Welcome back to my blog ! Today's post is all about animes. I started watching anime when I was young with my brother, starting with the one and only Pokemon. Since then, I have watched many animes and here are my recommendations for people who want to start watching anime or for people who are looking for new animes to watch.
If you prefer short animes:
- Erased (drama, suspense, fantasy) – 12 episodes FINISHED :
If you want something with suspense and a little bit of magic, this anime is made for you. It is the perfect way to start anime for people because it is easy to follow. The ending is not the best but you can read the manga to know more.
When Satoru Fujinuma was a child, a criminal killed 3 of his schoolmates. 18 years later, Saturo lives a normal life except for one thing: he can go back a few minutes into the past to change the future. When a tragic event occur, Saturo goes back 18 years in the past, can he save his friends this time?
--> If you liked Erased, you might like Orange (about suicide) & Ano Hana (grief)
- Given (comedie, romance, music) - 11 episodes + 1 Movie:
Given is perfect for people who like music and want a cute romance story. The anime is also talking about grief and guilt. You get attached to the character very quickly. Given is the perfect anime to start with if you are very new to cartoons/mangas and want something that feels like a TV show. Trust me, you will listen to Fuyunohanashi on REPEAT.
Given follows a band and how they interact with each other. It all starts when Ritsuka meets Mafuyu who asks him to teach him how to play the guitar. Soon, Ritsuka asks Mafuyu to join his band, with Akihiko and Haruki. The anime mainly focuses on the relationship between Ritsuka and Mafuyu, and the mysterious past the of the latter. The movie focuses on the relationship between the two other member of the band : Akihiko and Haruki.
--> If you liked Given, you might like : Paradise Kiss (focuses on fashion) & Kids on the slope (music and friendship)
- Maid Sama (comedy/romance) - 26 episodes FINISHED:
Maid Sama has the usual length for an anime. It only has one season so it is pretty quick to watch. It is perfect for people who want a love story with two strong and independent main characters. I fell in love with both Misaki and Usui honestly, they both are perfect. It is very hard to find anime with well-written female characters and I feel like even though Maid Sama has some flaws, Misaki is a good female role model.
Misaki Ayuzama is the president of the student council at Seika, a former all-boy school. Her goal: to make the school a better place for female students and give it a better reputation. But Misaki has a secret: she works in a Maid Café to support her family since her dad left. However, everything changes when Takumi Usui, the most popular boy at Seika finds out about her extra scholar activity. Will he keep the secret ?
--> If you liked Maid Sama, you might like: Fruit Baskets, Woitaku or Oran High School Host Club
- 91 days (crime drama, thriller) - 13 episodes FINISHED:
If you like everything related to the mafia, this anime is perfect for you. The dark setting will give you goosebumps. Between betrayals and assassinations,
This anime is perfect for people who want something anchored in reality.
After seeing his entire family murdered in front of his eyes, Angelo Lagusa is forced to hide. The story is set seven years later, when Angelo, under his new name Avilio, takes the path to revenge by infiltrating the mafia and destroying them from the inside.
--> If you liked 91 Days, you might like: Bungo Stray Dogs
- No Game No Life (fantasy, comedy, gambling) - 12 episodes + 1 Movie FINISHED:
You want the full immersion in anime with incest and rape culture? No game no life is great for you. This anime mocks some of the frequent tropes in anime. (I personally hated this anime so be warned)
Sora and his sister Shiro are incredible game players. One day, when they are offered to enter a world made of games, they do not hesitate and say yes. They are sent into Disboard, a world where winning is the only way to have power.
--> If you liked No Game No Life , you might like: Gambling School & Sword Out Online
If you prefer longer animes:
- FMA Brotherhood (fantasy/adventure) - 64 episodes FINISHED:
FullMetal Alchemist Brotherhood is the most recommended anime and is usually first in rankings. This anime is my favourite. It is the perfect anime to start with if you want a strong storytelling with morals and strong female and male characters.
