10 Best Anime By Studio Pierrot

The best anime by Studio Pierrot are often classified as being some of the best anime of all time, as the massive scale of Pierrot's network has allowed them to adapt some of the most popular manga from magazines like Weekly Shonen Jump and Hana to Yume.

While a majority of their catalog is shonen due to its value and marketability, within Pierrot's selection, there is still ample room for variation. Not all shonen anime are created equal, and in the same sense, each unique shonen franchise has something to offer that makes it stand out from the rest. Studio Pierrot has hand-picked series that all move towards a similar destination but do so with their own undeniable flare.

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10 Beelzebub Redefines the Babysitter

Based on the manga by Tamura Ryuuhei

Beelzebub is an action comedy anime that follows the adolescent life of Oga Tatsumi, one of the most active brawlers in his high school, which is highly saturated with delinquent characters. However, his infamy and fighting prowess earns him the recognition of Baby Beel, the son of the Demon Lord.

From there, a supernatural and action-packed story unfolds, but not in a traditional direction. Although Baby Beel recognizes Oga's power, that earns him the esteemed position of a babysitter, leading to both hilarious and heartfelt moments that occur between the two. Furthermore, as the son of the Demon Lord, Baby Beel is no stranger to the magical powers of the underworld, subsequently looping Oga into its chaos.

WATCH ON Crunchyroll

9 Black Clover Challenges All Odds

Based on the manga by Tabata Yuuki

Black Clover is a fantasy shonen anime that upholds the mainstream premise of a world of magic and magicians. However, what makes the series worth watching is its ability to take this mainstream framework and mold it to the story’s needs, as it follows Asta, an aspiring Wizard King who possesses no affinity for magic.

The series' main draw is Asta’s persistence and optimism, as he overcomes every point of adversity that is thrown his way. He is looked down on by those more gifted, and he is neglected by the public eye when he does something extraordinary. Despite all this, Asta stays true to his goal and continues to strive towards the apex of an ever evolving world of magic, which is what makes Black Clover so successful, as opposed to other wizard-focused anime like Fairy Tail.

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8 Baby Steps Is the Most Accurate Tennis Anime

Based on the manga by Katsuki Hikaru

Baby Steps is a shonen sports anime that peeks its head out of Pierrot's usual area of comfort, though it still moves towards overarching themes that the studio often embodies. The anime follows the tennis journey of Maruo Eiichiro, who begins learning in his freshman year of high school, which is quite late for competitive players. Despite this, the wonders of the sport invigorate the once casual Eiichiro to set a goal of becoming a pro player.

While there are an exceptional number of tennis anime out there, such as the all-expansive Prince of Tennis, Baby Steps sets itself apart with its underdog protagonist and its focus on the game of tennis itself. Practices, lessons, and the intricacies of technique are so detailed that watching the series will contribute a non-zero factor to learning the sport of tennis. Coupled with its inspirational storyline, Baby Steps' commitment to realism makes it one of Studio Pierrot's must-watch anime series.

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7 Kingdom Is Historically Rejuvenating

Based on the manga by Hara Yasuhisa

Kingdom is an often overlooked historical anime that is garnered towards the older seinen genre. The story follows the path of a young orphan named Xin, who is thrown into the turmoil of China's Warring States Period. With battles and bloodshed at every turn, Xin must carefully navigate his way through many battlefields on his quest to become a Great General of the Heavens.

Kingdom is one of Studio Pierrot's more unique series, as it is technically not a shonen, though it speaks to many similar themes. Additionally, Kingdom's heavy historical focus and accuracy ranks it as one of the most educational anime series, at least when it comes to learning the overarching movement of ancient Chinese history. Although the action itself is oftentimes exaggerated, it adds greater nuance to the overall story, especially with the ambiguity of history that dates back over two thousand years.

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6 Yona of the Dawn Tells a Rough Princess Story

Based on the manga by Kusanagi Mizuho

Yona of the Dawn is a popular shojo anime that mixes aspects of fantasy, adventure, and romance. It follows the redemption story of a young princess named Yona, who is left with nearly nothing following a coup. As a princess, Yona had no knowledge of or participation in the coup, but still had to bear the consequences.

Although there is much to say about imperial politics, Yona's role in the fantasy landscape of Yona of the Dawn paints a completely different side of the picture. She ventures out while developing her independence and collecting a few interesting friends along the way. Furthermore, the anime is a reverse harem, where a female protagonist is surrounded by attractive male supporting characters, instead of the opposite, which is one factor that contributes to Yona of the Dawn being one of Studio Pierrot’s more unique anime series.

WATCH ON Crunchyroll

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5 Naruto Cements Itself as the Staple Ninja Anime

Based on the manga by Kishimoto Masashi

The Naruto franchise is one of the biggest anime franchises in history, with the sequels of Naruto: Shippuden and Boruto, and a copious amount of movies and specials. The original story follows a young boy named Naruto, whose biggest dream is to become Hokage, the leader of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. However, he faces adversity and discrimination at every turn because of the demon fox spirit that is sealed inside his body.

