There\u2019s never been a better time to be an anime fan. I still have trouble believing a niche hobby I had growing up that\u2019d often get me strange looks from my peers is now assimilated with the mainstream. It\u2019s very strange to think that the WWE and Crunchyroll have teamed up many times in the past to a variety of different ends, and you often hear NFL and NBA players musing on their favorite anime and manga.<\/p>
But, with a metric ton of new anime releasing every three months, it\u2019s easy to become overwhelmed and confused about what the best shows to sink your teeth into are, at least at the start. Thankfully, I have seen an unholy amount of anime, and as such I feel qualified to let you know which ones are worth watching when you haven\u2019t seen a lot. Included in this list will be both titles that you may have heard about in passing, and titles I would consider \u2018deep cuts\u2019 but would still be appropriate for a new fan.<\/p>
Studio:<\/strong> TMS Entertainment Megalobox <\/em>is set in a futuristic society where our main character, Junk Dog, makes a living fighting in fixed boxing matches using a metal exoskeleton known as a Gear. Junk Dog takes on the alias of \u201cJoe\u201d and enters the Megalonia tournament in an effort to be matched up against and defeat his rival, the current champion Yuri. Megalobox <\/em>is a hard-boiled boxing drama telling the story of real characters fighting for survival in a world that couldn\u2019t care less about them, and I think it\u2019s really neat. <\/p> This one makes the list because, despite the metal exoskeletons, Megalobox <\/em>is a cut-and-dry boxing anime with themes of immigration, freedom, and achieving the (seemingly) impossible. It has two seasons, the second of which is called NOMAD, and continues to develop the characters introduced in the first. All this, backdropped by a unique blend of hip-hop and Latin music styles makes this anime one you should definitely not sleep on.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> 8-bit I am a recent convert of the cult of BLUELOCK<\/em>, despite not being a fan of soccer. So, if you also aren\u2019t a fan of soccer (or football, depending on where you hang your hat) don\u2019t let it turn you off. It\u2019s a series where, in a desperate bid to find and train Japan\u2019s next striker, 300 forwards are recruited to spend the foreseeable future vying for \u201csurvival\u201d against their \u201cteammates.\u201d <\/p> Despite how it may sound (or look), these youngsters don\u2019t face any mortal peril in BLUELOCK<\/em>, but based on their internal monologue, you\u2019d think they do. I love this series because, despite my utter lack of understanding of intricate soccer terminology, it feels like a cross between Danganronpa<\/em> and soccer, and I am totally here for it.<\/p> Studio: <\/strong>TMS Entertainment Dr. Stone<\/em> begins in the modern day, when a mysterious green light envelops the world, turning all of humanity into stone. Thousands of years pass, and Senku Ishigami wills himself out of the stone and sets out to rebuild civilization one step at a time, using nothing but the power of the scientific method. <\/p> In addition to the relatable characters and apocalyptic setting, one of the biggest things Dr. STONE<\/em> has that many other anime like it don\u2019t is its attention to authentic science. If Senku is seeking to engineer a battery, for example, you can rest assured that while the series won\u2019t always instruct you step-by-step how to replicate the process, in many cases it will. It adds a sense of realism which many anime lack.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> Shuka 91 Days<\/em> is a mafia revenge story at its finest. It follows Angelo Lagusa, who as a child hid in the closet as his family was murdered by the Vanetti crime family. Angelo, now going by the name of Avilio Bruno, has returned to his hometown to exact revenge on the Vanettis and starts with the boss\u2019s son, Nero. It\u2019s also a completed story with a beginning, a middle, and an end, which is a luxury in the anime community.<\/p> I really liked how simple this revenge plot was. It\u2019s not a multi-phase, multi-season plan to get revenge \u2014 the main character meets the target of his revenge within 1-2 episodes, and it\u2019s finished within a single season. 91 Days<\/em> belongs on this list because you deserve a story that ends without a cliffhanger, especially if this is your first, or one of your first, exposures to the medium.