Animation is one of the most popular artistic mediums on the planet, but it can also feel quite exclusive. With series consisting of hundreds (sometimes thousands) of episodes, it can be difficult to know where to start. This handy list, designed to guide you to the best animations for first-time viewers or seasoned vets wondering where to start with friends, is where we come in.
We're mainly looking at TV series here, from modern classics to ongoing adventures to iconic old shows that are must-sees for every anime fan. For those looking for the best way to dip their toes in, we'll insert a few movies at the end. Animation has a long tradition that shows no signs of slowing down, and if you want to get in on the action, the best place to start is now.
Delicious in the Dungeon
Delicious in Dungeon, also known by its Japanese name Dungeon Meshi, is the newest anime on this list, first airing in 2024. The anime consists of a fairly standard dungeon crawling adventure, with a group of warriors delving deep into the dungeons and fighting the various beasts they encounter. This makes it a very easy sell to newcomers who may not be familiar with various animation tropes.
But what makes Delicious in Dungeon unique is that the adventurers survive their long journey through the dungeon by cooking the beasts they kill. It's not any different from eating the meat of a hunter's kill, but it still feels like a more interesting way to explore character dynamics. It starts off slow and light with comedy at its core, but like a delicious meal, it builds up richer content at the right time.
Vinland Saga
Many modern anime glorify violence by showing characters who can easily dismantle others in intense confrontations. All of these characters have one thing in common. Something terrible happened to them that made them so ruthless.
The Vinland Saga depicts a similar character, Thorfinn. Thorfinn is driven mad by revenge and goes to great lengths to seek it, only to find it aimless. Through Thorfinn, the Vinland Saga explores deep themes of morality with simple philosophy. Eternal peace lies in the path of forgiveness, which makes it so attractive.
For people who grew up in the '90s, Neon Genesis Evangelion was often their introduction to anime. Even people who don't like animation have probably heard of it. Because it's hard to ignore its impact on pop culture.
Books that will help you create amazing animations
Some books and novels have stories and characters that could be more interesting and moving if put into animated form. Here are our picks:
Neon Genesis Evangelion is the story of Shinji, a 14-year-old boy living in a post-apocalyptic world who is recruited by his father to join NERV, a military organization created to fight evil beings known as angels. This series is one of those unique series that dramatizes the plot and keeps the audience engaged due to its philosophical storytelling infused with biblical symbolism.
monster
Inspired by the 1960s TV show The Fugitive, which depicted a falsely convicted doctor on the run to find the real murderer, Naoki Urasawa applied this concept to post-World War II German-influenced Japanese culture to create the Monster series.
Monster is a Dr. who struggles between staying true to his morals and giving in to the corruption around him. Focusing primarily on Tenma, the plot weaves together the stories of several characters. The series will also attract a wider audience due to its amazing portrayal of Johan Liebert as a pure psychopath and will be a very interesting dive even for those who don't watch anime.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has consistently been hailed as one of the best animated films of all time, and has received widespread praise for its tight and clever plot. But the series goes deeper, covering topics like science, religion, and even nationalism.
Fullmetal Alchemist is the story of the Elric brothers Edward and Alphonse, prodigy students of alchemy, the miraculous science that can do amazing things but cannot form life. When the brothers attempt to resurrect their dead mother, the results are dire as they lose parts of their own bodies. Now they must find the Philosopher's Stone to restore what was lost.
Violet Evergarden, a 13-part series, has been widely praised for its storytelling and nuanced character development. The series fleshes out the plot in a unique way by introducing new characters each episode while adding emotional traction to their backstories.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Violet, a former soldier recovering from post-war trauma who is offered a new job that requires her to write letters for people who cannot express their feelings for themselves. At first she struggles, but soon through these personal stories, both she and the viewer begin to gain a deeper understanding of human emotions.
death note
The psychological thriller Death Note is widely recommended by almost all anime fans. The story begins when the Shinigami Ryuk drops the Death Note, a notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name is written on it, into the human world.
It's okay to have some unanswered questions in an anime series, but there are a few things in Death Note that don't make sense and leave holes in the plot.
High school student Light Yagami discovers this note and begins killing people he deems morally unworthy of society, especially criminals. Unable to stop him, the police work with the mysterious Detective L, who becomes so obsessed with the case that the series turns into a thrilling battle between the two as they try to outsmart each other. This anime continues to be a timeless classic and one of the best introductory anime.
Attack on Titan deserves your full attention due to its bloody action and eerie atmosphere that envelops you with palpable fear. Based on the acclaimed manga by Hajime Isayama, Attack on Titan tells the story of humanity's last survivors who are besieged by fearsome Titans and must now fight for survival.
This series has fewer episodes each season than other popular series, which makes the story easier to understand. This also means there's less filler between unexpected plot twists, which will challenge everything you thought you knew about the show.
cowboy bebop
Cowboy Bebop, which first aired in 1998, did not gain popularity until the early 2000s when it was introduced to Western audiences through an English dub and became a global sensation. The anime is set in the Western world of neo-noir space, where humans have colonized various places in the solar system.
The story follows the adventures of the Cowboy, a group of bounty hunters who travel the vast universe in search of bounty. The mix of light humor and serious topics like depression and poverty ensures that this anime will remain relevant for years to come.
When moving from series to film, the first place to start is Studio Ghibli. The studio has been churning out classic animation since the late '80s, and you really can't go wrong. Unless you pick up Tales of Earthsea or Earwig and the Witch, both of which are directed by Goro Miyazaki, co-founder and son of legendary creative vocalist Hayao Miyazaki.
Whether it's My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away, every frame of a Ghibli film tells a dreamlike story that transports you into a beautifully colored world filled with imaginative characters and scenarios. Thanks to their traditional hand-drawn style and meticulous attention to detail in every scene, Ghibli films are loved around the world. No matter what you think about animation or what kind of animation you've seen before, every Studio Ghibli film will surprise you.
시간이 별로 없나요? You can watch this amazing animation in one day
Here are some of the best short and sweet anime you can binge-watch in one sitting!
