Many shonen anime revolve around the unique powers that characters possess. Here are some of the best ways these shows have portrayed such power.
In shonen anime involving supernatural abilities, there are usually clashes among characters, which are spearheaded by a number of different motivations. Most of these anime revolve around a unique fantasy world or universe with various fantasy-based factors, ranging from unrealistic fighting methods to power systems like magic.
Power systems are usually universal factors most characters within a given universe can utilize for many reasons. These systems are usually harnessed to increase battle strength and skill. From One Piece’s Haki to Jujutsu Kaisen’s Cursed Energy, there are multiple power systems amidst the shonen genre. Among these, though, which are the best and most interesting?
Updated November 15, by Emedo Destiny: It might be a fair assessment to say that power systems in anime are just confirmations of the limitlessness of human imagination. Like how the plot, characters and setting are essential to any piece of literature, so also is how a power system is critical to any shounen and action anime. For some, the systems are detachable from the characterization and not all-encompassing over the story. However, some others are foundational to their stories, tied into the fabric of the characters and the world that encapsulates the story, making them indispensable. This is essentially an update of the best power systems in Shonen anime. 25 Abilities
Bungo Stray Dogs is a series created and written by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa. It is set in a world where supernatural abilities are the norm. However, these abilities have a unique tweak because the series’ ability system is based on real-life literary works and references.
Even more unusual, the characters are named after the authors of the literary work or reference they use. While the system seems relatively simple on the surface, each ability has its complex mechanisms, which typically are only known by its users, giving the series a relatively varied appeal. 24 Kagune
The famous 2010s series Tokyo Ghoul, written and illustrated by Sui Ishida, is set in a gory world where man-eating ghouls are at war with humans. Both sides reach a nexus point where an unlikely encounter creates a half-human, half-ghoul.
The series’ power system is based on a particular body part created by the ghouls, called a kagune, which functions as their weapon. Interestingly, the kagune works as a weapon for both opposing forces, as the organization created to exterminate the ghouls, the CCG, also uses these Kagune to develop weapons that only kill ghouls, called qinques. The system’s best features are its simplicity in appearance and operating mechanisms, besides its being a biologically cohesive power system. 23 Tao
Many things are good about Hell’s Paradise as an anime, and one of those good things is the power system in place, which is called Tao. In the series, Tao is essentially the life force energy in all organisms, which can be manipulated or manifested by those who master it.
Tao hinges majorly on a concept called Yin-Yang, which is when a person’s spirit is balanced by following a process called the Middle Way. The selling point of the series power system is its simplicity of understanding, which makes it very effective once mastered. 22 Psychokinesis
Mob Psycho 100’s world-building does enough of a job to show just how good the power system in the series is. Moreover, both in the series are intertwined with one another as psychokinesis, which is the power system used in the series, is a by-product of the nature of the characters.
In the series, humans are primarily espers, who, at the least, are capable of psychokinesis and can see spirits. The level of a person’s psychokinesis is determined by their innate level as an esper. An example is Shigeo Kageyama, who is the series’ most powerful esper. The best part of the system is how it highlights the characters’ creative imagination in using their power. 21 Kaiju
Matsumoto Naoya wrote and illustrated the apocalyptic monster action series Kaiju No.8, which features a world trying to prevent its extermination at the hands of dangerous monsters called Kaijus. The series’ power system hinges wholly on the kaiju, which can be made into weapons according to their power levels.
For Kaijus, their power levels are determined by a measurement process called a Fortitude level, which is then responsible for their classification as either a Yoju, the weakest of the species, or an Identified Kaiju, the strongest of the species. Therefore, a specialized Kaiju weapon can only be as strong as the type of Kiaju it is made from, which makes the system rather simplistic but creative. 20 Energy
is a series created by Yoshihiro Togashi, the author of Hunter X Hunter—another series with a well-thought-out power system.
