Jun 2, 2021
10 Anime Shows For People Who Never Watch Anime
It’s okay if it’s your first time. Here are some standouts to start with.
With anime being more accessible and popular than ever across a variety of streaming platforms, it can be daunting for newcomers. If you’ve never tried watching anime before, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Or maybe you’re curious to try it, but are having trouble choosing what to start with.
For those who are unaware, anime originated in Japan, and that’s where the vast majority of it still comes from today. The word itself is a shortened form of the English word “Animation” and is pronounced similarly. Anime can often have complex characters and layers of depth to its stories, making for a completely different experience than most western cartoons, and appealing to more than just children as a result.
There are two distinct versions of anime that you‘ll hear about: “subbed” and “dubbed.” Subbed anime means it is released in its original Japanese audio format, with subtitles written in English. English voice over, called dubbing, is what is referred to as “dubbed” anime. Dubbing takes time to produce, often lagging months or even years behind a show’s subtitled release. Some anime shows never receive English dubs at all, and in those cases, subs are the only real choice for many viewers.
Folks that have never watched shows with subtitles before can find it intimidating, as it requires more focus, and it can be hard to keep up with the text speed at first. But like with many things, it becomes easier to keep pace and enjoy with time and practice. Of course, just watching English dubbed anime is also a fine choice, and there are more anime shows in English today than ever before.
With all of the above in mind, let’s take a look at some recommendations for shows that you might enjoy when starting out on your anime adventures.
Last Exile
Subbed or Dubbed?
Last Exile has both an English subtitled version and an English dub release.
What’s it about?
Set in a world that melds historic and futuristic themes, two courier pilots find themselves caught up in conflict and mystery when they rescue a young girl from certain peril.
Where to find it?
Last Exile is available to own from Funimation on DVD. You can also buy it digitally on Amazon’s Prime Video service. It is available to watch on Hulu for subscribers, or it can be streamed online for free with ads via Funimation’s website. It used to also be available to watch for free with ads on Crunchyroll, but at the time of writing is no longer viewable there.
What makes Last Exile special?
I could try to describe how Last Exile feels, but words would fail to capture its essence. A friend of mine recommended Last Exile to me, saying it was his favorite. By the time I had finished watching the show, I could understand why. I’ve watched hundreds of anime shows over nearly 2 decades, and when he asked if I knew of any others that were like it, I smiled and said “They don’t make them like this one.”
In truth, only a very small number of anime shows that I had seen had left me with the same kind of feeling as Last Exile, and I mean that in the best way possible. For the curious, the others that came to mind for me at the time were RahXephon and Eureka Seven, but of course that was just my personal experience. Your mileage may vary, but Last Exile is often overlooked, and I think that’s a shame given its quality. I hope more viewers come to discover and enjoy it.
Laid-Back Camp
Subbed or Dubbed?
At the time of writing, Laid-Back Camp is only available in its original Japanese audio format with English subtitles.
What’s it about?
A group of girls having wholesome fun and enjoying camping in scenic locales as part of the Outdoor Activities Club at their school.
Where to find it?
Laid-Back Camp can be streamed online for free with ads via Crunchyroll. At the time of writing, that is the only official way to watch the series in the US.
What makes Laid-Back Camp special?
Just like Last Exile is a rarity, so is Laid-Back Camp, but in a different way. It’s one of a very few anime shows (among the likes of Flying Witch and Non-Non Biyori) that manages to be genuinely relaxing to watch. If you’re feeling stressed, or like you just want something cozy and relaxing to watch, this is an excellent choice.
The pleasant music, the beautiful scenery, the slower pacing of the show, a sprinkle of relatable humor, and at the end of the day it’s a show all about girls enjoying camping and their time together as friends. It’s hard to find anything about it to dislike.
Dr. Stone
Subbed or Dubbed?
Dr. Stone is available in both subtitled and English dub formats.
What’s it about?
A brilliant high school science student is the first to awaken over 3000 years after a strange phenomenon turns life on Earth to stone. Using his intellect and the power of science, he leads the charge in civilizing a primitive society and putting Earth back on the fast track to modernization.
