Best List of Anime Series Recommended for Beginners
A list of solid Anime that need no long introduction, and are perfect for new Anime watchers to begin their journey!
なに NANI
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なに NANI ?!
Don’t know where to start with Anime? Let us help you out!
You will find many different recommendations whether you go on Google, Reddit, or multiple Anime-centric blogs and platforms. Yet, you will also find many common recommendations too. So which one should I follow?!
On this list of recommended Anime for beginners, we will consider:
Different age groups and genders
Different genres of Anime + what those genres are
1 Main + other great examples of Anime in those genres
Anime is extraordinary. We love it and we want to share this happiness with you too. For that reason, we believe it’s important to have the best start and find an Anime that matches your tastes.
This list is primarily intended for you who are new to Anime and are looking for a safe and solid place to jump in.
So if you are intrigued by Anime or if you want to recommend a good Anime for your beginner friend, hopefully this list will get you and your friend to come aboard this ship and set sail — onwards to new adventures ☆(◒‿◒)☆
What are the Main Genres of Anime?
Like how it’s good to know the difference between fantasy novels from literary fiction, or sci-fi movies from Disney musicals, it’s significant to know at least a little about Anime genres.
Most Anime fans, even if they don’t study the Japanese language, use a lot of Japanese words when discussing genres of Anime so it is worth knowing the basics of this when discussing Anime for beginners.
Shounen
Source: CBR
Sometimes spelled as ‘shonen’ or ‘shōnen’ (少年 / しょうねん), this genre of anime and manga is traditionally geared towards boys and men, with the name roughly translating to ‘youth/boy’ in Japanese.
Shounen Anime typically involves male protagonists, and is usually themed around adventure and personal growth.
The protagonists are often fighters or heroes, and their goal is clear: defeat the threat. It can go a lot broader and deeper than this, but it’s basically this.
Examples of Shounen Anime include:
Haikyuu!!, My Hero Academia, Hunter x Hunter, Naruto, One Piece, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Demon Slayer.
Shoujo
For boys, there’s shounen and for girls, there’s shoujo. Traditionally, shoujo Anime and manga are geared towards girls and women.
In this case, yhey primarily feature female protagonists and are themed around love, friendship, and comedy. Shoujo Anime often feature romantic story arcs.
Just like shounen, shoujo anime has its tropes and themes.
Shounen and shoujo is the stereotype of what is “for boys” and “for girls”, but of course you can watch whatever you want and find what suits your fancy. The point here is to simply familiarise yourself with the names ‘shounen’ and ‘shoujo’, and the themes that often define them.
Examples of Shoujo Anime include:
Fruits Basket, Ouran High School Host Club, Sailor Moon, Kamisama Kiss, Orange, and Cardcaptor Sakura.
Other Anime Genres
Beyond these two main categories, Anime can be broken down further as seen below (just to list a few popular ones):
Action/Adventure
Comedy/Slice-of-Life
Drama/Tragedy
Psychological
History
Mecha/Military
Supernatural/Magic
Romance
Music/Sports
A lot of these genres often fall under the bigger headlines: shounen and shoujo categories. For example, you’ll find many Fantasy Anime that might be called shounen or shoujo (depending on the gender of the protagonist). Many Slice of Life Anime also fall into the shoujo anime genre.
Anime is not so easily classified into age groups, and many Anime that look suitable for kids may carry deep, serious and philosophical themes — possibly the biggest misunderstanding.
What you’re going to see below are compilations of the best recommended Anime that we resonate with!
The Recommendation
12 Leading Genre Starters
If those are not your cup of tea, here are more recommendation for various genres!
Bonus: Essential Anime Movies for Everyone
Acknowledgement: lukeatlook for all image collages
The secret to finding the best Anime for beginners is to pick a genre you already care about (fantasy, sci-fi, romance, comedy) and to find the commonly recommended Anime of that genre. Good luck!
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