A Guide to Manga and Anime Genres

Manga and anime are becoming increasingly popular. It’s hard to find anyone today who hasn't heard of some of the most popular titles – Pokémon, Naruto, Bleach, or perhaps One Piece.

However, you might have come across some unfamiliar terms when exploring manga and its genres. You surely have a clear idea of what adventure or comedy genres entail. But you might be curious about what lies behind terms like Shoujo, Shounen, or perhaps Ecchi. We’ve put together a quick summary of the most popular manga genres and subgenres. If you wanted to learn about every single one, you’d be reading for a week.

In this breakdown, we will focus primarily on manga, but the same classification applies to anime. We’ve chosen typical or famous titles for each genre. However, few manga fall into just one genre; even though Naruto is used as a representative of action manga, it also belongs to adventure and fantasy, with a focus on martial arts.

Action and Adventure

Action anime relies on a dynamic story, character conflicts, and resolving disputes with fists, magic, or weapons. Although the plot doesn't necessarily have to be one fight after another, and there can be long intervals between them, action is an integral part of the story. The most famous action manga in our country is undoubtedly Naruto (―ナルト―).

Not every adventure manga has to be action-packed, but the genres are still very closely related. Adventure stories are characterized by traveling, long expeditions, exploring unknown areas, and epic quests. Conflicts arising from encountering the unknown often result in action. Among the most famous adventure manga are One Piece or Hunter x Hunter.

A popular subgenre of action is martial arts manga. This genre focuses even more on combat, fighting styles, specific techniques, and tournaments. Some of the most famous titles include Dragon Ball (ドラゴンボール) or History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi (Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi, 史上最強の弟子ケンイチ).

Another action subgenre is military manga, which deals primarily with a military setting, and the main characters are usually soldiers. This includes, for example, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch, コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ) or All You Need Is Kill, which served as the basis for the film Edge of Tomorrow.

Mecha is a special genre characterized by the presence of robots. Since these are often combat mechs, it is very close not only to action but also to military and sci-fi. However, there are also mecha manga that are romantic and comedic. Typical representatives include Neon Genesis Evangelion (Shinseiki Evangelion, 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン) or Fullmetal Panic! (フルメタル・パニック!).

Comedy

Humor, absurd situations, and witty dialogue are essential ingredients of comedy manga. The main goal is to lighten the mood, relax the atmosphere, and make the reader laugh. Comedy is easily combined with other genres, creating sharp contrasts – action, romantic, or spy comedies are popular. Typical representatives include One-Punch Man (ワンパンマン) or Spy x Family.

Drama

Dramatic manga follows the fates of characters who must deal with difficult life situations. This genre typically focuses on the emotions of individual characters and emphasizes the feelings they experience throughout the story. The tension stems primarily from how they manage to overcome difficulties and cope with challenging situations. Examples of such manga are I Had That Same Dream Again (Mata, Onaji Yume wo Miteita, また、同じ夢を見ていた) or Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師).

Ecchi

The label Ecchi belongs to manga that features adult themes. It contains suggestive to erotic undertones, sparks between protagonists, and all of this is underscored by provocative remarks and double entendres. It is often paired with the romance genre or the harem theme. Ecchi is still just suggestive and is not an explicitly pornographic genre like Hentai. Typical Ecchi titles include Rent-a-Girlfriend (Kanojo, Okarishimasu, 彼女、お借りします) or The Familiar of Zero (Zero no Tsukaima, ゼロの使い魔).

Slice of Life

Manga that falls into the Slice of Life genre is often a hard nut to crack for many people. It is mainly about everyday life events – going to school, work, holidays with grandparents, and other events that everyone has surely experienced. There is no world-threatening danger, the main characters don't go through terrifying dramas, and if a problem appears in their path, it is an easily surmountable obstacle. It’s simply a “feel-good” genre that you read to unwind. Typical representatives are Azumanga Daioh (あずまんが大王) or My Dress-Up Darling (Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru, その着せ替え人形〈ビスク・ドール〉は恋をする).

Fantasy

Fantastic manga is characterized by magic, unnatural monsters, and other elements that cannot be scientifically explained. Whether the story takes place on Earth or in another world, these elements are part of everyday life. Among the most popular manga in a fantasy setting are definitely Berserk, (ベルセルク) or Bleach.

Most Isekai stories, in which protagonists find themselves trapped in an unknown world and must deal with its rules, also fall under fantasy. Typical representatives are That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken, 転生したらスライムだった件), or No Game No Life (ノーゲーム・ノーライフ).

Among the popular subgenres is magical manga, where magical abilities play a major role, and the cherry on top is Magical Girls – protagonists are young girls who wield magic, often using an alter ego they transform into. The most famous representative is the now-legendary Sailor Moon (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, 美少女戦士セーラームーン).

