Anime for newcomerscan be overwhelming, especially once they discover that anime in itself has many genres. Anime can be many things, as long as it’s animated in the Japanese style, and some can be targeted to adults while others can be meant for children.
There is no vastly agreed-upon gateway anime, mostly because it depends on the tastes of the individual. For example, some anime fans may love the magical girl genres while others do not. However, both are still anime fans.
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So consider that anime has a vast variety when considering getting into the shows. Remember that what is popular is not necessarily the best anime has to offer. There are, however, anime shows that introduce common concepts that others often explore, without relying on the audience to have previously watched anime.
Updated June 05, 2025 by Allison Stalberg:Thebest anime for beginnersand newcomers are quite varied. Anime has many genres such as horror, comedy, romance, magical-girl, school life, and more. There is something for just about anyone, as long as they like animation.
Some adults think anime is for kids, which is a big mistake, as some anime are definitely more targeted towards adults in terms of themes and content. It is good to know the diversity of anime before diving in.
15Pokemon
Based on the game franchise, thePokemonanime was the first anime for many kids outside of Japan. It is certainly aimed at young kids, but adults can still enjoy the cute creatures and humor. There are a ton of episodes, but the first season is a good place to dip your toes as the viewer can learn about Pokemon along with the protagonist.
ThePokemonshow has been part of many peoples' childhood. It is a great choice for a kid trying to get into anime or just a great choice for those who want to seeanime that is meant for children.
14Naruto
Narutowas the first anime of a generation and got so popular that it has hundreds upon hundreds of episodes. That can be daunting for a newcomer, but the first season is just 57 episodes. It is worth a shot just to know what all the fuss was about. The show is enjoyable for all ages but is mostly targeted towards middle school boys.
The show is about ninjas and its genre is action, fantasy, and adventure. There is a large cast of characters, cool fights, and emotional moments as well.
13Dragon Ball
Not to be confused withDragon Ball Z,Dragon Ballis the starting point of the series when the main character is a little boy discovering what Dragon Balls are and his own identity. This show is what started a global cultural phenomenon. It is based onJourney to the Westand combined traits of martial arts movies.
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This is one of the most successful series of all time, with themanga sold in over 40 countries. The anime is worth trying, just because it was the starter anime for many people back when it came out in the 80s.
12Princess Tutu
Many people think ofSailor Moonwhen it comes to magical girl anime, but that does not mean it is the best gateway to the genre. After all, theSailor Moonseries has 200 episodes. That can be overwhelming for a newcomer. Luckily though, there are other magical girl anime that are shorter, just as good (if not better), and introduce common magical girl tropes.
Princess Tutuis one such anime. Despite its cutesy feminine name, it is beloved by anime fans of all ages and genders. It introduces magical girl transformations, romance, the common school setting, and its paranormal twists. It is only just 26 episodes with excellent narrative pacing and conclusion.
11Attack On Titan
This anime is for mature audiences that enjoy horror, political intrigue, and do not mind violence. It is a good starting point for those that want a mature, horrific, and dramatic fantasy story. It is about a walled-off city defending itself from mysterious mindless titans that eat people. A lot of twists happen throughout, along with amazing action, and the characters are all very strong and interesting.
The anime doesn’t have any visual anime trope ques like chibi style, vein pops, or sweat-drops that may confuse or alienate an anime newcomer.
10Code Geass
Not every anime fan loves the mecha genre, which is the type that usually sports giant robots.Code Geassis a good anime to dip toes in for someone’sfirst mecha anime. The story and narrative are far more focused on the characters themselves and the paranormal geass power, but it has plenty of mecha battles and designs.
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UnlikePrincess Tutu,this show is not for all ages. A lot of its political and sociological points would be missed by children. It also sports an anime-style popularized by artists of CLAMP.
9Death Parade
Death Paradeis a short anime of just 12 episodes that deals with some mature themes such as death and karma. It is the perfect starter anime for fans of psychological thrillers. The show is about paranormal bars that people go to when they die. They are challenged to Death Games that reveal their secrets and are ultimately judged as to whether they will get banished to the void or reincarnated.
The anime did not make big ripples likeDragon BallorNaruto, but it did win and get nominated for awards like best Psychological Anime of the Year and Opening Theme Song of the Year.
8Erased
Erasedis a short but complete anime, running for just 12 episodes. It is a good gateway to anime that deals with serious situations such as murder and kidnapping, but while not being too shocking for a newcomer audience. For example,Attack on Titanmay have too much shock value for someone looking for a gateway anime (they may accidentally think all anime are that violent).
With that in mind,Erasedis not the most popular anime out there. Some fans had criticism for its pacing and twist. However, it is perfect for gateway anime as it shows how anime can take on serious dark topics. The series is also short for someone who does not have time to watch many episodes.
7Fruits Basket
Shoujo anime (anime mostly aboutromantic/intimate relationships, targeted to female audiences) is a juggernaut in the anime industry. Picking just one as a possible gateway anime can be difficult in the sea of titles. However, there is one currently running its final season that is a perfect introduction to the shoujo genre. That anime isFruits Basket.
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It actually had an anime in 2001 that ended before the manga, and it was so popular that it was decided to make a revamped show that completely follows the manga from start to finish. The romance is a nice slow burn with many intimate relationships blossoming. It is not too sugary though, as there is also a lot of drama and darkness hinging upon a paranormal bound many of the characters are trapped in.
6Death Note
Death Noteis a huge name in anime, and it is easy to get hooked to, anime connoisseurs or not. It deals with ethical twists of crime and punishment, giving a teenager the power to kill whoever he wants just by writing their name in a book. He decides to attempt to make the world a better place by writing down the names of criminals. But is that really justice? The story really picks up when detective L enters the scene to capture this young killer (and luckily, he enters the story pretty fast).
Do not try the Netflix adaptation or other live-action attempts.The anime, available on HBO Max,is the original TV version that came after the manga and follows it the best.
