Anime for Beginners: From Naruto to Delicious in Dungeon

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From its humble origins, anime has rapidly gained widespread appeal, transforming from a casual interest for some into an intense passion for others, eagerly collecting merchandise, attending conventions, and bonding with fellow enthusiasts. This subculture, similar to comic book, superhero, and video game fanbases, was once ridiculed as awkward and exclusive to socially-awkward geeks. However, in more recent years, anime has earned respectability and experienced a significant transformation in public perception, even challenging the popularity of dedicated sports fans. Resources for discovering anime have also expanded, such as the online database MyAnimeList or YouTube channel ProZD, run by voice actor SungWon Cho, who offers recommendations.

From childhood to maturity, anime has captivated numerous individuals with its breathtaking aesthetics, enchanting music, deeply emotional characters, gripping narratives, and masterful storytelling. However, it’s essential to note that anime spans a wide range of genres and cultures, which can sometimes be confusing or different from what you might expect. With countless options and some content that may not appeal to everyone, the question is: where should one start exploring this fascinating hobby? Regardless of your age or level of experience, we’re here to guide you!

For the Younger Budding Anime Fans

For parents who are otaku themselves and have kids or tweens showing interest in the current anime trend, these recommendations cater to a more novice taste. It’s crucial that parents thoroughly examine the content as there might be topics, themes, visuals, or cultural differences that may contradict your family values. If you seek some enjoyable and family-friendly anime experiences, you’ve come to the right place!

If your child is captivated by collections of cool monsters, we have a suggestion for you:

  • Pokémon
  • Digimon
  • Yo-kai Watch
  • Yu-Gi-Oh!
  • Beyblade
  • Monster Rancher
  • Element Hunters

Or perhaps for the magical girl enthusiasts:

  • Sailor Moon
  • Cardcaptor Sakura
  • Magical Doremi
  • Jewelpet
  • Pretty Cure
  • Mewkledreamy

Want something silly or a slice-of-life? Here are some picks:

  • Spy x Family
  • Sgt Frog
  • My Roommate is a Cat
  • Natsume’s Book of Friends, Lucky Star, Nichijou, Chi’s Sweet Home, Hamtaro, Barakamon.

Craving action-packed and goofy adventures? Try:

  • Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
  • Dragon Ball
  • One Piece
  • Sonic X
  • Doraemon
  • Little Witch Academia

For family movie night, we suggest some Studio Ghibli films:

  • My Neighbor Totoro
  • Spirited Away
  • Arrietty
  • The Boy and the Heron
  • Castle in the Sky
  • Howl’s Moving Castle
  • Ponyo
  • Kiki’s Delivery Service
  • The Cat Returns

Also worth considering:

  • Mary and the Witch’s Flower
  • Any of the Pokemon movies.

For the More Mature Viewers Seeking a New Hobby

For those who prefer more complex storylines, we highly recommend exploring the earlier recommendations. These include a variety of treasures that fans of all ages can appreciate, ranging from themes of self-discovery to relatable experiences!

Regardless if they evoke feelings of shyness or awkwardness, these characters might just boost your self-confidence, bring a smile to your face, or resonate with you in a familiar way:

  • Komi Can’t Communicate
  • Bocchi the Rock!
  • Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
  • Sonny Boy
  • The Dangers in My Heart
  • Teasing Master Takagi-san
  • Skip And Loafer
  • FLCL
  • Dandadan
  • Ranma 1/2

For those interested in sports and clubs:

  • Haikyu!!
  • Kuroko no Basket
  • Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
  • Blue Box
  • Blue Lock
  • K-On
  • Do It Yourself!!
  • Blue Period
  • Chihayafuru
  • Ping Pong the Animation
  • Hyouka.

Some somewhat educational but mostly entertaining choices:

  • Cells at Work!
  • Dr. Stone
  • Food Wars!
  • Spice and Wolf
  • Heaven’s Design Team
  • Shirobako

Want action and adventure? These classics tend to be a great starting point for many:

  • Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
  • Monster
  • Cowboy Bebop
  • Space Dandy
  • Samurai Champloo
  • Naruto
  • Attack on Titan
  • Hunter x Hunter
  • Demon Slayer
  • Jujutsu Kaisen
  • My Hero Academia
  • Gurren Lagann
  • Bleach
  • Inuyasha
  • Soul Eater
  • Assassination Classroom
  • Fairy Tail
  • Yu Yu Hakusho
  • Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
  • Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.

Or perhaps a bit darker/psychological/thought-provoking picks:

  • Death Note
  • Black Butler
  • The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
  • Psycho-Pass
  • Steins;Gate
  • Puella Magi Madoka Magica
  • School-Live!
  • Future Diary
  • Death Parade

Looking for something a bit silly?:

  • One-Punch Man
  • Mob Psycho 100
  • My Deer Friend Nokotan
  • The Demon Girl Next Door
  • Pop Team Epic
  • KonoSuba
  • Uncle From Another World
  • Azumanga Daioh
  • The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
  • Gintama

Or some anime to chill out to:

  • Aria the Animation
  • Insomniacs After School
  • Laid-Back Camp

A bit of fantasy to spice things up:

  • The Ancient Magus’ Bride
  • Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
  • Sword Art Online
  • Mushi-Shi
  • Land of the Lustrous
  • Delicious in Dungeon

Romance anime that are sure to make your heart flutter:

  • Ouran High School Host Club
  • Horimiya
  • Toradora!
  • Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
  • Fruits Basket
  • Maid Sama!
  • Kamisama Kiss
  • My Little Monster
  • My Dress-Up Darling

Apropos for the working adult:

  • Aggretsuko
  • Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku
  • My Senpai Is Annoying
  • Bartender Glass of God
  • Great Pretender

Picks to watch about married life with your spouse:

  • I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying
  • The Way Of The Househusband
  • Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again
  • Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You

For parents looking for a relatable break:

  • Wolf Children
  • Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
  • Sweetness and Lightning
  • Bunny Drop
  • Buddy Daddies
  • Sakamoto Days

Movie night options include some more mature picks from Studio Ghibli:

  • Princess Mononoke
  • Porco Rosso
  • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
  • Whisper of the Heart

If you’ve exhausted your Ghibli options, we suggest these even more advanced offerings:

  • Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop
  • Lonely Castle in the Mirror
  • A Silent Voice
  • Your Name
  • Summer Wars
  • The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
  • The Boy and the Beast
  • Belle
  • In This Corner Of The World
  • A Whisker Away
  • Perfect Blue
  • Akira
  • Tokyo Godfathers
  • Paprika

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2025-04-08 15:12