Television series
Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ball Super picks up years after Majin Buu's defeat, launching Goku and friends into a cosmic tournament against universes they didn't know existed. It's relentless action anime—bright, silly, and genuinely thrilling in equal measure. If you love watching absurdly powerful people find newer, more absurd ways to punch things, this is your show.
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My Hero Academia2016
Shares Super's infectious joy in training montages and tournament arcs. Features a huge cast of heroes discovering their powers and a world where getting stronger is the entire point. Also delightfully earnest about friendship.
But The first season moves slowly before finding its rhythm. Some character introductions feel clunky, and it never quite reaches Super's wild cosmic scope.
Jujutsu Kaisen2020
Combines Super's escalating battles and power-scaling with genuinely unsettling horror moments. Stunning animation, a likeable protagonist, and fights that feel consequential. The tournament arc will feel familiar and fresh at once.
But Darker and more violent than Super, with body horror that can be genuinely grotesque. Takes itself more seriously—less goofy charm.
Naruto2002
The spiritual ancestor of modern shonen anime. Epic tournament arcs, constant power escalation, and a hero whose determination is genuinely moving. If you want Super's structure but want to understand where it came from, start here.
But Nearly 500 episodes. The early pacing is glacial, and filler arcs can test your patience. You'll need real commitment.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Dragon Ball Super
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Kill la Kill2013
Both treat escalation as comedy and spectacle as emotional truth. They're both unafraid to go completely ridiculous in service of genuine feeling. Neither winks at you.
The same escalating absurdity as Super, but for emotional stakes rather than power levels. Every episode ramps up the weirdness and spectacle. Genuinely hilarious about how seriously it takes its ridiculous premise.
But The fanservice is relentless and deliberate—it's the point, not a side effect. Some find the aesthetic overwhelming rather than fun.
More like this (8)
Attack on Titan2013
Takes the shonen template and fills it with genuine dread. Mystery, shocking deaths, and characters who can't simply train their way out of trouble. The animation during fights is as kinetic as Super's best moments.
But Exhausting emotional heaviness. Also demands patience—plot reveals come slowly, and not every payoff lands equally.
One Piece1999
The other titan of shonen anime. Endless adventure, characters you'll genuinely love, and an appetite for spectacle that matches Super's. The worldbuilding is rich; the emotional beats are real.
But Over 1000 episodes and counting. The animation quality is wildly uneven. You will spend months of your life on this.
Demon Slayer2019
Gorgeously animated action sequences—maybe the most beautiful fight choreography in modern anime. Simpler than Super but with more emotional weight. Each episode feels like an event.
But Relatively short. The plot is straightforward shonen without the complexity or scope Super eventually reaches. Some find the protagonist's voice annoying.
Hunter x Hunter2011
Cleverer than most shonen. Power systems have actual logic, tournament arcs feel unpredictable, and it builds genuine emotional stakes. Characters grow older; consequences stick around.
But The pacing collapses in places. Later arcs devolve into exposition. Some story threads are abandoned entirely.
Black Clover2017
Unashamed shonen enthusiasm. Tournament arcs, magic systems, and a protagonist powered by sheer determination. Fast-paced and genuinely fun, with a cast that keeps growing.
But The protagonist's voice (in the dub especially) is aggressively annoying. Follows formula so closely it can feel paint-by-numbers.
Bleach2004
The 2000s shonen classic. Cool characters, an aesthetic that defined an era, and battles with real flash. If you want to understand what Super is riffing on, Bleach shows the blueprint.
But Quality drops significantly after the Soul Society arc. Later seasons feel like they're running on fumes, and the ending is widely disliked.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World2010
Super takes the video game structure of constant levelling and makes it the entire plot. Scott Pilgrim does the same thing but for relationships and self-improvement. Both are optimistic about growth.
A video game logic applied to a romantic comedy. Luminous fight sequences, quick cuts, characters who level up emotionally rather than physically. Edgar Wright's direction turns a comic-book story into pure visual joy.
But Whimsical indie sensibility that some find precious. The romance at the core won't matter if you don't buy the lead character, and many don't.
Redline2009
Super and Redline share a philosophy: the journey and the spectacle of movement matter more than the destination. Both are about watching skilled artists show off, and both are unashamed about that.
Seven years of hand-drawn animation for one 102-minute film. Jaw-dropping visuals that make every frame a painting. A simple plot about a dangerous race, but watched for pure aesthetic and kinetic joy.
But Almost no plot. If you don't care about how things look and move, you'll be bored. The story exists only to justify more spectacle.
