Sometimes it can be difficult to find a series you want to start or get really interested in when you have the time. So, to help ease that frustration, here is a list of anime shows that you should get into.
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma is a cooking battle series, currently with three seasons. The story follows fifteen-year-old Souma Yukihira, who’s main dream is to become head chef at his father’s restaurant. However, Souma’s father ends up closing the restaurant so that he could test his skills around the world and sends Souma to Totsuki Culinary Academy. The academy is known for its food wars called “Shokugeki”, where students face off in high-stakes cooking showdowns. As he navigates the extreme lifestyle of Totsuki with his new friends, the years he spent learning under his father is put to the test.
This is one of my favorite shows because I am an avid watcher of cooking shows and anime when I have the free time. The exaggerated responses that the characters have when they taste food is the humorous part of the show and really eases the atmosphere from the tension during the showdowns.
Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden is a fantasy drama with thirteen episodes. The show is about a woman named Violet Evergarden, who was raised for the sole purpose of being a war weapon against enemies in the Great War. However, after being hospitalized and left with two robotic arms, Violet is left with a few words from the person she held dear, but she didn’t understand their meaning. As she recovers from her wounds, she earns the chance to work as an “Auto Memory Doll,” where she transcribes people’s thoughts and feelings into words on paper. This job takes her on a journey of self-discovery.
This show is highly recommended because it is one to make you analyze the words you say to others and the meaning they could hold. The show is also extremely emotional, but full of determination as well.
Seven Deadly Sins
Seven Deadly Sins is a heroic fantasy, currently with three seasons. The show follows the adventure of a princess named Elizabeth Liones as she looks for the Seven Deadly Sins, who were an order of knights in Britannia that disbanded and was forced into hiding by the Holy Knights. Elizabeth finds Melodias, the sin of war, and together, they seek out the other sins to clear their names and take back Liones. This adventure brings to light the betrayal within the kingdom and a century-long curse.
This show is a must-watch for adventure lovers, deep bonds, and an interesting twist that is pi in the show.
Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High School Host Club is a romantic comedy with twenty-six episodes. The comedic series revolves around Haruhi Fujioka, a scholarship student at Ouran Academy, a high school for rich kids in Bunkyo, Tokyo. The story begins with Haruhi accidentally stumbling upon an abandoned music room, where a group of six male students gather to entertain female “clients” with sweets and tea under the club name, Ouran Academy Host Club. In this meeting, Haruhi accidentally breaks an antique vase valued at $80,000 dollars and an agreement is made that she must work as the club’s errand boy to pay off the debt. This agreement is made because the boys accidentally mistook her for a male.
This is a crowd favorite because it has great comic relief and has a spice of meaning to the show, showing us the bond and friendship each one goes through.
Blue Exorcist
Blue Exorcist is a dark fantasy adventure with twenty-five episodes. The story revolves a pair of twins, Rin and Yukio Okumura, who are raised by Father Shiro Fujimoto. They are raised under the care of an Exorcist when one day, Rin learns that they are the sons of Satan. After they witness Shiro’s death, Rin draws the demon-slaying sword, Kurikara, which restrains his demonic powers. When he uses the sword, he gains demonic features and the power to ignite into blue flames that can destroy anything he touches. The twins enroll at an exorcist cram school named True Cross Academy and their adventure to defeat Satan begins there.
This series is highly recommended because of the interesting storyline that no one was entirely expecting, and the art design is flawless. It also realistically portrays the road of self-discovery and building relationships with other people.
Silent Voice
Silent Voice is dramatic romance film that deals with friendship, redemption, disability and heart wrenching internal conflict. The film shows us that Japanese teenager, Shoya Ishida, intends to commit suicide. Changing his mind at the last minute, he recalls his days in elementary school and the events that have led him here.
A new student named Shoko Nishimiya informs the class that she is deaf. She tries to integrate with the class, but ends up annoying Shoya and his friends, so they start to bully her. When word of the bullying reaches the principal, Shoya is singled out as the culprit. Soon, the class’s bullying is directed toward him, subjecting him to the same treatment he gave Shoko. Shoya blames Shoko, and the two get into a physical altercation. She is subsequently transferred to another school. He later finds Shoko’s notebook, which she left behind, and keeps it. A story begins to unfold between the two.
