Anime isn't just an art form; it's a way of life.
I might enjoy watching Stranger Things, but I'd never shell out $1000+ for a Dustin vs The Mind Flayer 1:6 scale statue or a Demogorgon body pillow. Okay, that's not entirely true, I'd probably buy a Demogorgon body pillow. But if I'm going to spend $1000 on a statue, it's going to be on something like this. And no, that's not just because anime battles are cooler than battles in any other medium (and yes, I actually did buy that).
What sets anime apart from everything else is that, at its best, great anime combines action, fantasy, and humor with gorgeous art and cutting emotional impact in a way quite unlike anything else I've ever experienced. I recommend anime to anyone and everyone, and if you're seriously looking to get into the medium (legally), I'd recommend subscribing to Crunchyroll for its massive library. But for those just starting out, Netflix has a great range of anime series that are sure to show any budding anime buff what the medium has to offer:
Attack on Titan
Kodansha
Arguably one of the best series ever made (anime or otherwise...just look at the top TV episodes on IMDB), Attack on Titan is a brutal, complex story about humanity's last stand against mysterious, man-eating monsters called titans. The show steers clear of a lot of anime tropes that typically turn off newer anime viewers, and the plotting is mind-blowing. If there's only one anime you ever watch, make sure it's Attack on Titan.
▲Death Note
Shueisha
Death Note is another great introductory anime. The series is a giant, high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between Light, a high school sociopath in possession of an otherworldly notebook that kills anyone whose name is written inside, and L, the world's greatest detective who is actively trying to stop Light's murder spree. It's a smart, fast-paced series that's short enough to finish in a few sittings.
A Silent Voice
Kyoto Animation
A gorgeous film about a hearing-impaired girl and her former bully who tries to make amends now that he's a bit more mature, A Silent Voice practically requires a box of tissues.
▲Naruto
Shueisha
At this point, if you haven't heard of Naruto you're probably actually living under a rock. But there's a reason the long-running ninja Shōnen (a genre targeted toward young teen males) became so popular in the first place. This is a series with memorable characters, great battles, and some surprisingly sobering emotional beats that stand the test of time.
▲Hunter x Hunter
Shueisha
Hunter x Hunter is, at its core, a deconstruction of the shonen genre, and it's best appreciated once you're already familiar with tropes like larger-than-life battles and can-do protagonists who never give up. Netflix doesn't have the Chimaera Ant Arc available yet (widely considered the best shonen arc ever made), but by the time you get there, you'll already be fully invested.
▲One-Punch Man
Shueisha
One-Punch Man is about the strongest hero in the world who can beat any opponent in a single punch. It's very funny and surprisingly deep. The Season 1 animation is also incredible.
▲Castlevania
Konami
Is Castlevaniareally anime if it's not made in Japan? Maybe not technically, but it's a really cool animated series based off a Japanese property, so it's making the list.
▲Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Sunrise
One of the deepest, most thematically complex mecha (a genre featuring powerful machinery, particularly robots controlled by humans) series around, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion portrays a generational conflict in an alternate timeline played out via giant robot battles. It's great.
▲Neon Genesis Evangelion
Gainax
THE deepest, most thematically complex mecha series around (sorry Code Geass), Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of those things you just need to watch. Unfortunately the Netflix version doesn't have the original ending themes, so if you can find the original version elsewhere, it's worth seeking out.
▲Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Square Enix
True to its long-held status as the top-rated anime on MyAnimeList, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a tour de force, blending a coming-of-age story with alchemical action and a rebuke on the evils of militarization and genocide.
Devilman Crybaby
Kodansha
Based on the classic Devilman manga from the '70s, Devilman Crybaby features brilliantly surreal art, hyper-violent action, and a surprising amount of humor. Definitely worth a watch, especially for horror enthusiasts.
▲Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
Type-Moon
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works is just one part of a billion part series about historical figures (like King Arthur) reimagined as cute anime girls. The best part is that you'll know what fellow anime enthusiasts mean when they say, "I don't know why they keep making more Saberface figures; they all look exactly the same" as they buy yet another Saberface figure.
▲Bleach
Shueisha
Bleach is one of the coolest battle shonen, centered around Soul Reapers (essentially Gods of Death) battling spirit monsters, but mostly each other. The fights are great, and the character designs are awesome. The later arcs don't hold up as well, but the the Soul Society arc is still amongst the greatest ever made.
▲Kill la Kill
Studio Trigger
A schoolgirl hunts her father's killer while wearing sentient battle clothes. That should be all you need to know.
▲Ouran High School Host Club
Hakusensha
Ouran High School Host Club is tailor-made for anyone who wants to imagine themselves as the romantic center of a group of cute, single high school boys. No judgment here.
▲Kakegurui
Square Enix
I can't, in all good faith, recommend this series. But if you've ever wondered if there was an entire anime dedicated to overly busty girls getting off sexually to high-stakes gambling, the answer is yes. Yes, there is.
▲InuYasha
Shogakukan
InuYasha is that classic mix of romance with a dog-man and fighting demons. It probably doesn't hold up as well as some of the other older series on the list, but it's a lot of fun and InuYasha's brother, Sesshōmaru, is still one of the hottest guys in anime.
▲JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Shueisha
Netflix only has the first season of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and to be perfectly honest, I don't think it's indicative of the rest of the series. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a very difficult series to explain, as every season completely shifts style, scope, and genre as it follows the Joestar family and their supernatural nemeses across generations and around the world. The franchise is an absolute masterpiece of thoroughly unique art and absurdist, memetic humor that was way before its time (the manga began publication in the '80s). Just go in understanding that Part I is a very brief taster, and even if you don't like it, you should still check out JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part IV.
▲Sword Art Online
ASCII Media Works
The true holy grail of anime, Sword Art Online poses the question: "What if you were a super cool, smart, capable, handsome gamer guy who gets trapped in the world of your favorite MMO and then gets a hot girlfriend who was very capable until you came along, but then becomes a damsel for you because you're just so cool? Wouldn't that be awesome?" It's exactly that bad.
▲