TOP 10 Gateway Anime (Anime for Beginners)
Well I remember when I started to watch anime, it was a long time ago and to be honest I didn't even know those shows were anime. The first contact I had with the Japanese animations was back when I had like 6 or 7 years and started to watch (on TV, of course) Tondera House no Daibouken, or as I knew it back than - The Flying House.
That show for me, and my friends, was magical, the amount of knowledge you could learn from it was stunning, and it's stunning even to this day.
After that, many years had passed and after watching DB and DBZ, Naruto started to air on a local TV channel AXN.
Naruto was airing early in the morning of everyday from Monday to Friday, and because I was like 13 or 14 I could watch it every day (my high school classes were in the afternoon). I think after seeing more than 100 episodes on TV I've fallen in love with the show and started to scour the internet for information about it. That's when I found out that DB, DBZ & Naruto were anime, a name for cartoons made in Japan.
With every bit of new information about this new world, I was getting more and more interested in the genre, so I started to watch more and more anime. I was buying or renting VHS, I was looking for shows on TV and I got pretty hooked.
Long time has passed since than and now I can say I'm pretty much a veteran in anime. I watched all kinds of shows - some were great, some were boring, some were using fanservice, some were for mature audiences and some were for kids. I love many shows but I know that if you are not accustomed with the anime world some of them may look weird, or even scare you off.
So I thought I put up a list with the easiest anime to watch as a beginner, so called - gateway anime. Shows that can hook up almost everyone that has never seen an anime before, or seen just a few generic ones.
This is my TOP 10 Gateway Anime list.
(These rankings will be noted by the gateway factor, and by that i mean - how easy and watchable is the respective show for a beginner. Better shows will have a lower rank because they are harder to comprehend or they have elements that might confuse a new comer)
Number 10 - Legend of the Galactic Heroes
This show is long ride having over 100 episodes so it might bore you, if you are new to anime, but if you have a taste for great character development and you like shows like Game of Thrones this is going to be your thing. The animation is a bit dated, because the show started in 1988 and lasted until 1997, but i bet that after a few episodes you'll not pay attention to that anymore.
Number 9 - Spice & Wolf
This is an amazing show. It's a fan favorite and it goes for all types and ages. The 'veterans' love it, the new comers love it and, it's a great way to get into anime.
The show focuses on the life of a lonely merchant wandering from town to town in seach of good deals and good life lessons.
I don't want to spoil too much of the plot so i'll keep it simple, but I can bet my right arm that you'll love this gold piece.
Number 8 - Death Note
A show like this does not come out very often. Trust me, i've seen a lot and you cannot compare it to almost any other show in terms of uniqueness.
A supernatural thriller that will keep your mind busy, and your body at the edge of your chair. A great piece for everyone, veterans and beginners alike. Well made, by the famous studio MadHouse, Death Note is there to leave a mark in every viewer's mind. This was one of the first shows i watched and the memory of it it's still vivid to this day. Considering it was made back in 2006 the animation and the art are amazing. Also, the soundtrack doesn't disappoint.
Number 7 - Cowboy Bebop
A world set in the near future, with colorful characters and great plot - Cowboy Bebop is one of the most iconic shows in the anime industry. And i'm not the only one who says that! :D
Well-balanced with high density action and light-hearted comedy, Cowboy Bebop is a space Western classic and an homage to the smooth and improvised music it is named after. The animation is great, the art is great, the music is amazing and i bet you'll fall in love with Spike after a just few episodes.
Number 6 - Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
I recommend this instead of the 2009 adaptation for beginners, cause i think it touches the subjects more 'new-comer' friendly. If you want a better adaptation of the original source, you should watch Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, but if you are still in the early stages of anime watching, go with this one.
This show is about life, and choices and love and right about everyone of them. The main characters, Edward and Alphonse are two young brothers who are trying to make up for a very big mistake that they made long time ago.
