Top 5 Animes For Beginners

Congratulations, if you clicked on this article you either openly enjoy anime or you just want to find out what shows are good without telling your friends so you’re not socially embarrassed. Either way, glad to have you, and welcome to my personal top 5 animes for beginner watchers.

Now I’ve been an on and off watcher of anime for the past three years, but have recently been getting back into watching a lot of high-quality shows, such as Attack on Titan, Bungou Stray Dogs, and many more. But since I’m guessing you’re probably new to this subject, let’s start out with the basics.

Genres

There are tons of genres for choosing what kind of anime you enjoy, ranging from a sweet slice of life to a grotesque horror, or even a thrilling dystopian drama. Most are action-based, with the classic hero plot, however, there’s also mystery, romance, history, supernatural, psychological, tragedy, and the list goes on for days.

Many people find it difficult to start a new anime as they usually can’t really pick a genre that seems to fit their preference; in that case, I recommend just looking directly into descriptions of specific shows that catch your eye, and see if you think it would interest you!

Streaming Sites

Now, depending on what your tastes in Japanese television are, some of these might appeal to you, some might not. The wonderful thing about it is that you can customize your experience. As for watching anime, there are multiple websites where you can find old and new, popular, and underground anime as well. Here are some top websites for streaming:

• Crunchyroll (with a premium subscription)
• Kissanime
• Masteranime
• 9anime
• Funimation

Keep in mind that some of these sites might recommend you to use a VPN while streaming, but most are good if you just want to watch them on Wi-Fi.

Now, to get into the actual anime recommendations, because that’s what you’re here for right?

5. Fairy Tail

Coming in at number five is Fairy Tail, a classic adventure anime for starters. In this thrilling fantasy, it tells the story of Natsu Dragneel, a dragon slayer wizard on a quest to find his long-lost adoptive father.

Along the way, he joins up with another wizard named Lucy Heartfilia, and henceforth they form a guild of questers to travel this journey together.

People who enjoy anime with a simple plot, side stories, and lots of friendship and character interaction might like this, as it reminds us all how strong the power of friendship can be in hard times.

I recommend this because although there are some melancholy parts throughout the show, the overall anime itself is heartwarming and interesting enough to keep you hooked for a good while. In total, there are 227 episodes of Fairy Tail.

4. Naruto

Well-known for its characters and mind-blowing plot twists, Naruto enters at number four. Viewers learn the story of young Naruto, a young orphaned boy who was the aftermath of an ancient battle between the Nine-Tails and the Fourth Hokage. He also is the outcast of his village.

Little does he know he possesses a power greater than he could ever imagine. As he grows, Naruto vows to be the strongest warrior his village has ever seen, to quench his thirst for recognition.

This anime is full of funny moments, epic battles, and character development for those who enjoy a bit of everything at once.

I enjoy this anime thoroughly because of the character development you get to witness, not just from the protagonist’s side but also the antagonists, and it really gives the show a whole new perspective. There are around 500 episodes of Naruto.

3. Attack on Titan

This high-intensity anime taking number three on this list is Attack on Titan, or Shingeki no Kyojin. Based in a world where giant man-eating titans roam the earth, they force humanity to live inside massive walls to survive.

Eren Jaeger desires to become a member of the humanities scouting corps, to kill titans, but after a startling discovery of his past, he must find answers; and these answers could change all of society.

I for one absolutely loved this anime, the entire plotline and characters made me so invested even within the very first season. It’s a bit graphic and heavy with death, however, it’s all a part of the bigger picture and helps move the story along. There are 59 episodes of Attack on Titan, save for the newest episode of season 4, the last season.

2. Toradora

A hilarious and loving romance comedy, Toradora is highly popular among many anime watchers.

The plot is quite simple yet sweet; it introduces young student Ryuji Takasu to a new school, and despite rumors against him, befriends the fiery Taiga Aisaka, a girl at his school. After finding out she lives alone, he promises to look after her as much as he can.

As classic romance comedies go, Ryuji is crushing on Taiga’s best friend Minori Kusheida, and Taiga likes Ryujins classmate, Yusaku Kitamura. Of course, as the show goes on, Ryuji and Taiga eventually fall for each other instead. People who enjoy slow but comical love stories might like this anime.

Toradora is one of the few romantic shows that caught my attention, not only for the characters but for how the show plays out, and how the plot slowly comes together. It’s lovable from the start and you can really connect with the characters.

1. Death Note

Now don’t be alarmed, the name is what the show centers on, however, it’s recommended by hundreds as a beginner anime.

An unsuspecting teenager named Light Yagami stumbles upon a mysterious notebook, called the Death Note that turns out to kill anyone whose name is written in it.

Light then attempts a mass killing of all those he deems unworthy of life, which then involves the Japanese police force and a cryptic detective with an untold past named L trying to stop him on his rampage. Those who like a darker plot with quick twists in the storyline may enjoy this anime.

I will say this anime is quite dark, definitely not for the faint of heart, but it really isn’t physically, more of a psychological way. It messes with your mind, but is also, once again, very popular. There are 37 episodes of Death Note right now.

Now I get that this is a small list and you can probably find other, bigger lists elsewhere. But if you watch these and enjoy them, then my job here is done. Anime has such a wide range it’s nearly impossible to just make broad generalizations for everyone, but that’s why there are thousands to choose from! So I only wish you the best of luck in finding what you enjoy.