Shonen
Noah’s Barks pages relating to the shonen genre/demographic of anime and manga. Shonen is aimed at a young audience and often features lightly-toned action and adventure.
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One Piece Movie 1
While reading the ‘One Piece’ manga, I sated my curiosity regarding its animated version by watching its first movie. I left the theater (my bedroom) unimpressed. Also, I didn’t actually leave. (read more)
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Shaman King
The shonen classic that never was. What haunted Hiroyuki Takei’s ‘Shaman King?’ (Includes ‘Complete Collection’) (read more)
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D.Gray-man Hallow
What happens when you try and adapt eight years’ worth of manga chapters into 13 episodes? The answer will not shock you. (read more)
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D.Gray-man
With a wonderfully stylized, gothic world and a fun cast, it’s a shame that ‘D.Gray-Man’ is 103 episodes of intriguing world-building with next to no payoff. (read more)
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Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge
Despite being based on an abandoned story concept by series creator Yoshihiro Togashi, Phantom Rouge is yet another non-canon shonen cash-in that fails to demonstrate the best qualities of its source material. (read more)
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Buso Renkin
‘Buso Renkin’ is a surprisingly enjoyable, lightweight "battle shonen" series penned by the creator of ‘Rurouni Kenshin.’ (read more)
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Animation Store Manager
Hideaki Anno directed this commercial for Animate, a major media retailer in Japan. Heavily stylized, it’s a progenitor to latter-era Gainax and Studio Trigger’s style. (read more)
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Home Tutor Hitman Reborn!
‘Reborn!’ is an absurdist comedy about a hapless, diffident youth that eventually turns into a dedicated "battle shonen" series. However, this tonal whiplash is the least of the show’s problems. (read more)
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Rurouni Kenshin
A classic shonen anime adaptation that takes place in the Meiji Era of Japan, mixing historical events with hyperbolic fiction. (Includes "Rurouni Kenshin Special") (read more)
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Blazing Transfer Student
‘Blazing Transfer Student’ is a two-episode OVA by studio Gainax that humorously parodies classic shonen clichés. (read more)