Starter Animes Anyone Will Love (Under 60 Episodes AND Completed)

The anime market has been alive and well for decades now, and it feels like more and more shows are released every year. But if you’re new to anime, where do you start? What series would make you want to watch and explore more?

While you can certainly jump into some new shows, or some long classics like Naruto, Detective Conan, or One Piece, there’s something satisfying with finishing a good series and getting to watch more series in a short amount of time.

After all, not all of us have time (or the will) to watch long series. I for one like to keep busy and be productive. However, if I have nothing to do and a free weekend, it’s nice to binge watch a series in a few days or a week instead of constantly itching to see what’s next or having to take a break and forgetting where you were.

Thus, I’ve compiled a list of decent and highly rated anime series that are COMPLETED, so you aren’t nearing the end just to find out it’s ongoing and the next season doesn’t have a release date yet. Trust me, I started watching Attack on Titan during Season 1 because my cousin wanted to see my reaction, and I thought it was just going to be 1 season…..10 years to finally see how it ended.

I know there’s fans of other animes where the season ends off a cliffhanger, but there is no sign of a next season, like Noragami. So I’m saving you the pain of falling for a series just to never know if or when you’ll see the next part.

I have also omitted shows that may be too weird or awkward if you’re not used to Japanese media yet. Or may be embarrassing to watch if someone was looking over your shoulder or you chose to play it on the living room TV (I’m looking at you Food Wars, Mirai Nikki, and Kill la Kill).

So go on! Read the synopsis, and find some shows you’d like to check out 🙂

Movies

Your Name

Genre: Romance, Drama, Fantasy

“Two teenagers share a profound, magical connection upon discovering they are swapping bodies. Things manage to become even more complicated when the boy and girl decide to meet in person.”

Silent Voice

Genre: Romance, Drama, Teen

“When a grade school student with impaired hearing is bullied mercilessly, she transfers to another school. Years later, one of her former tormentors sets out to make amends.”

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Romance, Drama

“A teenage girl tries to use her newfound ability to travel through time to her advantage.”

Summer Wars

Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Sci-Fi

“A young math genius solves a complex equation and inadvertently puts a virtual world’s artificial intelligence in a position to destroy Earth.”

Spirited Away

Genre: Children’s Film, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Coming-of-Age

“In this animated feature by noted Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi) stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents.”

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Genre: Children’s Film, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

“In this anime feature, 13-year-old Kiki moves to a seaside town with her talking cat, Jiji, to spend a year alone, in accordance with her village’s tradition for witches in training. After learning to control her broomstick, Kiki sets up a flying courier service and soon becomes a fixture in the community. But when the insecure young witch begins questioning herself and loses her magic abilities, she must overcome her self-doubt to get her powers back.”

Tekkonkinkreet

Genre: Action, Drama, Adventure, Crime, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

“The tale of a pair of orphans who attempt to prevent the Yakuza and their assorted violent and corrupt allies from taking over their city.”

Ninja Scroll

Genre: Martial Arts, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

“In this anime film, Jubei, a highly skilled ninja, is coerced into slaying his own clan of warriors. After begrudgingly killing his fellow swordsmen, he becomes a roving hired assassin. During his travels, he must face off against an organization of demonic ninjas known as the Devils of Kimon, who are plotting to take power of Japan’s government. The Devils will stop at nothing, and have the power to annihilate entire villages. Now, only Jubei and a shogun spy named Dakuan can stop them.

Princess Momonoke

Genre: Action, War, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

In the 14th century, the harmony that humans, animals and gods have enjoyed begins to crumble. The protagonist, young Ashitaka – infected by an animal attack, seeks a cure from the deer-like god Shishigami. In his travels, he sees humans ravaging the earth, bringing down the wrath of wolf god Moro and his human companion Princess Mononoke. Hiskattempts to broker peace between her and the humans brings only conflict.

My Neighbour Totoro

Genre: Children’s Film, Adventure, Fantasy

“This acclaimed animated tale by director Hayao Miyazaki follows schoolgirl Satsuke and her younger sister, Mei, as they settle into an old country house with their father and wait for their mother to recover from an illness in an area hospital. As the sisters explore their new home, they encounter and befriend playful spirits in their house and the nearby forest, most notably the massive cuddly creature known as Totoro.”

