Best Shonen anime like One Piece

One Piece is one of the most popular Shonen anime series in the world – so here’s a list of similar series you can watch.

As one of the Shonen Big Three, One Piece is a classic manga and anime series. The manga debuted in 1997 and got its anime adaptation in 1999. The series is still ongoing and is more popular than ever.

One Piece has literally all the Shonen tropes fans can look for – a lovable protagonist, reliable friends, powerful friends, and layers of mysteries. The series is currently in its Final Saga and will end in a few years.

The story begins with a young boy, Monkey D. Luffy, setting out to sea in hopes of finding a legendary treasure and claiming the title of Pirate King. As he begins his journey, he gathers reliable crewmates. Here’s a look at some Shonen anime series similar to One Piece.

1. Hunter X Hunter

Pierrot

Hunter X Hunter is another Shonen anime and manga classic that One Piece fans are sure to love. Created by Yoshihiro Togashi, the series is popular for its well-developed storyline, nuanced characters, and thrilling action sequences.

The story centers around Gon as he sets out to become a Hunter, hoping to meet his father. During his journey, he befriends Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, who all have their goals to accomplish as they come to terms with their past.

2. Bleach

Crunchyroll

As one of the Shonen Big Three, Bleach once stood at the top of the Shonen genre during the 2000s, which some anime fans refer to as the Shonen genre’s “golden era.” The story follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a high school student who has the rare ability to see ghosts and all supernatural things.

One day, he is attacked by an evil spirit known called a Hollow. He also meets a Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki, who tells him all about the Hollows and the Soul Society. Ichigo finds it all hard to believe until he unlocks his powers and becomes a substitute Soul Reaper.

3. Naruto

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Naruto is another long-running Big Three anime and manga classic that One Piece fans will surely love. The series is popular for its iconic characters, shinobi clans, plot twists, backstories, tragedies, and so on. The story focuses on Naruto, a young Ninja who aspires to become the Hokage, the leader of Hidden Leaf Village.

However, the title is only given to the village’s strongest and most respected Ninja, and Naruto is far from reaching that level. The story continues as he gains more strength while the secret about a monster sealed in his body begins to unravel.

4. Gintama

Crunchyroll

While One Piece has a deep plotline, Gintama is pure comedy. It is a chaotic and hilarious mash-up of sci-fi and period drama, and it’s quite enjoyable. The series combines a variety of genres, tones, and situations.

Set in the Edo period, the story follows Gintoki Sakata, an eccentric silver-haired man who carries a wooden sword while calling himself a Samurai. As the founder of Yorozuya, a small company for odd jobs, Gintoki often endeavors to help others. However, the situation always takes peculiar and unexpected turns.

5. Black Clover

Netflix

The primary difference between Black Clover anime and One Piece is that the former is set in a world of magic. However, both protagonists (Asta and Luffy) have similar goals to be Wizard and Pirate Kings. The series follows Asta, a magicless boy struggling in a world where magic is everything.

He dreams of becoming the Wizard King, the strongest mage in the kingdom, despite having no magic power. However, Asta has the power to nullify it. The story continues as he uses his unique ability to rise through the ranks among the Magic Knights.

6. Dragon Ball franchise

Funimation

The same Toei Animation studio creates both One Piece and Dragon Ball anime. Both series also have various movies and special episodes focusing on non-manga stories. Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball centers around the adventures of the martial arts-loving Son Goku.

The series follows its protagonists on their mission to acquire all seven Dragon Balls while battling any enemies they come across. Luffy and Goku are both lighthearted, determined protagonists who swiftly fascinate everyone around them. The duo even share the screen in many crossover episodes, adding to the synergy between their respective shows.

7. Toriko

Crunchyroll

From the same Toei Animation studio, Toriko is an epic adventure series that follows the protagonist, a Gourmet Hunter who strives to fulfill his ambition of eating the best food in the world. However, the path to completing this mission is not easy, as Toriko confronts various challenges along the way.

Toriko and One Piece anime share an expansive world-building, which is portrayed brilliantly. Furthermore, these series have an incredible cast of Shonen characters that develop strongly throughout the series in a series of adventures and missions. 

