Most anime and manga fans are familiar with Shonen Jump’s “Big Three”: One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. The “Big Three” series were prominent during the “Golden Age” of Shonen Jump in the 2000s, and gained worldwide popularity. Fans fell in love with the exciting action and adventure storylines, the fight sequences between heroes and villains, and the main protagonist’s growth and development.
The “Big Three” are still widely recognized in the anime community, and many current shonen series have modeled their stories to these three. However, fans do wonder if it is possible to replicate another “Big Three”. Many anime fans have debated about what the current “Big Three” are. Specifically, My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, and Jujutsu Kaisen. Arguably, it’s difficult to say that there will ever be another, legitimate shonenw “Big Three”.
The “Big Three” Defined Shonen
The “Big Three” paved the way for storytelling, world-building, and character development within the shonen demographic. One character trope often seen in shonen series are wise, peculiar teachers that trains the young male protagonist. These teachers are often kind and quirky, and they would always look at the bright side of things. Their outlook on life is mainly due to having a dark or traumatic past. The primary examples of these mentors are Kakashi Hatake from Naruto and Kisuke Urahara from Bleach. As for a current shonen series example, Satoru Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen is the wise mentor who trains Yuji Itadori on how to control the cursed spirit Ryomen Sukuna. Manga artists use this character trope to help the main character grow, and provide plenty of comedic moments in otherwise mundane training montages.
With tropes like the “wise and quirky mentor,” already established, manga creators have difficulty being original and creative. The “Big Three” defined some of the core elements in shonen manga, and these qualities are now requirements for a series to be called “shonen.” However, fans have repeatedly seen the same shonen story formula, and they get bored or uninterested. For a new “Big Three” to happen, the series should have the all the core components prevelanty in the demographic, but there has to be an original storyline idea that makes the series appealing to fans for decades.
“Filler” Episodes Matter Greatly For the “Big Three”
These series are known for their longevity. All three series have over seventy manga volumes published, and well over three hundred anime episodes. The longevity of each anime series is also due to the amount of “filler” arcs and episodes. Filler episodes or arcs are side adventures that were independent of the original manga. Filler episodes allow viewers to see their favorite characters from a more wholesome and “light-hearted” perspective and can contribute to further character development. Some notable “filler” episodes and arcs include One Piece’s “G-8 Arc,” where the crew ends up at a heavily fortified Marine base, and Naruto: Shippuden, where this arc explores the Twelve Guardian Ninja and Naruto’s wind training.
The purpose of “filler” episodes is to keep viewers interested in the series, introduce new fans to the series, and for anime studios to wait for the original manga to release new content. Once there is new manga content, the animation studio can produce more episodes. Yet, most of the time, filler episodes and arcs are pointless since it technically does not contribute to the actual manga storyline.
Nowadays, anime studio limit “filler” episodes in the shonen series, possibly due to the criticism of it by fans. In recent years, fans have been outspoken about their dismay for filler episodes or storylines diverting from the original storyline, such as the first Fullmetal Alchemist series and The Promise Neverland. Furthermore, with Internet access, fans can read the recent manga chapter to know what happens next rather than waiting for the next episode or season, making “filler” episodes pointless to watch. If a manga is still ongoing, studios divide the series into several seasons where each season so that the manga and anime are up-to-date alongside one another. One example would be Attack on Titan. When the anime caught up to the manga, there was a significant break in the anime series so that Hajime Isayama has time to conclude the manga.
Anime studios do not want to disappoint fans. They want to produce an excellent quality series that is true to the original story manga. Nowadays, studios do not make a hefty amount of “filler” episodes, even if it means not being able to gather new fans or contribute to the longevity of the series. However, by not producing “fillers,” anime series risk just being a short-term, hyped series rather than a popular series that lasts for generations.
The Main “Big Three” Protagonists Had Simple, Ambitious Goals
The “Big Three” storylines model the popular “hero’s quest” in literature. The male protagonist is a “good-hearted” individual with a simplistic but ambitious goal that sets the course of the entire series. In One Piece, Monkey D. Luffy’s ultimate goal is to be the “King of Pirates,” and in Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki wants to be the next Hokage, the next village leader. As for Bleach, Ichigo Kurosaki has a realistic goal: Ichigo wants to protect his friends and family from danger. The authors of the “Big Three” created simplistic goals for their characters because it is helpful to determine the length of the entire series. The creators can freely produce several story arcs, showcasing the protagonist undergoing trials and challenges before the protagonists can fully achieve their goals, as evident in Luffy’s story. One Piece is the only series of the “Big Three” that is still ongoing.
The current shonen series’ main protagonists have ambitious goals, but these goals are well-defined and specific, and there isn’t any opportunity to produce new story arcs. With a specific goal, the manga artists already predetermined the length of the series. In Demon Slayer, Tanjiro Kamado joins the Demon Slayer Corps, so that he can find a way to transform his sister, Nezuko, from a demon to a human. Tanjiro has a similar go to Ichigo’s goal: they want to protect their loved ones. However, Tanjiro’s goal is too specific that once he achieves it, there is no opportunity for additional content.
Yet, if a shonen protagonist has a vague but ambitious goal, like Luffy’s and Naruto’s goals, there’s a chance these goals become a side story and conflict with other subplots. For example, in My Hero Academia, the first story arc focuses on the main protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, and his dream of becoming a “Pro Hero.” Yet as the story continues, Midoriya’s story becomes a subplot as other supporting cast storylines become pivotal such as the rescuing of Eri and Endeavor and Shoto Todoroki’s familial relationship.
To even qualify as a potentially new “Big Three” manga, the shonen series needs a likable character who undergoes character growth while pursuing an ambitious goal. In addition, the goal should be vague enough that the manga author has the opportunity to expand the storyline into several arcs. Present-day shonen series conclude quickly once the main goal is achieved. Nowadays, readers prefer shorter series, and manga artists do not feel overwhelmed or pressured when producing content.
The “Big Three” has had a huge impact on anime and manga and defined the future of shonen. It’s difficult to argue that any future shonen series can do the same. New shonen shows are inspired by the “Big Three” but have a tough time being original. Also, in this day of age, fans prefer shorter series rather than lengthy ones. Even if we won’t ever get another “Big Three,” the future of shonen manga is bright.
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