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Anime. It is a form of entertainment that a lot of people are familiar with, but hesitant to jump into. It is a vast space with a lot of different categories in it! So, if you have been interested in trying to indulge in the greatness that anime is, but don’t know what to watch, never fear. I got you. Here are 5 excellent starter anime and some honorable mentions as well. Just as a side note, this is just my personal list! I took into factors things such as how many episodes/season are in the series, if the series is still going, genre, and style! First up, some honorable mentions!
Naruto
Leaving this amazing anime off the list hurts my heart. I have to be honest, this is my favorite anime of all time. It is amazing. The original Naruto is great and a classic from the Toonami days and Shippuden just takes it to another level, and Boruto so far is great. Naruto follows, you guessed it, a kid named Naruto who is on the chase to become the greatest ninja in his village and become the Hokage, which is the highest ranking any ninja can have, and they serve as leaders for their village and nation. This show has high–flying action, crazy drama, and some of the best emotionally-driven scenes in all of anime. The only reason why I had to leave it off the least is that it is a very, very long watch. A ton of content with more than 600 episodes and a lot of movies. Sure, even if you skip all the filler that is a lot of episodes to cover. So if you have the time, I highly recommend it, but if not, once you get the time, please go watch it!
One Piece
Another situation just like Naruto. I personally have not started One Piece yet, but it is one of the most popular animes out there, and just like Naruto, the story is vast following the story of Monkey D. Luffy and the straw hat parts on their quest to find the ultimate treasure. If you think that Naruto is long, get a load of this. One Piece has over 800 episodes, and it is still going on. So, once again if you are ready to bunker down and start watching, go right ahead. You are in for a wonderful show.
Okay, with those honorable mentions out the way, let’s start the list.List goes in no particular order
My Hero Academia
If you like superheroes, this is right up your alley. This is the most current anime on the list, with it not even being two years old(still going on)! The story followsIzuku Midoriya and his classmates on their quest to become pro heroes. In this world, almost everyone is born with a quirk (which is another name for a superpower/special ability?). Notice how I saidalmost everyone is born with a quirk. There is 2 percent that is not born with one, and Midoriya is in that crowd. That is, until his idol (and number one pro hero) all might cross paths, and things happen! The cool thing about this anime is that the quirks are super unique! Each character has good development time, and it is high–flying action! I suggested this one to first-timers for a couple of reasons! Firstis that there are not a lot of episodes (a little over 50, and it is still going)! The second reason is that with superheroes dominating both TV and movies, this anime is very accessible and is very relatable to other properties! The third reason is that it has an English dub version that is done really well! So for any newcomer who is worried about watching a version with subtitles (which many longtime watchers will tell you is the better way to watch, including me), you don’t have to worry about it until the newest episodes of the 3rd season! Plus ultra!
Dragon Ball Z
Do I need to say a lot about this? This is the poster child for anime. Dragon Ball Z follows Goku and the Z Fighters through their adventures. Iconic. Go watch this ASAP. Some of the most iconic fights of the last 20 years in fictional history and just an overall amazing series. You will not be disappointed. Go super saiyan.
Death Note
What happens when you give a teenager a notebook that is tied to a death god where as soon as he writes someone’s name in it, they die? Well, in Death Note, that is just case. This anime will have you going crazy as it is a game of cat and mouse between the cops and Light (the kid with the book) as they try to catch him! My favorite thing about this anime (and why I always recommend to beginners in the world of anime) is that it is a worthy binge show and it is a nice short watch! With only 38 episodes, it is a weekend watch, and there is an English dub! Also, you can currently find death note on Netflix, so it makes it even more accessibility!
Cowboy Bebop
If you are someone who likes things like Guardians of the Galaxy, or even a little of Star Wars, this is right up your alley! This is the story of a group of misfits and bandits aboard their ship (fittingly named The Bebop). The show is widely considered some of the best anime by both longtime fans and the newcomers that watch it. Plus, there is a hyper-intelligent corgi in the show, and who does not love that? The best thing about this is that it is only 26 episodes, so just like Death Note, it is a short weekend watch! I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a solid ending and an amazing story that will have you laugh and cry a lot.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Last on the list, but certainly not least. This story takes place in a fictional world where a process called “alchemy“ rules the land. This is the process of taking on the thing and using it to create another. This art form has been militarized and used to wage war. The story follows Edward and Alphonse Elric, two state alchemists who tragically lost their mother in an accident. In the process, they try to use alchemy to get their mother back, but things go bad, and they ultimately fail. The story follows their quest to find the truth behind human alchemy, and more importantly, they get caught up in a world–altering event that they need to help stop. The action in this is high action. Note that this anime kind of moves slowly in the beginning, but picks up in the middle, and before you know it, you will be done! All said and done, this anime has 64 episodes, so it is a little bit of a long watch but it very much worth it!
What 5 anime would you recommend to a beginner? For things geek, you are in the right place here at Geek Motivation!