Paprika

Genre: Horror, Drama, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Fantasy, Crime

Dr. Atsuko Chiba works as a scientist by day and, under the code name “Paprika,” is a dream detective at night. Atsuko and her colleagues are working on a device called the DC Mini, which is intended to help psychiatric patients, but in the wrong hands it could destroy people’s minds. When a prototype is stolen, Atsuko/Paprika springs into action to recover it before damage is done.

Ghost In The Shell

Genre: Cyberpunk, Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Adventure, Thriller, Fantasy, Mystery, Crime

“In this Japanese animation, cyborg federal agent Maj. Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods) trails “The Puppet Master” (Abe Lasser), who illegally hacks into the computerized minds of cyborg-human hybrids. Her pursuit of a man who can modify the identity of strangers leaves Motoko pondering her own makeup and what life might be like if she had more human traits. With her partner (Richard George), she corners the hacker, but her curiosity about her identity sends the case in an unforeseen direction.”

Akira

Genre: Cyberpunk, Action, Sci-Fi, Drama, Adventure, Fantasy, Thriller, Apocalyptical

“In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after the nuking of the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo’s supernatural powers suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment’s secrets.”

The Boy and The Beast

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

“Kyuta slips into an alternate universe where he is raised by the bear-man, Kumatetsu. Kyuta is eventually thrust into an adventure that spans both worlds.”

Under 30 Episodes

Ano Hana (11)

Genre: Slice of Life, Drama, Romance, Coming-of-Age

“Friends grow apart after a tragic accident claims one of their number. Years later, the dead girl appears to them to ask for their help in crossing over to the afterlife.”

The Tatami Galaxy (11)

Genre: Dark Comedy, Rom-Com, Psychological

“The Tatami Galaxy follows an unnamed third year student at Kyoto University, using parallel universes as a plot device to explore how his life would have differed had he joined a particular campus club (also called a “circle”).”

Erased (12)

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Sci-Fi

“A 29 year old man lives a quiet and peaceful life working at a pizza place when he is experiencing a strange phenomenon he calls ‘Revival’. When ‘Revival’ happens, Satoru Fujinuma is brought back into the past where he must prevent an incident from happening.”

Madoka Magica (12)

Genre: Magical Girl, Horror, Drama, Mystery, Dark Fantasy, Psychological Thriller

“The story follows a group of middle school girls, led by protagonist Madoka Kaname, who make supernatural contracts to become magical girls (mahō shōjo). In battling surreal enemies known as “witches”, they learn of the anguish and peril associated with their new roles.”

Ao Haru Ride (12)

Genre: Romance, Drama, Coming-of-Age

“Ao Haru Ride is a shoujo romance slice of life manga adaptation of the same name. It follows a story of a curious high-schooler girl wishing to find out what happened to her crush from three years ago and why did he change.”

Death Parade (12)

Genre: Psychological Thriller

“After death, humans go to either heaven or hell. But for some, at the instant of their death, they arrive at the Quindecim, a bar attended by the mysterious white-haired Decim. After death, humans are either reincarnated or sent to the void.”

Kids On The Slope (12)

Genre: Music, Slice of Life, Romance, Coming-of-Age

“The series follows Kaoru Nishimi, an introverted high school student who discovers jazz music through his friendship with his delinquent classmate Sentarō Kawabuchi.”

Angel Beats (13)

Genre: Drama, Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Adventure

“Angel Beats! is set in the environment of a high school in the afterlife, a type of limbo for people who have experienced trauma or hardships in life and must overcome them before passing on and being reincarnated. The story follows Yuzuru Otonashi, a boy with amnesia who ends up in the afterlife.”

ReLIFE (13)

Genre: Slice-of-Life, Romance

“Arata Kaizaki is 27 years-old and unemployed. He quit his prior job after working for the company for 3 months. Arata Kaizaki decides to take part in a research program “ReLIFE.” He takes medication that makes him look 10 years younger and he is to attend high school for a year.”

Baccano (13)

Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Supernatural

“A crazy fantasy caper involving alchemists, immortals, gangsters, outlaws and an elixir of immortality, spread over several decades. In the year 1711, a group of alchemists are granted an elixir of immortality, with the stipulation that they must kill each other until there can be only one.”

Sound Euphonium (13)

Genre: Music, Drama, Slice-of-Life

Note that they are expecting another season; however, the first season has a great conclusion and feels complete on its own. “The story is set in Uji, Kyoto and focuses on the Kitauji High School Music Club, whose concert band is steadily improving thanks to the newly appointed adviser’s strict instruction.”

