Hey there, anime explorers! 🌟👋 If you’re taking your first steps into the vast universe of anime or just looking for something fresh to dive into, I’ve got the perfect list for you. Imagine a basket brimming with apples of various flavors 🍏🍎 - that’s how I’ve curated this list, mixing genres and timelines to give you a taste of everything. These aren’t ranked by popularity but by what I genuinely believe could resonate with you. From timeless classics to modern gems, some of these titles are the ones I wish I’d stumbled upon in my early otaku days. These are by no means all the anime I’d recommend for newbies (you’ll have to stay tuned for part II) but a good place to start. And for the seasoned fans out there, you might find a hidden treasure or two. Ready to embark on this colorful journey? Let’s dive in! 🌈🎥🍿
5. Cute flirty romance 💗
These anime may also be considered Shojos (animes that focus more on interpersonal relationships and romance than fighting and action). They have female leads💃🏽 that are going through a life event or an obstacle. They also have potential love interests that you either root for or hope it doesn’t become a thing.
• Fruit basket
Tohru experiences a tragic lose and has to navigate life and school. She also finds herself befriending and living with a group of people with a bizarre secret 🤐. P.S. There is an older version but it was re-animated and fully finished for the newer 2019 version.
• Kakuriyo - Bed & Breakfast for Spirits
This anime convinced my friend to watch anime. It is a cute romance 😍. The female lead, Aoi, has always been able to see spirits. A college student gets taken to another realm. First, you’ll wonder if she was in the wrong place at the wrong time but as the relationships blossom you begin to wonder if it was actually the right time and place.
4. Bromance Shonen 👬
For those who are new to genres, Shonen is an anime genre that focuses on a male lead that is trying to achieve the goal of being the best at something, to right a wrong, or protect loved ones. Friendships or family connections. Loyalty, growth, and adventure. These anime will have you asking your bestie “If my body disappeared but my spirit was in a metal armor suit, would you still be my friend?” Such good connections will have you striving to find something similar.
• Hunter x hunter
Go on an adventure with Gon as he strives to be a licensed hunter, meets new people, and hopefully finds his father. On the way he meets his bestie and together they go on the adventure🗺️ of their lives. Their friendship is probably one of my favorites. P.S. There is an older version but it was re-animated so you can enjoy it either.
• Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood
Enter a world full of alchemy and the law of equivalent exchange. When two brothers, Edward and Alphonso, experience a tragic loss they look toward alchemy to rectify it. But let’s not forget 🔃 you must give something to get something. They go on a journey to find what they lost. Another one of my favorite animes of all time. P.S. There is a Full Metal Alchemist and they are fundamentally the same except that one is older and pivots from the manga halfway through. So that’s why I recommend Brotherhood over the other.
3. Cute family 👨👩👧
I don’t know if the decline of birthrate 🍼 is behind the types of anime but I’m here for it. These anime center around family and or marriage and it is beyond cute. See fun family dynamics with a twist as well as seeing a couple navigate a new marriage.
• Spy family
What do a spy, assassin, and telepath have in common? They are a 👨👩👧 family. We get to see this family navigate challenges and interpersonal connections.
• TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You
This will have you thinking love, at first sight 😍, is real. Nasa is instantly smitten by Tsukasa’s beauty. So much so that he is involved in an accident. We get to see what becomes of these two as they navigate relationships.
2. Evil lurks in their world Shonen 👹
A world where dark evil demons, creatures, magic 🪄, and curses lurk in the background. These anime are within a dark world but I wouldn’t consider these animes to be dark. The characters defy their dark environments. They will surprise you with laughter and smiles.
• Demon slayer
Tanjiro’s life changes in an instant after a tragic event. So he enters the world of 👹 demon slaying. We get to see beautiful fight scenes and heart-wrenching plots.
• Jujutsu Kaisen
In an attempt to save a friend Itadori, finds himself thrust into the world of curses🧟♂️ and dark sorcerers. He makes his way to Tokyo Metropolitan Technical High School of Sorcery where he trains to handle cursed monsters and beings.
1. Classics 🕶️
Some of these you have probably heard of or even watched not knowing it was an anime. There are so many that I could think of for this like Yu-gi-oh, Inuyasha, Pokémon, Dragon Ball, etc. If you want to start your journey with some classics commonly known by anime lovers and some everyday people, I will start you off with Naruto or Bleach. Heads up though a lot of classics, including these two, are very long 📕 and contain filler episodes (episodes that are not in the manga). So be prepared for the commitment but trust me it’s worth it.
• Naruto & Naruto Shippuden
Hands down one of my favorite animes. Grow with Naruto as he works to achieve his life goal of being Hokage and changes his village’s perception of him. BELIEVE IT!!! P.S. watch Naruto first and then Shippuden.
• Bleach
A regular high school student that can see ghosts 👻. We get to see how this ability impacts his life as well as amazing fight scenes. But when he gets Shinigami powers will his life ever be the same?