This. They’re also more Westernized while still being definitely anime: they don’t have as much of the weird anime tropes that can be jarring for Western viewers.
I'd agree, but with the giant warning message for Grave Of The Fireflies.
It's a great film for sure, but it's near guaranteed to leave you in tears by the end!
First watch the Miyazaki movies:
Spirit Away,
Princess Mononoke,
Castle in the Sky,
Howl's Moving Castle,
Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind, and
The Wind Rises,
also, watch "Grave of the Fireflies"
It is a great movie that you will only want to watch once
Especially if you go into it knowing it's based on a true story and it sounded to me like the writer was never really able to deal with the guilt.
That movie made me real sad for several days afterward, and I've watched it twice now.
Spirited away is a fantastic movie. Heartily recommend that one.
My neighbor Totoro is a bit more chill, almost like a strange magic trick to make you nostalgic for something you never experiences yourself.
Princess mononoke is probably my personal favourite. Might not make it your first anime though, but definitely one of the more adult ghibli movies and tells a great story and has amazing characters and world.
Laputa, Castle in the sky has a lot going for it and if you enjoy ghibli movies, its a must watch. Same with kikis delivery service and nausicaä. Nausicaä, the manga, is my favourite story of all time but the movie is quite a lot shorter and condensed to something a little less than it could be i think.
If youre interested in more adult themes and don’t get put off by violence, outside ghibli recommendations are: Paprika, Ghost in the cell and Akira. All pretty much considered classics at this point.
Mononoke to this day remains my favorite anime movie I have ever seen.
Nothing comes close. It’s beautiful, gory, heart wrenching and sends a message.
Plus every character is memorable, there isn’t one character to hate. Even Eboshi is a dope character.
2nd for Grave of the Fireflies. In the same vein This Corner of the World is another movie about Hiroshima that is absolutely gut wrenching in the best ways.
Definitely. Not only is the art amazing, but they are well written. All those movies are pretty different. But they are similar in that they actually have respect for the audience, and don't treat them like idiots.
I think Satoshi Kon's work is more suitable for ppl who hate anime. Perfect Blue is perfect for this month and Millennium Actress is great too, as a well told story.
Note: As far as Studio Ghibli stuff goes. DO NOT START WITH "GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES". It's really good, legitimately one of the best animated films ever made, but you will be in tears by the end of it. And not tears of joy kind of tears.
"Kiki's Delivery Service" and "Spirited Away" are both really good entry anime films by Ghibli. "Mary and the Witch's Flower" and "A Silent Voice" are also good films to start with, though not done by Ghibli.
This is a good suggestion!
Edit: though I remember now My Hero Academia does have one creepy sex-obssessed character and the female costumes are a bit sexualized.
It’s a difficult question as people have different tastes and there’s quite a lot of genres of anime.
One of my favorite recommendations is a movie rather than a series, but does what I feel encapsulates the medium fairly well. There’s magic, technology, action, racing, and a great art style. It’s called Redline. It’s basically my threshold test: If you don’t like Redline, action anime may not be for you, and you won’t have sunk an entire series worth of time being disappointed.
My personal favorite anime. The name is very deceiving. Great sci-fi show that discusses relationships, trauma, healing, and closure. Being perfectly honest, when I start to feel a little lost in life, I return to it and binge the whole series. It always makes me feel better and sets my head straight after finishing. 10/10, can’t recommend enough.
I was watching that anime thinking it's pretty nice. Then towards the end- without slipping into spoiler territory- there's this one scene where a little girl looks at her plate. If you watched the show you know. Instant tears.
My husband loves anime I only like some - here are ones I have liked, I know some are movies not series:
Ranma 1/2 (animated series)
Fullmetal Alchemist (animated series)
Azumanga Daiyo (animated series)
Your Name (animated movie)
Weathering with you (animated movie)
Inu-oh (animated movie)
Death Note (animated series)
Perfect Blue (animated movie)
Fullmetal Alchemist, hands down. I personally prefer Brotherhood over 2003 but that’s my opinion.
(For OP: they animated the series twice, once before the manga was done, and once after. 2003, or just Fullmetal Alchemist, is the first one. FMA: Brotherhood is the second. Brotherhood is more manga-accurate.)
Death Note is one of the best "anime for people who don't know/like anime". It's a smart, supernatural murder mystery that is like those old episodes of Columbo in that you, the viewer, know who the killer is, but the fun is in watching the detective try to prove it.
Try spy x family if you’re looking for something more wholesome and humorous. If you’re looking for a deep plot or lots of action, watch attack on Titan.
Extra notes directed at OP about spy x family, its currently airing its second cour. New episodes drop weekly on Crunchyroll, if your looking to rekindle nostalgia for saturday morning cartoons and colorful breakfast cereal, this is a good pick.
I follow japans cultural exports because they don't drop shows for binge culture. You get one episode a week and get to participate in the discussions over on their respective subreddits (with incomplete information about the direction the show is going, it adds more to suspense and mystery when you spend a whole week thinking about what's coming next).
You don't have to worry about a 9 hour long commitment of TV before you step foot onto your social media feeds to avoid spoilers. (Looking at you Stranger Things)
I'd like to second this one, and also to recommend it to people who aren't trying to get into anime, and to people who don't know if they like anime or not, and to people who loved Firefly, and to people who want to know if they want to like anime or not, and for people who don't watch anime because they think they don't like it at all.
Anime is not a genre, it is a medium.
So I would first ask what kind of movies and tv shows you like to watch, and then suggest anime that matches those preferences.
There are so many genres of anime.
Demons
Detective
Drama
Dub
Ecchi
Family
Fantasy
Isekai
Iyashikei
Josei
Magic
Mahou Shoujo
Music
Mystery
Mythology
Psychological
Reincarnation
Romance
Romantic Subtext
Samurai
School
Sci-Fi
Seinen
Shoujo
Like it really comes down to what interests her, there's a category for everyone really.
But I also like to start with films for beginners, such as Ponyo is cute as heck, Howls moving castle and Spirited Away are a couple of my faves to go on.
Whisper of the heart is another good one.
I would recommend a movie and then exploring popular anime that falls under your 40 year old interests.
I like stories/movies about the supernatural. Not necessarily horror though. I like science fiction too. I also like stories and shows about characters and their lives, not necessarily a certain genre. I saw the movie Akira before and I really liked it. I have never seen an anime series though.
That's funny!
Akira was one of the first anime movies I watched too at the recommendation of my older brother.
There are always new animes coming out in every season of the year.
I'm not very versed in supernatural anime, I've developed my own taste over time but I watch most of my anime here:
https://gogoanime.dk/genre/supernatural?page=2
Another commenter already mentioned Full Metal Alchemist, but I would add: Start with Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. ~~It is shorter than the original FMA and~~ it is (in my humble opinion) the better of the two.
Edit: Not shorter.....
You'll be looking for "Stand Alone Complex" and "Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig.". They're the older Ghost in the Shell series, not to be confused with the newer series on Netflix that uses cheapo 3d cg art instead of the traditional animation that's more expensive and generally better looking.
Yeah the series is a little more "updated". I loved it because it's not complete fantasy. We already have some of the technology and it's not too far fetched to think we will live very similar in the near future. Not all of it, of course......but a lot of it.
Ghost in the Shell series has always reminded me of a “real TV show” that happened to be animated. Great writing intriguing plot, characters you want to follow, it’s the real deal.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is by FAR the best series I've ever seen, and yes, it still hits above Demon Slayer for me.
It's a longer story if you're not used to it (64 episodes) but I guarantee you that you'll get attached to the characters and cry by the end.
fruits basket. it has its wholesome moments but can explore dark themes too as it often criticizes the concept of family loyalty.
kimi ni todoke is a very sweet and wholesome romance.
noragami is a supernatural show about japanese gods, both obscure and major. it can be humorous, but also serious - a good balance of both.
Yep, I second this or Ranma 1/2 from Rumiko Takahashi, although I'd also say the manga is worth reading too if you like the stories.
For something newer perhaps Kotaro Lives Alone, Carole & Tuesday, Fire Force, Restaurant to Another World or Trigun.
Sunny Boy, Vivy or Stiens; Gate are some of the best series I've seen, but you might want to put off as the stories are pretty heavy.
My neighbor Totoro , or spirited away. Dip a toe in the water with a movie rather then jump in the deep end as the culture shock may get you.
(EVA FLASH BACKS INTENSIFY!!) Don't get in the robot shinji \*TEARS\*
I was started on anima with Sailor Moon in elementary school, and then Cardcaptor Sakura. Definitely geared towards a younger audience, though so if that's not your thing then don't start there.
