There was a time not too long ago when many westerners viewed watching anime as a niche hobby. This was largely due to how inaccessible it was to western audiences; not just in terms of its limited distribution outside of Japan, but also the very nature of its content. Thanks to the recent rise in popularity ofstreaming serviceslikeNetflixand Crunchyroll, it’s never been easier for those living in the west to watch the latest and greatest anime shows, but one of these issues still persists.
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Despite how readily available anime has become in the modern age, there are many people who choose not to watch it, as they’re put off by some of the moresocially awkward and annoying tropeswhich feature in a lot of Japanese anime series. Thankfully, however, there are plenty of greatanime shows that aren’t reliant on over-the-top anticsor questionable depictions of young women, making them far more accessible to those who don’t like stereotypical anime.
Updated Jun 24, 2025 by Thomas Bowen:With the popularity of anime continuing to rise in the west, now is as good a time as any to get into the medium. Where once viewers were heavily limited on which anime series they could access, the internet and streaming services like Crunchyroll and Hulu can now grant access to hundreds and thousands of classic and modern anime series. This is great news for those who have no real interest in some of the more egregious anime tropes, as the huge variety makes it much easier to avoid these things than it was in the past. These are the best anime series for people who don’t usually like watching anime.
12Shenmue
Given where the franchise was just a few short years ago, it’s somewhat remarkable that both a thirdShenmuegame and an anime series now exist. The latter, which borrows numerous elements from some of the great martial arts-themed anime of the nineties, offers a perfect gateway into the medium regardless of whether or not viewers have played throughthe threeShenmuegames.
Though there have been a few trope-led changes (most notably the extra attention given to some of the series' female characters),Shenmue The Animationdoesn’t really feel like an anime for the most part. Well, apart from the opening theme, that is, which is about as anime as they come. The fight scenes are fantastic though andlocations from the games have been lovingly recreated, making this a must-watch forShenmuefans, as well as a decent entry point for those looking to get a taste of anime without being too overwhelmed.
11Cromartie High School
While most anime series tend to adhere to Japanese humor and traditions (which is quite understandable given that most of the people who work on them tend to be Japanese),Cromartie High Schoolcan at times feel a lot more like a western cartoon than it does an anime, thanks in large to its absurdist humor. It’s especially reminiscent of series likeAqua Teen Hunger Force, both in terms of its pacing and its delivery of jokes.
In terms of story, the anime takes place at a high school for delinquents, one of whom is the main character, Takashi Kamiyama. His bizarre antics and those of some of his unusual classmates provide plenty of laughs, while also keeping viewers on their toes. Granted, there are occasional references toJapanese historyand pop culture that may be lost on some Western viewers, but the humor itself is universal.
10Fullmetal Alchemist
Though there is still the occasional smattering of fan service from time to time,Fullmetal Alchemistis a series that was created with a more mature audience in mind. As a result,asinine anticsare kept to an absolute minimum, and instances of awkwardness and cringe-inducing moments are few and far between.
The animation on display throughout the series is top-notch too and the action scenes rarely disappoint. The real star of the show, however, is the excellent story, which takes place in a charming steampunk world and tells the story of two alchemist brothers who are attempting to track down the Philosopher’s Stone after a failed attempt to revive their dead mother almost costs them their own lives as well.
9Dragon Ball Z
Few anime series have had quite as big an impact in the west asAkira Toriyama’sDragon Ball. Though the original series does have its fair share of awkward and inappropriate moments - usually involving either Bulma or Master Roshi -Dragon Ball Zis a lot better in this regard and features plenty of epic and memorable battles.
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Some may find the show’s slow pacing and constant stalling - an unfortunate byproduct of Toei Animation having to put out a new episode each and every week - to be a little unbearable, but there is a solution for impatient viewers.Dragon Ball Z Kaicuts out a lot ofthe filler; condensing the original series' 291-episode run down to just 167.
8Samurai Champloo
The hip-hop elements found throughoutSamurai Champloogive it an entirely unique feel when compared to some of the more traditional Japanese anime series. Better still, it’sfree to watch on YouTube. It also boasts a fantastic English language dub, great characters, and a storyline that’s able to evoke a wide range of emotions from its viewers.
Anybody who has consumed a lot of Japanese media will likely have noticed that certain elements of Japanese humor don’t always land too well in the west, just as those who have spent time in Japan will know that the opposite can also be true. This is rarely an issue inSamurai Champloo, however, with most of the jokes and one-liners adhering strictly to the universal definition of funny.
7Cowboy Bepop
Though perhaps the largest, DragonBallwas far from the onlyanime series to find success in the west in the pre-2000 era.Cowboy Bepopis a neo-noir anime series set predominantly in space that also incorporates themes and ideas from classic westerns. The latter may make it sound a little like Joss Whedon’s cult-classic series,Firefly, though other than a few loose similarities, it’s difficult to compare the two.
Being more of aclassic anime series,Cowboy Bepopis bereft of many of the annoying tropes that have permeated more modern animated shows, making it a great watch for those who are put off by over-the-top antics. Granted, it does still have the occasional lighter moments and is certainly not afraid to poke fun at itself from time to time, but these instances tend to be well-executed and rarely detract from the main storyline.
6Attack On Titan
Much like the video game-themed anime series,Sword Art Online,Attack on Titanstarts strongly; introducing an interesting premise and backing it up with some fantastic visuals and intriguing plot lines. Where it differs, however, is thatAttack on Titanmanages to maintain these high levels of excellence throughout its first few seasons.
Granted, there are occasions when the plot seems to stall and stumble, but, for the most part, it’s able to catch itself before falling completely flat. Some of the action scenes with the Titans are both epic and terrifying too, while thecharacter developmentmanages to retain a feeling of authenticity and avoids ever going completely over the top.
5Castlevania
Some anime purists will argue that Netflix’sCastlevaniaseries shouldn’t be classed as anime on account of it beingproduced outside of Japan. Whatever one wants to call it though, when it comes toanimated shows based on video games, it’s definitely up there with some of the very best and is a must-watch for fans of theCastlevaniaseries.
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Being produced predominantly by westerners definitely had its advantages, with many of the most off-putting anime tropes nowhere to be found throughout its four seasons. The animation is tight too, the fight scenes are fantastic and the narrative, despitestumbling a little in the middle of the show’s run, provides an epic conclusion that’s as exciting as it is satisfying.
4Neon Genesis: Evangelion
That first-time viewers will dislike some of the characters inNeon Genesis: Evangelionis something of a given. Thankfully, however, the series features a rich and diverse cast, with just about every conceivable character archetype receiving representation in some capacity. As a result, there’ll also be characters that viewers can relate to, and each receives a satisfying level of development throughout the series' numerous installments.
The main protagonist, Shinji, also exhibits his fair share of growth, but it’s perhaps his unsuitability for the role - which ultimately allows other characters to shine brighter - that makes the show such a great watch. Well, that and the fantastic narrative, which takes place in a dystopian future in whichgiant bio-mechssquare off against alien beings known as Angels in epic battle scenes.
3Death Note
Tsugumi Ohba’sDeath Noteis one of the most popular andmost memorable psychological anime seriesof all time. It tells the story of Light Yagami, a Japanese student who stumbles upona supernatural notebookthat will kill all those whose name’s are written upon its pages, and is filled to the brim with suspense and narrative tension.
Those whose only exposure toDeath Notecame courtesy of the terrible live-action Netflix adaptation will, quite rightly, think very little of the series. Anybody who takes the time to watchthe original 37 episodes, however, will be blown away by its high quality and pulled in by thecaptivating battle of witsbetween Light and the man tasked with stopping his killing spree, L.
