Custom Image by Hannah DiffeyUpdated Jun 28, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
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Anime has never been more beginner-friendly as it is now. Streaming platforms have made thousands of series available worldwide, covering virtually every genre imaginable, from fantasy epics and psychological thrillers to heartfelt romances and cozy slice-of-life adventures. Whether someone wants explosive battles, emotional storytelling, laugh-out-loud comedy, or beautifully animated fantasy, there's an anime that fits those tastes perfectly.
The biggest misconception about anime is that newcomers need to start with the longest or most famous franchises. In reality, the best gateway series are the ones with universal stories, memorable characters, and accessible worlds that don't overwhelm first-time viewers. Some introduce the medium through spectacular action, while others prove that anime can rival live-action dramas or Hollywood animation in emotional depth. These 15 series offer some of the strongest introductions to everything anime has to offer.
Pokémon
Custom Image by Diana AcuñaOne of the longest-running anime series ever, it's no understatement to say that Pokémon is at least partially responsible for anime growing as popular as it is outside of Japan. Despite its lengthy episode count, each season of Pokémon is largely standalone, so new viewers can jump into the charming and simplistic series at any point.
Pokémon is especially beginner-friendly thanks to its recent soft reboot, Pokémon Horizons, so new fans can get into the series there and see why it's been so beloved for decades without getting bogged down by what little continuity there is.
Horimiya
Not every great anime revolves around saving the world. Horimiya succeeds by telling an authentic coming-of-age romance centered on two high school students who discover that their classmates' first impressions couldn't be further from reality.
Its grounded humor, lovable supporting cast, and refreshingly mature relationships make it one of the easiest romance anime for newcomers to connect with. Even viewers who rarely watch romantic stories often find themselves invested in Hori and Miyamura's heartfelt journey.
Spy x Family
Spy x Family is a starter anime series that strikes the perfect balance between action and comedy. The series focuses on super-spy Loid Forger and his "family" that he recruited as part of his cover, which consists of the deadly assassin Yor and the young telepath Anya.
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The kicker, though, is that no one except Anya is aware of anyone's true identity, leading to plenty of hijinks as they scramble to keep their secrets. Despite that layer of intrigue, though, the Forgers' everyday wholesome interactions make Spy x Family so constantly entertaining and a perfect entryway into anime.
Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling introduces newcomers to modern action anime with an instantly engaging premise. Weak hunter Sung Jinwoo unexpectedly gains the ability to grow stronger after every battle, transforming him from the world's weakest fighter into an unstoppable force.
The straightforward progression, cinematic animation, and exhilarating battles make every episode easy to binge. For fans of video games or superhero stories, Solo Leveling feels immediately familiar while showcasing what contemporary anime can achieve.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba
Anime is well known for its epic, over-the-top fight scenes, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba takes that to an incredible level. The series follows young Tanjiro Kamado, who, after losing his family to a demon attack, finds that his sister is still alive, but now a demon herself.
Desperate to save his last remnant of his family, Tanjiro agrees to become a demon slayer in order to help search for a cure, facing off with fearsome foes with incredible courage. With a moving story, complex characters, and gorgeous art, Demon Slayer is a can't-miss starter anime series for those looking for action.
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is easily one of the most iconic and important anime of all time. Cowboy Bebop is essentially a futuristic Wild West story, and it brings together a group of mismatched characters on adventures across space who are all more complex than they seem.
Cowboy Bebop is known for its complex characters, interesting plot, and its legendary music, especially its theme song, all of which is perfectly showcased across 26 episodes and a feature film. Cowboy Bebop is often heralded as one of the best anime of all time, and that makes it a perfect choice for anime newcomers.
Death Note
Death Note is an iconic and highly influential series that is perfect for anime beginners thanks to its endlessly compelling story. It follows the brilliant Light Yagami, who, upon discovering a notebook with the power to kill people, becomes the vigilante Kira to force peace upon the world.
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01
Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) became one of the most-watched anime on Crunchyroll. The story takes place in a world where humanity lives behind massive walls to protect themselves from giant humanoid creatures. What are these creatures called?
AKaiju BTitans CHollows DDemons
✓ Correct! The giant humanoid creatures are called Titans. In the original Japanese, they’re referred to as “Kyojin” (giants). Eren Yeager’s quest to destroy all Titans after they breach Wall Maria became one of the most gripping storylines in anime history.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Titans. Kaiju are giant monsters from Japanese cinema like Godzilla, Hollows are the enemy creatures in Bleach, and Demons appear in series like Demon Slayer. In Attack on Titan, these towering humanoid creatures are specifically called Titans.
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02
Studio MAPPA has become one of the most prominent anime studios in recent years, producing several massive hit series. Which of these popular anime was NOT produced by MAPPA?
AJujutsu Kaisen BAttack on Titan: The Final Season CChainsaw Man DDemon Slayer
✓ Correct! Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) is produced by ufotable, not MAPPA. Ufotable’s stunning animation quality — especially the breathtaking fight sequences — became a hallmark of the Demon Slayer franchise. MAPPA produced Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan: The Final Season, and Chainsaw Man.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Demon Slayer. Demon Slayer is animated by studio ufotable, renowned for its gorgeous visual effects. MAPPA has produced Jujutsu Kaisen, took over Attack on Titan: The Final Season from WIT Studio, and animated Chainsaw Man.
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03
Solo Leveling became a massive hit anime in 2024 after being one of the most popular manhwa (Korean comics) in the world. The story follows a weak hunter who gains the unique ability to level up. What is the protagonist’s name?
