Top 10 Best First Episodes In Anime
Making a good first impression in anime is important. Thankfully, Attack On Titan and Naruto had some of the best first episodes ever.
More than just an introduction, the first impression is an art form in and of itself, as it challenges the writer to inform the audience, encapsulate ones themes, and entertain all at once. And that is no different for any anime series. Anime as a whole is a medium full of cultural and aesthetic eccentricities.
Considering that any anime fan is going to judge the quality of a series based off its first episode, its truly a sight to behold when a series can gain that trust immediately. Now, a good anime doesnt necessarily need an amazing first episode. There are plenty that vary in quality throughout its runs and others that have their first episode essentially be first episodes in the form of two-parters and arcs. However, today this list aims to celebrate first episodes that are a delight within their own right. Theyre not just the beginning of a journey but an entire ride on their own.
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The Best Anime On Netflix Right Now
Since becoming the dominant force in streaming and now, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic that stunted most other entertainment entities, Hollywood itself Netflix has been slowly expanding its vast library of original and curated titles, including animation. While the streamer studio develops more original animated titles, it has also been acquiring assets left and right to become a prime destination for anime.
Traditionally, anime refers to Japanimation, i.e. animation of a unique and vibrant style of animation that spans hand-drawn and computer-generated artistry. But Netflix’s roster as in, titles that populate Netflix’s dedicated anime genre also incorporates anime-inspired works. Altogether, there’s a lot to sift through and titles come and go with the ebb and flow of the acquisitions tide.
Here is EW’s curated list of the best anime on Netflix right now.
*Titles added for fall 2021 are denoted with an asterisk.
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
In a similar vein to;Cowboy Bebop,;Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood is one of the most iconic and influential anime of the past few decades. The series follows two brothers, Edward and Alphonse as they try to heal the damage inflicted on them both during an ill-fated ritual.
The series has some of the most intense action, compelling characters, and heartbreaking episodes in anime history, making it a perfect contender for someone’s ‘first anime’.
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Darling In The Franxx
Pubescent teens fighting in giant mechas isnt new, Neon Genesis Evangelion has already made that trope its own. But DARLING in the FRANXX isnt an EVA clone in the slightest. Sure, it, too, is about kids fighting to save the world. But its also about how these children manage to evolve and grow, despite their emotions constantly getting in the way.
Even though it has its drawbacks like over-the-top fan service and dramatic teenagers DARLING in the FRANXX;manages to tell a moving tale about love, dealing with loss, and standing up for whats right. It lets the viewers see that, despite the world falling apart, the power of love can accomplish anything, and even bring hope and new life.
DARLING in the FRANXX has an amazing visual team consisting of A-1 Pictures, CloverWorks, and Studio Trigger. Thanks to their combined talents, the series colorful, high-octane battle sequences reach a level higher than most mecha series in recent memory.
Dragon Ball Dragon Ball Z & Dragon Ball: Super
The story of Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of the Z Warriors is one of the most iconic tales ever told in anime. From Dragon Ball, to Dragonball Z, and now Dragonball: Super, one can argue that DBZ almost single-handedly paved the way for anime in the West! The endless powerups, endlessly ascending power ceiling, drawn-out battles, and iconic characters have remained fresh in the minds of people for decades now, and the IP doesnt show any signs of slowing down in the near future either. And, with incredible games like Dragon Ball FighterZ, there’s no reason to slow down anyway!
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Q: Whats With The Huge Eyes In Anime
No, its not some inferiority complex, and not quite all anime has the big eye style. But, most of it does, and the fact of the matter is that no one is 100% sure why. However, the first person to use that style is usually credited as Osamu Tezuka, the creator of the old Astro Boy TV series among various other very popular TV shows that became the foundation for Japans entire animation and comic industry. As to where Tezuka got the idea, Fred Ladd, who worked with him, has said that he said he was emulating Betty Boop, who was popular in Japan at the time. Other early US-produced animated characters that predate the anime style also have very large eyes.
Card Captor Sakura/kadokyaputa Sakura
Sakura stumbles upon the mysterious book of Clow Cards and unintentionally scatters the cards all over the world. She also unleashes the mystical creature Keroberos/Kero-chan from the book who tells her that she must collect all the cards because they are no ordinary playthings.
Each of the cards has their unique traits and can act independently and cause chaos, which is why the sorcerer Clow Reed trapped them inside the book. With the guidance of Kero-chan and with the help of her best friend Tomoyo, Sakura embarks on a magical adventure to capture the cards while juggling problems that come with being a ten-year-old involving family, school, and love.
