For those who are venturing into the world of anime for the first time, it can be thrilling, yet at the same time nerve-wracking. With thousands of titles in hundreds of genres, it is easy to feel confused, not knowing where to start. This could mean the difference between loving the medium and completely dropping it after giving it just one chance. Anime can range from adrenaline-rush epics to tender drama, and has a distinct storytelling format that sets it apart from Western television, which frequently combines deep ideas, imaginative worlds, and unforgettable characters in a truly unique way.
Best Seinen Anime For Beginners
Brace yourself for unexpected twists and emotionally charged storytelling with these Seinen anime.
For anime newcomers, the choice to start with an approachable series makes all the sense in the world, and that generally means sticking to mainstream shows. This curated list includes a wide variety of anime series for anime beginners that find the happy medium between gripping stories and accessibility, a taste of everything the medium can offer, with no pre-existing knowledge or expertise of the genre necessary.
Updated on January 15, 2026 by Mark Sammut: I have added two more beginner-friendly anime that fit into these categories: Comedy and Kid-friendly.
What makes an anime perfect for beginners?
Honestly, this question is quite open-ended, as the answer will depend on somebody's genre preferences. Still, we will stick to shows that fit the following criteria:
- You do not need any additional knowledge to enjoy the story.
- For the most part, they tell complete stories.
- They do not overemphasize anime tropes.
- Most importantly, they are great. The best way to introduce somebody to anime is to just show them a fantastic series.
10 Erased
Best Beginner Anime For Mystery Fans
Erased
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2016
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kei Sanbe
- Number of Episodes
- 12
Satoru Fujinuma, a 29-year-old manga artist who is having a hard time, has an involuntary power called “Revival” that sends him back in time a few moments before a life-threatening event, giving him a chance to stop it. When a tragedy happens in his life related to his past, Satoru is taken back in time 18 years, occupying his 11-year-old body, but still possessing his consciousness from the present. He understands that whatever tragedy occurred in his present is associated with a chain of child abductions and murders in his childhood, and he has to change the course of events to save his family and friends.
Erased skillfully combines the ingredients of suspense, drama, and supernatural phenomena into a compact 12-episode package. Its emotionally gripping story and realistic characters make it an interesting watch for newcomers to anime, a glimpse of what the medium can do with stories.
9 Barakamon
Best Beginner Anime For Anyone Looking For An Accessible Slice Of Life
Barakamon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2014 - 2014
- Directors
- Masaki Tachibana
- Writers
- Pierre Sugiura
- Studio
- Kinema Citrus
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Satsuki Yoshino
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Although primarily associated with manga and anime, slice of life is a cornerstone of all fiction, even if that exact term is not always used. Plenty of series in this genre are perfect for beginners, but Barakamon is the top option simply because it is the best slice of life anime. Yeah, sometimes things just work out like that.
Sei Handa is a talented calligrapher with a bad attitude, so he is sent to a remote island by his father so he can maybe mature. Initially, Handa just wants to be left alone with his work, but the inhabitants refuse to let him exist in peace. Before he can help it, he finds himself swept up by the island's tranquil and welcoming vibes. Barakamon is just delightful, and it has no off-putting elements.
8 Haikyu!!
Best Beginner Anime For Sports Fans
Haikyu!!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2014 - 2020-00-00
- Seasons
- 4
- Studio
- Production I.G
- Creator
- Haruichi Furudate
- Number of Episodes
- 90
Haikyu!! Is a story of a high school student, Shoyo Hinata, who is very passionate about playing volleyball despite his short stature. Motivated by a legendary player who was nicknamed “Little Giant,” Hinata enrolls with the Karasuno High School volleyball team, where he forms an unlikely partnership with a brilliant but hot-headed setter, Tobio Kageyama. As a team, they aim to take their team to the national championships and experience personal and team challenges along the way.
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With its colorful animation, realistic characters, and emphasis on teamwork and perseverance, Haikyu!! Is an inspiring and fun sports story. The series has completed its main story, and the latest release, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle movie in 2024 is an excellent continuation for the fans. A sequel film, Haikyu!! Vs. The Little Giant, has been announced, and it is the perfect time to start watching the series to get caught up.
7 Digimon Adventure
Best Beginner Anime For Kids (And Older Kids)
Digimon Adventure
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1999 - 2000-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Creator(s)
- Akiyoshi Hongo
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
A 90s classic, Digimon Adventure is arguably the perfect gateway anime for kids. Although not completely disconnected, the seasons stand on their own well enough that they can be consumed separately, and their individual episode count is not overwhelming. At the same time, the original series lasts for more than 50 episodes, so it can keep children entertained for a long time.
Unlike Pokemon, Digimon Adventure tells a continuous story that is constantly raising the stakes, with each arc progressing nicely into the next. Although not complicated by any stretch of the imagination, the writing is generally rock-solid and gives most of the main characters proper arcs. Crucially, Digimon Adventure has just a slight hint of darkness that should be able to keep older kids engaged.