With such a premise, Naruto as a franchise is deeply about equality, loneliness, and growth. With relatable characters and themes, despite the creativity in Naruto’s ninja universe, fans have a lot to resonate with. Naruto's story has lasted throughout the decades and continues to grow as a franchise, which cements Naruto's place as one of the "Big Three" shonen anime.

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Naruto: Shippuden

Cast

Junko Takeuchi , Kazuhiko Inoue , Noriaki Sugiyama , Chie Nakamura , Shoutarou Morikubo , Hideo Ishikawa , Nana Mizuki , Houchuu Ootsuka

Release Date

February 15, 2007

Writers

Junki Takegami , Satoru Nishizono , Yasuyuki Suzuki , Yasuaki Kurotsu , Masanao Akahoshi

Directors

Hayato Date , Masaaki Kumagai , Yasuaki Kurotsu , Osamu Kobayashi , Chiaki Kon

4 Great Teacher Onizuka Is Academically Challenging

Based on the manga by Fujisara Tooru

Great Teacher Onizuka, also called GTO for short, is a classic shonen anime that falls on the mature side of the demographic. The story follows ex-biker, Onizuka Eikichi, in his transition to a new career teaching high school students, as his eccentric classroom is a perfect vessel for mind-boggling adventures.

Onizuka's background as a gang leader gives him a perspective that is extremely juxtaposed with the rigid qualities of the Japanese education system. Although not all of Onizuka's actions are pure or even logically sound at times, his mindset in dealing with students is revolutionary to the status quo. As a character, Onizuka goes to the extreme while prompting questions as to how the student-teacher relationship should really operate, all the while creating hilarious situations that range from absurd to relieving.

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3 Hikaru no Go Has Infinite Layers

Based on the manga by Obata Takeshi and Hotta Yumi

Hikaru no Go is a shonen anime that blends the supernatural with a coming-of-age sports series. The story follows Shindou Hikaru, a young boy who discovers an old go board in his grandfather’s attic, and is subsequently haunted by an amicable ghost from the Heian Period named Fujiwara no Sai. Sai's only passion is playing go and striving towards perfecting a godly go technique.

Through inhabiting Hikaru's body, Sai acts as both a friend and mentor for Hikaru, as he slowly develops his own love for the game. Their relationship is incredibly endearing, especially with the secret that Hikaru must keep from his peers and acquaintances. Together, they battle through the sour nature of competition, but more than that, they grow as humans while sharing joy, hardship, and loss. The fact that Hikaru no Go is able to balance so many narrative factors and themes is what makes it one of the best anime produced by Studio Pierrot.

WATCH ON Hulu

2 Bleach Never Falls From the Public Eye

Based on the manga by Kubo Tite

Bleach is another member of the shonen "Big Three", and like Naruto, Studio Pierrot has brought the franchise to the forefront of modern anime media. The story follows Kurosaki Ichigo, a teenage boy who is thrown into the world of Hollows and Shinigami (soul reapers). He discovers a completely new half of the world that has previously been invisible to him, and he adventures through both the real world and Soul Society to fight the evil that threatens peace.

Although Bleach’s original anime adaptation released in 2004 was plenty popular, its long-awaited sequel series proved the timeless quality that the franchise holds. In Fall 2022, Studio Pierrot released Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, which sparked all the pent-up anticipation that Bleach fans have held for over a decade. Such a resurgence, not to mention the series' incredible quality, proves Studio Pierrot's ability to adapt shonen anime, and cements Bleach’s position in anime history.

WATCH ON Crunchyroll

Bleach

Cast

Johnny Yong Bosch , Michelle Ruff , Stephanie Sheh , Jamieson Price , Derek Stephen Prince , Wally Wingert

Seasons

16

Writers

Tite Kubo , Masashi Sogo

Directors

Noriyuki Abe , Jun'ya Koshiba

1 Yu Yu Hakusho Is a Masterpiece of All Aspects

Based on the manga by Togashi Yoshihiro

Yu Yu Hakusho is not only one of the greatest shonen anime of all time, but one of the greatest anime, period. Although Yu Yu Hakusho's mangaka, Togashi, went on to also create the popular series Hunter x Hunter, there is a lot that the demon-fighting series, Yu Yu Hakusho has to offer that Hunter x Hunter, or any other shonen series, can compare to.

Yu Yu Hakusho follows the adventures of a reformed delinquent named Urameshi Yusuke, who dies in the first episode but finds his way back to the living as he takes up a role as a spirit detective who regulates the otherworldly activities of apparitions and demons alike. The series masterfully hits the most crucial points of the story with Togashi's specialty, tournament arcs, and the series knows when to exit the narrative, creating an ending that perfectly blends nostalgia, romance, and overall closure. It is for these reasons that Yu Yu Hakusho is Studio Pierrot’s best anime.

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Yu Yu Hakusho

Created by

Yoshihiro Togashi

Cast

Nozomu Sasaki , Justin Cook , Cynthia Cranz , Christopher Sabat , Kent Williams , Shigeru Chiba , Tomomichi Nishimura , Sanae Miyuki , Takumi Kitamura , Shuhei Uesugi , Jun Shison , Kanata Hongô