The best shonen manga with non-Japanese protagonists

Key takeaways

• Japanese mangaka are diversifying their settings with non-Japanese protagonists to appeal to a global audience.
• Series such as Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Spy X Family feature multicultural characters and settings.
• Dragon Ball and One Piece add depth to characters with international influences to their origins.

It should come as no surprise to Japanese people that Japanese companies produced in Japan tend to be set in Japan and feature Japanese main characters. Even though it takes place in a fictional setting, there will be at least some familiar elements to take home audiences (Storm Polymer Takes place in “Amehon” – the combination of America and Japan in one country, as the capital of “Washinkyo”).

Still, mangaka these days have access to more sources of inspiration, and this has helped them have more influence over their settings and world-building. It worked out well for them, as some of the biggest names in shonen manga have non-Japanese protagonists. They may have helped them catch on around the world, though, as they show that going abroad can still attract a home audience if it's still a good read.

1 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

MyAnimeList Score: 7.29 (Part 1), 8.14 (Part 2), 8.18 (Part 5), 8.24 (Part 6)

• Producer: Hirohiko Araki.
• Part 1: 5 volumes, 44 chapters.
• Part 2: 7 Volumes, 69 Chapters.
• Part 5: 17 volumes, 155 chapters.
• Part 6: 17 volumes, 158 chapters.
• Available through Viz Media.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure This is one of the most famous examples like the first one Shonen Jump The series will officially have a non-Asian protagonist in Jonathan Joestar Part 1: Phantom Blood. However, his gentlemanly demeanor did not excite readers the way his grandson Joseph did when he took over. Part 2: War Instincts. Then neither reached the height of popularity, the half-Japanese hero Jotaro entered. Part 3: Stardust Crusaders.

until the time jojo through returned to entirely non-Japanese leadership Part 7: Steel Ball RunThe Johnny Joestar series became a sinen strip. But that international touch never left, as Giorno's hero Part 5: Vento AureoHalf-Japanese, but all-Italian in his upbringing. while from Jolin Part 6: Stone Ocean She has ambiguous heritage because she could be American with only ¼ Japanese or practically fully Japanese. This is up in the air because her mother has not received any development beyond being Jolene's mother.

2 Trigun and Trigun Max

MyAnimeList Score: 7.72 (Trigun), 8.27 (Max)

• Producer: Yasuhiro Naito.
• 3 volumes, 22 chapters (trigun14 volumes, 102 chapters (max)
• Available through Dark Horse Comics.

Space Westerns were a popular genre with anime fans back in the day. Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Starand trigun Appearing on Toonami kept the audience engaged. But here Bebop The anime was just that, and the star Started as a seinen strip, that leaves trigun As the only one that started as a shonen manga. A “humanoid typhoon,” capable of destroying cities on its own while trying to live a pacifist life, appears to be another white boy hero. But looks can be deceiving.

He is actually a sentient plant creature, hence the “human” part. Thanks to a bout of regressive amnesia, it took him a while to remember that part of his past, as well as to stop his twin brother's own, more malicious intentions. The series took a while to catch on, viz trigun's run was cut short, and had to switch publishers to keep it going Trigun maxBut later became a cult classic in print and screen.

3 The Promised Neverland

MyAnimeList Score: 8.15

• Creators: Kaiu Shirai (story), Posuka Demizu (art).
• 20 volumes, 181 chapters.
• Available through Viz Media and MANGA Plus.

The Promised Neverland It kept its pace better in its original manga form than in its anime form. The story of a spunky group of orphans who discover they are being raised as meat for ghosts made for tense reading. Especially when they had to leave everything they knew, including their so-called mama, and try to survive on their own in the forest to save the other orphans.

It also went beyond the shores of Japan, as the cast is a multicultural group with Western names, such as the cheerfully optimistic Emma, ​​the genius Norman and the cynical Ray. Still, it's not just a mix of whites and Asians. of many NeverlandThe heroes and villains come from different backgrounds, such as the rowdy but loving Don, and the scheming Crone.

4 The black butler

MyAnimeList Score: 8.41

• Producer: Yana Toboso.
• 34+ volumes, 213+ chapters.
• Available through Yen Press.

One of the reasons why European settings often appear in manga and anime is that many early anime series and movies were inspired by European fairy tales and novels, either directly or indirectly (usually through Disney movies). Hayao Miyazaki was one of many animators who got his start in the industry by adapting stories Heidi, Girl of the Alpson TV screens. Studio Ghibli continued the favorite trend Arriety and Tales from Earthsea. but, The black butler took various effects.

Cursed child prodigy Ciel and his demon butler Sebastian along with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson has a touch, especially in the Victorian London setting. But Sebastian's deal with Ciel, where he will eat his soul the moment he avenges his family's killer, is more Faustian, as they investigate the trail of various mysterious criminals, ranging from gothic horror horrors to some Lovecraftian ones.

