There was once a time whenShōnen Jumpseries would go on for ages. FromDragon BalltoNaruto, the list of long-running series goes on and on. However, dueto the latest cancelation ofUndead Unlock, the fandom is beginning to think Japanese publications likeShōnen Jumpcan no longer produce a long-running series. Series such asOne Pieceblew past 300 chapters with ease, leaving them to go on and become top franchises within the industry. Now, readers are worriedthe magazine is prematurely dumping seriesbefore they can develop into something we’d call a classic some decades from now.
Rather than letting a series flourish as it once did, manga’s top magazine appears to be following a method adopted by Netflix. You know, the one that says if a property doesn’t catch on fast enough, it should be immediately dropped in favor of the next big thing. If this is the case, it appears readers won’t be getting another long-form series likeNarutoin a long, long time. Though there are benefits to this business model, there’s no denying it also comes with drawbacks.
20 Shonen Jump Manga You Need To Be Reading in 2024
It can be difficult to decide which manga from Shonen Jump’s large catalog are worth investing time into, but these are the ten best to read in 2024.
The Benefits of Shōnen Jump Canceling Manga Early
Quick Turnover Provides Focused Stories and Fresh Voices For Readers
Admittedly, there isone good thing about short-lived manga. As a whole, these kinds of series are easy to get into as far as the plot is concerned. Many manga likeNarutoandOne Pieceare impossible to read casually due to their length. Some of these long-running manga can span decades, so much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, new fans have a high barrier of entry. One of the biggest complaints aboutOne Piece,despite it being celebrated as one of the greatest tales in manga, is its chapter count which is well beyond 1,000 now.Shōnen Jumpcould be looking to step away from this lengthy model in exchange for quicker pick-up and readability.
In addition, a shorter story should give way to a more focused story. Oftentimes, long-running manga can meander and even lose track of its main objective to detour towards something else. When you are aiming for a smaller story, writers and publishers are less inclined to dilly-dally as they’re racing towards a set shelf life. This kind of pace doesn’t allow for breadth as a whole, but when done right, short manga titles are a fun one-and-one adventure.
Right now,Shōnen Jumphas 23 titles in circulation, and each of these entries provides an opportunity for a new manga artist to make their mark. Although several artists like Yoshiro Togashi and Eiichiro Oda have spent their careers churning out chapters for this one magazine, they’re veteran in the game. They are used to a long haul, but that isn’t the case for younger artists looking to make their break. Short projects allowShōnen Jumpto welcome a slew of artists to its magazine, giving more creators than ever before a turn in the spotlight.
There Are Consequences to Shōnen Jump Canceling Manga Too Early
From Rushed Finales to Incomplete Endings, We’ve Seen It All
Listen to this:Over 50 manga were canceled byJumpbetween 2018 and 2023. A handful of favorites likeGreen Green GreensandCipher Academy,were cut down in their prime as well in 2024. And now, less than a month into 2025, another fan-favorite series is biting the dust withUndead Unluck. AlthoughShōnen Jumpis no stranger to canceling manga, it feels more cutthroat now than it has in the last seven years.
Some ofShōnen Jump’smodern hits,Jujutsu KaisenandMy Hero Academia,were even accused of rushing their finales despite their financial success. More than once,Shōnen Jumphas ushered a series into its final arc only for the manga’s plot points to be skipped and have its main objective thrust ahead. To make things worse, readers rarely get advance warning when a series is ending; Most projects are lucky to get a week’s notice let alone a month. This lack of transparency is a big reason readers have trouble getting invested in new manga.
As Netflix users will attest, it’s scary to get attached to a new series when there’s a solid chance it’ll be canceled mid-run or end without warning. If readers aren’t willing to invest,even more manga end up being canceled, and the vicious cycle continues. Conversely, if there are too many titles on the table, readers can detach from the overload. The less time a manga has to find its audience, the less time it has to leave an impact. So ifShōnen Jumpcontinues to follow Netflix’s business model, it could cause more harm than good.
Shōnen Jump Canceling Manga Early Does More Harm Than Good
It’s Not Worth Toying With Our Emotions To Find A Diamond In The Rough
Shōnen Jumpcould find itself in a rough position onceOne Piecefinally ends. The manga stands as the last of the magazine’s fabled Big 3, a trio of titles so big that they defined the industry for decades. Crafting a new set of flagship titles is admittedly difficult givenShōnen Jump’snew business model. Given how quickly manga are being canceled, the best chance titles have at success comes in anime. The faster an anime adaptation is ordered, the better visibility a manga gets atShōnen Jump. Current hits likeDandadanandSakamoto Daysgarnered popularity this way, so it’s easy to see this model of success.
While short stories are fun to read, the long-term health ofShōnen Jumpmust consider the future. It’s hard to spin short, contained stories into widespread franchises as was done withNaruto. IfShōnen Jumpcontinues to cancel and rush manga,instead of creating the next Naruto, it’ll end up going under.
Shonen Jump
Shonen Jumpis one of Japan’s most successful manga anthology franchises, published by Shueisha. Launched in 1968, it is the source of some of the most beloved and popular anime and manga series, such asOne Piece,Dragon Ball, andNaruto. The franchise has extended into multiple adaptations across various media, including anime, films, video games, and merchandise.
