Anime isn’t for everyone, at least not usually. It’s certainly a niche genre of entertainment, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to a lack of crossover appeal. These days, people can use all the new binge-worthy shows they can get, and for many, there’s a whole category of shows they’ve never thought to try.
So here’s a list of 6 anime (and a few honorable mentions) that newcomers can appreciate. These aren’t “gateway” anime shows meant to indoctrinate viewers into a brave new world of big eyes and ad nauseum repetition of the word “senpai.” They’re “one and done” series that the average viewer can check out and then just move on with their life.
Note: Each recommendation refers to the respective show’s English audio version unless otherwise specified. They are also each relatively short, with the longest clocking in at 64 episodes. So they’re perfect for a nice one-time binge.
Don’t be fooled by the name; this show is surprisingly not one of those anime whose title has nothing to do with the subject matter (the less said about shows like Bleach in this regard, the better). Sometimes shortened to Mongolian Chop Squad, Beck follows teenage boy Yukio as he learns to play the guitar and eventually becomes part of a ragtag rock band. The show generally lacks the exaggerated expressions and performances that people tend to associate with anime in favor of a more subdued (but no less endearing) storytelling style, and it makes for a much more palatable experience for first-timers than many of its contemporaries.
The band itself (named both Beck and Mongolian Chop Squad in different contexts) quickly becomes the main focus of the series, even though Yukio himself remains a sort of audience surrogate. It’s more of a story about the band’s journey, akin to something like That Thing You Do, and the fantastic soundtrack helps sell it. The localization team went the extra mile and re-recorded all the songs with the English voice cast for the western release, and that effort pays off. Songs like Brainstorm and Slip Out could easily stand on their own as legitimate singles.
Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad is a catchy journey through an indie band’s career backed by a killer soundtrack. It can be streamed on Funimation.com with a free account, though be warned, the video quality is a bit low without a paid subscription.
(Similar show: Kids on the Slope. Featuring a jazz-focused soundtrack and set in the 60s, it focuses more on the relationships between high school students whose musical talents bring them together. The songs weren’t re-recorded as they were in Beck, but the soundtrack is still extremely well done. It can be streamed in Japanese with subtitles on Crunchyroll. Unfortunately the only way to stream the English version seems to be on HIDIVE.)
Here’s a show that many readers have likely already heard of. Originally released in the early 2000s as Fullmetal Alchemist, it eventually got remade with the Brotherhood subtitle. Brotherhood is the recommended version to watch, as it tells the full story from the original comic (or “manga”) on which it’s based. The original show deviated once it began producing episodes faster than the manga was producing volumes.
Anyway, Fullmetal Alchemist tells the story of Edward and Alphonse, two young boys in a beautiful steampunk world where alchemy is not only real, but down to a science. After a failed attempt to use alchemy to resurrect their deceased mother (no spoilers, it’s literally how the show begins), they each lose a part of themselves, with Edward losing an arm and leg while Alphonse loses his physical form. The story follows the two boys (with Alphonse’s spirit bound to a giant suit of armor, just go with it) on their journey to find the mythical “philosopher’s stone,” which they believe will give them the power to restore their bodies. It sounds like a lot, but the story is surprisingly easy to follow, with lots of drama and twists throughout and a wonderfully engaging cast of characters. It’s a bit more “anime” than Beck in terms of style and performances, but not to a ridiculous degree.
(Note: It’s worth mentioning that one of the leads, Edward, is voiced in English by Vic Mignogna, an incredibly prolific voice actor who has been credibly accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by many women in and outside of the voice over world over the years. He has since been blacklisted by many in the industry, and it’s understandable if any potential viewers would rather avoid any shows featuring him.)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood can currently be streamed on Netflix.
(Similar show: Surprisingly, there aren’t many, aside from some truly bizarre and surreal shows that, to be honest, have no place on this wholesome little list. There’s a reason Brotherhood is often one of the first shows recommended in these sorts of conversations. The higher a show gets in quality, generally the fewer shows there are like it.)
Here’s one that really kind of toes the line. It’s got lots of anime tropes and those exaggerated performances/expressions mentioned earlier. But gosh dang it, it’s just so well-executed and really funny. It’s genuinely hard to overstate just how well the humor is done on this show. Set in a high school for rich kids, Ouran Host Club centers on exactly that, a host club. In a rather lovely reversal of gender roles, the club consists of several male students who act as “hosts” to entertain their female clients. It’s nothing sexual, at least not overtly (though the male host club members occasionally pose provocatively with a bit less clothing than necessary). What they offer is essentially the company of a charming gentleman while enjoying some tea. It’s bizarre, but it strangely works as a vehicle for the superb writing and performances.
Where the focus truly lies is with the character Haruhi, a young woman from a poor family who transferred to the school on scholarship. On her first day, she breaks a valuable vase belonging to the host club and, being unable to afford paying it off, has no choice but to work away her debt. The catch is that her look and general demeanor are rather gender ambiguous and she is mistaken for a boy, which leads to the club deciding she can work off her debt as a member of their team (even after they realize she’s a girl). The localization is among the best out there, with the cast even being allowed to improvise at times. The writing and performances have been adapted extremely well to mesh with more western senses of humor (even the comedic timing is impeccable), and even without the endearing characters, that alone would be enough to recommend this show.
(Note: This is another show that features Vic Mignogna in a lead part, for those wishing to avoid his roles. It also has a few slightly off-color comments regarding crossdressing which may hit a little close to home for some trans viewers. Luckily these comments aren’t very prominent in the show.)
