Meaning
What does Shounen Anime mean?
Shounen anime also romanized as shonen anime refers to a specific category of anime series, specifically made for young boys, with the phrase literally translating to boy’s animation in English.
“Shounen anime” include series like Pokémon, Dragon Ball or One Piece and could be considered the first step toward becoming an Otaku or Weeb.
Origin
What's the origin of Shounen Anime?
The term shounen has been around in Japan, in relation to media since the turn of the 20th century, with the earliest shounen manga running between 1895 and 1914 under the title Shounen Sekai.
“Shounen anime” started appearing around the second half of the 20th century, toward the 1980’s and 90’s, as series like Dragon Ball and Pokémon emerged.
Spread & Usage
How did Shounen Anime spread?
With the arrival of the 2000’s, and the free channel of discussion on the internet, the popularity of Japanese culture, and in turn of “Shounen anime” increased rapidly, with new anime series popping up every year.
Iconic series like Yu Yu Hakusho, One Piece, Full Metal Alchemist or JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure led to a steady rise in popularity of “shounen anime” in the 2010’s as well, creating new fans across the globe.

External resources
- MyAnimeList.net – Shounen-Anime
- CBR – 15 Best Shonen Anime Ever
- Wikipedia – Shōnen manga