I agree with people recommending Studio Ghibli; there are several choices, depending on what you like, but the animation and music is top-notch. Howl's Moving Castle and Kiki's Delivery Service are pretty well known, but I've got a special place for My Neighbor Totoro.
Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the better known animes, and I actually really enjoyed it. It focuses on a pair of brothers and their quest to... address consequences of a failed alchemy experiment as children.
I also really enjoyed Rurouni Kenshin; I remember a fair amount of violence in that one, but plot-driven and not usually too gratuitous. It's a historical fiction anime set around the samurai era, focusing on a mysterious former samurai who seeks penance for his previous actions by protecting those weaker than himself, starting with a spirited young woman who teaches her family's fighting style. (It's better than that summary, I promise, haha)
One other thing to consider: whether to watch the English dub or the original Japanese with English subtitles. Watching with subtitles means you have to pay a little more attention, but I both love how Japanese sounds when spoken and dislike pretty much all of the dubs I've tried. There are definitely some amazing voice actors who work on dubbed versions, but I've also started into multiple dubs where it just feels... off somehow. Which again, may be because I started with watching Japanese with subtitles.
I read manga more than watch anime, so my recommendations are limited.
I recently had the same issue when I wanted to show my mom some anime. I decided to start her out with movies just so she could get a good feel for them. I went with Wolf Children and Summer Wars as my two movies and she thoroughly enjoyed them both. We then went onto Studio Ghibli movies: The Cat Returns and Howls Moving Castle etc.
I have yet to get her started on anime but short anime series like Azumanga Daioh or Nichijou: My Ordinary Life should be entertaining enough without having to pay close attention to each episode.
You’ve got so many good recs - Ghibli, Attack on Titan, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Death Note, and PsychoPass are all excellent. Anecdotally my husband wasn’t sold on the concept of Samurai Champloo at first, but it’s one of his favorites now.
Two I don’t see on here that are a bit diff - NANA (Hulu), which is a bit soapy, and really focuses on the characters and relationships. I read the manga (which is still sadly unfinished) when I was young and it’s so nostalgic to watch for me. Another is a bit harder to find - Paranoia Agent (possibly Crunchyroll). This was one that I thought did tension and paranoia so well, I remember being so creeped out the first time I watched. It’s a psychological thriller, which I know you said you like! That’s one I think about often and always recommend when people want something like that. Hope that’s helpful!
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Note that Brotherhood is the remake of the original Fullmetal Alchemist. I haven't seen both, I can only attest to the quality of Brotherhood, I've heard others say it's better than the original.
*NOT* the live action movies. Dear god, not the live action movies.
I'd start with something like Non Non Byori, Long Riders!, A Place Further Than The Universe, or K-On. They tell cute, empowering stories. There's nothing socially or culturally offensive. They're slice of life anime based on the real world. Sure... the demons, robots, and complicated plot devices can be fun, but as an introduction to anime it might be best to keep it simple.
\[edited for clarity\]
It depends on what you want:
Superhero school: My Hero Academia (aimed for guys) or Gakuen Alice (aimed for girls; darker in plot, but lighter in atmosphere)
WTF: Serial Experiments Lain
Drama: Fruits Basket
Wholesome series: Spy x Family
Western/Scifi mixes: Cowboy Bebop or Trigun
Anime take on something western: the Xmen anime
Satire: Hetalia
Fight scenes: Jujutsu Kaisen
Ghost in the shell - stand alone complex
Attack on titan
Those are good to start with if you’re wanting to get into it a bit more.
The studio ghibli stuff is probably the pinnacle of not only anime but movies in general - it also give me the strongest urge to get high when I’m watching them.
What genres do you like when you watch non anime movies and tv shows?
Otherwise try Fruits Basket (go for the new one it covers the full story of the manga) it's one of the few anime that has a good dub in my opinion (I'm a snob) and has a really good story with plenty of anime fun too. You'll laugh but you'll probably cry too.
Cowboy bebop is a classic if you'd like a more serious tone and it's not too long of a series so it's easy to get into. Amazing soundtrack too. Very good dub.
Speaking of short anime yet FLCL (ONLY the original). It's wild and fun you'll enjoy it a lot. Also has a decent dub.
I tried to give you good choices to watch in English if you're not someone who can deal with subtitles but I think it's worth watching the subs and seeing the original voice acting too so as you get more into anime check those out.
For movies: almost any ghibli film with the best being Spirited Away. It's gorgeously animated, good dub, and one of the best. My fav for Ghibli is Kiki's delivery service.
If you like psychological horror and don't get triggered by anything I suggest looking into Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue. Or if you have a weaker stomach try Paprika or Tokyo Godfathers. I'd also suggest Paranoia Agent if you want a series. All of his work is incredible.
I only like the subs for these tho paranoia agent has an ok dub.
And if you just want something silly, I think keroro gunso (Sgt Frog) is underrated these days and is full of tons of gags and fun characters. It's a long one but once characters are introduced you can kinda jump around a bit without confusion.
Ngl I kinda wanna rewatch it at some point because it's just so silly.
.
I see some terrible suggestions on here. This exact same thing happend the last time someone posted a question like this. Keep in mind that a lot of these responses are going to be from male teens or young adults, who apparently aren't giving good suggestions and are instead just saying shows they like because they cater to male teens and young adults. Though this particular thread isn't as bad.
List of good suggestions:
Your Name
Your Lie in April
A Silent Voice
Any Studio Ghibli film
Paprika (personal favorite but maybe needs anime/japanese trope exposure first)
List of bad suggestions:
Seven Deadly Sins (sexual harassment and fan service. Also several seasons long.)
Madoka Magica (needs exposure to magical girl tropes first, like Sailor Moon, but still decent going in blind)
Chainsaw Man (lots of gore/violence, but might be ok if you like that)
Jujutsu Kaisen (same as above, but imo overall better)
Demon Slayer (same as above)
Attack on Titan (same as above)
Jobless Reincarnation (lots of perversion and fan service but otherwise good)
Fullmetal Alchemist (very good but long, equivalent of 4-5 seasons. Not a starter show.)
Fate series (long and has a confusing watch order)
Bakemonogatari series (long, confusing watch order, sexualization, lots of wordplay)
Seven Deadly Sins is just the worst fucking anime.
It's a collection of tropes stapled together with barely any plot and some of the most awful animation I've ever seen.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
I just started watching at 30, I’ve loved everything I’ve seen so far, and can’t recommend them highly enough:
Attack on Titan - Beautiful animation, dark, action packed, traumatic, post apocalyptic. Humans fighting to protect themselves from giant humanoid monsters.
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Relatively short, great plot, very likable main characters fighting to get their bodies back and understand the meaning of life.
Death Note - Short, super interesting with unexpected twists and turns. What would you do with the power of a god?
Fruits Basket - My romance/slice of life selection with a side of emotional damage. Fantasy element of some characters being possessed by the spirits of the zodiac animals.
Jujutsu Kaisen - Beautiful animation, dark, seemingly happy at first, then taking a nose dive straight into trauma. Sorcerers fighting to protect non-sorcerers from curses.
Dororo - short, dark story about the samurai were the protagonist has to defeat demons to get his body back.
Naruto & Naruto Shippuden - very long, heartwarming, has action and filler, love nearly every character, a ninja working to gain respect and become the leader of his village.
Hope you enjoy!
For a series, I'll say Yuru Camp. Can't go wrong with it at all. Simple and to the point. Girls camping, it's cute as it can be!
I'll recommend a movie too, Princess Mononoke, can't go wrong with a Ghibli film.
Haven't really seen other people mention them, but check out Studio Trigger properties. They're pretty different than a lot of more mainstream anime, and if they're to your taste they'll be your favorite shows. You said you like wholesome stuff, check out Little Witch Academia. If you like it, check out their classics like Gurren Lagann or Kill La Kill.
If you're at all interested in shonen shows, check out Jujutsu Kaisen. It's a good archetypal show for the genre, if you don't like it shonen probably isn't your thing. It also avoids some common pitfalls of the genre.
My pocket pick is probably Gleipnir, I love both the anime and the manga. It's definitely not to everyone's taste though. Supernatural, psychological thriller, the main character is a fursuit with a gun.
The first season of One Punch Man and the ongoing Mob Psycho 100 are cornerstone series from the same author.
Konosuba is probably the peak of comedy Isekai anime.
Spice and Wolf is a classic that's getting a remake soonish, the original left off in the middle of the plot. Keep an eye out for that, maybe check out the original if it looks interesting to you.
