NoaIzumiStarter Anime
November 20th 2008 20:00
OK, you have a friend (or a “friend”) who you want to introduce to anime. Where’s the best place to start? Right here!
In compiling this list, I tried to stay away from the anime clichés, such as scantily clad girls or robots battling aliens. The clichés won’t necessarily turn someone off, but why reinforce any prejudices? (And most non-fans have them, let’s face it.) And the following is not an all-inclusive list; there are plenty of others that would excellent to start with for anyone no matter what their taste. Anime has something for everyone.
Except as noted, all of the following are rated for ages 13 and up.
Movies
Castle of Cagliostro, Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service, anything else by Hayao Mayazaki
Grave of the Fireflies
This is the classic about two orphans in Japan at the end of World War II. If your friend has any doubts that anime can be dramatic and serious, this will wipe them out.
Barefoot Gen
Very similar to Grave of the Fireflies. The story of a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing. 14 and up.
Steamboy
A movie in the “steampunk” genre, set in an alternate Victorian England.
Venus Wars
A movie in the military sci-fi genre, set on a terraformed Venus. Classic old-school.
Sci Fi
Animatrix
This collection of shorts is responsible for quite a few new fans. Of course, Matrix fans and anime are a natural combination. 15 and up.
Cowboy Bebop
Probably the anime non-anime fans are most likely to heard of.
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Yes, it is based on that Count of Monte Cristo, transposed into a future setting. It liives up to the original, and the artwork is amazing. 16 and up.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Also somewhat likely to have been heard of by non-anime fans, although the plot might be a little complex.
Outlaw Star
Patlabor
If you want to introduce someone to giant robot anime, this is a great place to start. The characters are unforgettable.
Planetes
Samurai 7
A sci-fi series, based on the movie The Seven Samurai.
Trigun
A sci-fi western in the same vein as Cowboy Bebop.
Zipang
Very similar to The Final Countdown (remember that?), but more in-depth. A modern Japanese destroyer is time-warped back to World War II.
Comedy
Azumanga Daioh
Very popular comedy about six high school girls.
Animation Runner Kuromi
Great little comedy about a woman starting in the anime business. A pretty good introduction to how the magic happens.
Dragon Half
Recently reviewed. Great fun, in a fantasy setting. 15 and up.
Hare Guu
Pure silliness. If you don’t laugh at this, your heart is made of stone.
Lupin III
Another classic old-school anime about a master thief. Also by the great Hayao Mayazaki. The TV series is the best place to start.
Midori Days
Sweet romantic comedy with a fantasy twist.
You’re Under Arrest
Fantasy
Claymore
16 and up.
Devil Hunter Yohko
A six-episode OVA, very similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 17 and up.
Karin
Romantic comedy about a teenage vampire.
Inuyasha
OK, granted, it went on for two seasons too long, but the first seasons are excellent. It has appeal for men and women (and boys and girls) alike.
Slayers
Great comic series, inspired partially by the Dungeons and Dragons game. I’d recommend the TV series. The OVA and movies are good, but Naga the Serpent’s outfit might be a little much for a new viewer, and definitely too much for children.
Someday’s Dreamers
Sweet drama about a young witch.
Drama
Area 88
Great military drama with lots of aerial action
Black Lagoon
Possibly the best anime series of the decade. 16 and up.
Case Closed
A great mystery series, sort of the Law and Order of anime.
Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof
OK, girls with guns is kind of an anime cliché, but it’s still a good action flick about a couple of lady bounty hunters with a great car chase scene in the middle. Based on a popular manga. 14 and up.
Noir
Another girls with guns anime, but more dramatic, and set mostly in Europe. 14 and up
Pumpkin Scissors
14 and up.
Samurai Champloo
Samurai action plus hip-hop music. 16 and up.
Now all you have to do is pick one (sorry, can't help with that). Happy watching!
In compiling this list, I tried to stay away from the anime clichés, such as scantily clad girls or robots battling aliens. The clichés won’t necessarily turn someone off, but why reinforce any prejudices? (And most non-fans have them, let’s face it.) And the following is not an all-inclusive list; there are plenty of others that would excellent to start with for anyone no matter what their taste. Anime has something for everyone.
Except as noted, all of the following are rated for ages 13 and up.
Movies
Castle of Cagliostro, Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service, anything else by Hayao Mayazaki
Grave of the Fireflies
This is the classic about two orphans in Japan at the end of World War II. If your friend has any doubts that anime can be dramatic and serious, this will wipe them out.
Barefoot Gen
Very similar to Grave of the Fireflies. The story of a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing. 14 and up.
Steamboy
A movie in the “steampunk” genre, set in an alternate Victorian England.
Venus Wars
A movie in the military sci-fi genre, set on a terraformed Venus. Classic old-school.
Sci Fi
Animatrix
This collection of shorts is responsible for quite a few new fans. Of course, Matrix fans and anime are a natural combination. 15 and up.
