Like any other medium, anime has had a number of foundational works over the years, particularly within the realm of shonen anime, or anime aimed at boys. These anime series tried daring new things that had never been attempted before, and as a result, changed how everyone thought about anime forever.

These foundational anime series are often those that proved influential on up-and-coming young creators, shaping how they made their own incredibly popular works. Many of those works would, in turn, shape the next generation of anime and manga creators, firmly establishing the influence that a truly great anime could have on what comes after.

Here are 10 of the most famous and influential anime series of all time, whose mark on the shonen demographic simply can’t be overstated.

10 Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)

Original Anime Series, Animated by Gainax

Neon Genesis Evangelion marked a turning point in the world of anime. Set in a world where mankind’s very existence is at threat due to an invasion of mysterious alien beings called Angels, the only things capable of defeating these Angels are the EVA units, biomechanical “robots” that can only be piloted by certain people, with Shinji a reluctant pilot.

Evangelion’s basic premise wasn’t anything incredibly original, but the way the series was presented and the psychologically damaged nature of its characters gave the series a depth that hadn’t been seen before. Evangelion deconstructed the tropes of the mecha genre, showing the terrifying reality of piloting a giant robot and the incredible pressure of having humanity’s fate on your shoulders.

Evangelion marked a radical change in the mecha genre, with most series coming after it acting as a response or rebuttal to Evangelion’s points in some way.

9 Pokémon (1997)

Based on the Pokémon Video Games, Animated by OLM

Pokémon is one of the most popular and well-known anime series of all time, starring one of the most recognizable characters of all time in Pikachu. Pokémon’s release was an absolute phenomenon that transcended cultural lines, and kicked off the ever-popular “mons” genre of anime, where heroes fight alongside tamed monsters.

Pokémon became the first anime that many a Western fan watched, kickstarting a life-long love affair with the medium. Its influence on the medium can’t be dismissed, as Pokémon’s success launched literally hundreds of copycats, ranging from those that could stand on their own, like Digimon, to series that are perhaps better left forgotten, like Dragon Drive.

The fact that the original Pokémon anime would go on to run for nearly 25 years ensured it became an indispensable staple of anime, as familiar to kids today as it was to 90’s kids.

8 Astro Boy (1963)

Based on the Manga by Osamu Tezuka, Animated by Mushi Production

Astro Boy’s creator, Osamu Tezuka, is often called the “Godfather of Manga,” as his absolutely incredible catalog of work helped to define the tropes and style of manga, and indirectly, anime as well. Astro Boy is arguably the first major animated series to bear what we’ve come to know as the “anime style.”

Astro Boy was also the first Japanese animated series to have success outside of Japan, paving the road for series that would follow it. Focusing on a main character with exceptional abilities who fights not for glory, but for his friends and family, Astro Boy effectively laid the groundwork for the entire world of shonen anime and manga.

While Astro Boy isn’t as influential these days as it once was, the fact that this one work shaped the entire medium of anime simply can’t be denied.

7 Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)

Original Anime Series, Animated by Nippon Sunrise

Mobile Suit Gundam is the first series in the Gundam franchise and the progenitor of the “real robot” genre. While there had been mecha series which predated Gundam, the original 1979 series is known for defining the genre with its focus on realism for how the robots operate. Other Gundam series are arguably as influential, but this is the first.

Gundam is to Japan what Star Trek is to the US, with every subsequent sci-fi series having to define itself against this pillar of the genre. While Evangelion deconstructed mecha tropes, it was Gundam that built up those tropes in the first place. It also introduced a villain so popular that he’s copied even outside of mecha in Char Aznable.

Gundam has remained strong for almost 50 years now by constantly reinventing itself, often tackling issues of the day.

6 Yu Yu Hakusho (1992)

Based on the Manga by Yoshihiro Togashi, Animated by Studio Pierrot

Yu Yu Hakusho was a landmark series in the subgenre known as “battle shonen,” which has come to be one of the most popular varieties of shonen anime and manga. With delinquents as its heroes, Yu Yu Hakusho established a new kind of protagonist. It was hardly the first series to introduce supernatural elements, but its particular mix became iconic.

Yu Yu Hakusho is primarily famous for codifying the use of tournament arcs in battle shonen series, with its Dark Tournament arc still widely regarded as one of the greatest anime tournaments of all time. Series creator Yoshihiro Togashi helped to refine many of the tropes used in anime and manga, changing how they would be used going forward.

The series is also well known for the presentation of its villains and their respective falls from grace, attempting to add depth to its antagonists in a way that would become common in later series.

