Diving into the world of anime can feel overwhelming with countless shows and genres to choose from. However, some series stand out as ideal entry points, offering captivating stories, relatable characters, and stunning visuals. Whether you’re into action, drama, or lighthearted fun, there’s something for everyone.
This list includes ten anime shows that should be considered good for beginners, as each of them has its advantages. These shows can have a lot of things as their central scheme, right from epic fights to simple friendly relationships. Here are our top picks.
1. My Hero Academia
‘My Hero Academia’ portrays the journey of Izuku Midoriya, the main character of the series, who was born without any “quirk”, though he dreams of becoming a hero and later gets admitted to a school for enhancing heroes’ abilities. It incorporates action, comedy, and certain emotional aspects, which are apt for a beginner.
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The series does not only portray spectacular action scenes but also themes such as responsibility, heroism, and growth among others. It is an appealing presentation of simple characters that are easy to relate with, and quite an exciting plot for the representation of a superhero in anime.
2. Attack on Titan
‘Attack on Titan’ presents to its audience a setting wherein humanity is almost extinct and everybody is struggling for their lives against the race of giant humanoid monsters called Titans. The show’s lead character Eren Yeager and his friends decide to join the military to protect human beings. But they do not realize that they are on their way to find some very important truths.
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Apart from the strong elements of action, the anime has moments of ethical questions and describes the resilience of the human spirit. The plot is just the perfect amount of complex, and shows character experiences of emotional metamorphosis that keeps the viewers hooked.
3. Death Note
‘Death Note‘ portrays the life of a high school student, Light Yagami, who discovers a notebook that grants him the power to exterminate anyone whose name he writes in it. The plot is based on Light’s conflict with himself on the issue of wielding the powers and his fight for intelligence with Detective L.
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The psychological suspense of the action and the moral conflicts that arise at intervals draw the viewers’ attention actively. It is a critically engaging thriller that elicits issues to do with governance, law, and the repercussions of tampering with the word’s creation.
4. One Punch Man
‘One Punch Man’ is an action comedy anime that revolves around the life of Saitama, the superhero who possesses the power to knock out any enemy with a single punch. This, in turn, makes him bored, as he does not face any challenges whatsoever. The anime uses fun and humor to send a satirical message to the superhero genre, and this also comes with great action scenes.
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The show also has a few funny scenes. Moreover, due to the exaggerated character animations and interesting fight scenes, it is quite entertaining. Although the series is comedic, the topic of life’s meaning and the search for purpose is also highlighted in it.
5. Your Name (Kimi No Na Wa)
‘Your Name’ is a story of a boy, Taki, and a girl, Mitsuha, who suddenly get their bodies swapped with each other and have to adapt to their new, unknown lives. As they get closer while navigating their lives, they unveil the existence of a bond between them that has no beginning or end.
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The film provokes emotions, with concepts of love, fate, and identity, making the story touching and unforgettable for people who watch it. The quality of the animated picture is remarkably high.
6. Spirited Away
‘Spirited Away’ is the story of a young girl called Chihiro who is transferred to a different world that is magical. She must look for ways to set her parents free. The film depicts a lot of unusual and fantastic characters and addresses the questions of inner self and bravery.
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Beautiful in its simplicity and design, this Studio Ghibli work is a gem which has particularly remarkable visuals and overall atmosphere capturing the kids’ and adult’s imagination.
7. Dragon Ball Z
‘Dragon Ball Z’ is about Goku and his band of loyal comrades who fight off adversaries that threaten Planet Earth. Boasting famous fights and exciting characters, the show has also entered the history of anime and popular culture.
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The series is comprehensible, so even those who are still new to anime could easily follow it while the show’s themes include friendship, loyalty, and endurance.
8. Naruto
‘Naruto’ is an anime series that revolves around a young ninja named Naruto Uzumaki, who is striving to become the leader of his village. In the course of the journey, the main character develops friendships, experiences aspects of his own life, as well as gains insight into life’s lessons.
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The anime combines exciting fights and the internal transformation of the main characters, so it is suitable to watch the show if you plan to get to know more about coming-of-age anime.
9. Cowboy Bebop
‘Cowboy Bebop’ takes inspiration from the sci-fi, western, and film noir genres and stars a group of space-faring bounty hunters. The show is famous for its many pop features, such as the multiple motives, the characters’ transformation, and the usage of jazz music.
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It is a growing genre that does not have a firmly defined or tightly connected plot, but comes in weekly episodes that tell rather adult and adventurous stories simplified for juniors.
10. K-On!
’K-On!’ is an anime about a group of high school girls who start a music club. Their relationships, simple life glimpses, and passion for music are depicted and given a warm, fun, and joyful spin.
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Having cute characters and quite topical plots, ‘K-On!’ changes the perception of anime with its depiction of ordinary life.
