July is more than hot weather and Fourth of July fireworks. It’s also Anime Month! That makes now the best time possible to take a deep dive into the different anime genres and subgenres that exist. There are likely more anime genres and subgenres out there than you realized. And you can find content across all anime genres and subgenres on Hoopla—free with a library card! 

Kodomomuke 

Anime and manga that fall under the Kodomomuke category are generally geared toward children, and most of the plots focus on adventure, humor, and family. A few Kodomomuke titles available on Hoopla include: 

Beyblade Burst – Season 1 

In Beyblade Burst Season 1, Valt and his childhood best friend Shu are doing everything they can to make it to and win the Beyblade national championship. Along the way, he makes more friends that aid him in his quest to become the best Blader in the world.

Digimon Adventure – Seasons 1 & 2 

Digimon Adventure While at camp, Tai, Matt, Sora, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, and T.K. come across seven Digivices and are transported to a strange Digital World where they make friends with creatures called Digimon who claim to be their chosen partners. The digital adventure continues as three new DigiDestined (Davis, Yolei, and Cody), receive their digivices.

  

Pokémon (BingePass) 

The story of Pokémon involves Ash Ketchum and his pals Brock and Misty as they embark on a quest to catch all 150 of them. Hoopla’s Pokémon BingePass gives you access to seasons 6-13 of Pokémon the Series with one borrow, giving you seven days of unlimited watching!    

Shonen/Shounen 

Manga and anime titles that fall into the shounen category generally entail stories that are geared toward adolescent boys. These titles generally entail lots of action, adventure, and drama. There are also examples of shounen anime and manga that include sci-fi, supernatural, and horror themes. Some shonen titles available on Hoopla include: 

Inuyasha Movies 1-4 

In the first movie, it’s up to Inuyasha and his friends to prevent Menomaru from obtaining a Shikon Jewel shard that would enable him to absorb the remains of his father’s power. Inuyasha’s determined to stop him because, if he’s successful in his quest, Menomaru could gain power to control the whole world. 

Inuyasha’s adventures continue from there in the next three movies!  

Dragon Ball GT

In Dragon Ball GT, The Dragon Balls have been scattered to the ends of creation, and if Goku, Pan, and Trunks can’t gather them in a year’s time, Earth will meet with final catastrophe. The countdown to oblivion has begun.

    

One Piece, Seasons 1-8 

In One Piece, Monkey D. Luffy refuses to let anyone or anything stand in the way of his quest to become king of all pirates. With a course charted for the treacherous waters of the Grand Line, this is one captain who’ll never drop anchor until he’s claimed the greatest treasure on Earth—the Legendary One Piece!

Shojo/Shoujo 

Shoujo anime and manga titles are usually based on romantic stories, as they’re generally aimed toward adolescent girls. Along with romance and drama, shoujo titles can also contain fantasy, comedy, and slice-of-life themes. A few shoujo titles available on Hoopla include: 

Sailor Moon: The Movie (R, S, and SuperS) 

The Sailor Moon saga follows a trio of teenage girls as they keep the planet safe from a litany of supernatural entities. You can stream each of the Sailor Moon movies right here on Hoopla!      

Bibliophile Princess S1 – Read and Watch! 

Bibliophile Princess Season 1 follows the story of Lady Eliana Bernstein, a girl from a modest family who loves to read. Once she gets married, all seems to be going well…or does it? Watch the anime on Hoopla to find out!    

Read the light novel

Josei 

Anime and manga that focus on adult women characters fall under the josei category. Themes tend to focus on romance and drama while remaining somewhat rooted in reality. A couple of popular manga titles within the Josei category include: 

Chihayafuru 

In Chihayafuru, a girl named Chihaya, who generally spends her time supporting her sister’s modeling career, befriends a boy named Arata. He’s a talented karuta player, and after befriending him, Chihaya believes she can become a great player, too.       

Princess Jellyfish 

Princess Jellyfish follows the story of Tsukimi, a young jellyfish-obsessed woman who navigates life in her all-women apartment building. Her generally stress-free existence is disturbed upon an encounter with the son of a wealthy politician.      

Seinen 

Seinen titles are often geared toward adult men, focusing on themes like violence, horror, and more. Keep in mind that these titles can often be graphic in comparison to other genres. Examples include: 

Berserk 

The story of Berserk follows a Black swordsman named Guts. This feared warrior and his nuisance companion Puck the Elf are forced to make their way down a violent path that offers only two conclusions: death or vengeance. 

Ghost in the Shell 

In Ghost in the Shell, it’s the year 2029, and the world is now interconnected by an inescapable electronic network. That same network serves as a battlefield for Tokyo’s Section Nine security force, which results in a massive investigation that results in victims who have been robbed of their memories. 

You can also check out the live-action 2017 adaptation starring Scarlett Johansson!       

Isekai 

Isekai titles usually involve themes like reincarnation. In these manga and anime, the protagonist is taken to another world in a new form. Some examples of Isekai include: 

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime 

In That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, a middle-aged Tokyo salaried worker passes away surrounded by mundane responsibilities, but wakes up in a world surrounded by dragons and magic. Even worse is the fact that he’s become a blind, boneless slime monster.  

The Rising of the Shield Hero 

The Rising of the Shield Hero saga introduces readers to Naofumi, your everyday otaku who usually spends free time reading manga and playing video games. But one day he’s summoned to a parallel universe where he discovers that he’s one of four heroes armed with legendary weaponry for saving the world from destruction.       

Ya Boy Kongming!, Season 1

Ya Boy Kongming takes viewers on a journey that sees an ancient strategist named Kongming go from ancient China to modern-day Japan. He uses military expertise to transform his friend Eiko into a famous musician, as they plan to take the city of Shibuya by storm.  

Magic Knight Rayearth (Available via RetroCrush BingePass) 

In this anime that’s acknowledge as an isekai, before isekai was widely considered a genre Magic Knight Rayearth, begins with three girls on a school field trip to the Tokyo Tower, daydreaming of a world of magic and wonder. That is until they hear the cries of Princess Emeraude, which leads to them learning how to hone their magical prowess. Borrowing the RetroCrush BingePass gives you seven days of unlimited access to the platform. To Begin streaming, search Magic Knight Rayearth and press play!       

Begin Exploring Anime Genres and Subgenres on Hoopla Today!  

If you’ve been on the search for a new manga or anime to dive into, hopefully this guide gives you a good foundation for getting started. And the best part is that you can stream or read these titles directly from your browser or the smart device of your choice. All you need is a library card and a Hoopla account. Happy Anime Month! 

*Title may vary by library