8 Anime Series for Beginners to Watch
Get set, newbie otakus! AMC is your guide into this new world of anime. You will find all kinds of fun on this quest. This wild ride of Japanese animation will make you cry, drool, rage and laugh, all while kicking your feet.
Our first time never leaves our memory, so why not make it the best? Choosing your first anime is a big deal too. It often decides one thing. Either you fall for the genre, or you dismiss it as a “cartoon” and cringe.
That is why we gathered this list of the 8 best anime series for beginners. Want even more starting points? Check out our Top 15 Must-watch Anime for Beginners, and once you are hooked, meet the Best Anime Villains of All Time.
8: Food Wars
The only problem with Food Wars as a starter is simple. It will leave you hungry, maybe even a little fat by the finale. Shokugeki no Soma follows culinary battles in pure dramatic anime style. People sprinkle sparkles over their food, slice fish like samurai, and taste each dish like fine wine.
The creator, Yuta Tsukada, is a foodie himself. His love for every kind of cuisine fueled this manga. One warning though, Food Wars carries a PG rating, so do not watch it alone. Characters basically have a foodgasm after every bite, and your screen might give you the same.
Yukihira Soma is the MC, and he is on a quest to become the greatest chef. He fights through endless battles, yet he never stays down. Later, we learn that he is a legendary offspring. Who is that person? Watch Food Wars to find out, and make sure you are over 13.
7: Chainsaw Man
The latest Chainsaw Man season caused a tremor across the otaku universe. Honestly, it ranks among Mappa’s best work in recent years. As a starter, you can ease in with Tatsuki Fujimoto’s wild ride. Denji, the protagonist, is a poor kid hounded by loan sharks who literally want his organs.
In this world of devils, Denji scrapes food from the trash with his devil dog, Pochita.
One day, villains attack Denji and chop him up like salami. That is when Pochita uses its powers and brings him back to life. And so the ferocious Chainsaw Man is born. The cast also includes Makima, Power and Aki, who deliver some of the best fights in shonen. If you love gore and bloody animation, Chainsaw Man is for you. Let us go grrr with our chainsaws!
6: My Hero Academia
MHA packs superheroes and villains into one world, where superpowers go by the name “Quirks.” Kohei Horikoshi’s art matches the strength of his story. On top of that, Studio Bones does an amazing job animating the famous manga.
The story of Izuku Midoriya will push you to chase your dreams, even when luck runs short. He was born quirkless, yet his idol passed One for All to him.
MHA brims with amazing characters and crazy powers, and you will find someone you would love to be. It feels like DC and Marvel had a baby in Japan.
You can binge My Hero Academia on Crunchyroll.
5: Haikyuu!
If you love sports, Haikyuu will motivate the hell out of you. It does not matter whether you follow basketball, football or cricket. This volleyball anime helps you find the courage to chase your own dreams.
The protagonist, Hinata, is a very short guy. In the world of volleyball, that is like being Yamcha in the Namek saga. People laugh at his dream, yet he beats the odds and becomes one of the best. Soon everyone takes notice, and he only keeps improving. Along the way, you meet plenty of characters you can relate to.
That is the beauty of Haikyuu, because you see yourself in one of those players. Watching Hinata and Kageyama’s first power move felt like a foodgasm from Soma’s fried rice. So this crazy sports anime easily earns its spot on our beginner list.
4: One Punch Man
Saitama is here to teach us how to be a hero, but keep some Minoxidil ready, since the training might leave you bald. The series began as a fun online manga. Then the legend Yusuke Murata spotted it. That is how Shonen Jump grabbed One Punch Man, the story of a loser turned strongest being alive.
It all started when Saitama saved a boy from Crablante, a giant crab. After that, he put himself through brutal training. But there is more to it. One Punch Man works as a gag anime, yet it still delivers the best fights and a surprisingly strong plot. So it ranks among the best anime to start with. It might even push you to hit the gym and do your groceries along the way.
3: Cowboy Bebop
Spike Spiegel easily takes the medal for coolest character in anime. He is a bounty hunter who chases villains across an intergalactic world. Cowboy Bebop is a retro series that still stands tall today. The idea of humans scattered across distant planets feels genuinely insane. So this retro masala earns its place on our beginner list.
Spike takes down villains with his funny kicks and punches. He is also a big flirt who gets all the girls. Honestly, Cowboy Bebop is one of the best anime to start your journey with. It never disappoints, and it will only add one more otaku to the world.
2: Jujutsu Kaisen
Gege Akutami is probably the most influential new gen mangaka, and Jujutsu Kaisen is his phenomenon. The story dives into sorcery and curses. The MC, Itadori Yuji, eats the finger of Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses. He gains Sukuna’s power, but there is a catch. The King of Curses can seize control whenever he wants.
The cast includes Gojo, Geto, Megumi, Toji, Nanami and Todo, and fans adore them all. If you loved Naruto and Bleach, then Jujutsu Kaisen is for you. It already has two seasons, and the third arrives in January 2026. So this tale of crises and sorcerers makes a great starting point.
1: Death Note
Death Note found a new lifeline during the Covid season. People stayed locked inside and finally discovered this masterpiece. The series follows a high schooler who finds a Death Note. With it, he can end lives exactly how he wants. Light simply writes a name in the book, and that person dies instantly.
We also meet a shinigami named Ryuk and a brilliant detective called “L.” Their Tom and Jerry chase keeps you on the edge of your seat. Meanwhile, Light’s new world of Kira even gathers cult followers.
Death Note is one of the best anime to start your journey. Frankly, nothing beats it if you want to chain your partner to the genre. It stands tall with just one season, and you can watch it on Crunchyroll.
My take: If you only pick one from this list, start with Death Note. It hooks non anime fans faster than anything else here. Once that itch sets in, the rest of these shows will pull you all the way down the rabbit hole.