<\/p> Studio: <\/strong>A-1 Pictures Your Lie in April<\/em> is a tragic romance with classical music as a backdrop. Arima Kousei is a traumatized young pianist who once was an icon in the child musician scene, but he dropped out upon the death of his mother. His life was devoid of color until he encounters Miyazono Kaori, who inspires him slowly but surely to return to the world of classical music. <\/p> I must emphasize: this one is not for the light of heart. If you\u2019re prone to crying over tales of trauma, loss, and grief, you should still watch Your Lie in April<\/em>, but you should do so with the knowledge that you are going to cry, and that\u2019s OK. You\u2019ll emerge on the other end a butterfly born of catharsis.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> Brain\u2019s Base Baccano!<\/em> is set in 1930s Chicago and tells the story of a wide cast of seemingly disconnected characters in multiple different places at multiple different times. But, while they may be disconnected from each other, they\u2019re all connected to a mysterious elixir of immortality concocted over two centuries earlier. <\/p> Baccano!<\/em> is told out of order on purpose, so be aware of that if you\u2019re just picking it up. It\u2019s still worth a watch, though it can be confusing on first watch if you\u2019re not aware of that little fact. I think the thing I loved most about this series is its characters \u2014 light novel author Ryohgo Narita is very talented when it comes to large, disparate casts with no overt ties to one another, but who come together in very unique ways midway through the story. And Baccano!<\/em> is no exception.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> Sunrise It wouldn\u2019t be a starter anime list without at least one Mobile Suit Gundam<\/em>. Iron Blooded Orphans<\/em> is the perfect starter anime to this series because it\u2019s set in its own, disconnected timeline from the others. It follows Mikazuki Augus and Orga Itsuka, who seek to build the private security company Tekkadan from the inside-out. This series ran for fifty episodes from October 2015 to April 2017. <\/p> I was trying to think what would be the best choice for a starter Gundam <\/em>series, and Iron-Blooded Orphans<\/em> is the one that instantly came to mind. It belongs to its own timeline, which resolves some of the angst that comes from new fans of the franchise, and its child soldier-driven plot resembles the earliest days of the franchise. These characters\u2019 fight for a life all their own is also very relatable.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> Sunrise It would also be an incomplete list without Cowboy Bebop<\/em>. I was a late convert to this space-faring series, only finishing it once it\u2019d been out for 20 years, but I can still admit it\u2019s amazing. Cowboy Bebop<\/em> follows the radically disparate group of bounty hunters on board the Bebop \u2014 Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Radical Edward, and Ein the Corgi.\u00a0<\/p> Each has their own unique drive for survival and intricate backstories, but survival in this universe requires both money and food. So, in order to continue running from the ghosts and skeletons in their respective closets, they take missions here and there and use the chump change to live another day.<\/p> I think this one belongs on this list not only because its notoriety is massive, but also because it feels largely isolated from episode-to-episode. I mean, yes there is a continuity and the episodes are leading up to a massive firefight between Spike and his demons, but mostly every episode deals with a new gig, new side characters, and new frustrations for the crew of the Bebop.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> Doga Kobo Sing \u201cYesterday\u201d For Me<\/em> is a classic slice-of-life story following Haru Nonaka, Shinako Morinome, Rikuo Uozumi, and Rou Hayakawa. It is a topsy-turvy tale of young love, heartbreak, rejection and acceptance.<\/p> It admittedly took me a bit to get into this one, but once I was in, nothing stopped that train. At its core is a highly relatable tale of adolescence, of growing up and not knowing your place in the world and desperately wanting to return to the past. But, as the series progresses, it\u2019s clear to each character that moving forward into the future is the healthy move to make, and that means so much to someone who\u2019s experienced that precise rut. It\u2019s a classic rom-drama, but there are lessons to be learned in its pages.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> Creators in Pack Love is Like a Cocktail<\/em> is referred to as an anime short, meaning each episode is only around three minutes in length. It follows Mizusawa Chisato, who is extremely competent at her office job, but upon returning home and partaking of her husband Sora\u2019s creative alcoholic cocktails becomes a drunken mess known as a \u201cYoidere.