Even though anime has made its way into the mainstream over the past few years, negative notions about the medium persist.
With the exception of a few mature animated comedies (some of which are fantastic and thematically complex, like Bojack Horseman), animation in the US is still typically viewed as a medium for children. The idea that cartoons are kid sh*t, while perhaps understandable for someone who has only ever been exposed to Western media, is ignorant of the broad range of animation in other cultures.
In a similar vein, a lot of people insist that they just can't get into anime, or they stigmatize all of it because they don't like the "schoolgirl stuff." But it's important to remember that anime isn't a genre–It's a medium.
Individual anime series fall into every genre under the sun, just like movies and live-action TV shows. Saying you don't like anime because of the schoolgirl stuff (which is a very valid thing to dislike) is kind of like saying you don't like movies because of slasher films. You're writing off an entire medium of art over a genre that you can easily avoid.
So let's say you are open to watching anime, but aren't quite sure where to start. Or, more likely, maybe you already love anime and you're trying to find a series to convince your SO that the $200 action figure in your room was a totally reasonable thing to buy (it was, and your life choices are perfect). Just check out any of these gateway anime series that serve as perfect entry points into the medium's diverse offerings.
Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)
Kodansha
Few series have ever come close to crafting a narrative as perfect as Attack on Titan. The premise is high-concept: The last surviving humans live in a walled off city surrounded by giant, humanoid, man-eating monsters called Titans.
One day the walls are breached, and three surviving children — Eren, Mikasa, and Armin — set their sights on joining the military in order to fight back for the sake of humanity. But what could have been a simple, straight-forward action-horror show, turned out to be so much more. Nothing is ever as it seems in Attack on Titan, and the plot continually twists to turn everything you thought you knew on its head.
Attack on Titan is thrilling, terrifying, tragic, and emotionally resonant, oftentimes all at once. It's a show about the horrors of war and the lengths humans will go to protect the things they hold dear to them. If you only watch one anime ever, make sure it's Attack on Titan.
▲Cowboy Bebop
Sunrise
Considered by some to be an anime for people who don't like anime, Cowboy Bebop is an existential sci-fi Western about a group of bounty hunters who are all emotionally broken. Throughout its 26 episode-run, the series constantly reinvents itself, deriving inspiration from a wide array of material, from Bruce Lee movies to American horror films.
All the while, Cowboy Bebop remains tonally consistent, conveying a deep sense of longing that lingers with you far past the finale. Cowboy Bebop is a viewing experience quite unlike anything you've ever seen, an undeniable work of art. The jazz-infused soundtrack is pretty killer, too.
▲Death Note
Shueisha
A supernatural thriller following the cat-and-mouse game between a sociopathic high schooler with the power of a shinigami (a Japanese god of death) and the world's greatest detective who's trying to arrest him, Death Note plays out like a chess match between two expert players. It's a compelling series with a simple premise and phenomenal plotting, and it's short enough that you can finish it within a few sittings. Any fan of high-stakes thrillers would do well to take note of this show.
▲Mob Psycho 100
Shogakukan
Unlike pretty much every other shonen action series in existence, Mob Psycho 100 isn't really about the over-the-top battles. Rather, it's about the emotional growth of an insecure middle schooler named Mob. Of course, Mob has godly psychic powers, so the crazy over-the-top battles are still there.
But the majority of Mob Psycho 100 focuses on Mob trying hard to improve himself in more run-of-the-mill ways, like making friends, asking out crushes, and working out with his school's Body Improvement Club. It's a wholesome show with surprising depth, ultimately revolving around the concept that everyone has talents, nobody is better than anybody else, and at the end of the day, the only person you need to compete with is the you from yesterday.