Where to find it?
Dr. Stone is available to stream for free online with ads via Crunchyroll and also on Funimation’s website as well as VRV.co. It is available to own digitally on Amazon’s Prime Video service, and on Blu-Ray and DVD from Funimation.
What makes Dr. Stone special?
Dr. Stone is like a refreshing breeze, a breath of fresh air. The focus on using science and ingenuity to solve problems in a primitive world is a unique and interesting approach compared to other stories in the anime world at large. The way conflicts are handled feels revolutionary and novel, and even though it falls into the category of “shonen” anime (usually known for having a focus on flashy battles, or conflicts in the story being resolved through force) Dr. Stone strives for something much more interesting and meaningful than the average series in its genre.
Hikaru No Go (Hikaru’s Go)
Subbed or Dubbed?
Hikaru no Go is available in both English subtitled and dubbed formats.
What’s it about?
When searching around in some of his grandfather’s old belongings, a young boy stumbles upon a Go board. But to his surprise, the board is haunted by the ghost of an ancient Go instructor, who has a lingering regret of being unable to accomplish the perfect game during his lifetime. The ghost hopes to convince the young boy to take up Go, and fulfill his dream in his stead.
Where to find it?
You can watch the show online for free with ads on Crunchyroll in both the subtitled and dubbed formats, and on VRV as well. It is available to Hulu subscribers in both dubbed and subbed formats too. It is also available to own digitally on Amazon’s Prime Video service.
What makes Hikaru No Go special?
What’s fascinating about Hikaru no Go is its ability to draw you into the drama and excitement of playing a board game. The show buckles you in for a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, as viewers get to see Hikaru’s path from a complete novice, to a prodigy that shakes up the Go world. You might be surprised by how invested you become. If you’re really enjoying the series, each loss is felt, and each win is celebrated right alongside the cast of characters. If you’re unfamiliar with the game, it’ll teach you a bit about it along the way too as an added bonus.
Food Wars
Subbed or Dubbed?
Both a subtitled version and an English dubbed version exist for Food Wars.
What’s it about?
A father closes down their family restaurant to perfect his cooking skills in Europe, but before doing so, he enrolls his son, Soma Yukihira, in Japan’s top culinary school. Soma is determined to surpass even his father’s legendary cooking skills, but with a graduation rate of only 10 percent, he’ll be put to the test in cooking competitions where only the best dishes prevail.
Where to find it?
Food Wars can be viewed online for free with advertisements via Crunchyroll and VRV.co. Netflix subscribers, HBO Max subscribers, HiDive Subscribers, as well as Hulu members also have access to the series. At the time of this writing, it is also airing on Adult Swim. It is available to own on Blu-Ray from Sentai Filmworks as well.
What makes Food Wars special?
Do you like food? If you answered “Yes” then this is the anime for you.
With a fun cast of characters, and a whole lot of delicious looking eats, Food Wars takes the cake for anime series for the aspiring chef or food connoisseurs, and everybody else who can appreciate a show about cooking too. It even throws in some spice with its dramatic flair, tense food battles and competitions between the characters. The fights take place in the kitchen, and the weapons of choice are creativity and ingenuity in making dishes that adhere to the themes and rules of the culinary showdown.
Food Wars loves to go in-depth with the commentary as judges determine the whats and the whys of the food tasting so good. It even has a silly penchant for what I like to call “foodgasms” during climactic scenes, as the show tries to depict the deliciousness of a food in as visually over the top way that it can, to the point of it being mostly comedy.
Just one tip before you watch this series though: don’t watch it while you’re hungry. Eat something first, or better yet, grab a snack to munch on while you’re watching. If you watch an episode while you’re hungry, you’ll be salivating and listening to your stomach grumble the whole time.
Ouran High School Host Club
Subbed or Dubbed?
This series is available with English subtitles, as well as an English language dub.
What’s it about?