6 Horimiya
Best Beginner Anime For Romance Fans
Horimiya
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2021-00-00
- Studio
- CloverWorks
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Hero
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
Romance anime are, generally, quite beginner-friendly, and the highest barrier of entry is the newcomer's love for the genre on the whole. Honestly, you can just randomly select one of the best shows of all time, and you will probably be fine. That said, Horimiya is a safer bet than most, and it also doubles as a lighthearted school comedy. Named after its main couple, the story chronicles Izumi and Hori's budding romance, and they come together quickly. Rather than focusing on drama, Horimiya leans into slice of life, opting to just show the characters living their lives without injecting unnecessary melodrama.
The second season is far more of a comedy, and its segments are spread throughout the original season's timeline. While this is a change in pace, Horimiya: Missing Pieces is all-around fantastic and complements its predecessor by spotlighting characters who needed more time in the sun.
5 Cowboy Bebop
Best Beginner Anime For Sci-fi & Space Western Fans
Cowboy Bebop
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1998 - 1999
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Sunrise
- Creator
- Hajime Yatate
- Number of Episodes
- 26
Cowboy Bebop is a story about the adventures of the bounty-hunting crew residing on the spaceship Bebop in a futuristic world where humanity has colonized the solar system. The group, consisting of the laid-back Spike Spiegel, the pragmatic Jet Black, the femme fatale Faye Valentine, hacker prodigy Ed, and the intelligent dog Ein, goes out on different missions and attempts to work through their disturbed pasts.
Famous for combining different genres of storytelling, including elements of science fiction, western, and noir, with jazz music, Cowboy Bebop has become a full-fledged phenomenon. Its episodic characters allow viewers to watch it at their convenience, as each episode is a story of its own. Still, the philosophic undertones and flashy animation make it a timeless classic, not only for newcomers to anime but also for veterans.
4 Death Note
Best Beginner Anime For Thriller Fans
Death Note
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 4, 2006
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Tsugumi Ohba
- Number of Episodes
- 37
Light Yagami, a high school student, finds a mysterious notebook in which he can kill anybody whose name he writes. He uses this ability to rid the world of bad people and create a utopian society. However, he draws the attention of a brilliant detective, L, who will bring him back to his senses and remind him that he is not as smart as he assumed himself to be, creating a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.
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Death Note is a gripping psychological thriller that covers themes such as morality, justice, and power corruption. The fast plot and complex characters, as well as the context and pace, make Death Note a good watch for anyone new to anime and prove that anime can tell sophisticated stories quite well.
3 Grand Blue Dreaming
Best Beginner Anime For College Comedy Fans
Grand Blue Dreaming
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- TBS, MBS
- Directors
- Atsuko Tonomizu, Yoshihisa Matsumoto, Tarou Iwasaki, Nanako Shimazaki, Ryuta Kawahara, Takashi Kobayashi
- Japanese Title
- Grand Blue
- Studio
- Zero-G
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kenji Inoue
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
"Anime for beginners" is not the same thing as "anime for children," so we can recommend a few series that target a more adult audience. Grand Blue Dreaming is pretty much the anime equivalent of '80s college comedies, with most of the humor usually coming partnered with a beer or two. Although not devoid of anime eccentricities (one of the main characters is a huge otaku), the series primarily revolves around likable but immature characters who have a habit of making dumb but harmless decisions.
More importantly than anything else, Grand Blue Dreaming is constantly hilarious and produces laughs by the minute, most of which revolve around over-the-top reactions and misunderstandings that any viewer can easily understand. Also, while beginner-friendly, this series is also a perfect gateway that can, eventually, lead to shows like Gintama, Great Teacher Onizuka, and Nichijou.
2 Black Lagoon
Best Beginner Anime For Action Fans Seeking Something Adult-Oriented
Black Lagoon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2006 - 2006
- Directors
- Sunao Katabuchi
- Writers
- Sunao Katabuchi
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Rei Hiroe
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
Provided you are fine with an adult tone, Black Lagoon is one of the best introductory anime of all time, especially for North American audiences. Although set in Southeast Asia, the show has a Western edge that grants it global appeal, and this aspect is bolstered by one of the best English dubs of all time.
The premise just screams "over-the-top" action, as Black Lagoon follows a mercenary company as they take on a wide assortment of missions that involve different crime syndicates, none of which are Japanese. The gun-fueled action sequences are constantly brilliant and incorporate gore without reveling in it, and nearly every episode has one fantastic set piece. Most of them have multiple.
Now, Black Lagoon has a killer maid and creepy twins, so it goes "full" anime on occasion; however, those characters play central roles in arguably the best two arcs, so they are fine additions. Anyway, terrifying twins are hardly exclusive to Japanese animation.
1 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The Best Anime For Beginners, Period
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2009 - 2010
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Bones
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Hiromu Arakawa
- Number of Episodes
- 64
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood explores the intriguing story of Edward and Alphonse Elric, brothers, after their disastrous attempt to resurrect their mother through alchemy. Edward loses his limbs as punishment, and Alphonse has his soul trapped in a suit of armor. They start a quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone, with which they can regenerate their bodies. The series starts off strong, but with a simple premise. However, as they continue their journey, the Elric brothers find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy that will cause the demise of their world.
This series is praised for the flow of its plot and its rich world-building elements, which emphasize sacrifice, morality, and family bonds. Its combination of action, humor, and emotional richness, topped with a fitting and satisfying ending, makes it a classic anime that's perfect for newcomers.
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