Summary
Over the years,animehas made a massive impact on pop culture. People who write off anime as just kid’s cartoons are really missing out on something rich with a complex story that can hook you instantly. Anime isn’t just flashy visuals and exaggerated antics, but rather an entertainment medium that explores various themes in ways that traditional Western media often doesn’t.
There are thousands of anime out there to choose from; there are thrilling adventures to touching dramas, each catering to different tastes and preferences. So, If you’ve been skeptical about anime but are willing to explore something new, you’re in for a treat, as these picks are ideal for those who want to explore anime without getting caught up in the usual clichés.
10Vinland Saga
Revenge-Driven Quest With Deep Moral Dilemmas
A good deal of modern anime glorifies violence by showing characters who can dismember others easily in intense face-offs. All of these characters have one thing in common: terrible things have happened to them, which has made them this ruthless.
Vinland Saga portrays a similar character, Thorfinn, driven mad by his revenge, who goes to great lengths to achieve it, only to find himself without purpose. Through Thorfinn, Vinland Saga explores deep themes of morality with a simple philosophy: eternal peace lies in the path of forgiveness, something that makes it so engaging.
9Neon Genesis Evangelion
A 90s Classic That Blended Biblical Themes With Sci-Fi
For people who grew up in the 90s, Neon Genesis Evangelion was often their introduction to anime. Even if someone is not into anime, they’ve probably heard of it, as its impact on pop culture is hard to ignore.
Neon Genesis Evangelion tells the story of Shinji, a 14-year-old living in a post-apocalyptic world, who is recruited by his father to join NERV, a military organization created to fight the evil beings known as Angels. The series is one of a kinddue to its philosophical storytelling infused with Biblical symbolism, which makes the plot dramatic and keeps the audience thoroughly engaged.
8Violet Evergarden
A War Survivor’s Journey To Better Understand Emotion
A 13-episode series, Violet Evergarden is widely praised for its storytelling and nuanced character development. The series fleshes its plot in a unique way by introducing a new character in each episode while giving an emotional touch to their backstories.
These stories are laid out from Violet’s eyes, an ex-soldier recovering from her post-war trauma who is offered a new job where she has to write letters for those who can’t express their feelings themselves. Initially, she struggles with it, but soon, through these personal stories, both she and, oftentimes the viewer, begin to understand human emotions more deeply.
7Monster
A Doctor’s Moral Struggle While On the Run
Drawing inspiration from the 1960s TV show The Fugitive, which follows a falsely convicted doctor on the run while trying to find the real killer, Naoki Urasawa adapted this concept to Japanese culture with a lot of post-World War II German influences, creating the series Monster.
Monster mainly focuses on Dr. Tenma, who struggles between staying true to his morals and succumbing to the corruption around him, with its plot weaving multiple character stories into one. The series also draws a broader audience due to the amazing depiction of a pure psychopath, Johan Liebert, and is going to be a very interesting dive for non-anime watchers.
6Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Brothers’ Battle With Fate And Alchemy
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has consistently been hailed as one of the best anime ever, receiving widespread praise for its tight and clever plot. But the series goes even further with its depth with themes like science, religion, and even nationalism.
Fullmetal Alchemist is the story of the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, both prodigy students of alchemy, a miraculous science that can do incredible things but cannot form life. When the brothers attempt to resurrect their dead mother, the consequences are dire, as they lose parts of their own bodies. Now,they must seek out the Philosopher’s Stone to restore what they’ve lost.
5Dragon Ball Z
The Anime That Popularized The Shōnen Genre To New Heights
Everyone had that one anime that pulled them from knowing nothing about Japanese animation to becoming completely hooked. For many people, it was Dragon Ball Z, a show so popular that it went on to influence some of the most iconic Shōnen series, including One Piece and Naruto.
Even today, the show is widely discussed and has some of the most recognizable characters ever. Goku, in particular, has inspired countless fans to keep pushing their limits with his over-powered persona. The show also has some of the best fight sequences, which stand out from the style of many modern anime.
4Death Note
The Death God’s Notebook Held By An Ambitious Mortal
The psychological thriller Death Note is a series that is widely recommended by just about everyone.The story begins when Ryuk, a Shinigami, drops the Death Note on the human world, a notebook with powers to kill anyone whose name is written in it.
When a high schooler, Light Yagami, finds this notebook, he starts killing those he finds morally unworthy of society, especially criminals. Unable to stop him, the police work with a mysterious detective named L, who becomes so obsessed with this case that the series transitions into a thrilling battle of the duo trying to outsmart one another. This anime is on its way to becoming a timeless classic and one of the best introductory anime ever.
3Attack On Titan
Humanity’s Last Stand For Their Survival
Attack on Titan is worth every bit of your attention due to its bloody actionand an eerie atmosphere that wraps you with a palpable fear, something that makes it so iconic. Based on the acclaimed manga by Hajime Isayama, Attack On Titan appears as a story of humanity’s last survivors, besieged by the terrifying Titans, who now must battle for survival.
The series has fewer episodes each season than the other popular ones, so it’s easier to get behind the story. However, the true standout is its unexpected plot twists, which will challenge everything you thought you knew about the show.
2Cowboy Bebop
The Space Western Adventure Set In A Neo-Noir Future
Originally aired in 1998, Cowboy Bebop didn’t gain popularity until the early 2000s, when it became a global sensation after being introduced to Western audiences through an English dub. The anime is set in a neo-noir space Western world where humans have colonized various places in the solar system.
The story follows the adventures of the Cowboys, a group of bounty hunters who journey through the expansive cosmos in pursuit of their bounties. It mixes lighthearted humor with serious themes like adult depression, allowing this anime to remain relevant over the years.
1Studio Ghibli Movies
Animation That Feels Like It Comes From A Dream World
For animators, world-building can be a hard challenge, as every visual element in a film must be illustrated from the ground up. This is where a legendary animation studio founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, called Studio Ghibli, really stands out.
Whether you are watching My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away, every frame in a Ghibli film tells a dream-like story that transports you into beautifully colored worlds filled with imaginative characters and scenarios. Almost everything about Studio Ghibli movies is beloved because it stays true to the storyteller’s vision, thanks to its traditional hand-drawn Japanese techniques and meticulous attention to detail in every scene. It makes it so that no matter what you think about anime or what kind of anime you’ve watched before, any Studio Ghibli film will blow you away.
