Best Anime For Beginners

Anime can be intimidating. Complicated and unclear watch orders, shows with huge episode counts, multiple different adaptations of the same source material – all of these things have made lots of newcomers to the medium throw their hands up and retreat from a whole world of uniquely gripping storytelling. That’s where this article comes in! Here, we’ve listed a few of the best anime for beginners, as well as hidden gem or two that are sure to hook any potential new fans.

1. Attack On Titan

2. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

3. Jujutsu Kaisen

4. Violet Evergarden
5. Cowboy Bebop
6. Link Click
7. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
8. Vinland Saga

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Attack On Titan

(89 episodes)

Image by Wit Studio

It’s probably a good idea to get this out there early – Attack On Titan is the show that I’ve turned to over and over again to sell people on the idea of anime tv shows – and that’s majorly thanks to it’s success rate. This epic tale of monstrous giants against human perseverance hasn’t failed me yet in convincing strangers to the genre to dive in further, and that can be owed to its beautiful visuals, complex characters, a killer soundtrack, and a narrative like no other, with an almost dizzying number of twists and turns on offer. This show was so good, I can honestly say I never wanted it to end – and that mindset extends to the show itself not wanting to end! (seriously, there’s four parts of this show titled, ‘The Final Season’)

That being said, the show’s watch order is fairly straightforward (four seasons, and two specials to end) so don’t worry about getting lost in spin-offs, and though 89 may seem like a hefty episode count, once you get running with this show, you’re probably going to sprint right to the end. This one is definitely the best anime to watch for beginners. The only downside? – once you’ve experienced Attack On Titan, it can be hard to top.

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

(64 episodes)

Image by Bones

For a long time, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood stood as the highest-rated anime of all time on MyAnimeList (only recently dethroned by a later entry on this list…) – and it’s not difficult to see why it’s been so renowned for so long. The show has always been able to pull off a unique blend of humour and tragedy to perfection, weaved together with impressive worldbuilding, and a central narrative of a brotherly bond that warms and breaks the viewer’s heart almost routinely. Admittedly, the start of this show can feel a little slow at first, but anyone who sticks with it will soon find themselves hooked.

Unfortunately, this is one of those anime that was adapted a couple of times, so make sure that for the full experience, you watch Brotherhood, rather than the 2003 original, simply titled Fullmetal Alchemist (the original has it’s fans, but this version just feels more complete). This one is also great for any beginners who may be hesitant to conquer the Japanese language barrier, because I think even the most determined of dub-haters can admit – the English dub of this show is pretty good (maybe even better), making it a very beginner-friendly anime.

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Jujutsu Kaisen 

(47 episodes + 1 movie)

Image by MAPPA

This one may be slightly biased, but Jujutsu Kaisen is such a highlight for modern action anime that I couldn’t resist including it here. This show is a rollercoaster – a thrilling blend of blood-pumping, beat-em-up madness, and genuine horror, the latter of which I think we rarely see executed well in the action genre. As much as we might believe in our protagonist, Yuji Itadori, his comforting presence never quite alleviates how oppressively horrific his surroundings, and the antagonists of this show, are, making Jujutsu Kaisen an experience you’ll really have to brace yourself for.

I will warn you though – I do think this is a must watch anime for beginners, but I think you’ll be most inclined to enjoy this one if you’re already into the ‘nerdy’ side of things, like superheroes, supernatural events, comic books etc. In short – Jujutsu Kaisen gets complicated. The show has a very complex power system, and likes to mess around with the order in which it tells you the story, with the tie-in movie being a prequel to the first season, and the first half of the second season being a prequel TO the prequel movie – that was exhausting just to type! But, if you’ve already got a taste for the nerdy, this is a perfect transition for you into the anime side of things – but don’t just take my word for it. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 claimed ‘Anime of the Year’ at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards – any first-time viewers will be in good, cursed hands.

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Violet Evergarden

(13 episodes)

Image by Kyoto Animation

A good thing to know for any newcomer to anime is that it likes to get sad – a lot. There’s plenty of anime out there to make even the most hardened viewer get misty, but few of them leave quite as much of a lasting impact as Violet Evergarden. So, if you’re someone who enjoys when a show tugs on your heartstrings, this one is the perfect fit for you. Without giving too much away, you’ll watch our titular protagonist navigate a world of war, trauma, grief, and importantly, the power of human emotion – that last one especially. There are at least 3 episodes of this 13 episode show that I think could hold any place on a list of the saddest anime episodes of all time.

