"shonen"

2019 · 4 Seasons · Tokyo MX / Fuji TV · Action / Fantasy / Adventure

Demon Slayer is a spectacle-first anime that delivers some of the most visually stunning fight sequences the medium has ever produced. Its story about a kind boy trying to save his sister won't surprise anyone with its twists, and a couple of the supporting characters test your patience with repetitive comedy. What it lacks in narrative complexity, it makes up for with sheer craft, emotional sincerity, and a willingness to make you care about its villains as much as its heroes. For action anime fans and newcomers to the genre alike, it's an easy recommendation with a few caveats attached.

1999 · 21 Seasons · Fuji TV · Adventure / Fantasy / Action

One Piece is an anime built on ambition, and across more than 1,100 episodes it delivers on that ambition more often than it doesn't. The world Eiichiro Oda created is among the richest in fiction, and the bonds between the Straw Hat crew carry a kind of emotional weight that few animated series have matched. Pacing problems and inconsistent production quality hold back the anime adaptation from matching the heights of its source material, and the sheer episode count will scare off anyone who isn't ready for a serious commitment. For those willing to take the voyage, though, there's a reason One Piece has captivated audiences for over two decades and shows no signs of slowing down.