5 Naruto (2002)

Based on the Manga by Masashi Kishimoto, Animated by Studio Pierrot

Naruto is considered one of the “Big Three” manga of the 2000s, alongside Bleach and One Piece. Naruto’s creator, Masashi Kishimoto, grew up with manga, and was heavily influenced by the popular series from his own childhood, like Dragon Ball. Narutoremains incredibly popular, despite having ended years ago, even making news for being among the most-watched anime of 2025.

The element of Naruto that has become the most influential is almost certainly the rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke. Sasuke has been the blueprint for many a rival character, from My Hero Academia’s Bakugo to Black Clover’s Yuno. Rivals influenced by Sasuke often have innate talent, an elaborate past, and a penchant for straddling the line between good and evil.

Naruto has of course influenced other anime in more ways than just this; Naruto’s “inner demon,” the Nine-Tailed Beast, has also become a common touchstone for other series.

4 One Piece (1999)

Based on the Manga by Eiichiro Oda, Animated Toei Animation

Another member of the Big Three, One Piece is one of the longest-running anime of all time, with over 1100 episodes at present and no signs of stopping. One Piece follows Luffy, a boy who gains rubbery stretching powers from eating a Devil Fruit, at the cost of losing his ability to swim, which can be dangerous for a pirate.

While One Pieceis ostensibly about hunting treasure, it very much falls into the category of “the real treasure is the friends we made along the way.” The bonds and relationships between the characters make up the core of the story, and trying to emulate the strong friendships seen in One Piece is likely its own legacy on anime.

Emulating character dynamics can be extremely difficult, however, and that’s why there’s never really been anything else like One Piece.

3 Bleach (2004)

Based on the Manga by Tite Kubo, Animated by Studio Pierrot

The final member of the Big Three, Bleach forged a new kind of protagonist. While Luffy and Naruto had big dreams, like being King of the Pirates or the next Hokage, Ichigo never had such aspirations. Although Ichigo would eventually have a complex and detailed past revealed about his family, Ichigo’s introduced as a guy who protects those close to him.

Bleach is well known for having an absolutely massive cast of characters, especially the longer it goes on. The 13 Court Guard Squads (also known as the Gotei 13) became a model which other series based their professional organizations on, like Black Clover’s Magic Knight squads or pro heroes in My Hero Academia.

Bleach is also influential for its villain, Aizen, who sets the bar for all the mastermind-type enemies in anime to follow.

2 Galaxy Express 999 (1978)

Based on the Manga by Leiji Matsumoto, Animated by Toei Animation

Galaxy Express 999 isn’t as well known today as it probably should be. While the animation style for a series from the late 70’s is a bit dated, the anime was a revolution at the time, and has been remade many times since. The series follows a young boy, Tetsuro, whose mother was killed, and Maetel, a strange woman who accompanies him.

Tetsuro seeks to obtain a mechanical body and the immortality that will grant him, while Maetel is skeptical it will solve his problems. As they travel the stars on the 999 train, Tetsuro meets people who have received mechanical bodies, yet still suffer similar problems to his own.

Maetel is a particularly influential character, representing the stranger who comes from nowhere and seems to have the answers to all the protagonist’s problems, while concealing a secret. The series does a fantastic job of blending “planet of the week” storylines with the overarching tale of Tetsuro, effectively establishing the arc-based storytelling style of manga.

1 Dragon Ball Z (1989)

Based on the Manga by Akira Toriyama, Animated by Toei Animation

Toei Animation

Dragon Ball Z is without a doubt one of the most famous and influential shonen anime in history. The series has frequently been cited as an influence by other mangaka, including figures on this list like Kubo, Oda, and Kishimoto. Dragon Ball established a number of tropes and trends in anime that continue on to this day.

Dragon Ball Z is likely most famous for the Super Saiyan transformation, with many series both parodying and paying homage to the well-known blonde hair and pulsing energy aura. The series effectively defined how transformations and power-ups are used in anime and manga.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg, though. Vegeta has inspired hundreds of other rival characters, like Shadow the Hedgehog, as well as some of the aforementioned characters on this list. Dragon Ball Z also normalized the concept of filler in anime, long-lasting multi-episode battles, non-canonical movies, and so, so much more.

There can be no question: Dragon Ball Z is the most influential anime of all time.

Dragon Ball Z

Release Date 1989 - 1996

Network Fuji TV

Directors Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai

• Masako Nozawa

Son Goku / Son Gohan / Son Goten (voice)

• Ryo Horikawa

Vegeta (voice)

Writers Akira Toriyama, Neil Bligh, Hiroshi Toda, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Aya Matsui, Keiji Terui, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiki Inoue

Franchise(s) Dragon Ball