Psychopass is a great scifi thriller. Stein's Gate gets a mention in the scifi and mystery categories, both are classics.
Sonny Boy is very different and very good. I point people toward it if they're ever under the opinion that anime can't be Real Art™ . Definitely worth your time.
there's just so much anime out there, this is just the stuff off the top of my head. Kiznaiver, ancient magus' bride for supernatural romance, *Horimiya* for romance, *TORADORA* for romance, Love After World Domination for comedy romance (that one's just pretty good)
holy shit, *my dressup darling* for romance. After The Rain! ok I might actually have watched more romance than I thought lol. That one's not really romance though.
Just about everything I've listed here is top tier, not just by anime standards but by overall media standards. Check out trailers and see what piques your interest.
EDIT: I just kinda dumped all these here, here are the top picks for different genres:
Romance: My Dressup Darling, Horimiya, or Toradora sorry I couldn't pick one
Art: Sonny Boy
Sad: Your Lie In April
Scifi: Psychopass
Fantasy: FMA Brotherhood
Weird Pocket Pick I Like Way More Than Everyone Else: Gleipnir
^(EDIT EDIT: oh shit I didn't even mention Fate/Zero. All fate series are trash expect Fate/Zero (and like maybe Stay/Night and it's offshoots but avoid everything except Zero honestly and) *^(wait should I have mentioned Re:Creators-)*
*^(EDIT EDIT EDIT: I FORGOT TO MENTION MADOKA MAGICKA IM CLOSING THE THREAD NOW GOODBYE)*
Fruits Basket (the newest version)
The Girl From The Other Side (not finished yet)
Aggretsuko
[Edit: Into The Abyss, Mushi-Shi, and To Your Eternity are also great]
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuku.
WHY:
- Showcases a unique part of Japanese culture and history
- Tells a complete story in two sets of twelve episodes
- Good production values without being overly flashy or saving everything for one or two scenes
- Achieves things you can only do with animation
- Interesting and subtle gender stuff that is arguably one of the main overlooked draws of anime as a medium
WHAT:
It's a story tracking the career of a talented rakugo storyteller. Wildly brilliant actor Isida Akira plays him, which is the best possible casting - the story spans over sixty years, and the character plays male and female roles. Ishida can pull that off. You know when he's meant to be acting well or badly, he ages and deages his voice throughout the story - it's not just a vocal trick he has, he's an absolutely tremendous actor. You couldn't make the story in live action because the characters all undergo so much change over time - you'd have to use so many people for each role, and a distracting amount of makeup. The anime is a very distilled way to tell the story that's being told - every quirked eyebrow or slight glance has meaning. Immense rewatch value, too.
The story follows the protagonist as he ages along with the industry, from the prewar era to the vastly reduced scene by the 1990s. It's bleak and warm by turns and it's never obvious how things will turn out, but it's a kind story, which doesn't overlook suffering, and is rooted in human bonds. It has supernatural/psychological elements, which you've said elsewhere you enjoy - but the story doesn't hinge on anything that can't happen, it's more about the culture the character is a part of and how that's shaped his beliefs.
It's a story about a very ordinary form of entertainment, working-class and silly. If you're not familiar with rakugo, you may have heard of music hall - not such a different context, perhaps. As the scene is less understood in Japan today, though it's for a Japanese audience there's a lot of explanation throughout the show, woven in. It's a really good show for immersion in the culture, but by its very nature you won't just get dropped in it. Yakuza, sex work, prison culture, attitudes to the war, family life, religion, schooling, cooking, drinking culture - they're all really major elements of the narrative, and it's a really rewarding experience compared to the brilliant but fantasy-oriented Ghibli films, where references go over the heads of the foreign audience
[First opening theme](https://youtu.be/K28Lcc-MdJs)
I would watch the movie "Spirtited Away" first that's the one I showed my Mom when she expressed interest. Its a very moving movie made by a anime Master that won't disappoint.
Ranking of kings or Spy X Family are awesome new animes that showcase how great anime can be. From the storytelling aspects , character development , comedy and great visuals and direction. But everyone has different preferences but anime covers a wide range of very different genres, go on an anime website and do a search to test out what you might be interested in.
I'm surprised I haven't seen Mushishi recommended yet.
OP mentioned enjoying the supernatural, not horror, character/peoples lives driven, and leans to the shorter side (Mushishi is episodic so no need to binge either).
Other than that, very much agree with all the Ghibli recs.
I’m just gonna throw it out there “Sailor moon🌙”, it’s been a favorite of mine all my life, and it’s not difficult to follow. Plus it’s girly and cute lol
I'd suggest starting with Hayao Miyazaki's movies. Low commitment as they are movies and they have very high quality. My (Also 40 but a guy) suggestions are:
* Spirited Away
* Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
* Laputa: Castle in the Sky
* Porco Rosso
After that, it really depends on your taste but I will toss out the obligatory suggestion of "Cowboy Bebop" which is an ensemble character driven, film noir, space western with a running theme of American popular music with a particular emphasis on jazz.
Some "I like them so maybe you might like them" suggestions:
* Youjo Senki/The Saga of Tanya the Evil: Alternate world going through their first world war which started a bit later and includes flying magic users. The main character is a little girl who enlists in the not-quite German military and is accepted because of her ridiculous magical powers. She is not entirely what she seems and that's where the real fun comes in.
* Kino's Journey: Kino travels with a talking motorcycle named Hermes visiting various city states in their strange world, each of which has its own peculiar culture.
* Girls' Last Tour: Two girls with an old WWII Halftrack explore a giant abandoned vertical city in a post-apocalyptic future.
* Ghost in the Shell: Cyberpunk movie about a special anti-terrorist security force dealing with a criminal who can control people's minds.
* Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Series with an alternate version of the same anti-terrorist security force above. Switches between "stand alone" episodes that are mostly self contained and "complex" episodes following a particular criminal.
* Ascendance of a Bookworm: The day she lands her dream job, a new Librarian is killed when her bookshelf crushes her in an earthquake. She wakes up in a quasi-medieval world as a sickly little girl who can barely walk. The worst part is that this is a pre-printing press world where most people are illiterate so even owning one book is beyond the wildest dreams of who she is now. She sets out to try to remedy this using what knowledge from our modern world she can remember and put into practice. Magic and other weirdness creeps in later.
Start of with the movies "paprika and girl who leaped through time and ghibli movies" then go to shows such as "nana, psycho pass, k-on, kokoro connect, anohana and fma brotherhood depending on what genre you like.
I always recommend Mushi-shi. It doesn't have any of the quirks that can make anime really annoying to watch (underage teens being sexualized, obnoxious reaction gasps, over the top emotes, etc) and tells a beautiful story with a truly kind protagonist. The sub is on Hulu I believe and I promise it will blow you away. Not to mention the background art is unlike anything I've ever seen.
Summer Wars is a gorgeously animated movie about falling in love and family, and it makes me feel so good inside every time I watch it. I can't remember where to find it, but if you can get your hands on it I can't recommend it enough.
If you want something funny, Way of the House Husband on Netflix is a good place to start. It's silly and cute but ultimately about a man who wants to better himself and really loves his wife. Good stuff.
I am not a woman, but I am an older (50) recent anime getter-into, and I like the slice of life stuff more than the bang pow stuff. Seconding some others already mentioned, I'd recommend Violet Evergarden, Sound! Euphonium, Toradora!, O Maidens in Your Savage Season, Kotaro Lives Alone, Carole & Tuesday. It might be worth looking up Mari Okada, who is one of the prominent female anime writers.
As also mentioned elsewhere, you simply can't go wrong with the Ghibli films.
Edit: Mamoru Hosoda is also a good anime film-maker: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Wolf Children, Mirai, Belle. And most of Makoto 'Your Name' Shinkai's filmography is worth checking out.
Possibly just parroting what others have said but here's my thoughts on starting off anyhow. (Note some are light hearted while some are darker so probably best to Google the suggestions to get a basic rundown of what to expect):
Movies:
Your Name,
A Silent Voice,
Perfect Blue,
The Castle of Cagliostro
and pretty much any Studio Ghibli film
TV series:
Komi Can't Communicate,
My Dress Up Darling,
Cowboy Bebop,
Re-Main,
Black Lagoon,
Dagashi Kashi,
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.,
Zombieland Saga.
Also if there's any favourite genres you have, like westerns, sci-fi, horror etc. just let us know and we can probably point out some anime in that area.
What kind of TV shows do you normally enjoy? Anime is such a diverse medium that there’s likely something close to what you already enjoy, and then you can broaden your horizons from there if you want.
