Top 30 Best Starter Anime For Beginners: The Ultimate List
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Approaching the anime medium for the first time can be challenging.
Sure it’s colorful, looks beautiful, and the sheer variety is enticing – but it can also be like a bowl of extra-spicy curry for someone who’s used to eating burgers and chips for every meal. In other words, it can be too much for the uninitiated.
Still, we all have to start somewhere. And some anime are definitely more enticing and digestible for newcomers.
After over ten years of enjoying anime, I’ve become a bit of an expert in the subject. Let me be your guide to ranking the best anime for newbies that are worth watching.
It follows Ash Ketchum and his partner Pikachu as they travel around the Pokémon world, making friends and battling the strongest trainers on their quest to catch ’em all.
You can start with the 1997 classic if you’re in for the long haul. But I recommend Pokémon Journeys, which features very polished animation and includes Pokémon from recent generations.
If you’re into live-action drama shows like Grey’s Anatomy and My Mister, you can’t miss Clannad – one of the most tragic and emotional anime ever made.
It follows Tomoya Okazaki’s life from adolescence to adulthood, as he goes from being labeled a delinquent to finding a group of tight friends and – eventually – love.
Of course, life is more than triumph and happiness.
Clannad is a rollercoaster of emotions, and it’ll show you the depths of despair – especially its second season, Clannad: After Story.
We’ve all seen a couple of harem shows where a single male character is chased by tons of hot girls – but have you ever seen the opposite?
Ouran Highschool Host Club follows Haruhi – a working-class student in a fancy elite school.
After accidentally breaking a priceless vase, she’s forced to pretend she’s a boy and join the school’s Host Club – a group of dreamy male students who help female students relax and enjoy themselves.
Rather than the sticky kind of romance Shoujo anime is known for, OHHC offers viewers a light-hearted comedy anyone can enjoy.
Where anime tends to cater to an all-male audience with plenty of “wardrobe malfunctions”, the anime Free! flips the script by following a group of dreamy, well-trained swimmers.
The cast mostly focuses on the aloof Haruka, the dependable Makoto, and the cheerful Nagisa.
But it’s not all about shapely triceps and chiseled abs.
At its heart, Free! is a show about rivalries and friendships – as well as following your dreams with everything you’ve got.
But One Piece manages to make every single episode exciting, and – most importantly – fun to watch.
This anime follows Monkey D. Luffy – a pirate who obtains a stretchy rubber-like body after eating a magical “Devil Fruit”.
This pure-hearted pirate will use these newfound powers to fight his way to One Piece, a massive hidden treasure waiting somewhere beneath the waves.
It’s one of the biggest anime series ever made. If you might be into shounen like Naruto and Bleach, this is a must-watch.
25. Redline
Genre: Racing, Action, Sci-Fi Length: 102 min. Studio: Madhouse
While this list focuses on top-tier anime TV series for beginners, there are a couple of anime films that are too good to leave out.
Set in a distant future, Redline follows JP – a bad-ass racer with a sweet pompadour and the bravado to match it.
With his customized Trans-Am 20000 WR, he’ll compete in a death race known as the Redline. As the galaxy’s biggest racing event, it draws in the most skilled and daring drivers from all around, and they’ll put it all on the line to win the race.
Everyone knows Naruto. This orange-clad ninja’s exploits are aired worldwide, and his popularity has turned him into the face of anime for many.
As a baby, Naruto had a terribly powerful beast known as the Nine-Tail Fox sealed inside him to protect the village of Konoha. This made him a pariah, as everyone was afraid of this dark power within.
Naruto’s story is that of an underdog exceeding everyone’s expectations and rising from the lowest of the low to one of the most powerful ninjas in the world.
It’s inspiring, and it’s also full of jaw-dropping battles.
Playing an immersive hyper-realistic MMORPG in VR sounds like every geek’s dream.
But what if you couldn’t log out?
Protagonist Kirito and another 50,000 players find themselves in just that situation after logging into Sword Art Online for the first time. To leave, they’ll have to explore 100 levels, defeat ruthless bosses, and eventually clear the game.
This would be simple enough, if it weren’t for the fact that you’ll die in real-life if your HP drops to zero.
SAO has gorgeous character design, colorful characters, and it presents a fantasy world that anyone would like to visit. Very beginner-friendly too.
After her father is murdered by a mysterious figure, young Ryuko Matoi chances upon a talking high school uniform that grants her insane combat prowess.
With her newfound powers and oddly revealing “magical girl” outfit, Ryuko will challenge the powerful Honnouji Academy and its leader – Kiryuin Satsuki – to find the truth about her father’s death.
The show has a colorful cast, epic music arrangements, and a lot of personality.
Keep in mind it also has a ton of fanservice, in case that’s something you’re not crazy about (or in case it’s something you might be into).
If action, adventure, and mystery are not your thing – perhaps a light-hearted romantic comedy is the way to go.
After finding out they’re in love with each other’s best friends, classmates Ryuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka make a pact to help each other with their romantic pursuits.
