There is this increasing negative perception about people who watch anime in the general public. There’s a lot of noise, a lot of opinions. To someone who has never watched anime, it can be quite overwhelming.
You’ll find toxicity in the anime community, but in my opinion, that’s just the case for almost every community. If the noise doesn’t bother you, you’ve found the right article.
Below is a list of 10 Anime shows that I think every beginner should watch just to get their feet wet in this particular genre of media.
Top 10 Anime Shows to Watch for Beginners
Fairy Tail
Fairy tail is a typical shounen anime. But one of the things that bug me about Fairy Tail is that the arcs are much shorter. However, this is a point in favor of beginners.
Fairy Tail is much easier to watch and digest. The fight scenes are very interesting to watch and there is no degradation of animation over the seasons.
The story isn’t exactly complicated but it does have its twists and turns and will at times shock you.
My Hero Academia
Adapted from one of the popular manga right now, My Hero Academia is a superhero shonen anime.
The story is about a young who’s born without any superpowers (quirks). He gets a quirk, otherwise why else would watch this.
The show is fairly new and very easy to get lost in.
Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
Does bunch Samurais with extraordinary abilities chopping off demon heads sound appealing to you?
Well, then you’re in luck because Demon Slayer is exactly that and much more. The Manga ended in 2020 and the anime took the world by storm when it was aired in 2019.
It is set in an alternate Japan where the world is plagued by Demons with only Demon Slayers fighting against them.. If you end up enjoying Demon Slayer a little to much, here's another suggestion for you - Anime like demon slayer
Death Note
Death Note was my first anime show and I couldn’t be prouder to include it in this list.
The story is about a very handsome nerd that finds a book that allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes. However, this doesn’t come without any consequences and resistance from the world.
Death Note challenges a lot of norms in storytelling. “Morally Grey” is the perfect way to describe the characters. You’ll find yourself questioning a lot of things both in the show and in real life as the story progresses.
Samurai Champloo
I would say that this one is meant for a more mature audience than the rest of the shows on the list.
It is also much older (released in 2004) and the age is reflected in the animation. But the story and characters make up for it.
The story is about two Samurais and a girl called Fuu who’s accompanying them in search of Samurai that strangely smells like a sunflower.
One Piece
If you like a long story (the manga is also ongoing), then One Piece is ideal for you. Even though the story is long and the filler is aplenty, this is a truly special anime.
The Story follows Monkey.D.Luffy intends to become the Pirate King and obtain the much-coveted treasure called “One Piece”.
Along the way, he makes friends with lively characters that can’t help but join his crew due to his charm. Among these is a person who uses three swords and a reindeer who talks (if that confuses you then just watch the show).
While the initial episodes may lead you to believe the story is pretty simple, the real story that unfolds is something that makes you think.
Pokemon
A lot of people don’t realize that Pokemon is an anime. The shock on people’s faces when I tell them is truly beautiful.
If you don’t know already, Pokemon follows the story of Ash Ketchum, a budding Pokemon trainer (Pokemons are creatures that have abilities).
A Pokemon trainer is a person that catches these innocent creatures with the help of special balls and makes them fight other creatures until they are on the brink of death.
Jujutsu Kaisen
I believe Jujutsu Kaisen is going to be one of the best anime ever created. I may be biased and I can’t be 100% certain because it is fairly new but it does check all the boxes.
When Itadori joins an occult club because he doesn’t know any better, his life is turned upside down when he discovers that the occult arts are much more real than he realized.
The world of Jujutsu Kaisen comprises cursed creatures and people with cursed energies. Cursed Creatures wreak havoc, killing innocents as they please while People blessed with Cursed Energy resist them.
And then there is our dear protagonist Itadori who seems to become both things at the same time.
Naruto
Naruto is probably one of the most famous anime in the world. Much like One Piece, the story is long, it can get repetitive, and it is definitely worth the commitment.
In a world where Ninjas are nothing like real ninjas and have learned techniques that practically make them superhuman, Naruto has been mistreated his whole life due to an incident that wasn’t his fault.
Naruto grows up aspiring to become someone that everyone would respect and makes countless friends along the way.
Attack on Titan
You know how there are shows that keep hurting you but you keep coming back to them because they are just so damn good? Well, Attack on Titan makes those shows look like garbage.
I saved Attack on Titan for last because it’s the one show that will truly hurt you and It will also make you think the most.
In this world, humanity lives inside three very large concentric walls. The walls limit humanity inside but also protect them from large humanoid creatures called Titans who will eat humans without hesitation.
Eren Yaegar, Mikasa Ackermann and Armin Arlert live inside the outermost walls. One day the protection of these impossible tall and strong walls is rendered useless and the rest is history.
Conclusion
This list is completely based on my personal preference and you take it with a grain of salt.
I would encourage you to ask as many people as you can for suggestions so that they’ll suggest shows that are not included in this list.