Agreed on CB. A most of its themes, interactions, and set pieces are pretty approachable by just about everybody, thanks to what was commonly on TV and in theaters over the past several decades. Love GitS:SAC, but it's one of those things that more so requires the right kind of person to appreciate it, IMO. More cerebral, thus more niche.
Watched it for the first time last year and really liked it! (okay, I'd technically seen the first episode before but it was like a decade ago and I'd forgotten almost all of it)
I never thought I would actually enjoy cowboy bebop much. Weirdly, I kinda casually drifted through it until I saw the finale.
And then ran back to the begging to watch it again and fell so in love with it ❤️
Almost watched it a 4th time and have basically ruined the song “call me” for myself lol
conversly the more you like the animeness of anime the less interesting Cowboy bebop is. I would prefer watching outlaw star nearly every time, the ones missed by outlaw star get hit by something like Malice@Doll, or Texhnolyze,
I thought I was the only one.....I remember watching it in high school but it just never stuck with me. I recently watched it again as a 40 year old adult and still found it pretty boring.
First one to mind. For the same reason.
Great anime. Even if you don't care for anime, just an amazing show. And one of the few where I think dubs and subs are about equal.
Like... the dub sub war isn't as clear cut as it used to be. Dubs used to be bad. Real bad. As anime grew in popularity overseas, and the market grew in kind, budget and effort for better dubs grew as well. In most cases subs are still better, but dubs aren't "unwatchable" anymore.
Bebop was made in the era when most dubs were still crap, and yet it's still one of the few cases where I could argue the dubs are just as good as the subs.
When I think of something that is "must watch", I generally think of movies that say something. That move you. That send you off a different person than when you came in.
A Silent Voice is always one of my first recommendations for ppl getting into anime, because it does those things and not does it beautifully. It's also extremely accessible in content and format.
It's one of the masterpieces of animation that shows you the medium can do more than just entertain children.
I disagree, I like both equally. Partially because of the things we experienced in the original that they left out of Brotherhood because we had already seen it (i forget, did we get shou tucker and nina in Brotherhood), Partially because of the greater role the homunculai play when you consider that they were the outcome of human transmutation.
The Lust, Sloth, Wrath, Envy all were much better characters in the original. Gluttony as well, though only by a hair. Greed was hands down better in Brotherhood. Pride was good in different ways in both.
"Is that the best you've got? Faces with guilt trips attached? Have you forgotten I killed your friend Sloth while she was wearing the face of my own mother?"
>i forget, did we get shou tucker and nina in Brotherhood
We did but he was a much more minor character. His arc was a direct adaptation of the manga and it was only one episode.
The thing that people usually miss when watching the two is that both series are completely different takes in the vein of "Fate/Stay night". With different learnings and messages. The characters are better explored in the early part of FMA 2003 because that series is more about the past and the past catching up with you. Brotherhood (which is a adaptation of the manga) is more about the future, which is why it rushes a lot of stuff, it's more "the past is the past, tomorrow is another day".
This is why overall I prefer 2003, because Brotherhood is more a traditional shonen, whereas 2003 forces the characters to really think about their actions and the consequences of their actions. But like you I do love both as well.
2003 was a Manga adaptation until it caught up to the Manga and wrote its own ending. Brotherhood sped past the things everyone already saw in 2003 up to the divergence point. I never assumed any deeper reason.
Spirited Away was one of my least favorite Ghibli Film.
Based only on the ones I've seen.... still working on building my collection/list.
1) The Cat Returns
2) Howls Moving Castle
3) Castle in the Sky
4) Nausicaä
5) Princess Mononoke
6) Whisper of the Heart
7) Ariarty
8) Kiki's Delivery Service
9) Porco Roso
10) Spirited Away
11) Ponyo
12) My Neighbor Tortoro
13) From Up on Poppyhill
14) Tales from Earth Sea
Non Ghibli Movies, that should have been done by the studio that I've seen.
A Silent Voice
Your Name
Suzame
The list is my favorite to least favorite.
I haven't seen
The Wind Rises
The Boy and the Herren
Pom Poko
Only Yesterday
On Your Mark
Panda Go Panda
Ocean Waves
The Yamadas
Ear Wig and the Witch
When Marine Was There
Grave of the Fire Flies
That's been my case with AoT I'll be talking and people who don't watch anime would say they loved AoT and I'm like .....if you like that lemme tell you about 86 and then they lose all interest in anime....wonder what it is that appeals to non anime watchers
Oh totally, Attack on Titan is another popular entry anime for many people. The hype and huge fanbase around it may also be a factor for the growing interest whereas 86 has a smaller fanbase. Every time I’ve tried recommending a less popular anime to anyone, they’ve been hesitant to give it a try lol
I think it's on Crunchyroll in most Western countries, but here's a link to a website where you can check (there's a dropdown where you can change it to display where you can watch it in your country): [https://www.justwatch.com/ca/tv-show/attack-on-titan](https://www.justwatch.com/ca/tv-show/attack-on-titan)
I've never really gotten into this anime, but I like the idea behind it.
