8 Shonen Anime That Are 10/10 But Nobody Remembers

5 days ago 11

cast of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo hanging off an airplane

Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.

Shōnen anime is the most popular of the medium, with hundreds of classics such as One Piece and Demon Slayer. While this demographic is aimed towards younger boys, everyone can enjoy the riveting action, fun premises, entertaining stories, and classic formulas. However, with so many legendary shōnen anime and more coming out every year, some classics are bound to be forgotten.

Some anime stand the test of time, but not every show can do so, even if they were popular at one point. That's why this list highlights eight great anime series that were once popular but are now forgotten. Some fans may remember them, but their popularity is a shell of its former self. Whether they haven’t had a season in a while or the show fell off in quality, these eight anime are still fantastic despite not being in the spotlight anymore.

8 ‘Shaman King’ (2001–2002)

Out of all the anime on this list, Shaman King is probably the most well-known, and many fans still probably remember it. However, it is nowhere near its former glory. The Shaman Fight occurs every half-century, and when contestants arrive in Tokyo, one young boy learns he is a shaman and aims to win the tournament.

The recent remake brought it back into the spotlight, but only for a brief moment. It wasn’t the best, and fans quickly moved on, keeping the franchise buried in the dirt. However, the original series was a staple anime of the 2000s, ripe with engaging characters, engrossing action, and overall entertainment value. Some fans still adore Shaman King, but it is nowhere near as popular as it once was.

7 ‘Blue Exorcist’ (2011–Present)

Two characters wielding weapons in Blue Exorcist Shimane Illuminati Saga

Shaman King was one of the most popular anime series of the 2000s, but Blue Exorcist was one of the most popular during the 2010s. When Rin learns that his father was Satan and that he possesses his blue flames, he joins the Exorcist Academy to control his powers and defeat him. However, he finds it hard to fit in as the son of a demon.

After years without new content, Blue Exorcist received multiple new seasons, some of which ranked among the best anime of 2025. Unfortunately, the new season didn’t reignite that spark, with its popularity remaining the same. It is more well-known than most, but it used to be a must-watch anime of the 2010s, and now it is just another show from then. Still, more fans need to watch this defining 2010s anime.

6 ‘Tiger & Bunny’ (2011–2022)

Tiger & Bunny pose in front of advertisement screens of themselves.

The superhero genre may be really popular in the West, but it isn’t as well-regarded in Japan, with some exceptions such as One Punch Man and My Hero Academia. However, one of the most underrated superhero anime shows is Tiger & Bunny. The series follows an aging hero who is losing popularity and forced to team up with an up-and-coming superstar. However, the two will have to put their differences aside if they want to work together and save the day.

Tiger & Bunny used to have a decent-sized fan base and plenty of sponsorships, but all of it was lost in the second season. It wasn’t as popular anymore, and its sponsors were a serious downgrade. Still, the anime is incredibly entertaining with a riveting mystery story that should continue. Tiger & Bunny never got the fame it deserved, but its superhero antics, engaging characters, and dramatic story make it worth a watch.

5 ‘Guyver: The Biobooster Armor’ (2005–2006)

Fans either never heard of Guyver: The Biobooster Armor or never forgot it, being a hidden gem from multiple decades. There are a few remakes of this anime, meaning different generations could all experience this epic series. When Sho discovers alien technology that fuses with his body, he now has extreme power, which he uses to protect his friends and the world from a mysterious organization and a slew of monsters.

Anime is different nowadays, and some beloved tropes have gone extinct, such as burly men tearing enemies to shreds, leaving a bloody trail of corpses. Guyver gives this feeling while remaining a shōnen series. Despite that, it is relatively dark for its age rating, but this only adds to the excitement and intensity. It has a nice blend of dark action, emotional drama, and romance, building a classic series that many fans adored back then but is, unfortunately, mostly forgotten today.

4 ‘Rave Master’ (2001–2002)

Hiro Mashima is known for one of the most polarizing anime series, Fairy Tail, which had some great arcs, but many fans don’t like its overt fan service and overuse of the power of friendship. However, he had a popular series before Fairy Tail, Rave Master, which follows a group of characters traveling the planet in search of the rave stones. With the dark organization planning to use these stones for evil, Haru, Ellie, and Musica are the world's only hope.

A lot of fans prefer Rave Master over Fairy Tail, stating its writing is more refined, the story is better, and there isn’t as much fan service. However, it never reached the same heights as Fairy Tail, which remains in the spotlight. Despite being somewhat forgotten, Rave Master is an excellent anime that, while not particularly unique, is incredibly entertaining and more fun than most shōnen. The art, animation, action, adventure, and characters work together to create an anime joyride.

3 ‘Kinnikuman’ (1983)

Most of the anime on this list are from the early 2000s, but there are hundreds of forgotten anime from the 1980s, a decade when the medium was just finding its groove. Kinnikuman is a true classic, following the titular superhero who isn’t good at his job. However, when he learns he is the prince of an alien planet, he goes there and must fight monsters and enemies, competing in tournaments to prove himself to his family and gain their respect and money.

Believe it or not, Kinnikuman used to be one of the most popular anime series of the 1980s, but unfortunately, it fell far from glory. A new season of the anime came out in 2024 after nearly a three-decade wait. It didn’t regain its popularity, but maybe it reminded fans of its existence. Either way, Kinnikuman was a pioneer of the shōnen demographic, and it’s a shame it never blew up in the West. Its characters are fun, the plot is solid, and the anime is an overall unique series.

2 ‘Toriko’ (2011–2014)

This may be one of the most recent anime shows on this list, but many fans have already forgotten it. Toriko is set in a land where the landscape is made of food, and everyone strives to become a gourmet hunter and create the dishes of their dreams. The titular protagonist is the same, but his wild ambition and skills set him apart from others. He and his friends plan to make a sublime meal, but they must battle monsters, evil organizations, and the food itself if they want to realize this.

Toei Animation tried everything to make Toriko popular, including multiple collaborations with One Piece and Dragon Ball, but nothing stuck. Instead, Toriko went down as a forgettable long-running shōnen that never reached the heights of others. However, Toriko is imaginative and beautiful, feeling like a bizarre fantasy that fans can’t help but devour. It may be a “turn your brain off” anime, but most shōnen are, and this one is one of the most creative and entertaining, meaning fans should definitely check it out.

1 ‘Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo’ (2003–2005)

While the Isekai genre is known for having overly long and bizarre names, it isn't exclusive to that kind of anime, as Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo probably had the weirdest title. In the future, a militant organization is stealing everyone’s hair, but one brave man with a golden Afro and long nose hair is standing against them. Along with his friends, whom he saved, the titular protagonist will not rest until the Maruhage Empire falls and people can live with their hair.

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo has a weird title and an even weirder plot that many won’t be able to take seriously. But that is the entire point; this anime is unapologetically wacky, thriving on its bizarre occurrences and unconventional story. Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is comical, dumb, fun, goofy, and over the top, but a perfect anime for anyone wanting something light-hearted and weird. It makes sense that the anime isn’t too popular, but with a premise and plot such as this, fans would have a hard time forgetting it.

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