The Best Anime for Beginners: 10 Shows to Start With

The best anime for beginners have three things in common: a story that grabs you in the first episode, a length you can actually finish, and no homework. You shouldn't need to know a single anime trope or watch a prequel to enjoy them.

That's how we built this list of anime for beginners. We started with the shows that critics and longtime fans recommend to newcomers again and again, then checked them against AniList scores and how easy they are to start. Every pick is on MyAnimeVerse with an English dub, and every entry tells you exactly how big the commitment is, from a 12-episode weekend binge to a 148-episode adventure.

We also skipped a few famous names on purpose. Very long shows like Naruto or One Piece are great, but they're a lot to take on as a first anime to watch. Start small, find what you like, and work up from there.

What makes the best anime for beginners

A great first anime isn't just a great anime. These are the things we looked for:

• A clear hook. You know who the hero is and what they want within the first episode or two.
• A manageable length. Most picks are 12 to 37 episodes. We flag the long ones clearly.
• A story that ends, or a first season that stands on its own. Nobody wants to start a show that never resolves.
• Range. Action, mystery, comedy, sports, romance and drama all appear below, so you can start with the genre you already love in movies or TV.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

If someone asks for one show to get into anime, this is the safest answer. Bones made it in 2009, it has a 90 score on AniList, and it's a complete story that ends exactly the way it should. Two brothers try to bring their mother back with alchemy, pay a terrible price, and set off to fix their mistake.

Why it works for beginners: it has a bit of everything. There's action, a mystery that keeps deepening, comedy that actually lands, and a villain plot with real stakes. It also explains its magic system clearly, so you never feel lost.

Commitment: 64 episodes, roughly 25 hours. That's a few weeks at a relaxed pace, but it rarely drags. It's for anyone who likes big, satisfying stories like the classic fantasy film trilogies.

2. Death Note

A high school student finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name he writes in it, and decides to use it to "clean up" the world. A brilliant, eccentric detective called L sets out to catch him. That's the whole premise, and it's one of the easiest pitches in anime.

Madhouse's 2006 adaptation plays like a cat-and-mouse thriller, which is why it's one of the most recommended anime for beginners. There's no fighting system to learn and no long lore dumps, just two geniuses trying to outthink each other. If you like crime dramas or detective stories, you'll feel at home immediately.

Commitment: 37 episodes, about 14 hours, and the story is complete. It's a great pick for viewers who think anime is "just for kids." Watch Death Note on MyAnimeVerse and browse more thriller anime after.

3. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Demon Slayer is the most popular show on this list, and a big reason so many people got into anime in the last few years. After his family is attacked by demons, Tanjiro sets out to turn his sister Nezuko, now a demon herself, back into a human.

The selling point is the animation. ufotable's fight scenes are some of the best-looking in any medium, and the 2019 first season has several episodes that show newcomers what anime can do visually. The story is simple and kind-hearted: Tanjiro is a genuinely good person, which makes him easy to root for.

Commitment: season 1 is 26 episodes, around 10 hours. Later seasons and films continue the story, so think of this as the start of a longer journey rather than the whole thing. Perfect for action fans. Start Demon Slayer here, then find more action anime.

4. SPY x FAMILY

A spy needs a fake family for a mission, so he adopts a little girl and marries a woman he barely knows. He doesn't know his wife is an assassin. Neither of them knows their daughter can read minds. It's a sitcom setup with spy-movie flair.

WIT STUDIO's 2022 series is the friendliest show here. Each episode is light, funny and mostly self-contained, and Anya, the daughter, is one of the most quotable characters in modern anime. It's low stakes in the best way, which makes it a good show to watch with a partner or family who aren't sure about anime yet.

Commitment: season 1 is 12 episodes, about 5 hours. You can finish it in a weekend, and more seasons are there if you love it. Watch SPY x FAMILY on MyAnimeVerse or browse more comedy anime.

5. Mob Psycho 100

Mob is the most powerful psychic alive, and he'd really rather just join a club and be a normal kid. His "mentor" Reigen is a con man with zero powers who exploits him for cash. Bones turned this setup into one of the funniest and kindest shows of 2016.

It's on the list because it's surprising. It looks rough and sketchy at first, then explodes into some of the wildest animation you'll ever see. Under the jokes, it's a story about growing up, and it's one of the few action shows where the message is "being a good person matters more than being strong."

Commitment: season 1 is 12 episodes, about 5 hours, and later seasons wrap the story up neatly. Great for fans of superhero stories who want something different.

6. HAIKYU!!

You don't need to care about volleyball to love Haikyu!!. Production I.G's 2014 series follows Hinata, a short kid with huge jumps, and Kageyama, a gifted setter nobody wants to play with. They hate each other, then become an unstoppable duo.

Sports anime is a great entry point because the rules are easy and the emotions are universal. Haikyu!! nails both. Every match is tense, every teammate gets a moment, and the show makes you care about kids you met an hour ago. It's also refreshingly positive: nobody is evil, they just want to win.

Commitment: season 1 is 25 episodes, about 10 hours, with more seasons to follow. If you like underdog sports films, start here. Watch HAIKYU!! on MyAnimeVerse, and see our picks for the best sports anime once you're hooked.

