Anime has a broad range of genres for everyone, and its diversity was what really captured my attention when I first picked it up. Because there are so many options to choose from, deciding on an anime to watch can be a little overwhelming, which is why I’ve come up with a list of recommendations to help narrow down your choices!
Warning: Some (minor) plot spoilers!
10. Fate Zero
If you like fantasy and battle-royale narratives, this is definitely a must-watch. Fate Zero revolves around the Fourth Holy Grail War, which calls upon seven mages to summon Servants—reincarnated heroes from across time—to battle each other in order to win the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail grants wishes for its victor, which is why these battles are so malicious and cutthroat. In addition, the competing mages have a history with one another, which adds more drama to the plot.
9. Kamisama Kiss
Cheesy rom-coms are definitely one of my guilty pleasures, and I have to say that Kamisama Kiss is perfect for people who are suckers for the enemies-to-lovers trope. The show centers around a girl named Nanami who stumbles upon a mysterious man who names her the new land god of a rundown shrine. There, she meets the hot-headed fox spirit, Tomoe, who hates the idea of having to serve her because she’s human. The two of them butt heads A LOT, but the more they spend time together taking care of the shrine, the more they take a liking to each other.
8. Psycho-Pass
Psycho-Pass is one of the most thought-provoking animes I’ve watched, but it’s also one of the darkest. The story is set in a futuristic Tokyo that’s reliant on technology to create a “perfect” society. A major aspect of this seemingly utopian city is the Sibyl System that dictates a person’s “hue,” or in other words, the likelihood that someone will commit a crime. The flaws of these crime-preventative measures are explored when Akane Tsunemori is hired as one of the police officers; she’s put to the ultimate test when she’s faced with a sociopath who aims to destroy the Sibyl System itself.
7. Nana
Nana begins when two young women, both named Nana, meet on a train one evening. One plans to move to a new city to be close to her boyfriend, and the other is a singer wishing to start a new life. The two seemingly opposite women become roommates by mere coincidence, and they eventually become close friends who help each other navigate the difficulties of young adulthood. It’s a sweet, emotionally striking story that I’m sure you’ll enjoy!
6. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a mecha anime that’s praised by many for its story and its intensive deep dive into the human psyche. The story begins when Shinji Ikari is recruited to pilot a large mecha to combat supernatural monsters called Angels. In the aftermath of a cataclysmic event, NERV—the organization Shinji works for—is determined to prevent another global catastrophe from occurring. However, the longer Shinji works for them, the more suspicious NERV’s true intentions appear.
5. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is one of the funniest shows I’ve watched in a long time. This comedic slice-of-life show has a mix of dry/sarcastic and silly humor, and I binged all of the episodes ridiculously fast. The story revolves around the high-school student Saiki K., who happens to be a powerful psychic. Quiet and antisocial, he wishes to keep his powers hidden from the world, but that’s a challenging task when he’s pushed into weird circumstances by his strange classmates.
4. DEATH NOTE
Most avid anime fans have watched Death Note at some point, and for good reason. The plot follows high-achieving student Light Yagami who one day picks up a notebook that Ryuk, a shinigami (God of Death), dropped into the human realm. Only, this notebook is special; whomever’s name is written in it will die. Inspired by this supernatural gift, Light decides he’ll write the names of evildoers down in order to create a world free of crime. The only obstacle that seems to stand in his way of achieving this is the world’s most intelligent detective named L. This rivalry becomes a battle of wits as the two silently go head-to-head with each other.
3. Vinland Saga
For those of you who like historical fiction, I’d say Vinland Saga is right up your alley. Set in Europe during the time of the Vikings, the story revolves around a young boy named Thorfinn who’s forced to join the band of mercenaries that killed his father. He swears to take revenge on his father’s murderer, who happens to be the leader of this lethal group, and we follow his journey in honing his battle skills amidst war-torn Europe.
2. Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion
Code Geass is a brilliant series, and I didn’t expect myself to get so attached to the protagonist the way I did. The story begins when the exiled prince, Lelouch Lamperouge, gets mixed up in the crossfire between Britannia’s army and Area 11 rebels (previous Japanese people who were colonized and stripped of their culture). Amidst the havoc, Lelouch attains the ability of mental manipulation from a mysterious woman, and with this power, he intends to lead the rebellion and dismantle Britannia’s rule.
1. Attack On Titan
A masterpiece. I’ve watched a lot of anime, but nothing really comes close to beating this one. Attack on Titan is set in a world where civilization is forced to live within large walls to keep man-eating titans at bay. For Eren Jaeger, he wants more than anything to discover the outside world. He swears to achieve this dream by eradicating all of the titans and joining the Scout Regiment, a branch of the military that comes into direct contact with the Titans. The story starts off as a simple concept, but it quickly becomes complex and incredibly thought-provoking.
Anime is so diverse that you’re bound to come across one that absolutely resonates with you, and for those of you that have never watched anime before, I hope this list provided some guidance on where you can start your anime journey.Enjoy watching!