My Love Story With Yamada-Kun at Lvl999 (13)

Genre: Rom-Com

“Akane Kinoshita breaks up with her boyfriend after he cheats on her with a woman from an online game; she gets a makeover and joins her guild for an offline meetup when she meets Yamada face to face.”

Orange (13)

Genre: Slice-of-Life, Romance, Sci-Fi, Suicide

“Orange is a romance/high school drama with a speculative twist. Sixteen-year-old Naho Takamiya discovers a letter from herself from ten years into that future that tells her to watch for a new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, who will become one of her friends.”

A Place Further Than The Universe (13)

Genre: Adventure, Slice-of-Life

“A group of high school girls join an expedition headed towards the Antarctic.”

Kokoro Connect (17)

Genre: Rom-Com, Supernatural Fiction

“Kokoro Connect is a Japanese light novel series written by Sadanatsu Anda, with illustrations by Shiromizakana. It centers around five high school students facing numerous supernatural phenomena that forces them to reveal secrets that will test their bonds with each other.”

Silver Spoon (22)

Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy, Coming-of-Age

“Set in the fictional Oezo Agricultural High School in Hokkaido, Silver Spoon depicts the daily life of Yugo Hachiken, a student from Sapporo who enrolled into Yezo fleeing from the high demands of his strict father. However, he soon learns that life on an agricultural school will be not as easy as he believed.”

Psycho-Pass (22)

Genre: Cyberpunk, Action, Psychological Thriller, Crime, Gore

“Set in a dystopia of Sibyl System’s governance of Japan, the plot follows the young woman Akane Tsunemori. She is introduced as a novice Inspector assigned to Division One of the Public Safety Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division, in charge of solving crimes with latent criminals, Enforcers.”

Ore Monogatari (24)

Genre: Rom-Com

“The story follows Takeo Gōda, a tall and muscular high school student who does not have much luck with women, as every girl he likes ends up falling for his best friend, Makoto Sunakawa, who is charming and good-looking.”

Clannad (24)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life

“Tomoya (Kenji Nojima) has no interest in school until he meets Nagisa (Mai Nakahara) and, to impress her, he helps reform the drama club.”

Lovely Complex (24)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

“Lovely Complex is about two high school kids, Risa and Otani. They are a comedy duo because whenever they’re together they fight, argue, make fun of each other, and cause a scene, which makes bystanders laugh. Risa is taller than. Otani is sort of a dumb jock/trouble maker.”

Toradora (25)

Genre: Rom-Com, Slice of Life

“Fierce in appearance but gentle at heart, Ryuji forms an unlikely friendship with Taiga, a tiny girl with a sharp tongue and a tough attitude. Together they try to help each confess their love to their crushes.”

Kuroko no Basuke (25)

Genre: Sports, Comedy

“Kuroko no Basuke tells the story of a high school basketball team trying to make it to the Interhigh. The series is serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump and an anime adaption produced by Production I.G. began in April 2012 and ended in September.”

Fate/Zero (25)

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Thriller, Tragedy, Action Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy

“Fate/Zero is set ten years before the events of Fate/stay night, and tells the story of the Fourth Holy Grail War, a secret magical tournament held in Fuyuki City, Japan where seven mages known as Masters summon Servants, reincarnations of legendary souls and heroes from all across time, where they fight in a deadly battle royale where the winner obtains the Holy Grail, a magical legendary chalice capable of granting wishes.”

*Note: There are other Fate series, but according to research, they aren’t connected, and have their own stories and characters. All that matters is that you watch this one first*

Samurai Champloo (26)

Genre: Action, Comedy, Samurai Cinema, Jidaigeki, Historical Fiction, Dramatic Programming

“Samurai Champloo tells the story of three strangers in the Tokugawa era (also known as the Edo Period) who come together on a journey across Japan. A young woman named Fuu is working as a waitress in a tea shop when she is harassed by a band of samurai. She is saved by Mugen, a mysterious rogue, and Jin, a young ronin.”

DN Angel (26)

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Romance

“D.N. Angel follows the adventures of Daisuke Niwa, an average teenage boy. At the story’s opening, Daisuke declares love for his crush, a girl named Risa Harada, on his fourteenth birthday. She rejects him, and later that day, the heart-broken Daisuke undergoes a strange mutation that changes him into another person.”

