Anime That Beginners Should Watch
Entry Level Anime
Your friends think anime is all the rage. They are going crazy over a new show/movie, and you have no clue what they are talking about. People are slowly becoming more aware of the world of anime. Some of it is good, some of it is bad, some of it is artistic, and some of it needs to go away. Anime offers a plethora of genres and titles but you have no clue where you should start. Here are a few entry level anime to watch so you can keep the conversation alive.
NARUTO / NARUTO SHIPPUDEN
Naruto Uzumaki is one of the most recognizable anime characters of all time. This show is about a rascally ninja with an immense power who is forced to face the harshness of the shinobi (ninja) world. It is a coming of age tale with some of the most iconic shounen story arcs that anime has seen. It one of the most popular anime’s to date, but it is really long and filled with filler episodes. Some in the community like to say it is overrated, but it is a very good place to start if you have never seen anime before. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, and the soundtrack will hype you up. Naruto is a “must watch” for anime conversation.
My hero academia
My Hero Academia takes place in a world where having a super power is a normal thing. So normal, that schools exist to help raise the youth to become heroes of the next generation. Izuku “Deku” Midoriya is a super hero fanboy with no super powers, and he hopes to become to world’s greatest hero. This show is about to head into its fourth season in the Fall of 2019, and I would highly recommend catching up before it starts again. Think Sky High (2005), but even better. The fight scenes and soundtrack have enough emotion to make a grown man cry.
Your lie in april
The music, the story, and the emotion. Your Lie In April is a great entry into what people know as the “slice of life” genre. It is a coming of age story that follows a young boy and his relationship with playing the piano, as well as other people’s relationship to the boy. YLIA is a 22 episode tearjerker, and it features one of the most memorable sequences in all of anime in its final episode. You will NOT be disappointed in this one, I promise.
Your Name.
Makoto Shinkai’s “Your Name” is one of the greatest anime movies of all time. At its core, it is a romance movie with a bunch of twists and turns. It’ll leave your heart feeling full, and it will rip it out just as fast. From the soundtrack, to the amazing animation, Your Name is a win for anime and animated films alike. I would even encourage people who aren’t interested in anime, to see this film—it is that good. Your Name is meant to catch you off guard with its plot, so I would recommend watching it more than once. With the confirmation of an Americanized remake, I hope that people take note of the original before stepping into theaters.
Steins;Gate
“Steins;Gate” is easily one of the greatest anime series to exist (in my opinion). The show follows a “mad scientist” named Rintarou Okabe as he cracks the code to a special form of time travel. It starts off as somewhat innocent, but he then realizes that messing with time has some serious ramifications. Not only does this anime tell an extremely complete story, but it also smacks you with a romance plot that outdoes some romance-centric shows.
Sailor Moon
I include Sailor Moon in this line-up because it is one of the most iconic anime’s ever. It might not be the best in its storytelling, but regardless, Usagi Tsukino and her Sailor Guardian friends make up a legendary team that all anime fans can recognize. If anything, Sailor Moon is a fun show to watch and quote lines from. It’s a classic from the 90’s, and today it has become an aesthetic for many Instagram gifs and profile pictures. It was the first of its kind; giving birth to what’s known as the “magical girl” genre. Its theme song is even recognizable to many. It’s hard to think about the history of anime without talking about Sailor Moon.
ANime is art
Anime is an art form with plenty of titles and genres. This list has featured a few anime that I think people should start with, but there are some that I did not include because other articles online have already recommended them. I would encourage everyone expand their anime catalog once they have seen the basics. On the other hand, you could jump right into things with Neon Genesis Evangelion, and let that be your entry into the world.
Regardless if you watch one from this list, or another, I hope you find a show that suits your personal interests. Happy watching!
AJ