In a world where transmutation is possible, Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers, decided to cross a line to bring back their mom from the dead. But when the experiment goes wrong, Alphonse loses his physical form and Edward an arm. After sacrificing his leg to put the soul of his brother inside an armour, Edward is decided to find the famous Philosopher stone, known for being able to bring anyone to life, to bring back the body of his brother.
--> If you liked FullMetal Alchemist, you might like: Asrlan (from the same author)
- Psycho Pass (science-fiction, psychological thriller, dystopia) - 3 seasons + Movie:
Psycho Pass made me go back to anime after a long break without. Again, there are good female representations and the characters in general are well-written. I have not watched season 3 or the movie yet. Honestly, season 2 was a mess in my opinion.
In a future dystopia, the work of the Ministry of Welfare's Public Safety Bureau is showcased through criminal cases being investigated by Inspectors and Enforcers, latent criminals hired to protect the Inspectors while they perform their duties. Multiple sub-plots and personnel interactions are explored, with the omniscient eye of the Sibyl System constantly evaluating all human behaviour. (source : Wikipedia , sorry, this one was too hard to summarize...)
--> If you liked Psycho Pass, you might like: Death Parade
- Code Geass (fantasy/mecha/Science-fiction) – 2 seasons/ 25 episodes FINISHED:
I watched this anime when I was young and I should definitely watch it again. I remember being so invested in the story and imagining being a character. This anime is perfect with a morally grey protagonist and interesting side characters. This anime also talks about colonization, rebellion and power dynamics in politics. This anime/manga is a masterpiece.
After being colonized by the Holy Britannian Empire, Japan and its citizens have lost their identity and rights. Lelouche, a student, wants to change things in this society. He is given this possibility when he gets a special power called a Geass that gives him the ability to control people's mind. Under the alias Zero, he leads the Rebellion to overthrow the Britannian Empire. On the other side of the war, his best-friend Susaku fights for Britannia. Can they stay friend? Will Lelouche and the Rebellion succeed?
--> If you liked Code Geass, you might like: Death Note & Tokyo Ghoul
- Haikyū!! (sport) - 4 seasons (85 episodes) STILL GOING
This anime was recommended to me so many times. It took me a while to finally watch it. I have only watched season one and I am half-way through season but I am enjoy it so much. I did not think this sport anime could be that entertaining but boy was I wrong. I got attached very easily to the characters. This show is so easy to watch, it's so wholesome. Would definitely recommend for people starting to watch anime.
Hinata Shoyo's dream is to be a famous volleyball player and be a part of the Karasuno Volleyball team like his hero "The Little Giant". After losing his first tournament against Tobio Kageyama, nicknamed "The King of the Court", Hinata's goal is to someday beat him and be the greatest volleyball player the world has ever seen. A year later, Hinata has been accepted to Karasuno and applies to be in the volleyball team. But something is threatening his plan, or rather, someone... Kageyama has also been accepted to Karasuno and wants to be in the volleyball team. Can these two nemesis, that everything seems to separate, work together and give the Karasuno's team their lost fame?
--> If you liked Haikyu!!, you might like: Free (swimming) & Run With the Wind (running)
- My Hero Academia (superhero, action) - 4 seasons (90 episodes) + Movies STILL GOING:
I am a little behing on the scans for this manga, but it's still one of my favourites. This anime made me fall in love again with shōnen. It has great protagonists but also great villains. More importantly, there are not many fillers.
The story takes place in a world where 80% of the population has super powers called quirk. However, the protagonist, a young boy called Midoriya Isuku had no power but dreams to be a superhero. His idol ? The great and fearless, All Might. But what happens when Midoriya actually meets his hero? Even weirder, his idol is looking for a successor and Midoriya is the perfect one for that. Follow Midoriya on his path to becoming a hero at his new school for heroes : UA. Watch him learn how to manage his new power and fight against evil.
--> If you liked My Hero Academia, you might like: Naruto & HunterxHunter.
Here you have it, my anime recommendations. I know I am very mainstream, so if you have any recommendations for me, please comment them down below! I am always looking for new animes to watch.
Comments