▲Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Bones
Set in a post-European Industrial Revolution-style world where alchemy is an established practice, Fullmetal Alchemist revolves around two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, attempting to find the legendary Philosopher's Stone in order to recover their bodies after a horrific childhood accident (Ed lost two of his limbs and Al's soul is trapped in a suit of armor). The series is both approachable – with a clear hook and likable, sympathetic characters–and thematically deep – exploring difficult concepts like racism and the cycle of war. Fullmetal Alchemist is an emotional journey well-worth taking.
▲Naruto
Shueisha
Yes, Naruto is very long and arguably bloated even if you skip all the filler. But there's also a reason that Naruto was the gateway anime of choice for pretty much every young weeb-to-be growing up in the early 2000s. Naruto is a ridiculously accessible series mainly because it's protagonist, the young ninja Naruto Uzumaki, is so immediately relatable to anyone who has ever felt like they don't fit in.
Throughout the series, we watch Naruto grow from a young boy who acts out to mask his pain and loneliness into a responsible man capable of leading his village. Watching through Naruto is a big time commitment, and it's not perfect, but if you're looking to get immersed in anime, tropes and all, it's a great place to start.
▲Sailor Moon Crystal
Toei Animation
Equal parts action, romance, and friendship, Sailor Moon Crystal updates the classic magical girl series with a modern adaptation. The story about high school girls who transform into heroes by night still holds up decades later, chock full of strong female characters and cool battles.
There are also talking cats and LGBTQ+ representation (which was in the original Japanese series but was changed for American audiences), so there's a whole lot to like. Sailor Moon Crystal transcends gender barriers, too, so don't think that if you're a big, tough, manly man you won't enjoy it. You'll be pretending to spin-transform soon enough.
▲My Hero Academia
Shueisha
My Hero Academia is easily the best entry-point for newcomers to battle shonen (action-oriented series geared towards boys). On one hand, it doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. All of the tropes and cliches that make the battle shonen genre such a fun power fantasy – the form transformations, the over-the-top abilities, the coming back from the brink of defeat to win the fight – are all intact.
But where My Hero Academia shines is it's knack for putting those pieces together in the best way possible. The series is really fast-paced with no bloat, and the super hero high schooler premise should be extra-accessible for American comic book fans. If you're looking for a super fun anime, My Hero Academia is Plus Ultra (You'll get that later).
▲One Punch Man
Shueisha
One Punch Man is probably best appreciated if you already have some experience watching other anime (it subtly plays off of a lot of other series and tropes), but it's also simple and light enough to enjoy without prior knowledge. The series is a satire on the classic shonen trope of a protagonist who wants to become the best (INSERT: Pirate, Ninja, Warrior).
In One Punch Man the hero, Saitama, has already become the strongest fighter in the world, so strong that he can defeat any enemy in one punch. The problem now is that he's still entirely unfulfilled. It's very funny, and offers some surprisingly deep insights into depression, too.
▲Sword Art Online
ASCII Media Works
It's hard to recommend Sword Art Online. Unlike all the other series on this list, it is not a particularly good show. The writing is piss-poor. The main character, Kirito, is a total Gary Sue who is great at everything he does and beloved by everyone.
The main female character, Asuna, is introduced as a skilled fighter, only to be immediately upstaged by Kirito and relegated to the role of damsel for the rest of the series. But it's also impossible to deny that Sword Art Online was probably the biggest gateway anime for Gen Z, and the premise of MMO players getting trapped in the game is a lot of fun, at least on paper. If you watch it, check your brain at the door.
▲Gintama
Shueisha
Just joking, this show is not for beginners. As one of the top rated anime series of all time on My Anime List, with six of its seasons and movies ranking in the top 20 entries, Gintama is a force to be reckoned with. Deemed a meta-comedy masterpiece by many anime fans, absolutely everything in Gintama relies on the viewer's deep, prior knowledge of other specific anime series. Gintama lampoons both entire franchises and specific scenes from all genres of anime (but mostly shonen). So come back to this one later, and consider enjoying it as a reward for becoming the Strongest Weeb.
▲