Having a few over 50 episodes it's not a easy watch, and clearly requires much time, but if you have a few days off, or you just want to keep being entertained for quite a while this is a must for you!
Number 5 - Fairy Tail
A popular show, with lots of fans in the anime community - Fairy Tail has a bit of everything. Although it's a long show and has more than a few cliches, i would definitely recommend this to any new anime watcher.
Focused on magic and the power of friendship this anime is more suited for kids or teens, but can be seen by everyone. With over 250+ episodes and an ongoing manga, this mainstream series is considered by many a commercial success.
If you want to laugh and be entertained for a good period of time i suggest you start watching Fairy Tail right away!
Number 4 - InuYasha
Magic, supernatural with hints of real life, InuYasha is a all-in-one series for a new comer. Starring a normal girl that gets dragged down into a well by a magical demon, this show promises quality time from the start.
With great action scenes and good life lessons this anime is loved throughout the community. Although it aired from 2000 to 2004, the look and feel of InuYasha are very nice. Again, like Fairy Tail, it's long show counting 160+ episodes so it's not a walk in the park, but i strongly recommend this if you have the time to watch all of it!
Number 3 - Sword Art Online I & II
A very, very popular show. Well known by anyone that hasn't lived under a rock for the last 3-5 years. This show is not the best one, doesn't have the best plot, or characters but it makes up for it's flaws in animation, music and art.
In my opinion is one of the best gateway anime out there. Made in 2012 by A-1 Pictures, this series has transcended the anime world borders and got a lot of new people hooked, and for that i thank you Kirito, you female killer, you. Anyways, back to the topic. Having a modern atmosphere, decent fight scenes and stuuning visuals, SAO is a light, easy-to-binge-watch show with 'only' 25 episodes for the first season and 24 for the second.
Take a look at this one and let me know in the comments below if i was right or not.
Number 2 - Naruto & Naruto Shippuden
This is one that needs no introduction.
As you might've read in the introduction of this article, this was my own gateway anime. A brilliant story about a young ninja that was hated by many but strived and become the best. One of the big 4 anime shows(Naruto, Bleach, DBZ & One Piece), Naruto is standing on top of the most anime sites and community forums.
I fell in love with the most unpredictable ninja in less than 10 episodes and i think you will do the same. The story is very long, the source material having 700 chapters that spawned into two anime shows - Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. The first one has over 200 episodes and the second it's still airing today, with almost 500 episodes.
So, if you have A LOT of time on your hands and you want to know what everyone is talking about leave everything and go watch Naruto right now! It has comedy, action, drama, supernatural elements, fights, tears, blood and pretty much everything else. It has it's flaws, of course, but i will not focus on those in this article.
And of course at Number 1, the only possible option left - DBZ
Well if i couldn't write an introduction for Naruto, for this one is even harder. It's THE MOST popular anime in the west, and i think it has surpassed Pokemon by now.
This show is PERFECT for a newbie. It has a lot of action, great humor and very funny characters. Son Goku is already known by everyone, from games, memes and other internet stuff so i think it will be an easy journey to begin, for everyone. It's not the best show from this list, obviously, it hasn't got the most epic villans, or plot, but it's a very entertaining one and kept people glued to the screen for over two decades now.
The story has, i don't know how many shows exactly, but the first one aired in the 80's. In this article and in my recommendation for number 1, i will be focusing on Dragon Ball Z. A series that came out in the late 80's and finished airing in the late 90's. and is the most popular of the entire Dragon Ball franchise.
DBZ is 291 episodes long, and you can find it anywhere with dub or sub and translated in almost any language there is. So, if you are new here, check this show out, if you are a veteran sorry to bore you with this all-known DBZ info :D
And that's all folks! This was my top 10 gateway anime list. I hope you enjoyed it, and i hope it will help somebody choose a show in their liking. If you have anything to add, or correct and such don't be shy and use the comments system below.
Thanks !
That show for me, and my friends, was magical, the amount of knowledge you could learn from it was stunning, and it's stunning even to this day.
