Anime is a style of Japanese animated entertainment that has gained popularity around the world. Within the anime genre, there are many sub-genres that cater to different interests and preferences. Here is a guide to some popular anime genres:
- Shounen: Shounen anime is geared towards a male audience and typically features action, adventure, and fighting. Examples of shounen anime include “Dragon Ball Z,” “One Piece,” and “Naruto.”
- Shoujo: Shoujo anime is geared towards a female audience and often focuses on romance, drama, and relationships. Examples of shoujo anime include “Fruits Basket,” “Ouran High School Host Club,” and “Sailor Moon.”
- Seinen: Seinen anime is also geared towards a male audience, but tends to be more mature and serious in tone compared to shounen anime. Examples of seinen anime include “Attack on Titan,” “Death Note,” and “Berserk.”
- Josei: Josei anime is geared towards a female adult audience and tends to focus on realistic and relatable themes, such as romance, career, and family. Examples of josei anime include “Nana,” “Bakuman,” and “March Comes in Like a Lion.”
- Action: Action anime typically features fast-paced, high-stakes storylines with plenty of fight scenes and battles. Examples of action anime include “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Bleach,” and “Hunter x Hunter.”
- Fantasy: Fantasy anime often takes place in imaginative, otherworldly settings and may feature magic, mythical creatures, and supernatural elements. Examples of fantasy anime include “The Rising of the Shield Hero,” “The Seven Deadly Sins,” and “Noragami.”
- Horror: Horror anime typically features dark, unsettling themes and may include elements of mystery, thriller, and supernatural horror. Examples of horror anime include “Death Parade,” “Hellsing,” and “Corpse Party.”
- Science fiction: Science fiction anime often explores futuristic or alternate worlds and may feature advanced technology, space travel, and otherworldly beings. Examples of science fiction anime include “Gundam,” “Ghost in the Shell,” and “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”
Where to watch popular anime shows
If you are a fan of anime, you may be wondering where to watch popular anime shows. Here are some options to consider:
- Streaming platforms: Many popular anime shows are available to stream on platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll. These platforms often offer a variety of anime genres and have a large selection of both dubbed and subbed shows.
- Cable and satellite TV: Some cable and satellite TV providers offer anime channels or programming blocks, such as Adult Swim’s Toonami block or Funimation’s programming block on the Syfy channel.
- Purchase or rent: You can also purchase or rent anime shows on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, and iTunes.
- Physical media: If you prefer to own physical copies of your favorite anime shows, you can purchase DVD or Blu-ray sets at retailers or online.
- Legal streaming websites: There are also a number of legal streaming websites that offer a selection of anime shows to watch for free or for a fee, such as Animelab or HIDIVE.
Popular Shounen anime shows
Shounen anime is a genre that is geared towards a male audience and typically features action, adventure, and fighting. Here are some popular shounen anime shows:
- Dragon Ball Z: This classic anime follows the adventures of Goku, a powerful warrior who protects the earth from threats both earthly and extraterrestrial.
- One Piece: In this long-running series, a group of pirates search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, while facing off against rival pirates and the navy.
- Naruto: This action-packed anime follows the journey of Naruto, a young ninja with dreams of becoming the strongest ninja in his village.
- My Hero Academia: In a world where almost everyone has superpowers, a young boy with no powers of his own strives to become the greatest hero of all.
- Attack on Titan: In a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction due to giant humanoid creatures, a group of young soldiers fights to protect their home.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: This series follows the journey of two brothers who use alchemy in their quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone and restore their bodies.
- Bleach: In this action-packed series, a young man with the ability to see ghosts becomes a soul reaper, tasked with protecting the living from malevolent spirits.
- Hunter x Hunter: This series follows the adventures of Gon, a young boy who sets out on a quest to find his father and becomes a skilled hunter in the process.
These are just a few examples of the many popular shounen anime shows that are available. Whether you prefer action, adventure, or a mix of both, there is a shounen anime show that is sure to appeal to you.
