The sheer popularity of anime may come as a shock to some. Anime, however, has been attracting the attention of many viewers for a long time, decades before it gradually emerged in the West (perhaps as a result of Adult Swim and Toonami on Cartoon Network). There is no specific age limit for watching anime, which is why we see a growing anime fan base with no demographic restrictions, with almost every newcomer getting caught up in this unique form of cartooning.
Anime makes the impossible possible and turns fantasies into gripping and exciting stories. From ninjas who can deliver incredible feats jutsu to pirate adventures and some bizarre monsters, animes have some spectacular stories and characters that are often far, far removed from actual reality. As the world grows gloomier and people become more hopeless, audiences are increasingly focused on fantasy — be it superhero movies, sci-fi or horror TV shows, or even period dramas, which tacitly admit it’s easier to look back. in the past than you can imagine any possible future. All of these things make for an escape from the awful present moment, and anime is more conducive to this escapism than arguably any other visual medium. The concept of adult cartoons is just comforting.
Updated October 14, 2022: If you want to check out anime but aren’t sure where to start, or are even just a fan of the classics and want to see how they score here, check out these great anime series that are perfect for newcomers .
It’s no surprise that the demand for animes continues to grow. The stories, no matter how long they are (and some have hundreds of episodes), always win the hearts of viewers when animes are done right. The fascinating thing about this genre of cartoons is that there is always something for everyone; it’s not just focused on Japanese culture, nor is it just for teens, kids, or adults.
All kinds of anime movies have been incredibly acclaimed (thanks in no small part to Studio Ghibli and their movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke), but great animes also feature series inspired by various other genres, societies, and cultures, some of which have been able to influence the entire world. If you are just starting out and want to watch anime, here are some of the best TV shows that have gotten great feedback and ratings in the anime world.
8/8 Naruto & Naruto: Shippuden
Naruto is one of the most popular animes of all time. It is based on Masashi Kishimoto’s successful manga series and follows the story of a boy named Naruto Uzumaki. A major reason why fans became attached to this anime is the character and personality of Naruto. Kishimoto has created a character who is loyal, helpful, kind-hearted and honest, but also sometimes stupid. Naruto’s good character is what develops the story of how he saves the entire village, while his not-so-smart nature adds humor to the series.
This particular anime contains the perfect amount of adventure, friendship, comedy and love that have influenced the culture in fun and sometimes weird ways. Naruto Shippuden continues the story by focusing on Naruto’s teenage years. So we can watch the young boy grow up to be a hero in a series that may not be as iconic as the original Naruto but provides an excellent backstory.
7/8 Jujutsu Kaisen
Released in 2020, Jujutsu Kaisen became instantly famous and became a huge hit among anime lovers, possibly even because of its resemblance to Naruto. Similar to Kishimoto’s story, Jujutsu Kaisen revolved around a main character with a “curse” trapped in his body. Other similarities include the main characters’ special powers, a three-person team, and a mentor with eyes hidden by a mask.
While it does this well, there seem to be certain characteristics that make Jujutsu Kaisen distinguished from the rest. It contains a unique setting and an interesting and dark story mediated by great humor, so even those who watch anime regularly will probably find something exciting and new here. Its popularity has led to the story continuing through the release of season two in 2023, along with the incredibly successful and massively anticipated anime movie in 2022, Jujutsu Kaisen 0.
6/8 A piece
A piece is an anime that started in 1999 and has been running in several incarnations since then, while gaining a large fan base. A piece focuses on a pirate crew called “Straw Hat Pirates”, with the protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, aiming to acquire the ultimate treasure and be the next Pirate King.
The anime is based on Eiichiro Oda’s manga series, but it was as an anime that the story has become a timeless “piece.” A piece has the ability to give the viewer a great time with its great soundtrack, coming-of-age themes, action, lively animation and emotional encounters, leading to a very successful feature film in the United States. Netflix is developing a live-action series from A piece, which alone is proof of its influential nature, and hopefully the failure of Netflix’s live action Cowboy Bebop won’t stop anyone from checking it out. After all, the sneak peeks Netflix has provided look amazing.
