Hakusho

Created by

Yoshihiro Togashi

Cast

Nozomu Sasaki , Justin Cook , Cynthia Cranz , Christopher Sabat , Kent Williams , Shigeru Chiba , Tomomichi Nishimura , Sanae Miyuki , Takumi Kitamura , Shuhei Uesugi , Jun Shison , Kanata Hongô

13 War is Hell Even for Superheroes

My Hero Academia, Paranormal Liberation War arc – Season 5, Episode 19 – Season 6, Episode 18

My Hero Academia has many fantastic arcs throughout the story, but by far the best of the lot is the Paranormal Liberation War, which sees the heroes mounting an all-out offensive against the amassed forces of the villains. Things start to go awry almost immediately, and as Shigaraki awakens with deadly new power, the situation soon becomes a catastrophe the likes of which the world has never seen. The arc is packed with action, with some of the best battles in the entire series, and will have fans on the edge of their seats until the last episode.

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My Hero Academia

Cast

Aoi Yuki , Ayane Sakura , Christopher R. Sabat , Yûki Kaji , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Luci Christian , David Matranga , Justin Briner , Kenta Miyake , Clifford Chapin , Daiki Yamashita

Release Date

April 3, 2016

Seasons

5

Franchise

My Hero Academia

Production Company

Bones

Number of Episodes

113

11 Karasuno’s Toughest Match Yet

Haikyuu!!, Karasuno vs Shiratorizawa – Season 3 Episodes 1-10

After many defeats and months of training, Hinata, Kageyama, and the Karasuno volleyball team finally went to the regional finals, but before them stood the undefeated Shiratorizawa. The game required everyone to bring out their best and they did. The team was holding on, and it seemed like they had a shot. The best moment in an emotional and intense match was when the lazy and laid-back Tsukishima let out a loud cheer after blocking the number 3 ace in the country, Ushiwaka. The team put everything into the game and came out stronger than ever. This was undoubtedly one of the best matches in sports anime.

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10 The Soul Reaper Captains Show Their True Powers

Bleach, Battle At Karakura Town arc – Episodes 215-229

The long-awaited battle between the Squad Captains led by Head Captain Yamamoto and the Arrancars led by Sosuke Aizen has finally begun. Fans got to see the full abilities of the hyped-up Arrancar of whom many were a mystery. The arc made sure to give everyone a spotlight, even the lieutenants, with one of the best fights being between Shuhei and Findor. From the appearance of the Vizards, the betrayal of Gin, and the fight between Ichigo and Aizen, Bleach‘s signature arc is one for the ages.

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Bleach

Cast

Johnny Yong Bosch , Michelle Ruff , Stephanie Sheh , Jamieson Price , Derek Stephen Prince , Wally Wingert

Release Date

September 6, 2006

Seasons

16

Writers

Tite Kubo , Masashi Sogo

Directors

Noriyuki Abe , Jun’ya Koshiba

Showrunner

Tite Kubo

9 Kira And L’s First Face Off

Death Note, L vs Kira arc – Episodes 1-10

The first 10 episodes of Death Note were some of the best in the series. These 10 episodes were dedicated to Light’s journey to becoming Kira, L hunting him down, and the iconic and chilling moment where Light revealed himself as Kira to Naomi before killing her. This arc was monumental in hooking viewers into what is probably one of the best thriller shonen anime of all time. The cat-and-mouse game between L and Kira was more entertaining than many fight-based shonen series out there and deviated from the generic action shonen that was increasingly popular at the time.

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Death Note

Created by

Takeshi Obata , Tsugumi Ohba

TV Show(s)

Death Note

Character(s)

Light Yagami , L Lawliet , Ryuk , Misa Amane , Near (Death Note) , Mello (Death Note) , Teru Mikami , Minoru Tanaka

Video Game(s)

Death Note: Kira Game

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8 The Cell Saga Ended With A Great Tournament Arc

Dragon Ball Z, Cell Saga – Episodes 166-194

Dragon Ball Z was poised to become one of the best anime ever even before the Cell Saga but that arc made leaps and bounds for the series. The arc featured Earth’s greatest warriors fighting against Dr. Gero’s masterpiece Cell, who was made of the cells of the strongest warriors like Goku and Vegeta. The highlight of the arc is obviously Gohan’s rage moment and the defeat of Perfect Cell. From the intense fights to the heartbreaking deaths, many fans still consider the Cell Saga was the pinnacle of the Dragon Ball franchise.

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Dragon Ball

Created by

Akira Toriyama

First Film

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

First TV Show

Dragon Ball

Latest TV Show

Super Dragon Ball Heroes

First Episode Air Date

April 26, 1989

Latest Episode

2019-10-05

Cast

Sean Schemmel , Laura Bailey , Brian Drummond , Christopher Sabat , Scott McNeil

7 Humanity’s First Major Victory

Attack On Titan, Return to Shiganshina arc – Season 3 Part 2

After years of losing territory and being slaughtered by the Titans, the Scouts and humanity finally had a shot at regaining land that was swarmed by Titans. With Eren now being able to transform, humanity’s strongest soldier Levi on their side, and Hange’s new weapons, the Scouts confront the Titans who are led by Zeke. Although they regained the land and got closer to the secret behind the Titans, they lost almost all their soldiers.

The arc featured the brutal takedown of the Beast Titan by Levi, the hard decision of choosing who lives between Zeke and Armin, and the suspenseful reveal of what was in Eren’s basement. This arc was monumental as it established that there was humanity outside the walls.