Ouran High School Host Club can be streamed on Netflix.
(Similar show: Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun. It can be recommended for essentially the same reasons as OHSHC. Set in a regular high school, a young woman tries to declare her love for a classmate, only for her gesture to be misunderstood, eventually somehow leading to her becoming his assistant in his manga-writing career. While not boasting much of a story, this show shines when focusing on its eclectic and lovable cast of characters. As a bonus, the women of the show have actual agency and don’t just fall into the usual gender roles and stereotypes, with even a few complete subversions here and there. It can be streamed on Netflix and Crunchyroll.)
Like Fullmetal Alchemist, this is a show many have already heard of and even been recommended. Well, here’s another recommendation of it to add to the pile. Death Note poses the question, “what would a normal teenager do if they could cause the death of anyone with no evidence of their involvement?” Protagonist Light Yagami’s answer is “kill all the bad people.” On the surface level, it sounds like a fun anti-hero story, doesn’t it? Well, maybe at first. The funny thing is, when someone starts killing people they deem as “bad” without any sort of due process or oversight, it turns out morality isn’t quite as black and white as they might have previously thought. This eventually turns the story into a supernatural detective thriller between two master strategists, and viewers may become conflicted on who they root for at any given time.
Death Note is a bit over the top in places, with some exaggerated imagery that crosses over from unintentionally funny to legitimately scary and back to funny on a regular basis. But that shouldn’t deter any new viewers, as the adrenaline-filled suspense and almost Breaking Bad-tier story more than make up for it and, in fact, even take advantage of the aesthetic. Light’s character arc is compelling and the eccentric detective known only as L is rightly considered one of the most memorable characters in all of anime. Shocking twists and turns are the name of the game in Death Note, and viewers will be hooked the whole way through this increasingly dark journey.
Death Note can be streamed on Netflix.
(Similar show: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. In many ways it feels like a spiritual successor to Death Note. The main character, Lelouch, gains a superpower allowing him to control the minds of others with just a look, and decides to use it to free his home country of Japan from an invading empire. With a similar theme of misguided good intentions, it could be just what viewers need if they’re still a bit thirsty after Death Note. Though be warned, as the art style and general aesthetic may be a bit less palatable to non-anime fans than other shows on the list. Still, it hits a lot of the same beats as Death Note and should strike the same chord with those willing to give it a shot. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion can be streamed on Netflix.)
Samurai Champloo is a samurai story with hip hop vibes. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s a modern setting inspired by classic samurai tales. No, this show is set in feudal Japan, it just… also has hip hop. Just run with it, because it allows for breakdance-styled fights and a killer soundtrack. (Yes, most of these shows have great soundtracks, it’s kind of a theme.)
Following a young woman named Fuu, Samurai Champloo sees her on a journey to find “the samurai who smells of sunflowers.” She enlists the aid of Mugen, a roguish drifter and Jin, a stoic swordsman after she helps them escape from jail, and together they journey across Japan, encountering plenty of interesting characters along the way. It’s generally a light-hearted show with some goofy moments that it executes well enough. Viewers will enjoy the characters, but the main draw is arguably the stylized fight scenes. Samurai Champloo is a great middle-of-the-road series viewers can tackle at their own pace.
Samurai Champloo is available for streaming on Hulu.
(Similar show: Rurouni Kenshin. Another samurai show, this one is deceptively sweet at times, though that sugary sheen hides a surprisingly dark backstory and overarching plot surrounding a do-gooder swordsman who just wants to forget the horrifying things he’s done in the past. Be warned, though, that this is the sort of show that can turn average viewers into genuine anime fans if they really get into it.)
Here’s the one. Cowboy Bebop is perhaps the most famous “anime for people who don’t like anime.” As what is essentially a gritty space western, that’s not surprising. A team of bounty hunters flying around on a ship just trying to get by, the show’s characters are about as eclectic as they come while all remaining pretty grounded. Even the little girl named Ed, who serves as the ship’s eccentric mechanic, gets a few relatable moments.
Cowboy Bebop does feature some dramatic story beats, but the reason to keep watching is just to keep coming back to the beautifully realized world it creates. Fans of the ill-fated Joss Whedon favorite Firefly will likely find plenty to enjoy here, as the two shows share a similar vibe and theme. All this is backed by a phenomenally catchy jazz soundtrack that that’s sure to stick with viewers possibly longer than the show itself, and in fact, many viewers have likely already heard the show’s energetic theme song, “Tank” by Yoko Kanno. Plus, if all that isn’t convincing enough, Netflix is working on a live-action adaptation starring John Cho. So the anime could be a practice run to eventually point out all the inaccuracies in the remake. (Don’t do that, though. It’s not nice.)
Cowboy Bebop can be streamed on Hulu.
(Similar show: Outlaw Star. It’s another space western, but with a distinctly more “anime” feel to it. It’s still got some of that grit, but is also more story-focused and the characters tend to get a bit over the top, but like Rurouni Kenshin to Samurai Champloo, if viewers are willing to dive a little deeper after watching Bebop, Outlaw Star can be an excellent ointment for that itch.)
Hopefully everyone found at least something to sink their teeth into on this list. There’s no shame in shying away from anime in general after checking out one or two of these. They’re perfect as one-offs. But also keep in mind that, for the most part, there are at least dozens of similar shows out there to scratch any itches these ones create. All it requires is a little research, and maybe a complete gutting of any and all free time for the next few months.
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