Polarizing Shonen Anime You Should Still Try

The typical shonen anime is known for its thrilling action, unforgettable characters, and epic journeys. However, not every anime in the genre receives universal praise. Some of these shonen anime are controversial to the point of causing intense debate among fans, dividing opinions over their different but noticeable elements and structure.

So, while these divisive anime may not be everyone’s cup of tea, they often offer strong convictions of a sort and unforgettable experiences that are worth exploring. So, in this article, the focus is on those shounen anime that deserve a chance to prove themselves despite their mixed reputations. Flawed as they might be based on fan consensus, their divisive elements are proof of their redeemable qualities. So, as such, here is a list of the most divisive anime series of the shounen demographic

9 Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.6 / 5

One of anime’s most divisive series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations finds itself on both ends of fans’ emotional spectrum for many reasons. From not living up to the hype of its predecessor, the Naruto series, to the constant agitation about its inability to stick to its original: its lore expansion that pivots away from the essence of the shinobi to facing universal level threats in the Otutsuki alien race.

However, for all its flaws, a certain demographic of fans endlessly recognize its quality and intent for innovation through its rich storyline. So, while it is still much maligned for its adaptation differences, its strong animation style seems enough to placate the interest of most, making the sort of anime that is perceived relatively differently for different reasons, but one very much worth a watch.

8 Re:Zero – Starting Life In Another World

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

One of anime’s most talked-about isekai series for both negative and positive reasons, Re: Zero—Starting Life In Another World does a good enough job of keeping tongues wagging and discourses burning. Through its most divisive asset, the protagonist, Natsuki Subaru, the series elicits many mixed feelings due to Subaru’s characterization, from his choice of powers to his choice of actions and how they affect the storyline.

Also, the series, for most fan demographics, falls between the ‘didn’t meet the expectations projected’ category and the ‘ this is one of the best anime ever’ category. Usually, it’s never in between. However, its impressive use of the time-loop mechanic makes it an above-average story, and one with something worth watching for.

7 Sword Art Online

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

The isekai defining series of the 2010s, the reception of the Sword Art Online series came with many different reactions. The bad, the good, and the ugly. While for an isekai of its time, the series was truly revolutionizing due to its mix of different fantasy tropes while combining the isekai element with virtual reality, giving fans and viewers something not seen before. However, the series had some conspicuous elements about it that did not really go well with specific. fan demographics.

The perfect example being the romantic relationship of the two leads, Kirito and Asuna, to which there was discourse about the relationship may have been overly idealized. In addition, the series also gained conflicting traction due to the obvious gaps in its pacing and narrative focus. However, its status as isekai anime royalty is unchanged, making it eligible for a great watch still, for a first-time viewer.

6 Fairy Tail

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5

Highlighted as the ‘friendship’ series, Fairy Tail has had its tail in wildly mixed receptions right from its debut year. A widely acknowledged series, with its impressive power scaling, structure, and central narrative, the series, however, suffers from the success of other big anime like Naruto due to its over-flogging of certain themes and tropes, particularly the friendship trope.

In addition, its glaringly obvious attempts at fan service also reinforce the mixed reactions it garners, with viewers and fans divided over the necessity of such in most situations. However, leaving out all its issues of over-flogging tropes, fan service and even the not-so-talked-about plot repetitions, the series is still one of anime’s most celebrated shounen series.

5 The Promised Neverland

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.4 / 5

Anime’s real one-season wonder, The Promised Neverland got off to a rather flying start in its first season. However, all its endearing reception went just as flat as its second season, as the story shifts from what seemed like the much-needed thriller-fantasy series, the fantasy genre had longed for prior to a disjointed action narrative focused on escape missions.

Oddly, the series is divisive in a way other anime are not, given that fans and viewers objectively agree that its first season was beyond great and the sequel, a little above terrible, making it the ideal topic for divided discourse. However, for hopeful casuals who can appreciate that the good outweighs the bad, The Promised Neverland still holds a good watch or rewatch value.

4 Tokyo Ghoul

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5

One of Studio Pierrot’s more divisive works, the Tokyo Ghoul series was and is still a subject of heavy controversy among anime fans for many different reasons, not limited to its very glaring adaptation issues. Truthfully, the series has its bright moments too, as it more or less set the tone for how the dark fantasy genre in anime is now perceived and portrayed.

However, with the clear mismatch of information from the manga across the anime, the public consensus on the series could only tilt in so many directions. However, for a series heavily criticized for its wasted potential, the anime is still a certified hit series, responsible for the surge in the fantasy genre post-2014.

3 Gintama

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

A member of Studio Sunrise’s elite class of anime projects, alongside Cowboy Bebop and Code Geass, Gintama also finds itself as one of the anime’s most conflicting series. This is due to the series’ many genre and trope combinations. Going from straight slapstick comedy to fourth-wall-breaking gags to dark and violent themes faster than an arc in the series can be completed, giving the story a lot of angles to be judged from and by implication creating conflicting assessments about the series’ overall quality.

Its overreliance on Japanese pop culture references is also another basis for its divisive reception, as it favoured certain fan demographics more than others, resulting in contrasting viewer experiences. However, the series’ conflicting media reception is only further proof of its obvious entertainment value, at least for a first-time viewer.

2 Elfen Lied

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

• Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Prime Video, Apple TV
• Themes: Gore, Psychological, Seinen
• Production Studio: Studio Arms
• Air Duration: Jul 25, 2004 to Oct 17, 2004

The ideal representation of gore done in all the right parameters, Elfen Lied raises conflicting eyebrows among its fan demographic based on more than one reason. The classic tilts opinion to two ends firstly due to the subtle yet glaring juxtaposition of its art style in contrast to its visual content.

This is noticeable through how the series is noticeably gory, violent, and bloody, while the art can be described as sort of cute, in a lighthearted way. As for its storytelling, for most, it is either hailed for its emotional depth or called out for its supposed faux-storytelling depth.

1 Neon Genesis Evangelion

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

The anime textbook definition of ambiguous, Neon Genesis Evangelion, to most fan demographics, is usually the greatest thing to have ever been produced as anime or the most confusing and meaningless anime series, and typically it is never no in-between.

The series stands atop the pile above its other divisive counterparts majorly because of the inherent ambiguity of the story. With its open-ended conclusions and experimental storytelling, the series leaves too much to the imagination and personal interpretation for there to be a general consensus about the series, even though it is undoubtedly quality.