Anime has received a bad reputation from many people for years, and those who are into it have no doubt been teased by a friend or family member for liking it (I will probably be teased for writing this article). However, after entering what you may call the “World of Anime”, you can see how vast it is and how there’s a show to cater to whatever genre you may prefer.
That’s why millions of lists’ circle the internet, prompting you to read pages of anime that person deems watchable. For beginners, this can be overwhelming, and sometimes you, surprisingly, don’t want to watch 50, over 100 episode shows. That’s why this list can help you get started, or maybe even persuade you, to step one toe into anime. Yes, this will contain some of the most popular ones besides Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece.
- Hunter X Hunter
You’ve probably heard of HXH before. In this world, “Hunters” exist to perform all manner of dangerous tasks like capturing criminals and bravely searching for lost treasures in uncharted territories. 12-year-old Gon is determined to become the best Hunter ever to find his real father, a hunter himself who abandoned Gon. Gon befriends doctor-in-training Leorio, vengeful Kurapika, and rebellious ex-assassin Killua, who join him on his adventures. If any of this sounds familiar, it’s probably because this was the first show to start many anime tropes. One includes the exam arcs, which numerous animes now include, such as Chunin Exams in Naruto and the S-Class Trials in Fairy Tail. HXH is iconic in its own way and definitely worth the watch if you’re into action and comedy. Check it out here! (Dub and sub).
2. Haikyuu!!
One of the many sports animes out there, this has got to be up there with most popular. Clearly, it’s about volleyball, but it’s also so much more than that. Even I was wary at first, thinking “how can a show about volleyball be interesting?”, but oh boy, it amazed me. In the first episode, you are greeted with the iconic “A tall, tall wall looms in front of me. What’s the view on the other side? What does it look like? It’s a view I could never see on my own” that sends chills down your spine. This show perfectly encompasses feelings of sadness, happiness, fear, anxiety, and excitement all into one place, and at the heart of it is action, comedy, and an unimaginable new knowledge of volleyball. Check it out here! (Sub only).
3. Soul Eater
What drew me to this show was not only its catchy theme song but the amazing artwork. Technicians are those who are able to yield people that turn into what are called Weapons. This is only possible if your souls are in sync enough to handle one another. Maka, a technician, and Soul, a Scythe, are on their way to helping Soul become a Death Scythe so he can be used by the Shinigami (death personified) himself. While training, they come across deadly villains and are the only ones who can stop them, along with some other Technicians and Weapons. If you’re a fan of action and the Special Abilities genre, definitely check this one out. (Dub and sub).
4. Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie In April)
This one is for the sad romance fans. Kaori Miyazono is a middle school violinist, and Kousei Arima is a has-been pianist. Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryouta Watari, Kousei’s friends, contribute to the newfound love square going on. Kousei hasn’t played the piano in years due to his mother, and Kaori is a budding prodigy because of her skills. Together, Kaori and Kousei help each other heal (decorated by a fantastic OST and animation to obsess over). I can’t reveal too much, but get the tissues ready if you cry easily. Check it out here! (Dub and sub).
5. Danganronpa
I end this thread with the amazing mystery-horror double, the Danganronpa franchise. Starting out as a game–Trigger Happy Havoc–which I recommend you buy to get the full experience, this has plot twists’ that will blow your mind. Here’s a summary giving you a good idea of what it’s about: “15 elite high school students are gathered at a very special high school. To graduate from this high school essentially means you’ll succeed in life, but graduating is very difficult. The school is presided over by a bear called Monokuma, and he explains to them that their graduation hinges around committing a murder. The only way to graduate is to kill one of your classmates and get away with it. If the other classmates discover the identity of the killer, the killer is the only one executed. However, if they fail to catch the killer, only the killer graduates and the others are annihilated.” After every murder, a class trial is held, and you are tested on your knowledge of the murder from investigations and talks with your peers. The most unlikely people are killers, and you’re on the edge of your seat with every episode. Watch it here! (Dub and sub) and watch a playthrough of the game here.
I hope this list has given you some insight into the world of anime, and that you end up checking it out for yourself. Every person is different, so you might not like these, but it can help you in determining what your interests’ are. There are so many different choices out there, and you are certain to find something that you enjoy.