Cardcaptor Sakura is a series that anyone can enjoy regardless of age and gender. Its more than a classic mahout shoujo anime since the plot also has romance, drama, and comedy.
Its episodic in nature and follows the basic formula of introducing and capturing a new card every time and Sakura uses said card for her next mission. This may seem repetitive and boring, which is not what the show is.
Instead, the series seamlessly uses each episode to develop the characters so you learn something new every time. Every episode builds upon the last so theres always something interesting to look forward to.
Likewise, you see how the characters slowly develop relationships with one another as the story progresses. Card Captor Sakura has a lot of enjoyment to offer that you forget youre watching a series about capturing cards.
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High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even In Another World
This anime some of the most OP characters , the businessman and the politician. The fighter , scientist etc which are all high school kids transferred into another world. A fun watch , 1-2 episodes might be boring but totally worth it. Waiting for the second season to come out.
There was some OP dialogue We have got nukes , so now we can print our own money something like that. So you know , its a cool anime.
Its a good mix of serious , strategy , cuteness and fun.
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Food Wars: Shokugeki No Soma
This show will make you ask questions like: Why is this character orgasming after eating a squid tentacle with peanut butter on it? Such is reality in Food Wars!, an unabashedly horny, strangely mouth-watering show about a young chef who engages in cooking competitions at culinary school. Food Wars! turns cooking basically into a sports anime, which are a distinct sub-genre all their own, and part of its fun is how it sexualizes everything related to the food its characters cook. An acquired taste, yes, but rich nonetheless.Watch it if you love: Top Chef; Samurai Gourmet
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What We Love About Dragon Ball
- The characters have such a genuinely portrayed chemistry with each other. Dragonball never seems to take itself too seriously, allowing the viewer to sit back and enjoy the ride.
- Dragon Ball is divided into multiple story arcs, some longer than others, which are hilariously funny and manage to entertain with fantastic battles. Dragon Ball is genuinely funny.
- The fights were always entertaining and well thought out. It was never just a case of running in, attacking, and tapping into a hidden power.
The Legend Of The Galactic Heroes: The New Thesis Encounter
Starting off our list is the reboot of the political classic;The Legend of the Galactic Heroes. The new adaptation, aptly titled;The New Thesis Encounter, retells the decades-long interstellar war between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. But when two new commanders enter the conflict, Imperial Admiral Reinhard von Lohengramm of the Galactic Empire and Yang Wen-li of the Free Planets Alliance, it could mean the end of the never-ending war.
While the final episode didnt declare a clear winner between the two interstellar states, it left fans clamoring for more. The high-stakes space opera didnt cast either side as a hero or a villain. Instead, it told the tale of two nations at different ends of the political spectrum, giving viewers the option to choose which side to support. Not only that, the animes opening sequence shows off its high-quality graphics, and its rousing soundtrack fully captures the emotions of the courageous men and women impacted by the war.
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The Seven Deadly Sins
Let me tell you first The 7 deadly Sins and The Seven Deadly Sins are totally different anime. Yes that 7 or Seven can make a lot of difference. Here we are talking about The Seven Deadly Sins. This is action packed and has a bit of weird romance too. The MC is over powered which only makes this anime more lovable.
Re: Zero Starting Life In Another World
First aired: 2016 | Episodes: 41 Where to watch it: Crunchyroll;
The isekai genre of anime is filled with characters who end up transported to another world and are instantly gifted with all of the strength any good power fantasy deserves. While there have been other isekai that twist that formula slightly, it’s hard to beat the sheer terror that Re:Zero manages to convey so regularly.;
It’s tricky to discuss Re:Zero without spoiling any of it, but it’s basically a very dark version of life in another world. The hero, Natsuki Subaru, is incredibly obnoxious at times, but his struggles throughout the series turn him into a fairly likeable protagonist.;
There’s a lot to love about the lore of the world as well, which is revealed steadily throughout each episode. This isn’t an anime for the feint of heart, but for those willing to grit their teeth when things get tough, this is a must-watch.;
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Ouran Highschool Host Club
After an unfortunate incident, Haruhi Fujioka must work as a host at the Host Club where she broke the vase that landed her in the situation.
Haruhi finds out that she is actually pretty good at what she does and proves to favor her situation within the club.
The show is clearly the best reverse harem of its kind. Although it is initially not known to the male host members that Haruhi is a female because of her boyish appearance, they hire her to their club to serve its customers.
This serves in the shows popularity as it is a show that pokes fun at societys indifferent attitude towards homosexuality and gender-fluid characters.
