Getting into Anime
About This Project
A few years ago my partner finally agreed to watch anime with me. However, the first couple series we tried didn't really resonate with her. It was only because I've been watching the medium since I was a teenager I was able to go through various genres (thriller, Shonen, etc.) until we found one she liked.
While this sounds simple in hind sight, I ended up spending quite a bit of time going line by line on MyAnimeList trying to find the right series. Hence, I created this page so you can learn from my struggle and might have an easier time getting others into anime that I did.
- MyAnimeList - Catalogue series you plan to watch or completed
- Streaming Services - See #The Streaming Wars section below
Where to Start
Level 1
Simple anime that are fun, easy to follow, and maximum two seasons. A perfect place to start a new watcher.
- Cells at Work!
- Cowboy Bebop
- Death Note
- Demon Slayer
- Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Samurai Champloo
- Soul Eater
- Studio Ghibli Films
Level 2
More complex anime that are a little bit longer of a watch, have a slightly more complex plotline, but is still easy to follow along. Most series I've ranked as six or higher on my personal MAL are in this category.
- Attack on Titian
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- Naruto (Use this Cannon Episode List)
- Promised Neverland
- Sword Art Online
- Yu Yu Hakusho (Seasons 1 & 2)
Level 3
The final boss of anime; it's often super complex, layered in sub-text, or handle mature subjects and motifs. Anything listed on the Media That Haunts Me page would be a prime example of this.
Things To Consider
Making a Watchlist
The entire purpose of MyAnimeList is to create a watchlist, find recommendations, and rate the series you've completed. I'd highly recommend making anyone a watch list because there are so many anime series you can miss some hidden gems.
The Streaming Wars
It's no secret that there are way to many streaming services and media is scatter across all of them. While I love on-demand access, their overly pricey, only have specific series, and can have really Shitty Subbing & Dubbing. That being said, there are quite a few series that don't have these issues on streaming services, but more often than not I have these issues. I assure if you're having these issues with a streaming service you pay for, a visit to the Piracy Subreddit Megathread can easily fix it for you.
Please make sure to browse safely and take the some basic measures to protect yourself when sailing the seven seas. 🏴☠🦜
Shitty Subbing & Dubbing
Without sounding like a boomer, I remember when fan-subs were the only way to watch an un-dubbed series. Now with streaming services we have simulcasting, where series release in multiple languages simultaneously.
However, there are plenty of times a great series that has inaccurate subtitles or terrible dubbing. Not convinced? I'd refer you to the examples below:
Squid games is an award winning series and Media That Haunts Me with amazing casting and the subtitles do their acting justice; But it has unbearable English voice overs.
This clip is once of the most glaring issues that made its rounds on social media. Seriously the voice actors couldn't sound less serious during their line reads.
The article 'Why Aren't Problematic Translations Fixed? by Anime Feminist' covers the various issues of 'hetero-washing' in Yuri on Ice. While they do a much better job speaking on the subject, it boils down to a simple issue. They changed the deliberate use of the "lover" (koibito) to "girlfriend."
Which at face value not might seem off, but it entirely erases the intentional queer-subtext of the scene. The intent was to have character making subtle romantic advances on another male character while also trying to gauge their orientation. Knowing this, the subs are just tone-deaf.
There was even a time where fan-subs had karaoke styled on-screen lyrics for the opening and ending themes. If you're a long time fan like me, think about the last time you saw this? Have you ever seen a streaming service do this? Because I haven't, and I sorely miss it.
Maybe I'm getting old, maybe I've lost touch, but it feels like we settled for 'less-than' as part of the mass translation and simulcasting of anime in the modern era.
To-Watch
Below are some small lists of series I plan to watch with my partner and my daughter. Really the below is me thinking out loud so I don't have to pull it out of my ass later.