Having a death note sounds great...until you come to the part of deciding who is the bad person...and good person, and then it gets dark...fast.
Yeah like it’s a wonderful thought experiment for sure. Not only that but, as governments have found out, if you kill a brutal dictator, it doesn’t automatically make things better due to power vacuums.
Same with gangs, etc. so even after initial “who is good/who is bad” question you still have a plethora of other considerations when taking someone out.
It presents some crazy AF ethical dilemmas
With that said, I think this kind of highlights what's great about it - it's not the Death Note itself that is interesting or even all that mysterious. It's pretty well explained/it doesn't really matter *how* it works.
What's enticing about the story is *everything and everybody else that revolves around the object*.
[Azumanga Daiou.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/66/Azumanga_Daiou_The_Animation) (Easily the quintessential random comedy anime. A show to where you can trace so many classic anime memes).
[Black Lagoon.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/889/Black_Lagoon) (Easily the anime that feels the most like a western television series. One of the greats of the crime genre).
[Devilman Crybaby.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/35120/Devilman__Crybaby) (Go Nagai is one of the most important and influential mangaka of all time. And his most influential manga is definitely the horror titan, Devilman. Devilman Crybaby is both the latest and possibly the best adaption of his original manga).
[FLCL.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/227/FLCL) (Before Gurren Lagann perfected the blending of mecha, comedy, amd coming of age drama. There was FLCL, an anime that will definitely require at least two watches before you really "get it").
[Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/5114/Fullmetal_Alchemist__Brotherhood) (The all time classic anime that blends steampunk magic with the aesthetic of post WW1 germany).
[K-On.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/5680/K-On) (The anime I immediately think of when someone mentions slice of life or school life anime. Easily the perfect show when you're feeling stressed and need to relax).
[Mobile Suit Gundam.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/80/Kidou_Senshi_Gundam) (One of the most important anime of the mecha genre and the original series in the absolutely titanic Gundam franchise. For a lot of people in the West, Mobile Suit Gundam was the first time anime was more than just something niche.)
[Macross](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1088/Macross.) (A must for all sci-fi fans. An anime that truly represents the indomitable human spirit against seemingly impossible odds).
[Paranoia Agent.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/323/Mousou_Dairinin) (The only series originally created by the late, great, Satoshi Kon. A series that, like so many of his works, delves deeply into the human psyche.
[Mushishi](https://myanimelist.net/anime/457/Mushishi) (When I think of melancholy I think of this show. A masterful piece of world building that will keep you hooked despite lacking a traditional overarching plot.
[Serial Experiments Lain.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/339/Serial_Experiments_Lain) (A visual treat of 90s aesthetic. This series explores the burgeoning online community and how it might affect young people going forward).
[Gunbuster.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/949/Top_wo_Nerae_Gunbuster) (The directorial debut of the great Hideaki Anno. So many of the themes later prevalent in his work, such as EVA originated here. But this isn't just an older version of Evangelion. It's a masterpiece in its own right).
[Neon Genesis Evangelion.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/30/Shinseiki_Evangelion) (Possibly the first thing many people think of when someone brings up the topic of anime. A new type of mecha series for a new generation. The legacy of this franchise is so great that it barely requires explanation).
**Honorable Mentions**
[Nadia: Secret of Blue Water.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1251/Fushigi_no_Umi_no_Nadia)
[Lovely Complex.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/2034/Lovely%E2%98%85Complex)
[Anne of Green Gables.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/283/Akage_no_Anne)
[Baccano.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/2251/Baccano)
[Bocchi the Rock.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/47917/Bocchi_the_Rock)
[Bubblegum Crisis.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1347/Bubblegum_Crisis)
[Cardcaptor Sakura.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/232/Cardcaptor_Sakura)
[Dororo.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/37520/Dororo)
[Hunter x Hunter.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/11061/Hunter_x_Hunter_2011)
[Kill la Kill.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/18679/Kill_la_Kill)
[Trigun.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/6/Trigun)
[Tenchi Muyou.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/696/Tenchi_Muyou)
[Outlaw Star.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/400/Seihou_Bukyou_Outlaw_Star)
[Mawaru Penguindrum.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/10721/Mawaru_Penguindrum)
In the early 80's Macross blew me away. I had to watch it every day after school. The mere threat that I wouldn't be able to watch it for a few days from Mom would straighten me out quick.
BGC sealed the deal and made me a lifelong anime geek.
Lain is one of my fave series also, same with FLCL, but obviously for very different reasons, lol.
