Summary
The 1990s were a notable decade for the manga industry, and shonen manga especially. Not only was manga in general starting to gain popularity in the West, but many of the tropes and conventions associated withthe shonen demographic started in this decade, and many titles that originated in the 90s are still popular to this day.
These series have had a tremendous impact on the industry, both in Japan and the West. So be it because of nostalgia, novelty, quality writing, or getting several anime adaptations, these are the manga even fans of modern shonen should check out, as they have most likely had a big influence on their favorite series.
Number of Volumes
25
A quintessentially 90s-era series,Great Teacher Onizukafollows Eikichi Onizuka, a former delinquent whodecides to become a teacherto get girls. However, Onizuka discovers he actually likes teaching and aims to become the greatest teacher ever in the eyes of his students.
While certain aspects of the series may not have aged well,Great Teacher Onizukais still one of the funniest manga out there, and Onizuka actually has good lessons to teach. The series won the Kodansha Manga Award in 1998 and received a live-action series in 1998 as well, and an anime adaptation in 1999.
32
Running from 1998 to 2004,Shaman Kingis a classic battle shonen, complete with a tournament arc and non-stop action. It features shamans, individuals who can communicate with ghosts, spirits, and other beings invisible to humans. Yoh Asakura, one such shaman, aims to hone his skills to become the ‘Shaman King,’ someone who’s able to channel the powers of the Great Spirit and shape the world as they see fit.
Shamanism is a practice hardly ever discussed in manga, andShaman Kinggives readers an action-packed depiction of the topic. The seriesis one of the most successful franchises in Japan, inspiring several video games, spin-offs, trading card games, and an anime adaptation in 2001.
Ongoing
Beginning in 1994 and serializing to this very day,Case Closedfollows Conan Edogawa, a teenager in the body of an elementary schooler, as he solves murder cases with the police. As simple as the plot is, the series has proven incredibly popular, spawning several adaptations, including an anime, several movies, video games, and a live-action series.
Its popularity can be attributed to a variety of factors, including an almost universal appeal to people of all ages, and Sherlock Holmes-style storytelling. The series even caught the attention oflate-night host Conan O’Brien, who visited the town where Case Closed is set in 2018, ending his visit with a 1000-burger barbecue and an endorsement of Conan Town.
28
It may be set in the Meiji era, butRurouni Kenshinis a distinctly 90s series. The manga tells the story of Kenshin Himura,a wandering samurai trying to atone for his past. The series ran from 1994 to 1999 and soon became one of the best-selling manga of all time.
Rurouni Kenshinbecame the inspiration for other shonen series likeNarutoandGintama, and Kenshin even inspiredDemon Slayer’s protagonist. Additionally, it’s an early example of a shonen series that also attracted a female audience due to its character designs and romantic elements.
3
While only the original series is considered a shonen,Trigunis still one of the most influential titles in the genre. Following the adventures of a mysterious man known as Vash the Stampede,Trigunis a surprisingly deep look at human morality and the philosophy of pacifism.
The manga received an anime adaptation in 1998, but it went in a different direction than the original series. Trigun proved to be so enduring as a series, however, that aremake calledTrigun Stampedewas released in 2023, with a completely different look and feel.
56
Inuyashaserves as an early example of an extremely popular anime/manga/light novel genre - isekai. Kagome Higurashi, a fifteen-year-old girl, is dragged into a well, transporting her to Japan’s Sengoku period. There, she takes it upon herself to collectpieces of a magical jewel she accidentally shatteredwith the help of a half-demon named Inuyasha.
Inuyashais one of those classic series that’s loved to this very day, inspiring many anime adaptations (including a sequel series in 2020), video games, drama CDs, stage plays, and a light novel.
19
A classic manga with an anime adaptation that was a part of many fans' childhoods,YuYu Hakushofollows Yusuke Urameshi, a teenager who becomes a Spirit Detective after saving a child’s life from an oncoming car. Blending supernatural elements, martial arts, and a dash of teenage angst, the series quickly became one of Shonen Jump’s bestselling manga.
The Dark Tournament arc is perhaps the most famous arcin shonen history, and the series' staying power is further enforced by the 2023 live-action Netflix series.
37
Lightning struck twice for manga artist Yoshihiro Togashi, with bothYuYu HakushoandHunter x Hunterbeing hugely successful shonen series. Gon Freecss, a young boy abandoned by his father, wishes to become a Hunter,an elite human capable of hunting rare beasts, locating treasures, and exploring mysterious locales. To reach his goal, however, he must pass the extremely high-stakes Hunter Exam.
While there have been anime adaptations of the series since 1999, the real adaptation that propelled the series to the top was the 2011 one. The series has been praised endlessly for its characters, writing, and RPG-like story structure.
It’s a series that even someone who knows very little about anime/manga can name.One Piecefollows a crew of pirates called the Straw Hat pirates as they search for a great treasure known as ‘One Piece’.
Considered one of the Big Three of classic battle shonen along withNarutoandBleach, One Piece is the best-selling manga of all time, and even though its first chapter came out in 1997, its popularity hasn’t faded in the slightest. Thewell-received live-action adaptationby Netflix in 2023 proves that.
31
The influenceSlam Dunkhas had over the years transcends anime and manga. It led to the increased popularity of basketball among Japanese youth in the 90s and Japanese-American basketball player J. R Sakuragi named himself after the series' protagonist. While the manga initially failed to break out of the Japanese market, it would soon go on to be the 6th highest-rated manga on MyAnimeList.
The incredibly realistic portrayal of basketball, an inspiring underdog story, and heaps of character development led to Slam Dunk being considered thegreatest sports manga of all time.
