Netflix recently released the second season of One Piece, a live-action adaptation of the extremely long-running anime series of the same name. Seeing those advertisements always reminds me of my high school days, when I was heavily obsessed with the Japanese media format.
Anime series are the hardest for me to recommend to people, mainly because they’re significantly more creative, strange, and original than a lot of work we may see in Hollywood nowadays. I also resisted getting into anime until later on in life, as I deemed it “too nerdy.”
However, my younger sister eventually persuaded me to check out some series, most of which I will list here. I encourage you to check them out, and even if you don’t get into it, acknowledge the hard work of the animators and voice actors (whether they be the original Japanese [“sub”] or the English voiceover [“dub”]) that keep this medium alive!
I also made Pinterest mood boards for each series, so you can see a visual representation of these series that I know and love!
- Angel Beats! (2010)/Danganronpa (2013)
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I realized here that I had only seen nine anime series all the way/majority of the way through that I really liked. These two cancel each other out with the elements that make them strong and enjoyable, while being a little lacking as far as staying power goes.
Angel Beats!, a series about high schoolers overcoming hardships in the afterlife, is one that I can recommend for its technical elements rather than substance. It’s not based on any prior manga (the Japanese comics that most anime are adapted from), so the story is a little weaker, but it does tug at your heartstrings with gorgeous animation and decent songs.
Danganronpa is based on a video game series of the same name, and it’s essentially Among Us in a high school setting with a touch of crazy lore. This one doesn’t look as pretty as Angel Beats!, but it does have a more interesting format with a few kooky and memorable characters, as well as some memorable memes.
- Yuri on Ice (2016)
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The Heated Rivarly (kind of) before Heated Rivarly. Yuri on Ice follows skater Yuri Katsuki, who is training to win the gold medal while also falling in love with his Russian coach Viktor Nikiforov. It’s a hilarious and adorable rom-com, with some very impressive skating animation and strong representation of anxiety and homosexuality.
- Erased (2016)
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This one is short, sweet, and sad. Erased tells the story of Satoru Fujinuma, who has the ability to send his consciousness back in time, which he uses to help solve a serial killer murder case. This one flies under my radar a lot (it’s not as flashy as some of these later picks), but it doesn’t overstay its welcome and packs quite an emotional gut punch.
- Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War (2019 – )
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This is a controversial take, but the English dub of Love Is War is absolutely the way to go. This high school rom-com displays dramatic schemes that the student council presidents go to in order to get the other to confess their romantic feelings. The premise is already incredible, but Ian Sinclair’s narrator voice only adds fuel to the fire, making this a series you will walk away crying-laughing from.
- Spy x Family (2022 – )
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Spy x Family is simply Love Is War as adults and with real-world stakes involved! The Forgers seem like a typical family, but they’re all hiding secrets from each other: a spy, an assassin, a telepathic child, and a dog who can see the future. Hijinks ensue with some really great family drama, brewing romance, and cheesy, awesome action that’s fun for everyone!
- Haikyu!! (2014 -2020 )
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My good friend Becca wrote an article about sports anime and mentioned this high school volleyball series that I was also a massive fan of in high school. Hinata Shoyo is our protagonist, a lighting-in-a-bottle volleyball prodigy, who must set aside his differences with the grumpy Shoyo Kageyama to help their team win various tournaments.
The last of the comedies on this list, Haikyu!!, is hilarious, inspiring, beautifully animated, and one of the few that I would recommend checking out the English dub for. You’ll be prepared for the next Summer Olympics by the time you’re through!
- Violet Evergarden (2018-2020)
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If you’re in the mood for a beautiful series that makes you cry every episode, this is the one for you. Violet Evergarden follows the titular girl, a former child soldier, as she writes letters for others to comprehend the meaning of the words “I Love You.”
Hands down the most visually stunning on this list, this miniseries (and two movies) is a real tearjerker, showing beautiful stories getting resolution via Violet’s letters. I cannot recommend this more to anyone interested in animation or art; it truly is a spectacle.
- Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
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The biggest anime (literally) of them all, Attack on Titan, is one of the most unique, complex stories I’ve had the pleasure of following along with. The premise is that man-eating titans destroyed most of humanity, and the surviving population exists within three walls. It’s up to our main characters Eren, Armin, and Mikasa (plus the military) to defeat them.
There has never been a series like AOT before, and there never will be again. The amount of detail that Hajime Isayama put into worldbuilding, characters, and the incredible twists and turns is honestly incomprehensible, resulting in the closest we will get to an animated Twin Peaks or Lost.
- Death Note (2006-2007)
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This is probably the most well-known on the list and what I would consider a great gateway anime. Death Note tells the story of Light Yagami, a teenager bent on righting the world’s wrongs, and gifted the opportunity to do so with a notebook that kills people. He has to navigate his new justice system while outrunning the police and expert detective L.
This has a little bit of everything: gothic aesthetic, dry humor, complex characters, and elaborate schemes. Whether you check this out in the original or the English dub, it’s another iconic and unique piece of fiction.
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba (2019 – )
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This was my first, favorite, and only anime to help me get into Boston University. Demon Slayer follows the journey of Tanjiro Kamado as he becomes a sword-fighter to find a cure for his sister, who was turned into a demon. I was extremely hesitant to watch this, but after significant persuasion, I watched it during the COVID-19 quarantine and was captivated by it just a few episodes in.
I think I herald this above some others, because it has a simple plot and characters, yet is made all the more impactful by the voice acting and stellar animation. It doesn’t need to go out of its way to be weird or stand out; it’s a relatable story that everyone can connect to in some way or another. I would give anything to experience this again for the first time.
I hope these recs encourage you to give anime a chance!
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