If you’re new to anime but keen to explore the genre, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Even working out where to start with a single anime IP - given all the spin-offs, prequels, and remakes - can be so complex that you’re put off entirely. The best way to explore it is with your very own anime guide willing to show you the ropes, and fortunately, we have a whole community full of said guides here to tell you where to start. After putting out a bounty asking which anime shows they’d recommend to newcomers, we received countless submissions from our expert anime fans. Here are the best of them:
Fullmetal Alchemist (both)
Fullmetal Alchemist is inarguably among the best anime ever made. Tragic and epic in equal measure, the story follows brothers Edward and Alphonse in a grand yet bittersweet coming-of-age quest which balances sentimentality, lightheartedness, grimness, and action.
We’ve written ‘both’ in the subheading because there are two versions of Fullmetal Alchemist - the original 2003 series and 2008’s Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Both series are held in exceptionally high regard, but their plots diverge within the first couple of seasons, with Brotherhood staying true to the vision of author Hiromu Arakawa’s manga source material.
Damien Mason, one of our bounty winners, gives his take on the differences:
“I’d dabbled in anime before, but Fullmetal Alchemist was the first to hook me and carry me right the way through to its end. Most people recommend watching Brotherhood and ignoring the original. That’s certainly the simplest advice for anyone just starting out, but I’m going to buck that trend.
“The original anime paces itself better in the early story, with the more harrowing details hitting home harder. Brotherhood rushes through the beginning because it’s aware that many people have already experienced that part of the story. If you have to choose just one, Brotherhood is the pick, but watching both really gives you a deeper appreciation of certain elements.”
So why is it a good recommendation for anime first-timers? Here’s Damien again:
“It’s mature in its themes, so perhaps not ideal for the youngest of viewers, but the original is 51 episodes, and Brotherhood is 64 episodes. Unlike other anime like One Piece, you won’t get lost amid thousands of episodes, and they each tell a pretty tight story without the filler seen in anime like Naruto. It has a story to tell and tells it well, from start to finish.
“Moreover, it’s shōnen [an anime subgenre targeted at adolescent boys], designed with action in mind, but it has great heart. It’s not about the sparkly fights but the journey of two brothers searching for things they’ve lost in a desperate, misguided attempt to break the rules of physics. Set in a European-inspired fictional world, it’s incredibly distinct compared to most anime and still stands out today. If nothing else, it’s a narrative-first piece that isn’t designed primarily to sell toys or merch.”
Scrbzy describes Damien’s post - which you can read in full here - as a “grade-A write up”, adding: “I stumbled across Fullmetal Alchemist late into my anime-watching career, but it immediately went into my top three. It’s a perfect show, from start to finish.”
Sword Art Online
There’s an entire subgenre of anime based around video games, and EveOnlineTutorials recommends one of the best of them: Sword Art Online. This series has a premise that’ll instantly hook and horrify any video gamer, but to explain it is a minor spoiler for the early episodes. If you want to experience it fresh, skip the following paragraph.
“The show follows Kirito, a young man who - along with thousands of other gamers - puts on a VR helmet, not knowing that the headsets are rigged with their log-out button removed. Moreover, if anyone removes the helmet, its wearer will be instantly killed. To leave the game world, they must complete a tiered dungeon system. And yet, Matrix-style, if you die in the game, you die in real-life too. It’s the best anime I’ve ever seen”
It’s a premise that’s deeply engaging and yet familiar, making Sword Art Online a great option for those who want to dip their toes in the anime waters. Lanah Tyra agrees, adding: “Sword Art Online is so good! If you enjoy it, I recommend watching .hack//SIGN, which paved the way for it.”
