This last set of recommendations will fall under a miscellaneous category. I’ve covered some very large genres in the past. The choices have been pretty varied, for the most part. There should be at least one anime that’s caught your attention by now. But, if that’s not the case, I’ve got three final selections for you.
These are not all from the same genre. Instead, they’re from different areas that we haven’t touched on yet. One is a slice of life, another is a sports anime, and the last one is a gorgeous looking anime that may be a glimpse of where the medium is headed.
Without further ado, here the last three recommended anime for beginners.
1. K-On!
K-On! Synopsis - From Anime News Network
They manage to recruit Tsumugi Kotobuki to play the keyboard, meaning they only need one more member to get the club running again. Yui joins, thinking it will be an easy experience for her to play the castanets, the only instrument she knows.
However, the other members think their new addition is actually a guitar prodigy...
K-ON! OP1
- 13 episodes
- April 3, 2009 - June 26, 2009
Why Should You Watch K-On!
Guilty pleasure much? A lot of people may be unwilling to share their fondness of K-On! Cute girls doing playing cute and catchy music. Not very manly, and definitely not something you’d want to advertise to your friends. But, if you took a poll about slice of life recommendations this one is sure to come out near the top.
Sometimes watching everyday type of interactions is more entertaining than viewing an epic adventure. You can take a break from intense battles and life or death situations to get a more intimate look at a person’s struggles and circumstances. You may come to find out that they may not be so different from your own.
Contrary to what the genre’s description may be, these kind of shows are not snoozefests. They have their emotional moments, comedic moments, and moments of suspense.
They can actually be really inspiring as well. Watching an average person overcome the odds gives you a totally different sensation than watching an unrelatable hero. Seeing them persevere through hardships empowers you to do the same. At least it has for me, on occasion.
There is a second season and an OVA as well. But, the first season was a self-contained story. You’ve probably noticed that I’ve mostly recommended animes with relatively few episodes. That being the case, I’m only taking season 1 into consideration. So, for you beginners, watch season one and get a feel for the slice of life genre. If you enjoy it, by all means, go on ahead to season 2!
2. Haikyuu!!
Haikyuu!! Synopsis - From Anime News Network
However, Kageyama is also on Kurasuno's team. The former rivals form a legendary combo with Hinata's mobility and Kageyama's precision ball-handling.
Together, they take on the local tournaments and vow to meet Kurasuno's fated rival school in the nationals.
Haikyuu!! PV
- 24 episodes
- April 6, 2014 - September 21, 2014
Why Should You Watch Haikyuu!! ?
This volleyball themed anime is a great introduction to the sports genre. It isn’t as long as some of the more well-known sports anime: Hajime no Ippo, Kuroko no Basket, and The Prince of Tennis to name a few. But, it still holds up strong with just a season of episodes.
It may just be because of the specific sport involved, but this show does not feel as hyper-masculine as other athletic series. It’s not just about becoming stronger, faster, and beating down your opponent.
Of course, all competitors want to do that. But, this show chooses to focus more on character development. It also does its best to make you feel attached to the whole team.
Another plus of this series is that there aren’t any hyper-real abilities. People can’t spike the ball faster than the speed of light. Players can’t unlock a hidden talent that suddenly makes them ten times stronger than everyone else on the court.
Haikyuu is based in reality as much as possible. It focuses on the tried and true story of “rivals becoming allies”. It’s enjoyable from beginning to end. And, if you do fall in love with this show, you’re in luck. Recently a second season was announced. But, there is no confirmation on the release date as of the time this article was written.
3. Redline
Redline Synopsis - From Anime News Network
This time around it's being held on Roboworld, much to the dismay of Roboworld's militant government which has no intention of allowing the race to proceed. The race has no rules—whoever crosses the Redline first, win. Sweet JP is a rare breed of racer who prefers retro style and raw power over high tech gadgets and weaponry. Troubled by their involvement with the mob, Sweet JP and his team just want a clean shot at winning the race. Sonoshee McLaren is a skilled and highly competitive rising star in the racing ciruit. She beat JP in the last qualifier and caught his eye. Up against lethal hostility from Roboworld's government and their fellow racers, JP and Sonoshee are pushed to their limits in the race for the Redline.
Redline Trailer
- Movie
- August 14, 2009
Why Should You Watch Redline?
Get ready for some gorgeous animation and adrenaline fueled rush of excitement and mayhem. Madhouse broke the mold when it decided to take on the lofty goal of developing this animated movie. It pulled together all of its resources to create this beautiful moving work of art.
This movie is like nothing you’ve ever seen. The colors, animation, and designs are a level above everything else.
This anime was chosen for the sole purpose of showing you exactly what anime is capable of. It pushes the limits in a way that only 1 or 2 other anime can even come close to. Though animation has come a long way, most series are not able to hold a candle to Redline.
But, that’s precisely what I want you to notice. I want you to entertain the possibilities of what future anime will be able to accomplish.
This medium is capable of so much more than what it’s currently producing. It is a painstaking passion that many artist endure because of their love for storytelling. It takes a lot of people countless hours to create breathtaking anime. But, the more support that this artform receives from the public, the more money, energy, and resources they are willing to allocate toward it. Let’s keep supporting this medium we have come to love and we will reach a point where the average anime looks as good as Redline.
Well, that about does it for the Beginner’s Guide to anime. I hope I was able to pique your interest with these recommendations. Thanks for being patient and taking the time to read each section.
These were just the tip of the iceberg. You have countless anime to choose from now. Decide which genre you enjoy and explore it to your heart’s content. As always, I’ll link some extra recommendations we’ve compiled in this blog. Take care and let me know what you thought of these suggestions in the comments below!
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I’m sure that once you’ve finished these you’ll want to move on to other series. So take a look at our Tips for choosing anime.
Also, be sure to check out our Guide to streaming anime so that you can watch these and other great shows.
This is an article in a series written for anime beginners.
Here is a previous article written about action anime. And one more about sci-fi anime.
In a Series Written for Anime Beginners.
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Thank you for reading this and the previous beginner’s articles.
Author: Javier Garcia
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