Summary
- Hunter X Hunter is a staple in the anime world, excelling in story, action, sentiment, and battles without unnecessary fan service.
- Jujutsu Kaisen combines great action, minimal fan service, and strong character development, with visually stunning animations.
- World Trigger offers unique world-building, tactical fights, and clean storytelling without irrelevant fan service distractions.
Finding a good battle shonen anime is easy. There is absolutely no shonen anime out there that runs short on intense fights, hype moments, and underdog protagonists pushing past their limits. But finding one that doesn’t throw in random fan service is where things get tricky. Most mainstream shonen anime tend to have the most unnecessary fan service moments ever — unnecessary close-ups, forced bathhouse episodes, or "comedic" wardrobe malfunctions. A lot of shows love sneak-in scenes that add absolutely nothing to the grand scheme of things, or the story. And honestly, it can get tiring.
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Although they are rare, there are battle shonen that manage to keep their focus entirely on the action and story. They have fairly tight pacing and strong character arcs with plenty of 'integral' action that never lets up. These anime prove that a great storyline doesn’t need anything extra to leave an impact.
7 Hunter X Hunter
Fantasy Action With Some Of The Greatest Writing Ever
Hunter x Hunter
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2011 - 2014
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Creator
- Yoshihiro Togashi
- MyAnimeList Score
- 9.03
- Seasons
- 4
- Number of Episodes
- 148
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu
Hunter x Hunter is basically a staple in the anime world at this point, and for good reason. It doesn't require much introduction other than the fact that it's one of those anime that essentially does everything right — story, action, sentiment, and a good battle system. What initially starts off as a kid's journey to find his lost father turns into an absolute masterpiece a few episodes down the line. Hunter x Hunte r, in addition to its high-stakes battle, holds some of the best-written characters and psychological warfare in the genre.
And the best part is, it keeps things clean. Unlike a lot of shonen that can’t resist sneaking in unnecessary fan service, Hunter x Hunte r stays focused on its world and characters. Obviously, there are a few designs that lean a little revealing, particularly in the early episodes, but it’s never the focus (unless fans take Hisoka into account — but that's an entirely different conversation). The story respects its own tone, which makes the world feel that much more immersive.
6 Jujutsu Kaisen
Modern Mainstream Series With Great Action And Character Development
Jujutsu Kaisen
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 3, 2020
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Creator
- Gege Akutami
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.57 (Season 1)
- Seasons
- 1
- Number of Episodes
- 47
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu
There's a lot of opposing discourse online on whether Jujutsu Kaisen should be categorized as a battle shonen or not. Regardless, fans know the anime has a staggering number of battles and has a negligible amount of fan service — which makes it perfect for this list. While the series does lean into darker themes, at its core, it still thrives on high-energy fights and complex power dynamics. It also has some of the most visually stunning animations in modern anime. Every plotline in the show has some weight to it (except maybe the baseball episode), and the stakes are always through the roof.
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And when it comes to fan service, there’s barely any. Jujutsu Kaisen doesn’t waste time on unnecessary distractions. It tries to keep its focus locked on the action, lore, and characters as much as possible. The humor that does exist matches the ongoing plot, and the characters never go overboard. There’s also technically no forced beach episode breaking up the intensity.
5 World Trigger
A Series With Very Unique World-Building
World Trigger
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2014 - 2022
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Creator
- Daisuke Ashihara
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.58 (Season 1)
- Seasons
- 3
- Number of Episodes
- 99
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Tubi
World Trigger doesn’t always get the spotlight like other battle shonen, but it absolutely deserves it. It’s an anime series that takes a more tactical approach to fights. The backdrop of the show is a world where mysterious creatures known as Neighbors invade Earth from another dimension. Against these “neighbors,” humanity’s best defense is an organization that uses advanced technology (copied from these so-called “neighbors”) to fight back called Border. Instead of a lone-wolf protagonist, this series puts a heavy emphasis on the entire main cast and their unique personalities and diverse backgrounds.
And through all of that, it tries to keep things clean. It doesn’t have many unnecessary distractions and has no out-of-nowhere fan service, which makes it appropriate for almost every demographic. It’s simply a blend of smartly written fights, great character dynamics (and, in turn, their growth), and a power system that actually makes sense.