Cowboy Bebop
Next up, an iconic anime from the late ‘90s that’s received universal acclaim: Cowboy Bebop. Like Firefly and Star Wars, this show blends space-based sci-fi with Wild West themes, but only Cowboy Bebop also throws jazz into the mix with fantastic results. It’s nearly always in Sturmer’s list of top recommendations for those new to anime, as he argues that it’s “the ideal gateway into the vibrant world of Japanese animation and a solid introduction into what anime can offer as an artform and storytelling medium”. He gives six reasons as to why:
“1. The perfect length: It’s not too long and not too short. 2. Episodic but evolves: Each episode is a self-contained quest with subtle character development woven in. That structure allows for casual viewing; you can pause your binge without cliffhangers. 3. Blended genres: Cowboy Bebop masterfully mixes elements of detective stories, comedy, adventure, and sci-fi. 4. Unique setting: The combination of space exploration and a cowboy theme offers a distinctive and intriguing backdrop. The world and its inhabitants are meticulously crafted, providing a sense of authenticity and depth. 5. Memorable music: The soundtrack complements the mood of the series beautifully, enhancing the storytelling and making it even more engaging. 6. Cultural impact: Beyond its entertainment value, Cowboy Bebop has had a significant influence on both anime and pop culture globally, making it a must-watch for its historical importance as well. And now there’s a TV series adaptation too!”
Kane Carnifex simply added: “<3 Love it.”
Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad
If the idea of a music-themed anime without an intimidatingly high episode count appeals to you, we have a less-well-known option from Makster. Only this time, instead of Cowboy Bebop’s trumpets, sax, and piano, Beck delivers hard-rocking bass and electric guitar. It also ditches the sci-fi in place of a more down-to-earth, relatable coming-of-age tale:
“It’s a story about Koyuki, a teenage boy who was drifting dispassionately through high school until he discovered rock and formed a band. What I like about it is that it’s grounded in reality and character-driven drama. Each band member has their own backstory, leading them towards the formation of the band, and you can really feel the connection between them.
“Koyuki has his own hangups and reservations. He’s shy, awkward, bullied, and struggles to talk to girls, but he finds his creative outlet through music. It retains the anime artstyle but retains a realism which allows me to relate to the characters on a human level.”
Attack on Titan
Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the two shows most commonly cited as the essential, need-to-watch examples of anime, and Attack on Titan is the other. We can pretty much guarantee that if you watch them both and don’t become an anime fan for life, you can safely file the whole genre away under ‘not for me’.
As expected, plenty of our community members recommended them both, but many were especially effusive about Attack on Titan. Horror and Cats describes it as “the only anime I ever recommend”, Makster says “It must be the best gateway into the genre”, and Asim declares “I don’t care how clichéd this is: it’s one of the best shows of all time!” The winning Attack on Titan recommendation, however, comes from Scrbzy, who explains why it’s ideal for those who may have previously been put off by generic anime tropes:
“Attack on Titan breaks the mould, avoiding the blue-haired characters, cringey dialogue, and over-the-top reactions found in many mainstream anime shows. The first season is action-packed, contains stellar world-building, character progression, and emotionally charged moments.
“Damien’s point about Fullmetal Alchemist’s mature themes is true for AoT too. It’s very clearly not a show for kids, which is an opinion non-anime watchers often hold about the genre. Also like Fullmetal Alchemist, there’s minimal filler. It’s best to go into the show blind, so I don’t even recommend you watch the trailer below.”
Asim raises an undeniable criticism of Attack on Titan: “the later seasons are very complex”. However, he qualifies that criticism with shining praise: “But boy is that complex story incredibly rewarding. Go and watch the first episode right now if you’ve never seen it!” For those reasons, unlike Cowboy Bebop, Attack on Titan is a show best binged.
Ghost in the Shell
While most of the entries in this list are series, we’ve decided to include a couple of particularly exceptional anime movies too, as we figure they can be an equally engaging way to get started in the genre. The critically acclaimed Ghost in the Shell, which has an hour-and-a-half runtime, absolutely meets these criteria. Over to Limal:
“A neo-noir cyperpunk action masterpiece. It’s very dark and at times brutal, so it’s definitely not one for a family watch. But it’s representative of what anime can do best, and highlights the difference between western and eastern animation. It’s considered a true classic and has been the inspiration for many games, books, and movies. Oh, and the music is fantastic too!”
