10 Best Anime for Beginners: The Perfect Shows to Start With

Having spent more time than one might care to admit binge-watching anime, one fundamental truth has been learned: your first anime is important. Choose the wrong one, and the entire medium might be dismissed as just overhyped nonsense. Start with the right one, however, and you’ll find stories that stick with you the rest of your life. Bringing all kinds of friends into the world of anime over the years has shown what works. This list provides the best anime for beginners.

There are viewers who wish for epic battles and mutations, and others who just want to laugh until they can’t breathe. The brilliance of anime is that it provides all of the above, and more. The following series are personally vetted suggestions for beginners. From Naruto to Death Note, each one represents a different genre, but they also all share a very important feature: they are great introductions to anime and what makes it unique. If you’ve been asking yourself, “What is the best anime to start watching first?“, look no further.

Top 10 Anime Recommendations for Beginners

Here are the series that are always suggested as the best anime to start with, carefully selected for their accessibility and high quality across various genres. These are truly the best anime for new watchers.

1. Death Note: A Psychological Chess Match Between Two Geniuses

If psychological suspense is preferred over action, Death Note will capture you from the first episode. The story centers on Light Yagami, a highly intelligent high school student who discovers a mysterious notebook that has the ability to kill anyone whose name is written in it. Light decides to use this note to create a utopia by killing criminals. However, L, a super-detective, starts hunting him. This is an easy to understand anime for beginners.

• Intense Cat-and-Mouse Game: A thrilling intellectual battle that requires no prior knowledge of anime tropes.
• Concise Story: With only 37 episodes, it’s short, making the show best anime for beginners to watch and finish quickly.
• Moral Ambiguity: Raises deep questions about justice, authority, and morality that will keep you thinking.

2. Dragon Ball Z: The Gateway Anime That Started It All

Let us begin with the series that exposed anime to millions. Dragon Ball Z follows Goku and his friends as they clash with great threats to Earth, ranging from aliens to androids and magical beasts. The plot is simple: a new bad guy shows up, heroes train, epic fight scenes occur, and friendship prevails. This is where a lot of anime experiences begin, and for good reason.

• Defining Action: Features iconic transformations, beam assaults, and moments where heroes break through their limits.
• Simple Premise: The core concept of training and fighting to save the world is universally appealing and easy to grasp.
• Cultural Milestone: Represents what the majority of people envisioned when they first heard the word “anime.”

3. Attack On Titan: Delivers Mystery and Action in Equal Measure

If something a little darker and heavier is desired, then buckle up for Attack on Titan. In this story, humanity dwells behind enormous walls built to keep them safe from Titans, gigantic humanoid creatures who eat humans. When the walls fall to the Titans, the protagonist, a young Eren Yeager, promises he will kill every Titan in the world.

• Explosive Pacing: Features heart-pounding action sequences and intense mysteries that drive the plot forward.
• Engaging Themes: While violent, the true power comes from how the narrative engages with the themes of freedom, hatred, and violence.
• Modern Phenomenon: A cultural classic that demonstrates the high-production value and complex storytelling of modern anime.

Top 10 Best Anime Like Attack On Titan

4. Haikyu!!: Perfectly Captures the Power of Teamwork

Don’t underestimate how incredible a great sports anime can be. Haikyu!! tells the story of Shoyo Hinata, a committed but small volleyball player who joins his high school team with the desire to reach the state championships. One does not have to know anything about volleyball to enjoy this series.

• High-Stakes Excitement: Makes something as normal as a team winning a game feel incredibly important and thrilling.
• Well-Developed Cast: Excels at building both the main team and their opponents, making viewers care about everyone involved.
• Underdog Story: A compelling narrative about an aspiring player overcoming his limitations through sheer will and teamwork.

5. Violet Evergarden: Explores What It Means To Be Human

If something so lovely it will make you cry is sought, Violet Evergarden is the anime for you. After a horrific war ends, Violet, a former child soldier, begins working as an “Auto Memory Doll,” someone who writes letters for others. She had never experienced emotions and human relationships before, and eventually began learning about love from the letters she composed.

