8 Shonen Anime With Literally Zero Bad Arcs, Ranked

There are more than a few amazing shōnen series out there, but a lot of the best shōnen around have too much filler or are plagued by an arc that just doesn’t fit the tone of the series.

It’s not easy to create an entire anime series without a single bad arc; fortunately, there are a handful of shōnen series that pulled it off. These shōnen series can be enjoyed from start to finish without a single lull, showcasing some of the best action in anime without skipping a beat.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a landmark series that showed the heights of shōnen. Few series before or after it can truly compare, and there may never be another series like it.

At only 64 episodes, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the shortest shōnen series in the highest tier of anime, and that’s not a bad thing. With so few episodes, Brotherhood does an excellent job of telling a gripping story without wasting any time on filler or bad arcs.

Tower of God

Tower of God is an underrated gem of a manhwa/Webtoon in the West. The first season of the anime is tremendous, showcasing one of the best art styles in anime. While the second season didn’t receive the same treatment as the first, the arcs in the series are still amazing.

There’s no telling what the future of the Tower of God anime looks like after the let-down that was the second season, but even after 600 chapters of the Webtoon, Tower of God is showing no signs of slowing down.

Hunter x Hunter

Hunter x Hunter is basically required viewing for any fans of shōnen. It’s one of the best anime series ever made, and even after 170 episodes, there’s not a single bad arc.

From the very first episode, Hunter x Hunter pulls its fans in and details Gon Freecss’ adventure of leaving his small town, learning more about the world, and finding his father. It’s a wonderfully simple series that gets better and better the longer it runs.

Haikyu!!

Haikyu!! is a serious contender for the best sports anime in existence. It’s such an unbelievably good sports series that there are only one or maybe two other series that could be considered its equal.

Haikyu!! doesn’t just have flawless arcs: each arc is better than the last. It seems impossible (especially after the Shiratorizawa Arc), but Haikyu!! manages to keep an insane tempo and puts together some of the most explosive, heart-pounding matches in the medium.

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z is the grandfather of shōnen in America. One Piece, Bleach, and Naruto did a great job of showing just how cool anime is to Americans in the early 2000s, but it all started with Dragon Ball Z.

Even people who have never seen anime before can recognize Goku in his iconic orange gi. He’s one of the most popular anime characters ever made, and it helps that Dragon Ball Z doesn’t have a single bad arc in its fairly long run time.

Chainsaw Man

Chainsaw Man is a modern-day masterpiece. It’s one of the leaders of the new era of shōnen, taking the reins from the previous generation and running with them.

Chainsaw Man has an amazingly simple story, some of the best animation in shōnen, and a premise that doesn’t let up. It’s a concise story too, as there hasn’t been a single bad arc so far. There’s more Chainsaw Man to come, and there won’t be a single bad moment when the rest of the manga is animated.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the few anime series that had a good first season, a great second season, and what has been a stellar third season. It looks like it’s only getting better, and it’s never even been bad.

There is a huge debate as to what is the best arc in Jujutsu Kaisen, and that shows just how great the arcs in the series are. The series is at an all-time high at the moment, and looking at what the anime has coming down the pipeline, the best is yet to come.

Attack on Titan

To call Attack on Titan a pillar of anime would be an understatement. It’s a foundation of the art form, supporting the shōnen genre massively in the 2010s. Like Dragon Ball, it’s one of the most influential anime series ever made.

Attack on Titan is one of the darkest anime series ever made, and while there’s no shortage of horrifyingly brutal moments, there’s also no low points. Attack on Titan keeps its terrifying pace the entire time, and that’s just one of the many reasons why this series is so good.