5/8 Hunter x Hunter
“Hunters” are elite professionals who hunt for treasure or track down lawless criminals and explore dangerous parts of the world in a thrilling adventure akin to Indiana Jones. The main character of Hunter x Hunter, Gon Freecss, discovers that his father was one of these legendary fighters, and becomes determined to become one himself and find his father along the way. Based on Yoshihiro Togashi’s Manga series which has become a best seller, this anime takes us to another brightly animated world.
But what makes? Hunter x Hunter his ability to consider the “idea of growing up with agility and complexity” is so in demand, to quote Inverse. This particular and much better anime show, which is different from the 1999 anime version, started in 2011 and delved deep into the stories of the manga to ensure that the themes are explored with great care, making one of the biggest coming -of-age-anime of all time came into existence.
4/8 Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is a relatively shorter anime series, although there is still so much to unravel. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where people try to survive behind walls. This dark fantasy revolves around three protagonists named Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, who fight against the huge Titans. Attack on Titan is absolutely unique for its approach to a more scientifically involved story, with incredible animation and a distinctly serious tone. It serves up an epic story with some hair-raising adventures and relics of the most imaginative and mature anime series of recent years.
3/8 Dragon Ball Z
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Based on one of the most important literary pieces from 16th-century China, Journey to the WestAkira Toriyama Created the Manga Series Dragon Balland the rest is history. Dragon Ball Z took the reins of the manga series while taking the world by storm, premiering on US TV over 25 years ago and forever changing the history of animation. Aimed at an adult Goku and his son, Gohan, Dragon Ball Z is considered one of the OG anime because it popularized the medium and introduced it to the international audience; when people watch anime, Dragon Ball Z is jointly responsible.
This particular series is still quite popular even though it has gone through several iterations, even influencing popular fashion brands like Adidas. In 2015, the Dragon Ball series devised Dragon Ball Superand when Comic-Con 2021 released highly anticipated information about the new Dragon Ball Super movie, the world was reminded of how much popularity Dragon Ball still has. The fact that an anime that started in 1986 but still affects viewers is enough evidence to indicate its remarkable nature, and if someone is going to watch anime, this is always a good place to start.
2/8 Serial experiments Lain
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To really get a glimpse of anime’s true artistry and intellectual potential, be sure to check out Yoshitoshi ABe’s work. ABe is a dark intellectual whose character designs and themes explore the saddest parts of the human condition, examining antisocial behavior, technology and urban urban life.Texhnolyze, Welcome to the NHK, Residential Complex C, RErideD: Derrida Who Leaps Through Time, Haibane Renmei). His first major anime is arguably his best, or at least his most foreboding and prophetic.
Serial experiments Lain may have been released in 1998, but it seems disturbingly prescient in its portrayal of youth lost to technology, and the hypnotic appeal of the internet and digital life. The 13-episode series follows Lain Iwakura, a young girl living in the suburbs, who becomes increasingly withdrawn and unhinged as she becomes more and more involved with her computer. An experimental anime focused on technology, adolescence and the darkness that lurks in reality itself, Serial experiments Lain is a masterpiece that even non-anime viewers should seek out. “Serial Experiments Lain predicted the internet age,” said Study breaksand it’s honestly hard to argue otherwise.
1/8 Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop can be the best place for an anime newcomer to start for several reasons. While it may not have the long-lasting impact and endless amount of material that the Dragon Ball franchise, that might be a point in Cowboy Bebop‘s favor – it’s self-contained, with only 26 episodes and a movie, so it’s not a dauntingly overwhelming series to start with. and unlike Serial experiments Lain, Cowboy Bebop is downright fun and frisky.
Moreover, it contains different elements from different cultures which can make it easier for anyone new to anime as it is less anchored in anime and Japanese culture than many other shows. Using westerns, jazz, samurais, police shows, film noir and many other elements, Cowboy Bebop is a perfect amalgam of ideas and influences that is endlessly cool, wonderfully fun, beautifully animated and musically impressive. It’s probably the best introduction to just how many amazing possibilities the anime format has.