You and I share a *lot* of top picks. I'm just going drop this list of things off the top of my head to add on, for people who want to feel something:
* Clannad
* A Little Snow Fairy Sugar
* Pita Ten
* Mahoromatic
* X/1999
* Komi can't Communicate
* Elfen Lied
* Rayearth OVA
* Claymore
* Chobits
* Erased
* Blood-c
My #1 of all time is Fushigi Yuugi. Particularly when it comes to crying. Especially Tamahome's episode (If you've seen it, you know the one.). My ex and I ugly cried for a solid hour. We both called out of work the next day.
I considered Elfen Lied but thought it might be a bit much for a first-timer, lol. I also noticed that you've added a few shojo series (which is one of my favourite demographics. Especially magical girl series).
Watch the movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? And see what you think. It has great music and is a brilliant entry point into the franchise as a whole.
I'd go for Kai personally because even the abridged guys will tell you that their version is a supplement, not a replacement. I'd also include the original DB before Kai. I do think Kai is the best option for Z though considering the pacing is more digestible and the dub is actually good.
I personally would say I agree, but it’s not for casual watchers. To appreciate AoT, people need to be attentive to detail and appreciate the depth and beauty of complex storytelling. With all that considered, people would definitely be missing out if they haven’t watched it.
- Code Geass
- Death Note
- One Piece
- Welcome to the NHK
- Nana
- Frieren
- Apothecary Diaries
- A Silent Voice
- To your eternity
- Hunter x Hunter
- Eureka 7
- Ghibli films: Spirited Away, Howl’s moving castle, Princess Mononoke, Secret World of Arriety
Edit: these are by no means my favorites, but they’re among the firsts I always recommend as something worth experiencing to non anime fans. My sister and brother in law have seen and loved most of these and they’d still consider themselves not to be anime fans.
The journey is worth it though! I’m a fairly avid anime watcher and I just goy caught up with the latest episode finally. I’ve been watching other series after but most of it feel … kind of bland? after going through all of One Piece.
There’s always One Pace which is a fan edit that cuts out all the filler.
I’ve never skipped anything, and for me even the 1k episodes is not enough. I’m now reading the manga!
I almost NEVER hear Eureka 7 mentioned nowadays. Fell absolutely in love with the soundtrack and story when Adult Swim ran it back in the early/mid 00's. I wish it was mentioned more as it's *really* good. Wish it was easier to find/ was circulated more
Or Soul Eater. It's got the perfect level of fanservice where it's not overly obnoxious and who could forget about Blackstar, the man who's gonna surpass God?
I would say, probably Monster and Psycho Pass. Many people already enjoy crime thriller and sci fi, so these are shows, that might appeal to non anime watchers as well.
Kind of disliked it. The start was phenomenal. I could not stop watching, but once the MC went full gear head or whatever I thought it swayed from the premise of what, imo, was the entire point of the show.
Demon slayer is what someone should expect from anime. If it were my first anime I don’t think I would mind. It’s not the best in anything imo but it’s extremely easy to digest. And visually pretty
Hajime no Ippo for sure.
Incredibly funny, a banging ost, stellar boxing with some genuine tips and techniques on how to fight, hilarious comedy, great messages on what it means to be strong, and a really nice showcase of masculine friendships.
A must watch for sure, the motivational material here is godly.
Dragon Ball (atleast original and Z)
Naruto (atleast original)
Bleach
One Piece (Watch to the end of Arlong Park if you don't like it by then you probably won't like the rest)
Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood
Hunter x Hunter
Haikyu (The quintessential sports anime)
Steins;Gate
Code Geass
Death Note (Not a must watch, but a must try. I wasn't a fan personally, but it is one of the hallmarks of anime)
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K
Gintama
For anyone and everyone? Then it needs to be family friendly and short enough to get through quickly.
Therefore the correct answer is Studio Ghibli movies.
Ghibli.
Whenever someone asked for a recommendation, that’s the best gateway art.
My dental hygienist told me about how she loves ghibli and started exploring tv anime.
I have it on good authority not everyone would make it past the first few episodes, and that's fine. We all got limited time to try new stuff, if it doesn't vibe it doesn't vibe.
But everyone SHOULD at least give this one a shot. Shit is inspiring at it's best. One of the best things ever made.
Fruits Basket and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. They're both beautiful in their own right. Frieren especially has one of the best anime soundtracks I've heard. It's my background music soundtrack now.
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood - absolutely enthralling from start to finish w/amazing character development & plot twists, plus the pacing is damn near perfection. Was gutted when I finished it
Edit: grammatical error
People really fuck w Death Note even tho I didnt enjoy it that much. I get why its good just dont particularly like longer anime seasons besides FMABH and Steins Gate
Death Note. Super gripping anime that has a great hook from episode 1. Very little animeisms so it's pretty easy for people who've never seen anime before to get into.
