The world of anime can be daunting when one first decides to dive in, as many series have been running for years, leaving hundreds of episodes to get through before being caught up. Cultural in-jokes, mythology, and references can also make the medium seem impenetrable to many American audiences. Despite this, anime is a unique medium with many beautifully told stories that can't be seen anywhere else.
This list is to provide those considering their first adventure into the world of anime with some ideas of where to start--including classic series, those that non-fans may have heard of, and some that they probably haven't.
10 Dragon Ball Z (Kai)
If a person has heard of anime, they've almost certainly heard of Dragon Ball Z. The series is so iconic that it's still shaping perceptions of anime. The story follows Goku, a young man who discovers he's a member of a nearly extinct race known as Saiyans, and with his Saiyan power, Goku must protect Earth from a variety of threats, both from space and of man's own making. Dragon Ball Z is incredibly long, so it can certainly be intimidating to dive into, but a re-edit of the series known as Dragon Ball Z Kai cuts out much of the filler, making it a far better-paced and more enjoyable experience for the modern viewer. It's not strictly necessary to watch the entire series, but having a basic familiarity with it will help new fans to understand the impact DBZ has had on other anime.
9 Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon is the flip side of the coin, often consider Dragon Ball's feminine opposite. The series is similarly iconic and influential, and also pretty long to boot. However, Sailor Moon has also seen a new dub emerge in recent years, more accurate to the original Japanese and less kid-friendly than the 90s version. It follows Usagi Tsukino, a high school girl who ends up with the power to transform into the Earth's guardian, Sailor Moon, who must fight to protect it from villains. Prospective fans could also check out its reboot Sailor Moon Crystal, from 2014, which has modern effects and a more streamlined version of the story. Like DBZ, Sailor Moon is simply so influential that any anime fan should at least check out a few episodes in order to get an idea of what it's like.
8 Mob Psycho 100
Hailed as one of the best anime of the 2010s, Mob Psycho 100 is a comedic series with action elements that follows Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama, a middle school kid with incredible psychic powers who really just wants to live a normal life. With the aid of his con-man mentor Reigen and an untrustworthy spirit known as Dimple, Mob deals with the supernatural while trying to school clubs and woo his crush. The series recently finished its third and final season in 2022, and at 37 episodes, is just the right length for new fans to approach. For those looking for some good laughs along with amazing action and a solid heart, look no farther.
7 Spy X Family
A fairly new series, the Spy X Family anime only debuted in 2022 and has one season under its belt, but the show is already an incredible hit. Another comedy series with some action elements, Spy X Family follows Loid, a secret agent undercover in enemy territory, as he makes a family for cover. He adopts the young Anya, a girl who secretly can read minds, and enters a marriage of convenience with Yor, a young woman who secretly works as an assassin. The show is surprisingly wholesome and revolves around Anya's antics as she tries to help out with their secret missions while not giving away her own secret. Spy X Family manages to avoid most negative anime stereotypes, making it very approachable to newbies.
6 Death Note
At the other end of the spectrum is Death Note, a mid-2000s psychological thriller series about a supernatural notebook that can kill anyone in the world when their name is written in it. The Death Note is found by Light Yagami, a smart high schooler who wants to use it to rid the world of crime and evil, slowly falling down a pit of villainy as he attempts to avoid being caught by the world's greatest detective, L. As the title might suggest, the series is dark and can be a bit twisted, but is incredibly compelling. It's also spawned quite a few memes for its sometimes overly dramatic approach, some of which remain popular to this day.
5 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
The original Ghost in the Shell film from 1995 is of course an anime classic of its own, but the series from 2002 isn't to be overlooked. Of all anime, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is probably the most like an American prestige drama series. It discusses complex political topics and convoluted conspiracies, and characters are very intelligent and have deep conversations on these subjects. The series revolves around a criminal plot known as the Laughing Man incident, an event that spawned many copycat attacks. Unlike many of these other series, GitS SAC is undoubtedly for adults, and anyone who enjoys police or crime shows, or cyberpunk sci-fi, will be able to enjoy it.
4 Cardcaptor Sakura
Not to be confused with the 90s dub version known simply as Cardcaptors, Cardcaptor Sakura is manga collective CLAMP's take on the magical girl genre and is considered by many to be one of the best. The series follows Sakura, a young girl who mistakenly unleashes a book full of magic cards, each of which represents a magical creature or force that loves to cause chaos. It's Sakura's responsibility to gather these cards once again and seal them, but as it turns out, she's not the only one after them...
3 My Hero Academia
One of the most popular ongoing anime and manga series right now is My Hero Academia. Set in a world where nearly everyone has a superpower, one boy without powers dreams of being a hero, and gets his chance when Japan's #1 hero, All Might, chooses him as his successor. As the title suggests, the series is based around a school setting, specifically a hero school where students learn to become pros. My Hero Academia is full of incredible fight scenes and wacky powers, and its core cast of characters is well-developed and relatable. It also uses familiar Western superhero tropes, so new fans may find it less difficult than they expect. With the series' manga ending imminent, now is a great time for new fans to dive in and experience the finale together with everyone.
2 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Set in an alternate early 20th century in which alchemy is real, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers who are on a quest to get their bodies back to normal after suffering major losses when trying to bring their dead mother back to life. Ed and Al become targets for mysterious beings known as homunculi, and wind up ing the State Alchemists in an attempt to shed light on the situation. It has an earlier version, known simply as Fullmetal Alchemist, but both versions are quite good in their own way. The series is known for its deep characters and fascinating world, and is an excellent choice for anyone looking for fantasy that's a little different from the norm.
1 Cowboy Bebop
Widely considered one of the greatest anime of all time, Cowboy Bebop is a 26-episode series from the turn of the millennium that blends sci-fi, western, and film noir tropes into a delicious mixture. The series is absolutely dripping with cool, from its no-nonsense bounty hunter protagonist Spike to the wacky hacker Edward, and just about every episode is a masterpiece itself. While it does have an overarching story arc, most episodes are one-off, case-of-the-week type tales that really give a look at the world and these characters. No matter what one's tastes are, Cowboy Bebop is absolutely worth checking out, and at just 26 episodes, it's a fairly easy binge-watch that's likely to leave new fans craving more.
