If there's one thing that Shonen MCs have made apparent, it has to be the importance of skilled mentors for the MC to reach his full potential. Name one Shonen MC who trains under some no-name, talentless mentor and goes on to overcome his limits. Pro tip: you can't.
This begs the question that how does Shonen stories that tout the "hard work can help you achieve social mobility aka success" theme reconcile with the contradictory theme of "connections that are required for the said success."
If there's one thing that Shonen MCs have made apparent...
Logan Brown
Easton Evans
Tanjiro
Jose Harris
he got trained by a former pillar and got inherited dreams about the most OP demon slayer
Caleb Jenkins
Ukai from haikyuu is pretty regular, as far as mentors go.
Hudson Myers
Gon learned Nen from a very average to low-level guy as far as Nen users go.
Caleb Martinez
Also Kurapika's teacher seems like a bum
Thomas Fisher
Hunterchads..
Daniel Thomas
Most of the JoJo Protagonists after part 2 simply know their abilities and don't do much as far as training
Luis Butler
Wing was definitely pretty normal but then they train with biscuit
Jordan Sanders
Trained with Biscuit + 1 in 10 gorillion potential
Gabriel Hall
Ichigo basically taught himself how to fight.
Ryder Hernandez
Urahara basically crafted the perfect training regime for him,
Landon Edwards
He didn't even teach him the very basics. Ichigo didn't know about meditation until he had to fight Aizen so the only times Ichigo was able to meditate and communicate with his sword was when he was near death and unconscious.
Most soul reapers meditate as part of their normal training so Ichigo missed out on that completely and was only able to get stronger through fighting enemies instead of training in solitude like a normal soul reaper.
Leo Young
the Elric brothers were self-taught
Samuel Martinez
You owe me five hundred dollars and a new coat
Asher Martinez
they were also taught by Izumi who was one of the best alchemists alive.
Connor Evans
You're a 30 year old man discussing cartoons for children.
Wyatt Butler
Ryder Cooper
He was trained by Cougar
Adam Cruz
Atemu didn't have any mentor.
Dylan Harris
1 in 10 gorillion potential is all MCs
Gabriel Anderson
Cougar didn't train him, he just looked out for him for a bit. By the beginning of the series they've long since parted ways.
Anthony Long
>Name one Shonen MC who trains under some no-name, talentless mentor and goes on to overcome his limits.
Angel Rivera
Atem?
Lucas Walker
I'm 100$ sure we got a flashback to him sparring with cougar when he was a teen and that he's the one who helped him figure out his three bullets attack since Cougar had already unlocked the power of worn Alters that were broadly unheard of