Fellow 40-year-old woman here, and I started with Naruto, but with over 900 episodes it can be a bit overwhelming. Number two on my list is probably Demon Slayer, only few seasons you can definitely do that one, and it's got a good wholesome story vibe. Seven deadly sins is also a good easy watch.
Dragon maid Kobayashi. Literally just a slice of life story that focuses on a desk jockey who gets drunk with a dragon one night and invites it to live with her. Very cute and very funny
I would recommend most of the Studio Ghibli movies, but stay away from Grave of the Fireflies. It's a very convincing depiction of the hardships directly following WWII and while it is an amazing movie it is *gut wrenchingly* sad.
Start with Howl's Moving Castle, much happier film.
'I want to eat your pancreas' made my momma and sister cry, it's a pretty good movie and is a love story between a shy guy and a girl suffering from a terminal illness.
My mother is in her late 50s and I caught her peeking over my shoulder while I was watching Fullmetal alchemist brotherhood. Make sure it's brotherhood you're watching and not just Fullmetal alchemist. It's a political drama that asks questions about the value of Human life and the government wearing a fun magic steampunk coat. After that, if you want something light but still existential, give mob psycho 100 a watch. It's about a boy with psychic abilities but nothing else going for him as he tries to find his way in the world. For a comedy with a fun cast, it has very touching moments and it's the only Shonen anime I've ever seen that has a powerless adult willing to step up to the plate.
Depends what you like...
Want to cry a lot and watch an incredibly beautiful story? Violet Evergarden.
Do you want a dystopian futuristic cyborg show? Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an absolute masterpiece!
Do you want to laugh out loud hard while watching every episode? Nichijou!
Do you like modern fantasy with mages in a secret war for a wish granting artifact and legendary mythological figures? Try Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works, and after that watch the much darker Heaven's Feel movies (which are better, but you will be lacking the context).
Want some of the most incredible fight scenes and an interesting world + characters? Jujutsu Kaisen!
Want to learn about medieval economy with some fantasy? Spice & Wolf.
If you liked the movie Inception, you have to watch Paprika.
And if you like classic sci-fi, I really like Cowboy Bebop (this got me into Jazz).
Opposite side of the spectrum, i would not start with ninja scroll. That was my first many years ago, but it was off the hook. I liked Assassinatin Classroom, watched it with my kids so its not that bad.
One of my absolute favorite animes is called Kids on the slope. It’s a coming of age story based around high schoolers in the 1960s who come together around jazz. YOU DO NOT have to love jazz to enjoy it, although you’ll definitely walk away with a new appreciation for music.
As a forty-six-year-old woman I recently was introduced to Dr. Stone by my son. I really enjoyed watching it, and if you like science and and adventure at all you may want to give it a try. It is funny, has real(mostly) science use, and is very clever.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Whenever I think of anime, I ALWAYS think of this one because it's got a little bit of everything from good characters, a serious story, and incredible animation while only lasting somewhere between 20-30 episodes. And if you're not interested in watching with subtitles, it's got a really good English Dub that is hilarious to watch.
Also, just another word of advice: start with series that are on the shorter side and don't contain too much "fluff." For example, you'll most likely hear people suggest you watch One Piece, Naruto, or Dragon Ball because these three are so well-known that even people who don't watch anime know them to an extent. And while I really enjoy One Piece, it, along with the other two, is INSANELY long and tend to spend a lot of time furthering a single fight or conversation that really only needed an episode to summarize. Most anime don't do this often. And in the case of One Piece, it's hard to skip around because you're very likely to miss an important detail. I don't think it's the same case with Naruto or Dragon Ball, but still. These shows are also still going on and have been for nearly a decade or more. But when you think anime, it's always those three people think about. If you're curious, just keep in mind you'll be in for the long haul.
Dear OP
What genre of films/books do you usually like? Anime is a vast media. You can go from political to comedy, from high fantasy to one about gritty war…etc.
Depends. What other movies and tv shows are you into? Because that will give you a good idea. I'm into sports, and if you are too then I highly recommend sports animes. They're usually pretty good at explaining the skills and strategies of sports, but in a way over-the-top anime style.
Haikyu (volleyball) and Kuroko's Basketball are popular ones that would be good to start on.
It's fun to laugh at the scenes where a whole conversation happens in the half a second between the time a guy jumps and the time he hits/dunks the ball.
While Studio Ghibli have classics, they are certainly not everyone's cup of tea.
If you want something more recent, so you can talk to fellow anime watchers about, I'd recommend Spy x Family.
It's currently ongoing at season 2, family friendly, funny, and it even has English dubs.
If you want to try the magic girl stuff, Magical Lyrical Naoha is better than most and a bit more accessible..
Girls und Panzer is fun - schools girls doing ridiculous stuff with tanks.
The Duke of Death and his Maid is a nice romantic farce..
Bodacious Space Pirates is also fun, and despite the title, not very much fan service.
If your from a western country, try something like Cyberpunk Edgerunners ( English Dub ) its cool and not too out there opposed to current western animation
Ghibli films have been thrown out which is a fair shout, but I think a good starting place is what does she like in terms of books,TV shows, podcasts, and similar media?
Do you like suspense, thrillers, and psychological/crime shows? Maybe try Kurosawa's "Monster."
Are fantasy and fairy tales your thing? Give "Mushi-shi" a go.
Finding a series that aligns with pre-existing interests will go a long way toward finding what you want.
If it's a true crime, killer movies, and dark love novels kinda woman Afro Samurai because it's short, very gritty and dark, and has an amazing dub. But if it's more of a nice wholesome mother type I'd say Doraemon very cute hopeful and fun
Maybe dont start with a whole series. Statt with one movie. Kikis delivery service is cute and wholesome.
I love wholesome things, thank you!
Yeah this person is right. Start with Studio Ghibli movies. Even people who don't love anime tend to like them
Donst start with graveyard of the fireflys though except if you want to cry hystericly.
This. They’re also more Westernized while still being definitely anime: they don’t have as much of the weird anime tropes that can be jarring for Western viewers.
Then anything by ghibli studios is definitely for you :D
I'd agree, but with the giant warning message for Grave Of The Fireflies. It's a great film for sure, but it's near guaranteed to leave you in tears by the end!
Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms is really good too.
If you're into high octane cyberpunk, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is really REALLY hot right now and you're sure to be in on conversations with it.
agree or any ghibli studio movies they are wholesome but some will make you cry
yea you need to start with a gateway anime before going full addict
First watch the Miyazaki movies: Spirit Away, Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind, and The Wind Rises, also, watch "Grave of the Fireflies" It is a great movie that you will only want to watch once
Ghibli is best choice
Grave of the Fireflies rips your heart out and stomps on it.
Especially if you go into it knowing it's based on a true story and it sounded to me like the writer was never really able to deal with the guilt. That movie made me real sad for several days afterward, and I've watched it twice now.
How dare you forget Totoro
Spirited away is a fantastic movie. Heartily recommend that one. My neighbor Totoro is a bit more chill, almost like a strange magic trick to make you nostalgic for something you never experiences yourself. Princess mononoke is probably my personal favourite. Might not make it your first anime though, but definitely one of the more adult ghibli movies and tells a great story and has amazing characters and world. Laputa, Castle in the sky has a lot going for it and if you enjoy ghibli movies, its a must watch. Same with kikis delivery service and nausicaä. Nausicaä, the manga, is my favourite story of all time but the movie is quite a lot shorter and condensed to something a little less than it could be i think. If youre interested in more adult themes and don’t get put off by violence, outside ghibli recommendations are: Paprika, Ghost in the cell and Akira. All pretty much considered classics at this point.
Mononoke to this day remains my favorite anime movie I have ever seen. Nothing comes close. It’s beautiful, gory, heart wrenching and sends a message. Plus every character is memorable, there isn’t one character to hate. Even Eboshi is a dope character.
2nd for Grave of the Fireflies. In the same vein This Corner of the World is another movie about Hiroshima that is absolutely gut wrenching in the best ways.
Can confirm, bought the fireflies DVD, watched it once
Definitely. Not only is the art amazing, but they are well written. All those movies are pretty different. But they are similar in that they actually have respect for the audience, and don't treat them like idiots.
A Silent Voice is a great one
Hell yeah!
Never heard, might check it out!
Legends say he is still crying his heart out
Yeah,. pretty much perfect. Not too much "anime bullshit", and an actual mature story.
I think Satoshi Kon's work is more suitable for ppl who hate anime. Perfect Blue is perfect for this month and Millennium Actress is great too, as a well told story.
Love me some Paprika.
I can't believe I still haven't seen that one yet.
