There is no vastly agreed-upon gateway anime, mostly because it depends on the tastes of the individual. For example, some anime fans may love the magical girl genres while others do not. However, both are still anime fans.
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So consider that anime has a vast variety when considering getting into the shows. Remember that what is popular is not necessarily the best anime has to offer. There are, however, anime shows that introduce common concepts that others often explore, without relying on the audience to have previously watched anime.
Updated March 25, 2022 by Allison Stalberg: The best anime for beginners and newcomers are quite varied. Anime has many genres such as horror, comedy, romance, magical-girl, school life, and more. There is something for just about anyone, as long as they like animation.
Some adults think anime is for kids, which is a big mistake, as some anime are definitely more targeted towards adults in terms of themes and content. It is good to know the diversity of anime before diving in.
15 Pokemon
Based on the game franchise, the Pokemon anime was the first anime for many kids outside of Japan. It is certainly aimed at young kids, but adults can still enjoy the cute creatures and humor. There are a ton of episodes, but the first season is a good place to dip your toes as the viewer can learn about Pokemon along with the protagonist.
The Pokemon show has been part of many peoples’ childhood. It is a great choice for a kid trying to get into anime or just a great choice for those who want to see anime that is meant for children.
14 Naruto
Naruto was the first anime of a generation and got so popular that it has hundreds upon hundreds of episodes. That can be daunting for a newcomer, but the first season is just 57 episodes. It is worth a shot just to know what all the fuss was about. The show is enjoyable for all ages but is mostly targeted towards middle school boys.
The show is about ninjas and its genre is action, fantasy, and adventure. There is a large cast of characters, cool fights, and emotional moments as well.
13 Dragon Ball
Not to be confused with Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball is the starting point of the series when the main character is a little boy discovering what Dragon Balls are and his own identity. This show is what started a global cultural phenomenon. It is based on Journey to the West and combined traits of martial arts movies.
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This is one of the most successful series of all time, with the manga sold in over 40 countries. The anime is worth trying, just because it was the starter anime for many people back when it came out in the 80s.
12 Princess Tutu
Many people think of Sailor Moon when it comes to magical girl anime, but that does not mean it is the best gateway to the genre. After all, the Sailor Moon series has 200 episodes. That can be overwhelming for a newcomer. Luckily though, there are other magical girl anime that are shorter, just as good (if not better), and introduce common magical girl tropes.
Princess Tutu is one such anime. Despite its cutesy feminine name, it is beloved by anime fans of all ages and genders. It introduces magical girl transformations, romance, the common school setting, and its paranormal twists. It is only just 26 episodes with excellent narrative pacing and conclusion.
11 Attack On Titan
This anime is for mature audiences that enjoy horror, political intrigue, and do not mind violence. It is a good starting point for those that want a mature, horrific, and dramatic fantasy story. It is about a walled-off city defending itself from mysterious mindless titans that eat people. A lot of twists happen throughout, along with amazing action, and the characters are all very strong and interesting.
The anime doesn’t have any visual anime trope ques like chibi style, vein pops, or sweat-drops that may confuse or alienate an anime newcomer.
10 Code Geass
Not every anime fan loves the mecha genre, which is the type that usually sports giant robots. Code Geass is a good anime to dip toes in for someone’s first mecha anime. The story and narrative are far more focused on the characters themselves and the paranormal geass power, but it has plenty of mecha battles and designs.
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Unlike Princess Tutu, this show is not for all ages. A lot of its political and sociological points would be missed by children. It also sports an anime-style popularized by artists of CLAMP.
9 Death Parade
Death Parade is a short anime of just 12 episodes that deals with some mature themes such as death and karma. It is the perfect starter anime for fans of psychological thrillers. The show is about paranormal bars that people go to when they die. They are challenged to Death Games that reveal their secrets and are ultimately judged as to whether they will get banished to the void or reincarnated.
The anime did not make big ripples like Dragon Ball or Naruto, but it did win and get nominated for awards like best Psychological Anime of the Year and Opening Theme Song of the Year.
