You're new to anime and you see a catalog of over a thousand different anime. You're overwhelmed and you're wondering which one to choose. In most cases you'll have a friend that could help guide you on your anime journey but if that's not the case you're at the right place.
What do I mean by beginner friendly?
Anime that are easy to digest and provide great entertainment value. It will also help you get accustomed to some of the typical cliches that you will encounter further down the line on your anime journey.
The order will be in descending order from the least beginner friendly anime to the most beginner friendly.
With that being said here are the-
10 Anime/Manga for beginners:
10. Holyland (Manga)
Holyland is a martial arts manga that follows a boy who has been bullied constantly and has no place to belong. He finally found the courage to protect himself and punched his bully. This event caused his life to spiral into chaos and he gained the moniker "thug hunter". He wonders the streets fighting thugs and martial artists and the streets slowly became his home.
This manga explores the psychological and physical damage fighting can cause and you see the main character's mental state fluctuate as events happen around him. The author even tries to educate us on how to protect ourselves throughout the manga which is a pretty cool addition.
The fights and matchups are really the strong point of this manga as you have different fighting styles going against each other eg. kickboxing vs karate. The mc has to adjust his fighting style and also add to his arsenal depending on his opponent's strengths. If you're looking for a realistic street fighting manga with a bit of brutality Holyland is for you.
9. Ruroni Kenshin (Manga)
The story follows a former assassin known as Hitokiri Battosai. He fought for the emperor to help end the Bakumatsu war. After the war, he disappears and becomes Himura Kenshin. He carries a reverse blade and vows not to kill no matter what as he knows the horrors of war.
He is on a journey to help as many people as he can, making friends along the way. Unfortunately, life is not so simple his past often catches up to him and his ideologies are challenged constantly throughout the story.
It is a story with many life lessons. You get to experience how Kenshin is changed by the people around him and how he changes others.
8. Migi to Dali (Manga)
Migi to Dali is a very unique story, to say the least. In the story the twins enter a village pretending to be one boy, their objective is to avenge a certain person. Though the story has a dark undertone there is surprisingly a lot of comedy. The manga is also very wholesome even though it tackles dark themes like death, tragedy, and manipulation.
The boy's odd personality with the dark themes does make the manga feel a little odd at times but that's what makes it special. All the mysteries, crazy twists, turns and drama are bound to keep you
engaged with the story.
The characters are interesting and unique in their own way. You will be eager to find out the mysteries and secrets behind the small town.
7. Initial D (Anime)
You've probably seen a few Initial D memes here and there but what is it really about? The story is based on Japanese street racing. The main character races with other street racers around different mountain passes with his iconic ae86 Trueno.
The story is action packed with lots of emotional moments and lessons to learn. Initial D boasts one of the most iconic soundtracks in anime and is one of the best racing anime out there. It is an all time classic with influence over the anime community and even car culture.
You can watch the original Initial D with an older animation style or watch the newer legend movies that adapt season 1 of the anime.
6. Grand Blue (Manga)
If you're looking for a good laugh, look no further than Grand Blue. You're guaranteed to laugh every chapter with the ridiculously overexaggerated facial expressions and over the top reactions.
The story is set in a college setting where diving and the beauty of the sea is the focal point. The characters are quirky but you really get invested into their relationships and stories.
It's one of the best comedy manga out there; if you're looking for an anime where you can turn your brain off a bit and have a good time give Grand Blue a try
5. Kuroko No Basket (Anime)
This anime focuses solely on basketball where a middle school with 5-star players called the "Generation of Miracles" reigned supreme. The 5 players separate and play for different high schools.
The story follows a secret sixth member of the generation of miracles as he and another talented player aim to bring their school to the top of Japan. The anime tackles themes like teamwork and hard work vs natural talent.
It has some of the most unique characters, with their own motivations and relationship with basketball. The basketball games are intense and exciting with a few supernatural elements to make the games even more entertaining.
4. Naruto (Anime)
The story is about Naruto, a young ninja, chasing the dream of being Hokage, the leader of his village. He's shunned and hated because of something that is out of his control so achieving his dream is easier said than done.
It is a long running series with 720 episodes overall. Don't let the number intimidate you as it's worth the watch. You can also use a filler guide to help you skip episodes that aren't relevant to the story.
The cast is filled with many lovable and memorable characters and is a staple in the anime community to this day, holding a position in the "Big 3." The big three include Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece. This segment can apply to either one of them so you can try watching the one that intrigues you the most.
3. Dragon Ball Z
Dbz is one of the most popular anime, it would be surprising if you haven't heard about it. The anime is easy to digest with great fight choreography, iconic characters, and amazing soundtracks.
The story follows Goku and his friends as they fight villains to defend earth. The anime is packed with emotional moments some of which might bring you to tears. It is an all around amazing experience and great for an anime beginner.
2. Demon Slayer (Anime)
A young teenager comes home to see all of his family slaughtered leaving only his sister alive. Though she's alive she had been turned into a demon. After an encounter with a demon slayer. Tanjiro is recruited by him and sent to his retired master for training to also become a demon slayer.
He then begins his quest to help his sister turn into a human again and avenge the death of his family. The main character is intelligent and kind-hearted, he's someone you can sympathize with. The side characters also have a very interesting dynamic which makes the story more fun.
The animation is phenomenal even winning the animation of the year award to attest to its quality. It has great fights, an interesting power system, and a good overall story.
1. Death Note (Manga)
If I was to recommend an anime everyone should start with it would be Death Note easily. It has one of the best starts to an anime I've ever seen, jumping straight into the action. The premise is the main character finds a notebook that supposedly kills the person whose name you write in the book.
The series centers around the main character attempting to use the Death Note to carry out a worldwide massacre of individuals whom he deems immoral. The story really hits its stride when we meet the antagonist who's just as intelligent as the protagonist. This anime is essentially a game of chess between two people. People who get caught in the crossfire are killed or manipulated.
It has one of the best dynamics between protagonist and antagonist with a bit of mystery and supernatural elements. If you're looking for a thriller to keep you hooked Death Note is the way to go.
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