8. One-Punch Man

Netflix

One-Punch Man manga has one of the best arts in manga, and the anime also did it justice. The series has some overpowered characters, thrilling fight scenes, and lots of comedy. The protagonist, Saitama, is an extraordinarily powerful superhero capable of defeating opponents, aliens, and monsters with a single punch.

One Punch Man’s plot skillfully tackles the grey moral area of being a hero. This, combined with the show’s beautiful animation, has viewers eagerly anticipating the show’s inevitable third season. The series’ comic stylings, as well as its dramatic moments, are remarkably similar to One Piece.

9. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Crunchyroll

One Piece is an anime that is known for its world-building and characters who grow stronger to achieve their dreams. While Brotherhood doesn’t feature an exactly similar theme as One Piece, it surely has some similar elements.

In Eiichiro Oda’s world, we see Luffy traveling to several new places, meeting interesting people, and fighting powerful enemies — all to become the King of the Pirates. And, well, the Elric brothers in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood travel across the country to find a way to bring back their mother to life.

In One Piece, we see characters mastering Haki, and in Brotherhood, it’s the Alchemy that drives everything. In the end, the protagonists of both series go on dangerous journeys with a single goal in mind.

10. Seven Deadly Sins

TMS

Of course, not everyone loves Seven Deadly Sins, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good anime series. SDS has left a mark on the industry with its incredible world and unique characters.

Like One Piece, Seven Deadly Sins features a wide range of characters that showcase diverse abilities. Meliodas, the overpowered protagonist of the series, is definitely the selling point of the series, but the side characters also shine bright because of the beautifully written story. Seven Deadly Sins is an action-packed story that has heart and depth, and One Piece fans will surely love experiencing this unique world.

11. My Hero Academia

Bones

One of the best superhero anime out there, My Hero Academia tells the story of Izuku Midoriya, aka Deku, a Quirkless boy who dreams of becoming the No. 1 Hero like his idol All Might. When he finally gets an all-powerful Quirk from All Might, he gets a chance to fulfil his dream.

Like One Piece, this anime show also has a dream and the protagonist’s journey towards it at its core. The series has everything a good shonen anime needs. From unbreakable friendships to exciting battles, it’ll keep you hooked for years like One Piece has done.

12. Boruto: Naruto the Next Generations

Pierrot

Those who’ve watched Naruto may know about Boruto, too. It’s the sequel of the beloved ninja anime and follows the next generation heroes. At center stage is the titular protagonist Boruto Uzumaki, the son of Naruto and Hinata, and his journey to come out of his father’s shadow.

While highly controversial when it first debuted, Boruto has earned a loyal fanbase since then. A big portion of that credit goes to its classic shonen charm. Like One Piece, it has an excitable, though smarter, protagonist and his adventures to save his friends and the world from their many enemies.

13. Fairy Tail

Crunchyroll

In the 2010s, Fairy Tail was considered one of the best shonen anime out there alongside the likes of One Piece and Naruto. However, its excessive fan-service garnered quite the criticism from viewers in later years. But its adventurous spirit, strong friendships, and silly comedy will definitely remind you of the Straw Hats.

Fairy Tail follows Lucy, an heiress dreaming of adventures. She finally gets the chance when she meets Natsu and Happy, and joins the eponymous mage guild. Eventually, Gray, Erza, Wendy, and Charlés join the team, going on various quests.

14. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic

A-1 Pictures

One of the best traits of One Piece is its world-building. That’s why if you’re for a similar anime, Magi is one you should definitely try. Its magical world is intricate and well-crafted, with an ample dose of Arabian theme. On top of that, you have a trio setting out for a grand adventure.

The anime revolves around Aladdin, a young boy who’s also a very powerful mage known as a ‘Magi’. His role is to find a worthy king candidate and aid them in clearing out the mysterious Dungeons. Joining him on this journey is the street rat Alibaba and the slave girl Morgiana.

