Shōnen anime has always been a popular genre, and each new season sees more action/adventure narratives hit television screens. Funimation's 2021 lineup is a fantastic example of this -- while some old favorites have returned, many new shows are debuting as well, offering viewers a variety of original takes on the classic shōnen format.
So for those fans looking to catch up with a popular anime or wanting to dive into something new, here are some of the best shōnen anime available to watch on Funimation right now.
Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1
Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan became an instant global hit when it first entered serialization in 2009. The anime swiftly followed in the manga's footsteps, leading to AoT becoming one of the world's most popular franchises. However, all stories must come to an end, and this first part of Attack on Titan's final season lays the foundations for the epic finale. It also sees Studio MAPPA take over animation duties from Wit Studio, the team behind the first three seasons.
Set four years after the Scout Regiment reach the shoreline, Season 4 Part 1 drops viewers into a very different world from the one seen previously. Despite the changes, things are as rocky as ever. The fate of the Scout Regiment and the island of Paradis still hangs in the balance, especially as long-term tensions between the Marleyans and Eldians reach boiling point. To make matters even more fraught, Eren Yeager is missing in action. What is he doing, and will he return?
Watch all 16 episodes of Attack on Titan Season 4, Part 1.
My Hero Academia - Season 5
My Hero Academia is one of the most recognizable modern animated series in the world today. It is impossible to go into any anime store without seeing something linked to this mammoth franchise, and the fifth season proves the series isn't slowing down any time soon. Written by Kōhei Horikoshi and animated by the beloved Studio BONES, season five of My Hero Academia sees Deku, Bakugo, and Shoto spend time working and studying with Endeavor, an event that doesn't go how anyone expects.
Season 5 also sees a new team of villains make themselves known, turning the world on its head in the process and forcing the heroes to change their strategies. Along the way, the series introduces many new heroes and develops a lot of the core cast in new and exciting ways, showing there are still plenty of stories left to tell in the My Hero Academia universe.
Watch all 25 episodes of My Hero Academia Season 5.
Black Clover - Season 4
Yūki Tabata's Black Clover has been popular ever since the manga launched in 2015. Studio Pierrot's anime adaptation has been delighting fans ever since it started, and Season 4 is no exception. It continues the story of Asta and Yuno, two orphans who are competing to become the Wizard King. To do this, both join teams of Magic Knights and start to train.
Season 4 of Black Clover sees Asta and Yuno clashing with three evil-possessed mages from the nearby Spade Kingdom called the Dark Triad. While they're the strongest foes the duo have ever fought, they might also hold information that will explain the origins of the mysterious devils -- and how these creatures have been affecting Asta and Yuno's lives up to this point. These secrets promise to totally upend the heroes' lives, forcing them to see everything in a new light.
Watch all 16 episodes of Black Clover Season 4.
The Case Study of Vanitas
Created by Studio BONES and based on the manga written by Jun Mochizuki, The Case Study of Vanitas has been widely praised for its beautiful setting and unique storyline. The story follows vampire Noé Archiviste who, while searching for the legendary Book of Vanitas, is attacked by a vampire turned crazed by a strange condition. All seems lost until a human appears and rescues Noé, curing the vampire in the process. This human says not only has the name of Vanitas, but also carry with the mysterious Book of Vanitas with him.
Vanitas claims he knows of a way to cure all vampires of this mysterious ailment, but he'll need Noé's help to do it. Can Noé trust someone with such power, and is Vanitas all he seems? Fusing an excellent intrigue-packed storyline with some utterly breathtaking animation, The Case Study of Vanitas is both a powerful display of modern anime skill as well as a loving callback to classic gothic novels.
Watch all 12 episodes of The Case Study of Vanitas.
