Anime has never been as popular as it is right now. For every Dragon Ball series, there are numerous shows that took inspiration on its impact and universe-building. For every Sailor Moon reincarnation, there are dozens of female-led anime that followed its path. And, for every Doraemon clone, there are plenty of funny animated shows like it.
There is a specific anime for everyone. However, for beginners in the anime format, there are some shows they can start from to know the basic tropes of Japanese animation. For the longtime fans, here are five others to check out.
10 For Beginners: Pokémon
Pokémon is undoubtedly one of the biggest media franchises on the planet, and its anime adaptation held up well on its 23-year longevity. All those years, Pokémon fans and younger viewers get to witness the journey of Ash Ketchum and his best friend Pikachu travel from one region after another to fulfill his dreams of becoming a pokémon master.
Although not the deepest of the beginners’ anime on the list, Pokémon hits the right notes with its memorable characters, engaging storylines, and expansive world-building despite taking liberties when compared to its source material.
9 For The More Seasoned Viewer: Soul Eater
From the mind of Atsushi Ōkubo comes a macabre anime about three groups of students from the Death Weapon Meister Academy, one serving as a wielder, and the rest transforming as weapons, who must collect evil souls to succeed in the school. The central pair of this saga is Maka Albarn and her scythe partner Soul Eater.
A rightful balance of dark fantasy and witty comedy, this anime never pulls strings on the blend of genres, and it takes advantage of its twisted elements to develop its engagingly dark characters.
8 For Beginners: One Piece
For audiences who think that swashbuckling escapades had run off their course, they clearly have not seen One Piece. On its 929 and counting episodes, fans had been engaged to the misadventures of flexible human Monkey D. Luffy and his band of misfits, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they voyage in search of the world’s most valuable treasure, One Piece.
Ever since 1999, there have been many storylines that spawned, making the One Piece world more intricate and complex. But, for beginners, they can binge the entire Wano Country arc.
7 For The More Seasoned Viewer: Dr. Stone
Dr. Stone uniquely takes a what-if scenario of how two students are able to cope from a cataclysmic scenario wherein all humans are mysteriously turned into stone. Well, the answer for mad genius Senku and his musclehead best friend Taiju is to restart civilization with science.
Over the course of its two seasons, Senku and Taiju are able to formulate a compound that can revive others. However, with this control, they have to face off opposing forces, including mixed martial artist Tsukasa and his rising kingdom, and it becomes an exciting post-apocalyptic adventure.
6 For Beginners: My Hero Academia
One of the most exciting anime in recent times, My Hero Academia is Japan’s answer to the dominance of superheroes in the current entertainment landscape. This manga series centers on a boy named Izuku Midoriya, who is born without powers, known in-universe “quirks." But, in a twist of fate, the greatest superhero in Japan, All Might, passes down his powers to Izuku and allows him to be enrolled in a high school for superheroes.
5 For The More Seasoned Viewer: Eden of the East
Half-romance, half-political thriller, Eden of the East centers on a young woman named Saki who nearly stumbles into trouble when she is saved by a young man named Akira, who carries questionable paraphernalia that may be linked to a terrorist espionage plot. When she falls in love with him, Saki also dives to Akira’s hidden links.
The uneven blend of genres will be a challenge since this anime requires full attention on its intricate details and sweeping backstories that it will leave an impression till the end. For that, Kenji Kamiyama made an effective romance-thriller.
4 For Beginners: Naruto
Of all the anime ninjas out there, Naruto is the first name that will pop out in anyone’s head. Naruto Uzumaki is an aspiring ninja whose mischievous nature gets the best of everyone in his village. He encounters his cold-hearted rival, Sasuke Uchiha, and his preppy friend ,Sakura Haruno, both from Team 7, on his quest to become the Hokage, the village leader and strongest ninja.
The first part of the series sees Naruto in his pre-teen years as he discovers his Jutsu skills and encounters future threats, including Akatsuki.
3 For The More Seasoned Viewer: Naruto Shippuden
Speaking of Naruto, Naruto Shippuden raises the stakes for the titular ninja. Centering on his teen years after three years of training, this second part of the Naruto saga sees the ninja enhancing his skills to stop the ruthless rogue ninja organization, the Akatsuki, from fulfilling a plan that threatens the entire shinobi world.
Shippuden is a worthy follow-up to the original Naruto series, and Naruto has matured for the best, especially as he enhances his toad-style Senjutsu. With the storylines and themes getting denser, this improves on its shinobi world-building.
2 For Beginners: Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball is, without a doubt, the most influential anime of all time. Akira Toriyama’s manga franchise is a dominant staple to anyone’s childhood and is arguably responsible for the influence of anime worldwide. Of the four anime series, though Dragon Ball is the best place to start, Dragon Ball Z is the better option to experience the anime’s epic scope.
This second series sees Son Goku defending Earth from a range of villains, including the popular Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu, and dealing with his son, Gohan, and his rival, Vegeta.
1 For The More Seasoned Viewer: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
For seasoned anime viewers looking for more intricate mythologies, there is Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, another Kenji Kamiyama creation. This series centers on a spear-wielding woman named Balsa who is hired by an empress to save her son from the Mikado after suspicions that he is possessed by a water demon. Balsa and the prince Chagm join forces to uncover the mystery about the water spirit.
Both engrossing on its elaborate lore and on its sweeping animation, Moribito gives a Kurosawa-like interpretation of Japanese folktales and weaves it into an epic saga about redemption.
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July 05, 2020 at 07:30AM