8 Erased
Erased is a short but complete anime, running for just 12 episodes. It is a good gateway to anime that deals with serious situations such as murder and kidnapping, but while not being too shocking for a newcomer audience. For example, Attack on Titan may have too much shock value for someone looking for a gateway anime (they may accidentally think all anime are that violent).
With that in mind, Erased is not the most popular anime out there. Some fans had criticism for its pacing and twist. However, it is perfect for gateway anime as it shows how anime can take on serious dark topics. The series is also short for someone who does not have time to watch many episodes.
7 Fruits Basket
Shoujo anime (anime mostly about romantic/intimate relationships, targeted to female audiences) is a juggernaut in the anime industry. Picking just one as a possible gateway anime can be difficult in the sea of titles. However, there is one currently running its final season that is a perfect introduction to the shoujo genre. That anime is Fruits Basket.
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It actually had an anime in 2001 that ended before the manga, and it was so popular that it was decided to make a revamped show that completely follows the manga from start to finish. The romance is a nice slow burn with many intimate relationships blossoming. It is not too sugary though, as there is also a lot of drama and darkness hinging upon a paranormal bound many of the characters are trapped in.
6 Death Note
Death Note is a huge name in anime, and it is easy to get hooked to, anime connoisseurs or not. It deals with ethical twists of crime and punishment, giving a teenager the power to kill whoever he wants just by writing their name in a book. He decides to try to make the world a better place by writing down the names of criminals. But is that really justice? The story really picks up when detective L enters the scene to capture this young killer (and luckily, he enters the story pretty fast).
Do not try the Netflix adaptation or other live-action attempts. The anime, available on HBO Max, is the original TV version that came after the manga and follows it the best.
5 One Punch Man
Comedy is sometimes where anime shines the brightest, and that is certainly true of One-Punch Man. What makes it stand out from other comedy anime is its balance of blind-blowing action scenes with nihilistic humor from its protagonist.
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The anime series has just 24 episodes, telling the story of a superhero who can defeat anyone with one punch and how boring that is for him. His foil is another heroic character, a cyborg who is far less powerful but far more theatrical and badass in his fight scenes.
4 Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is considered one of the major classics of anime and has only 26 episodes. It is on par with Neon Genesis Evangelion in terms of its amount of analysis and legacy, but while being far less confusing and cryptic. While it has aged since it aired in the late 90s, it did influence a good deal of anime after it.
It is a space western neo-noir, with characters that ooze that laid back and witty noir taste. Outside those genres, it tackles space opera and cyberpunk themes like existentialism and loneliness. Just know that the show’s pace is slow at first.
3 Gurren Lagann
This anime is referenced in plenty of other media as well as by anime fans. Like Cowboy Bebop, it is considered a classic with a legacy. The “don’t believe in yourself, believe in the me that believes in you” quote is quite popular and stems from this show. It is also a mecha anime that is not dark like Code Geass, but more comedic.
In another similarity to Cowboy Bebop, Gurren Lagann also takes place in a distant future though it replaces space western and neo-noir with adventure, mecha, and comedy.
2 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is considered a must-see by all anime fans. The show is steampunk, dark fantasy, and adventure-themed and tells the story of two brothers looking to get their bodies back after they accidentally were sacrificed in a ritual to bring their mother back to life. The show has 64 episodes.
Once again, this anime is great for introducing commonly seen concepts in anime storylines like anti-war sentiments, supernatural powers, and not being afraid to get disturbing at times despite also having moments of lightheartedness. It’s also similar to Fruits Basket just in that it had another anime that did not follow the manga (so be sure to what the one with Brotherhood in the title!).
1 My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a big anime that still running. It is today’s Naruto, with a huge cast of characters with different powers and a hierarchy of mentors and villains. It is the best gateway because many other series are old news or are more enjoyed by fans who are used to anime tropes. After all, anime styles and narratives can change with current times.
While this series is long, it does have arcs that can give enough closure for someone just trying out anime. It is great for those that love the fantasy, superhero, and adventure genres. The characters go through a lot of growth, and there are awesome fight scenes.
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