Why Gen Z loves Gojo more than Goku: The new face of Shonen Anime

The era of raw power in the 1980s, Dragon Ball’s Goku personified the classic shonen hero – cheerful, endlessly strong and focused on training and fighting. He rarely doubted himself or his morals, and simply pushing past limits was his goal. As one Times of India feature notes, Goku “debuted in the 1980s” and remains “the benchmark of all ‘strongest anime characters’”. His approach was straightforward: good beats evil through sheer strength. Indian fans who grew up with Goku still fondly recall playgrounds echoing with “Kamehameha” shouts. These older heroes inspired loyalty by example – they were powerful role models, even if they didn’t always show their struggles or fears. By the late 1990s and 2000s, shonen protagonists began to show more emotion. Naruto Uzumaki’s story – of an orphaned outsider who longs to be acknowledged – introduced themes of loneliness and acceptance. He still never gave up, but his journey was filled with tears, self-doubt, and complex backstories. For example, one Indian fan explained that Naruto’s appeal lies in the “complex background of the characters and the protagonist’s unwavering determination”. This reflects a shift: Naruto’s perseverance (against all odds and internal pain) became a model of hope. A Times article notes that Naruto starts “alone and unpopular, yet he never gives up,” embodying the message of “never giving up” that Gen Z finds inspiring. Indian fans connected to Naruto’s struggles with friendship and acceptance – problems they could relate to in their own lives. Today’s shonen stars like Izuku Midoriya (Deku from My Hero Academia) or Tanjiro (Demon Slayer) are even more openly vulnerable. Deku is a boy who cries, panics and overthinks – he’s defined by empathy and self-doubt as much as his heroic drive. These heroes wrestle publicly with fear and guilt, showing tears on screen and talking about mental pain. They also inspire through kindness: as Times of India reports, newer heroes (including Gojo and Yuji from Jujutsu Kaisen, or Tanjiro) “show courage, kindness and loyalty even when the odds are stacked against them”. In other words, their strength comes with soul. They teach young fans that it’s okay to feel afraid or sad – and that true heroism can include asking for help and caring for others. This emotional complexity resonates strongly. One teen fan observed that “anime characters often struggle with their identities… watching them overcome their challenges gives us hope”.Modern shonen stories openly tackle grief, injustice and self-acceptance, giving fans a language to describe their own feelings. Some very recent heroes blur the line between hero and anti-hero. In Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuji Itadori’s battles force him to choose between competing values (and even his own humanity), while his mentor Satoru Gojo hides a lonely heart behind a playful facade. These characters are powerful, but also far from perfect: they make mistakes, carry doubts, and sometimes question authority. Fans even debate villains – e.g. a recent Twitter clash over Sukuna (JJK) vs. Muzan (Demon Slayer) highlighted how audiences now admire complexity on both sides. As one Times of India feature notes, such rivalries “reflect generational shifts” – Demon Slayer made anime mainstream, while Jujutsu Kaisen is seen as the “hot new successor”. In other words, new heroes don’t just punch their way to victory; they argue, grieve, and question the world. This moral ambiguity and depth speak to a world where right and wrong aren’t always clear-cut.Gen Z fans have embraced these evolving heroes. Anime’s rise here is undeniable: streaming services report that India is now Crunchyroll’s second-largest market, with one exec noting anime’s popularity has “skyrocketed… particularly among Gen Z”. Younger viewers say they see their own journeys in these characters. For many, watching a hero cry or struggle feels real: “the stories… are very relatable,” said one fan, adding that anime heroes teach “fighting your battles [and] dealing with things with patience”. Indeed, fans often feel these shows mirror their own challenges: as one fan put it, seeing a character “overcome their challenges gives us hope and sometimes even a roadmap for our own lives”.Indian fans aren’t just passive viewers. Communities, clubs and cosplays are booming. For example, the Bangalore Anime Club screens shows and hosts meetups, and cosplayers across the country proudly create elaborate costumes. As one cosplayer explains, fans literally “use their body as the canvas” for characters they love. Social media also amplifies fan culture: clips and memes on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram spread Naruto’s ninja way or Jujutsu’s epic fights, often with Hindi or Telugu dubs. In short, these heroes – from Goku’s pure-hearted drive to Gojo’s layered personality – now connect emotionally with a new generation. They reflect global cultural shifts that value empathy and inner strength, giving Gen Z fans in India (and everywhere) characters who feel like friends, mentors and fellow fighters all at once.