Short and Sweet
If you’re a newcomer to animes, then it may feel a bit intense when finding a place to start. Luckily, there are approachable animes in every genre worth exploring. This list breaks down the best of the best—all you have to do is pick a place to start!
1. Spy x Family
This comedy anime is all about finding your own family after a spy plays the role of a dad for a mission. He adopts a telepathic daughter and marries an assassin, with none of them knowing each other's secret.
2. One Punch Man
Considered one of the comedy greats of anime, this parody-like show follows Saitama, a superhero who can defeat any enemy with a single punch. However, being the most powerful hero in the world can be quite boring, and this show provides commentary on the genre as a whole.
Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio on Wikimedia
3. Haikyuu!
If you want a casual and relaxed anime, try Haikyuu, which is all about high school, sports, and friendship. It follows Shoyo as he focuses on becoming a great volleyball player, even if it means making new partners and overcoming rivals.
4. Barakamon
This slice-of-life comedy follows a hot-headed calligrapher as he explores a rural village to find new inspiration. All he really ends up finding is quirky villagers and an energetic girl that changes his outlook on both his art and life.
5. The Devil is a Part-Timer
One of the greatest fantasy comedy animes out there, this show tells the story of the devil himself who has to flee his magical realm into the human world. But once he gets to the human world, to survive, he gets a job at a fast food venue and has to focus on paying rent and getting promotions.
6. My Hero Academia
Nowadays, many people are very familiar with superheroes, which makes the subject of My Hero Academia quite easy to approach. It has the typical school tropes, except the school is for aspiring heroes and underdogs.
7. Your Lie in April
This warm and emotional anime follows a piano prodigy whose world has been rocked by tragedy. He finally finds a way to reconnect with his love for music after meeting a free-spirited violinist.
8. Attack on Titan
This anime can actually be quite intense for first-timers, as it's full of mystery and action in a post-apocalyptic world. Either way, it depicts a world where humans live inside walled cities to protect themselves from the giant creatures beyond. It follows a boy named Eren as he trains to join the military unit fighting against these creatures.
9. The Promised Neverland
This mystery thriller follows kids in a happy orphanage, only to realize their future isn’t at all what they thought it was. To escape this dark impending secret, they instead work together to escape.
10. Demon Slayer
This anime took the world by storm with its stunning animation and fast-paced fighting scenes. It follows Tanjiro on his quest to avenge his family after demons attack—only to find that his sister has been turned into a demon herself.
11. Noragami
This urban fantasy show follows a minor god named Yato, who unfortunately is quite broke. In order to earn some money and gain worshippers, he focuses on finding ways to regain acclaim and help others along the way.
12. Mob Psycho 100
This supernatural comedy follows a shy middle schooler named Mob, who is actually a powerful psychic. The anime has a little bit of everything, from everyday antics, to fighting spirits, to dealing with weird cults.
13. K-On!
In this slice of life, a group of high school girls decide to form a light music club. While most of them are complete newcomers to music, they bond over food and friendship, and it’s a perfectly low-stakes, feel-good anime.
14. Nana
This musical drama follows two young women named Nana as they become roommates. While one focuses on achieving her punk rocker dreams, the other is all about finding love. This slice of life is ideal for fans who like a bit of drama and lots of music.
15. Death Note
For fans of crime and psychological thrillers, Death Note is considered one of the greats. It follows a brilliant high schooler named Light who discovers a supernatural notebook. Anyone whose name is written in the notebook will perish, and Light quickly uses this tool to rid the world of criminals—only to catch the attention of a detective determined to take him down.
16. Ranking of Kings
This fantasy anime follows a deaf prince who is considered far too weak and unfit to be king. A perfect blend of wholesomeness and epicness, the unusual art style and surprising depth of the story make it one worth watching.
17. Toradora!
Toradora is the perfect romantic comedy for anyone who likes a little slice of life. It follows a short-tempered girl and a boy who looks tougher than he is as they help each other to win their respective crushes.
Husyewl Lmsiuyu RAUOM on Wikimedia
18. Violet Evergarden
While this anime is also a bit more intensive, it’s undoubtedly beautiful. It follows a former child soldier as she uses letters to express her emotions and heal after war. It’s considered deeply emotional and poetic, and nothing quite beats the surreal animation.
Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan on Wikimedia
19. Erased
If you don’t mind a more mysterious thriller, then this anime has a tight and emotional plot. It follows a man with the ability to time travel as he tries to return to his childhood to stop a serial kidnapper from ruining lives.
20. Fruits Basket
If you prefer more casual and warm stories, then Fruits Basket has some lite drama and plenty of romance. It follows an orphaned girl who lives with a family that turns into Chinese zodiac animals when hugged by the opposite gender.
