When it comes to action-packed, aspirational, and youth-centered series, the mantle of shōnen’s biggest contemporary hits belongs to Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and My Hero Academia. They take the lead right alongside the legendary Old Big Three, i.e., One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach.
The New Big Three, as most like to call them, are heading towards their conclusions, albeit with slight variations in anime adaptation schedules and manga endings. With their reigns drawing to a close, it’s clear that in today’s streaming-driven era, the next big manga title is waiting to take its place.
The Popularization Of the Shōnen Genre
While shōnen is not a genre but a demographic for young audiences, its name has become synonymous with action and adventure stories featuring a younger cast. Because these series often focus on overcoming challenges, growth, and the value of friendships, the word is now used to describe a style of anime. From genre-popularizing classics such as Dragon Ball Z to Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus One Piece, shōnen has always thrived on monumental titles.
The word shōnen entered the vocabulary of anime lovers, with Dragon Ball Z laying the groundwork, and One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach cementing their status as the gold standard of shōnen in the early 2000s. Over time, the shōnen genre progressed from being a beloved staple in Japan to breaking international boundaries. For many in the West, Dragon Ball Z isn’t only a gateway into the Dragon Ball franchise but shōnen as a whole. Similarly, Naruto has had a similar impact on Western viewers and, with time, cemented itself as another entry point for global audiences. Both Dragon Ball Z and Naruto quickly became foundational classics of shōnen, thriving on the trinity of friendship, action, and perseverance to deliver compelling stories. These series transcended boundaries as they continued to be dubbed in dozens of languages and went on to shape an entire generation of fans.
JJK And Demon Slayer And The New Wave Of Shōnen
Shonen’s Expanding Audience And Ever-growing Reach
There’s an overwhelming consensus that My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, and Jujutsu Kaisen became the “New Big Three” because they rode the shōnen wave of the streaming age. Streaming platforms like Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Netflix made these titles accessible worldwide, and viewers needn’t rely exclusively on dubs. More importantly, as streaming platforms democratized access, social media amplified the hype of My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Fans watch simulcasts the same day as viewers in Japan, making anime a more global form of entertainment than ever. The older audiences have started to resonate more and more with shōnen as the genre tackles hard-hitting themes of resilience, identity, and so forth. Shōnen thus has transformed from a youth-centered niche into a global force with audiences across generations.
Where Do Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia And JJK Stand?
Demon Slayer, which has entered the last stages of its story, is set to conclude with a movie trilogy. Another massively popular shōnen hit, Jujutsu Kaisen, brought its manga run to an end on September 29, 2024, with the release of its final chapter, 271. The manga received a sequel treatment, with Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo continuing its legacy, and Chapter 2 is scheduled for release on September 14, 2025.
On the anime front, Jujutsu Kaisen already has two seasons out, and Season 3 received an official release date of January 2026, ending months of speculation. Meanwhile, My Hero Academia, whose manga concluded on August 5, 2024, with Chapter 430, after about ten years of serialization, is preparing to end its anime adaptation with season 8, debuting on October 4, 2025.
The Next Big Shōnen Hit After JJK And Demon Slayer
Akane-Banashi, which is shaping up to be the next big shōnen hit, reinvigorates a traditional art form of Japanese culture and is quite different from the usual shōnen titles. Written by Yuki Suenaga and illustrated by Takamasa Moue, the series debuted in Weekly Shōnen Jump and has completed 17 tankōbon manga volumes. The story follows Akane Osaki, a teenager and the daughter of a Mangaka who previously worked as a Rakugoka, a professional storyteller. Both Akane and her father share a deep passion for Rakugo, a traditional form of Japanese dramatic/ comedic storytelling. Akane is determined to make a mark in the Rakugo world and sets out to achieve the same.
Right off the bat, it is clear that Akane, a young protagonist, will face seemingly insurmountable odds, cementing Akane-Banashi’s place on the shōnen map. While some fans think it is underrated, the manga’s popularity continues to soar.
Akane-Banashi’s official description reads:
From a young age, Akane Osaki has been captivated by the magical rakugo of her father, Shinta Arakawa, who is a storyteller . One day , she witnesses a shocking incident during her father’s big performance in a bid to be promoted to full-fledged performer.
Six years later, Akane is now a high school student
striving to become a “shinuchi,” the highest rank in the world of rakugo.
Akane-Banashi Is A Popular Shōnen Manga That Preserves An Ancient Art
The most remarkable thing about Akane-Banashi is that, despite deviating from the typical shōnen formula, it has remained a popular shōnen manga and shows no signs of slowing down. What sets it apart from the rest is that it stays away from the action and adventure tropes, which are the mainstays of the shōnen genre.
Though Akane-Banashi eschews the action-adventure trope, it does so without compromising the essence of shōnen storytelling. Its biggest contribution is bringing the preserved art of Rakugo back into the conversation. While it wouldn’t be correct to call Rakugo a lost art, it is definitely struggling to stay relevant, and by making it the core of its storytelling, Akane-Banashi has taken a bold step. Akane-Banashi has given a new life to Rakugo, while also exemplifying that shōnen can thrive beyond battle-driven narratives. Rakugo is the ancient art of storytelling, which is usually performed by a single storyteller, sitting and playing various characters at once by switching voice, expressions, and body language to differentiate between them. The storyteller, or Rakugoka, sits on a cushion on stage and narrates humorous or dramatic tales. They only use a fan (sensu) and a hand towel (tenugui) as props.
When Akane was young, her father and his colleagues were expelled from the profession. Her drive to succeed is two-fold: to excel in her craft and avenge her father. Akane-Banashi is a prime example of storytelling that takes a niche art form and brings it into mainstream conversation through strong writing.
Akane-Banashi: More Than Meets The Eye
Though Akane-Banashi’s cover art gives off a strong Shoujo vibe, especially in its art style (with a girl featured on the cover), the anime is a testament to masterful shōnen storytelling even without the usual shōnen tropes. Akane is determined to redeem her father from disgrace while embodying perseverance and resilience. Her pursuit of excellence mirrors a trait that is seen across all major shōnen hits, from Jujutsu Kaisen to My Hero Academia.
Akane’s mission is deeply personal, driven by high-stakes motivation. Her arc follows a structured progression that keeps fans invested, and her pathway has a familiar structure with training, trials, and performance showdowns, which actually feel like battles without physical fights. Akane also gives off a strong underdog vibe, fighting for excellence in the male-dominated world of Rakugo, and each of her performances has a high emotional payoff that feels truly cathartic.
Where To Watch Akane-Banashi?
Akane-Banashi doesn’t have an anime yet, but in August, its official website announced that an anime adaptation is slated for a 2026 broadcast. Per akane-banashi.com, the story touts itself to be a “full-scale Rakugo story” where storytellers compete to master their craft to reach the zenith of storytelling. Akane Osaki is voiced by Anna Nagas. Her official description reads that she is vying to become a Shinuchi, which is the highest rank a Rakugo performer can attain. She loves her father, Shinta, and as a young girl would quietly watch his performances from afar.
Akana-Banashi is being directed by Ayumu Watanabe of Summer Time Rendering fame. Other cast members include:
- Karashi Nerimaya voiced by Takuya Eguchi
- Hikaru Koragi voiced by Rie Takahashi.
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