If you’re already a fan of cyberpunk, then Ghost in the Shell is unmissable. Whereas if you’ve always wondered why everyone is so enthusiastic about cyberpunk, watching Ghost in the Shell will illuminate that for you. Forget the 2017 live action movie starring Scarlett Johansson, by the way - it stripped out the big philosophical themes of its own source material and thus rendered itself a good-looking but forgettable action flick that’s only mentioned in conversations about how much better the anime is.
Grave of the Fireflies
The deeply moving, WWII-based anime movie Grave of the Fireflies is further proof - if our community recommendations hadn’t persuaded you yet - that anime is for adults too. Lanah Tyra puts it well: “When someone tells me that anime is for children, I just nod, tell them to watch Grave of the Fireflies, and then wait for them to admit that they were wrong.”
Kane Carnifex nominated Grave of the Fireflies, and this is why:
“It’s the perfect show to kick off an anime odyssey. Try as you might to resist, it will touch your heart, and then it will touch it again. It’s a masterpiece that’s far from sci-fi, fantasy, or the usual anime stuff. The storyline, character depth, and beautiful details set it apart from all the rest. Good luck, you’ll need it.”
We don’t want to spoil any of the plot for this one. But if you’re wondering why Kane is wishing you good luck, Limal’s comment might give you a clue: “It made my eyes wet!”
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Sousou no Frieren)
AlexGoesTheWorld wanted to recommend Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Sword Art Online, and Cowboy Bebop. Seeing as those nominations were already taken, they instead recommended the lesser-known but still highly respected Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End - an epic fantasy quest filled with fantastical creatures and demonic battles with a very human message about connection at its heart.
Combining flashbacks of a great war with Frieren's new quest for meaning, Beyond Journey’s End has been praised for its visuals, writing, and anime take on high fantasy. Take any review website and check out its rating; you’ll be hard-pushed to find anything less than five stars.“It’s a masterpiece. It’s 28 episodes long compared to genre’s standard 12, but feels neither long nor boring. They really took the time to develop the story of elven mage Frieren, her companions, and their quest to reach the resting place of souls.”
Death Parade
Not to be confused with Death Note (more on that later), Death Parade explores mature themes of death, the afterlife, and what can be considered a life well-lived. StevenS brought this one to our attention, and it’s safe to say that it’s going to the top of our list:
“Death Parade is one of the shortest anime shows I’ve watched, but it’s also one of my favourites. It’s set in a bar that some people end up in after they die. It’s a sort of purgatory, where they’re greeted by a bartender named Decim. Each of the patron’s fates are decided in a game Decim sets. It’s a very intriguing show that teaches us about the importance of life, with a powerful message that we shouldn’t take anything for granted. It fascinated me from the very start.
“I also love the opening theme - a bright and uplifting tune that contrasts with the darker tones of the show. It’s the perfect introductory anime! Here’s the theme:
Sand Land
Chances are you’ve heard of Dragonball, a massively popular IP with countless games, manga, anime, and movies based on it. We haven’t included it on the list, because despite its accessible subject matter, it’s a dauntingly huge franchise to tackle. But as Gav notes, there are other shows made by Dragonball’s creator, “anime god” Akira Toriyama, that are much more digestible. Sand Land is one of them. Here’s Gav:
“Sand Land is currently available on Hulu and Disney+, and I’d recommend it as a good entry to anime because it’s completely self-contained. There are 13 episodes in total. The first six are an adaptation of the manga, whereas the other seven are new stories written by Toriyama - sadly, just before his death. You can watch it with subtitles or an English dub. It has cool characters, a fun story, gorgeous visuals, and a fantastic soundtrack. If it gets you hooked, there’s also a video game covering the entire series.”
