Weekly Shonen Jump has been around for over 50 years, and dozens of iconic manga franchises have called it home. What’s your hobby dance Shonen series? Here are our picks.
This is a very difficult question! I like a lot of different series from Leap for a lot of reasons. For example, Haikyuu!! is a series that I literally recommend everyone because it’s just full of charming characters and it has such a compelling plot. But if I had to choose one that I love, I would probably choose Gin Tama.
I don’t think I’m exaggerating Gin Tama had a great influence on my sense of humor and a lot of jokes from Gin Tama are the ones that I still use to this day. Sure there are some sentences that get lost in the translation, but the visual gags are still enough to make sense. It’s the perfect combination of comedy, action and romance. Gin Tama It’s really a show for the whole family…though the job-safe jokes might make it a little awkward for your parents to watch along with. – Stephanie
Laugh with me if you like! But my favorite was, and probably still is, Bleach. We did not receive Weekly Shonen Jump in my country until Viz rolled out its worldwide subscription model in 2018. Before that, I got my weekly dose of what at the time seemed like a great comic book series. The best anyone can get by scrolling through shady pirate sites, with ads, and illegal scanning centers. The experience persisted long after I grew up and could afford to buy officially licensed episodes.
To this day, Tite Kubo’s style is inimitable. Few things ignite nostalgia in someone who was still a teenager in 2002 like seeing the captains of the Gotei 13 lined up in council. All of this makes news about the Millennium War anime adaptation or new chapters in recent times Leap All problems are more than welcome. – Josh
Jujutsu Kaisen is my favorite series by far. I came quite late, because I only started reading after the prequel came out. On the surface, it seems like your classic action series. But with me, Jujutsu KaisenIts strong relevance comes from commentary on Japanese social issues. It deals with issues like body breakdown, generational trauma, social depression, etc. The characters are complex! And even the supporting characters are given the opportunity to grow and become part of the overarching story. No wonder Akutami quotes Bleach and creators like Junji Ito are huge influencers.
I was also worried at first that watching the anime first would affect the manga, but I was wrong. If anything, Akutami’s art style is interesting on a whole other level. Sometimes it has a quality almost like a rough draft, but I think it adds to the flavor. With the second season of the anime due out in 2023, it’s the perfect time to get into the series. – Andrew
I like reading sports-themed comics like Legend of Tsubasa throughout my childhood. But I have particularly fond memories of eye protection 21. It did a good job of introducing American football to not only Japan but also manga fans around the world. It also provides the story and rules of the game in a funny and entertaining way.
I also like the way eye protection 21 have transformed a character’s strength in other areas to match their role position on a soccer team. For example, Monta was a baseball player who was only good at catching the ball before the team recruited him as a wide receiver. It also features a number of console games released in Japan in the early 2000s. But part of me feels empty because I haven’t seen another game based on the title since. – Kite
I will go with Chainsaw Man. Yes, this is a more recent release. However, it can be unbelievable. It’s organs. How stupid. And it’s very flexible. You can dive into it with expectations for how the story will unfold, and then foreshadowings and twists that you didn’t expect.
What also makes it interesting is how its story is evolving. It looks like the second season might feel different from the first, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. – Jenny
What’s your hobby dance Shonen series? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter! And read our other Handy round table for more thoughts from the Siliconera team.