\u201d In each episode, the corresponding cocktail recipe is provided, meaning you can follow along and make it at home so long as you\u2019re of drinking age! <\/p> I think recommending an anime short is a fantastic idea to new anime fans, but it largely depends on which anime short. In a lot of cases, these shorts can be arguably too deep for many new fans, but this one is not only rather surface-level, but it\u2019s instructional and provides more than simply entertainment. I should emphasize, even if you don\u2019t partake of alcohol, you\u2019ll enjoy the misadventures presented here.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> P.A. Works Sakura Quest<\/em> is an unorthodox workplace comedy involving five young women and the tourism bureau for a small Japanese town set in its ways. These women must come up with new and creative ways to bring tourists to the town while also butting heads with the locals, who really couldn\u2019t care less if more tourists came to the town. It also has a lot of heart that you might not expect given that premise. <\/p> If you\u2019re looking for more practical humor and more emotionally driven stories, you should prioritize Sakura Quest<\/em>. In this two-cour series, we are able to see how these young women are unconfident in their ability to revamp this tourism bureau, but over time, and with each success and failure, their foundations become stronger. By the last episode, I just about cried of happiness.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> CloverWorks, Wit Studio SPYxFAMILY<\/em> paints itself as a rough-and-tumble spy drama, and it can definitely be that at times, but more often than not it\u2019s a supernatural, slice-of-life comedy. The series follows Secret Agent \u201cTwilight,\u201d who works for the Westalis Intelligence Service\u2019s Eastern-Focused Division, or WISE. <\/p> Twilight is tasked with infiltrating the opposing country Ostania and preventing war from erupting between Westalis and Ostania, but first \u2014 he needs to make a family. Twilight, now going by Loid Forger, first adopts a daughter named Anya, then manages to find a wife of convenience, Yor. It turns out, however, that Anya is a telepath and Yor is a professional assassin. <\/p> I really enjoy the humor and action expertly blended together in this series. It made this list because, while the premise might seem complicated, the way it\u2019s written is quite simple. As stated, it\u2019s practically a slice-of-life that incorporates action elements at times, and I think that formula works well.<\/p> Studio: <\/strong>Tezuka Productions My Home Hero<\/em> follows Tetsuo Tosu, an ordinary family man who winds up killing his daughter\u2019s abusive, yakuza-affiliated boyfriend. With the help of his ride-or-die wife Kasen, the couple must lie, cheat, and steal in order to cover their tracks and prevent the yakuza from learning the truth. <\/p> When I say that this series had me on the edge of my seat for practically its entire run, that should be a testament to how exciting My Home Hero<\/em> can be. It\u2019s admittedly just one piece of its overall puzzle and there\u2019s no reason at all to expect a second season, but a man can hope that one is announced soon.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> Bones Mob Psycho 100<\/em> is an anime adapted from the slice-of-life manga by the creator of One Punch Man<\/em>. It follows Mob, an incredibly talented ESPer who is learning and growing into an adult one step at a time. Oh, and if his emotional capacity ever reaches 100%, he\u2019ll explode. That\u2019s important to note. <\/p> I really like Mob Psycho 100<\/em> because it masters the art of telling a wholesome slice-of-life story while balancing a shonen battle story at the same time. What\u2019s more, it\u2019s only three seasons in length!<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> Trigger DISCLAIMER:<\/strong> The above trailer and the entirety of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners<\/em> has mature content.<\/p> Cyberpunk: Edgerunners<\/em> is set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077<\/em> and serves as a sort-of prequel. It follows David Martinez, a street kid living in Night City who is about to learn that nothing good happens in Night City. It tells a perfect story of characters who don\u2019t know when to quit when everything around them, even the city itself, is screaming at them to quit. I would suggest anyone, even those who disliked the game it\u2019s based on, to give this one a shot. It might even convince you to give the game another chance.<\/p> In just 10 episodes (two episodes less than a normal anime season!) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners<\/em> has become one of my favorite anime of all time. The series expertly blends compelling character motivations with a world that wants them dead, and for that it deserves praise. I won\u2019t go in too deep here, but the fact that I felt hollow at my core after the first episode, imagining myself in the main character\u2019s position, should tell you all you need to know. <\/p> But the last episode too, had me drowning in melancholy and immediately made me want to add Cyberpunk 2077<\/em> to my gaming library. I know now it\u2019s supposedly good and all, but at the time there was no reason to think that, and the series still made me go to GameStop and buy a physical copy of Cyberpunk 2077<\/em>.