Are you interested in anime and thinking about what would be a good first anime to watch?
Anime has recently grown in popularity throughout the world, as more anime series and movies with multilingual subtitles and dubs are offered through various video streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and others.
Many worldwide viewers watch anime for a variety of reasons, including enjoyment of the entertainment content, learning Japanese, and other factors.
However, getting into anime may be a daunting task. Choosing which ones to watch might be difficult with so many different varieties to pick from.
Fans have different tastes in anime, ranging from shonen (aimed at young men) to shoujo (aimed at young women) to seinen (aimed at both young and adult males). There are easier series to watch for casual fans who aren’t sure where to start (and may find long-running episodes like One Piece or Naruto a bit overwhelming), especially if you’re seeking something to actually connect with and that makes full use of the anime medium.
While every anime fan’s journey is unique, the series listed below contain a little bit of everything: action, drama, interesting storytelling, and even romance. Consider this your cheat guide for getting started with anime.
- Fate/Zero
Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy
Fate/Zero is based on Type-graphic Moon’s novel and follows the battle of seven sorcerers in what is known as the Holy Grail War. The winner of the combat receives a wish. These sorcerers are given the power to conjure servants to fight on their side in combat. These servants are based on historical people ranging from legendary knights to demigods. This multi-layered series’ wonderfully animated battle sequences are only one component. Each summoner has their own motives for participating in the Holy Grail War, not to mention the dynamic and relationship they have with their own minions.
Fate Zero, animated by Ufotable (the studio behind the critically acclaimed Demon Slayer), has 25 episodes and is an excellent introduction for anyone searching for a fantasy series that goes deeper than spectacular combat. The programme is available on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Hulu, among other streaming services.
- Ancient Magus Bride
Genre: Magic, Fantasy, Drama, Slice-of-life
Newcomers to anime are likely to have heard of popular Studio Ghibli works such as My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away, the latter of which won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. While Ancient Magus Bride is not a Ghibli production, its stunning animation and deep plot reflect the spirit of one.
The anime follows Chise Hatori, a young girl who, after being rejected by her family and society, puts herself up for sale and is purchased by a strange man named Elias Ainsworth, who has a big skull for a head. Alias reveals himself as a magician after purchasing Chise and sends her to live with him in Great Britain, where she learns about the magical world and overcomes her own problems.
Ancient Magus Bride, created by Studio Wit, is a series in which magic serves as a background to portray a very character-driven narrative. The show focuses on each character’s mental state, goals, and role in the universe. This is especially true for Chise, who has doubts about her own worth and value. Viewers will fall in love with the world of magic as the programme unfolds and Chise meets various characters throughout the course of the 24-episode run, which goes beyond merely waving wands for the purpose of battling. Crunchyroll has the programme available for streaming.
- Samurai Champloo
Genre: Action, Adventure, Samurai, Historical
Have you ever heard of Cowboy Bebop? Do you like hip-hop-inspired soundtracks? Samurai Champloo should be a good place to start for action lovers and those looking for a new spin on a series that combines aspects of hip-hop and historical samurai flicks.
The series, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (who also directed the critically acclaimed Cowboy Bebop), takes place in Edo-era Japan (between 1608-1868) and follows Fuu, a vibrant and spunky 15-year-old girl who hires two wandering samurai named Mugen and Jin to assist her in her search for a samurai who “smells of sunflowers.”
Mugen is a 19-year-old outspoken and forceful wandering vagabond. Meanwhile, Jin is a 20-year-old ronin, which means he is a trained samurai who does not have a master or dojo to serve.
The 26-episode series is fairly episodic in the sense that each episode serves as a self-contained journey for the three as they travel around Japan. The underlying conspiracy to discover the sunflower samurai, though, remains their primary purpose.
Samurai Champloo is remarkable in its ability to combine elements of Edo-era Japan with current elements of hip-hop and culture, including music and even some characters’ combat abilities.
Even historical details of Edo-era Japan’s operation are represented (at least to a certain extent). The programme is accessible on a variety of streaming services, including Hulu and Funimation.
- Parasyte the Maxim
Genre: Horror, Psychological Thriller
Parasyte the Maxim is recommended for enthusiasts of dark supernatural or horror aspects. The anime follows Shinichi Izumi, a high school student who becomes attached to a rare species known as a parasite, an entity that generally feeds on people. With its cognition, the parasite that was confined in Shinichi’s arm can operate independently of Izumi. Shinichi, who names the parasite Migi (which means ‘right’ in Japanese), must live against other parasites that want to eat him and other humans with Migi’s support.
Parayste the Maxim is a show for fans who enjoy programmes with aspects of horror, but it also has a lot of psychological undertones. The 24-episode series Parasyte delves into a range of psychological subjects. Parasyte manages to bring together numerous ideas amongst a backdrop of powerful horror components, from the concept of what it means to be human to the issue of morality between species. Fans who enjoy a good tale and are searching for something to keep them on the edge should give it a go. The show is available to watch on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
- Conclusion
Aside from the anime suggestion for beginners, there is a plethora of other anime to watch. Everyone may enjoy watching Studio Ghibli films and anime directed by Makoto Shinkai, such as Your Name and Weathering with You. To read more on this click here.