Watch on Crunchyroll

Attack On Titan

Cast

Matthew Mercer , Josh Grelle , Hiroshi Kamiya , Shiori Mikami , Jerry Jewell , Kishô Taniyama , Jessica Calvello , Masahiko Tanaka , Yui Ishikawa , Romi Park , Robert McCollum , Tomohisa Hashizume , Hiro Shimono , Trina Nishimura

Release Date

April 7, 2013

Seasons

4

Franchise

Attack on Titan

Production Company

Wit Studio, MAPPA

6 All-Out War Between Sorcerers And Curses

Jujutsu Kaisen, Shibuya Incident arc – Season 2 Episodes 6-23

The anticipated animated version of Jujutsu Kaisen‘s most popular story arc has taken over the internet with every weekly release. The villains launch their assault on the Shibuya district with the endgame of trapping Gojo, and all the main characters are ready to fight back even after losing their strongest asset. The arc will have some heartbreaking deaths and some beautifully animated fights, and once it’s all said and done, Jujutsu Kaisen will be more popular than ever.

Watch on Crunchyroll

Jujutsu Kaisen

Cast

Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto

Release Date

October 2, 2020

Seasons

3

Writers

Hiroshi Seko

Directors

Sunghoo Park , Shōta Goshozono

5 Shinobi Nations Unite Against An Impossible Enemy

Naruto Shippuden, 4th Great Ninja War arc – Episodes 262-474

Naruto had some pretty devastating wars, but the magnitude of the damage in the 4th Ninja War was unparalleled. The world was in danger and all the nations combined their forces to defeat Madara and the Akatsuki.

What made the arc very entertaining to watch was that all the most powerful warriors got screen time and fans got to see some exciting fights. To make it even better, the strongest ninjas in history were revived and took part in the war. This arc was the most exciting one in Naruto and the became the quintessential “final war” arc for shonen.

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Naruto: Shippuden

Cast

Junko Takeuchi , Kazuhiko Inoue , Noriaki Sugiyama , Chie Nakamura , Shoutarou Morikubo , Hideo Ishikawa , Nana Mizuki , Houchuu Ootsuka

Release Date

February 15, 2007

Seasons

22

Network

Adult Swim

Writers

Junki Takegami , Satoru Nishizono , Yasuyuki Suzuki , Yasuaki Kurotsu , Masanao Akahoshi

Directors

Hayato Date , Masaaki Kumagai , Yasuaki Kurotsu , Osamu Kobayashi , Chiaki Kon

4 The Plan To Save A Nation

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, The Promised Day arc – Episodes 51-64

October 3 was the day Father wanted to sacrifice an entire country’s humans for his twisted plans, but the heroes were well aware of the plan. Edward and his comrades ambushed Father’s subordinates, but it looked grim because King Bradley was working for Father, and he controlled the country’s military. Each character had their own motives: Mustang was out for revenge, Edward was looking to get his brother’s body back and Hohenheim was putting an end to a 400-year-old grudge. With many goals and flaring emotions intersecting, Fullmetal Alchemist delivered one of the best finales in anime.

Watch on Crunchyroll

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Fullmetal Alchemist

Created by

Hiromu Arakawa

TV Show(s)

Fullmetal Alchemist , Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Character(s)

Edward Elric , Alphonse Elric , Roy Mustang , Winry Rockbell , Maes Hughes , Riza Hawkeye , Scar (Fullmetal Alchemist) , Ling Yao , Lan Fan , May Chang , King Bradley , Lust (Fullmetal Alchemist) , Envy (Fullmetal Alchemist) , Greed (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Video Game(s)

Fullmetal Alchemist: Stray Rondo , Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir , Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy , Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel

2 The Strongest Ones Assemble For Total War

One Piece, Marineford arc – Episodes 457-491

The Navy was to execute the 2nd commander of the powerful Whitebeard Pirates, Ace. With Luffy breaking out of prison and rushing to save his brother and the Whitebeard Pirates launching an assault on the execution ground, the clock was ticking and Ace’s death was imminent. All the strongest members of the Navy, such as the Admirals and the Warlords, were present to take on the pirates. The arc had some incredible moments, such as Luffy’s desperation awakening new powers, Akainu taking down Ace, and Shanks pulling up and putting a stop to the war. Marineford is an example of a war arc done correctly.

Watch on Crunchyroll

One Piece

Created by

Eiichiro Oda

Character(s)

Monkey D. Luffy , Roronora Zoro , Nami (One Piece) , Nico Robin , Usopp (One Piece) , Vinsmoke Sanji , Tony Tony Chopper , Franky (One Piece) , Jimbei (One Piece)

First Film

One Piece: The Movie

First TV Show

One Piece

Cast

Kazuya Nakai , Akemi Okamura , Kappei Yamaguchi , Hiroaki Hirata , Ikue Ôtani , Yuriko Yamaguchi

1 An Elite Force Saves Humanity

Hunter X Hunter, Chimera Ant arc – Episodes 76-136

It seemed like Hunter X Hunter would never replicate the heights of the Yorknew City arc but the Chimera Ant arc blew it out of the water. With the awakening of the Chimera King, Meruem, humanity seems to be headed to extinction. An elite group of assassins has the job of infiltrating a country run by the Chimera Ants and kill Meruem, getting past his incredibly strong bodyguards.

This arc managed to convey how the heroes were fighting against impossible odds most of the time, but also took the time for some emotional development of the characters, even the villain Meruem. With Hunter X Hunter returning soon fans can only hope Togashi surpasses this peak. Still, regardless of what happens with the franchise’s future, there’s no denying that Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc is the best arc in Shonen anime history.

Watch on Crunchyroll

Hunter X Hunter

Created by

Yoshihiro Togashi

TV Show(s)

Hunter x Hunter , Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Character(s)

Gon Freecss , Killua Zoldyck , Kurapika , Leorio Paradinight , Hisoka Morow , Biscuit Krueger

First Film

Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge