10 Best Shounen Anime in the Philippines 2024 | Death Note, Baki Hanma, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and More

It is important to ask yourself what genres you usually lean towards. Genres in shounen include, but are not limited to, action, fantasy, adventure, and sports. Under fantasy, there is also a sub-genre called isekai, where the stories revolve around the plot of the main character being transported to another world.

This step is crucial if you are a bit picky since watching and finishing a series takes a huge chunk of time. This is so that you will not end up dropping the anime just after the first few episodes and find out that the series is not exactly your type. You can also go for a genre you do not prefer as much if you want to explore more series.

Classic shounen anime spans generations in terms of the fan base. They have been marked by viewers to have legendary status and are definitely a must-watch. Some would even say that you only become a true anime fan once you have watched a few of these. You will also get to see and appreciate the animation of the older anime. 

Meanwhile, more recent shounen anime usually have more advanced animation for you to appreciate the action scenes. They also get hyped up since they are more accessible now due to streaming sites. Word gets spread easier when new releases are worth watching, especially when it is a highly anticipated manga adaptation. 

The episodes, roughly 20 to 30 minutes long each, can go from at least 12 to 25 in number, or even more per season. If you are a beginner or have a goal of watching as many series as you can, then go for shorter ones that have 2 to 3 seasons. Some even have only one season. On the other hand, longer series have at least 4 or 5 seasons. 

If you want to immerse yourself in a shounen series, choose one with multiple seasons and episodes. Bear in mind that it will take time for you to get to the latest episode. Do a bit of research on the plot, or watch the first few episodes before you commit to a series with a longer duration to make sure that it is right up your alley. 

Several shounen anime series have already finished their run, while some are ongoing. There is less pressure to keep up with a completed series, whether it has a short or long total watch time. The buzz may have died down or already in trickles, but there may be spoilers all over the Internet about their endings.

For an ongoing series, you may need to do some rigorous catching up until the latest episode if it is currently running or in time for the release of the next season. The best thing about watching an ongoing anime is that you will be in the know and feel hyped while you discuss the recent events in the show with fellow fans. 

When looking for a series to watch, you may view trailers or read their plots. Trailers are mostly available on YouTube or any official site. Watching short clips are more engaging than just reading the summary since the main characters are shown along with some scenes to get you hooked. 

There is nothing wrong with looking up and reading the plot summaries if you prefer to do so. It is also good if you want to know more details about the series. But fair warning, when researching for a good anime to watch, you should tread lightly to avoid spoilers. 

You may be drawn to either popular series to see if they are worth the hype or underrated ones that deserve more recognition. Whether you are a newbie or have been watching for quite some time, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose based on popularity, so read through this section to guide you.

Shounen anime may feature children or pre-teen boys, but it should be noted that their rating might not be suitable for young kids. Generally, their rating would be for 13 years old and above, but it is not the case for all. Since shounen anime are known for fight scenes, they can be too gory or violent for young eyes. 

If you are planning to watch anime with minors and kids, you must look carefully at the ratings online, so you will be able to choose a series that is appropriate for all viewers. Usually, the age restriction for each anime is stated on the information panel in streaming sites, so you will be guided.  

It can be tempting to watch anime on illegal sites because they are free. You should only watch them on legal streaming sites like Netflix, Crunchyroll, and iQIYI, which have a wide selection of anime. Do note that they have subscription fees, so choose wisely if you are on a tight budget. If possible, look for one with a free trial to test it first. 

If you are not currently subscribed to a streaming platform, list down the series you want to watch, then determine which site has most or all of them in their library of shounen anime. This may take time to do but will save you in terms of money.