Kaichou wa Maid Sama (26)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

“Once an all-boys high school, Seika High, infamous for its rowdy students, has recently become a co-ed school. However, with the female population still remaining a minority even after the change over the recent years, Misaki Ayuzawa works hard to make the school a better place for girls. However, her embarrassing secret as a part-time maid is exposed by the male lead, Takumi Usui. Will he keep her secret?”

Love Live (26)

Genre: Music, Slice of Life, Comedy, Drama

“When news gets out that the school is going to close due to poor numbers of new students Honoka and several of her friends rally together and form a school Idol group in order to prevent the school from closing.”

Nagi no Asukara (26)

Genre: Romance, Drama, Coming-of-Age

“Nagi no Asu kara follows the story of Hikari Sakishima and Manaka Mukaido, along with their childhood friends Chisaki Hiradaira and Kaname Isaki, who are forced to leave the sea and attend a school on the surface. There, the group also meets Tsumugu Kihara, a fellow student and fisherman who loves the sea.”

Cowboy Bebop (26)

Genre: Neo-noir, Action, Western, Space Opera, Drama, Adventure, Thriller

“On an old fishing starship called the “Bebop,” a cool as Zen man of mystery, a macho former hard-boiled cop, a brash and fickle woman with a large debt, a whimsical whiz kid hacker and an unsuspecting Welsh Corgi band together to hunt bounty heads for a meager living.”

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (28)

Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy

“On December 18, Kyon arrives at school and finds that everything has changed. Haruhi and Itsuki Koizumi are missing, Ryoko Asakura has mysteriously returned, Mikuru Asahina doesn’t recognise him, and Yuki Nagato is an ordinary human.”

30-60 Episodes

Dr. Stone (35)

Genre: Adventure Fiction, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

“In the modern world, every human on the planet was turned into stone after a mysterious flash of light. This manga tells the story of how some people from the Pre-Petrification World try to rebuild civilization in the Petrification Age, the Stone World.”

Honey and Clover (36)

Genre: Romance, Coming-of-Age

“Yuuta Takemoto is a poor college student who lives in a dilapidated apartment building with his two friends, Shinobu Morita and Takumi Mayama. The series chronicles the students’ story as they struggle through life and love.”

The World God Only Knows (36)

Genre: Rom-Com, Harem, Supernatural Fiction

“It follows the life of Keima Katsuragi, an avid player of galges (dating simulation games), whose skills and website have given him internet fame as the “Capturing God”. However, he has rejected reality in favor of the world in those games, and is known as “Otamegane” in his school.”

*Note: While this is technically a harem, and it has a bit of fan service, I don’t recall finding it awkward when I watched it in high school. I think it’s a great series for those who generally don’t like romance, but are open to a new spin on it. Very funny as well!*

Death Note (37)

Genre: Mystery, Drama, Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Crime

“Light Yagami (Tatsuya Fujiwara) is a normal, undistinguished college student — that is, until he discovers an odd notebook lying on the ground. He soon discovers that the notebook has magic powers: If someone’s name is written on it while the writer imagines that person’s face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike power, Light kills those he deems unworthy of life. But a mysterious detective known only as L becomes determined to put a stop to his reign.”

Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War (37)

Genre: Psychological, Romantic Comedy, Slice of Live

“Student council president Miyuki Shirogane and vice-president Kaguya Shinomiya appear to be the perfect couple, but both are too proud to confess their love and scheme to make the other confess their love first.”

Mob Psycho 100 (37)

Genre: Action, Comedy, Supernatural

“Shigeo Kageyama is an average middle school-aged boy, nicknamed Mob. Although he looks like an inconspicuous person, he is in fact a powerful esper with immense psychic power. To keep from losing control of this power, he constantly lives a life under an emotional shackle.”

K-On!! (39)

Genre: Music, Comedy, Slice-of-Life

“K-ON is about 5 high school girls who become friends through the Light Music Club. Yui the rhythm guitarist, Tsumugi the keyboardist, Mio the bassist, Azusa the lead guitarist, and Ritsu the drummer. K-ON is the story of 5 aspiring musicians and their journey through high school together.”

Assassination Classroom (47)

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Comedy

“Students must kill an octopus-like alien who portrays a teacher. Otherwise, he will destroy the Earth once the school year is over.”

