History SugarWiki / EssentialAnime

Note that we are only mentioning anime, and there are several famous seinen manga that have no anime adaptation, such as {{Manga/Vagabond}}, {{Manga/TwentiethCenturyBoys}}, {{Manga/GoodnightPunpun}}, etc. Also below, {{Franchise/Devilman}} is considered seinen. It was originally published in a shōnen manga, but all later spin-offs were published in seinen manga as it is the more appropriate target audience. Several series like {{Manga/Phoenix1954}} and {{Manga/Dororo}} that came before Devilman were published in shōnen manga but are often considered seinen due to their impact on seinen manga.

* ''Manga/Monster'' (2004). This series focuses on an interesting antagonist who is a psychopathic serial killer.

* ''Manga/Monster'' (2004). This series focuses on an interesting antagonist who is a serial killer.
* ''Manga/VinlandSaga'' (2019). This series focuses on pacificism.

* {{Satire}}: "{{Manga/Gintama}}" (2006-2018). Gintama references and parodies many other famous shōnen anime. So, it can only be watched after you at least watch famous anime like Dragon Ball and The Big Three. It is mostly a comedy anime but has its serious moments.

Note that we are only discussing anime, and there are several famous seinen manga that have no anime adaptation, such as {{Manga/Vagabond}}, {{Manga/TwentiethCenturyBoys}}, {{Manga/GoodnightPunpun}}, etc. Also below, {{Franchise/Devilman}} is considered seinen. It was originally published in a shōnen manga, but all later spin-offs were published in seinen manga as it is the more appropriate target audience. Several series like {{Manga/Phoenix1954}} and {{Manga/Dororo}} that came before Devilman were published in shōnen manga but are often considered seinen due to their impact on seinen manga.

* {{Trope Maker}}s:
** ''Manga/Buddha'' (1972)
** ''Franchise/Devilman'' (1972)

* DarkFantasy: ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' (TV 1997, Movies 2012-13, TV 2016). Mixing [[TheDungAges Dung Ages]] medievalism with demonic horror, this series adapted from the manga ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' by Creator/KentaroMiura is well known for its beautiful story and its utterly nightmarish monsters and violence. It focuses on a one-eyed mercenary badass with a giant sword who seeks vengeance against his former commander and best friend for betraying him in one of the most unforgivable manners imaginable, and roams the world killing any demon that comes for him.

* {{Satire}}: {{Manga/Gintama}} (2006-2018). Gintama references and parodies many other famous shōnen anime. So, it can only be watched after you at least watch famous anime like Dragon Ball and The Big Three. It is mostly a comedy anime but has its serious moments.

Note that we are only discussing anime, and there are several famous seinen manga that have no anime adaptation, such as Vagabond, 20th Century Boys, Oyasumi Punpun, etc. Also below, Devilman is considered seinen. It was originally published in a shōnen manga, but all later spin-offs were published in seinen manga as it is the more appropriate target audience. Several series like {{Manga/Phoenix1954}} and {{Manga/Dororo}} that came before Devilman were published in shōnen manga but are often considered seinen due to their impact on seinen manga.

* {{Satire}}: {{Manga/Gintama}} (2006-2018). Gintama references and parodies many other famous shōnen anime. So, it can only be watched after you at least watch famous anime like Dragon Ball and the Big 3. It is mostly a comedy anime but has its serious moments.

* {{Satire}}: ''Manga/Gintama'' (2006-2018). Gintama references and parodies many other famous shōnen anime. So, it can only be watched after you at least watch famous anime like Dragon Ball and the Big 3. It is mostly a comedy anime but has its serious moments.

* ''[[Literature/LegendOfTheGalacticHeroes]]''. The anime (1989-1997) is based on earlier novels (1982 -1987). This space opera mainly focuses on politics instead of science fiction. The recurring theme is dysfunctional democracy vs benevolent dictator.

* DeconReconSwitch: ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' (2013). The story of the remnants of the human race fighting mysterious giants, ''Attack on Titan'' takes [[LeeroyJenkins stock]] [[HeroicWillpower shonen]] [[ThePowerOfFriendship tropes]] to their logical (and often fatal) conclusions, though [[ZigZaggedTrope it becomes muddied later on]] when humanity comes back from the brink while also discovering dark secrets about itself and its enemies. Generally credited with the revival of anime in Western pop culture through streaming services like Website/{{Crunchyroll}}, ''Attack on Titan'' has become as popular as fellow shonen series that play their tropes straight.

*** ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' (2004): The story is about Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenage boy who becomes a Shinigami. The series is frequently compared to the above 2 shows. Unlike them, which their anime adaptations all ran continuously up until the end, the anime series ended in 2012 before the manga finished. That is, until 2022 which the anime returns by adapting the last arc. The anime was also one of the shows that are responsible for bringing back Creator/{{Toonami}} for Creator/AdultSwim which helped to revive the popularity of English dubbed anime.

** ''Manga/OnePiece'' (1999), ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' (2002), and ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' (2004): known overseas as "The Big Three", these Shonen Jump properties brought anime to the forefront of Western pop culture after ''Dragon Ball Z'' ended and are considered to have refined the latter's tropes during the beginning of the 21st century.

* DeconReconSwitch: ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' (2013). The story of the remnants of the human race fighting mysterious giants, ''Attack on Titan'' takes [[LeeroyJenkins stock]] [[HeroicWillpower shonen]] [[ThePowerOfFriendship tropes]] to their logical (and often fatal) conclusions, though [[ZigZaggedTrope it becomes muddied later on]] when humanity comes back from the brink while also discovering dark secrets about itself and its enemies. Generally credited with the revival of anime in Western pop culture, ''Attack on Titan'' has become as popular as fellow shonen series that play their tropes straight.

** ''Anime/PrincessTutu''. Arguably the first deconstruction that does not fall in the Magical Girl Warrior, due to its dark themes admidst a bright, fairy-tale inspired setting and [[StockShoujoHeroine a bubbly heroine]] with another, MagicalGirl identity who is somewhat different to her. Also considered to be a cult classic in the anime fandom.

* {{Parody}}: ''Anime/SpaceDandy''. Created by Cowboy Bebop director Creator/ShinichiroWatanabe the series and produced by Creator/StudioBones. The series follows around the spectacular adventures of Space Dandy and his brave space crew... in space.

* UnbuiltTrope: ''Manga/SazaeSan'' (1969-). Based on the 1946-79 comic strip depicting ordinary life in Japan. When it first started airing, [[FairForItsDay it was considered very liberal and supportive of strong women in Japan]]; today, [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny it is seen as enshrining traditional Japanese life]]. The anime is notable amongst animation buffs for being both the longest-running animated series in the world and the last still-running animated production to utilize traditional animation[[labelnote:*]]Animation inked & painted on clear acetate sheets and shot on film stock with a rostrum camera, as opposed to modern digital animation, which is significantly more efficient and has nearly killed off the former[[/labelnote]].

** ''Anime/PrincessTutu''. Arguably the first deconstruction that does not fall in the Magical Girl Warrior, due to its dark themes admidst a bright, fairy-tale like setting and [[StockShoujoHeroine a bubbly heroine]] with another, MagicalGirl identity who is somewhat different to her.

** ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'' (2019). A story about a boy whose family was killed by demons, except for his sister who had turned into a demon, and his quest to turn her back into human. He does so by becoming into a Demon Slayer. Despite being very [[{{Gorn}} violent]] compared to most other shounen anime before it, the anime still has the usual shounen tropes (such as themes of [[ThePowerOfFriendship family and friendship]]). The anime is also one the most successful anime series in the late 2010s and early 2020s. TheMovie based on the ''Mugen Train'' arc, became the highest grossing Japanese film of all time in 2021 beating the likes of ''Anime/SpiritedAway'' which had held the title for around 2 decades.

* {{Moe}} [[TropeCodifier Codifier]]: ''Manga/KOn'' (2009). A comedy about four ([[SixthRanger +1]]) adorable girls who form a [[RockandRoll Rock & Roll]] club and grow into their responsibilities as bandmates, students, and [[SenpaiKohai senpai]] -- when they aren't [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything goofing off and drinking tea instead of practicing]]. Director Naoko Yamada's naturalistic approach to the characters appealed to a wide audience and [[FollowtheLeader inspired many imitators]], which lead to the association of [[{{Moe}} "cute girls doing cute things"]] with Slice of Life. Also the first anime to have an opening theme, "Go! Go! Maniac," top the Oricon charts.