AJin-Woo Sung BSung Jin-Woo CKim Dokja DYoo Joonghyuk
✓ Correct! Sung Jin-Woo is the protagonist of Solo Leveling. Originally the weakest E-Rank hunter, he gains the power of the mysterious System, allowing him to level up infinitely. His transformation from the “World’s Weakest Hunter” to the most powerful Shadow Monarch captivated millions of readers and viewers.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Sung Jin-Woo. Jin-Woo Sung reverses the name order (Korean names place the surname first). Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk are protagonists from Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, another popular Korean series. Sung Jin-Woo is the iconic Shadow Monarch of Solo Leveling.
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04
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards celebrate the best in anime each year. Which anime won Anime of the Year at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards?
AJujutsu Kaisen Season 2 BFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End COshi no Ko DVinland Saga Season 2
✓ Correct! Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End won Anime of the Year at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. This beautifully contemplative series about an elven mage reflecting on mortality and the passage of time after her hero party’s quest ends charmed audiences and critics alike with its unique, introspective storytelling.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. While Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, Oshi no Ko, and Vinland Saga Season 2 were all critically acclaimed, it was Frieren’s meditative exploration of time, memory, and connection that captured the top prize at the 2024 ceremony.
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05
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is consistently rated as one of the greatest anime of all time. The story follows two brothers who attempted a forbidden alchemical technique. What taboo did Edward and Alphonse Elric commit?
ACreating gold BHuman transmutation (trying to revive their dead mother) CDestroying a Philosopher’s Stone DKilling a homunculus
✓ Correct! Edward and Alphonse attempted human transmutation to bring their deceased mother back to life. The attempt failed catastrophically — Edward lost his left leg and then sacrificed his right arm to bind Alphonse’s soul to a suit of armor. This event drives the entire series as they search for the Philosopher’s Stone to restore their bodies.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is human transmutation — specifically, attempting to resurrect their dead mother. In the world of FMA, human transmutation is the ultimate taboo in alchemy. The brothers’ failed attempt cost Edward his limbs and Alphonse his entire body, setting the stage for their epic journey.
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06
Spy x Family became a worldwide phenomenon with its wholesome yet action-packed story of a found family. The father, Loid Forger, is secretly a spy. What is his spy codename?
AAgent Dusk BTwilight CShadow DNightfall
✓ Correct! Loid Forger’s spy codename is Twilight, and he’s considered the top agent of Westalis’s intelligence service, WISE. His mission, Operation Strix, requires him to build a fake family — leading him to adopt the telepathic Anya and marry the assassin Yor, creating one of anime’s most beloved found families.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Twilight. Agent Dusk and Shadow are fictional names, while Nightfall is actually the codename of another WISE agent, Fiona Frost, who has a crush on Loid. Twilight is Westalis’s greatest spy and the heart of Spy x Family’s charming story.
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07
Crunchyroll merged with another major anime streaming service to become the dominant platform for anime. Which streaming service was absorbed into Crunchyroll?
ANetflix Anime BFunimation CHIDIVE DAnimeLab
✓ Correct! Funimation was merged into Crunchyroll after Sony’s acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T in 2021. The merger consolidated the anime streaming market, bringing Funimation’s massive library of dubbed anime together with Crunchyroll’s simulcast catalog, making Crunchyroll the world’s largest dedicated anime platform.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is Funimation. Netflix Anime is part of Netflix and operates independently, HIDIVE is Sentai Filmworks’ streaming service, and AnimeLab was a smaller Australian service. Funimation — once Crunchyroll’s biggest rival — was fully absorbed into the Crunchyroll platform.
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08
Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are legendary in the anime world. Miyazaki’s final film was released in 2023 and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. What is the title of this film?
ASpirited Away 2 BThe Wind Rises CThe Boy and the Heron DPonyo Returns
✓ Correct! The Boy and the Heron (Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka) was released in 2023 and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2024. The deeply personal, surrealist fantasy film was widely considered Miyazaki’s farewell masterpiece, exploring themes of grief, imagination, and the passage between worlds.
✗ That answer needs more filler training! The answer is The Boy and the Heron. Spirited Away 2 and Ponyo Returns don’t exist. The Wind Rises was Miyazaki’s previous “final” film from 2013. The Boy and the Heron marked his true farewell, winning the Oscar and cementing his legacy as anime’s greatest storyteller.
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Light's actions bring him into conflict with an eccentric detective known as L, leading to an intense game of cat and mouse between the two characters. While over-the-top dramatic at times, Death Note ranks up there with the best thrillers in any medium and thus serves as a fantastic entry-level anime.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Rather than focusing on combat, Ascendance of a Bookworm builds its appeal through creativity and worldbuilding. After being reincarnated in a medieval world where books are rare luxuries, book-loving Myne becomes determined to create them herself.
Its slower pace, charming cast, and emphasis on problem-solving make it an outstanding beginner anime for viewers who prefer more educational and whimsical stories over constant action.
Witch Hat Atelier
Witch Hat Atelier offers one of the most enchanting fantasy worlds in modern anime. After discovering that magic isn't an innate gift, but something created through carefully drawn spells, Coco begins training to become a witch despite her ordinary upbringing.
The series balances wonder, mystery, and heartfelt character development with stunning artwork that feels pulled straight from a storybook. It's a perfect choice for viewers who love fantasy without relying on nonstop action.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End does an excellent job of depicting a story of magic and humanity that's not too mature for the average person, and the gorgeous visuals and direction never fail to showcase all of that in the best of ways.
Despite how recent Frieren is, it quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, and with how much accessibility its writing and animation offer, it's easy to see why that happened. From the animation, to the characters, to the writing, there isn't a single thing about Frieren that isn't worth recommending to both new fans of anime and those who are established.
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