After that, many years had passed and after watching DB and DBZ, Naruto started to air on a local TV channel AXN.
Naruto was airing early in the morning of everyday from Monday to Friday, and because I was like 13 or 14 I could watch it every day (my high school classes were in the afternoon). I think after seeing more than 100 episodes on TV I've fallen in love with the show and started to scour the internet for information about it. That's when I found out that DB, DBZ & Naruto were anime, a name for cartoons made in Japan.
With every bit of new information about this new world, I was getting more and more interested in the genre, so I started to watch more and more anime. I was buying or renting VHS, I was looking for shows on TV and I got pretty hooked.
Long time has passed since than and now I can say I'm pretty much a veteran in anime. I watched all kinds of shows - some were great, some were boring, some were using fanservice, some were for mature audiences and some were for kids. I love many shows but I know that if you are not accustomed with the anime world some of them may look weird, or even scare you off.
So I thought I put up a list with the easiest anime to watch as a beginner, so called - gateway anime. Shows that can hook up almost everyone that has never seen an anime before, or seen just a few generic ones.
This is my TOP 10 Gateway Anime list.
(These rankings will be noted by the gateway factor, and by that i mean - how easy and watchable is the respective show for a beginner. Better shows will have a lower rank because they are harder to comprehend or they have elements that might confuse a new comer)
Number 10 - Legend of the Galactic Heroes
This show is long ride having over 100 episodes so it might bore you, if you are new to anime, but if you have a taste for great character development and you like shows like Game of Thrones this is going to be your thing. The animation is a bit dated, because the show started in 1988 and lasted until 1997, but i bet that after a few episodes you'll not pay attention to that anymore.
Genres: Drama, Military, Sci-Fi, Space | Studios: Artland | Source: Novel
Number 9 - Spice & Wolf
This is an amazing show. It's a fan favorite and it goes for all types and ages. The 'veterans' love it, the new comers love it and, it's a great way to get into anime.
The show focuses on the life of a lonely merchant wandering from town to town in seach of good deals and good life lessons.
I don't want to spoil too much of the plot so i'll keep it simple, but I can bet my right arm that you'll love this gold piece.
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Romance | Studios: Imagin | Source: Light novel
Number 8 - Death Note
A show like this does not come out very often. Trust me, i've seen a lot and you cannot compare it to almost any other show in terms of uniqueness.
A supernatural thriller that will keep your mind busy, and your body at the edge of your chair. A great piece for everyone, veterans and beginners alike. Well made, by the famous studio MadHouse, Death Note is there to leave a mark in every viewer's mind. This was one of the first shows i watched and the memory of it it's still vivid to this day. Considering it was made back in 2006 the animation and the art are amazing. Also, the soundtrack doesn't disappoint.
Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller | Studios: Madhouse | Source: Manga
A world set in the near future, with colorful characters and great plot - Cowboy Bebop is one of the most iconic shows in the anime industry. And i'm not the only one who says that! :D
Well-balanced with high density action and light-hearted comedy, Cowboy Bebop is a space Western classic and an homage to the smooth and improvised music it is named after. The animation is great, the art is great, the music is amazing and i bet you'll fall in love with Spike after a just few episodes.
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Space | Studios: Sunrise | Source: Original
Number 6 - Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
I recommend this instead of the 2009 adaptation for beginners, cause i think it touches the subjects more 'new-comer' friendly. If you want a better adaptation of the original source, you should watch Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, but if you are still in the early stages of anime watching, go with this one.
This show is about life, and choices and love and right about everyone of them. The main characters, Edward and Alphonse are two young brothers who are trying to make up for a very big mistake that they made long time ago.
Having a few over 50 episodes it's not a easy watch, and clearly requires much time, but if you have a few days off, or you just want to keep being entertained for quite a while this is a must for you!