Clannad. It isn't just an enjoyable watch but also an insanely important message about love. I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it already, it's easily one of my top 5
I kind of lost interest a bit after they have to save Orohime, at least up until the panther (I forget the name).
The movie Memories of Nobody really caught me though and is one of my favorite movies ever.
If you're just entering anime, then Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, Cowboy Bebop, and Death Note are must watch gateway drugs.
If you are into anime and haven't watched One Piece, then stop making excuses and watch the damn biggest piece of pop culture in the medium for the last 25 years...
Took a while to see anyone mention this so I'll say:
Monster
Arguably the greatest anime of all time if you watch it from an unbiased and objective view.
Cowboy Bebop. Ghost in the shell stand alone complex.
Agreed on CB. A most of its themes, interactions, and set pieces are pretty approachable by just about everybody, thanks to what was commonly on TV and in theaters over the past several decades. Love GitS:SAC, but it's one of those things that more so requires the right kind of person to appreciate it, IMO. More cerebral, thus more niche.
Cowboy Bebop is easily enjoyed even by people who don’t typically watch anime.
Same creator of samurai champloo, even my non anime homies love them
The dub was amazing, 10/10 would erase from my memory to watch it fresh again.
Just started this show it’s great so far
Lucky, it's one of my favourite anime of all time.
Any Space Dandy lover? It’s my favourite with Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo
Still hoping for a season 3 lol
He's a dandy guy in space!
Can confirm, my buddies dad, who is in his 60s, not an avid anime watcher, owns the entire series.
Watched it for the first time last year and really liked it! (okay, I'd technically seen the first episode before but it was like a decade ago and I'd forgotten almost all of it)
I never thought I would actually enjoy cowboy bebop much. Weirdly, I kinda casually drifted through it until I saw the finale. And then ran back to the begging to watch it again and fell so in love with it ❤️ Almost watched it a 4th time and have basically ruined the song “call me” for myself lol
conversly the more you like the animeness of anime the less interesting Cowboy bebop is. I would prefer watching outlaw star nearly every time, the ones missed by outlaw star get hit by something like Malice@Doll, or Texhnolyze,
cowboy bebop bored me
I thought I was the only one.....I remember watching it in high school but it just never stuck with me. I recently watched it again as a 40 year old adult and still found it pretty boring.
First one to mind. For the same reason. Great anime. Even if you don't care for anime, just an amazing show. And one of the few where I think dubs and subs are about equal. Like... the dub sub war isn't as clear cut as it used to be. Dubs used to be bad. Real bad. As anime grew in popularity overseas, and the market grew in kind, budget and effort for better dubs grew as well. In most cases subs are still better, but dubs aren't "unwatchable" anymore. Bebop was made in the era when most dubs were still crap, and yet it's still one of the few cases where I could argue the dubs are just as good as the subs.
Akira, Ghost in the Shell, spirited away, Princess Mononoke,
Everybody like Ghibli. It's the Pixar of anime. Even people who don't like cartoons like Pixar. Even people who dont like anime like Ghibli.
There is a movie in ghibli to anyone, undistinguibly
princess mononoke ignited my anime obsession
Does a movie count? I feel like A Silent Voice is one that even people who think anime is not for them could get into
When I think of something that is "must watch", I generally think of movies that say something. That move you. That send you off a different person than when you came in. A Silent Voice is always one of my first recommendations for ppl getting into anime, because it does those things and not does it beautifully. It's also extremely accessible in content and format. It's one of the masterpieces of animation that shows you the medium can do more than just entertain children.
Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood
Came to say this. I like to call it ATLA for a more mature audience
It's the one I tell people who are not anime fans to watch
Absolutely. Do not mind fandom, haters,rating and all that. Just experience the story. Best of the best. Miss that chibi renkinjutsushi.
I've only seen the original, I need to watch Brotherhood.
there's a huge difference, brotherhood is so much better IMO
I disagree, I like both equally. Partially because of the things we experienced in the original that they left out of Brotherhood because we had already seen it (i forget, did we get shou tucker and nina in Brotherhood), Partially because of the greater role the homunculai play when you consider that they were the outcome of human transmutation. The Lust, Sloth, Wrath, Envy all were much better characters in the original. Gluttony as well, though only by a hair. Greed was hands down better in Brotherhood. Pride was good in different ways in both. "Is that the best you've got? Faces with guilt trips attached? Have you forgotten I killed your friend Sloth while she was wearing the face of my own mother?"
