Anime is currently getting the flack that most people reserve for comics in that it’s labeled as cartoons for children. Sure, there are animes or anime influenced cartoons out there strictly geared toward children, but let me ask you this – How often have YOU caught yourself singing the Pokemon theme song? Didn’t you cry watching Avatar: The Last Airbender series finale? The characters may be drawn, but anime is a medium that has the potential to touch people in a lot of different ways. In no particular order, here are ten anime titles that are great places to start if you’re new to the genre!

DRAGON BALL Z

Goku and his son Gohan have to deal with the all the trials of life in addition to various alien enemies and Goku handles the everyday issue of becoming comfortable in one’s skin VERY well. Dragon Ball Z because it’s iconic and easily recognizable by all. It’s goofy and utterly charming throughout its 250+ episodes so start at the beginning and get lost in the adventure!

AKIRA

Set in futuristic Tokyo, an experiment (a child) escapes and becomes involved with motorcycle gang member Tetsuo who is turn captured and experimented on. It’s frightening and thrilling to watch. Akira is the only entry on my list that is a movie and not a series but I think a series would have been too much for the visual hurricane that is Akira.

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD

This series follows two brothers trying to make amends after breaking the rules of alchemy. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood really excels at painting the horrors of actions and their inevitable repercussions. Make sure you watch Brotherhood and not the original series, as Brotherhood follows more closely to the original manga.

NANA

A story of the friendship between two girls who meet by chance on a train with the same name. These women are at two different ends of the spectrum but find a way to help each other through their hardships. Nana is touching, complex, and covers a friendship in the most realistic way. Truly one of my favorites.

NARUTO

A lengthy adventure following a young ninja who is ostracized by his village for unknowingly saving it. Whilst you moan and groan, please take into account that I mean the Japanese version.  As with any anime, there is dubious amounts of filler past episode 200 but some of it is enjoyable. The American voice acting can be grating at times and a lot of stuff is omitted from the story. Watch the Japanese uncut version if you have access to it.

DEATH NOTE

Death Note revolves around Ryuk, a bored shinigami (god of death or “death spirit”) who drops his notebook to Earth where an intelligent teen picks it up and begins to use it. When a name is written in this particular notebook, the person dies. This leads to a clever game of mental chess between the teen (Light) and the young detective bent on catching him (L). Great concept, a lot of thrill, definitely worth at LEAST a one time viewing.

SAILOR MOON

Usagi (or Serena, depending on which language you watch it in) is the reincarnation of the Moon Princess and therefore must triumph over evil along with her besties, the Sailor Scouts. Classic and fantasy anime at its absolutely best, Sailor Moon is good throughout the ages. My adolescence is tinged in Sailor Moon goodness so at the very least, its nostalgic value alone makes it a special anime for me. Lengthy but oh, so worth it.

TEKKAMAN BLADE

Futuristic Earth is under attack from the Radam and their Tekkaman leaders and it’s up to the Space Knights to thwart it. The arrival of a strange boy, dubbed D-Boy, who can transform into a Tekkaman puzzles them all. For many, Tekkaman Blade was their first foray into mecha anime and the tormented and mysterious story of Blade is something that sucks you in immediately.

BECK: MONGOLIAN CHOP SQUAD

Koyuki is a normal teenager whose life changes after saving the dog of a guitarist named Kyuusuke. After seeing Kyuusuke’s band play live, Koyuki is given a guitar and the anime follows his life as the band gets popular. Another great slice of life tale of a boy finding out who he is and experiencing love for the first time.

BIBLE BLACK

A teenage boy finds a book of magic and begins practicing the spells inside not knowing his school is the base for a coven of witches. I included this… risque anime purely because it’s ridiculous. If it’s your first foray into anime, it would be remiss to not include a hentai title for the experience alone. Seeing it once puts everything hentai in one bag so you can experience it all including a fairly decent plot. This is not for kids AT ALL (hell, I’m hesitant on saying it’s for adults at all) and it will most likely make you say “Goodness me!” and clutch your pearls. You have been warned.

What would you include in your Intro to Anime?