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Military | Studios: Bones | Source: Manga
Number 5 - Fairy Tail
A popular show, with lots of fans in the anime community - Fairy Tail has a bit of everything. Although it's a long show and has more than a few cliches, i would definitely recommend this to any new anime watcher.
Focused on magic and the power of friendship this anime is more suited for kids or teens, but can be seen by everyone. With over 250+ episodes and an ongoing manga, this mainstream series is considered by many a commercial success.
If you want to laugh and be entertained for a good period of time i suggest you start watching Fairy Tail right away!
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Magic, Shounen | Studios: A-1 Pictures | Source: Manga
Number 4 - InuYasha
Magic, supernatural with hints of real life, InuYasha is a all-in-one series for a new comer. Starring a normal girl that gets dragged down into a well by a magical demon, this show promises quality time from the start.
With great action scenes and good life lessons this anime is loved throughout the community. Although it aired from 2000 to 2004, the look and feel of InuYasha are very nice. Again, like Fairy Tail, it's long show counting 160+ episodes so it's not a walk in the park, but i strongly recommend this if you have the time to watch all of it!
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural | Studios: Sunrise | Source: Manga
Number 3 - Sword Art Online I & II
A very, very popular show. Well known by anyone that hasn't lived under a rock for the last 3-5 years. This show is not the best one, doesn't have the best plot, or characters but it makes up for it's flaws in animation, music and art.
In my opinion is one of the best gateway anime out there. Made in 2012 by A-1 Pictures, this series has transcended the anime world borders and got a lot of new people hooked, and for that i thank you Kirito, you female killer, you. Anyways, back to the topic. Having a modern atmosphere, decent fight scenes and stuuning visuals, SAO is a light, easy-to-binge-watch show with 'only' 25 episodes for the first season and 24 for the second.
Take a look at this one and let me know in the comments below if i was right or not.
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance | Studios: A-1 Pictures | Source: Light novel
Number 2 - Naruto & Naruto Shippuden
This is one that needs no introduction.
As you might've read in the introduction of this article, this was my own gateway anime. A brilliant story about a young ninja that was hated by many but strived and become the best. One of the big 4 anime shows(Naruto, Bleach, DBZ & One Piece), Naruto is standing on top of the most anime sites and community forums.
I fell in love with the most unpredictable ninja in less than 10 episodes and i think you will do the same. The story is very long, the source material having 700 chapters that spawned into two anime shows - Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. The first one has over 200 episodes and the second it's still airing today, with almost 500 episodes.
So, if you have A LOT of time on your hands and you want to know what everyone is talking about leave everything and go watch Naruto right now! It has comedy, action, drama, supernatural elements, fights, tears, blood and pretty much everything else. It has it's flaws, of course, but i will not focus on those in this article.
Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power | Studios: Studio Pierrot | Source: Manga
And of course at Number 1, the only possible option left - DBZ
Well if i couldn't write an introduction for Naruto, for this one is even harder. It's THE MOST popular anime in the west, and i think it has surpassed Pokemon by now.
This show is PERFECT for a newbie. It has a lot of action, great humor and very funny characters. Son Goku is already known by everyone, from games, memes and other internet stuff so i think it will be an easy journey to begin, for everyone. It's not the best show from this list, obviously, it hasn't got the most epic villans, or plot, but it's a very entertaining one and kept people glued to the screen for over two decades now.
The story has, i don't know how many shows exactly, but the first one aired in the 80's. In this article and in my recommendation for number 1, i will be focusing on Dragon Ball Z. A series that came out in the late 80's and finished airing in the late 90's. and is the most popular of the entire Dragon Ball franchise.
DBZ is 291 episodes long, and you can find it anywhere with dub or sub and translated in almost any language there is. So, if you are new here, check this show out, if you are a veteran sorry to bore you with this all-known DBZ info :D
And that's all folks! This was my top 10 gateway anime list. I hope you enjoyed it, and i hope it will help somebody choose a show in their liking. If you have anything to add, or correct and such don't be shy and use the comments system below.
Thanks !
Post a Comment