This film was an impact to many individuals as the animation was smooth and illustrations were depicted flawlessly. It brings suspense, heartache, and empathy with every character. This film shows the strength one hold deep within them when they realize that someone is there for them.
Black Butler
Black Butler is mysterious supernatural show with twenty-five episodes. The show depicts a Victorian-era London, where a thirteen-year-old earl named Ciel Phantomhive is known as “the Queen’s Guard Dog,” taking care of the many unsettling events that occur in Victorian England for Her Majesty. He is aided by Sebastian Michaelis, his butler with seemingly inhuman abilities, Ciel uses whatever means necessary to get the job done.
In Ciel’s past lies a secret tragedy that enveloped him in darkness—during one of his bleakest moments, he formed a contract with Sebastian, bargaining his soul in exchange for vengeance upon those who wronged him. Today, not only is Sebastian one hell of a butler, but he is also the perfect servant to carry out his master’s orders—all the while anticipating the delicious meal, he will eventually make of Ciel’s soul. As the two work to unravel the mystery behind Ciel’s chain of misfortunes, a bond forms between them that neither heaven nor hell can tear apart.
This show leaves suspenseful thrills in the eyes of viewers as you attempt to depict their moves and how the show will unfold. This anime concentrates towards deep mysterious investigations that has you guessing every step and doubting everything. The film has a duller tone yet has its own twist and turns you don’t expect.
Angel Beats
Angel Beats! is an action comedy-drama with thirteen episodes. It is set in the environment of a high school in the afterlife, a type of limbo where people have experienced trauma or hardships in life and must overcome them before passing on and being reincarnated. The story follows Yuzuru Otonashi, a boy with amnesia who ends up in the afterlife. He meets Yuri Nakamura, a girl who invites him to join the Afterlife Battlefront. She founded the SSS (Shinda Sekai Sensen) and leads a rebel group against an unseen God for their unfair circumstances in life. Their enemy is Angel, the student council president, who has supernatural powers and is believed to be God’s associate.
This is a highly recommended anime as this story revolves about personal issues one faces and how to overcome the reality of it. As it has its own comical relief it brings a moving piece as you understand and empathize with each character, to the point where you want to protect them. If your one to expect to find a heart aching sad anime with humor, then this is the one!
Attack on Titan
Attack On Titan is a dramatic action show with four seasons and is currently ongoing. The plot gives us the story of Eren Jaeger, who lives with his foster sister, Mikasa Ackerman, and best friend, Armin Arlert, in the town of Shiganshina adjacent to Wall Maria, outermost of three circular walls protecting humanity from man-eating Titans that are said to have killed all other humans one hundred years prior. When Shiganshina and Wall Maria are breached by the Colossal and Armored Titans as they attack, Eren is left stunned and horrified. The invading Titans force humanity to retreat behind Wall Rose with Eren’s mother among the casualties of many others. Following the disappearance of his father Grisha, having only hazy memories and a key to their home’s cellar, a vengeful Eren enlists in the military along with Mikasa and Armin, swearing to eradicate every Titan.
This anime depicts the hardships and struggles military faced towards the enemy. It has engaging and interesting logical tactics to fight these abnormal creatures. With Eren at the heart of the Regiment Scout; the front lines, He faces with a strong will to end these monsters and protect humanity. This is a show for those that wants to see thrilling action in any corner and a slice of life with turmoil of military life.
One Punch Man
One Punch Man is an action-comedy show with twenty-four episodes. On an unnamed Earth-like planet, powerful monsters and villains have been wreaking havoc in the cities. To combat them, the world’s government created a Hero Association that employs superheroes to stop them. The heroes are ranked from Class C to Class S. Saitama, an unassociated hero, hails from the metropolis of City-Z and performs heroic deeds for his own entertainment. He has trained himself to the point where he broke his “limit” and can effortlessly defeat any opponent with a single punch, but he is now bored with his own power and frustrated from his lack of challenge.
A man that fights villains for fun is everything the opposite a real hero is about. This anime has an interesting twist in the cliché of a real hero. It brings pure comedy and amazing fighting sequence that keeps you watching everything. Saitama is a likeable, comical character that can bring joy to viewers.