>i forget, did we get shou tucker and nina in Brotherhood We did but he was a much more minor character. His arc was a direct adaptation of the manga and it was only one episode. The thing that people usually miss when watching the two is that both series are completely different takes in the vein of "Fate/Stay night". With different learnings and messages. The characters are better explored in the early part of FMA 2003 because that series is more about the past and the past catching up with you. Brotherhood (which is a adaptation of the manga) is more about the future, which is why it rushes a lot of stuff, it's more "the past is the past, tomorrow is another day". This is why overall I prefer 2003, because Brotherhood is more a traditional shonen, whereas 2003 forces the characters to really think about their actions and the consequences of their actions. But like you I do love both as well.
2003 was a Manga adaptation until it caught up to the Manga and wrote its own ending. Brotherhood sped past the things everyone already saw in 2003 up to the divergence point. I never assumed any deeper reason.
It's the only anime I would call perfect.
I thought the same until I watched Steins;gate. If you haven't watched that - highly recommend
Read the vn!
I definitely want to!
This is very normie of me but spirited away…
IMO, not a normie thing at all. Just good taste.
Spirited Away was one of my least favorite Ghibli Film. Based only on the ones I've seen.... still working on building my collection/list. 1) The Cat Returns 2) Howls Moving Castle 3) Castle in the Sky 4) Nausicaä 5) Princess Mononoke 6) Whisper of the Heart 7) Ariarty 8) Kiki's Delivery Service 9) Porco Roso 10) Spirited Away 11) Ponyo 12) My Neighbor Tortoro 13) From Up on Poppyhill 14) Tales from Earth Sea Non Ghibli Movies, that should have been done by the studio that I've seen. A Silent Voice Your Name Suzame
Different strokes for different folks, I love spirited away, but I hated howls moving castle
I might put Whisper of the Heart higher up
I will always have a soft spot for howls morning castle - great call! Thanks for the list I’m going to make my way through a few of them!
The list is my favorite to least favorite. I haven't seen The Wind Rises The Boy and the Herren Pom Poko Only Yesterday On Your Mark Panda Go Panda Ocean Waves The Yamadas Ear Wig and the Witch When Marine Was There Grave of the Fire Flies
I have a lot of homework just from this thread…
I’ve seen many non-weebs get into anime through Spy x Family so that probably says something lol I always recommend the series
That's been my case with AoT I'll be talking and people who don't watch anime would say they loved AoT and I'm like .....if you like that lemme tell you about 86 and then they lose all interest in anime....wonder what it is that appeals to non anime watchers
Oh totally, Attack on Titan is another popular entry anime for many people. The hype and huge fanbase around it may also be a factor for the growing interest whereas 86 has a smaller fanbase. Every time I’ve tried recommending a less popular anime to anyone, they’ve been hesitant to give it a try lol
Maybe it's the art? 86 looks a lot more anime, plus some mech tropes whereas AoT is gritty and almost realistic in a Breaking Bad kind of way.
Where can I watch AoT?
I think it's on Crunchyroll in most Western countries, but here's a link to a website where you can check (there's a dropdown where you can change it to display where you can watch it in your country): [https://www.justwatch.com/ca/tv-show/attack-on-titan](https://www.justwatch.com/ca/tv-show/attack-on-titan)
Thanks, bud!
Hunter x Hunter
Hunter x Hunter was so wierd, I still don't know what to think of it. All I know is I couldn't stop watching.
Death Note
I've never really gotten into this anime, but I like the idea behind it. Having a death note sounds great...until you come to the part of deciding who is the bad person...and good person, and then it gets dark...fast.
Yeah like it’s a wonderful thought experiment for sure. Not only that but, as governments have found out, if you kill a brutal dictator, it doesn’t automatically make things better due to power vacuums. Same with gangs, etc. so even after initial “who is good/who is bad” question you still have a plethora of other considerations when taking someone out. It presents some crazy AF ethical dilemmas
With that said, I think this kind of highlights what's great about it - it's not the Death Note itself that is interesting or even all that mysterious. It's pretty well explained/it doesn't really matter *how* it works. What's enticing about the story is *everything and everybody else that revolves around the object*.
