Hey guys! So lately, I’ve had a lot of friends who want to get into anime but don’t know where to start. I understand that it can be overwhelming, as there are thousands of anime out there. So today, I thought I’d share my best anime starter pack for rookies.
After 25 years of watching anime, I’m happy to share my own personal favorites. There’s an anime out there for everyone, whether you want to watch it yourself or with your children. Which is the reason I’m here. Now let’s dive into these anime!
The genre of anime that we’ll be exploring is:
As I’m writing this, I’ve learned that there are particular genres of anime that really pique my interest. Just because they work for me doesn’t mean that they’re going to work for you. There are a ton of different genres out there. Use this site to view all the different types: bebom. The anime that I’ll be sharing falls under these two genres.
Shonen
A genre of anime that focuses on a male protagonist who goes on an epic adventure while improving his skills. The main character usually specializes in a style of combat and learns core principles of what it means to be a man along the way. Shonen is definitely the most popular genre of anime, which I have watched throughout my life and still enjoy today at nearly 30 years of age.
Seinen
It has all the elements of a Shonen anime but takes it to the next level by having more mature themes. This genre of anime is geared more towards men. You’ll find everything in a Seinen anime, from graphic scenes to bloody fights and intense dialogue. I prefer this style of anime now that I’m older and so will a lot of adults.
1. Dragonball Z
Genre: Shonen
Sub-Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Overview
The first series that got me to fall in love with anime. The story follows a young boy named Goku, an aspiring martial artist. Goku inherits a magical dragonball after his grandpa passes away. After he meets a girl named Bulma, Goku learns the truth. She tells him that seven dragon balls exist, and when you collect all seven, a mystical dragon will appear to grant your wish.
From there, Goku would have countless adventures searching for the Dragon Balls. All while making friends and starting his own family. His skills as a martial artist would thrive through constant fights with powerful opponents.
Why is DBZ the perfect first anime?
Dragon Ball Z is the perfect anime to start with. It’s a timeless story anyone can relate to, no matter what phase of life you are in. There’s also plenty of fight sequences that you will love. You will feel a genuine connection to the characters as you watch the series unfold. It’s one of those anime where you’ll constantly find yourself going back to rewatching fights or speeches made by characters like Vegeta.
Goku is the perfect character that anyone will take a liking to. He is carefree, loves life, and spends his spare time doing what he loves (fighting). The anime is excellent at showing viewers the value of hard work and the benefit of sharpening one’s skills to hone their craft. These are key attributes you can use for success in your life.
The franchise is dubbed a GOAT anime and is a perfect conversation starter for others who love anime. I’ve made many friends over the years by just talking about growing up watching Dragonball Z as a kid.
Dragonball Z is always trending in pop culture, as many people grew up watching it. You see this in many actors, celebrities, and athletes. One of the most notable celebrities is Michael B. Jordan. He used Vegeta as inspiration for his Killmonger character in the 2018 Black Panther film.
Sub or dub?
DBZ is the perfect show to watch dubbed for people who have just started to watch anime. The voice actors do an incredible job of portraying the characters. While I do watch Dragonball Super in subbed because of how much earlier the episodes come out, I’m always going to prefer the dub version since that’s what I grew up with.
How do I watch?
Dragon Ball Z has three series that span throughout Goku’s life: Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragonball Super. When watching the series the traditional way, you’re looking at about 575 episodes of anime to watch.
However, I recommend watching Dragon Ball Z Kai instead of Dragon Ball Z. This will cut out fillers and unwanted scenes that don’t contribute to the main story. The dub voice cast also improves their performance since Kai is their second time portraying these characters. Dragon Ball Z Kai is a closer depiction of the manga Akira Toriyama wrote and will save you 124 episodes of time. Give it a shot if you want to save some time.
2. Naruto
Genre: Shonen
Sub-Genre: Action and Fantasy
Overview
Continuing on with the best anime starter pack, next we have Naruto. This story follows an orphaned child named Naruto with a demon fox sealed inside him at birth. Because of the demon, Naruto’s home, the Leaf Village, treated him like a monster his entire childhood.
Despite this, Naruto wants to be accepted by the village and aims to become the Hokage, the most powerful Ninja and a leader who protects the Leaf village. Throughout this series, you follow Naruto as he improves as a Shinobi and makes new friends.
Why is Naruto the perfect first anime?
Naruto is another anime that is great to start with. The plot will keep viewers enticed with the incredible fights and storyline. You’ll become invested in this world and see the Leaf Village as your second home. There’s also plenty of humor in between episodes to keep you laughing. Everyone will have a character that they find relatable. For me personally, I can relate to Rock Lee’s hard work ethic.
