Anime Recommendations for Beginners Sorted by Genre

A question that’s frequently asked in the anime community is “What is a good anime to start watching for beginners?” But more often than not, experienced fans are quick to name some of their favorite series rather than appealing to a new fan’s taste. So in this article, I will list many anime recommendations for beginners that are sorted by genre (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Mystery/Suspense, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Sports, Supernatural, and Slice of Life).

These will be anime that beginners should check out before diving deep into the rabbit hole that is the addictive medium. Most of the following 39 anime are relatively quick to watch, are completely finished unless said otherwise, and don’t overwhelm the viewer to the point everything they watch afterward is horrendous in comparison. A lot of the following aren’t necessarily considered “the best” of their genre or “the most popular” as most articles found on the web include.

These are meant to get beginners interested in anime in the first place before diving into a lot more popular, higher-quality series. Trust me when I say it’s better for beginners to work their way up, not down. If you have any questions or want more suggestions, feel free to message me on X (formerly Twitter). Now, let’s get into it!

Fantasy

Fantasy is extremely diverse and offers more series than most genres across any medium, anime is no different. There are plenty of fantasy anime that beginners will grow to love once they get the hang of seasons and keep up with anime news. But for now, try one of these three depending on your taste:

Drifting Home

The anime movie Drifting Home was released in 2022 and is currently available on Netflix. The film isn’t necessarily the cream of the crop when it comes to the best fantasy anime movies. That being said, it’s still a very good starting point for beginners who want to see modern animation and get a feel for the type of thoughtful and adventurous fantasy storylines anime has to offer. (Audience: Everyone)

The Witch and the Beast

The Witch and the Beast aired earlier this year and has only 12 episodes, so it’s an easy binge for those who make a Crunchyroll account. The series follows Guideau as she joins Ashaf and the Order of Magical Resonance while on the hunt for the witch who cursed her. Despite the story in the anime still not being finished, I listed it because it’s a good starting point for a beginner’s anime journey for those into dark fantasy. The series has its fair share of gruesome violence and some of the storylines are anything but for kids. And with solid plot twists and interesting characters, this is a good starting point since the next season probably won’t air for quite some time, so don’t worry about it. (Audience: Teen)

Moribito – Guardian of the Spirit

Not as modern as The Witch and The Beast or Drifting Home, but that doesn’t take away from the story. Released in 2007, Moribito is an action-adventure type of fantasy series produced by one of the most renowned animation studios in Production I.G. Famine, empires, warriors, mercenaries, water demons, this is a true fantasy series to its core. The anime is finished with just 26 episodes, is available on Amazon Prime, depending on region, and would be a nice first step into anime as a fantasy fan. (Audience: Teen)

Sci-Fi

Sci-fi is my area of expertise and it seems to be more of a rarity nowadays for many to be a fan of the genre when it comes to anime, at least in comparison to fantasy, action, or romance which are runaway favorites. But starting an anime journey with some classic sci-fi will be one of the best decisions a beginner can make so let’s get into it.

Astra: Lost in Space

The award-winning sci-fi series Astra: Lost in Space was released in 2019 and only has 12 episodes, making it a perfect anime for beginners who love a good sci-fi space mystery. Join Kanata Hoshijima and the rest of a loveable cast of characters as they try to find a way back home after being shot into deep space. With a major plot twist at one point in the story and a wonderful ending, this could be a perfect starter anime no matter what genre you love. Astra: Lost in Space is available to watch on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Teen)

Megalo Box

Megalo Box is a great anime to start with for multiple reasons. One, it’s a very well-written sci-fi drama. Two, it’s only a couple of seasons and relatively easy to binge. Three, the writing, especially in Season 2 (titled Megalo Box: NOMAD), is phenomenally done. Four, there’s no modern anime like it. Five, it has more adult themes and dialogue not meant for younger audiences. I’d say those are great selling points. Follow Joe as he tries to make it to the top of the world of megalo boxing! Both seasons can be viewed on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Adult)

Outlaw Star

This 1998 classic is another great place to start an anime journey if you’re more into adult sci-fi westerns. While it’s overshadowed by other big sci-fi names of the 1990s, Outlaw Star is undoubtedly tailored for an adult audience that loves a good ‘ole sci-fi story. It’s a great, 24-episode step into appreciating the other sci-fi greats of the 90s while also gearing up for the more modern sci-fi anime of today. Outlaw Star is available on Hulu and Disney+ depending on region and should not be viewed with kids in the room. (Audience: Adult)

