Best Anime to Start Up as an Otaku

In one of the most active forums on Reddit, a user started an interesting debate by posing a question that many newbies to the anime world are asking: "I've wanted to give anime a chance for a while now, but I have no idea where to start. It seems like there are hundreds of anime that people recommend. Any advice on how to get started for someone who has never seen anime before?"

The post quickly gained popularity, racking up thousands of comments from fans and anime experts who shared their tips, thoughts, and strategies to help beginners delve into this vast universe of Japanese entertainment.

One of the first concerns expressed in the thread was the overwhelming number of options available. With decades of content, genres ranging from action and fantasy to romantic comedy and psychological drama, and varied recommendations depending on who you ask, choosing a starting point can seem like a monumental task. This challenge is intensified by the expectations of newcomers, who are looking for series that allow them to understand the essence of anime without feeling lost or overwhelmed.

What became clear from the debate is that anime is a deeply personal experience. While some find their passion in the great epics, others discover it in everyday stories full of emotions. Regardless of the starting point, the important thing is to immerse yourself with an open mind and be willing to explore the many facets of this vibrant artistic medium.

"Steins; Gate for a slow, dark and emotional story with incredible characters."
"Made in Abyss for an adventure/mystery that shows an uncomfortable journey descending a gigantic abyss."
"Bocchi the Rock for a funny, light-hearted story about an introvert finding her way."
"Code Geass or 86 for a story about an oppressed and exploited population fighting for their rights."
"Parasyte for a dark and funny story of a character who wakes up one day with an alien controlling half of his body."
"Serial Experiments Lain for a haunting story focused on existential and reality questions".
"Death Note for a confrontation between good, justice and morality".
"Madoka Magica for a story about the wonderful and peaceful life of magical girls."
"It doesn't get much better than Attack on Titan."
"As someone who grew up watching Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, I recommend trying Naruto and Shippuden. I think you'll also like the Full Metal Panic series. Bleach is another good option, as is Death Note. I also really like Sword Art Online and Log Horizon."
"JoJo's Bizarre Adventure! It's perfect. (Hold on for the first 9 episodes to get to the good stuff)."
"Black Clover. Naruto. One Punch Man. Hunter x Hunter. Blue Exorcist. Attack on Titan. Demon Slayer."
"As suggested, Hunter X Hunter (I prefer the 2011 version), Demon Slayer, and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood seem ideal for you."
"Black Clover also looks like your style, but it was canceled, so there's no telling if the story will be completed."
"I think you'd enjoy Assassination Classroom and Jujutsu Kaisen, too."
"Even though it has only a few episodes for now, Solo Leveling is great."
"I highly recommend Rurouni Kenshin, the original 1996 version is fantastic, but they have also started a remake in 2023."
"Sousou no Frieren".
"The first series I finished was Sword Art Online. After that, I was hooked on watching anime forever."
"Demon Slayer is a good introduction to anime. It probably has the best animation right now."
"Maybe it's better to start with something like Bananya. But if you have some context of your interests, there might be better options."
"Hi, I highly recommend Gosick. It's a very good anime to hang out with, a bit unknown, but I think you'll like it a lot. The mystery he adds is really good; I think it will hook you from the beginning."
"They must be some classics. Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Akira, Samurai Champloo, Afro Samurai, Death Note, Dragon Ball".
"For me, I started with When They Cry. It's a psychological horror/gore that makes you think. It was what led me to watch more like Hell's Paradise, Shiki, Another, Blood+ and Elfen Lied. If you've already tried most mainstream anime and they don't hook you, as it happened to me, try these."
"Do you prefer something from the 90s or newer? Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood will always be one of the best. I would recommend starting with this one or Death Note, as they are usually easy for beginners to enjoy."
"I suggest picking something within a genre you already know you like, like horror, romance, comedy, etc."
"To Your Eternity or the films of Hayao Miyazaki".
"There's pretty much an anime for everything. I've seen anime about music (of various genres), photography, fashion, pottery, fishing, hiking, camping, mountaineering, cycling, and even one about quizzes, in addition to the usual genres of fantasy, science fiction, romance, comedy, and action."
"Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood introduced me to anime. I would also recommend Hunter x Hunter and Demon Slayer, although both are of the highest level and it can be difficult to find anything that is up to par. But you'll probably end up watching them anyway."