Want to start watching anime, but don’t know where to start?

When you start watching anime, sometimes your hardcore anime loving friends can overwhelm you with the number of great shows they’re recommending. Some saying “start with the OG ones!”, when those OG anime’s in question being ones like One Piece (currently ongoing with over 950 episodes), Naruto (also ongoing, filled to the brim with filler), the Dragon Ball series (too many to name, too little care), etc.

As a newcomer these numbers can seem daunting, and you don’t necessarily want to start off with a long show that will take up all your time, especially if you aren’t sure anime is your thing. You want something short and sweet to taste test first.

So, sit back, relax, and look over my top 5 anime’s for beginners:

1) Any Studio Ghibli Movie

The Studio Ghibli movies, although aren’t a show, are great anime movies that anyone can enjoy. I can safely say they are some of my favorite movies. They’re all very unique, so you won’t find yourself getting bored while watching any of these.

Now, if you’re looking for romance, I recommend Howl’s Moving Castle. Finding independence? Kiki’s Delivery Service. Wholesomeness? My Neighbour Totoro. The list goes on, people.

2) Maid Sama

Maid Sama is one of my favorite “slice of life” anime’s. It is a love story between Ayuzawa Misaki and Usui Takumi. Their love isn’t one that gets right to the point; it’s slow burning. Misaki is the student body president by-day and a part-time waitress at a maid cafe by night.

She runs the school with an iron fist. She is never seen as weak, fragile, or too feminine. That is, until, Usui sees her working at the cafe. He knows her secret, but keeps it to himself rather than tell the whole school because, and I quote, he is “enjoying his little secret”.

3) Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer is a show about, you guessed it, demon slaying.

In actuality, this show is about a brother, Tanjiro, protecting his recently turned-into-demon sister, Nezuko, after a tragic family accident. Tanjiro is doing whatever it takes to become a high-class Demon Slayer in order to avenge his family, and somehow cure his sister.

This show is very heart warming; seeing the love between brother and sister, and how they would do anything to keep each other safe. As well as the 26-episode series, there was a movie that came out recently.

Series + movie = worth the watch.

4) Jujutsu Kaisen

In this show, Itadori Yūji eats a cursed finger and becomes cursed himself. The finger belonged to famous cursed spirit Sukuna, and therefore Itadori becomes his vessel. He enters a shaman’s school to learn more about cursed spirits, how to exorcise them, and what to do about being the King of Curses vessel.

This show is jampacked with action, exciting new themes, and some have strong fascination for one of the main characters, Gojō Satoru (if you know, you know). It’s an excellent show to start if you’re looking for some cursed adventure.

5) Attack on Titan

Last, but certainly not least, we have Attack on Titan. A show where I can’t say too much without spoiling. This show is a bit longer, with four finished seasons, but it’s one of the best show’s I’ve seen.

The show is about a civilization where giant humanoid Titans have brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Eren, the main character, goes through a traumatic experience and then purses a life of working in the Survey Corps; the ones who go out and protect people against the titans.

That’s all I can say about this show, honestly. With the plot twists and the way it keeps you on your toes, this show is an absolute 10/10, and I recommend it to anyone I know.

Madilyn Bailey

I’m Madilyn, a full time student at Algonquin College. I have an addiction to coffee scented candles, enjoy watching anime, as well as making my family fat from all the baking I do.