When people my age think about Japanese cartoons the first image that comes to mind is probably Pokemon. This show gave me and many of my peers the impression that Japanese cartoons (referred to as anime) are cheap kiddie shows meant to sell playing cards and video games. Yu-Gi-Oh did nothing to amend this image problem a few years later. A quick scan through the Netflix offerings for anime tells a different story. Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh are there, but they are alongside a variety of other titles. Ever think of giving one of these a try? If the answer is no, keep reading.
Don't worry there are no spoilers.
I am going to be blunt. Anime turns Westerners off because at it can be weird and annoying. The shows I am recommending do not have the qualities that repel a Western audience. In order to make this list I had to identify some things that people generally speaking do not like about anime. I promise that each show I'm recommending has the following traits.
The characters are human. Totally human. Nobody has animal ears. The shows were not made exclusively for children and they are completed (not on hiatus or ongoing). These requirements disqualify many excellent series from the list. Bear in mind that I am recommending anime for people who are used to American entertainment and not necessarily open to some of anime's weirder trends.
Sorry buddy.
Cowboy Bebop (1998)
You really should not need to hear more than "space bounty hunters" to be interested in this title. But in case I am wrong I'll give you a bit more. Cowboy Bebop is an astounding blend of genres. It takes obvious inspiration from Westerns, Neo-noire film, and Bruce Lee movies, not to mention science fiction. These are genres that Americans are familiar with so it fits quite well on this list. This was the first anime I watched and it was enough to get me to try out some others. If I still haven't sold you I assure you that you can count on some martial arts, a high speed space ship chase, or a couple of serious gun fights each episode. Also the main character Spike is the coolest philosophizing, round-house kicking gunslinger this side of the solar system.
Most of the time.
Another positive about Cowboy Bebop is its brevity. This short series never sacrifices quality and may leave you wanting more. However as an artistic piece it is completed by the last episode and does not need anything more to send its message. The better thing about short series is that 26 episodes can be binged in a week if you are ambitious (yes that is a challenge). To reiterate, this is an action packed show with engaging characters that features offbeat and interesting story lines all while oozing coolness. This combination of traits make Cowboy Bebop a good place for anybody unfamiliar with anime to start with.
Also the best opening credit sequence ever.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
Feel free to skip the 2003 original series. It is related to, but not continuous with the second series based on the manga by Hiromu Arawaka. While both series are quite good, the first one is considerably weirder, often only for the sake of being weird. Not to mention some narrative problems toward the end of the 2003 series make its conclusion far less satisfying than the 2009 series.
Some people are not going to like that last paragraph.
FMA:B is confusing at first. There is an enormous cast in the series with separate plot lines that become increasingly entwined. The eponymous brothers are clearly the good guys and a shadowy cadre of villains immediately emerge as bad guys. Everyone else seems to lie somewhere in between at first. However, the large and well voiced cast is the show's strongest suit. Before the end of the first arc I guarantee you will have at least one favorite. Whether a stoic serial killer, a suit of armor with a boy's soul trapped in it, a murderously seductive temptress, or a tomboy mechanic who specializes in automated prosthetic limbs.
There are a few weird characters in this series.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood should appeal to non-anime fans on its strength as a show alone. However the underlying themes of revenge and redemption are also strong draws. Additionally the blend of steam punk imagery and Gothic horror is familiar to Westerners, and it is interesting to see a Japanese take on these European themes. Give FMA:B a try before you write anime off completely.
Samurai Champloo (2005)
This offering is similar to Cowboy Bebop. In fact it came from the same director, Shinichiro Watanabe. It is similar to his previous show, but the setting is now Edo era Japan. Samurai Champloo follows two swordsmen turned reluctantly body guarding a young girl as she searches the countryside for a mysterious samurai. If that does not sound enticing there is no need to worry. In almost every episode the main plot is put on the back-burner.
In favor of antics like this.
The three main characters get in trouble everywhere they go. Often because they are so desperate for food that they have to result to petty crime. Each episode revolves around the interactions the group have with various characters in ever changing settings. The numerous people they come across run the gamut between serious and funny, friendly and deadly. Typically one or both of the swordsmen end up in a pretty serious duel by the end, but sometimes they make friends.
Not often though.
This show will definitely appeal to anyone who enjoys martial arts movies since there are many fights which are gorgeously animated. I also think it is the funniest one that I am suggesting. Much of the humor comes from the three companions bickering and many instances of anachronism. The soundtrack is predominantly Hip-Hop and Rap, which complements the frenetic action and off beat humor surprisingly well. Anyone new to anime can enjoy this show in spite of its odd mix of themes and genres because it emerges as a balanced show, good for an obsessive binge or for casual viewing.
These three anime are among the best that the genre has to offer. I picked them because someone who is only familiar with anime like Pokemon will have their perspective changed upon viewing them. But hey, anime is not everyone's cup of warm sake. If you do not enjoy any of these shows, then that is probably the case for you, and that's okay! However you should try these shows out before jumping to any conclusions. Let me know if I steered you right down in the comments. If any anime fans out there think I missed any shows then you can chime in too. Happy viewing.
These three anime are among the best that the genre has to offer. I picked them because someone who is only familiar with anime like Pokemon will have their perspective changed upon viewing them. But hey, anime is not everyone's cup of warm sake. If you do not enjoy any of these shows, then that is probably the case for you, and that's okay! However you should try these shows out before jumping to any conclusions. Let me know if I steered you right down in the comments. If any anime fans out there think I missed any shows then you can chime in too. Happy viewing.