The Shōnen demographic is a core part of the anime industry and is probably the biggest. The genre owes its growth toShueisha’s Weekly ShōnenJump, which rose quickly in the late 1900s and became Japan’s leading manga-related magazine.Shōnen Jumpis the brain behind most mega-hit Shōnen titles, likeOne Piece,Dragon Ball,Jujutsu Kaisen,Naruto& more.
However, to the shock of most anime fans,Attack on Titan, a successful manga-anime series, has a fickle history withShōnen Jump.Furthermore, manyAttack on Titanfans debate whether series should be considered a “Shōnen” anime following its demographic. Taking a closer look atAttack on Titan’sleading themes in comparison to the Shōnen genre’s dominant themes would allow one to notice certain controversies. Following these controversial developments, canAttack on Titanreally be referred to as a Shōnen anime?
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Attack on Titan – Not A Shonen Jump Publication
Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jumpis the leading manga magazine in Japan, so it comes as a shocker when fans find out thatAttack on Titan, despite being a “Shōnen” anime, is not associated with the franchise. There is no open reason for Isayama’sAttack on Titannot being a part of the epicShōnen Jump. However, most fans theorize that the story’s violent themes didn’t resonate well with the Shōnen standard. On a closer look, this theory rings true asAttack on Titancan rightly be placed in the horror categorywith its Titan-shifter characters and gory moments – a theme not common amongst most Shōnen titles.
Attack on Titanis published onBessatsu Shōnen Magazine, a popular publication that promoted titles likeSilent Voice,Orient& more. Another theory regardingAttack on Titannot being a part ofShōnen Jump’spublications is the alleged Isayama quote, which stated thatShōnen Jump’sweekly serialization wouldn’t have been easy for him to work with. This hints at something bigger in the background that most fans are not aware of. For instance, it could mean that Isayama’sAttack on Titanwould have been difficult to create regardingShōnen Jump’sstandards. Consequently, thereason forAttack on Titannot being serializedonShōnen Jumplargely revolves around the series' anti-Shōnen themes. Following this logic, what areAttack on Titan’sthemes, and why are they so different from the standard set by most Shōnen anime?
Attack On Titan Contradicts Most Shonen Themes
Attack on Titanis set in a world where giant humanoids referred to as “Titans” exist and are a terror to humans and society in general. Even the story’s major titan theme morphs into something unexpected with every new season that unfurls a different twist.Attack on Titanis an incredible thriller story with violent themes to complement the title’s vibrant storyline. Eren Jaeger, the protagonist, plays a huge role in the story’s development as he changes from akind-hearted young man to a diabolical antihero, now considered a terror in the world ofAttack on Titan.
Attack on Titanrises above most of the dominant Shōnen tropes in different ways. First and foremost is the comical feel of the show. Classic Shōnen shows likeOne Piece,Naruto&Dragon Ballfeature comedy-oriented themes, which give the shows a light-hearted feel after heart-racing battle moments. On the contrary,Attack on Titanpossesses no such theme. The story is lined with horrific themes, and it lacks comedic substance for it to be grouped among the Shōnen genre. Although the series does have some light-hearted moments pioneered by characters like Sasha Brown & Connie, almost everyAttack on Titanscene presentsdevelopments that resonate with the Seinen genre.
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From a Shōnen-inspired perspective, looking atAttack on Titan’sprotagonist, one would discover the gaping difference between Eren Jaeger and the typical Shōnen protagonists. Most Shōnen protagonists are usually simple-minded, possessing one clear goal or a set of goals, which is linked to their title’s dominant theme. In the first season ofAttack on Titan, Eren closely mirrored thedefault Shōnen protagoniststandard with his naïve ideals and his overzealousness. Still, he subtly displayed the qualities embodied by most Seinen protagonists, who are mostly fueled by revenge or driven by dark causes. Eren later evolved his personality, becoming a calculating protagonist driven by a dark ambition – to end all life in his world, excluding the Eldians. It’s very rare to see evil/antihero protagonists in the Shōnen world since the genre is geared towards the younger generation to promote healthy thinking. Regardless,Attack on Titandoesn’t capture the Shōnen narrative in the protagonist aspect.
Finally, one of the core themesAttack on Titandrives is unbridled violence. It is not uncommon to find Shōnen anime with intense battle scenes; however, the violence they depict is nowhere like that ofAttack on Titan, which depicts Seinen-level battle gore. From slashing the necks of Titans to Titans consuming human flesh,Attack on Titanpromotes darker themes – different from the Shōnen standards.Attack on Titanis a masterpiece in its own rights and by anime standards; however, the show’s demographic is one thing that needs to be given proper attention.Attack on Titandefies what the Shōnen genreoffers and is better grouped as a Seinen anime – a demographic that houses titles that mirror the Titan-based show.
