From sword-wielding demon hunters to spandex-clad caped crusaders, the world of anime is vast and full of many unique titles to choose from. If you’re a newcomer, it may seem a bit overwhelming as to where you should start your anime watching journey. Some of the roads can be long and filled with many surprises, like the ongoing anime series One Piece. Or they can be a one-shot masterpiece, like the classic Cowboy Bebop.
Whenever or wherever you start your anime viewing journey, we’ve got the following cheat sheet of some of the best anime for beginners. These are great titles to introduce your newbie friends to as well. So take notes!
Anime for the Superhero Fans
If you or a friend are really into high stake situations seen both on-screen and within the pages of Marvel and DC, My Hero Academia and One Punch Man are a couple of solid anime recommendations for the hero in us all. Currently in its fifth season, My Hero Academia is one of the most popular Shonen anime to date. It takes place in a world where certain individuals are born with a “Quirk” that gives them superhuman abilities. It follows the story of Izuku Midoriya, who inherits the Quirk known as One For All, as he trains with other students with varying Quirks to become Pro Heroes. My Hero Academia’s narrative is part of the attraction of the series; as you see these students go through their training and fight villains, you witness them grow and mature as heroic figures. With an upcoming U.S. theatrical release in My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission, now’s the time to smash into the fandom and see what the hype is all about.
One Punch Man is another superhero anime that lives up to the hype and is worth a watch. With only two seasons so far, it’s an easily bingeable anime you can get through in a few days. One Punch Man is a superhero tale that literally hits a bit different: The main protagonist, Saitama (One Punch Man), is an overpowered superhero who can defeat his foes with a single punch. As such, he longs for an actual challenge with villains and is constantly looking for a suitable opponent. It’s a very unique take on the superhero genre, as we see his fellow heroes fight various villains, sometimes resulting in the heroes finding themselves close to death, only to then witness Saitama show up late and casually defeat their foe in a single blow.
Anime for the Sports Enthusiasts
If you or your friends find yourself thirsting for more anime and searching for something to satisfy your passion for sports with a fighter’s spirit, anime shows like Haikyu!! and Megalobox might fall well within your competitive nature. A wildly popular anime, Haikyu!! follows a young student by the name of Shoyo Hinata who is inspired to join his high school’s volleyball team while on a quest to push himself to become the very best in the sport. Each volley is brilliantly brought to life by the acclaimed studio Production I.G, whose recognizable style shines through in every episode. With a compelling and inspiring story and amazing animation, it’s no surprise that Haikyuu!! is one of the greatest Shonen sports anime out there.
Created as a special project by director Yo Moriyama to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the classic boxing anime Ashita no Joe, Megalobox is the perfect anime series for someone looking for a pugilist story with an interesting technological twist. Taking place in 21st century Japan, boxers in this world contend in what is known as Megaloboxing, where they’re equipped with metal exoskeletons called Gears. With two seasons currently available, this hard-hitting anime follows the underground Megaloboxer named Joe as he rises through the ranks in the underground circuit. The ups and downs of Joe’s life are just as impactful as the bouts he has in the ring, and the striking animation by TMS Entertainment makes you feel like you’re watching an actual boxing match. If you often find yourself on the edge of your seat while watching a good bout in the squared arena, Megalobox and Megalobox 2: Nomad will surely hit you with their best shot.
Anime for the Space Opera Fans
There are quite a few shows out there that only have one season, making them self-contained gems amongst anime fans. Shows like Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star fall well within that category, and are just two of the many bingeable anime shows to recommend to a friend looking to get into anime with an outer space element. Cowboy Bebop is no doubt the most recognizable title on this list, and has been heralded by many as one of the best anime shows of all time. Featuring a ragtag group of bounty hunters, the anime sees the main cast traversing through space as they hunt down shady characters (which often puts them in precarious situations).
The animation style, the character depth, and the music gives this anime a hip and fun vibe not seen or easily replicated in current anime. The lasting influence of the show is evident, as Netflix is currently working on a live-action adaptation of it which will introduce the franchise to a new audience. I’d urge anyone unfamiliar with this one to watch the anime in order to get a better appreciation of Cowboy Bebop and its impact on the wild, funky space western anime genre it practically started.
The 26-episode anime adaptation of Takehiko Itō’s classic manga Outlaw Star is another great space opera that’ll stay with you far beyond the credits roll in the final episode. The story sees Gene Starwind and his comrades traversing space and taking on various jobs, all while searching for what is known as the Galactic Leyline that is said to contain the knowledge of the entire universe. What makes both Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star such great anime shows is not just the various unique adventures their respective characters find themselves in, but the depth of each character and their enthralling backstories. That’s what really pulls us in as anime fans.
Anime for the Gamers
Let’s say you’re a gamer and looking for an anime that relates to that aspect of your life. Netflix’s High Score Girl perfectly captures what arcade gaming was like back in the ’90s. The story follows a highly competitive boy named Haruo Yaguchi, whose coin-op fighting game compulsion leads to his crossing paths with a mysterious and quiet gamer girl named Akira Ono. Their unique, oftentimes strange relationship grows from there.
What makes High Score Girl so special is that it also doubles as a documented history lesson in the evolution of fighting games throughout the ’90s, showcasing the rise of such iconic franchises as Street Fighter, Tekken, Virtua Fighter and many more. The anime series manages to accurately depict the types of arcade gaming culture that existed back then, while also thoroughly showcasing both the gaming software and hardware of the time, all brought to life brilliantly by production company J.C.Staff’s impeccable art style. You’ll come out of this one longing for the good old days of being in an arcade, huddled up in front of the latest fighting game while two gamers duke it out for the high score. With High Score Girl Seasons 1 and 2 currently available on Netflix, now’s the time to get your game on and binge this anime series.
There’s countless more anime to recommend, like Beastars, Demon Slayer or Odd Taxi, but this listing is just to whet the appetite for those new to the anime genre. If we’ve piqued your interest in anime, you should definitely check out our Best Anime Series on Netflix Right Now article for more recommendations. And if that isn’t enough for you, here’s our 7 Essential Anime Every Fan Should Watch. And for the anime veterans out there, let us know some of the anime shows you’d recommend to a friend in the comments!