Erased
With only a single 12-episode series, Erased is another show that could be binged in a single day. Many anime, like Death Note, build their plots around the outcome of obscure sci-fi ‘what ifs?’. In the case of Erased, it’s: what if you had the power to change pivotal moments of your life? taha recommended it for this list, but their recommendation involves minor spoilers, so skip the next paragraph if you want to go in fresh:
“It’s one of my all-time favourites. It follows Satoru, a manga artist with a strange condition that sends him back in time to the moment before something life-threatening happens giving him the dilemma of whether or not to alter the events of the past. This gets further tested when he’s sent back to when he was a child to solve a mystery from his own life.
“It’s a murder mystery with sci-fi elements, but it’s nonetheless a comfort anime for me, one that I really enjoy for its art and setting. Because of its short length, it feels almost like a five-hour movie. It gives a great glimpse into what anime can do with storytelling. While it also has a live-action adaptation, the story perfectly fits the hand-drawn medium of anime.”
The Apothecary Diaries
Our penultimate recommendation comes from archkyrology. The story of The Apothecary Diaries was originally told in a series of light novels, which were then turned into manga (Japanese-style graphic novels), which was then turned into anime (Japanese-style 2D animation). It follows Mao Mao, servant daughter of an apothecary working in the emperor’s court, as she solves mysteries centred around poisons and toxins. Here’s why archkyrology believes it’s such a great show for those new to anime:
“It’s visually stunning, has a beautiful score, and is unique in its story and subgenre. For an anime about solving crimes, it’s very relaxing but nonetheless engaging. A lot of anime is focused on fighting and battles, and as much as I love those, The Apothecary Diaries doesn’t need them. It relies on being clever and funny - just like Mao Mao! I’ve been recommending it to everyone I know who enjoys anime, and I can’t wait for season two!”
Howl's Moving Castle
We’re finishing off with another movie recommendation: the wonderful Howl’s Moving Castle. This classic comes from the beautiful minds of Studio Ghibli, also known for such enchanting movies as My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, and the aforementioned Grave of the Fireflies. Ghibli is a titan of anime and frankly we could have recommended any of its films, which each hold some magical ability to transport viewers back to a place of childhood curiosity, imaginativeness, and innocence. Thankfully, Lanah Tyra chose, so we didn’t have to:
“A true masterpiece from [Hayao] Miyazaki! The art is beautiful, the characters are well written and relatable, and it perfectly balances despair with hope, making it a good choice for someone just starting out with anime.
“For me, the true anime experience comes with watching with English subtitles and Japanese audio. However, I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and the English voice acting for this one is very good. It’s one of very few that I can listen to in English without cringing.
“A lot of people assume that anime is all comedy and aimed at children. In reality, most anime touches upon very serious topics. Even people who generally don’t like anime seem to like this one - although some of them might refuse to admit it!”
No matter the age of the viewer, Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki’s movies speak to the soul. Watch them.
Honourable mentions:
Stella nominated Nana: “a slice-of-life story about a cute girl meeting a rock star girl and going through life together; it works because of its simplicity.”
Laser-Bicep nominated the aforementioned Death Note: a super-grim yet powerful and thought-provoking tale about an ordinary person granted a “dark and evil power”.
Shovel nominated Tokyo Ghoul: a story with a great score about a partially mutated person trying to navigate their new condition as an outcast.
Gaypengwing nominated Fairy Tail: an anime that ran for a decade, following “badass characters” in a school of celestial wizardry.
Paul nominated Castlevania: “a gripping, easy-to-follow, and brilliant” adaptation of the video game series, currently available on Netflix.
What did you think of our list of introductory anime shows? If we’ve missed any gems, let us know. And if you’re looking to learn more about any of these shows, why not comment and ask the tagged nominator? We suspect they’d be happy to help!
Some text has been amended for brevity. You can find the original wording at the bounty post. Cover image credit: Studio Ghibli / Toho.
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