Each episode is fun and easy to digest.
And while romance is at the core of the show, it doesn’t overdo it with the gooey lovey-dovey stuff. Instead it’s a tale of friendship and how people grow to understand each other.
Mushishi is set in an alternate late 18th century Japan where magical creatures known as “Mushi” inhabit the world along with plants, animals, and humans.
Protagonist Ginko is a Mushi specialist wandering the land studying these powerful ancient lifeforms and helping humans with problems caused by them.
Each episode feels like a self-contained fairy tale.
Both Ginko’s calm personality and the show’s subdued aesthetic make it a relaxing show to watch while winding down from a hard day.
18. Your Name
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama Length: 107 min. Studio: CoMix Wave Films
Writer and director Makoto Shinkai grace us with a love story between two teenagers from different periods who one day wake up in each other’s bodies.
Your Name is the third highest-grossing anime film of all time – and it’s not by chance.
The animation is gorgeous and fluid, the backgrounds are lovely, and overall, it’s the peak of anime cinematography.
Not everyone enjoys anime about battles or romance.
But most people will find it hard to take their eyes off a mystery thriller as good as Erased.
This dark story follows Satoru, a 27-year-old who can automatically rewind time whenever a tragedy is about to occur, allowing him to stop it. One day, he wakes up 18 years in the past and must use his present-day knowledge to save an old friend from being murdered.
Intense heart-wrenching moments are a dime a dozen in Erased.
16. My Neighbor Totoro
Genre: Fantasy Length: 86 min. Studio: Ghibli
Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki is hailed as one of our times’ creative geniuses.
And 1998’s My Neighbor Totoro is one of his most iconic films.
This beautiful children’s film follows two girls in post-war rural Japan as they interact with the forest spirits around their village – including the titular Totoro, who became Studio Ghibli’s mascot.
It’s a great introduction to anime and Miyazaki’s work for viewers of all ages.
15. Spirited Away
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Coming-of-Age Length: 125 min. Studio: Ghibli
Another well-loved film by Hayao Miyazaki is Spirited Away, a children’s film that tackles complex themes such as consumerism, environmentalism, and more – making it appealing for adults as well.
After accidentally wandering into a magic world, Chihiro’s parents are turned into pigs, and the young girl is conscripted into Yubaba’s Bath House’s cleaning staff.
The bathhouse serves all kinds of creatures from Japanese folklore, which may pique your interest if you’re into foreign cultures.
The film’s incredible quality made it the highest-grossing anime film ever made, until Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train took the title in 2020.
Giant robot anime used to be one of the most popular genres around.
But older series like Mazinger Z and Robotech are a far cry from what Code Geass has to offer.
It follows Lelouch vi Brittania – an exiled prince who uses his tactical genius and a mind-controlling power known as a “Geass” to lead a paramilitary force against the Holy Britannian Empire
This mature show features political intrigue, moral dilemmas, and heart-wrenching moments punctuated by exciting mecha battles and epic struggles where Lelouch’s intellect is put to the test.
13. Cowboy Bebop
Genre: Neo-noir, Space Western, Sci-Fi Length: 26 Eps. Studio: Sunrise
Suppose you’re looking for a series that’ll appeal to an older audience with relatable adult characters, rather than the usual teenagers and high school students.
In that case, Cowboy Bebop is the way to go.
This sci-fi classic takes place in a dark and gritty future where humanity has colonized the galaxy – but everywhere you go, you’ll find the same old struggles such as poverty, crime, and violence.
Each character has their own set of complex personal issues and moral dilemmas that ultimately make them who they are. They’re all explored in-depth, tackling some intense themes and giving you a lot to chew on after just a couple of episodes.
12. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Adventure Length: 152 Eps. Studio: David Production
Based on Hirohiko Araki’s famous manga, each season of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure follows a different member of the Joestar family in their struggle for survival against all kinds of powerful opponents.
While the first and second seasons focus on vampires and ancient god-like beings known as the Pillar Men, all subsequent seasons feature “stands” – the physical manifestation of a person’s fighting spirit.
The show shines for its creative character designs, bad-ass characters, and bizarre battles.
Watch it if you want to finally get all those Jojo memes.
Parasyte is an exciting sci-fi story about a parasitic lifeform that infects humans, taking over their brains and twisting their bodies into wretched forms made to kill and consume others.
After his right hand is infected by one of these parasites, high school student Shinichi makes a pact of survival with his newfound companion.
The show explores complex problems such as the meaning of life, the need to consume others to live, and what makes someone “human”.
Death Note is a compelling thriller following highschool student Light Yagami after stumbling upon a “Death Note” dropped by a bored grim reaper by the name of Ryuk.
This notebook from hell has the power to kill anyone whose name is written on its pages, and Light decides to use this power to cleanse the world.
As “Kira”, he’ll reform society through vigilante justice, unless the gifted but eccentric detective known as “L” stops him first.
This comedy follows a group of middle school girls’ everyday lives, making their mundane experiences hilarious through off-beat humor and surreal skits.