Despite being poor, Haruhi finds herself enrolled in a school for the wealthy with the help of a scholarship. While getting her bearings at the school, she stumbles upon the strange, and strangely popular, Ouran Host Club. As she goes to leave however, she accidentally breaks an expensive vase she cannot afford to replace.
At first, the Host Club members mistake her for a male, and decide to have her work at the Host Club to cover the bill. She proves to be so popular with the visitors, that even after the members of the club find out the truth, they keep her secret hidden from their clientele and continue as if nothing had changed. Before long, Haruhi finds herself among friends at the club, and gains a place to belong, regardless of status or appearances.
Where to find it?
You can watch the show online for free with ads on Funimation’s website. It is also available to watch on Netflix, as well as on Hulu for subscribers to those services. It can be purchased digitally to own on Amazon in both the English dubbed and the original Japanese Audio with English subtitles formats. It was also released on DVD by Funimation and later on Blu-Ray as well.
What makes Ouran High School Host Club special?
For fans of comedy, romance, and slice of life themes, you could do a lot worse than Ouran High School Host Club. The cast of characters is unique and fun, with plenty of depth and appeal to them. Haruhi gradually goes from an outsider to one of the regulars, and it gives you a good feeling to see the bonding and trust that builds over time with each of the members, as they slowly open up to her and become friends.
In case you’re wondering about the host club part, it’s rated TV-14, so nothing too scandalous or risque goes on. And unlike many anime series out there, Ouran High School Host Club has a warm and satisfying conclusion, so it won’t leave you feeling heartbroken or unfulfilled.
Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion
Subbed or Dubbed?
Both English dubbed and Japanese with English subtitles versions of the show are available.
What’s it about?
A young man with a genius-level intellect has a long-standing grudge against The Empire of Britannia for invading his home country of Japan, and vows to get back at them. One day he finds himself in the middle of an incident, and stumbles upon a mysterious girl, who bestows upon him a dangerous and influential power known as Geass. From that day forward, he begins to enact his plans for revenge.
Where to find it?
You can watch Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion online for free with ads via Funimation’s website. It is also available for Hulu members, as well as Netflix members. It is available for purchase to own digitally on Amazon’s Prime Video service. It was made available to own as a complete collection on Blu-Ray as well as separate DVD releases by Funimation.
What makes Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion special?
Code Geass is a shining example of perhaps the greatest game of cat-and-mouse to ever grace the animated world. You’re in for a thrilling ride with this show, with many twists and turns that keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat. I won’t spoil it for viewers, but including the second season (sometimes listed separately as “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2”) it’s also a contender for one of the best anime endings of all time.
My Hero Academia
Subbed or Dubbed?
Both subtitled and English dubbed versions of My Hero Academia are available.
What’s it about?
In a world where mankind has developed superpowers, 80% of the population has a “quirk” to call their own. Superheroes and villains become the norm in society, and young prodigies are trained into full-fledged heroes at super-powered prestigious academies. Young Midoriya Izuku wants nothing more than to become a hero, but he is one of the “quirkless” 20%. Despite that major setback, he holds tight to his dream, and does the best he can to gain acceptance into the world of superheroes.
Where to find it?
My Hero Academia is an incredibly popular series, so it will be easy to find. It’s available to watch online for free on a variety of sites, such as: Crunchyroll, Funimation, and VRV to name a few. It is also available for Hulu members to enjoy too.
It used to be available on Netflix as well, but at the time of writing does not appear to be possible to watch on that service, at least in the United States. Given the popularity of the series however, Netflix will likely get it again at some point in the future.
It has also been made available to purchase on DVD and Blu-Ray combo pack from Funimation.
What makes My Hero Academia special?
This is it, action fans. If you’re a superhero lover, or even if you aren’t, this is a show that you’d be hard pressed to find true competition for. Its popularity isn’t for nothing. There’s a lot to like about it: creative superpowers, interesting characters with depth and growth over the course of the series, great twists to the story, a killer soundtrack, questions of morality and perspective on good vs. evil, and an energy that runs through the whole series that is unlike anything that has come before it.
