Within the shonen demographic, there are multiple exciting titles with critical aspects peculiar to each of them. One of such vital aspects is world-building, a process that involves developing social structures, establishing power systems, and designing unique geographical terrains in a fictional world. The art of worldbuilding is a complex process, but when done right, it elevates the quality of a story to incredible heights.
Writers use world-building to form a solid platform for their stories, as it serves as the general basis for various character interactions and multiple important events. As a result of the heavy reliance on proper worldbuilding to achieve the maximum level of investment needed from an anime’s audience, many shows explore interesting new ways to develop fascinating worlds that are sure to captivate their viewers. Consequently, this explores some of the best examples of shonen anime that have excelled tremendously in the worldbuilding department.
10 Fire Force
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Fire Force is an anime with a fascinating premise. The anime is set in a post-apocalyptic world where people are constantly at risk of Spontaneous Human Combustion, with an organization called the Special Fire Force tasked with exterminating the blazing infernals. Most individuals enlisted into the Special Fire Force possess unique abilities enabling them to wield fire in many different ways.
However, these fire soldiers have more than just fiery monsters to deal with. They are further tasked with the vital mission of foiling the plans of the Evangelist, a being that intends to recreate the cause of the great disaster which led to the post-apocalyptic state of the current world. The show hosts numerous characters serving under multiple groups, each with unique motivations for acting, setting viewers up for an exhilarating experience.
9 My Hero Academia
The world of My Hero Academia is a fairly accurate representation of what life would look like if a great number of the world's population possessed superhuman abilities. These abilities, more commonly known as quirks, appeared randomly without concrete evidence of where they may have originated. Furthermore, due to the advent of quirks, the world became exposed to multiple new groups and individuals, with the most prominent ones leaving a lasting impact on history.
The main groups in focus throughout most of the story are the Pro Heroes and League of Villains. Both groups have their foundations set in important events from the past, and this is where the worldbuilding really shines. The result of the battles between the forces of good and evil can evidently be seen in how the current world operates, and that constant attention to detail serves as a strong base for current and future events.
8 Dr. Stone
Despite being set in a time much further into the future than the real world, the world of Dr. Stone doesn’t exactly possess futuristic characteristics. This contradiction was caused by the Petrification Event, a phenomenon that turned every living human on earth into stone, thereby halting any means of scientific development.
With such an intriguing setting, the anime set itself up with the intricate task of reinventing the state of humanity following the recovery of the main protagonist, Senku. This tasking responsibility, however, was handled excellently. Using his boundless knowledge of science, Senku is able to develop innovative ways to support current life on earth, with multiple distinctive factions being introduced across different stages of the story.
7 Seven Deadly Sins
Seven Deadly Sins initially handles its story’s exposition at a steady pace. However, reaching certain parts of the anime, viewers are presented with a world accommodating multiple species and kingdoms, each possessing a rich history that ties them all together.
There are not many aspects of the series left unattended, and neither are there many aspects that are dull in nature. Every ability, battle, artifact, character, and group have their roots in the story explained while also providing a high level of entertainment. Despite the subpar production quality of recent seasons, the engaging world-building has remained evident since its premiere.
6 Magi
Magi is an anime with one of the most unique premises and power systems among all shonen. Its world is governed by an abstract concept called Rukh. Rukh serves as the basis for every living being in the story. It guides a person's fate and allows specific individuals to wield supernatural abilities.
However, Rukh is not the only thing that makes this series stand out, as the world itself is filled with various magical wonders such as Dungeons, Djinn's, Magoi, and Magi. It is further complemented by the many ancient territories in focus, each possessing its own culture and exposing the show's viewers to a heavily political theme.
5 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The law of equivalent exchange, the most important rule of alchemy; this concept is a recurring theme throughout the Fullmetal Alchemist series. It served as the basis on which an entire civilization was built and is further portrayed in some of the most compelling ways imaginable.
The world may not be as expansive as many others on this list. Yet, the story does a great job of creating exciting characters and groups with imposing goals, as well as the inclusion of alkahestry, which also has its roots in alchemy. The effects of alchemy on the story’s history are adequately fleshed out as well, with the events which transpired in the land of Xerxes serving as a great example. Overall, it is an amazing show which impressively manages all parties involved using one predominant theme.
4 Hunter x Hunter
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Hunter x Hunter is a widely acclaimed series well known for its unorthodox approach to storytelling compared to many shonen anime. Though storytelling and worldbuilding are two different things, an engaging story can only be fostered by an interesting setting, a perfect example of what makes this show so special.
The main thing to note in the world of Hunter x Hunter is the existence of Hunters, fascinating new territories, and the Nen power system. These factors serve as the motivation to act and the means by which different individuals can achieve their goals. They are appropriately defined throughout the story and are consistently referenced at all times, serving as a basis for multiple exciting events.
3 Attack On Titan
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Attack on Titan has become one of the most popular titles in recent years, and for good reason as well. The story features an amazing premise that grips you tightly following the initial appearance of supersized beings known as Titans, man-eating giants that threaten the existence of mankind as a whole.
Many elements accompany the arrival of titans, contributing to the series’ impressive worldbuilding. However, the introduction of groups like the Scouts, Survey Corps, and the Special Operations Squad early on becomes relatively insignificant in the grand scheme. The more important elements involve the royal family, the true origin of the titans, and the connection between multiple different factions in the show, with interest in each facilitated by the careful development of Isayama’s world.
2 Naruto
The author of Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto, took on the task of creating an entirely new world filled with shinobi that possessed extremely powerful abilities, and he was largely successful. This world did not only bring to life chakra-wielding ninjas but also vastly different regions, which significantly determined the nature of ninja’s techniques.
The series constantly uses the structure of its world to facilitate important events in the story. An excellent example of this is when Itachi slaughtered an entire clan. This saw the involvement of groups such as the Anbu, Uchiha clan, and the Hidden Leaf Village. The series also regulates the use of chakra in many unique forms, as seen with the Sharingan, Byakugan, and other optical manifestations. The story plays host to many additional features such as these and retains a good level of consistency at the same time.
1 One Piece
One Piece is famously known as one of the anime with the most impressive worldbuilding even outside the shonen demographic. Throughout this list, factors such as power systems, backstories, and groups have often been highlighted to expose you to different forms of worldbuilding; however, the story of One Piece can take a spot on this list with the sheer number of landscapes present in the series alone.
Expansive is an understatement; Eiichiro Oda has developed a world where entire islands are found at every turn. Each island is unique, with most possessing bewildering characteristics. An example is an island of fire and ice, or a land made of candy where every structure within it is edible. Furthermore, the story contains dominant powers constantly at odds with one another, which facilitates thrilling showdowns between characters belonging to each group.
Despite over a thousand episodes of content, the story remains unfinished, with many intriguing mysteries left unsolved. Yet, fans eagerly anticipate the release of each new episode, proving just how well the series has been structured up until this point.