It’s light-hearted, easy to approach, and the animation quality is surprisingly good.
8. Baccano!
Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Supernatural Length: 16 Eps. Studio: Brain’s Base
Some of the more jaded folks out there just can’t see anime as different from children’s cartoons.
If you’re dealing with such a case, Baccano! might be the way to go.
Set during the Roaring Twenties in New York, the show explores the city’s criminal underbelly and features gangster staples like hijacking trains and robbing banks.
The twist? Some of these gangsters have drunk an elixir of immortality, and they can only be killed if another immortal “devours” them.
If the fantasy aspect of Baccano! is something you’d rather avoid, 91 Days is a more grounded gangster story set during the prohibition, and you should definitely check it out.
If you’re looking for something you can start watching in the next couple of minutes with minimal effort, Violet Evergarden is the way to go.
This Netflix Original is available to anyone with a Netflix subscription in almost every region in the world.
Protagonist Violet Evergarden is a super-powerful cyborg turned into a child soldier early in her life. After the war is over, she becomes an “Auto Memory Doll” whose job is to ghostwrite letters for people who can’t do it themselves.
As a child soldier and a cyborg, Violet has no knowledge of living among “normal humans”. Her new role in society will force her to understand complex concepts like love, friendship, and more.
Other than the fantastic story, the anime is a total visual treat – and the soundtrack is nothing to scoff at either.
In a world where everyone has a unique special ability called a “quirk”, a new society of super-heroes has sprung up.
Izuku Midoriya is a quirk-less youth with the dream of becoming a super-hero – and after an encounter with his idol, #1 Hero All-Might, he’ll get his chance.
Manga author Kouhei Horikoshi learned much from the great victories and failures of seminal Shounen series like Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece.
The result is the perfected battle fantasy with appealing character design, incredible battles, and excellent pacing – and the anime only improves on it.
5. Attack on Titan
Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Mystery Length: 65+ Studio: Wit Studio + MAPPA
Attack on Titan became a worldwide phenomenon after the first episode aired back in 2013, mostly thanks to its unique setting and bold storytelling that’s not afraid to kill off main characters.
The show is set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity can only exist within three massive walls protecting them from the Titans – giant humanoid creatures that prey on humans.
After a colossal titan kicks a hole in the first wall, teenager protagonist Eren Yeager decides to join the military’s Scout Corps and find a way to fight back against the Titan threat.
The Fate series began in 2004 as a Visual Novel by Type/Moon that quickly grew into a media empire after an anime adaptation of its main “route” hit the screens in 2006.
The original adaptation hasn’t aged well.
But studio Ufotable did a terrific job of animating Unlimited Blade Works, an alternate route focusing on a different heroine.
It follows Shirou Emiya, a Japanese high school student trying to survive the Fifth Holy Grail War – a conflict between seven mage Masters commanding heroic spirits of the past like Hercules and Gilgamesh.
It’s full of action, exciting battles, some mystery, and even a little bit of romance.
In a not-so-distant future, a complex A.I. known as the Sybil System is developed to measure people’s mental states and assign them a numeric value.
People past a certain level of “stress” are labeled “latent criminals” by the system, which judges them as a danger to society.
As a newbie Investigator for the Bureau of Public Safety, Akane Tsunemori will have to work with Enforcers – former officers whose jobs made them into latent criminals – to solve cases and protect the peace, understanding the dark side of the Sybil System in the process.
The show’s gripping storyline and psycho-thriller elements are perfect for fans of shows like Mindhunter and Criminal Minds.
2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Adventure Length: 26 Eps. Studio: Ufotable
After most of his family is murdered by bloodthirsty demons, young Tanjiro begins a journey to protect others from suffering the same fate.
The show is full of lovable characters and a setting that draws you further in the more you watch it – but the anime’s most remarkable achievement has to be its visual effects.
The special techniques wielded by demons and those who hunt them are out-of-this-world.
Along with Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer is one of the most effective methods to turn people into anime enthusiasts. Absolutely a must-try if this premise sounds enticing at all. You’ll know if you like it from the first episode.
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Adventure, Steampunk Length: 64 Eps. Studio: Bones
If you want to get someone hooked on anime, you can’t go wrong with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
It follows brothers Ed and Al Elric. After a failed attempt at bringing their mother back to life through alchemy backfires, costing Ed an arm and a leg, it also leaves Al a body-less soul chained to a set of armor.
Sounds crazy right?
Well now they’ll travel the world learning more about alchemy and hunting down the Philosopher’s Stone – a magical artifact with enough power to bring back their lost bodies.
This show will satisfy all kinds of viewers thanks to its emotional themes, intriguing world-building, and fantastic battles.
There’s also some mystery and political intrigue thrown in for good measure. Just a great anime hands-down, and certainly great for beginners looking into the genre.
Nelson Chitty is a Venezuelan expat living in Argentina. He’s a writer and translator passionate about history and foreign cultures. His ideal weekend is spent between leisurely playing games of Civilization VI and looking for the next seinen anime to marathon.
