Why Shonen Anime is Perfect for YumeTwins!

Shonen anime is a very popular genre, and for good reason! It features friendly and strong protagonists going on daring adventures, defeating their enemies, and making friends along the way!

While the main target for this genre is young men, shonen anime is loved by people from all walks of life! We here at YumeTwins have been covering this genre for the past few months, and we can’t wait to show you what we found!

White-Haired Anime Boys

Mysterious male heartthrobs with white hair are a major staple in shonen anime. White hair usually symbolizes great strength and nobility.  But more often than not, white-haired anime boys can be anti-heroes or just bonafide villains.

Nevertheless, they’re quite popular with their female fans! Because white hair is usually a stress response, some people even assume that these anime characters endured great hardships to become the strong characters we know and love!

Some of these characters are also calm and clever, whether they’re the hero, or villain. They can also be magically gifted as well!  White-haired anime boys usually appear in the fantasy genre! Which ones are your favorite?

Shonen Anime Written By Women

Just because shonen works feature male protagonists, doesn’t mean they’re all written by men. There are quite a few that are created by women, and many readers of all genders enjoy them! The most well-known shonen manga/anime created by women are Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa and Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi.

Like most shonen works, they dabble in the fantasy genre. However, a lot of shonen works created by women use other subgenres as well.  Some use romantic and horror elements while others use comedy. 

Some of the more recent female-led sensations include The Ancient Magus’ Bride by Kore Yamazaki and Black Butler by Yana Toboso. So if you’re looking for some works that are both edgy and cute, you should check them out!

Can’t get enough cute stuff? Then check out YumeTwins! YumeTwins sends kawaii character goods from Japanese plushies and figures, to accessories and home goods straight from Japan right to your door!

Lesser-Known Shonen Protagonists

Shonen protagonists are known for their bravery, tenacity and using the power of friendship to defeat their enemies.  The most popular of these characters are Son Goku from Dragon Ball and Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia. While these guys are pretty cool and absolutely adorable, there are so many other shonen protagonists with amazing stories!

There’s Soma Yukihira from Food Wars, a plucky and talented junior chef who wants to take the world by storm!  However, if you want something a little more laidback, Silver Spoon features Yūgo Hachiken, a young man studying to be a farmer.

But for those who want to take a walk on the wild side, Tatsumi Oga from Beelzebub is your guy! He’s taking care of a baby while in high school–but it just so happens that the baby is the son of the Demon King! 

Jujutsu Kaisen: A Breakout Shonen Anime Hit!

Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami is one of the most recent hits in the shonen genre! While the manga originally debuted in 2018, it was its anime adaptation that really took the world by storm. As of writing this, Jujutsu Kaisen sold over 70 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga of all time.

This series follows a group of young sorcerers, who must protect mankind from malevolent spirits, known as Curses.  These Curses are manifestations of Cursed Energy. This energy comes from humanity’s natural negative emotions. However, these Curses wish to bring harm to humanity, so it’s up to the Jujutsu Sorcerers to stop them!

Because of its awesome story and cast, Jujutsu Kaisen has a very passionate fanbase! Not to mention a lot of attention from different companies! So without further ado, let’s talk about some aspects about its fandom and merchandise!

Jujutsu Kaisen IRL!

Ever wanted to walk in the footsteps of your favorite Jujutsu Kaisen characters? Then check out this piece which goes into detail about the real-life locations featured in the show! From Shibuya all the way to Roppongi, you can check out these places for yourself if you’re ever in Japan!

These locations range from lively and fun to downright spooky! Some of these locations are familiar, such as Harajuku’s Takeshita Street and Roppongi Hills! Then there are lesser-known locations such as the haunted Sendagaya Tunnel and the eerily beautiful Otaguro Park.  If you ever head over there, don’t forget to take lots of photos!

Jujutsu Kaisen x Dolce and Gabbana

Looking for some fashionable merch? Then look no further than Dolce x Gabbana! This trendy collaboration is a perfect match for those who want to rep their favorite characters in style!  The international fashion house took inspiration from the anime and contemporary Japanese street fashion.

While there are the expected tote bags and other common items, the stand out items are the character hoodies.  For example, protagonist Yuji Itadori’s hoodie has markings that represent antagonist Sukuna’s markings on him. There are also keychains, phone cases and so much more! You should check it out for yourself when you get a chance!

Uniqlo Spy x Family

Another fashion collaboration between fast fashion powerhouse Uniqlo and hit anime Spy x Family made waves this past year! Spy x Family (pronounced “Spy Family) by Tatsuya is a show about spies posing undercover as a family. They consist of spy Loid Forger, assassin Yor Forger, and telekinetic Anya Forger.  While it has its fair share of action, the show also shows a lot of adorable slice-of-life moments! 

Because of this popular and heartwarming cast, it was no wonder why Uniqlo decided to collaborate with the show! The line is very cute and casual, consisting of graphic tees with your favorite characters! We here at YumeTwins love Anya’s yellow tee the most, because she’s hiding behind the shirt pocket!

These shirts flew off the shelves after their initial debut, but you still might be able to get your hands on them if you’re fast!

Summary

Between its brave and adorable heroes and strong plots, it’s easy to see why YumeTwins loves shonen anime so much! They offer a fun mix of cuteness, fantasy and action that everyone can enjoy!

Not to mention all the awesome collaborations and inspirations that come from these wonderful shows! Shonen anime is something that can be enjoyed by all genders, and we can’t wait to see what new works will debut in the near future!

So, which of these shonen anime is your favorite?  Are there any shows or characters that we forgot to mention? Let us know in the comments below!