2021 has almost come to an end, and with it, another year of great anime. This year has seen a slew of great original shonen series come out, as well as the continuations of some extremely popular fan favorites. While there has been the occasional weak entry, many of the shows coming out this year have been very enjoyable.
With exciting action scenes using imaginative powers and abilities,these shows are extremely popular amongst anime fans, and demonstrate the best the genre has to offer. Here are some of the best shonen anime that have come out this year, and what made them so brilliant.
Updated July 16, 2025, by Danny Guan:With the first anime season of the year 2022 coming to an end, it’s a good time to look back at last year’s anime and see which series stood out. Anime fans have had some time to solidify their opinions about last year’s anime, which has had many shonen series come to the forefront. 2021 had a lot of great shows come out, so here are some more of the best shonen anime that graced screens that year.
15Dr. Stone: Stone Wars
The second season of the sci-fi epicDr. Stonecontinues the adventures of Senku and his allies as they continue to attempt to revive the petrified human civilization. The newly established Tsukasa Empire, who believe that only the best of humanity should be revived, are all that stand in their way.
Dr. Stonewas a big hit, and this second season continues to impress. Its fantastic story is a riveting tale and an absolute must-watch for any fan of science fiction.
14Shaman King (2021)
This classic series was cut short in its original adaptation, leaving much of the original manga unadapted. This new series makes a second attempt at adapting this supernatural tale following Yoh Asakura, a young boy who aims to become the Shaman King, a being that can become one with the Great Spirit.
Shaman Kingis adream come true for fansof the series who regretted that the original never managed to fully adapt the manga. Although the anime speeds things up to fit everything into 52 episodes, it is still a must-watch for fans.
13Those Snow White Notes
Setsu Sawamura moves to Tokyo after the death of his grandfather. Unable to play the shamisen due to his grandfather’s dying wish, Setsu looks for a way to further understand his shamisen playing and recover his lost passion for the art.
RELATED:Best Anime Series Of 2021
Those Snow White Notesis a calming slice of life anime that delves into the struggles of musicians and those who have passion. Setsu’s struggle to find his own playing style is something that many musicians, artists, and creatives can certainly relate to.
12Komi Can’t Communicate
Of the many anime series that came out in 2021,Komi Can’t Communicatewas easily the most popular. The show follows the adventures of the beautiful yet shy Shoko Komi, who wants to make 100 friends at her new high school.
Viewers immediately fell in love with the show’s quirky characters and delicate mix of offbeat humor and sweet adolescent romance.Komi Can’t Communicateis easily one of the best romantic comedies of the year 2021, and fans wait with bated breath for the next season to arrive.
11The Case Study Of Vanitas
In a world where vampires live secretly with humans,those bearing malmomen are cursed, causing them to desire human blood. While vampires who are cursed must be killed, Vanitas, a human “doctor,” claims to have the ability to cure them of their curse.
The Case Study of Vanitasis a series by Jun Mochizuki, the creator ofPandora Hearts, and it clearly shows in its gorgeous artstyle and distinctive characters. This story puts a unique spin on the vampire genre and is a must-watch for supernatural anime fans.
10SSSS.Dynazenon
Yomogi Asanaka is a normal high school boy. However, when he crosses paths with his mysterious classmate Yume Minami, the unemployed Koyomi Yamanaka, and self-proclaimed “Kaiju User” Gauma, he becomes caught up in a battle against the kaiju laying waste to his city.
RELATED:Iconic Shonen Anime Protagonists, Ranked By Their Power
SSSS.Dynazenonis the follow-up to the popularSSSS.Gridman, and fans of the former will get the same heroic mecha action here. Dynazenon’s mechanics are interesting, and the relationships between the main characters are intriguing.It may not be the best mecha animeout in 2021, but that doesn’t mean it’s not great.
9Kemono Jihen
Supernatural detective Kohachi Inugami meets a strange boy during one of his cases. He soon learns that the boy, whose real name is Kabane Kusaka, is a hanyo, and invites him to join his detective agency, where he deals with incidents surrounding supernatural kemono.
Kemono Jihenis a fun supernatural anime that explores Japanese mythological demons in an inventive way. The characters are quite quirky, and the cases are always unique. While it is a little generic, it still has some very exciting moments for viewers to enjoy.
8Mushoku Tensei
An unemployed, overweight man with no prospects in life suddenly performs his first deed of heroism – and dies in the process. He is unexpectedly reincarnated as a young boy named Rudeus Greyrat in a world of swords and sorcery, and resolves to make the most of his new life.
Mushoku Tenseiis an isekaiwith a familiar premise, but it that utilizes its setting to its fullest potential. Rudeus’s motivation to make sure that he doesn’t waste his life is a very relatable feeling, and his fear of possibly returning to his former ways makes him a sympathetic protagonist.
7The Duke Of Death And His Black Maid
A young nobleman is cursed by a witch so that anything he touches dies. Shunned by his friends and even his family, the duke now lives alone in a mansion, but his loneliness is abated by his maid Alice, and romance begins to bloom between the two of them.
RELATED:Shonen Anime That Are Underrated
The Duke of Death and His Black Maidis anincredible supernatural romance story, and while it might not seem like it, it has a fair amount of conflict as well to keep the story interesting. This anime is a very heartwarming series that will capture the attention of any romance fan.
6Sakugan
In a world where humanity is stuck underground for mysterious reasons, an unusually intelligent young girl named Memempu dreams of becoming a marker and finding the place that constantly appears in her dreams. Though her father Gagumber is against the idea, a tragic event serves as the catalyst for them to start their adventure.
Sakuganis an exciting adventure anime that has moments of comedy, drama, and suspense. The main cast are hilarious and rambunctious, and their silly shenanigans are a delight to watch unfold.