Patema Inverted (2019) / Steamboy (2004)

These are two must-watch sci-fi movies that could be perfect to start an anime journey. Steamboy is a starting point if you’re a sci-fi fan who leans more into the steampunk sub-genre. It’s also the work of critically acclaimed Katsuhiro Otomo, director and creator of the iconic movie, Akira, which you should watch at some point after Steamboy. Meanwhile, Patema Inverted focuses on a romantic adventure aspect of the genre, providing a very unique story. Both of these are award-winning anime films are perfect for beginners and can be watched on Amazon Prime Video depending on region. (Audience: Teen)

Action

This is going to be the one genre I’ll list some rather popular recommendations (but not the top obvious ones). Action has been around anime since the days of Astro Boy (1963). But I think these are some perfect starters for action depending on your sub-genre tastes as well. It’s a good mix between popular and highbrow.

Assassination Classroom

Despite its major popularity, Assassination Classroom is a perfect anime to watch for beginners, especially if you enjoy the action with a little bit of comedy. The story follows Class 3-E, known as the delinquents of their school, who are surprised one day by an alien, octopus-like creature named Koro-sensei who is planning to blow up the Earth. The catch? He’s going to train the class how to become top-tier assassins in order to find a way to stop him before he carries out his mission. Can they save the Earth? The series has two seasons, 47 episodes in total, currently on Crunchyroll, Netflix, or Amazon Prime depending on your region. So it’s a little lengthy for a first-time watch but it’s worth it. (Audience: Teen)

Dororo (2019)

Drifting away from the comedy-action of Assassination Classroom, if you’re looking for an action series with a more historical and adult setting, then Dororo is a great starting point. It’s a brutally dark and emotional anime that follows the story of Hyakkimaru, a child born without his limbs, senses, and skin after his own father sells them to a group of demons in order for his kingdom to prosper and avoid famine. Now, Hyakkimaru joins Dororo as the two are on the hunt to get his body back from the demons. The 26-episode remake of the original series from 1969 is one that should be on every anime fan’s watchlist, beginner or not. There’s no anime like it so head on over to Amazon Prime Video to watch it. For a little more convincing, the original series is created by the godfather of manga, Osamu Tezuka. (Audience: Adult)

Drifters

The isekai samurai-action anime Drifters could also be a good starting point for adults looking to really embrace a balls-to-the-wall action series. Renowned warriors called Drifters are brought together from other worlds to fight off the Orte Empire. Its standalone 12 episodes make it one of the easiest anime on this list to binge with no worries for another season. The series is currently streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video depending on your region. (Audience: Adult)

Adventure

Adventure is one of the easier genres to break into as many of the other genres can also intertwine with this one. Truthfully, any beginner could just look up “Every Studio Ghibli movie” and choose one for this category.

Kiki’s Delivery Service / Laputa: Castle in the Sky

As I said, nobody can go wrong with Studio Ghibli movies if they want to watch an enthralling adventure. So for starters, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky are great anime to watch for beginners as you climb up the Studio Ghibli adventure ladder to more of their all-time greats. Both can viewed on many platforms including Amazon Prime Video, MAX, Apple TV, and YouTube. (Audience: Everyone)

Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina

Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina focuses on a teenage girl, Elaina, who is aiming to become a notable witch and goes on a worldwide adventure where she meets all kinds of interesting people. Facing her own trials and tribulations, Elaina begins to start her own story. It’s a rather relaxing adventure watch for fantasy fans, with a pinch of darkness to it, and currently has 12 episodes that are available on Crunchyroll. There’s some hope for a Season 2, but you can binge this if you’re looking for something a little more kickback and relaxing with some dark moments here and there. (Audience: Teen)

Afro Samurai

So we got into the cute kind of adventure anime so what about something a little more dark to start off with? Afro Samurai is the answer. The award-winning anime has only five episodes, making this the easiest series to binge which wraps up with the Afro Samurai: Resurrection movie. And get this, legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson voices the main character. Afro Samurai can be viewed on Crunchyroll, Hulu, or Amazon Prime while the movie is on the latter two. And if you love what you watched, and want something a little more, go on to watch Blade of the Immortal. (Audience: Adult)

Mystery/Suspense

Anime isn’t short of some all-time greats when it comes to the mystery/suspense genre. So if these kinds of stories are more of your speed, then you’ve come to the right medium. Even though the quantity is vast in this genre, the quality is also high. So here are three perfect starter anime if mystery/suspense is your kind of genre.

