The world of anime has so much to offer – from colorful universes and crazy storylines to deep, complex characters. If you’re just starting to explore this fascinating world, these anime are perfect for beginners.
In the past, anime held a niche status in the US, but that has changed significantly. Nowadays, they’re becoming increasingly popular, with streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Crunchyroll offering a vast selection of Japanese animated series and films. If you’re new to anime, we recommend checking out these standout series and movies:
Death Note
Death Note is a top favorite among many anime fans. The series is not only incredibly thrilling but also full of unexpected twists. It follows the story of a student named Light, who finds a notebook that allows him to kill people. However, he’s pursued by a brilliant detective known as “L”. What ensues is a gripping cat-and-mouse game.
Kuroko’s Basketball
Kuroko’s Basketball revolves around the basketball team of Seirin High School. The main focus is on two newcomers, Kagami and Kuroko. Kagami is tall, muscular, and seems made for the sport, while Kuroko appears unremarkable at first glance. But Kuroko has a special ability that pushes the team forward.
Erased
Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling manga artist, has a unique ability: he can travel back in time to prevent disasters. When his mother is murdered, he travels back to solve the case, only to find himself in his elementary school days, just before the disappearance of a classmate.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Yuji Itadori is an ordinary student until a curse turns his life upside down. To save his friend, he consumes the finger of a powerful curse named Sukuna and becomes part of that being. To survive, he joins the Jujutsu Academy, where curse hunters are trained.
Your Name
In Your Name, Mitsuha, who lives in a small village, and Taki, who resides in Tokyo, suddenly switch bodies. Although they’ve never met, they feel a deep connection. The film was, at one point, the most successful anime movie worldwide.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood tells the story of brothers Edward and Alphonse, who attempt to use the art of alchemy to bring their deceased mother back to life. However, the attempt goes wrong, and both lose parts of their bodies. They embark on a quest to find the legendary Philosopher’s Stone to reverse the damage.
Spirited Away
The only anime to ever win an Oscar, this film follows Chihiro, who enters a mysterious town with her parents, where they are transformed into pigs. Chihiro must navigate this strange world alone to reverse the transformation.
Ranking of Kings
Prince Bojji, small and deaf, dreams of becoming the greatest king in the world. Despite his physical limitations and doubts from those around him, he perseveres and grows through the challenges he faces on his journey.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is one of the most iconic anime. Humanity lives behind massive walls to protect themselves from giant, humanoid monsters called Titans. Eren Yeager, a scout soldier, frequently ventures into the dangerous world outside the walls.
Mob Psycho 100
Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob, struggles to control his emotions, which is problematic because he possesses powerful psychic abilities. When his emotions hit a certain level, things can get dangerous. Along with self-proclaimed exorcist Reigen, he tackles supernatural issues after school while learning what he truly wants in life.