The Best Entry Points Into Anime

Starting anime can feel overwhelming — there are thousands of series spanning decades, genres, and styles. The goal here isn't to give you the "objectively best" anime ever made (a pointless and subjective exercise), but to give you the best starting points: series that are accessible, broadly appealing, and represent what makes anime special.

Each entry below includes what genre it belongs to and why it works as an entry point.

The List

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Genre: Action / Adventure / Drama

Consistently ranked among the greatest anime of all time, Brotherhood follows two brothers using alchemy in a richly built world where power comes at a terrible price. It has a complete, satisfying story arc, excellent pacing, and emotional depth that hits viewers regardless of experience level. Start here if you want the full package.

2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Genre: Action / Supernatural

Demon Slayer is the definition of accessible anime. Stunning animation, a clear emotional core, and short-story arcs make it easy to follow from the first episode. It's one of the best-looking TV anime ever produced and doesn't require any prior knowledge of genre conventions.

3. Spy x Family

Genre: Comedy / Action / Family

A spy who needs a fake family, a telepath child, and an assassin wife — this family sitcom with action elements is warm, funny, and completely charming. Perfect if you want something lighter as your first anime.

4. Your Lie in April

Genre: Drama / Romance / Music

A deeply emotional story about a piano prodigy who lost his ability to hear the music he plays, and the violinist who changes his world. Beautifully animated and genuinely moving — ideal for viewers who prefer story and feeling over action.

5. Cowboy Bebop

Genre: Sci-Fi / Neo-Noir / Action

A timeless classic set in space, following bounty hunters with complicated pasts. Its episodic structure, jazz soundtrack, and cinematic style make it one of the most Western-friendly anime ever made. A landmark of the medium.

6. Attack on Titan

Genre: Dark Fantasy / Action / Thriller

If you want something that grabs you immediately and doesn't let go, Attack on Titan delivers. Humanity trapped behind walls, monsters outside, and a mystery that unfolds into one of anime's most ambitious stories. Intense from episode one.

7. My Hero Academia

Genre: Superhero / Action / Shonen

A superhero school story in a world where most people have powers. It's optimistic, action-packed, and has a huge, lovable cast. One of the easiest on-ramps into shonen anime for fans of Western superhero media.

8. Spirited Away (Film)

Genre: Fantasy / Adventure (Film)

Studio Ghibli's masterpiece and winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. If you've never watched any anime, this film is one of the most universally loved entry points in the entire medium.

9. Steins;Gate

Genre: Sci-Fi / Thriller / Drama

A slow burn that rewards patience with one of the most satisfying story payoffs in anime. A self-proclaimed mad scientist accidentally discovers time travel with devastating consequences. Not for viewers who need instant action, but unforgettable for those who stick with it.

10. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

Genre: Fantasy / Slice of Life / Drama

A more recent addition to this list, Frieren has earned its place among anime's best. Its quiet, reflective tone about an immortal elf reckoning with the passage of time is unlike anything else in the medium. Beautiful, patient, and deeply human.

How to Use This List

  • Don't feel obligated to watch in order — pick whatever sounds most interesting to you.
  • If a series doesn't hook you by episode 3, try a different entry point.
  • Genres you love in other media are usually a good guide — action fans, drama fans, and sci-fi fans all have natural starting points here.

The best anime to start with is the one that makes you want to watch the next episode. Go find yours.