91 Days

If you’re the type of person who loves a good mafia mystery, then 91 Days is a perfect starter anime to watch. Dealing with the mafia and a young boy taking on a new identity to get revenge for his family’s death, this anime will have you on the edge of your seat for all 12 episodes (ignore episode 13, it’s just a recap episode). Also, the opening theme song in the trailer is perfection. 91 Days is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Adult)

Joker Game

An anime about a spy organization in Japan during World War II with most episodes dealing with different spies and their missions. This is a quick binge and perfect for those who love a good spy mystery with a lot of twists. All 12 episodes of Joker Game are currently available to watch on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Adult)

Hyouka

Despite being extremely popular, Hyuoka, by the renowned studio Kyoto Animation is a perfect mystery series for beginners with a more slice-of-life feel pitched in with some comedy, unlike the previous two series mentioned. The anime’s premise is one that deals with a group of high school kids solving mysteries around their school, but it’s much more. So if this is more your speed, Hyouka is a wonderful, 22-episode starter. Also, the creator of this series has another anime currently airing called Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary that I also recommend, both are streaming on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Teen)

Comedy

A little harder to nail because you really have to know someone’s taste in humor. Anime humor tends to go over the top a lot and includes references a beginner wouldn’t really grasp, and unnecessary fan service depending on the series. Not to mention a lot of anime focuses on a different genre but has comedic moments engraved in it. So here are four comedy anime I think are solid starters if you’re a beginner anime fan.

Ore Monogatari!! (My Love Story!!)

If comedy series with some wholesome romance are your thing, look no further than Ore Monogatari!! I’m not sugarcoating it when I say this anime made me laugh harder than any other anime I’ve ever watched. Follow the odd but sweet couple of Takeo and Yamato, along with Takeo’s close friend Makoto Sunakawa as each of their wingman and best friend. It’s 24 episodes of pure-hearted comedy gold and innocent romance between high schoolers. Ore Monogatari!! is available on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Teen)

Urusei Yatsura (2022)

If you don’t want to binge all 195 episodes of the original Urusei Yatsura series from the 1980s, then I highly recommend the more modern reboot of this sci-fi, slapstick comedy classic. Earth has one chance to be saved—if Ataru can beat Lum in a game of tag. There’s one catch though—they become a couple because of it. The humor is very 80s-oriented and may not be for everyone in the modern age, but it may be perfect for you if it’s your kind of thing. The production is absolutely beautiful and has some of the best color designs in anime I’ve ever seen. All 46 episodes (two seasons) of the Urusei Yatsura reboot are available to watch on HIDIVE. (Audience: Teen)

Ben-To

A little more dated than the previous two, Ben-To will have you sitting there questioning “What is going on right now?” in the best ways. And for that, it may be the perfect anime for beginners. Follow high schoolers and adults as they go all-out at local supermarkets to obtain half-priced bento boxes—yes, that’s what this anime is about. The comedy series Ben-To has only 12 episodes, making it an easy binge, and can be viewed on Apple TV. (Audience: Teen)

Daily Lives of High School Boys

The Daily Lives of High School Boys anime is ideal for beginners who love gag humor. The slice-of-life anime has no real coherent story. It just follows a group of guys in their days of high school where they even call out the production team and author of the series in some episodes. It’s a consistently hilarious anime where the jokes never miss. It’s a perfect insight into high school life as a guy and all 12 episodes are streaming on Crunchyroll depending on your region.

Romance

The most popular genre on this list next to fantasy, romance anime is taking over the modern industry right now as well. Whether it is a romantic comedy, romantic drama, or a romantic slice-of-life, the genre has (basically) unlimited options to watch with every passing season. So let’s get into a few that are, despite their popularity, are great starters.

Plastic Memories

This sci-fi workplace romance series will make you laugh, cry, and love every episode. Tsukasa joins the Sion Artificial Intelligence Corporation working as a Terminal Service agent who collects “Giftias” at the end of their life span. He becomes partnered with the shy Isla, a Giftia herself. But fate is unkind in this unique take on romance and has a story beginners probably won’t find anywhere else. It’s popular, but not on the same level as others in the genre. Plastic Memories is a quick 12-episode binge and is a great anime for beginners. It’s currently available on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Teen)

