6 Perfect Shonen Jump Manga That Need Anime Adaptations

Shonen Jump is the leading publisher when it comes to successful manga adaptations. It’s famous for launching massive hits like One Piece, Bleach, and Naruto, and continues to be the home for many of today’s popular shonen series. While fans sometimes criticize the series being cancelled quickly, this is because Shonen Jump isn’t just looking for good manga – they’re aiming for instant blockbusters, which sets a very high bar.

Many popular manga from Shonen Jump have already been adapted into anime, but there are still some newer titles—only a few years old—that deserve attention. Like traditional Shonen Jump publications, these aren’t all action-packed; Shueisha also publishes excellent slice-of-life stories. With the recent announcement of an anime for Kagurabachi, fans should be excited, as more of the best Shonen Jump manga will likely be adapted in the future.

RuriDragon Has Tons Of Potential As A Slice-Of-Life

RuriDragon is a recently popular manga from Weekly Shonen Jump. It centers around Ruri Aoki, a high school girl who suddenly grows horns and discovers her father was a dragon. Though she wants a normal life, Ruri keeps developing powerful dragon abilities that make it difficult to blend in.

The popular webcomic RuriDragon is confirmed to be adapted into an anime by Kyoto Animation, although the release date hasn’t been announced yet. What makes RuriDragon stand out is that it defies typical shonen tropes. Unlike many action or comedy series aimed at young men, it’s a surprisingly heartwarming slice-of-life story. It cleverly connects the fantastical changes Ruri experiences to the real-life challenges of adolescence, making it especially appealing to teenage readers.

Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi Reminds Everyone Never To Judge Off First Appearances

A mix of exciting action and lighthearted comedy is always a winner, and Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi delivers just that. This is the first big series from creator Shoichi Usui, and it centers around Kiyoshi Harai, a teenage exorcist. He’s incredibly talented – the youngest to ever graduate from his academy – but hides his skills behind a tough exterior. In reality, Kiyoshi is extremely shy and just wants to protect people quietly. He takes a job in a rural area hoping for peace, and also works part-time at a Chinese restaurant called the Gates of Hell.

With Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi nearing its 100th chapter in 2024, it’s at a point where many manga either end or get adapted into an anime. Considering this, an anime adaptation feels likely if the series continues. However, Kiyoshi certainly deserves an anime on its own merits – it’s a very funny manga with a surprisingly engaging main character. The biggest hope now is that the right animation studio picks it up.

The Marshal King Is One Of The Best-Looking New Shonen

With its striking visuals, The Marshal King is a standout new manga from Shonen Jump. The story is set in a far-future world, the Age of the Desperados, where law and order have broken down and only the most skilled gunfighters survive. Jimmu Desperado, after defeating his famous father, M. Desperado, strives to step out of his legacy. He enrolls in the Marshal Training Institute, hoping to become the top student and earn access to the powerful equipment of the legendary Marshal King.

One of the biggest challenges for a series like The Marshal King will be finding a studio that can do it justice. While Dr. Stone looked great, the artist, Boichi, has clearly improved, and The Marshal King already boasts visuals better than many anime. But it’s not just beautiful artwork; the world-building is excellent, and the Western setting is a refreshing change from the historical periods often used in shonen anime. This series has all the potential to become a truly exceptional anime and set a new standard for shonen aesthetics.

Kindergarten Wars Offers Both Action And Comedy

Though stories about schools with secrets aren’t uncommon, Kindergarten Wars is uniquely captivating. The series follows Rita, who works at Kindergarten Noir – a highly secure school that cares for the children of the world’s elite. This school has an unusual security force: skilled criminals working to pay off their debts. Rita is one of these reformed criminals, and her job is to protect the school by eliminating any potential threats, no matter how small.

Many action stories featuring assassins focus on characters who’ve stopped killing or left that life behind. However, You Chiba’s Kindergarten Wars is different – it follows a protagonist who continues to work as an assassin, dispatching enemies without hesitation. Throughout the series, people constantly try to challenge her, only to be overwhelmed by her incredible skills. The action is fantastic, and it’s cleverly mixed with humor. An anime adaptation by Sunrise has been announced, but it remains to be seen if it will capture the quality of the original manga, as no trailers have been released yet.

Ichi the Witch Is the Next My Hero Academia

Created by Shiro Usazaki and Osamu Nishi, Ichi the Witch is a fantasy story set in a world where only women can wield magic, drawing power from creatures called Magiks. The story follows Ichi, a self-taught hunter who breaks this rule by defeating a Magik and becoming the first male witch. He then encounters Desscaras, a powerful and aloof witch considered the strongest of them all. Desscaras takes Ichi on as her assistant, and together they journey across the world, battling Magiks to safeguard humanity.

From the start, Ichi the Witch quickly gained a following. Its striking artwork and original story make it stand out in a market often filled with repetitive ideas. The dynamic between Ichi and her mentor, Desscaras, is particularly engaging, offering a refreshing take on the typical mentor-student relationship. Unlike some modern shonen manga that minimize action, Ichi the Witch delivers plenty of exciting battles. With a talented animation studio like CloverWorks or MAPPA handling the adaptation, this series has real potential to become a beloved classic.

Hero Organization Shows The Potential Remaining In Mecha

Currently, few manga from Shonen Jump seem more deserving of an anime adaptation than Hero Organization. Set far in the future, the story follows humanity’s fight against dangerous alien creatures called Star Beasts. The main character, Leonidas Tyler, is incredibly skilled at virtual reality battles, using giant robots (mecha) to combat these beasts. His father, Ryu Tyler, joins the Hero Organization to fight alongside humanity, hoping to make his son proud. Sadly, Ryu dies before he can return home, leaving Leonidas to continue the fight in his memory.

Hero Organization could be a really great mecha anime if made well. The main character, Leo, is a strong protagonist – determined, skilled, and ready to face any challenge. Although the main mecha design isn’t the most exciting, the more basic suits will appeal to mecha enthusiasts. While longtime fans might not like the change in main characters, it’s clear early on that this shift was important for the story’s progression.

2026-04-28 16:45