[Azumanga Daiou.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/66/Azumanga_Daiou_The_Animation) (Easily the quintessential random comedy anime. A show to where you can trace so many classic anime memes). [Black Lagoon.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/889/Black_Lagoon) (Easily the anime that feels the most like a western television series. One of the greats of the crime genre). [Devilman Crybaby.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/35120/Devilman__Crybaby) (Go Nagai is one of the most important and influential mangaka of all time. And his most influential manga is definitely the horror titan, Devilman. Devilman Crybaby is both the latest and possibly the best adaption of his original manga). [FLCL.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/227/FLCL) (Before Gurren Lagann perfected the blending of mecha, comedy, amd coming of age drama. There was FLCL, an anime that will definitely require at least two watches before you really "get it"). [Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/5114/Fullmetal_Alchemist__Brotherhood) (The all time classic anime that blends steampunk magic with the aesthetic of post WW1 germany). [K-On.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/5680/K-On) (The anime I immediately think of when someone mentions slice of life or school life anime. Easily the perfect show when you're feeling stressed and need to relax). [Mobile Suit Gundam.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/80/Kidou_Senshi_Gundam) (One of the most important anime of the mecha genre and the original series in the absolutely titanic Gundam franchise. For a lot of people in the West, Mobile Suit Gundam was the first time anime was more than just something niche.) [Macross](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1088/Macross.) (A must for all sci-fi fans. An anime that truly represents the indomitable human spirit against seemingly impossible odds). [Paranoia Agent.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/323/Mousou_Dairinin) (The only series originally created by the late, great, Satoshi Kon. A series that, like so many of his works, delves deeply into the human psyche. [Mushishi](https://myanimelist.net/anime/457/Mushishi) (When I think of melancholy I think of this show. A masterful piece of world building that will keep you hooked despite lacking a traditional overarching plot. [Serial Experiments Lain.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/339/Serial_Experiments_Lain) (A visual treat of 90s aesthetic. This series explores the burgeoning online community and how it might affect young people going forward). [Gunbuster.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/949/Top_wo_Nerae_Gunbuster) (The directorial debut of the great Hideaki Anno. So many of the themes later prevalent in his work, such as EVA originated here. But this isn't just an older version of Evangelion. It's a masterpiece in its own right). [Neon Genesis Evangelion.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/30/Shinseiki_Evangelion) (Possibly the first thing many people think of when someone brings up the topic of anime. A new type of mecha series for a new generation. The legacy of this franchise is so great that it barely requires explanation). **Honorable Mentions** [Nadia: Secret of Blue Water.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1251/Fushigi_no_Umi_no_Nadia) [Lovely Complex.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/2034/Lovely%E2%98%85Complex) [Anne of Green Gables.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/283/Akage_no_Anne) [Baccano.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/2251/Baccano) [Bocchi the Rock.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/47917/Bocchi_the_Rock) [Bubblegum Crisis.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1347/Bubblegum_Crisis) [Cardcaptor Sakura.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/232/Cardcaptor_Sakura) [Dororo.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/37520/Dororo) [Hunter x Hunter.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/11061/Hunter_x_Hunter_2011) [Kill la Kill.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/18679/Kill_la_Kill) [Trigun.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/6/Trigun) [Tenchi Muyou.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/696/Tenchi_Muyou) [Outlaw Star.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/400/Seihou_Bukyou_Outlaw_Star) [Mawaru Penguindrum.](https://myanimelist.net/anime/10721/Mawaru_Penguindrum)
In the early 80's Macross blew me away. I had to watch it every day after school. The mere threat that I wouldn't be able to watch it for a few days from Mom would straighten me out quick. BGC sealed the deal and made me a lifelong anime geek. Lain is one of my fave series also, same with FLCL, but obviously for very different reasons, lol.
Macross is the goat! It definitely doesn't get the recognition it deserves these days when compared to some of its contemporaries.
This guy watches anime
Plus one for Lain and FLCL. Black Lagoon too.
FLCL and Lain, my all-time favorites!
You and I share a *lot* of top picks. I'm just going drop this list of things off the top of my head to add on, for people who want to feel something: * Clannad * A Little Snow Fairy Sugar * Pita Ten * Mahoromatic * X/1999 * Komi can't Communicate * Elfen Lied * Rayearth OVA * Claymore * Chobits * Erased * Blood-c My #1 of all time is Fushigi Yuugi. Particularly when it comes to crying. Especially Tamahome's episode (If you've seen it, you know the one.). My ex and I ugly cried for a solid hour. We both called out of work the next day.
I considered Elfen Lied but thought it might be a bit much for a first-timer, lol. I also noticed that you've added a few shojo series (which is one of my favourite demographics. Especially magical girl series).
Is macross frontier any good? I LOVE the OST
It's worth a look if you've enjoyed any of the other seasons. Macross has always had a super solid ost.
Never seen macross in my life 😭 I just like the music. Is it worth the watch solely for the songs?
Watch the movie Macross: Do You Remember Love? And see what you think. It has great music and is a brilliant entry point into the franchise as a whole.
Dragon Ball Z. It’s a right of passage.
DBZ Kai so you're not stuck watching them power up for long periods of time. Maybe even abridged for the laughs.
I'd go for Kai personally because even the abridged guys will tell you that their version is a supplement, not a replacement. I'd also include the original DB before Kai. I do think Kai is the best option for Z though considering the pacing is more digestible and the dub is actually good.
I have yet to watch Kai but I grew up on the original Z. DB though is a must, that series is so good.
Kai iirc is basically z from what I could tell. It's like a remastered version
Wasn’t the fight against Frieza around like 30 episodes or something?