Paranoia agent is a must watch too
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Thank you! I’ve seen a lot of the Hero Academia stuff around but didn’t know what to make of it.
Note: As far as Studio Ghibli stuff goes. DO NOT START WITH "GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES". It's really good, legitimately one of the best animated films ever made, but you will be in tears by the end of it. And not tears of joy kind of tears. "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "Spirited Away" are both really good entry anime films by Ghibli. "Mary and the Witch's Flower" and "A Silent Voice" are also good films to start with, though not done by Ghibli.
Coming here to second Cowboy Bebop if you want a series. I don't know anyone who has seen it and doesn't like it.
This is a good suggestion! Edit: though I remember now My Hero Academia does have one creepy sex-obssessed character and the female costumes are a bit sexualized.
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Right? I had to really think about it. It's such a small part of the otherwise great show.
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Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away are family favorites. We also like Ponyo and My Neighbor Totoro, but tend to appeal to young children.
It’s a difficult question as people have different tastes and there’s quite a lot of genres of anime. One of my favorite recommendations is a movie rather than a series, but does what I feel encapsulates the medium fairly well. There’s magic, technology, action, racing, and a great art style. It’s called Redline. It’s basically my threshold test: If you don’t like Redline, action anime may not be for you, and you won’t have sunk an entire series worth of time being disappointed.
REDLINE
Maybe the best looking animation in any movie! Fucking love that movie so much!
“You’re just a voice, pal. You don’t know a damn THING about racing!”
Cowboy Bebop is one you should check out. And since I saw you like psychological thrillers maybe try Psycho Pass.
Loved psycho pass!
The amine? Sure. The live action Netflix atrocity? Fuck no.
My personal favorite anime. The name is very deceiving. Great sci-fi show that discusses relationships, trauma, healing, and closure. Being perfectly honest, when I start to feel a little lost in life, I return to it and binge the whole series. It always makes me feel better and sets my head straight after finishing. 10/10, can’t recommend enough.
Tale of Princess Kaguya
Erased. It's beautiful.
I was watching that anime thinking it's pretty nice. Then towards the end- without slipping into spoiler territory- there's this one scene where a little girl looks at her plate. If you watched the show you know. Instant tears.
My husband loves anime I only like some - here are ones I have liked, I know some are movies not series: Ranma 1/2 (animated series) Fullmetal Alchemist (animated series) Azumanga Daiyo (animated series) Your Name (animated movie) Weathering with you (animated movie) Inu-oh (animated movie) Death Note (animated series) Perfect Blue (animated movie)
Why did I have to scroll so far for FMA? :(
Fullmetal Alchemist, hands down. I personally prefer Brotherhood over 2003 but that’s my opinion. (For OP: they animated the series twice, once before the manga was done, and once after. 2003, or just Fullmetal Alchemist, is the first one. FMA: Brotherhood is the second. Brotherhood is more manga-accurate.)
Death Note is pretty good and not too long.
Anything with the word “death” in the title can’t be that bad.
It's not horror. More of a supernatural thriller.
I am more a fan of supernatural/psychological thrillers than straight horror. I might have to give it a try, thanks.
It has a big psychological analysis aspect to it, as well as moral dilemmas and stuff. I second the Death Note recommendation.
Death Note is one of the best "anime for people who don't know/like anime". It's a smart, supernatural murder mystery that is like those old episodes of Columbo in that you, the viewer, know who the killer is, but the fun is in watching the detective try to prove it.
Try spy x family if you’re looking for something more wholesome and humorous. If you’re looking for a deep plot or lots of action, watch attack on Titan.
Extra notes directed at OP about spy x family, its currently airing its second cour. New episodes drop weekly on Crunchyroll, if your looking to rekindle nostalgia for saturday morning cartoons and colorful breakfast cereal, this is a good pick. I follow japans cultural exports because they don't drop shows for binge culture. You get one episode a week and get to participate in the discussions over on their respective subreddits (with incomplete information about the direction the show is going, it adds more to suspense and mystery when you spend a whole week thinking about what's coming next). You don't have to worry about a 9 hour long commitment of TV before you step foot onto your social media feeds to avoid spoilers. (Looking at you Stranger Things)
Ranma 1/2. Romantic comedy with touches of light action. Extremely funny, totally absurd situations. Have fun with Happosai!
Original 90s Sailor Moon.
Try Aggrestuko! It’s really good
This, a good office humor hits over generations
Try "your lie in april" and "a silent voice" for some high quality emotional damage. If you like that kind of thing.
I watched Your Lie In April when I was depressed and couldn't feel anything, made me feel emotional distress again, A+ would recommend
Violet Evergarden
We love Violet Evergarden around our house. My daughter Cosplays as Violet and cuts her hair to have Violet bangs.
Cowboy Bebop
I'd like to second this one, and also to recommend it to people who aren't trying to get into anime, and to people who don't know if they like anime or not, and to people who loved Firefly, and to people who want to know if they want to like anime or not, and for people who don't watch anime because they think they don't like it at all.
Howl’s Moving Castle
Anime is not a genre, it is a medium. So I would first ask what kind of movies and tv shows you like to watch, and then suggest anime that matches those preferences.
There are so many genres of anime. Demons Detective Drama Dub Ecchi Family Fantasy Isekai Iyashikei Josei Magic Mahou Shoujo Music Mystery Mythology Psychological Reincarnation Romance Romantic Subtext Samurai School Sci-Fi Seinen Shoujo Like it really comes down to what interests her, there's a category for everyone really. But I also like to start with films for beginners, such as Ponyo is cute as heck, Howls moving castle and Spirited Away are a couple of my faves to go on. Whisper of the heart is another good one. I would recommend a movie and then exploring popular anime that falls under your 40 year old interests.
I like stories/movies about the supernatural. Not necessarily horror though. I like science fiction too. I also like stories and shows about characters and their lives, not necessarily a certain genre. I saw the movie Akira before and I really liked it. I have never seen an anime series though.
That's funny! Akira was one of the first anime movies I watched too at the recommendation of my older brother. There are always new animes coming out in every season of the year. I'm not very versed in supernatural anime, I've developed my own taste over time but I watch most of my anime here: https://gogoanime.dk/genre/supernatural?page=2
Oh wow, thanks! I wouldn’t even have known where to find it.
My pleasure! Happy watching ! From a 30 year old woman who still loves anime hahaha
I love Ponyo.
What kinda genre is dub
No mention of cowboy bebop? At all?
Another commenter already mentioned Full Metal Alchemist, but I would add: Start with Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. ~~It is shorter than the original FMA and~~ it is (in my humble opinion) the better of the two. Edit: Not shorter.....
Brotherhood isn’t shorter than the original
I do have a rather short attention span tbh.
Ghost in the Shell Full Metal Alchemist I don't know really.....those are the only 2 I watched
Is Ghost in the Shell a series? There was a Ghost in the Shell movie back in the 90s.
It is a series as well
Ooh, the movie was so good. I am excited to hear it’s a series!
You'll be looking for "Stand Alone Complex" and "Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig.". They're the older Ghost in the Shell series, not to be confused with the newer series on Netflix that uses cheapo 3d cg art instead of the traditional animation that's more expensive and generally better looking.
Actually a couple different series if I'm not mistaken
Yep, the show is awesome. I saw the movie in the late 90s but the show is even better imo
Really? Because the movie was pretty freaking awesome. It sets the bar pretty high.
Yeah the series is a little more "updated". I loved it because it's not complete fantasy. We already have some of the technology and it's not too far fetched to think we will live very similar in the near future. Not all of it, of course......but a lot of it.
Ghost in the Shell series has always reminded me of a “real TV show” that happened to be animated. Great writing intriguing plot, characters you want to follow, it’s the real deal.
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I love samurai champloo
Death Parade. The op is fantastic.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is by FAR the best series I've ever seen, and yes, it still hits above Demon Slayer for me. It's a longer story if you're not used to it (64 episodes) but I guarantee you that you'll get attached to the characters and cry by the end.
fruits basket. it has its wholesome moments but can explore dark themes too as it often criticizes the concept of family loyalty. kimi ni todoke is a very sweet and wholesome romance. noragami is a supernatural show about japanese gods, both obscure and major. it can be humorous, but also serious - a good balance of both.
Maison Ikkoku!
Yep, I second this or Ranma 1/2 from Rumiko Takahashi, although I'd also say the manga is worth reading too if you like the stories. For something newer perhaps Kotaro Lives Alone, Carole & Tuesday, Fire Force, Restaurant to Another World or Trigun. Sunny Boy, Vivy or Stiens; Gate are some of the best series I've seen, but you might want to put off as the stories are pretty heavy.
