5 shonen anime titles with simple meanings (& 5 that can't be easily understood)

Shonen anime titles and their meanings have always been an integral part of the anime fandom. While there have been simple names such as One Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100, there are many other names that are quite difficult to comprehend.

Although the influx of anime with increasingly convoluted names has increased in recent years, noting the actual meaning and the time needed to comprehend and make sense of them makes it possible to find out which titles are simple and which are rather difficult to understand.

Disclaimer- This article contains spoilers for the Chainsaw Man, Dandadan and Fruits Basket series.

My Hero Academia, Naruto and 3 other shonen anime titles with simple meanings

1) My Hero Academia

Shonen anime with simple titles: My Hero Academia (Image via Studio Bones)

My Hero Academia is inarguably one of the most popular shonen series to come out in the last decade. While the actual series deviates away from the hero academy towards the middle part of the story, the entire story is based on the journey of the main cast growing and learning about heroes and how to be heroes, thus getting its name My Hero Academia.

2) Naruto

Shonen anime with simple titles: Naruto (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Early shonen anime coming out during the 2000s did not follow any bizarre naming conventions that are common today. The Naruto series is one of those simpler series that follow the story and journey of a singular character, Naruto. While many fans might argue that this shonen anime also explores many side characters, it should be noted that those expositions eventually make their way into Naruto's character arc.

3) One Piece

Luffy as shown in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)

One Piece is one of the longest-running shonen anime series, with a serialization period spanning over two entire decades. Much like the other older-generation shonen anime, it also follows a simple naming convention.

The entire story of One Piece revolves around pirates evading the navy and world government to find the legendary treasure known as "One Piece." Specifications like the nature of the One Piece or whether it is information or an actual object are still unknown, but the reveal of One Piece is the biggest mystery that is yet to be solved in the series.

4) Chainsaw Man

Shonen anime with simple titles: Chainsaw Man (Image via MAPPA)

Tatsuki Fujimoto has made a reputation for being one of the most innovative and unhinged authors in shonen. While his works certainly take a more nuanced and detailed approach towards character building and exploration, the naming convention stays rather straightforward. Chainsaw Man simply follows the story of Denji, who can turn into a chainsaw devil hybrid.

5) Dragon Ball

Goku as shown in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Dragon Ball is inarguably the oldest shonen anime to have maintained its relevancy to this date. This series has established a reputation for being very fight-focused and solving every problem by simply pushing past your limits. The naming convention also maintains simplicity.

The Dragon Ball title simply refers to the "Dragon Balls", which essentially serve the function of summoning a wish-granting dragon. While many might think the story doesn't even focus on the dragon balls, it should be noted that every single major event in the story is directly or indirectly influenced and tied to dragon balls.

Bleach, Dandadan and 3 other anime with titles that can't be easily understood

1) Bleach

Ichigo as shown in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Bleach was one of the original Big Three anime to come out alongside the likes of Naruto and One Piece during the early 2000s. While its popularity has had its highs and lows, many fans still ponder the actual reasoning behind the title "Bleach."

The Bleach series was initially named "Black" by Tite Kubo to pay homage to the shinigami outfits and their close association with the color black and the gods of death. The title "Black" was eventually deemed too simple and was later changed to "Bleach."

While the exact reasoning behind the choice of the word "Bleach" remains unknown, it is theorized that it was done to signify the main theme of the story, which is based around "purifying souls," with bleaching being a form of purification.

2) Dandadan

Okarun as shown in the anime (Image via Science Saru)

Dandadan is inarguably one of the most unique and refreshing shonen series to come out in recent years. While the series has already explored numerous ideas throughout its 163 chapters, the actual word "Dandadan" was only introduced in chapter 163, the latest chapter of the manga.

While the exact specifications of Dandadan are yet unknown, chapter 163 made it clear that it is an object related to the occult that holds considerable power or significance.

3) Fruits Basket

Tohru as shown in the anime (Image via Studio Deen)

Fruits Basket is one of the older generation of romance anime which shares its place alongside animes like "Maid Sama!" The title of this anime refers to the Japanese game of Fruit Basket, from which Tohru was deliberately excluded during her childhood by her peers.

While this was one of Tohru's earliest memories, Kyo's situation with him being a cat and thus being excluded from the twelve zodiacs embodying the Sohma clan mirrors Tohru's lonely situation. The similarities between Tohru and Kyo eventually paved the way for their bond, which ended up being the conclusion of the story.

4) March Comes in Like a Lion

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March Comes in Like a Lion is a rather lesser-known anime that was animated by Studio Shaft and still serves as one of the more impactful slice-of-life coming-of-age stories.

The actual title of the series is a reference to the saying "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb," signifying the presence of both winter and spring during March. It essentially acts as a metaphor to signify how life has both its upsides and downsides, especially focusing on Rei Kiriyama, the protagonist's life.

5) Darker than Black

Hei as shown in the anime (Image via Studio Bones)

Darker than Black is often seen as one of the anime that came out during the late 2000s and focused heavily on violence and delivering a grimdark story. The title and reasoning behind the name can be attributed to the fact that the events in the series eventually lead to the disappearance of the normal sky, which is replaced by a sky darker than a normal night.

This also relates to the overall tone of the world being even darker than the typical grimdark world, thus earning the name "Darker than Black." The title might also be a reference to the protagonist, whose name "Hei" can be translated to "Black." While he himself is very jaded and unhinged, the world around him is somehow more unhinged and darker than he is, hence "Darker than Black."

Final Thoughts

While the names of different anime series have become increasingly complex every year, it should be noted that almost every current shonen anime title references a phenomenon or the overall theme of the story.

Understanding the actual title often requires experiencing the entire series. This trend is more prevalent now, as simple names such as Naruto and One Piece are becoming scarce, and titles such as Kagurabachi and Dandadan are becoming more common.