5 Dragon Ball

MyAnimeList Score: 8.43

• Producer: Akira Toriyama.
• 42 volumes, 520 chapters.
• Available through Viz Media.

Of course everyone knows Goku Dragon Ball Not Japanese. He is a saiyan! Whatever is born and brought up on earth. He considers himself more Earthling than anyone on Planet Vegeta. But is he from the Japan version? Not quite. Although his Japanese voice has a thick Tohoku Country accent, Son Goku has more Chinese links than Japanese. Like the Japanese pronunciation of “Son Goku” is “Sun Wukong” the almighty monkey. Journey to the West.

Then, his childhood home on Mount Paoju is based on Wukong's home on the mountain of fruits and flowers, which is probably Mount Huaguo in Lianyungang. Many of his friends are also based on figures from Chinese folklore, such as Tien (Erlang Shen), Chiaotzu (Nezha), and Oolong (Zhu Baji). DB's world is a mishmash of different cultures and characters, but if Goku were to come from anywhere, it would probably be China.

6 Detective X Family

MyAnimeList Score: 8.50

• Producer: Tatsuya Endo.
• 14+ volumes, 107+ chapters.
• Available through Viz Media and MANGA Plus.

Detective X Family Sinks into the Teutonic region, placing its rival nations Westalis and Ostania directly in West Germany and East Germany. Like the split halves before, the nations are at the center of the Cold War, where Vestalist agent “Twilight” spies on Austanian political figure Desmond Donovan. To keep tabs on him, he sets up a cover identity as family man Lloyd Forger with his wife Yore and adopted daughter Anya.

Unbeknownst to her, Yore is a notorious assassin known as the “Thorn Princess”, who is also using a fake marriage to get closer to her target. Except he doesn't know that Lloyd is a spy and that Anya isn't his daughter by blood. Only Anya knows the full story, as her telepathic abilities allow her to read the mind of her “parent”. Put together, they make possibly the weirdest West German-ish family in fictional East Germany.

7 Attack on Titan

MyAnimeList Score: 8.55

• Producer: Hajime Isayama.
• 34 volumes, 141 chapters.
• Available through Kodansha Comics USA.

like The black butler and Detective X Family, Attack on Titan Its setting has a vaguely European theme, with Germanic Aldians and, to a lesser extent, Greek Marlenes. But their background gets some significant spice through their first names, as Mikasa has Japanese features, including her name. But he's also an Ackerman, maintaining the German connection he has with the other characters.

As for his premise, one would think that the protagonist Eren Yeager has some Turkish roots, since his first name is based on the Turkish word for “saint”. But, since the name was chosen as a reference to Aldean spy, Eren Krueger, this is sadly impossible. If AoTThe world still has a connection to the real, he is likely of German roots, perhaps with a bit of Russian through his father, as his name “Grisha” is Russian for “Gregory”.

MyAnimeList Score: 9.04

• Producer: Hiromu Arakawa.
• 27 volumes, 116 chapters.
• Available through Viz Media.

like Attack on TitanFans have noted a rather Teutonic tone in the Fullmetal Alchemist series, More so in the 2003 anime than in the manga though. Since Studio Bones had the license to create an original ending while the manga was in progress, writer Sho Aikawa (who Urotsukidoji and Angel Police Infamy) saw Edward Elric end up in pre-war Germany and saw a certain man with a mustache in its tie-in movie, Conqueror of Shamballa.

The manga generally bases its fictional world of Amestris in late 19th-century Europe, where the British and French are here and there to go along with the Germans. The same goes for its characters, while there are many diverse examples (see the Middle Eastern-ish Ishvalans and the Chinese-based Xingeses), many of the main characters are basically white people, including the Elric brothers.

9 a piece

MyAnimeList Score: 9.22

• Producer: Eiichiro Oda.
• 110+ volumes, 1,131+ chapters.
• Available through Viz Media.

Of all the critical acclaim received, the strongest reviews of live-action a piece It comes from series creator Eiichiro Oda himself, who was particularly impressed with Iñaki Godoy's performance as Luffy. He gave him his own straw hat and said, “I'm glad you were born to be Luffy.” Considering how few live-action adaptations live up to their content, that's perhaps the highest compliment.

While a piece Taking place in a fantasy world, Oda had always portrayed Luffy as a Latino character, citing Brazil as the closest comparison to his land of origin. This was in response to a question posed via his SBS bulletins, which came out with every chapter or so. In addition to Luffy, Oda added that Nami is Swedish, Nico Robin is Russian, Sanji is French, Brook is Austrian, Frankie is American, Chopper is Canadian, Usopp is African (he doesn't specify where in Africa he is), and Zoro will be the lone Japanese member. of straw hats.