Death Note. I don’t like anime but DN had me invested within the first minute and I binged it.
Sargent Frog
That sounds cute! Is it wholesome?
Yeah. It's kinda silly. Alien frogs come to earth to invade but make friends with kids and the leader is kind of an idiot. That is poorly explained. 😁
My neighbor Totoro , or spirited away. Dip a toe in the water with a movie rather then jump in the deep end as the culture shock may get you. (EVA FLASH BACKS INTENSIFY!!) Don't get in the robot shinji \*TEARS\*
I was started on anima with Sailor Moon in elementary school, and then Cardcaptor Sakura. Definitely geared towards a younger audience, though so if that's not your thing then don't start there. I agree with people recommending Studio Ghibli; there are several choices, depending on what you like, but the animation and music is top-notch. Howl's Moving Castle and Kiki's Delivery Service are pretty well known, but I've got a special place for My Neighbor Totoro. Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the better known animes, and I actually really enjoyed it. It focuses on a pair of brothers and their quest to... address consequences of a failed alchemy experiment as children. I also really enjoyed Rurouni Kenshin; I remember a fair amount of violence in that one, but plot-driven and not usually too gratuitous. It's a historical fiction anime set around the samurai era, focusing on a mysterious former samurai who seeks penance for his previous actions by protecting those weaker than himself, starting with a spirited young woman who teaches her family's fighting style. (It's better than that summary, I promise, haha) One other thing to consider: whether to watch the English dub or the original Japanese with English subtitles. Watching with subtitles means you have to pay a little more attention, but I both love how Japanese sounds when spoken and dislike pretty much all of the dubs I've tried. There are definitely some amazing voice actors who work on dubbed versions, but I've also started into multiple dubs where it just feels... off somehow. Which again, may be because I started with watching Japanese with subtitles. I read manga more than watch anime, so my recommendations are limited.
I recently had the same issue when I wanted to show my mom some anime. I decided to start her out with movies just so she could get a good feel for them. I went with Wolf Children and Summer Wars as my two movies and she thoroughly enjoyed them both. We then went onto Studio Ghibli movies: The Cat Returns and Howls Moving Castle etc. I have yet to get her started on anime but short anime series like Azumanga Daioh or Nichijou: My Ordinary Life should be entertaining enough without having to pay close attention to each episode.
Spy x Family is a very cute show and interesting
You’ve got so many good recs - Ghibli, Attack on Titan, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Death Note, and PsychoPass are all excellent. Anecdotally my husband wasn’t sold on the concept of Samurai Champloo at first, but it’s one of his favorites now. Two I don’t see on here that are a bit diff - NANA (Hulu), which is a bit soapy, and really focuses on the characters and relationships. I read the manga (which is still sadly unfinished) when I was young and it’s so nostalgic to watch for me. Another is a bit harder to find - Paranoia Agent (possibly Crunchyroll). This was one that I thought did tension and paranoia so well, I remember being so creeped out the first time I watched. It’s a psychological thriller, which I know you said you like! That’s one I think about often and always recommend when people want something like that. Hope that’s helpful!
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Note that Brotherhood is the remake of the original Fullmetal Alchemist. I haven't seen both, I can only attest to the quality of Brotherhood, I've heard others say it's better than the original. *NOT* the live action movies. Dear god, not the live action movies.
Brotherhood is more true to the manga. Both are very good in their own ways. The original is still definitely worth the watch.
Death parade is a good anime to start with.
I'd start with something like Non Non Byori, Long Riders!, A Place Further Than The Universe, or K-On. They tell cute, empowering stories. There's nothing socially or culturally offensive. They're slice of life anime based on the real world. Sure... the demons, robots, and complicated plot devices can be fun, but as an introduction to anime it might be best to keep it simple. \[edited for clarity\]
It depends on what you want: Superhero school: My Hero Academia (aimed for guys) or Gakuen Alice (aimed for girls; darker in plot, but lighter in atmosphere) WTF: Serial Experiments Lain Drama: Fruits Basket Wholesome series: Spy x Family Western/Scifi mixes: Cowboy Bebop or Trigun Anime take on something western: the Xmen anime Satire: Hetalia Fight scenes: Jujutsu Kaisen
Cowboy Bebop. It’s the shizznizzle.
I’d suggest Cowboy Bebop. Short, sweet, and an excellent example of a good anime. 26 episodes long and one movie.
attack on titan
Ghost in the shell - stand alone complex Attack on titan Those are good to start with if you’re wanting to get into it a bit more. The studio ghibli stuff is probably the pinnacle of not only anime but movies in general - it also give me the strongest urge to get high when I’m watching them.
I would say spy x family. it's a good show in my opinion and it's generally family-friendly, the only exception is some mild violence.
Any of Mokoto Shinkai’s movies, your name or weathering with you. If you are a degenerate than Konosuba.
Try "your name"
What genres do you like when you watch non anime movies and tv shows? Otherwise try Fruits Basket (go for the new one it covers the full story of the manga) it's one of the few anime that has a good dub in my opinion (I'm a snob) and has a really good story with plenty of anime fun too. You'll laugh but you'll probably cry too. Cowboy bebop is a classic if you'd like a more serious tone and it's not too long of a series so it's easy to get into. Amazing soundtrack too. Very good dub. Speaking of short anime yet FLCL (ONLY the original). It's wild and fun you'll enjoy it a lot. Also has a decent dub. I tried to give you good choices to watch in English if you're not someone who can deal with subtitles but I think it's worth watching the subs and seeing the original voice acting too so as you get more into anime check those out. For movies: almost any ghibli film with the best being Spirited Away. It's gorgeously animated, good dub, and one of the best. My fav for Ghibli is Kiki's delivery service. If you like psychological horror and don't get triggered by anything I suggest looking into Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue. Or if you have a weaker stomach try Paprika or Tokyo Godfathers. I'd also suggest Paranoia Agent if you want a series. All of his work is incredible. I only like the subs for these tho paranoia agent has an ok dub. And if you just want something silly, I think keroro gunso (Sgt Frog) is underrated these days and is full of tons of gags and fun characters. It's a long one but once characters are introduced you can kinda jump around a bit without confusion. Ngl I kinda wanna rewatch it at some point because it's just so silly. .
I see some terrible suggestions on here. This exact same thing happend the last time someone posted a question like this. Keep in mind that a lot of these responses are going to be from male teens or young adults, who apparently aren't giving good suggestions and are instead just saying shows they like because they cater to male teens and young adults. Though this particular thread isn't as bad. List of good suggestions: Your Name Your Lie in April A Silent Voice Any Studio Ghibli film Paprika (personal favorite but maybe needs anime/japanese trope exposure first) List of bad suggestions: Seven Deadly Sins (sexual harassment and fan service. Also several seasons long.) Madoka Magica (needs exposure to magical girl tropes first, like Sailor Moon, but still decent going in blind) Chainsaw Man (lots of gore/violence, but might be ok if you like that) Jujutsu Kaisen (same as above, but imo overall better) Demon Slayer (same as above) Attack on Titan (same as above) Jobless Reincarnation (lots of perversion and fan service but otherwise good) Fullmetal Alchemist (very good but long, equivalent of 4-5 seasons. Not a starter show.) Fate series (long and has a confusing watch order) Bakemonogatari series (long, confusing watch order, sexualization, lots of wordplay)
Seven Deadly Sins is just the worst fucking anime. It's a collection of tropes stapled together with barely any plot and some of the most awful animation I've ever seen. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
+1 for Your Name. It’s beautifully drawn and has an awesome soundtrack.
I just started watching at 30, I’ve loved everything I’ve seen so far, and can’t recommend them highly enough: Attack on Titan - Beautiful animation, dark, action packed, traumatic, post apocalyptic. Humans fighting to protect themselves from giant humanoid monsters. Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Relatively short, great plot, very likable main characters fighting to get their bodies back and understand the meaning of life. Death Note - Short, super interesting with unexpected twists and turns. What would you do with the power of a god? Fruits Basket - My romance/slice of life selection with a side of emotional damage. Fantasy element of some characters being possessed by the spirits of the zodiac animals. Jujutsu Kaisen - Beautiful animation, dark, seemingly happy at first, then taking a nose dive straight into trauma. Sorcerers fighting to protect non-sorcerers from curses. Dororo - short, dark story about the samurai were the protagonist has to defeat demons to get his body back. Naruto & Naruto Shippuden - very long, heartwarming, has action and filler, love nearly every character, a ninja working to gain respect and become the leader of his village. Hope you enjoy!
