Recommend an anime starter show!

Posted by Alex Sinclair in Film & TV

The world of anime can be overwhelming for many reasons, but one in particular stands out: there's so much to watch! With dozens of cult hits each spanning dozens of seasons, where should someone start if they've never watched anime before? That's the question we want you to answer to win a prize in this bounty.

Be sure to explain why it's a good fit for those fresh to the anime scene. If you can find it, share the trailer too (ideally from the original rights holder).

Task: Recommend an anime for someone whose never watched anime

Format: Written with third-party video

How to submit a written entry:

Hit the 'submit to this bounty' button just below this description - do not use the reply button unless you just want to comment on the thread, as replies will not be counted as entries!
Add a written response and feel free to include images.

How to submit a third-party video link:

Hit the 'submit to this bounty' button just below this description - do not use the reply button unless you just want to comment on the thread, as replies will not be counted as entries!
Add a link to the YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok video you'd like to share, and click the 'expand' button so we can view the video on Just About.
Add a few sentences of context or commentary on the video or its creator.

Once the deadline closes, we’ll pick up to 12 submissions, award $2 to each of the winners, and may share them as curated content.

Disclaimer: Geographical and age restrictions apply. Just About reserves the right to extend the bounty's duration. Please see our Terms of Use for more information on how bounties are created and rewarded on Just About. One reward available per member.

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Image credit: jensenartofficial

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Created at 12:11pm, 1st May, 2024. Page last updated at 2:44pm, 16th May, 2024.
Deadline at 11:00pm, 7th May, 2024.

Submissions (20)

taha5/7/2024

Won$2

Erased

This anime is one of my all time favourites and it's only twelve episodes and one season. It follows Satoru, a manga artist who has a strange condition that sends him back in time to just before something life-threatening happens, allowing him to alter events. This gets tested further when he is sent back in time to when he was a kid in order to solve a mystery from his past. It may be a murder mystery with some sci-fi elements but to me, it's also a comfort anime that I really enjoy watching for its art and setting. Because it is only twelve episodes, it feels almost like a five hour movie and it gives a great glimpse into what anime can do when it comes to storytelling and while it has had a live action adaptation, the story just fits the hand-drawn medium of anime so perfectly. Would highly recommend before taking on other anime with multiple seasons or more than twelve episodes!

Paul5/6/2024

I have always found it hard to get in to anime but the Castlevainia series on Netflix was brilliant and I highly recommend it even if you dont think anime is for you.

The story is gripping and easy to follow and the characters are really well written.

Makster5/6/2024

Won$2

It's a difficult question. Anime is a medium in of itself just like Rock music - you can go down to different subgenres that some people will take to more than others. So it will have to be based on what a viewers taste is.

I wouldn't want to recommend one of the bigger anime like Dragon Ball or One Piece or Naruto due to the episode count can be intimidating and off-putting for new-comers. With that said I think a great starter show is:

Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad (2004)

A story about a teenage boy (Koyuki) that was drifting through highschool without any real passions before he discovers Rock Music and forms a band. What I like about this anime is that it is quite grounded in reality and character driven drama. Each band member has a little backstory leading them to form Beck and you can really feel the connection between each of the band members. Koyuki has his own hang ups, reservations, being a shy awkward boy, being bullied, having trouble talking to girls but being able to have a creative outlet through music. Honestly one of the realist anime I've been on being able to relate to a character on a human level. It's my recommendation as it retains that anime artstyle but tells a relatable realistic coming-of-age story that anyone can enjoy

Asim5/5/2024

Attack On Titan

I don't care how cliche this is, this is one of the best shows of all time. You're introduced to a world with eren, mikasa and armin, what seems like a peaceful time of literally children living their lives, when out of nowhere these massive human looking monsters start attacking the wall and destroying absolutely everything, even a relative of the main characters!! I won't spoil who, you'll need to watch. This peaceful start turns very very violent, and levea the viewer with so many questions, who and what are these titans, where did they come from? How are these people going to survive further attacks?

What will happen to eren, mikasa and armin?

The show is great in introducing elements and you'll slowly start to learn key features of the titans before the show gets very complex, but boy is that complex story INCREDIBLY REWARDING, go watch the first episode right now if you've never seen it

Available on crunchy roll

Lanah Tyra5/5/2024

Won$2

Howl's moving castle

A true masterpiece from Miyazaki, beautiful graphics, the characters are all well written and very human, easy to get attached to or relate with their life. It has the right balance of despair and happy ending which is probably the best for someone just starting out with anime.

The English voice acting is very good as well, though for me the true anime experience comes with watching in Japanese with subtitles, but I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. But this is one of the rare ones I don't cringe when watching in English.

I think a lot of people still assume that anime as all comedy and for children because it's not live action so it can't be serious, right? But in reality most anime is touching very serious subjects and is definitely not aimed at children. Even people who generally don't like anime seem to like this one, and refuse to admit they are watching anime.