The short length of this one is also a huge draw for many beginners. That being said, there is a movie that follows on from the end of the anime, but all I’ll say is that you should decide yourself whether or not you want to watch it after you finish the 13 episode run (you’ll know what I mean when you watch for yourself). But that’s a bridge you may cross when you come to it – for now, give this one a shot! Who would have thought that letter-writing could be such an emotional concept?

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Cowboy Bebop

(26 episodes)

Image by Sunrise

Now is a good time for some 90s anime representation! And what better representation than Cowboy Bebop, a true staple for anime fans? It’s hard to accurately describe how this show makes it’s viewers feel – it’s equal parts comforting and existential, equal parts familial and lonely. Even if Cowboy Bebop’s mood can’t quite be defined, one thing is for sure – it’ll be hard to fill the hole this show will leave behind when you finish it for the first time. But luckily, this is one of those shows that you can watch over and over again and never get bored, so just keep indulging in the space adventure goodness!

Another good anime enjoyed by many in it’s English dub, Cowboy Bebop is also great for beginners thanks to it’s episodic storytelling. Don’t get me wrong, this show has a central narrative, but a minority of the show’s total runtime is dedicated to that story. Most episodes see our galactic cowboys dealing with a sort of ‘story of the week’, some of which are certainly stronger than others (looking at you ‘Boogie Woogie Feng Shui’). But one thing is guaranteed – every episode will leave you feeling like you’ve just experienced something truly unique, and that’s what makes this one a true masterpiece – so give it a try!

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Link Click

(23 episodes)

Image by LAN Studio

Just to be clear, Link Click is technically not an anime. It’s a donghua, meaning it’s a Chinese animated series rather than a Japanese one. Stylistically though, the two mediums are very similar and both are enjoyed by anime viewers, so I’m choosing to include it here. Link Click is also so underrated that it makes my heart hurt. Time travel has been explored so many times, in the anime genre, that it feels like very few shows will be able to top the landmarks of time travel animation, like Steins; Gate or Erased, but Link Click manages to stand out as a true hidden gem, one which is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat, while making that even more challenging by leaving your seat slippery with tears.

A masterclass in cliffhangers, character exploration, and high-stakes tension, Link Click’s lack of mainstream popularity is honestly mind-boggling. So, the best I can do is hopefully get any newcomers to the anime/donghua world to give this one a chance. It also consists of two very short seasons, so it’ll be quick and easy to dive into. If you’re not hooked on this story by the end of the first episode, I would be very surprised.

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Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

(28 episodes)

Image by Madhouse

To say that Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End burst onto the anime scene would be a gross understatement. You might remember I said earlier that a later entry on this list dethroned the long-championed Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as the highest-rated anime of all time? Well, this is the culprit, and having only been released in the Fall 2023 anime season, that is quite the feat. That being said, it’s hard to argue against Frieren’s deserved success. The series is epic, emotional, and unapologetically fantasy. In a world of anime that likes to limit it’s fantasy elements to an alternate dimension that a real-world protagonist travels to, Frieren leans fully into a whimsical world of magic, elves, and dragons alike, and every second is a joy. 

This epic fantasy series is filled to the brim with quirky lovable characters, stunning worldbuilding, intense action, along with some traditional anime existentialism. Any first-time watcher will quickly realise why this is one of the most popular anime shows of all time. From the first episode, this must watch anime presents the heartbreaking concept of living long enough to watch your companions grow older and depart from your life – and if that concept isn’t enough to sell you on this show’s emotional impact, jump into the first episode. It’ll be a journey you’ll want to see through to the end.

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Vinland Saga

(48 episodes)

Image by Wit Studio

For the last entry on this list, I direct you to anime’s answer to the historical dramas that many enjoy in the live-action entertainment side of things. Vinland Saga is a journey through the harsh world of the Viking ages. It’s violent, it’s tragic, and it’s devastatingly beautiful. The character arc of our central protagonist, Thorfinn, is also one of the most thought-provoking and profound experiences in the anime medium, and watching his development throughout the series alone is enough to make this one a standout.

Again, as anime likes to do, this one will tug at your heartstrings – or rather, it’ll pull on them so viciously that I would be surprised if you didn’t cry watching this at least a handful of times. But despite the many moments of harrowing brutality throughout, at its core, there’s a beauty to Vinland Saga’s historical narrative that is bound to entrench any newcomers to anime. So prepare yourself for an emotional battlefield, and give this one a shot – you won’t regret it.

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Conclusion

And that’s the beginner anime list! Hopefully even one of these recommendations sparks your interest enough for you to venture into the world of anime, and get lost in an endless amount of entertainment experiences – who knows, you may even get hooked enough that you’ll soon be ready to take on the more massive, Naruto-length anime, or even a long-running series like…One Piece. But that’s down the line! So pick one and get watching!

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