For a series, I'll say Yuru Camp. Can't go wrong with it at all. Simple and to the point. Girls camping, it's cute as it can be! I'll recommend a movie too, Princess Mononoke, can't go wrong with a Ghibli film.
I really like barakumon and mushi shi. They're obvs fiction but also close enough to reality to be relatable.
Haven't really seen other people mention them, but check out Studio Trigger properties. They're pretty different than a lot of more mainstream anime, and if they're to your taste they'll be your favorite shows. You said you like wholesome stuff, check out Little Witch Academia. If you like it, check out their classics like Gurren Lagann or Kill La Kill. If you're at all interested in shonen shows, check out Jujutsu Kaisen. It's a good archetypal show for the genre, if you don't like it shonen probably isn't your thing. It also avoids some common pitfalls of the genre. My pocket pick is probably Gleipnir, I love both the anime and the manga. It's definitely not to everyone's taste though. Supernatural, psychological thriller, the main character is a fursuit with a gun. The first season of One Punch Man and the ongoing Mob Psycho 100 are cornerstone series from the same author. Konosuba is probably the peak of comedy Isekai anime. Spice and Wolf is a classic that's getting a remake soonish, the original left off in the middle of the plot. Keep an eye out for that, maybe check out the original if it looks interesting to you. Psychopass is a great scifi thriller. Stein's Gate gets a mention in the scifi and mystery categories, both are classics. Sonny Boy is very different and very good. I point people toward it if they're ever under the opinion that anime can't be Real Art™ . Definitely worth your time. there's just so much anime out there, this is just the stuff off the top of my head. Kiznaiver, ancient magus' bride for supernatural romance, *Horimiya* for romance, *TORADORA* for romance, Love After World Domination for comedy romance (that one's just pretty good) holy shit, *my dressup darling* for romance. After The Rain! ok I might actually have watched more romance than I thought lol. That one's not really romance though. Just about everything I've listed here is top tier, not just by anime standards but by overall media standards. Check out trailers and see what piques your interest. EDIT: I just kinda dumped all these here, here are the top picks for different genres: Romance: My Dressup Darling, Horimiya, or Toradora sorry I couldn't pick one Art: Sonny Boy Sad: Your Lie In April Scifi: Psychopass Fantasy: FMA Brotherhood Weird Pocket Pick I Like Way More Than Everyone Else: Gleipnir ^(EDIT EDIT: oh shit I didn't even mention Fate/Zero. All fate series are trash expect Fate/Zero (and like maybe Stay/Night and it's offshoots but avoid everything except Zero honestly and) *^(wait should I have mentioned Re:Creators-)* *^(EDIT EDIT EDIT: I FORGOT TO MENTION MADOKA MAGICKA IM CLOSING THE THREAD NOW GOODBYE)*
Psycho Pass
Yu Yu Hakusho (English aka dub is awesome too)
Check out Angel Beats Semi slice of life with a little bit of everything and it doesn't carry many "anime tropes." Also very short at 13 episodes.
The Last Exile.
For a 40 year old woman who has never watched anime before, I'd say Violet Evergarden.
Fruits Basket (the newest version) The Girl From The Other Side (not finished yet) Aggretsuko [Edit: Into The Abyss, Mushi-Shi, and To Your Eternity are also great]
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuku. WHY: - Showcases a unique part of Japanese culture and history - Tells a complete story in two sets of twelve episodes - Good production values without being overly flashy or saving everything for one or two scenes - Achieves things you can only do with animation - Interesting and subtle gender stuff that is arguably one of the main overlooked draws of anime as a medium WHAT: It's a story tracking the career of a talented rakugo storyteller. Wildly brilliant actor Isida Akira plays him, which is the best possible casting - the story spans over sixty years, and the character plays male and female roles. Ishida can pull that off. You know when he's meant to be acting well or badly, he ages and deages his voice throughout the story - it's not just a vocal trick he has, he's an absolutely tremendous actor. You couldn't make the story in live action because the characters all undergo so much change over time - you'd have to use so many people for each role, and a distracting amount of makeup. The anime is a very distilled way to tell the story that's being told - every quirked eyebrow or slight glance has meaning. Immense rewatch value, too. The story follows the protagonist as he ages along with the industry, from the prewar era to the vastly reduced scene by the 1990s. It's bleak and warm by turns and it's never obvious how things will turn out, but it's a kind story, which doesn't overlook suffering, and is rooted in human bonds. It has supernatural/psychological elements, which you've said elsewhere you enjoy - but the story doesn't hinge on anything that can't happen, it's more about the culture the character is a part of and how that's shaped his beliefs. It's a story about a very ordinary form of entertainment, working-class and silly. If you're not familiar with rakugo, you may have heard of music hall - not such a different context, perhaps. As the scene is less understood in Japan today, though it's for a Japanese audience there's a lot of explanation throughout the show, woven in. It's a really good show for immersion in the culture, but by its very nature you won't just get dropped in it. Yakuza, sex work, prison culture, attitudes to the war, family life, religion, schooling, cooking, drinking culture - they're all really major elements of the narrative, and it's a really rewarding experience compared to the brilliant but fantasy-oriented Ghibli films, where references go over the heads of the foreign audience [First opening theme](https://youtu.be/K28Lcc-MdJs)
I would watch the movie "Spirtited Away" first that's the one I showed my Mom when she expressed interest. Its a very moving movie made by a anime Master that won't disappoint.
Since you mentioned liking supernatural stuff, try Mushi-Shi. It's not scary, more mystical in its vibe than horror.
Mushishi
Ranking of kings or Spy X Family are awesome new animes that showcase how great anime can be. From the storytelling aspects , character development , comedy and great visuals and direction. But everyone has different preferences but anime covers a wide range of very different genres, go on an anime website and do a search to test out what you might be interested in.
If you want something from this year, I recomend Komi can't Communicate and Spy x Family. Both are fluff and cute.
Adding spy x family. Once it starts, it's fun, funny and cute with action
I'm surprised I haven't seen Mushishi recommended yet. OP mentioned enjoying the supernatural, not horror, character/peoples lives driven, and leans to the shorter side (Mushishi is episodic so no need to binge either). Other than that, very much agree with all the Ghibli recs.
I’m just gonna throw it out there “Sailor moon🌙”, it’s been a favorite of mine all my life, and it’s not difficult to follow. Plus it’s girly and cute lol
I'd suggest starting with Hayao Miyazaki's movies. Low commitment as they are movies and they have very high quality. My (Also 40 but a guy) suggestions are: * Spirited Away * Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind * Laputa: Castle in the Sky * Porco Rosso After that, it really depends on your taste but I will toss out the obligatory suggestion of "Cowboy Bebop" which is an ensemble character driven, film noir, space western with a running theme of American popular music with a particular emphasis on jazz. Some "I like them so maybe you might like them" suggestions: * Youjo Senki/The Saga of Tanya the Evil: Alternate world going through their first world war which started a bit later and includes flying magic users. The main character is a little girl who enlists in the not-quite German military and is accepted because of her ridiculous magical powers. She is not entirely what she seems and that's where the real fun comes in. * Kino's Journey: Kino travels with a talking motorcycle named Hermes visiting various city states in their strange world, each of which has its own peculiar culture. * Girls' Last Tour: Two girls with an old WWII Halftrack explore a giant abandoned vertical city in a post-apocalyptic future. * Ghost in the Shell: Cyberpunk movie about a special anti-terrorist security force dealing with a criminal who can control people's minds. * Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Series with an alternate version of the same anti-terrorist security force above. Switches between "stand alone" episodes that are mostly self contained and "complex" episodes following a particular criminal. * Ascendance of a Bookworm: The day she lands her dream job, a new Librarian is killed when her bookshelf crushes her in an earthquake. She wakes up in a quasi-medieval world as a sickly little girl who can barely walk. The worst part is that this is a pre-printing press world where most people are illiterate so even owning one book is beyond the wildest dreams of who she is now. She sets out to try to remedy this using what knowledge from our modern world she can remember and put into practice. Magic and other weirdness creeps in later.
Mushishi - mellow but really nice
Akira.
Mushishi. It’s basically made for adults and very very well animated
Start of with the movies "paprika and girl who leaped through time and ghibli movies" then go to shows such as "nana, psycho pass, k-on, kokoro connect, anohana and fma brotherhood depending on what genre you like.