7. ERASED

Satoru, a struggling manga artist, keeps getting thrown a few minutes back in time whenever something bad is about to happen. Then one day he's sent back eighteen years, to the winter when a classmate went missing, and gets a chance to save her.

A-1 Pictures' 2016 mystery is short, tight and hard to stop watching. It's a thriller that works like a good streaming miniseries: each episode ends with a reason to start the next. It's also a nice reminder that anime isn't all battles and magic. Most of the story takes place in a small town in the snow, told through a grown man trying to act like a child, and that odd angle keeps it fresh.

Commitment: 12 episodes, about 5 hours. You can watch it in a single long evening, and it tells a complete story. For mystery lovers. Start ERASED here and find more mystery anime.

8. Violet Evergarden

If you think anime is all screaming and explosions, give Violet Evergarden a try. Kyoto Animation's 2018 drama follows a former soldier who takes a job writing letters for others, learning about human emotion one client at a time.

It's on this list because it's the easiest way into anime for people who love emotional dramas. Most episodes are built around a single client's story, so you can follow along even if you take breaks. It also has a score of 85 and some of the most beautiful animation ever made for TV. Nothing here relies on anime in-jokes, so it plays just as well for someone who has never seen a show from Japan.

Commitment: 13 episodes, about 5 hours, plus films if you want more. Have tissues ready. Watch Violet Evergarden on MyAnimeVerse, and see more drama anime.

9. Kaguya-sama: Love is War

Two top students run their school's student council, and they're obviously in love. The problem: each refuses to confess first, because confessing means losing. So they plot, scheme and mind-game each other over the smallest things.

A-1 Pictures' 2019 comedy is the best romantic comedy to start with. The narrator treats every tiny conversation like a war documentary, and the jokes come fast. It also gets more heartfelt as the series goes on. The supporting cast, especially the airheaded council secretary Chika, steals plenty of scenes. If you love sitcoms and rom-coms, it's an instant fit.

Commitment: season 1 is 12 episodes, about 5 hours, and each episode is split into short segments, so it's easy to watch a bit at a time. Watch Kaguya-sama: Love is War here or browse more romance anime.

10. Hunter x Hunter (2011)

This is the biggest commitment on the list, and it's here because it's worth it. Madhouse's 2011 series follows Gon, a boy who leaves his island to become a Hunter and find his father. He meets Killua, a runaway from a family of assassins, and their friendship drives everything.

It scores 89 on AniList, and it's a great "second step" anime. It starts bright and simple, then each arc changes genre: an exam, a heist, a deadly game, a dark war story. By the end you'll understand most of what makes shonen anime tick.

Commitment: 148 episodes, roughly 55 hours. Don't let that scare you: the arcs work like seasons, so you can stop after any of them. Start it once a shorter show on this list has you hooked.

Honorable mentions: more starter anime

My Hero Academia (2016) is a superhero school story that feels instantly familiar to Marvel fans. Season 1 is only 13 episodes.

The Promised Neverland (2019) is a 12-episode escape thriller about orphans who learn the truth about their home. Season 1 is the part everyone recommends.

Steins;Gate (2011) is a 24-episode time-travel story with a slow start and an incredible payoff. Better as your third or fourth anime than your first.

Cowboy Bebop is another classic starter, with 26 episodes of space bounty hunting and jazz. Cowboy Bebop is on MyAnimeVerse too, and it tops our list of the best dubbed anime.

How to start watching anime

Sub or dub?

Both are fine, and anyone who tells you otherwise is gatekeeping. Subtitles keep the original Japanese performances. Dubs let you watch the animation instead of reading, which helps a lot during fast fight scenes. A good tip for your first show: watch episode 1 both ways and stick with whichever keeps you more engaged. Every show on this list has an English dub on MyAnimeVerse.

Where to start

1. Pick by genre, not by hype. Love crime shows? Start with Death Note. Love sitcoms? SPY x FAMILY. Start with what you already enjoy.
2. Start short. A 12-episode show is a low-risk test. If it clicks, move up to something longer.
3. Always begin at episode 1 of the first season. Movies and later seasons usually assume you've seen what came before.
4. Give it three episodes. Many shows take a couple of episodes to find their rhythm.

Once you've found a favorite, browse the full library, explore the top-rated anime, or check the airing schedule to follow a new show week by week alongside fans. The fall 2026 season is a fun place to jump in live.

Best anime for beginners compared

FAQ

What anime should I watch first?

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the most common recommendation, and ours too. If 64 episodes feels like too much, try Death Note (37) or ERASED (12) first.

Is Naruto good for beginners?

It's iconic, but at 220 episodes for the original series alone, it's a big first step. Try a shorter show first, then come back to Naruto once you know you love long shonen stories.

Should beginners watch anime subbed or dubbed?

Whichever you enjoy more. Many newcomers start with dubs because it's easier to follow the action, then try subs later. There's no wrong choice.

What is the shortest good anime for beginners?

SPY x FAMILY, Mob Psycho 100, ERASED and Kaguya-sama each have 12-episode first seasons, roughly 5 hours. Any of them is an easy weekend binge.

Picking the best anime for beginners

The best anime for beginners is the one that makes you want to watch a second show. Start with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood if you want the classic answer, or pick the entry that matches your favorite genre and press play.

When you're ready for more, see the best anime of all time, catch up on the best anime of 2026, or explore more fantasy anime.