The original shonen “big three” might never be officially replaced, but even so, shonen fans can generally agree that certain shonen anime series are strong candidates. Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen are all standouts, and they’re similar to one another while other huge shonen titles, such as Attack On Titan, have a very different feel to them. So, these may be the unofficial new big three.
My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer all feature likable underdog protagonists who gain remarkable powers to fight the forces of evil, such as demons, curses and costumed villains, and their journeys had a similar start as well. Izuku, Tanjiro and Yuji had a similar experience when their respective stories began, so now the question is: which shonen anime had the best Episode 1 to launch the new generation of shonen action and adventure?
My Hero Academia’s First Episode – “Izuku Midoriya: Origin”
My Hero Academia’s first episode is a superhero origin story, depicting the moment when Izuku Midoriya proved himself worthy of becoming a true hero. Despite being born Quirkless, Izuku bravely rushed forth and fought to save his friend Katsuki Bakugo’s life from a sludge villain, buying time for All Might himself to arrive and win the day. Then, Izuku grabbed All Might’s leg and came along when All Might leaped away, and the two of them ended up on a building roof. There, Izuku finally had a chance to meet his pro hero idol in person and speak privately with him. Izuku asked if someone born Quirkless like him could become a hero, and All Might prepared to give his answer. This episode was about not Izuku’s combat abilities or adventures but his inner quest to pursue his dream and meet the right person to set him on that path.
Demon Slayer’s First Episode – “Cruelty”
Demon Slayer started on a brutal note, far more so than its shonen rivals or even the original big three. In “Cruelty,” Tanjiro Kamado was introduced as a hardworking, friendly boy in his early teens, and he trekked through the forest to sell charcoal in a nearby town. Ominously, other people warned him of demons in the area, and when Tanjiro returned home the next day, a horrific sight awaited him. Almost his entire family had been butchered at the hands of a demon, later revealed to be Muzan Kibutsuji, and only Nezuko Kamado survived. Then, the unconscious Nezuko awakened as a demon, and Tanjiro fought to hold off his monstrous sister until the kuudere Hashira Giyu Tomioka arrived to settle things. Tanjiro pleaded with Giyu to spare his sister’s life, and remarkably, Nezuko herself didn’t want to fight anymore. Impressed, Giyu told Tanjiro to seek out a trainer and become a demon slayer to make things right — or die trying.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s First Episode – “Ryoken Sukuna”
Jujutsu Kaisen takes after Bleach in many ways, and its first episode, “Ryomen Sukuna,” made that clear. Like Tite Kubo’s story before it, Jujutsu Kaisen depicts a tough but friendly high school boy who thought he had an ordinary life until he got tangled up in the world of supernatural monsters. Yuji Itadori was a friendlier version of Ichigo Kurosaki in Episode 1 — a hard-hitting martial artist who bravely stood up to monsters despite having no special powers of his own. He belonged to his school’s occult club, only to learn that curses are very real, and one of them ran wild in Yuji’s school one fateful night. A trained sorcerer named Megumi Fushiguro arrived to help, only to witness Yuji eating one of Ryoken Sukuna’s fingers to gain cursed power, and Yuji helped defeat the curse. The episode ended on a tense note, however, when Yuji’s new ally Megumi declared him a threat and intended to destroy him, too.
Which Shonen Anime Has The Best Episode 1?
All three shonen titles were off to a great start, but Demon Slayer’s first episode hit harder than those of Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia. The latter two had pilot episodes that ended on cliffhangers, such as Izuku’s conversation with All Might and Yuji facing Megumi as an unexpected enemy, while Demon Slayer’s first episode feels more self-contained. On its own, “Cruelty” established the basic combat system, gave Tanjiro a clear goal, set up some personal stakes and most of all, had serious emotional impact. It was sad to see Yuji’s grandfather pass away and it was clearly tough for Izuku to grow up Quirkless, but none of that compares to what Tanjiro and Nezuko experienced in “Cruelty.”
Tanjiro experienced intense grief when he beheld his slain family members, then brief hope when Nezuko was found alive, then despair all over again when Nezuko awakened as a demon. Finally, Tanjiro felt hope once again when Giyu Tomioka urged him to become a demon slayer and find a cure for Nezuko, all of which made “Cruelty” a serious emotional roller coaster. These intense personal stakes, combined with the novelty of the Taisho-era setting, allowed “Cruelty” to set a new standard for how shonen anime series can launch their adventures.