Tokyo Ghoul (48)

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Thriller

“A college student is attacked by a ghoul, a being that feeds on human flesh. He later receives an organ transplant from the ghoul, becoming part monster himself.”

Code Geass (50)

Genre: Mecha, Action, Alternate History, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Military Fiction

“Set in an alternate timeline, it follows the exiled prince Lelouch vi Britannia, who obtains the “power of absolute obedience” from a mysterious woman named C.C. Using this supernatural power, known as Geass, he leads a rebellion against the rule of the Holy Britannian Empire, commanding a series of mecha battles.”

Mew Mew Power (52)

Genre: Magical Girl, Action, Romance, Sci-Fi, Comedy

“It focuses on five girls infused with the DNA of endangered animals which gives them special powers and allows them to transform into “Mew Mews”. Led by Ichigo Momomiya, the girls protect the earth from aliens who wish to “reclaim” it.”

Digimon Adventure (54)

Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy-Drama, Action Fiction, Isekai, Thriller

“When a group of seven children go to summer camp, the last thing that they expect is snow falling in July. In the confusion that follows this phenomenon, they each receive an odd device that transports them to another world. As soon as they wake up in this new world, they encounter strange creatures who call themselves “Digimon.” The Digimon tell them that they’ve landed in the “Digital World,” far from home. With only the Digimon and the “Digivices” as protection, the seven children set off to find their way home and learn the reason why they were brought here. Led by the impulsive Taichi Yagami and his hungry Digimon partner Agumon, this group will have to fight unknown evils as they discover more about this outlandish Digital World.”

*Note that there are multiple seasons, but they all stand alone. New plot, new characters, new everything. I love em all, but this is the season where it all started, and it is still well loved and referenced. Also, please watch the Original from 1999, not the 2020 remake!*

Fruit Basket (63) [Allow It]

Genre: Rom-Com, Supernatural Fiction, Slice-of-Life

“After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out…into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn’t long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own–when touched by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac! But this curse has a history of abuse, isolation, ostracization, fear, and pain behind it, which has caused much suffering and broken many Sohmas. Despite this, Tohru may just be able to heal the Sohmas hearts and soothe their souls, and even break the curse once and for all.”

Bonus:

Attack on Titan (89)

Genre: Action Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, War, Coming-of-Age

“When man-eating Titans first appeared 100 years ago, humans found safety behind massive walls that stopped the giants in their tracks. But the safety they have had for so long is threatened when a colossal Titan smashes through the barriers, causing a flood of the giants into what had been the humans’ safe zone. During the carnage that follows, soldier Eren Jaeger sees one of the creatures devour his mother, which leads him to vow that he will kill every Titan. He enlists some friends who survived to help him, and that group is humanity’s last hope for avoiding extinction at the hands of the monsters.”

*This is honestly one of the best, most unique, and more realistic series I’ve watched in my life. It takes a lot of unexpected turns and keeps you guessing throughout. I’d recommend it to anyone and everyone! I’ve been following since Season 1 in 2014, was introduced by my cousin who wanted to see my reaction. Usually, I watch finished anime and prefer shorter animes so I can binge and move on with my life, but unfortunately, I didn’t realize this show would be longer than 1 season until I got to the end of it. It’s been such a long wait, painful even as I refused to read the manga, but it was worth it. A little evil dragging the ‘final season’ for 4 technical seasons/comebacks, but I’ll allow it for probably the best written and highly philosophical anime I’ve personally seen. You can spend so much time reflecting on the characters and their world, and comparing it to what we know in reality.

Conclusion

I hope you found a lot of new series you would like to watch in the near future 🙂

If you’re open to an ongoing series that is not expected to pass 60 episodes, you can check out: Jujitsu Kaisen, Tokyo Revengers, One Punch Man, Sound Euphonium, Beastars, Chainsaw Man, Spy x Family, Rent-A-Girlfriend

Some series that are a bit longer than 60 episodes but are highly rating included: Hajime no Ippo and Slam Dunk.

If there’s any short completed series that you’d like to recommend, please leave a comment!

And if you’re interested in learning more vocabulary and kanji so you can watch anime and dramas, read manga, sing J-pop at karaoke, or play raw Japanese video games, check out my 250+ Kanji for Japanese Media (+Sentences) article and my Japanese Study Guide!