The anime will teach young viewers the value of friendship for anyone struggling socially. At the beginning of the series, Naruto is a loner who doesn’t have a single friend. But he goes out of his way to make friends and eventually forms a social circle that he can count on. You’ll see through Naruto that making new friends is easy. But you’ll have to step out of your comfort zone.
Naruto is also prevalent in showing you to never give up on your dreams. His dream of becoming the Hokage is a stretch for a kid with no talent. But it’s through his hard work and perseverance that he gets closer to achieving his dream. It serves as a reminder that there is beauty in the struggle of chasing a dream.
Naruto has also been called a GOAT anime, being an inspiration for many icons in pop culture. NBA superstar Zion Williamson is a big fan and has created a line of Naruto-inspired Jordan shoes.
Tips when Watching
The total number of episodes between Part 1 and Part 2 is 720. I highly recommend you use a filler guide when watching Naruto to save time. Fillers are additional side stories that don’t add any relevance to the core plot. You’ll find that Naruto has a ton of fillers. It becomes an annoyance when you’re so into the main story, and it flips to a filler midway. Trust me, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches by using a filler guide.
Sub or dub?
I have watched Naruto subbed and dubbed. When comparing the two, I would recommend the subbed version. The voice acting is much better, as you can feel the intense emotion behind the words in sub. Certain characters in the dub seem off to me, like Naruto and Sakura. But the dub voice actor for Madara Uchiha might be the best thing I’ve heard since James Earl Jones’s portrayal of Mufasa in The Lion King.
3. Blue Lock
Genre: Shonen
Sub Genre: Sports Thriller
Overview
Isagi Yoichi is an average 17-year-old soccer player who gets invited to Blue Lock, a boot camp to create the best striker in Japan. Through Blue Lock, Isagi must face players more skilled than he is. But Isagi is relentless at keeping his dream alive and hopes to devour every player in the camp until he becomes the best.
Why is Blue Lock a great first anime?
Blue Lock is extremely popular now and only has one season, so it’s easy to catch up. I loved it so much that I had to read the manga because I became so invested in the story. This anime is also the most realistic one that I’ve mentioned on this list, as a struggling athlete is much more common than a human with super strength.
Blue Lock is great for anyone struggling to improve in a craft that feels like they’ve hit a wall and can’t improve.
Isagi is a perfect example of this. To improve his skills as a soccer player, he challenges players who are much more skilled than he is, seeing how he can use his gifts, like his high IQ in the game, to dismantle the best players. Isagi puts himself in the most chaotic situations when chasing his dream. And I feel that’s important for anyone who wants to improve in a craft.
Subbed or dubbed?
The anime is available in both languages. I haven’t watched the dub but the performance of the subcast is superb. My favorite character in this anime is Nagi Seishiro voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki.
4. One Punch Man
Genre: Shonen
Subgenre: Action and Comedy
Overview
This anime follows the life of Saitama, a 25-year-old man who pursues his dream of becoming a hero. Saitama has incredible strength, being able to finish off any opponent with one punch. In this anime, you see how Saitama navigates through the rankings of the Hero Association with his pupil Genos.
Why is One Punch Man a great first anime?
There are only two seasons in One Punch Man, making it easy to catch up if you decide to bite the bullet. One Punch Man is great for men who want to get into anime. You will find relatable topics, like losing your hair or trying to find stable work. However, regardless of your age, I think you’ll like this anime for the jokes and action.
One Punch Man is super funny. Saitama is an introvert at heart and is awkward in a social setting. I found this extremely relatable to myself. The jokes used in this anime have me laughing nonstop. Scenes that stand out are Genos trying to explain his origin story or King pretending to be a strong warrior, which had me dying.
The fight scenes in One Punch Man are jaw-dropping. I’m always surprised at how much they can fit into a short 12-episode season. A good fight you should look for when watching the first season is Saitama versus Boros. This is the first time Saitama hasn’t been able to beat an opponent with a punch. The animation used in this fight is top-tier, and the action sequences are amazing.
Overall, you can’t go wrong if you decide to make One Punch Man your first anime.
Subbed or dubbed?
I have also watched this anime in both sub and dub formats. You can’t go wrong either way. This anime is super entertaining, no matter what language you decide to watch it in. I was cracking up at every joke, whether it was in sub or dub.
5. Demon Slayer
Genre: Shonen
Sub-Genre: Action, Fantasy
Overview
Continuing with the best anime starter pack, we have Demon Slayer. That follows the life of Tanjiro, a teenager who works as a coal burner and lives in the mountains with his family.
One day after work, while coming home. He discovers that his entire family has been slaughtered by demons, except for his younger sister, Nezuko. Unfortunately, she became a demon herself. Tanjiro, determined to return his sister to humanity, becomes a demon slayer to find a cure for her.