I Want To Eat Your Pancreas

If you’re looking for a heartwrenching romance anime, then I Want To Eat Your Pancreas is a good one to start an anime journey. Despite its popularity, I’ll always be partial to having movies as starters for beginner anime fans. If I told you what it’s about in detail, I’d consider it too much info on it. You’re going to have to go searching for where to watch the movie in your area, though, but it’s worth it. (Audience: Teen)

Wotakoi: Love is Hard For Otaku

A rom-com anime about adults and they’re all nerds—what’s not to love? Wotakoi is a good starter in the romance department for someone looking for a few laughs with adult themes where you grow to love all of the characters the more you watch. The anime didn’t adapt everything from the original source material, but it’s still a great series. Watch the first 11 episodes of the anime then the three OVA episodes afterwards, all of which are available on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Adult)

Drama

Drama is a genre that can really deliver the best stories in any medium, not just anime. Luckily, it’s still the case here. The genre has gifted anime fans with so many classics through the years that it’s hard to pick and choose which to start with. So here are three drama anime that I think beginners should watch.

Tokyo Godfathers

If you love a good Christmas movie drama, Tokyo Godfathers is a stellar choice. The film recently re-released in theaters in the US and it was even better the second time around. Despite its initial release in 2003, this timeless classic still holds up in today’s day and age with its art and animation. Follow Hana, Gin, and Miyuki, as their lives on the streets begin to hold meaning after finding a baby in stacks of garbage. The search for her biological mother begins! The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. (Audience: Teen)

Carole & Tuesday

While it’s not the most popular or the highest rated, Carole and Tuesday still holds up with its dramatic story 50 years in the future when humans have migrated to Mars. But in a world dominated by AI that makes music, the two connect by fate and try to bring humanity back into music. Carole and Tuesday is an easy binge with only 24 episodes and is available on Netflix. (Audience: Teen)

Charlotte

Charlotte seems to be one of those anime nowadays that a lot have people have seen, but few rarely talk about. The series having only 12 episodes makes it a very easy binge for beginners and it’s an anime that everyone should watch at least once. It revolves around a high school—specifically one for students with supernatural abilities—and its student council which cracks down on others using their abilities for immoral means. Charlotte is available to watch on Crunchyroll, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. (Audience: Teen)

Sports

The sports genre is very top-heavy. After watching the big names in sports anime, the fall-off is noticeable. That being said, there are definitely a handful that can be good, overall starting anime to watch as beginners before branching out to others.

Run With The Wind

The story centers around a group of high schoolers working hard toward running in the Hakone Ekiden, one of the most prominent relay races in Japan. The series has a fantastic cast of characters that you grow to love and root for, making Run With The Wind a must-watch for all anime fans. But if you love sports, a story with engaging characters, and something with wonderful production and music, Run With The Wind can be a perfect starter anime. All 23 episodes of Run With The Wind are on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Teen)

Tsurune

Want something that’s a little change of pace? Tsurune is a great choice. Animated by Kyoto Animation, you will be blown away by some of the production. The series, focused on the sport of kyudo, isn’t the most popular in the genre, but it definitely has plenty of reasons to be. Tsurune has two seasons (26 episodes) but make sure to check where to watch in your region as Season 1 is on Crunchyroll while Season 2 is on HIDIVE. (Audience: Teen)

Tribe Nine

This isn’t by any means the best sports anime, far from it. But it’s a fast-paced series focused on baseball that can show you just how far anime can take the genre in terms of wackiness and high stakes, making it a good series to start with. Death, world control, and baseball—that’s Tribe Nine. All 12 episodes of Tribe Nine are available on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Teen)

Salaryman’s Club

Looking for something different from the normal soccer, baseball, etc. sports anime and with adults? Then Salaryman’s Club could be a good choice for beginners to start with. It revolves around a corporate workplace’s badminton club—yes, you heard that right. This sports anime does a great job of intertwining real work life and company sports club culture in Japan, a very rare theme explored in sports anime. It’s not the greatest anime in the world, but definitely a solid starter. (Audience: Adult)

Supernatural

Supernatural is a genre catered to a specific group of anime fans. While some can dive into different sub-genres like mystery, romance, action, etc., supernatural can be a great genre to dive into for beginners.

Summer Time Rendering

One of the biggest breakthroughs in anime in recent years, this series is great if you want a modern supernatural setting dealing with mysteries and gods. And trust me, there are plenty of moments you won’t see coming. Follow Shinpei Ajiro as he gains a special ability and begins to relive events to solve the death of his closest friend, Ushio. But what begins as a murder mystery evolves into something much greater. It’s a solid starter for those who are big fans of the genre before branching out to the bigger-name series. All 25 episodes of Summertime Rendering are available on Hulu and Disney+. (Audience: Adult)

Angel Beats!