Popular Shoujo anime shows
Shoujo anime is a genre that is geared towards a female audience and often focuses on romance, drama, and relationships. Here are some popular shoujo anime shows:
- Fruits Basket: In this heartwarming series, a young girl finds herself living with a family that turns into animals from the Chinese zodiac when they are hugged by the opposite sex.
- Ouran High School Host Club: In this romantic comedy, a poor high school girl poses as a boy and joins a club for handsome male hosts, leading to a series of comedic and romantic misadventures.
- Sailor Moon: This classic anime follows the adventures of a group of magical girls who protect the earth from evil forces.
- Nana: This dramatic series follows the lives and relationships of two young women with the same name who become roommates and navigate the ups and downs of adulthood.
- Cardcaptor Sakura: In this magical adventure, a young girl discovers that she has the power to capture and seal away spirits called Clow Cards.
- The Vision of Escaflowne: In this action-packed fantasy series, a high school girl is transported to a magical world and becomes embroiled in a battle to prevent a prophesized disaster.
- The Rose of Versailles: Set in 18th century France, this historical drama follows the life of a young noblewoman who disguises herself as a man and becomes a leader in the French Revolution.
- Black Butler: In this dark and mysterious series, a young noblewoman hires a demon butler to help her avenge the deaths of her parents.
These are just a few examples of the many popular shoujo anime shows that are available. Whether you prefer romance, drama, or a mix of both, there is a shoujo anime show that is sure to appeal to you.
Popular Seinen anime shows
Seinen anime is a genre that is geared towards a male adult audience and tends to be more mature and serious in tone compared to shounen anime. Here are some popular seinen anime shows:
- Attack on Titan: In a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction due to giant humanoid creatures, a group of young soldiers fights to protect their home.
- Death Note: In this psychological thriller, a high school student with the ability to kill anyone by writing their name in a special notebook uses his power to rid the world of criminals.
- Berserk: This dark and violent series follows the journey of a mercenary warrior as he navigates a world filled with demons, knights, and political intrigue.
- Psycho-Pass: In a future society where people’s mental states are monitored to prevent crime, a group of detectives investigate cases that involve advanced technology and psychological manipulation.
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: In this psychological sci-fi series, a group of young pilots are recruited to fight against mysterious beings known as Angels using giant robots called Evangelions.
- Tokyo Ghoul: In a world where flesh-eating ghouls exist alongside humans, a young man must navigate life as a half-ghoul after being attacked by one.
- Parasyte: In this horror-action series, an alien parasite takes over a young man’s hand and they must work together to stop other parasites from taking over the world.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: This series follows the journey of two brothers who use alchemy in their quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone and restore their bodies.
These are just a few examples of the many popular seinen anime shows that are available. Whether you prefer action, thriller, or a mix of both, there is a seinen anime show that is sure to appeal to you.
Popular Josei anime shows
Josei anime is a genre that is geared towards a female adult audience and tends to focus on realistic and relatable themes, such as romance, career, and family. Here are some popular josei anime shows:
- Nana: This dramatic series follows the lives and relationships of two young women with the same name who become roommates and navigate the ups and downs of adulthood.
- Bakuman: In this coming-of-age series, two high school boys aspire to become successful manga artists and navigate the challenges of the competitive manga industry.
- March Comes in Like a Lion: This poignant and heartwarming series follows the life of a young professional shogi player as he navigates complex relationships and struggles with depression.
- Honey and Clover: In this romantic comedy, a group of art students navigate love, friendship, and their future careers.
- Paradise Kiss: In this fashion-themed romance, a high school girl becomes the muse of a group of eccentric fashion students and must decide between following her dreams or conforming to society’s expectations.
- Honey and Clover: In this romantic comedy, a group of art students navigate love, friendship, and their future careers.
- A Silent Voice: In this poignant and emotional series, a young man with a hearing disability struggles to make amends for bullying a classmate when they were younger.
- Barakamon: In this slice-of-life series
Conclusion
This is just a small sampling of the many genres that exist within the world of anime. Whether you prefer action, romance, fantasy, or something else entirely, there is an anime genre that is sure to appeal to you. Happy watching!