Why is Demon Slayer the perfect first anime?
Demon Slayer is an excellent choice for newbies to start with. It’s a pretty new anime with only three seasons (57 episodes) and an extremely loyal fanbase worldwide. The sword fights in this anime are breathtaking, and you feel the intensity through the clashing of the blades. Demon Slayer also has a funny dynamic between the trio of Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu that will keep you entertained. These three will keep you laughing nonstop.
On top of that, Demonslayer is a great anime to remind viewers of the importance of a sibling relationship. The bond that Tanjiro and Nezuko share is incredible. All siblings who watch this series should work towards having a relationship like these two.
Subbed or dubbed?
This is an anime where I’ve only watched the dub version. The voice cast does a great job of doing the content justice. You should compare a few of the scenes (sub versus dub) and see what you prefer.
6. My Hero Academia (MHA)
Genre: Shonen
Sub-genre: Action
Overview
In a world protected by superheroes, people find their powers (quirks) manifesting at a young age. A teenager named Izuku Midoriya is one of the unfortunate few who are quirkless. Still, Midoriya strives to be a hero. When he meets his idol, Almight, he inherits his role model’s quirk, One For All (OFA). The series follows Deku as he enrolls in UA High to learn how to master OFA and become a hero alongside his classmates.
Why is MHA such a great first anime?
I think My Hero Academia is the perfect anime for somebody to start with. The story is a classic clash between good and evil. You’ll love everything from the incredible drama, fights, and comedy scenes. I’ve recommended it to several friends, and they all love it.
It’s also an anime with plenty of characters, and you learn about their lives. Similar to Naruto, everyone can find someone relatable in this anime. For me, I relate to Midoriya a lot. Because he wants to prove himself as a hero despite his limited skill set. I found this relatable to when I was a basketball player who was not athletic and had to use my fundamental skill set to play against more athletic players.
My Hero Academia (MHA) is a pretty new anime. MHA only has six seasons that total 138 episodes. That might seem like a lot, but it’s nothing when you compare it to Naruto or Dragonball Z. Seeing how popular the anime is today, I wouldn’t be surprised if MHA became a GOAT anime in the next 4–5 years.
Subbed or dubbed?
Like all the anime I’ve mentioned, MHA is available in sub and dub formats. I watch MHA in dub for the simple reason that Chris Sabbath voices Almight. Also known as Vegeta from DBZ, my favorite character of all time. Again, it all comes down to preference. I recommend comparing a few scenes to see which version you prefer more.
7. Vinland Saga
Genre: Seinen
Sub-Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama
Overview
For the final recommendation of the best anime starter pack, we look at Vinland Saga. The protagonist is a child named Thorfinn. He wants revenge on the Viking Askeladd for killing his father Thors. Thorfinn grows up among the Vikings as he trains for his future fight. He murders hundreds of people en route.
However, Thorfinn eventually realizes that violence isn’t always the answer. As he begins to question his purpose in life.
Vinland Saga is one of the first Seinen anime that I’ve watched. After watching it, I think I’ll try more Seinen anime, as I’m the intended audience, being an adult male. The anime is much more mature than anything else listed in this post. It is much more vulgar, with bloody battles, sex, and violence. However, if you can handle that, I’d recommend you give Vinland Saga a watch.
Thorfinn is the most complex protagonist I have ever seen in any anime. He starts as a bloodthirsty teenager obsessed with killing. But eventually, Thorfinn transitions into a leader that many people respect. His maturity over time is incredible. You’ll never see another character like him. All in all, I think that Vinland Saga is a perfect anime for adults who want content that is more mature.
Subbed or dubbed?
I’ve watched the subbed version of the anime, and I HIGHLY recommend you do as well. I’ve compared the scenes in both languages, and I dislike the performance of the dub voice cast. They don’t seem to do the content justice, especially the actor who portrayed Askeladd.
Where can you watch all of these anime?
So, I know I threw a ton of anime your guy’s way, and now you’re wondering. Where can I watch all of these shows? While several streaming platforms offer each of the anime I listed above, the region you live in might not allow you to access them.
So that’s why I think you’re better off using this site, aniwave. I’ve been using this site to watch anime for years. This site has the anime in both sub and dub formats. The content is free, and the site works great on a smart TV.
Give one a try!
So overall, that’s my version of the best anime starter pack that I would recommend to a beginner. I’ve enjoyed these stories, and I hope you do too. Are you thinking of trying out one of these anime? Let me know in the comments. If you liked this post, check out my critical analysis on Prince Vegeta. Thank you so much for reading, and as always, until next time.
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