Anime You Should Watch

 Cowboy Bebop

26 Episodes | 1998

    Cowboy Bebop is an incredibly unique one-off show that you've probably heard of at some point. I actually didn't love it right as I was watching it, my appreciation for it took months of hibernation in the depths of my brain. I thought it was fine when I finished it but it was just refusing to leave my head for months and months. This show has a very unique, weird vibe and pace to it and is entirely carried by its characters and the aforementioned style as there isn't much plot to speak of. Each scene is masterfully presented and edited, with a unique flow and pace which makes the show very memorable and atmospheric. Spike Speigel is my favorite protagonist in anything, he is a deceptively simple character at first but there is so much more to him and Steve Blum's incredible voice (the English dub is the definitive way to watch this show) and the stylish character design make him very memorable. The show also drip-feeds you information about his and the other characters’ pasts and ends on a beautifully profound, powerful note. There is a lot to dig into in terms of thematic content and character analysis and I love that about it. Spike is also just so ridiculously cool that I fear if I watched this show when I was younger I would've based my entire personality off of him. The music is awesome and, chances are, you've probably heard it somewhere at this point even if you haven't heard of the show. The animation is top-notch, done by Sunrise who have also done Code Geass, which appears later on this list. This is probably my favourite anime of all time and a must-watch even if you're new to the medium. Oh yeah, and the standalone movie is also great. 

Attack on Titan

75 Episodes | 2013 - Ongoing

    Attack on Titan is a very popular anime and for good reason. The story is immediately engaging and mysterious; the show takes the whole "mystery box" approach to storytelling and really runs with it. It often stumbles under the weight of its own ambitions; most of season 2 and parts of 3 are rather dull, but the story as a whole is more than worth experiencing. Worldbuilding on this show is well handled and constantly evolving and the movement and battle mechanics are a thrill to watch every single time. The revelations throughout, but especially at the end of season 3 are mindblowing and manage to constantly challenge and reshape your expectations and understanding of the show. The characters aren't great or super deep but the stories they are put through are some of the best in the medium. It's almost the polar opposite of Cowboy Bebop; this show is carried by a strong plot and intrigue rather than its characters. The visual style is also striking and beautiful, mixing steampunk aesthetics with medieval times and strong line work and character design. Each season is also different from the last, each one focuses on different aspects of the world and story so you never feel like you're watching the same thing over and over again. My personal favourite bits are the first half of season 1 which is vicious and brutal and the second half of season 3 in which the entire show reveals itself and allows season 4 to, again, change into almost an entirely different show. It's not perfect but it will keep you hooked. Consistently excellent opening themes too. 

Perfect Blue

81 Minutes | 1998

    Perfect Blue is a very disturbing psychological identity thriller directed by the visionary Satoshi Kon, who is one of the biggest inspirations for Darren Aronofsky. This film tackles the themes of identity and celebrity status and is a deconstruction of the darkest corners of the human mind. I'd be lying if I said I understood everything that was going on, but the film left a huge impression on me. It becomes more and more nonsensical as it goes on and the line between what's real and what is the fragment of the main character's imagination gets blurred. Imagery from the rather normal first section of the film is brought back and expanded upon in disturbing ways throughout the second half and the experience is akin to a nightmare; you do not understand what is going on but somehow it connects to the deepest parts of your soul. I am rambling because there is no good way to describe this beautiful and horrific film, you'll just have to experience it for yourself.

Your Name.

107 Minutes | 2016

    To take a break from the trauma brought on by Attack on Titan and Perfect Blue check out this crowd please that is one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time and a true crowd-pleaser. Your Name. is a gorgeous, layered love story told from two different perspectives as the main characters start to randomly swap their bodies. It's a fun premise and the presentation is second to none. The movie starts off light but ends up becoming very emotional and by the end, you'll be hard-pressed not to cry tears of sadness and joy. It's an emotional rollercoaster punctuated by its jaw-droppingly beautiful animation and storytelling. 

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion 

50 Episodes | 2006 - 2008

    Code Geass has about every anime trope you could think of; mechs, high-school drama, over-the-top villains, love triangles, etc., and yet it combines all those tropes to make a wholly unique experience. The story centers on a morally ambiguous protagonist Lelouch and he is a joy to watch; up until the very end of the show his motivations are constantly thrown for a loop and the show keeps you guessing who to root for at any given moment and it makes for some very tense and fun moments. He is the highlight of the show for me which is impressive considering how forgettable many anime protagonists are. The art style I also grew to really love despite it being off-putting at first. Most of the first season is riveting and flies by; sadly I cannot say the same about the middling second season. It essentially resets the progress made in the first season and just kills the momentum built up entirely. There is also a major "jump the shark" moment. What I would suggest you do is watch the first season and then watch the last 6 episodes of the second season after reading a summary because the ending is surprisingly great and emotionally effective despite the rest of the season being very weak. Not a perfect show but a good time nonetheless and worth at least checking out. The soundtrack is also one of my favourites on this list, it improves the show in such a major way.

My Hero Academia

101 Episodes | 2016 - Ongoing

    If you are at all into comic books or superheroes, My Hero Academia is a must-watch. This is the most genuine, earnest depiction of what being a hero means and I absolutely love this show. The characters are so strong both in their design, personalities, and voice performances (in Japanese, avoid the English dub for this one please) I love pretty much the entire cast. Season 2 of this show is peak shonen anime; it is so ridiculously fun, intense, and binge-worthy it is one of the best seasons of any show I've ever seen. It is essential shonen with almost zero filler and the best tournament arc you will ever see. The rest isn't as good but if you enjoy the characters like I do it is all worth watching. It is more inspiring than any superhero film I've seen, more true to the very core of the concept than anything Marvel or DC have done on the big screen. The visual style is so much fun to look at, each character has a distinct visual identity and the animation is top-tier. The linework is also so perfect, they use very thick lines to mimic the style of Western comic books and it just looks so damn good. This show knows how to make an exciting action scene and compelling character drama, I just wish the more recent episodes would focus more on the dynamics between the core cast like the first two seasons did. I would audibly gasp and cheer during some of the best moments on this show; it's just that good. There are no attempts to be deep or profound, it is simply pop entertainment at its finest. Watch at least the first 2 seasons, My Hero Academia is essential for anyone at all into anime. 

Death Note 

37 Episodes | 2006-2007

    I don't think I can say much about Death Note that hasn't been said already as it is one of the most well-known anime shows. The premise is simple; a cunning high-school student finds a book dropped by one of the Gods of Death and is given the power to kill anyone by writing their name in the book. It's an ingenious premise and is enough to grab anyone's attention. The show itself is mostly great but I like it less than I did when I first watched it. It is very binge-able and Light's central character descent into madness is compelling, but the show is a tad bit repetitive, relying too much on similar tricks to get the viewer interested in watching the next episode. Overall, it is worth checking out and highly addictive with a memorable soundtrack to boot, but it is definitely not perfect. Still, I cannot not recommend it to anyone interested in watching anime, it's a great entry point. Just make sure to stay away from the live-action Netflix adaptation.