My essay on reasons behind the popularity of the fighting shounen genre, particularly among American fans.

The serialization that is shounen provides continuity, as well as a perpetual sense of being an 'insider' because the viewer recognizes past elements/attacks/plot twists that return further along in the series. This sense of recognition is the same thing that made reading the Cthulhu Mythos so enjoyable.

That being said, wouldn't you agree that your essay covers most sports anime as well, particularly Prince of Tennis, Major, and Yakitate Japan?

(For the sake of argument, participating in any competition is a sport.)

Wonderful, i thing you hit the nail, also you can say the same about all the mon series (pokemon digimon shaman king etc.

I think the same can be said about InuYasha altough I admit that it is a little more sophisticated example (multiple objectives, more possible end points, several measuers of success but the theory applies.)