Cowboy Bebop
Probably the anime non-anime fans are most likely to heard of.
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Yes, it is based on that Count of Monte Cristo, transposed into a future setting. It liives up to the original, and the artwork is amazing. 16 and up.
Also somewhat likely to have been heard of by non-anime fans, although the plot might be a little complex.
Outlaw Star
Patlabor
If you want to introduce someone to giant robot anime, this is a great place to start. The characters are unforgettable.
Planetes
Samurai 7
A sci-fi series, based on the movie The Seven Samurai.
Trigun
A sci-fi western in the same vein as Cowboy Bebop.
Zipang
Very similar to The Final Countdown (remember that?), but more in-depth. A modern Japanese destroyer is time-warped back to World War II.
Comedy
Azumanga Daioh
Very popular comedy about six high school girls.
Animation Runner Kuromi
Great little comedy about a woman starting in the anime business. A pretty good introduction to how the magic happens.
Dragon Half
Recently reviewed. Great fun, in a fantasy setting. 15 and up.
Hare Guu
Pure silliness. If you don’t laugh at this, your heart is made of stone.
Lupin III
Another classic old-school anime about a master thief. Also by the great Hayao Mayazaki. The TV series is the best place to start.
Midori Days
Sweet romantic comedy with a fantasy twist.
You’re Under Arrest
Fantasy
Claymore
16 and up.
Devil Hunter Yohko
A six-episode OVA, very similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 17 and up.
Karin
Romantic comedy about a teenage vampire.
Inuyasha
OK, granted, it went on for two seasons too long, but the first seasons are excellent. It has appeal for men and women (and boys and girls) alike.
Slayers
Great comic series, inspired partially by the Dungeons and Dragons game. I’d recommend the TV series. The OVA and movies are good, but Naga the Serpent’s outfit might be a little much for a new viewer, and definitely too much for children.
Someday’s Dreamers
Sweet drama about a young witch.
Drama
Area 88
Great military drama with lots of aerial action
Black Lagoon
Possibly the best anime series of the decade. 16 and up.
Case Closed
A great mystery series, sort of the Law and Order of anime.
Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof
OK, girls with guns is kind of an anime cliché, but it’s still a good action flick about a couple of lady bounty hunters with a great car chase scene in the middle. Based on a popular manga. 14 and up.
Noir
Another girls with guns anime, but more dramatic, and set mostly in Europe. 14 and up
Pumpkin Scissors
14 and up.
Samurai Champloo
Samurai action plus hip-hop music. 16 and up.
Now all you have to do is pick one (sorry, can't help with that). Happy watching!
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
I've been curious about Steamboy especially for a while.
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I love Inuyasha, the Animatrix, and the bit of Cowboy Bebop I've seen. Kiki's delivery service sits on our shelf, but like a couple others on the shelf, I've never gotten around to watching it.
A good one even though it has some scantily clad women is also Key: The Metal Idol, though nobody's ever heard of it... I would say 16 for that one.
I grew up with Digimon and Sailor Moon. And a little later Inuyasha... There's a ton of great anime out there and I really don't understand why some people don't like it.
Great post.
~Dianna
Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
I can't believe I forgot about Hellsing! That's a pretty good starter anime too. Blood Plus is similar, with vampires in a modern setting. The short series Paranoia Agent is very creepy. And there's a short movie, called Kakurenbo: Hide and Seek, that aired on Cartoon Network a few years ago. Normally I'm not into horror, but that one blew me away.
Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
Thanks for the recommendation. I've heard of Key, but never seen it. It's definitely on my "To watch" list.
I don't know about in Australia, but anime and manga are still relatively new here, having gone mainstream only in the last ten years. So I'm guessing people still have preconceptions, one of which could very well be that anime and manga only deal with certain kinds of stories. I tried to give a hint of its immense variety here, but I know I've only scratched the surface.
Comment by Damo
Be Bop is outstanding.
Also Samurai Champaloo.
I am currently enjoying Death Note.
Too many others to list.
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
~Dianna
Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
Are anime and manga still considered fringe in Canada, or have they become more mainstream? For example, pretty much all the big bookstore chains here now have fairly large manga sections. Given that you share some of them, I would imagine the same is true up there, but I could be wrong.
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I have (unfortunately) not read much manga... there's a mall in my city that's all Asian Japanese/Korean/Chinese/Et cetera and they sell anime/manga, that's where we get most of ours-we have DVD, no cable.
~Dianna
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
How about starter anime for those of us that like scantily-clad girls?
Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
I'd also recommend Dirty Pair, the Slayers movies and OVAs (anything with Naga the Serpent), Full Metal Panic FUMOFFU, Galaxy Angel, Girls Bravo, Ikki-Tousen, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Those Who Hunt Elves, and Voogie's Angel.
Ooops, Love Hina, too (can't believe I forgot about that one).
Doki Doki School Hours and Azumanga Daioh have some good fan-service episodes as well.