This came during the early 2000s where the atmosphere around homosexuality and gender-fluid/ neutral individuals was less than favorable.
This concept is even more relevant in todays environment creating an interest for even the viewers of this decade.
The History Of Animes Journey To America
Anime;has taken the world by storm. The abundance of shows and films is matched only by how easy it is to watch your favorite anime. But, how did this export from Japan become such a huge phenomenon in America? Which shows and films paved the way for anime to become the empire it is today?
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What We Love About Death Note
- The concept in general is incredibly creative and discusses righteousness, death, and vanity in one of the most original ways an anime has ever done. The violence perpetrated by emotions and the inner workings of Lights mind, making the world seem smaller in an interesting way.
- Ryuk is one of the best anime characters of all time. Hes funny, is the main catalyst for the whole show, and gets along well with Light to the point where their relationship is sometimes comedic. He is definitely the best character in Death Note and definitely makes the story.
- The voice acting is on point, especially for Light and Ryuk. Two very talented voice actors are portraying two complex characters and their personalities, and overall, it works in the shows favor. They arent the only talents of course, but they both ultimately steal the show together.;
Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi
Totally unique , fast paced and leaves a mark.
This is new setting and new story. You wont have seen anything like this before , the feeling and fast paced plot.
Everything about this anime is worth remembering. There is a reason why this anime took the world by storm and topped all the charts.
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Food Wars The Fifth Plate
Premiere date: April 11Director: Yoshitomo YonetaiProduction studio: J.C.StaffThe horniest cooking anime to ever exist comes to an end in its fifth season as Yukihira Soma and his band of world-class talented teenaged chefs compete and spectate in the most prestigious cooking competition for chefs under 25 during the Totsuki culinary academy’s summer break. Though Food Wars!, aka Shokugeki No Soma, has turned into more of shnen battle manga with food, taking on the seedy chefs of Noir, than the groundbreaking technique explainer of its past, it’s no less celebratory of the art and joy of cooking in all its trial and error, failure and success.
Other Famous Anime Series That Are A Must Watch: Our Ranking Chart
As you can appreciate, the anime listed above cannot be fully comprehensive, but you can make an idea about which anime series are worth watching because are top rated inside the anime community. For example, we havent mentioned some worldwide famous series like DragonBall, One Piece, Naruto and Pokemon. In fact, in our list we preferred to focus on some titles that dont have the same spread or consist on a more limited amount of episodes .
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Best Anime Movie What Is The Best Anime Movie Ever
In the industry of anime movies, the latest is always considered as the best. If you ask me, I think the new Naruto is the best anime movie recently. This is not surprising because it combines the best elements from a number of genres into something altogether new. And since its release, more fans are raving about it. There are those who believe that it is not just a good film but a masterpiece.
What We Love About Yuri On Ice
- The show has a sports competitive atmosphere but every now and then, the audience will definitely notice the character relationships. Its very human and can be fierce at times.
- The way it capitalizes on the competition, characters, visual dynamics, themes, and directing is genius. The pacing works out quite well as it doesnt waste much time getting to the point.;
- Comedy is straightforward and although can get rather awkward at times, it still effectively delivers with character chemistry and reaction faces. Overall the show is incredibly well done in and of itself.
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Ouran High School Host Club
“Ouran High School Host Club is upfront about how ridiculous anime can be sometimes, but it still delivers a solid story and characters. I get that not everyone would like how cutesy it can get, especially compared to smash hits like Attack on Titan, but it’s definitely a good starting point for anyone who’s just curious about anime.” emilyadder
Top 100 Anime The Good The Bad And The Influential
Ah yes, another top 100 list. Every anime blog must have one right? While most anime lists include anime the writer likes, this one contains many I didnt like at all. However, their importance and popularity demands they have a place. I have seen at least a few episodes or scenes from nearly every anime on this list. As with any top 100 list, there is a lot of subjectivity. Many more deserve a mention but without watching them I cannot make a judgement. These anime are ranked by impact, popularity, and importance. Their representation for good and bad anime habits also influenced their rank. Anime has many bad habits that can be traced all the way to Astro Boy, filler being one of the main issues. Over time, anime developed its own stereotypes and tropes. I tried to include shows that best represent these bad habits and story-telling stereotypes. The worse they are, they better they ranked as a representation of the bad. I considered making a separate list for these, but everything needs to be understood in context, so I settled on combining them with the good. This list has a bias toward newer anime; I ranked them higher because more fans are familiar with them than anime from the 1980s and; 1990s. This is an image heavy post.
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