I know I’ve stayed away from the number-one popular titles in each genre, but Angel Beats!, despite its popularity, is still a good starter anime for beginners to watch if you’re into the supernatural genre. It isn’t the best, but the ending is iconic for a reason. Grab your tissues, you’ll need them for this high-school supernatural anime where teenagers are on the bridge between life and death with no recollection of their previous lives’ memories. (Audience: Teen)

Ajin: Demi-Human

Some anime fans may disagree with me on this one seeing as how Ajin might be an anime you ease your way into, but I think the opposite. Despite being complete 3DCGI rather than the standard 2D animation, Ajin has one of the best stories and villains in the genre. If you love supernatural stories around immortal humans with intense action in a modern setting, Ajin is a great starter anime. The 3DCGI animation will take a little time to get used to at first, but keep going…trust me. It’s also a great anime that makes you appreciate 3DCGI so when you go into another anime with a more updated version of it, you’ll look back on Ajin and thank it. Both seasons of Ajin (26 episodes) are available to watch on Netflix. (Audience: Adult)

Slice of Life

Being new to anime, you won’t really hear this type of genre anywhere else. Slice of life is, usually, devoid of major conflict and breathes life into its actual name. Anime that fall under this category tend to be cozy anime that can also be perfect for nighttime watches before heading to bed or after a long hard day.

Girls’ Last Tour

Girls Last Tour is one of the more interesting slice-of-life anime I’ve ever watched. Set in the aftermath of war, two girls are the last survivors in a desolate city. They both struggle to overcome the adversity of solitude in their own fun ways and it’s a really enjoyable journey as the two set out for a place with a future. If you love slice-of-life with a little bit of sci-fi adventure then this will be a perfect starter for you. Girls’ Last Tour is available on Amazon Prime Video. (Audience: Teen)

My New Boss is Goofy

My New Boss is Goofy is an adult workplace slice-of-life anime that deals with everyday conflicts that many adults face at some point in their lives—in this case, an abusive boss. Kentarou Momose deals with health problems thanks to his ex-boss but looks to start over at another company, scared that it might be like his last job. Momose’s new boss, Yuusei Shirosaki, shows what working at a company with a healthy environment and caring co-workers is truly like in his own funny ways, turning a heart-wrenching situation into something uplifting and wholesome. All 12 episodes of My New Boss is Goofy are available on Crunchyroll. (Audience: Adult)

Kotaro Lives Alone

Despite being a slice of life, Kotaro Lives Alone is one of the most underrated anime series to come out in recent years. For beginners looking for a slow-paced anime with some hard-hitting real-life themes that will make you buy up all of the tissues at the nearest store, go watch Kotaro. The character designs may seem a little odd to some, but this series is worth the watch as much as any other anime on this list. All 10 episodes of Kotaro Lives Alone are available on Netflix. (Audience: Teen)

Too Cute Crisis

This one’s for all of my animal lovers out there. Too Cute Crisis is a slice-of-life anime that simply revolves around one thing—loving your pet and making sure everyone knows yours is the best. It’s got plenty of humorous moments, especially when you consider the main character, Liza Luna, was sent to destroy Earth until she realized how many cute animals are here. Now, she’ll do whatever it takes to defend it. It’s not anything genre-defining, but if this is more your speed, then it’s a great starter anime. There’s no telling when a Season 2 will be released, but that’s okay since there isn’t too much of a storyline to follow. So go ahead and enjoy the 12 episodes of wholesomeness on HIDIVE before moving on to your next binge. (Audience: Teen)

Anime to Watch For Beginners Wrap-Up

For those wondering where horror is at, I didn’t list it because it’s probably the most difficult genre to really get into with anime. It has issues with anime unlike movies and real-life TV series. A lot of scary moments don’t really come across as such because it’s difficult with the medium. Creeped out, sure. But a horror that genuinely makes you scared? It’s few and far between. The genre hasn’t seen many successful horror in anime history. For starters, perhaps try Shiki, or Blood-C if you want something really disturbing.

I hope your anime journey is a life-long one filled with plenty of memorable moments! Again, if you have any questions or would like some new recommendations, feel free to message me on X (former Twitter). And never forget, don’t let anyone tell you that anime you love are bad. We all love different things. What I love, you might dislike.

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