I’ve done a couple recommendations posts now, but I’ve never tackled the shounen genre yet, so here it is! You can check out my Shoujo recommendations here, and my Seinen recommendations here.
Unfortunately this list is restricted to anime/manga I have enjoyed, so
if you don’t see a title on here that you would have expected please
leave a comment so that I can check it out, and so other josei fans can
check it out as well! I don’t have time to watch it all, but I’m doing
these lists because the josei demographic is rarely addressed for
recommendations so those comments help the community out! Anyway, onto
the list!
By the creator of Death Note this anime/manga goes for a light theme this time, focusing on the story of Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi who dream of becoming the best mangakas the world has ever seen. There’s some deeper content that josei fans will enjoy because of their lofty dreams, plus some high school drama that adds to the plot as well. Of course there’s a bit of love intermixed as well with Azuki Miho, Mashiro’s dream girl, which is fun to watch on screen as well. It has run for up to 3 seasons, so there’s plenty to watch if you get addicted. But of course there’s the manga too which is appropriate for the whole mangaka aspect too. Mostly a drama, josei fans can appreciate the serious tone about following your dreams as it stretches beyond just the typical high school format.
This is a story about awkward teen Tanaka Yukio, who does his best to perform among his teenage friends in an alternative rock band. It’s kind of like the boy version of K-ON! except on a larger scale than just high scool. The band BECK attempts fortune and fame, the typical dream of any high school band. There’s some growing pains and love mixed in that makes it an enjoyable watch. It’s nostalgic to any josei who’s dated a musician or has ever enjoyed that naivety of high school and big dreams. I originally saw this when it played back on MuchMusic years ago, and the dub was really well done, so I recommend both the sub and dub. If you’re going to check it out I’d suggest the anime over the manga, if you read it you’ll miss out on those original songs! It tackles more serious issues that are high school related, but also ones that bridge outside the typical high school drama. A more serious shounen, it’s something josei fans can definitely appreciate.
Bakuman
By the creator of Death Note this anime/manga goes for a light theme this time, focusing on the story of Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi who dream of becoming the best mangakas the world has ever seen. There’s some deeper content that josei fans will enjoy because of their lofty dreams, plus some high school drama that adds to the plot as well. Of course there’s a bit of love intermixed as well with Azuki Miho, Mashiro’s dream girl, which is fun to watch on screen as well. It has run for up to 3 seasons, so there’s plenty to watch if you get addicted. But of course there’s the manga too which is appropriate for the whole mangaka aspect too. Mostly a drama, josei fans can appreciate the serious tone about following your dreams as it stretches beyond just the typical high school format.
BECK Mongolian Chop Squad
This is a story about awkward teen Tanaka Yukio, who does his best to perform among his teenage friends in an alternative rock band. It’s kind of like the boy version of K-ON! except on a larger scale than just high scool. The band BECK attempts fortune and fame, the typical dream of any high school band. There’s some growing pains and love mixed in that makes it an enjoyable watch. It’s nostalgic to any josei who’s dated a musician or has ever enjoyed that naivety of high school and big dreams. I originally saw this when it played back on MuchMusic years ago, and the dub was really well done, so I recommend both the sub and dub. If you’re going to check it out I’d suggest the anime over the manga, if you read it you’ll miss out on those original songs! It tackles more serious issues that are high school related, but also ones that bridge outside the typical high school drama. A more serious shounen, it’s something josei fans can definitely appreciate.
