Shounen Anime protagonists have always been a favorite among anime fans all over the world. Over the years, the genre has produced many iconic characters and series. In recent times, modern shounen anime protagonists have become more fascinating and unique than ever before. In the last 7 years, many of these protagonists are no longer conventional underdogs like Goku from Dragon Ball or Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto. Some even show up with power already in their hands.
In modern shounen anime, the protagonists are no longer seeking power or the desire to be number one. Most of them just want to be good people and live a normal life, but it doesn’t make them any less interesting. The twists in their stories make them stand out from the many others. So, let’s take a look at the top 10 most intriguing modern shounen anime protagonists of the last 7 years.
10. Shigeo Kageyama — Mob Psycho 100 (2016)
Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob, is a middle school kid with incredible esper powers. In the shounen world where protagonists love to show off their abilities, Mob instead is not interested in doing so in Mob Psycho 100. He is more interested in making friends and getting the attention of his crush, Tsubomi.
One day, he meets a con artist named Reigen Arataka, who offers Mob a part-time job as an esper in his agency. It is here that Mob finally shows off his incredible powers to help people. He never wants to be the strongest; all he wants is to live a normal life.
9. Takemichi Hanagaki — Tokyo Revengers (2021)
Takemichi Hanagaki is not your typical shounen anime main character. He does not meet the criteria of the main character archetype, which typically consists of characters with a strong mindset. Takemichi, on the other hand, is cowardly, arrogant and weak. In Tokyo Revengers, someone like him would almost certainly be bullied by gangsters, but Takemichi is different from typical protagonists in that he is not afraid to show his emotions.
Takemichi can cry anytime he wants because of his soft heart, not because he is a coward. In a world where boys are always labeled as weak when they cry, Takemichi shows that it is okay to express your emotions. Meanwhile, despite being weak, Takemichi never backs down from any fight.
8. Hyakkimaru — Dororo (2019)
Hyakkimaru’s life is nothing short of a tragedy. He was born without skin, voice, ears, eyes, nose, and limbs. After being rescued by a doctor and growing up, all he wants is to regain his lost body parts from the demons who took it away from him.
Throughout Dororo, initially, Hyakkimaru never thought of revenge. All he wants is to live a normal life by getting his body parts back. However, as he learns more about his life, Hyakkimaru’s desire for revenge grows stronger. His mission to regain his body parts becomes even more dangerous.
7. Yoichi Isagi — Blue Lock (2022)
For most shounen sports anime, the focus is often on the protagonist forming a friendship and a strong bond with their teammates. However, in Blue Lock, Yoichi Isagi could not care less about making memories with his high school soccer team. The only thing he is concerned about is becoming the best striker in Japan.
This is why he participated in a controversial program called Blue Lock, where 300 young strikers compete against one another to secure a spot on the Japanese national team. Only one person can emerge victorious, while the other 299 must stop playing soccer forever. Although Isagi takes a bit of time to buy into the program’s ideologies, he slowly gains the confidence and ego required to become the best on the field.
6. Loid Forger — Spy x Family (2022)
When most shounen protagonists are depicted as teenage boys, Spy x Family main character Loid Forger is different. He is an adult male with a job as a spy, and he is so mysterious that no one even knows his real name. He is known only as Twilight, and Loid is one of his aliases.
As an adult, Loid no longer wants to be the strongest or rule the world. Instead, he is extremely dedicated to his work to prevent a war between Ostania and Westalis. His current mission requires him to have a wife and child, and he finds them in Anya and Yor. However, he must keep his real identity as a spy hidden from them.
5. Senku Ishigami — Dr. Stone (2019)
Dr. Stone’s Senku Ishigami is an incredibly intelligent protagonist whose mission is to rebuild the world using science. After being petrified for thousands of years, he is the only one with knowledge about science in a world where humanity has been set back to primitive times.
Senku’s only goal is to use science to restore the world to what it once was. He’s not interested in power or strength, but rather in the power of the mind. He’s dedicated to his mission, and his intelligence is what sets him apart from other shounen protagonists.
Conclusion
Shounen anime protagonists continue to evolve, becoming more interesting than ever before. These modern shounen anime protagonists have unique attributes and quirks, making them stand out from the typical shounen protagonist archetype. These new developments keep the genre fresh and exciting for anime fans everywhere.
