Demon Slayer was at the heart of the most recent anime boom, and it became the biggest shonen anime hit of modern times. Not only did Demon Slayer win the hearts of millions of anime fans across the globe, but it also captivated casual viewers and turned them into anime fans for life.
However, even though Demon Slayer’s reach and influence are unrivaled, like any other anime in existence, it isn’t free from flaws. For all of its achievements in action and animation, it’s a simple and straightforward action-supernatural anime, and there are other shonen anime that are superior in every way when it comes to writing.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Takes Viewers on an Unforgettable Journey With a Laid-Back Elf
Ostensibly, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End looks different from Demon Slayer, but at a closer look, both have similar characteristics, like a focus on slaying demons, and the overall historical theme, where Frieren is set in medieval Europe, compared to Demon Slayer, which is set in Japan’s Taisho Era. That said, when it comes to storytelling, interpersonal chemistry, a diverse power system, and most importantly, world building, Frieren effortlessly outshines Demon Slayer.
Frieren’s laid-back nature and slow-moving plot bring a breath of fresh air to a rather saturated shonen demographic that is restless in nature. With only 38 episodes across 2 seasons, Frieren has become a household name, not only as a shonen anime, but also as a reviver of the fantasy genre.
Dandadan Is Unapologetically Bold and Doesn’t Play Things Safe
Both Dandadan and Demon Slayer revolve around protagonists who are kind to a fault, but that’s all they have in common. What makes Dandadan a better anime than Demon Slayer is its unhinged nature, with its storytelling, outlandish power system, and the cognitive dissonance brought along by its cast of eccentrics all adding to the absurdity.
Demon Slayer, outside its action sequences, always felt to be holding back in terms of its energy, which left many character arcs feeling hollow in the end. Dandadan, meanwhile, comes in and delivers a daring story that gives every character a chance to bask in glory.
Jujutsu Kaisen Digs Deeper Into Unexplored Territories as the Best Dark Shonen
Jujutsu Kaisen is a battle shonen anime like Demon Slayer. These supernatural series are known for their adrenaline-rushing action sequences with equally stunning visuals. What makes Jujutsu Kaisen a shonen anime better than Demon Slayer is its commitment to fully dive into the dark underbelly of the genre they both occupy.
While Demon Slayer draws a line when it comes to gore or any other aspect of being a dark shonen, Jujutsu Kaisen pushes the boundary to an extent where it struggles with an identity crisis, where fans also wonder if Jujutsu Kaisen is a shonen or a seinen anime. As of now, Jujutsu Kaisen has 59 episodes across 3 seasons.
As the story progresses, Jujutsu Kaisen gets darker in nature, conscience begins to flounder, and the difference between good and evil gets blurrier. Demon Slayer is never willing to get truly dark, and never explore any meaningful ideas.
Shangri-la Frontier Is a Grand Adventure From the Fantasy Genre
Unlike Demon Slayer, Shangri-La Frontier isn’t a dark shonen anime, but they have one thing in common: their love for breathtaking action scenes. While Demon Slayer doesn’t bother with detailed backstories, Shangri-La Frontier enhances the viewing experience by seamlessly integrating well-written flashbacks. That way, it lets the viewers and the characters connect on a much deeper level.
The biggest reason that Shangri-La Frontier is a better shonen anime than Demon Slayer is the endless adventures. Be it above the land or under it, be it on the sea or deep inside it, Shangri-La Frontier’s imagination knows no bounds, creating a sense of wonder that only One Piece was known for till now.
In Demon Slayer, Tanjiro was desperately looking for a cure to heal his sister, which is a similar conflict to Edward trying to restore his brother’s body in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Besides having spectacular action scenes and eye-pleasing animation, these shonen anime highlight heartwarming siblings’ bonds throughout the story.
In contrast to Demon Slayer’s uninspired character writing, though, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood fleshes out its characters to create a robust relationship dynamic between the Elric Brothers. Additionally, FMA:B has a plausible power system based on “The Law of Equivalent Exchange,” in comparison to Demon Slayers’ monotonous “Breathing Style” and “Blood Demon Art” power systems. The detailed world-building only adds to an already strong case for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
- Release Date
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2019 – 2024-00-00
- Network
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Fuji TV, Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV, Kansai TV, Tokai Television Broadcasting, Fukui TV, Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting, Iwate Menkoi Television, Sendai Television, SAGA TV, TNC, OHK, Ishikawa TV, Kochi Sun Sun Broadcasting, TV Shizuoka, UMK TV Miyazaki, Television Shin Hiroshima System, NST, NBS, Sakuranbo TV, TSK, Ehime Broadcasting, KTS, NIB, Fukushima TV, TOS, AKT, Toyama Television, TV Kumamoto, Okinawa Television Broadcasting
- Directors
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Hideki Hosokawa, Shinya Shimomura, Akihiko Uda, Takuro Takahashi, Shuji Miyahara, Masaru Takeuchi, Toshiyuki Shirai, Takuya Nonaka, Yuki Ito, Ken Takahashi, Takahiro Majima, Yusuke Shibata
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Natsuki Hanae
Tanjiro Kamado (voice)
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Akari Kito
Nezuko Kamado (voice)