A shining star among its genre, and anime as a whole, My Hero Academia is a fantastic underdog-wins-the-day story, with intensity, excitement and thrills aplenty. Even if superheros and battles and all that jazz isn’t usually your cup of tea, you might want to watch the first few episodes and give this show a try just the same. There’s really something special here that goes beyond words. You have to experience and feel it to understand, and don’t be surprised if you’re soon hooked and loving every minute of it.
Cowboy Bebop
Subbed or Dubbed?
Cowboy Bebop is available in both English subtitled and English dubbed formats.
What’s it about?
The year is 2071, and Spike Spiegel and his ragtag group of space bounty hunters are doing their best to find their fortunes. They get into and out of all sorts of binds during their travels from planet to planet, all while trying to catch the galaxy’s most dangerous criminals, and sometimes even managing to.
Where to find it?
You can watch Cowboy Bebop for free on Adult Swim’s website, and from Funimation. It is also available for Hulu members to enjoy. You can purchase the series digitally via Amazon’s Prime Video service, as well as on VUDU, and Apple’s iTunes store. The series is available to own on DVD as well as on Blu-Ray from Funimation.
What makes Cowboy Bebop special?
This humble writer is going to let you in on a secret that will make me unpopular: I don’t actually care much for Cowboy Bebop. Except for the soundtrack. The music was fantastic. And that’s okay to not be a fan of a popular series. So why does it make the list then?
Cowboy Bebop is the classic “gateway” anime series for so many viewers in the west, that it would be remiss to not include it on a list like this one. It’s accessible and perhaps more relatable for a lot of western viewers who have never seen an anime before, and despite the decades since its original release, it remains a unique experience that has still never quite been replicated in the years that have followed.
Cowboy Bebop has many loyal and passionate fans who consider it to be peerless and timeless. Personally I have nothing bad to say about it other than it wasn’t to my tastes or preferences, so don’t let these words discourage you. You’d be in very good company if the first anime series you end up trying is this one, and there are countless worse shows out there that you could start with.
Natsume’s Book Of Friends
Subbed or Dubbed?
Natsume’s Book of Friends is only available in Japanese Audio with English Subtitles at the time of writing.
What’s it about?
Natsume has been able to see spirits since he was a young child. Whenever he tried to share this secret with others, his life circumstances became more difficult, so he tried his best to hide his ability in order to keep the peace. As he grows into a young man however, he inherits a book that belonged to his grandmother, shedding light onto why exactly spirits tended to gather around him. The spirits are bound to the book by a contract, so Natsume decides to put his ability to use and sets out to free each of them from its pages.
Where to find it?
You can watch Natsume’s Book of Friends for free online with ads from Crunchyroll (Season 4, Season 5, and Season 6 are all on separate pages.) At the time of writing, Funimation’s website also has Seasons 1 thru 4 available to watch for free as well. You can purchase Seasons 1–4 digitally on Amazon’s Prime Video service. And NIS America has made Seasons 1 thru 4 available for purchase on either Blu-Ray or DVD depending on the season in question.
What makes Natsume’s Book Of Friends special?
If this list was one entry long rather than 10, Natsume’s Book of Friends would be that one. It is a standout series, though perhaps that would come as a surprise to many at first glance. From the outside it doesn’t seem like anything all that special, but once you start watching it, the charm and appeal it holds becomes clear.
What really sets this series apart is its focus on kindness, humility, and harmonious co-existence with those who are different than us. It is a show that really reminds us all in a gentle and encouraging way, just what it means to be human, and of the things that are truly important in life. The cast of characters is very imaginative and interesting, with many of them based around Japanese folklore. Rather than taking the same path of so many other shows and being about fighting or struggles for superiority, Natsume’s focus is more on taking care and consideration for the lives of others, and giving freedom back to those who lost their way long ago.
It’s a deeply fulfilling experience that proves in its own humble way that humanity’s virtues are still alive and well, and that at the deepest level we are all inherently loving beings. You’ll feel better about yourself, and maybe even the world we all live in, for having watched it.
