Ever felt like you want to get into anime, but one look at the sheer number of shows leaves you feeling overwhelmed? You hear friends talking about “arcs,” “fillers,” and series with 1000+ episodes, and you just don’t know where to begin.
We get it. The world of anime is vast, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. To help you take that first step, we’ve curated a list of 20 fantastic shows that are perfect for beginners. The key criteria? An easy-to-follow storyline.
These shows have compelling plots, great characters, and beautiful animation, but they won’t require you to take notes to keep up. They are the perfect gateway to discovering what genres you love.
Let’s dive in!
The Perfect Starting Points (Action, Comedy & Heart)
These shows are modern classics and are incredibly easy to get into.
1. Spy x Family
- Genres: Comedy, Action, Slice of Life
- Why it’s great for beginners: The premise is simple and hilarious: a spy, an assassin, and a telepathic child pretend to be a family for a mission, all while hiding their true identities from each other. It’s episodic, heartwarming, and packed with genuinely funny moments.
2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Dark Fantasy
- Why it’s great for beginners: The story is straightforward: after his family is attacked by a demon, a kind-hearted boy named Tanjiro becomes a demon slayer to turn his sister back into a human. The plot is easy to follow, and the breathtaking animation alone is worth the watch.
3. Jujutsu Kaisen
- Genres: Action, Supernatural, Dark Fantasy
- Why it’s great for beginners: A high school student accidentally becomes the vessel for a powerful curse and joins a school for Jujutsu Sorcerers to control it. Think Harry Potter but with more monsters and slick, modern action. It’s fast-paced, cool, and a ton of fun.
4. My Hero Academia
- Genres: Action, Superhero, Comedy
- Why it’s great for beginners: In a world where 80% of people have superpowers (or “Quirks”), a boy born without them dreams of becoming the greatest hero. This show follows a classic superhero structure that’s instantly familiar and incredibly hype.
5. One-Punch Man
- Genres: Action, Comedy, Satire
- Why it’s great for beginners: The concept is brilliantly simple: Saitama is a hero so powerful he can defeat any enemy with a single punch, which leads to existential boredom. It’s a hilarious parody of action anime tropes with some of the most spectacular fight scenes ever animated.
Compelling Stories (Without the Confusion)
These shows have incredible plots and world-building but keep the core narrative focused and clear.
6. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Action
- Why it’s great for beginners: Often called one of the greatest anime of all time, its core story is simple: two brothers use alchemy in an attempt to bring their mother back to life, suffering a terrible price. They then embark on a journey to restore their bodies. It’s a complete, perfectly-paced story with no filler.
7. Death Note
- Genres: Thriller, Psychological, Supernatural
- Why it’s great for beginners: A brilliant high school student finds a notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing their name inside. This kicks off a gripping cat-and-mouse game between him and a genius detective trying to stop him. The rules are clear, and the suspense is addictive.
8. Erased
- Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Supernatural
- Why it’s great for beginners: A man with the ability to travel back in time a few minutes to prevent disasters is sent 18 years into the past to solve a childhood murder mystery. At only 12 episodes, it’s a short, contained, and binge-worthy thriller with a clear goal.
9. Dr. Stone
- Genres: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy
- Why it’s great for beginners: All of humanity is mysteriously turned to stone. 3,700 years later, a genius teenager named Senku awakens and sets out to rebuild civilization from scratch using the power of science. It’s fun, surprisingly educational, and has a clear, goal-oriented plot.
10. The Promised Neverland (Season 1 ONLY)
- Genres: Thriller, Horror, Mystery
- Why it’s great for beginners: A group of orphans at a seemingly perfect orphanage discover a horrifying secret and must plot their escape. Season 1 is a masterclass in suspense and a self-contained story. (Trust us, and pretty much the entire internet, on stopping after Season 1.)
Low-Commitment Movies
Not ready for a full series? Anime movies are a fantastic way to experience a complete, high-quality story in about two hours.
11. Your Name.
- Genres: Romance, Supernatural, Drama
- Why it’s great for beginners: A teenage boy from Tokyo and a teenage girl from the countryside mysteriously start swapping bodies. It’s a visually stunning and emotional film that became a global phenomenon for a reason.
12. A Silent Voice
- Genres: Drama, Slice of Life
- Why it’s great for beginners: A powerful and emotional story about a high school boy seeking redemption from a deaf girl he bullied in elementary school. It’s a grounded, character-driven story that handles heavy themes with incredible grace.
13. Spirited Away
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure
- Why it’s great for beginners: A perfect introduction to the magical world of Studio Ghibli. A young girl named Chihiro gets trapped in a world of spirits and must work in a bathhouse to save her parents. It’s a whimsical, beautiful, and unforgettable adventure.
Relax, Laugh, and Feel Good
If you want something without high-stakes action or drama, these shows are for you.
14. Komi Can’t Communicate
- Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy, Romance
- Why it’s great for beginners: The most popular girl in school has severe social anxiety and can’t speak to people. A kind, “average” boy decides to help her achieve her dream of making 100 friends. It’s pure, wholesome, and adorable.
15. Fruits Basket (2019 Remake)
- Genres: Romance, Drama, Supernatural, Comedy
- Why it’s great for beginners: After her mother’s death, Tohru Honda ends up living with the mysterious Sohma family, who are cursed to turn into animals of the Chinese Zodiac when hugged by the opposite sex. This remake tells the complete, heartwarming story from the manga.
16. Haikyuu!!
- Genres: Sports, Comedy, Drama
- Why it’s great for beginners: You don’t need to know anything about volleyball to love this show. It follows an underdog high school team and perfectly captures the thrill of teamwork, passion, and competition. It’s pure hype and inspiration.
17. Aggretsuko
- Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life
- Why it’s great for beginners: A red panda navigates the frustrations of office life, from annoying bosses to overbearing coworkers. Her secret? She vents by singing death metal karaoke at night. The episodes are short (15 minutes), relatable, and hilarious.
A Little Different, A Lot of Fun
Ready for something a bit more unique but still easy to jump into?
18. Mob Psycho 100
- Genres: Action, Comedy, Supernatural
- Why it’s great for beginners: From the creator of One-Punch Man, this series follows a gentle middle schooler who happens to be an absurdly powerful psychic. All he wants is to be normal and impress his crush. The show has incredible character development and mind-bending animation.
19. Violet Evergarden
- Genres: Drama, Slice of Life, Fantasy
- Why it’s great for beginners: A former child soldier, emotionally detached from the world, takes on a job writing letters for others to understand the meaning of “I love you.” Most episodes tell a self-contained, emotional story, making it easy to watch at your own pace. It’s also one of the most beautiful anime ever made.
20. Attack on Titan
- Genres: Action, Dark Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic
- Why it’s great for beginners: A small caveat here. Attack on Titan is one of the most popular anime in the world for a reason. The initial premise is simple: humanity lives behind walls to protect itself from giant, man-eating titans. While the story becomes very complex later on, the first season is a straightforward and incredibly intense survival-horror action show. If you want to see what all the hype is about, this is it. Just be prepared for a wild (and dark) ride.
Where to Watch?
Most of these shows are available on major streaming platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu. A quick search on a site like JustWatch.com can tell you exactly where to stream a specific series in your country.
Happy watching! What will you be starting with? Let us know in the comments below