<\/p> Studio: <\/strong>Kyoto Animation A Silent Voice<\/em> is a story of self-acceptance and forgiveness disguised as romance. It follows Shouya Ishida, who was once a bully of a deaf girl named Shouko Nishimiya. While their entire class was responsible for the bullying, Shouya is singled out as the scapegoat and grows up as an outcast. Fast forward a number of years and Shouya runs into Shouko and tries to make amends while also forgiving himself for being so cruel to someone he holds dear. <\/p> I absolutely adore this anime film. It tells such a compelling tale of overcoming foolish mistakes as a child when you are entering adulthood. To add, it does so with understanding and forgiveness that society often tends to lack. I have seen many people on the internet fail to understand the meaning of this film, but I have seen just as many truly get it, and that gives me hope for the future.<\/p> Studio:<\/strong> Bones Fullmetal Alchemist<\/em>, and its infinitely more popular remake, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood<\/em>, follow brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who seek to restore their bodies after a forbidden alchemical ritual left Edward without two of his limbs and Alphonse without a physical form at all, sans a suit of armor. <\/p> It probably doesn\u2019t need to be said, but Brotherhood <\/em>is the more accessible (and better) version, so start with it, but if you are able to find the 2003 series, I believe that is also worth a watch. Fullmetal Alchemist<\/em> is one of those quintessential anime that everyone \u2014 no matter your experience with the medium \u2014 should watch at least once. It has everything you could possibly ask for: drama, mystery, a pair of brothers who would storm the gates of hell for each other, a compelling set of varied villains with their own motivations and backstories, and a historically parallel world where it all goes down.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The anime to watch if you’re curious about anime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":883,"featured_media":420446,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"article_type":"","gamurs_wordpress_blocks_hide_tags":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"[]","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[23892],"tags":[148,21956],"internal-label":[],"invoiceable_action":[23730],"article_type":[23118],"coauthors":[{"id":883,"display_name":"James Herd","user_login":"James Herd","user_nicename":"james-herd"}],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
How to Watch:<\/strong> Crunchyroll<\/a> | Hulu<\/a> | Tubi TV<\/a><\/p> 16. BLUELOCK<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Crunchyroll<\/a><\/p> 15. Dr. Stone<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Amazon Prime Video<\/a> | Crunchyroll<\/a> | Funimation<\/a> | Hulu<\/a><\/p> 14. 91 Days<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch: <\/strong>Crunchyroll<\/a><\/p> 13. Your Lie in April<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Crunchyroll<\/a> | Funimation<\/a> | Hulu<\/a><\/p> 12. Baccano!<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> N\/A, Home Media Only (as of writing)<\/p> 11. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Amazon Prime Video<\/a> | Crunchyroll<\/a> | Hulu<\/a> | Net<\/a>f<\/a>lix<\/a><\/p> 10. Cowboy Bebop<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Amazon Prime Video<\/a> | Crunchyroll<\/a> | Funimation<\/a> | Hulu<\/a><\/p> 9. Sing \u201cYesterday\u201d For Me<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Crunchyroll<\/a><\/p> 8. Love is Like a Cocktail<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Crunchyroll<\/a><\/p> 7. SAKURA QUEST<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Crunchyroll<\/a> | Funimation<\/a><\/p> 6. SPY x FAMILY<\/em> <\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Crunchyroll<\/a> | Hulu<\/a><\/p> 5. M<\/em>y Home Hero<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Crunchyroll<\/a><\/p> 4. Mob Psycho 100<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Crunchyroll<\/a> | Funimation<\/a><\/p> 3. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> Netflix<\/a><\/p> 2. A Silent Voice<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> N\/A, Home Media Only (as of writing)<\/p> 1. Fullmetal Alchemist \/ Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood<\/em><\/h3>
How to Watch:<\/strong> N\/A (2003 series) | Crunchyroll<\/a> (Brotherhood) | Funimation<\/a> (Brotherhood) | Hulu<\/a> (Brotherhood)<\/p>