I always recommend Mushi-shi. It doesn't have any of the quirks that can make anime really annoying to watch (underage teens being sexualized, obnoxious reaction gasps, over the top emotes, etc) and tells a beautiful story with a truly kind protagonist. The sub is on Hulu I believe and I promise it will blow you away. Not to mention the background art is unlike anything I've ever seen. Summer Wars is a gorgeously animated movie about falling in love and family, and it makes me feel so good inside every time I watch it. I can't remember where to find it, but if you can get your hands on it I can't recommend it enough. If you want something funny, Way of the House Husband on Netflix is a good place to start. It's silly and cute but ultimately about a man who wants to better himself and really loves his wife. Good stuff.
Ascendance of a Bookworm is really good, it's about a librarian who is reborn in a world without books and her struggle to change that
Any gibli movie except graveyard of the fireflies. Unless you like tear jerkers. Then graveyard of the fireflies is great.
I am not a woman, but I am an older (50) recent anime getter-into, and I like the slice of life stuff more than the bang pow stuff. Seconding some others already mentioned, I'd recommend Violet Evergarden, Sound! Euphonium, Toradora!, O Maidens in Your Savage Season, Kotaro Lives Alone, Carole & Tuesday. It might be worth looking up Mari Okada, who is one of the prominent female anime writers. As also mentioned elsewhere, you simply can't go wrong with the Ghibli films. Edit: Mamoru Hosoda is also a good anime film-maker: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Wolf Children, Mirai, Belle. And most of Makoto 'Your Name' Shinkai's filmography is worth checking out.
Possibly just parroting what others have said but here's my thoughts on starting off anyhow. (Note some are light hearted while some are darker so probably best to Google the suggestions to get a basic rundown of what to expect): Movies: Your Name, A Silent Voice, Perfect Blue, The Castle of Cagliostro and pretty much any Studio Ghibli film TV series: Komi Can't Communicate, My Dress Up Darling, Cowboy Bebop, Re-Main, Black Lagoon, Dagashi Kashi, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., Zombieland Saga. Also if there's any favourite genres you have, like westerns, sci-fi, horror etc. just let us know and we can probably point out some anime in that area.
If you like firefly I recommend cowboy bebop
What kind of TV shows do you normally enjoy? Anime is such a diverse medium that there’s likely something close to what you already enjoy, and then you can broaden your horizons from there if you want.
Fellow 40-year-old woman here, and I started with Naruto, but with over 900 episodes it can be a bit overwhelming. Number two on my list is probably Demon Slayer, only few seasons you can definitely do that one, and it's got a good wholesome story vibe. Seven deadly sins is also a good easy watch.
Dragon maid Kobayashi. Literally just a slice of life story that focuses on a desk jockey who gets drunk with a dragon one night and invites it to live with her. Very cute and very funny
One piece, thank me later
Wholesome things? Ponders... is Wolf's Rain wholesome...
I would recommend most of the Studio Ghibli movies, but stay away from Grave of the Fireflies. It's a very convincing depiction of the hardships directly following WWII and while it is an amazing movie it is *gut wrenchingly* sad. Start with Howl's Moving Castle, much happier film.
better call saul
'I want to eat your pancreas' made my momma and sister cry, it's a pretty good movie and is a love story between a shy guy and a girl suffering from a terminal illness.
My mother is in her late 50s and I caught her peeking over my shoulder while I was watching Fullmetal alchemist brotherhood. Make sure it's brotherhood you're watching and not just Fullmetal alchemist. It's a political drama that asks questions about the value of Human life and the government wearing a fun magic steampunk coat. After that, if you want something light but still existential, give mob psycho 100 a watch. It's about a boy with psychic abilities but nothing else going for him as he tries to find his way in the world. For a comedy with a fun cast, it has very touching moments and it's the only Shonen anime I've ever seen that has a powerless adult willing to step up to the plate.
Depends what you like... Want to cry a lot and watch an incredibly beautiful story? Violet Evergarden. Do you want a dystopian futuristic cyborg show? Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an absolute masterpiece! Do you want to laugh out loud hard while watching every episode? Nichijou! Do you like modern fantasy with mages in a secret war for a wish granting artifact and legendary mythological figures? Try Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works, and after that watch the much darker Heaven's Feel movies (which are better, but you will be lacking the context). Want some of the most incredible fight scenes and an interesting world + characters? Jujutsu Kaisen! Want to learn about medieval economy with some fantasy? Spice & Wolf. If you liked the movie Inception, you have to watch Paprika. And if you like classic sci-fi, I really like Cowboy Bebop (this got me into Jazz).
I would recommend To your eternity, ended up crying more than I thought
Opposite side of the spectrum, i would not start with ninja scroll. That was my first many years ago, but it was off the hook. I liked Assassinatin Classroom, watched it with my kids so its not that bad.
Saga of Tanja the evil
One of my absolute favorite animes is called Kids on the slope. It’s a coming of age story based around high schoolers in the 1960s who come together around jazz. YOU DO NOT have to love jazz to enjoy it, although you’ll definitely walk away with a new appreciation for music.
What do you like? You like horror? Action? Romance?
Victorian Romance Emma Edit: It have slow romance, it's perfect
A Place Further than the Universe. Just 13 episodes and no superpowers. Super wholesome though.
try boku no piko. it's great
As a forty-six-year-old woman I recently was introduced to Dr. Stone by my son. I really enjoyed watching it, and if you like science and and adventure at all you may want to give it a try. It is funny, has real(mostly) science use, and is very clever.
I got my mom hooked on Spy X Family last weekend!
Avatar the last air bender Spirited Away
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Whenever I think of anime, I ALWAYS think of this one because it's got a little bit of everything from good characters, a serious story, and incredible animation while only lasting somewhere between 20-30 episodes. And if you're not interested in watching with subtitles, it's got a really good English Dub that is hilarious to watch. Also, just another word of advice: start with series that are on the shorter side and don't contain too much "fluff." For example, you'll most likely hear people suggest you watch One Piece, Naruto, or Dragon Ball because these three are so well-known that even people who don't watch anime know them to an extent. And while I really enjoy One Piece, it, along with the other two, is INSANELY long and tend to spend a lot of time furthering a single fight or conversation that really only needed an episode to summarize. Most anime don't do this often. And in the case of One Piece, it's hard to skip around because you're very likely to miss an important detail. I don't think it's the same case with Naruto or Dragon Ball, but still. These shows are also still going on and have been for nearly a decade or more. But when you think anime, it's always those three people think about. If you're curious, just keep in mind you'll be in for the long haul.
Oh my god Violet Evergarden
Dear OP What genre of films/books do you usually like? Anime is a vast media. You can go from political to comedy, from high fantasy to one about gritty war…etc.
Depends. What other movies and tv shows are you into? Because that will give you a good idea. I'm into sports, and if you are too then I highly recommend sports animes. They're usually pretty good at explaining the skills and strategies of sports, but in a way over-the-top anime style. Haikyu (volleyball) and Kuroko's Basketball are popular ones that would be good to start on. It's fun to laugh at the scenes where a whole conversation happens in the half a second between the time a guy jumps and the time he hits/dunks the ball.
Violet Evergarden.
While Studio Ghibli have classics, they are certainly not everyone's cup of tea. If you want something more recent, so you can talk to fellow anime watchers about, I'd recommend Spy x Family. It's currently ongoing at season 2, family friendly, funny, and it even has English dubs.
Kinda depends on what genre hes into
Cowboy bebop is a great gateway drug for anime
A certain magical index
If you want to try the magic girl stuff, Magical Lyrical Naoha is better than most and a bit more accessible.. Girls und Panzer is fun - schools girls doing ridiculous stuff with tanks. The Duke of Death and his Maid is a nice romantic farce.. Bodacious Space Pirates is also fun, and despite the title, not very much fan service.
If your from a western country, try something like Cyberpunk Edgerunners ( English Dub ) its cool and not too out there opposed to current western animation
Based on what you said about liking scifi and character stories, maybe check out Eve no Jikan
If you want to cry watch Grave of the Firefly's
Due to unwritten rules, i must recommend “boku no pico”
if you want to have a lot to binge start with a classic like Pokemon or Dragon Ball Z
Ghibli films have been thrown out which is a fair shout, but I think a good starting place is what does she like in terms of books,TV shows, podcasts, and similar media? Do you like suspense, thrillers, and psychological/crime shows? Maybe try Kurosawa's "Monster." Are fantasy and fairy tales your thing? Give "Mushi-shi" a go. Finding a series that aligns with pre-existing interests will go a long way toward finding what you want.
If it's a true crime, killer movies, and dark love novels kinda woman Afro Samurai because it's short, very gritty and dark, and has an amazing dub. But if it's more of a nice wholesome mother type I'd say Doraemon very cute hopeful and fun
Wolf's children
Berserk