Alright, so you’ve finally decided to dip your toes into the wild world of anime. Good choice. But let’s be real—some anime out there can be a lot. You don’t want your first experience to be a 1000+ episode commitment (cough One Piece cough) or something so weird that you start questioning your life choices (looking at you, Dandadan).

So, here’s the deal—I’ve put together a list of anime that are actually watchable for beginners. No overwhelming episode counts, no extreme culture shocks, just solid stories with amazing animation that’ll get you hooked. Let’s go:

1. Jujutsu Kaisen (JJK) - Peak First Anime Energy

My first anime. My gateway drug. And now I’m obsessed.

Why is it a great starter anime?

• Action-packed from episode one—no slow burns here.

• Cool powers and fights that don’t need an essay to explain.

• Just the right amount of anime weirdness without being too cringe.

Plot:
Yuji Itadori, a dude with insane athletic skills but no real ambitions, accidentally eats a cursed finger (don’t ask) and gets possessed by a crazy-powerful demon. Instead of dying, he’s recruited into Jujutsu High, a school for sorcerers who fight curses—basically evil spirits that mess with people. Cue insane battles, dope animation, and one of the best sensei characters ever (Gojo supremacy).

2. Kaiju No.8 - JJK’s Sci-Fi Cousin

If you like shows like JJK, you’ll love Kaiju No. 8 as well. It’s got the same high-energy action but with monsters.

Why is it a great starter anime?

• Fast-paced and easy to follow.

• New episodes are dropping, so you’re getting in at the right time.

• Each character has a distinct design and personality—nobody fades into the background.

Plot:
Kafka Hibino dreams of joining the Defense Force to fight kaiju (big Godzilla-type monsters), but he’s stuck cleaning up their remains instead. One day, he literally becomes part-kaiju and suddenly gains insane strength. Now, he has to hide his secret while trying to achieve his dream.

3. Mob Psycho 100 - Weird But in The Best Way

If JJK is high-energy chaos, Mob Psycho 100 is the quirky, emotional cousin you didn’t know you needed.

Why is it a great starter anime?

• It’s short and won’t eat up your life.

• The animation is insane—seriously, it’s like watching an acid trip.

• Surprisingly deep story wrapped up in hilarious moments.

Plot:
Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama looks like the most average middle schooler ever, except for one thing—he’s an insanely powerful psychic. His mentor (a total fraud, btw) runs a ghost-exorcism business, and Mob just goes along with it. But the more he suppresses his emotions, the stronger his psychic abilities get… and when he reaches 100%? Yeah, things get wild.

4. Death Note -The Ultimate “What Would You Do?” Anime

This is the anime equivalent of a psychological thriller that messes with your head.

Why is it a great starter anime?

• It’s only 37 episodes. No “episode 300 gets good” nonsense.

• Super easy to follow, even if you’ve never watched anime before.

• You will argue with people over whether Light was right or wrong.

Plot:
Light Yagami, a high school genius, finds a notebook that lets him kill anyone just by writing their name in it. Instead of, I don’t know, being normal, he decides to play God and “cleanse the world” of criminals. Enter L, a mysterious detective trying to catch him. The result? A battle of wits that’ll have you questioning your own morals.

5. Your Name - The Movie That’ll Wrech you emotionally

If action isn’t your thing, Your Name is the way to go.

Why is it a great starter anime?

• It’s a movie, so no episode commitment.

• Visually stunning—you’ll pause just to admire the scenery.

• The romance is actually good, not cringey.

Plot:
Two teenagers, Taki and Mitsuha, mysteriously start swapping bodies without warning. As they try to navigate each other’s lives, they slowly form a bond—until things take a dramatic turn that I won’t spoil. Just know you will cry.