4 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
One Of The Most Emotionally Impactful Stories In Anime
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2009 - 2010
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Bones
- Creator
- Hiromu Arakawa
- MyAnimeList Score
- 9.10
- Seasons
- 1
- Number of Episodes
- 64
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
At this point, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an anime that’s basically a must-watch for anyone even remotely into anime. It’s probably the one series that can make a difference between identifying real and fake anime fans. The anime itself has basically everything that makes an incredible show — an extremely heart-touching story, intense battles, and some of the best world-building out there. It’s one of the few anime out there that remains consistent with its themes of sacrifice, morality, and the consequences of power. Every fight feels meaningful, and every character gets a chance to shine. The best part is, unlike some other completed anime, FMAB actually has an all-rounded ending that hasn’t been forced just for the sake of concluding it.
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Additionally, in terms of fan service, the show keeps things as classy as possible. FMAB doesn’t rely on cheap fan service to hold attention — it doesn’t need to. The focus stays on the characters, and the emotional weight of every moment, making it one of the best examples of a battle shonen that keeps its priorities straight.
3 S-CRY-ed
One Of The Older Action Classics
- Release Date: 2001-05-04
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
- Studio: Sunrise
- Writer: Kuroda Yousuke
- MAL Score: 7.35/10
S.CRY.ed is a story that follows a guy known as Kazuma. He’s a reckless fighter who refuses to be controlled by all things related to the government in their dystopian world. Kazuma’s best friend and rival is Ryuho, a disciplined officer who believes in order above all else. Their rivalry and their completely opposite outlooks on life fuel the entire series. The entire anime is essentially a big explosive fight that’s a trademark of the 2000s. It keeps things exciting without ever feeling pointless.
For the most part, s-CRY-ed stays focused on action without veering into fan service territory. While some character designs do lean a bit into a certain stylized zone, nothing ever feels out of place or distracting from the story. The series knows exactly what it wants to be: high-intensity, no-frills combat, and it sticks to that without unnecessary detours.
2 Mob Psycho 100
A Masterpiece Take On The "Unassuming Hero" Trope
Mob Psycho 100
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2022
- Writers
- Hiroshi Seko
- Studio
- Bones
- Creator(s)
- ONE
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.49 (Season 1)
- Seasons
- 3
- Number of Episodes
- 37
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix
Mob Psycho 100 is one of those anime that feels completely different from anything else in the genre but manages to deliver everything a shonen anime needs to have — and more! It shows its own take on the "deliberately unassuming main character who is secretly overpowered" trope and does a fantastic job at it. It follows Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama, a middle schooler with insane psychic powers. The anime is about him trying to navigate life without letting his emotions, and in turn, his abilities, spiral out of control. Underneath all the comedy and slapstick sequences, it’s a surprisingly heartfelt story about self-growth, identity, and figuring out what really matters beyond just raw power.
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The best part is that the anime has practically zero forced fan service moments. Mob Psycho 100 keeps things classy and tries not to fall into the usual traps of awkward tropes or unnecessary distractions — which sort of explains why it's not as popular as some of the other mainstream shonen anime. The humor is natural, and the focus always stays on Mob’s journey. The fights are also considerably more built up than some other anime, which comes naturally with the "secretly powerful MC" trope.
1 D.Gray-Man
Dark, Gothic, Victorian, With A Unique Power System
D.Gray-man
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2006 - 2008
- Directors
- Osamu Nabeshima
- Writers
- Reiko Yoshida
- Studio
- TMS Entertainment
- Creator
- Katsura Hoshino
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8 (Season 1)
- Seasons
- 2
- Number of Episodes
- 116
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
D.Gray-man is one of those battle shonen that never got as much mainstream recognition as it should have. Thankfully, though, for the lucky fans who’ve seen it, they know just how great of an anime it is. It’s set in a dark, gothic, alternative Victorian world and follows a character called Allen Walker. Walker is an exorcist who’s been tasked with fighting against these twisted, mechanical demons created from human souls called Akuma. He has the ability to tap into the tragic lives of these dead souls but has to get rid of them simultaneously. The series has a strong sense of atmosphere — it almost feels like a soulslike game. It also has a solid power system centered around “Innocence” — holy artifacts used by exorcists for exorcism.
One of the best things about D.Gray-man is how it keeps its tone consistent. The series leans into dark, gothic themes, and it never undercuts its atmosphere to anything else. Sure, there are occasional moments that ease the overall intensity of the show, but all in all, there are no “surreal” fan service moments that compromise the entire vibe it has built.
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