Have you ever noticed that some anime that were once popular can easily be forgotten? It’s a harsh reality for many anime series. Different trends, increasing competition, and hype culture can diminish the popularity of an anime. While some anime currently enjoy their popularity, it does not guarantee their longevity. Popular anime will continue to surface over time, and seasonal series will fail to remain relevant when new ones emerge and capture people’s attention.
This phenomenon is especially true for the shounen genre. As the most popular genre with a broad demographic in the medium, anime shounen often kick out series within itself. The most talked-about shounen anime titles last year may become irrelevant in four years. Not all anime shounen can become classics like Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, or even Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia. New series such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, Blue Lock, or Chainsaw Man still have a lasting impression. However, some series are easily forgotten once their story ends. According to CBR, here are the top 5 anime shounen that will be forgotten by viewers.
5. Blue Exorcist
Blue Exorcist could have been an unforgettable series, but there is a long gap between the first and second seasons. Moreover, the series does not adhere to the manga and goes on its own storyline, which even those who only watch the anime find nonsensical. Rin Okumura is the most interesting part of the series, but he is somewhat bland because the other characters are boring. Rin is tough, determined, and stubborn, while most other characters are just in the background and exist only to support Rin. But that’s how the anime adaptation tackles the original story. The manga might go down in history, but the anime will certainly be forgotten. Blue Exorcist can be watched on Netflix, Bstation, and iQIYI.
4. Horimiya
Horimiya is one of the most successful modern romance anime ever made. Its popularity is only behind that of the Fruits Basket remake. However, its strengths are not evenly distributed, and eventually, the series will succumb to its own shortcomings. Miyamura’s character growth is enjoyable to watch, but Hori’s personality becomes toxic as the story progresses. Everything comes to a point where viewers may doubt how healthy the relationship is. The uninteresting supporting characters do not help either, even when screen time is allocated to them. Horimiya can be watched on Netflix and Bstation.
3. Dr. Stone
The latest generation of Weekly Shonen Jump anime has established itself as the new normal. Dr. Stone is one of those series, mixing shounen spirit with science. Character designs from manga artist Boichi provide the series with a bold and distinct appearance that sets it apart from other shounen anime. However, the liking for this series is slowly fading away. While popular, the series does not capture the spirit as much as other Weekly Shonen Jump anime like My Hero Academia or Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. If titles like Naruto and Bleach were compared to them ten years ago, then Dr. Stone would be closer to Toriko in its generation. Dr. Stone can be watched on Netflix, Bstation, and Disney+ Hotstar.
2. Fire Force
Fire Force tries to be nothing more than what it is: simple and fun. Its fight scenes are striking, character designs are cute, and humor has its moments. Its popularity is not guaranteed, but it is difficult to believe that it will last. Despite all its appeal, the characters in this series are not strong names. A more significant problem is that Fire Force is less attractive than its predecessor in every way. If anime like Soul Eater, which had better art direction, stronger characters, more amazing designs, and better premises, are no longer popular in the end, then Fire Force will not have a better fate. Fire Force can be watched on Netflix and Bstation.
1. A Silent Voice
Longevity in anime films is difficult to achieve. It’s even harder for films not made by Studio Ghibli. The rare case is a film with a colossal impact, like Your Name. A Silent Voice has an interesting story full of regret and growth. Still, the impression on this anime is not strong enough. Even anime films praised as genre-defining, like The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, eventually disappear. Films need to break the normal anime cycle to ensure their continued popularity. While the A Silent Voice light still shines brightly, this film weakens every year.
In conclusion, many factors can cause an anime to be forgotten over time. These five anime shounen have significant weaknesses or limitations that make them less memorable than their contemporaries. Regardless, they were entertaining shows to watch during their time.