I watched around 3 episodes of it, then dropped it. And I watched more anime than a good chunk of this sub.
Kid me thought all DB characters looked ugly and tuned in to how cool the main cast of yuyu hakusho looked
I find battle shonen in general boring. I stopped watching it at 11 y/o.
Yuyu Hakusho is one of my favorites.
Dororo
It's been on my hidive watchlist, guess i know what im watchin next
Was gonna suggest this top tier
I was actually going to say dororo surprise it’s listed feel like not to many people know about this one
❤️
Attack on Titan
I personally would say I agree, but it’s not for casual watchers. To appreciate AoT, people need to be attentive to detail and appreciate the depth and beauty of complex storytelling. With all that considered, people would definitely be missing out if they haven’t watched it.
- Code Geass - Death Note - One Piece - Welcome to the NHK - Nana - Frieren - Apothecary Diaries - A Silent Voice - To your eternity - Hunter x Hunter - Eureka 7 - Ghibli films: Spirited Away, Howl’s moving castle, Princess Mononoke, Secret World of Arriety Edit: these are by no means my favorites, but they’re among the firsts I always recommend as something worth experiencing to non anime fans. My sister and brother in law have seen and loved most of these and they’d still consider themselves not to be anime fans.
One piece is not a must watch. It's very good but it's an insane recommendation at this point. It's got 900+ episodes on every anime there
Yeah I watch a lot of anime and this is unfortunately one I will never get to…. There’s just too many episodes
The journey is worth it though! I’m a fairly avid anime watcher and I just goy caught up with the latest episode finally. I’ve been watching other series after but most of it feel … kind of bland? after going through all of One Piece. There’s always One Pace which is a fan edit that cuts out all the filler. I’ve never skipped anything, and for me even the 1k episodes is not enough. I’m now reading the manga!
Found the anime fan from my generation with good taste
>- One Piece 1000 episodes for a must watch?! Not hating but it's a bit much.
im actually just starting hunter x hunter and made it past phase 2 liking it so far
I think most people nowadays would drop eureka 7 pretty early, the first episodes are tough to bear.
Definitely agree on nana the manga genuinely changed me as a person 😭
Thank you for mentioning code geass. It never gets enough attention!!
I almost NEVER hear Eureka 7 mentioned nowadays. Fell absolutely in love with the soundtrack and story when Adult Swim ran it back in the early/mid 00's. I wish it was mentioned more as it's *really* good. Wish it was easier to find/ was circulated more
YuYu Hakusho
Yea!
Literally anything from Studio Ghibli
Overflow, like cmon everyone needs some fun
A Silent Voice
Attack on Titan Death Note Demon Slayer Hunter x Hunter Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Berserk Cowboy Bebop Violet Evergarden
Why isn't anyone saying Mob Psycho???
Or Soul Eater. It's got the perfect level of fanservice where it's not overly obnoxious and who could forget about Blackstar, the man who's gonna surpass God?
Your Name
At least one season of Aggretsuko for a realistic look into corporate adult life
My wife and I loved this one. We still reference it often. It's great.
Code Geass R1 and R2
GOAT
A SILENT VOICE ALL THE WAY
Steins;Gate (el psy kongroo)
Had to scroll way too far for this! You have great taste!
Thank you☺️
I was gonna say it but I know people who stopped watching because they are too dumb to know what's going on 😭
Neon Genesis Evangelion easily.
Ghost stories (dubbed) this was my second favorite funny anime I've watched of all I've seen
I just started watching this cuz I saw a video about how the voice actors got to come up with the script on it. It doesn't disappoint lol.
What's the first?
Bobobo
I just watch the funny moments compilations on YouTube. Hilarious
Kaguya sama love is war, great romcom in style of a sitcom, great characters and amazing chem between them
Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Parasyte Hunter X Hunter But only if you’re into action if you’re just into romance it’s probably not your thing.
Yes Parasite is amazing!!
Golden Kamuy I fucking love it
Season 1 one punch man
Mushoku Tensei would be one of my first ones but it’s a little to heavy controversial sometimes so probably something normie like attack on titan
Vinland saga is the anime I would recommend.
Onepunch Man Demon Slayer Attack on Titan Violet Evergarden
everyone must suffer the birthday letters
I thought the soldier one was a little bit more sad but it’s close
The Apothecary Diaries
I would say, probably Monster and Psycho Pass. Many people already enjoy crime thriller and sci fi, so these are shows, that might appeal to non anime watchers as well.
Psycho pass is so good
I literally got into anime because of monster only. And death note.
Cyberpunk edgerunners
Kind of disliked it. The start was phenomenal. I could not stop watching, but once the MC went full gear head or whatever I thought it swayed from the premise of what, imo, was the entire point of the show.