15. Yu Yu Hakusho

Pierrot

Yoshihiro Togashi has proven again and again why he’s considered one of the best mangaka of all time. Before his 1998 manga Hunter x Hunter became a nationwide sensation, he’d already published another masterpiece: Yu Yu Hakusho.

True to every classic shonen, Yu Yu Hakusho delivers adrenaline-pumping martial arts and likeable characters flawlessly. The dynamic between Yusuke and his companions are as entertaining as Luffy’s hilarious incidents with his crewmates.

16. Inuyasha

Sunrise

While Inuyasha is technically not a shonen anime, it’s surely an honorary member. It has plenty of kickass action and an intriguing plot. The story centers around Kagome, a seemingly ordinary girls who gets transported to the feudal era and finds her destiny to be intertwined with a hotheaded half-demon.

In One Piece, Luffy sets out to find the titular treasure while this anime shows the heroes running after the Shikon Jewel shards. With that singular aim in mind, they face many troubles and demons in a classical shonen fashion.

17. Golden Kamuy

Geno Studio

Golden Kamuy is an underrated shonen anime that you need to check out. And though its tone and premise is quite different than One Piece, they have one thing in common: the tireless search for the treasure.

While in the pirate anime, Luffy seeks the treasure to become the King of Pirates, Sugimoto looks for it to keep his promise to his dead best friend. The said friend died in the Russo-Japanese War while Sugimoto survived. Before death, the friend asked him to look after his widow, starting the course of the story.

18. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

David Production

Unlike most of the entries on this list, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure isn’t just an anime show, but an entire franchise. Every part focuses on a different Jojo, starting from the first part’s Jonathan Joestar and the nemesis Dio.

While every part of this franchise has its pros and cons, the most popular one is Part 3, titled ‘Stardust Crusaders’. It follows Jotaro Kujo and his companions as they travel through Egypt to destroy DIO once and for all. And like One Piece, expect plenty of adventure and battles.

19. Demon Slayer

ufotable

One Piece and Demon Slayer both have solidified themselves as most influential shonen anime of all time, though their legacies are entirely different. While Luffy’s journey is an ever-going adventure full of detailed lore and worldbuilding, Demon Slayer has jaw-dropping animation on its side.

But in both cases, we’ll find strong friendships and a loveable protagonist with a heart of gold. And though Tanjiro’s quest is based on revenge instead of adventure, his knack for helping people will still resonate with Luffy’s fans.

20. Edens Zero

J.C.Staff

Creator by Hiro Mashima, the mangaka of Fairy Tail, Edens Zero is a comparatively new addition to the shonen genre. It also doesn’t quite reach the level of predecessor. But it’s still an enjoyable anime you can check out if you’re in mood for something short and lighter.

Edens Zero sees popular video streamer Rebecca and her robot cat Happy travel to the abandoned Granbell Kingdom. There they find the only living person, Shiki, who joins them on their quest. Throughout the story, Shiki tries to find loyal and powerful crewmates, similar to Luffy’s early days.

How to watch Crunchyroll from outside your location in 2023

Crunchyroll is the world’s best hub for streaming anime, whether it’s One Piece, Attack on Titan, or Jujutsu Kaisen – and thanks to ExpressVPN, you can access the platform’s full library even if you’re outside the US.

If you’re abroad, here’s what you need to do to access Crunchyroll’s full selection – and it really is this simple:

1. Sign up for ExpressVPN, which has ultra-fast servers and offers a secure, private connection wherever you are in the world.
2.  Connect to a location anywhere in the US; Express VPN allows you to choose from 24 different spots, from New Jersey to Santa Monica.
3.  Visit Crunchyroll online and start streaming all of your favorite animes – and perhaps some you’ve never watched.

Accessing Crunchyroll’s US roster makes a difference; for example, Hong Kong users only have access to less than 100 titles, while the US has nearly 1,000 movies and TV shows.

You can also stream anime on Crunchyroll for free with an ad-supported plan, or you can pay for a subscription – there’s even a 14-day free trial if you can’t quite make up your mind.

For more, check out our lists of some of the best romance anime series, best upcoming anime, tear-jerking short anime, and best upcoming anime sequels.

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