The Best Anime Series For Beginners

Stepping into the world of anime can be both exciting and a little overwhelming for newcomers. With so many shows available – thousands across hundreds of different types – it’s easy to feel lost and unsure where to begin. That first impression is important, because it could determine whether you fall in love with anime or give up after just one try. Anime offers everything from action-packed adventures to heartwarming stories, and it tells those stories in a special way. It often combines complex themes, creative settings, and memorable characters, making it different from most Western TV shows.

Okay, so you’re thinking about getting into anime? Awesome! It totally makes sense to start with something easy to jump into, and usually, that means the really popular shows. I’ve put together a list of anime that I think are perfect for beginners – they’re exciting and engaging, but won’t overwhelm you with complicated storylines or require you to already be an anime expert. It’s a great way to get a feel for everything anime has to offer, without needing any prior knowledge!

8. Erased

Best Beginner Anime For Mystery Fans

Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling manga artist with a unique ability: he can automatically travel back in time a few moments before a dangerous event, allowing him to prevent it. After a personal tragedy, he’s unexpectedly sent back 18 years, finding himself inhabiting the body of his 11-year-old self while retaining all his adult memories. He quickly realizes the tragedy he experienced as an adult is linked to a series of kidnappings and murders from his childhood, and he must alter the past to protect those he cares about.

Erased is a thrilling 12-episode anime that blends mystery, emotional drama, and supernatural elements. With its compelling story and relatable characters, it’s a great entry point for those new to anime and showcases the power of the medium.

7. Barakamon

Best Beginner Anime For Anyone Looking For An Accessible Slice Of Life

While often linked to manga and anime, the ‘slice of life’ style is actually fundamental to all storytelling, even if it isn’t always labeled as such. There are many great series for newcomers to the genre, but Barakamon stands out as the best example of a slice of life anime – sometimes, a show just gets it right.

Sei Handa is a skilled calligrapher, but his personality is a bit rough around the edges. His father sends him to a quiet island hoping he’ll grow as a person. At first, Handa just wants to be left alone to practice his art, but the friendly locals won’t let him! He soon finds himself enjoying the island’s peaceful and welcoming atmosphere. Barakamon is a truly charming and heartwarming story with nothing to dislike.

6. Haikyu!!

Best Beginner Anime For Sports Fans

Haikyu!! follows Shoyo Hinata, a high school student with a huge passion for volleyball, even though he’s quite short. Inspired by a famous player known as the “Little Giant,” Hinata joins the Karasuno High volleyball team. There, he teams up with Tobio Kageyama, a talented but temperamental setter. Together, they work towards reaching the national championships, facing obstacles and growing as both individuals and a team.

Haikyu!! is a really enjoyable and motivating sports anime with vibrant animation and relatable characters. It focuses on the importance of teamwork and never giving up. While the main story has finished, fans can continue the adventure with the 2024 movie, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle. Plus, another movie, Haikyu!! vs. The Little Giant, is on the way, making now a great time to start watching and catch up on everything!

5. Horimiya

Best Beginner Anime For Romance Fans

Romance anime are a great place to start for newcomers, as enjoying the genre is usually all you need. You could pick almost any popular romance show and have a good time! However, Horimiya is an especially good choice. It’s a sweet and funny school story that follows Izumi and Hori as they fall for each other quickly. Instead of creating lots of conflict, Horimiya focuses on everyday life, simply showing the characters enjoying their time together without unnecessary drama.

Season two leans heavily into comedy, and its stories are woven into the events of the first season. Though it’s a different approach, Horimiya: Missing Pieces is excellent and adds depth to the original series by giving more attention to beloved characters.

4. Cowboy Bebop

Best Beginner Anime For Sci-fi & Space Western Fans

Cowboy Bebop follows the exciting journeys of a bounty hunter crew traveling the solar system aboard their spaceship, the Bebop. The team – which includes the cool and collected Spike Spiegel, the level-headed Jet Black, the mysterious Faye Valentine, the genius hacker Ed, and the smart dog Ein – takes on various missions while each member grapples with their troubled histories.

Cowboy Bebop is a hugely popular anime known for its unique blend of science fiction, western, and noir themes, all set to a cool jazz soundtrack. Because each episode tells a self-contained story, it’s easy to jump in at any point. But beyond its easy-to-follow format, Cowboy Bebop is considered a classic thanks to its thoughtful themes and stylish animation, appealing to both new and longtime anime fans.

3. Death Note

Best Beginner Anime For Thriller Fans

Light Yagami, a teenager, discovers a strange notebook with a deadly power: anyone whose name he writes in it will die. He begins killing criminals, believing he can create a perfect world. But his actions attract the attention of L, an incredibly skilled detective, who challenges Light and forces him to confront the flaws in his plan. This sets off a thrilling and dangerous battle of wits between the two.

Death Note is a captivating and thought-provoking anime that explores big ideas like what’s right and wrong, fairness, and how power can change people. With its quick-moving story and well-developed characters, it’s a great choice for those new to anime and demonstrates the medium’s ability to tell complex and intelligent stories.

2. Black Lagoon

Best Beginner Anime For Action Fans Seeking Something Adult-Oriented

If you don’t mind mature themes, Black Lagoon is a fantastic anime to start with, particularly for viewers in North America. While the story takes place in Southeast Asia, it has a distinctly Western feel that makes it enjoyable for a wide audience, and it’s known for having one of the best English dubs ever made.

Watching Black Lagoon feels like diving headfirst into non-stop, over-the-top action. I’ve been following this mercenary crew as they navigate a world of crime, dealing with all sorts of shady organizations – and surprisingly, none of them are based in Japan. What really stands out are the action scenes; they’re consistently well-done, with a good amount of grit, but they don’t feel gratuitously violent. Almost every episode has at least one incredibly memorable sequence, and often, there are several!

I’ve noticed that Black Lagoon can get pretty over-the-top with its characters – there’s a deadly maid and some seriously unsettling twins. But honestly, those characters are key to what I think are the show’s strongest storylines, so I don’t mind them being so extreme. It’s not like creepy twins are unique to anime anyway; you see that trope everywhere.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

The Best Anime For Beginners, Period

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood tells the compelling story of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric. After a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life using alchemy, Edward loses his arms and legs, while Alphonse’s soul is bound to a suit of armor. They embark on a journey to find the Philosopher’s Stone, hoping it will restore their bodies. While the story begins with a straightforward goal, the Elric brothers soon become entangled in a dangerous conspiracy that threatens to destroy their world.

Fans love this anime for its well-paced story and detailed world, which explores themes of sacrifice, what’s right and wrong, and the importance of family. It successfully blends exciting action, funny moments, and heartfelt emotion, and it wraps up with a truly satisfying conclusion, making it a great choice for anyone new to anime.

2025-12-19 04:15