Supernatural is a genre that closely touches upon fantasy. Here, too, there are inexplicable events and mysterious monsters, and mythology and mysticism often enter the story. Unlike fantasy, however, the events are not publicly known or accepted, and the protagonists are often alone in solving them because those around them are skeptical about the existence of supernatural events. This includes, for example, Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦).

Horror

Horror manga aims to evoke a feeling of fear in its readers or shock them with its content. A horror story is usually full of oppressive atmosphere and terrifying situations. The protagonists are in mortal danger or risk their sanity throughout the story. Among the most famous representatives are Tomie (富江) and Uzumaki (うずまき), created by Junji Ito, or perhaps Elfen Lied (エルフェンリート).

Psychological and Mystery

The psychological genre highlights the thinking of the protagonists and psychological themes. It is typical for heroes and enemies to measure their mental abilities instead of comparing muscle size. A typical representative of psychological manga is Death Note.

Mystery manga revolves around a mysterious place or a mysterious event. The heroes try to gather enough information to explain the mystery. Besides the psychological genre, mystery manga pairs very well with crime and detective subgenres. Among the most popular titles are The Promised Neverland (Yakusoku no Neverland, 約束のネバーランド) or Tower of God (신의 탑).

Romance

Manga of this genre, unsurprisingly, focuses on a romantic plot, a love story, and follows the relationships between characters and the situations that arise from them. The vast majority of romantic stories have a happy ending. Popular romantic manga include Your Name. (Kimi no Na wa., 君の名は。) or Orange.

Historical

Such manga is set in a specific historical period and an environment that strongly influences its plot. This includes historical fiction, which tells the story of the protagonists against the backdrop of real events, as well as alternate history, which differs in key facts or events that help shape the story. Typical representatives are, for example, Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba, 鬼滅の刃) or Spice & Wolf (Ookami to Koushinryou, 狼と香辛料).

For Children

Picture comics are by no means just for children (even if some mean-spirited people still claim so). Of course, among manga comics, there are those created specifically for children. Fun and lighthearted stories are often the most popular titles of all, and this includes, for example, Pokémon and Digimon.

Sci-Fi

Advances in science and technology that we can only dream of for now. Science fiction manga brings a view of a future world changed by a technological leap. The fates of the protagonists and the story itself are often strongly influenced by aspects of this progress. Sci-fi often overlaps with the mecha and cyberpunk genres. Among the most famous science fiction manga are Cowboy Bebop (カウボーイビバップ), Battle Angel Alita (銃夢 GUNNM) or Ghost in the Shell (Koukaku Kidoutai: The Ghost in the Shell, 攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL).

Other Popular Genres

Our list is far from complete, and as you explore further, you will come across many other popular genres.

Game manga focuses on games of all kinds – these can be PC games, board games, card games, or puzzles, and typical representatives are Sword Art Online (ソードアート・オンライン) or Yu-Gi-Oh! (遊☆戯☆王).

Post-apocalyptic manga deals with a plot that follows humanity and the protagonists after a huge catastrophe, as is the case with Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin, 進撃の巨人).

Sports manga follows the story of a hero who delves into the secrets of a sport, allowing the reader to learn about the sport as well and gradually become a (theoretical) expert. This includes, for example, Haikyuu!! (ハイキュー!!) or Slam Dunk.

School is one of the most popular settings, and school manga, which follows the fates of students and teachers, regularly attracts a huge number of readers. This includes, for example, My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia, 僕のヒーローアカデミア) or Assassination Classroom (Ansatsu Kyoushitsu, 暗殺教室).

Classification by Audience

Manga and anime are also divided by the audience they are primarily intended for. However, nothing stops you from picking up a manga for children and relaxing with it just as you would watching a fairy tale. What are the individual types called and who are they best suited for?

• Shounen: for boys and young men aged 12-18.
• Kodomo: for young children under 8.
• Seinen: for young adult male audiences and adult men aged 18-40.
• Shoujo: for young girls aged 8-18.
• Josei: for young adult female audiences and adult women aged 18-40.
• Seijin/Ero: manga with adult themes for men.
• Redisu/Lady’s: manga for adult girls and women.
• Dōjinshi: manga published by amateurs, self-published.
• Gekiga: manga focused on serious themes, intended for adult readers.
• Silver & Golden: manga for older readers.

Conclusion

If you managed to read this far, congratulations – you now have a basic insight into how manga is classified. If you’re interested, you can start further study. Why is it all so complicated? Labeling with a bunch of tags and categorizing manga into main genres, subgenres, themes, and demographics will help you orient yourself better and make choosing easier over time. Did you like the last manga that combined action and romance, but you don't like the school setting? How about trying the same combination in a military setting?

Now you know everything you need to get started, and you can begin reading – just choose the right manga.

author Michal Dlouhý