12 Best Anime To Watch If You Think You Hate Anime

From fast-paced action to emotional fantasy films, these 12 anime picks offer easy entry points for viewers who think the medium simply isn’t for them.

August 17, 2026 – Anime can be surprisingly difficult to recommend to someone who believes they dislike it. The medium covers everything from psychological thrillers and intimate coming-of-age stories to sweeping fantasy adventures, so there is no single “anime experience” to define it.

For first-time viewers, the best approach may be to start with something that already matches their interests. These 12 picks range from accessible standalone movies to addictive series, with each offering a different reason to give anime another chance.

1. Solo Leveling

If fast pacing, spectacular battles and an underdog story sound appealing, Solo Leveling is an easy starting point. The series follows Sung Jinwoo, an E-rank hunter considered the weakest in his profession.

After a disastrous dungeon expedition, Jinwoo gains access to a mysterious system that allows him to become increasingly powerful. His transformation from vulnerable hunter to formidable fighter gives the series a strong wish-fulfillment element, while its slick animation and large-scale battles keep the story moving quickly.

2. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

This 2006 film offers a gentler introduction to anime through an instantly understandable premise. Makoto, an ordinary teenager, discovers that she can travel backward through time and initially uses the ability to fix everyday problems.

She changes test results, avoids awkward situations and attempts to correct embarrassing moments, but her actions eventually affect the people around her. What begins as a playful time-travel story gradually becomes an emotional exploration of consequences, relationships and a future that cannot always be changed.

3. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Instead of beginning with the heroes preparing to defeat a great evil, Frieren begins after the adventure is already over. The elven mage Frieren returns from a decade-long quest and discovers that her human companions have grown old while she has barely changed.

The experience forces her to confront how little time she spent appreciating those relationships. What follows is a thoughtful fantasy journey about memory, mortality and the emotional importance of moments that can seem insignificant while they are happening.

4. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind offers a very different kind of anime experience. Set after an ecological catastrophe has poisoned much of the world, the film follows Princess Nausicaä as she attempts to prevent conflict between human kingdoms.

At the same time, she tries to understand the enormous toxic forest spreading across the planet. The result is an adventurous post-apocalyptic story that also explores environmental destruction, fear and humanity’s tendency to attack what it does not understand.

5. Death Note

For anyone who associates anime exclusively with exaggerated battles and superpowers, Death Note provides an entirely different gateway. The psychological thriller follows high school student Light Yagami after he discovers a supernatural notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written inside it.

Light decides to use the notebook against criminals, believing he can create a more just world. His plan quickly becomes a morally complicated battle of intelligence and ideology, raising questions about power, justice and how easily noble intentions can become dangerous.

6. The Colors Within

The Colors Within is a 2024 Japanese drama that puts emotion and connection at the center of its story. Totsuko, a student at a Catholic girls’ school, has an unusual ability to perceive people’s emotions as colors.

She becomes drawn toward two people whose “colors” particularly captivate her and eventually forms a band with them. The resulting musical story offers a more reflective introduction to anime, focusing on relationships, emotion and the ways people connect through creativity.

7. Jujutsu Kaisen

Viewers looking for supernatural horror mixed with high-energy action may find Jujutsu Kaisen an ideal gateway. The story follows Yuji Itadori, who becomes the vessel for Ryomen Sukuna after swallowing a cursed finger while attempting to save someone else.

Yuji is pulled into the secretive world of jujutsu sorcerers, who battle supernatural creatures born from humanity’s negative emotions. The series becomes darker as it progresses, but its humor, memorable cast and inventive combat sequences provide plenty of momentum.

8. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Based on one of Japan’s best-known folk stories, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a beautifully hand-drawn film from director Isao Takahata. Its story begins when a bamboo cutter discovers a tiny girl inside a stalk and raises her as his daughter.

As she grows into a remarkably beautiful young woman, other people begin deciding what her future should look like. Five noble suitors compete for her attention, while the increasing pressure surrounding her life creates a poignant story about expectations, freedom and the loss of control over one’s own identity.

9. Kiki’s Delivery Service

Kiki’s Delivery Service follows 13-year-old witch Kiki as she leaves home for part of her training and settles in a seaside city with her talking cat, Jiji.

To support herself, Kiki starts an airborne delivery service. But as she struggles with independence and loneliness, she discovers that even her ability to fly can disappear when her confidence begins to falter. Beneath its child-friendly fantasy is a thoughtful story about growing up, creative exhaustion and finding your place in the world.

10. Spirited Away

Few animated films provide a stronger argument for taking anime seriously than Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. Ten-year-old Chihiro accidentally enters a mysterious spirit world after her parents eat food at an abandoned amusement park and are transformed into pigs.

Chihiro takes a job in a magical bathhouse while trying to find a way to rescue them. The film is strange, atmospheric and deliberately mysterious, allowing viewers to experience its world without explaining every detail. At its core, it is a coming-of-age story about courage, greed and growing up.

11. Fruits Basket

Fruits Basket is a character-driven series built around a bizarre family secret. Members of the Soma family are affected by a generational curse that causes them to transform into animals from the Chinese zodiac when they are embraced.

The story was adapted into a full animated series beginning in 2019 and unfolds across three seasons. While its premise sounds unusual, the series gradually develops into an emotional story about family, relationships and healing, giving viewers plenty of time to become invested in its characters.

12. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

For viewers who are already tempted by stories involving swords and demons, Demon Slayer offers an obvious entry point. The series follows Tanjiro after a devastating attack on his family sends him on a journey driven by revenge and the hope of helping his sister.

Across its story, Demon Slayer combines emotional character arcs with elaborate sword fights and striking animation. It has also become one of the biggest animation phenomena of the decade, with movie releases becoming major box-office successes.

Final Thoughts

If you think you hate anime, the problem may simply be that you have not found the right one yet. The medium is far broader than the stereotypes that often surround it, and these 12 selections demonstrate just how dramatically the storytelling styles can differ.

Solo Leveling and Demon Slayer offer adrenaline-fueled action, while Death Note leans into psychological tension. Films such as Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time provide more accessible introductions through fantasy, emotion and coming-of-age storytelling.

The easiest way to begin is to pick the story that sounds most like something you would already watch. You may discover that what you disliked about “anime” was never the medium itself—it was simply the wrong starting point.

FAQs

What is the best anime to watch if you are new to anime?

There is no single best choice for everyone. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Death Note offer particularly accessible starting points because their stories are easy to understand without prior anime knowledge.

Which anime is best for someone who likes action?

Solo Leveling, Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba are strong choices for viewers interested in fast-paced supernatural action, dramatic battles and powerful characters.

What anime should I watch if I prefer serious stories?

Death Note is a psychological thriller centered on morality, justice and power, while Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End offers a quieter exploration of memory, mortality and relationships.

Are there anime movies for people who do not want to commit to a series?

Yes. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, The Colors Within, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away are all standalone films.

Do I need to know anything about anime or Japan before watching these?

No. These selections are designed to work as entry points, and none requires prior knowledge of anime or Japanese culture to understand and enjoy the story.