• Stunning Animation: Features breathtaking visual quality from Kyoto Animation, ideal for showcasing the medium’s artistry.
• Thoughtful & Mature: Examines themes of grief, trauma, and healing through episodic, character-driven stories.
• Emotional Depth: Watching Violet slowly come to understand emotions and find her humanity is deeply moving and unforgettable.

6. Asobi Asobase: Pure Chaotic Comedy Gold

In Asobi Asobase, three middle school girls form a “Pastimers Club” where they play group games. That bare-bones summary hides one of the finest comedy anime ever produced. These girls embody pure chaos, and their increasingly ridiculous games and reactions will have you laughing all the way to tears.

• Accessible Humor: The absurdist and over-the-top comedy requires absolutely no prior knowledge of anime culture.
• Short & Segmented: Episodes are easy to view at your convenience and offer instant comedic relief.
• Exaggerated Style: Features fantastic character expressions and exaggerated voice acting that are inherently hilarious.

7. Naruto: An Underdog Story That Resonates Across Generations

A list without Naruto would simply not be accurate. Naruto Uzumaki is an adolescent ninja who aspires to become the Hokage. However, he is ostracized by society because of a demon fox that is sealed inside him. Naruto resonates largely due to its themes of acceptance and never giving up on your dreams.

• Relatable Hero: The journey of an outcast child striving for acceptance is an enduring and powerful narrative hook.
• Memorable Characters: Does a great job of developing a large cast with unique motives, tragic pasts, and compelling relationships.
• Epic Worldbuilding: Offers a rich fantasy world of ninjas, jutsus, and clans, perfect for beginners dedicated to a longer series.

Top 5 Best Anime To Watch If You Love Naruto

8. Food Wars!: Makes Cooking as Intense as Any Battle Anime

Food Wars! is a cooking anime that finds a way to turn cooking into something as exhilarating and over-the-top as any action show. Soma Yukihira enrolls in a fancy culinary school with a graduation rate of just ten percent, where cooking battles determine not only grades, but also expulsions.

• Unique Concept: The fusion of culinary arts with the intensity of a shonen battle anime is absurdly entertaining.
• Respect for Craft: Underneath the humor, there’s genuine respect for cooking techniques, imagination, and a chef’s passion.
• Visual Excitement: Features over-the-top, humorous reaction shots that make the food look incredible and the battles feel impactful.

9. Yuri on Ice: Brings Elegance and Heart To Sports Anime

Sports anime can surprise you with how much they develop characters, and Yuri on Ice does just that, with gorgeous animation to boot. Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki is at rock bottom in his career when his idol, Russian champion Victor Nikiforov, coincidentally shows up and offers to coach him.

• Breathtaking Animation: The figure skating performances are animated with incredible detail and fluidity, making them a spectacle.
• Emotional Core: Focuses on the journey of a young man overcoming self-doubt to become a formidable competitor on the world stage.
• Universal Appeal: Even for those unfamiliar with figure skating, the wonderful story and emotional performances are truly captivating.

10. Demon Slayer: Combines Spectacular Animation With a Heartfelt Story

As a viewer, sometimes one just wants something that is plain beautiful and has a simple but interesting story to tell. Demon Slayer delivers exactly that. When his family is slaughtered by demons, and his sister, Nezuko, is turned into one, Tanjiro Kamado vows to train as a demon slayer and cure his sister.

• Visual Masterpiece: The animation from Ufotable is arguably the gold standard for modern anime, especially in its fight choreography.
• Simple & Focused: Has an excellent pace and a core narrative that is easy to follow: a pleasant hero trying to protect his sister.
• High Rewatchability: An excellent best anime to watch first because of its quality and relatively short run time (so far).

Top 10 Best Anime Like Demon Slayer

Conclusion

Choosing your first series can feel overwhelming, but the options above represent the various heights of what the medium can achieve, from psychological thrillers to gut-busting comedies and emotional epics. You cannot go wrong with any of these choices. Ultimately, the best anime for beginners is the one that speaks to your interests and keeps you watching. Dive in, find your favorite genre, and get ready for a truly incredible storytelling experience. What is a good first anime for beginners? Many recommend starting with Death Note for a quick thrill, or Dragon Ball Z for pure action nostalgia.