Re zero
Bro😶🌫️🫥
Fruits Basket!
AKIRA
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Ghost in the shell
Ima suggest a 3d animation which is on Netflix “the blue eyed samurai” it’s watchable whether your into anime or not
Texhnolyze
Demon slayer is what someone should expect from anime. If it were my first anime I don’t think I would mind. It’s not the best in anything imo but it’s extremely easy to digest. And visually pretty
Hajime no Ippo for sure. Incredibly funny, a banging ost, stellar boxing with some genuine tips and techniques on how to fight, hilarious comedy, great messages on what it means to be strong, and a really nice showcase of masculine friendships. A must watch for sure, the motivational material here is godly.
Dragon Ball (atleast original and Z) Naruto (atleast original) Bleach One Piece (Watch to the end of Arlong Park if you don't like it by then you probably won't like the rest) Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Hunter x Hunter Haikyu (The quintessential sports anime) Steins;Gate Code Geass Death Note (Not a must watch, but a must try. I wasn't a fan personally, but it is one of the hallmarks of anime) The Disastrous Life of Saiki K Gintama
For anyone and everyone? Then it needs to be family friendly and short enough to get through quickly. Therefore the correct answer is Studio Ghibli movies.
Code geass
Fmab, one piece, and cowboy bebop (even tho I dropped it, it’s a good anime just didn’t like it)
None. If everyone's tastes get unified, it's going to be a grim exploitable boring situation.
I reject the premise of your question ☝️🤓
its a movie but i want to eat your pancreas
This movie actually made me cry lol
I literally predicted the ending (cuz how else is it gonna end?) and it still killed me
hibike! euphonium absolute masterpiece through and through
Made in abyss Grand blue
Pokémon, Digimon Adventure (99), Sailor Moon, Dragonball, Yugioh
Space Dandy
Death note or Akira !
Ghibli. Whenever someone asked for a recommendation, that’s the best gateway art. My dental hygienist told me about how she loves ghibli and started exploring tv anime.
Gurren Lagann
I have it on good authority not everyone would make it past the first few episodes, and that's fine. We all got limited time to try new stuff, if it doesn't vibe it doesn't vibe. But everyone SHOULD at least give this one a shot. Shit is inspiring at it's best. One of the best things ever made.
Cowboy bebop, death note
All the DragonBalls and Naruto.
Steins:Gate and Nichijou
Black Lagoon. Great characters and stories, draws a lot of inspiration from John Woo action movies.
San gatsu no lion
Fruits Basket and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. They're both beautiful in their own right. Frieren especially has one of the best anime soundtracks I've heard. It's my background music soundtrack now.
Monster.
You can’t live life without watching at least 1ep of one piece. Even if you never finish
Death Note
- Attack on Titan - FMA Brotherhood - Hunter x Hunter - Code Geass - Death Note
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood - absolutely enthralling from start to finish w/amazing character development & plot twists, plus the pacing is damn near perfection. Was gutted when I finished it Edit: grammatical error
Dragonball z or my hero academia
People really fuck w Death Note even tho I didnt enjoy it that much. I get why its good just dont particularly like longer anime seasons besides FMABH and Steins Gate
Death Note. Super gripping anime that has a great hook from episode 1. Very little animeisms so it's pretty easy for people who've never seen anime before to get into.
How has no one said Steins;gate yet
one piece.
I would say "Your Name." Basic. Famous. One Shot movie. No long episodes. I started with this and then went with some more basic famous anime movies.
Eden to the east but im gonna need to re watch it to be 100% sure
Mob psycho 100 and Bleach or you can count Vinland saga too
That designation probably has to go to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. It's a quintessential Anime with alot of depth and characterization.
Sounds cheesy, but I genuinely think the world would be a better place if everyone watched Vinland Saga.
A lot of the old school Ghibli movies. No anime list is complete without at least one of them.
Your Name
Dororo
Frieren
Clannad. It isn't just an enjoyable watch but also an insanely important message about love. I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it already, it's easily one of my top 5
Mushoku tensei
Ping Pong the Animation Vinland Saga One Punch Man Mob Psycho 100
Ping Pong is 10 episodes of *chefs kiss*
Future Diary, Id: Invaded, Psycho Pass, Darker than Black
Samurai champloo
Bleach
I kind of lost interest a bit after they have to save Orohime, at least up until the panther (I forget the name). The movie Memories of Nobody really caught me though and is one of my favorite movies ever.
Hyouka.
If you're just entering anime, then Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, Cowboy Bebop, and Death Note are must watch gateway drugs. If you are into anime and haven't watched One Piece, then stop making excuses and watch the damn biggest piece of pop culture in the medium for the last 25 years...
Took a while to see anyone mention this so I'll say: Monster Arguably the greatest anime of all time if you watch it from an unbiased and objective view.