In the world of shonen anime, it’s common to see protagonists with extraordinary abilities. Naruto, for example, has the chakra of a nine-tailed fox within him, while Deku from My Hero Academia has Quirks. However, not all protagonists are blessed with superpowers. Some standout characters in the shonen genre are those who excel based on their natural abilities, intelligence, and hard work. In this article, we’ll be looking at four shonen anime protagonists who don’t rely on superpowers.
1. Ranpo Edogawa (Bungo Stray Dogs)
Ranpo Edogawa is a member of an armed detective agency in the anime Bungo Stray Dogs. While his peers have incredible powers, Ranpo is a great detective because of his genius-level analytical skills. He can analyze any case and deduce the culprit, which puts him on par with the agency’s more powerful members.
2. Loid Forger (Spy x Family)
Loid Forger is a professional spy from Westalis who is tasked to stop wars. In order to achieve his objectives, he creates a fake family and uses his high intelligence to play the role of a loving husband and father. Loid is a master of disguise and subterfuge, relying solely on his wits and cognitive abilities to complete his missions.
3. Shoyo Hinata (Haikyuu)
Shoyo Hinata is a standout protagonist from the anime Haikyuu, despite having no superpowers. Standing at a height of 163 cm, he competes with players who are 180-190 cm tall in the national volleyball tournament. How? His perseverance, hard work, and intelligence make up for his physical shortcomings. Shoyo’s strength lies in his agility and speed, making him the most agile and highest jumper on the court.
4. Senku Ishigami (Dr. Stone)
Senku Ishigami is known for his high intelligence, with no extraordinary physical or superpower abilities. He relies on his intellectual prowess to solve any problem. Senku can calculate complex scientific formulas in his head, and his knowledge helped him to rebuild the world after everyone was petrified in an apocalyptic event.
In conclusion, these four shonen anime protagonists prove that you don’t need superpowers to be formidable. By relying on wits, intelligence, and hard work, these characters have become some of the most memorable protagonists in the anime world.
