Anime I can watch with my Husband?
We are both in our 30s. I mostly watch animes in my free time and have been slowly ( sneakily?) trying to get my husband into anime for the last two years. So far I have only recommended stuff I already watched & loved, but would love to explore new ones.
sharing intel on him:
\- Animes he watched: AOT, SxF, Pluto, Grave of the fireflies
\- Shows/ franchises he enjoys: LOTR, Breaking bad, GOT, Succession, Harry Potter
\- interests: History and Sports
\- doesn’t enjoy anime fan service (walked in while I was watching MDUD, lol)
\- Not too much into action, sol or romance (couldn’t make him watch JJK, CSM, Dandadan or Frieren)
Looking forward to suggestions!
sharing intel on him:
\- Animes he watched: AOT, SxF, Pluto, Grave of the fireflies
\- Shows/ franchises he enjoys: LOTR, Breaking bad, GOT, Succession, Harry Potter
\- interests: History and Sports
\- doesn’t enjoy anime fan service (walked in while I was watching MDUD, lol)
\- Not too much into action, sol or romance (couldn’t make him watch JJK, CSM, Dandadan or Frieren)
Looking forward to suggestions!
Commentaires
The users of this subreddit came up with [a chart of anime recommendations for newcomers and veterans](https://i.redd.it/0w1v880jtq661.png) and [an awesome longer flowchart](https://i.redd.it/vdzlkodz19c71.png). Maybe you can find something there that you'll like \^.\^
[](#bot-chan "Urban s-s-s-senpai made me do it!")
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Its Chinese, has an English Dub (I watched in Mandarin so Im not sur eif the dub is good). and is a very well written, dark fantasy/mystery show.
It has some action but its not a big focus, more of a drama/mystery
It will be very confusing but its also very enjoyable
try vinland saga or erased
and I think you guys might like the parasyte anime too, but not sure if it's as serious as the manga.. same thing for monster, but I just started it
enjoyy!
Watch the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime before Brotherhood.
FMAB is like drinking the real deal.
Not worth watching the 2003 series, at least past like episode 25 or so (when it deviates from the Manga).
If you want something completely different, but very good, maybe Stein:s Gate or Madoka Magica
I am very much into romance anime, magical girl and some military moe, so I am not able to help much more. Hope it helps at least a little.
Reign of the Seven Spellblades has a lot of the same DNA as Harry Potter and Game of Thrones-- there's a school for magic-users, there's politics and conspiracies galore-- but there is an openness about sex and sexuality that not everyone is comfortable with so caveat emptor.
Legends of the Galactic Heroes is a cross between science fiction epic and history documentary.
Claymore
Castlevania
Honestly most people around our age who got into anime was through adult swim or toonami so I'd check out those series
Like Yuyu Hakasho
All these series have great dubs too which if he's not an anime person will probably be better
No fanservice, no over explaining, one of my faves that I'd recommend to anyone whether they're into anime or not
Apothecary Diaries is a good one
Mashle if likes Harry Potter and comedy
Fruits Basket or Violet Evergarden
I love apothecary diaries, but he maynot be into inner palace mystery
Mashle maybe a good option for both of us
Based on what you said I think Delicious in Dungeon would win him over. I’m guessing he gets turned off by the typical “annoying” characters. Which I get it, I still love that stuff but I can spot a character where I know my wife would find annoying or weird.
My wife isn't too into anime but she started observing this one as I watched and now she's totally hooked!
Edit: it is the same mangaka as Orb which was suggested earlier.
Another one that he may like if hes not into action but more serious plot and history, is Orb: on the movements of the earth
History~ish:
Kingdom
Arslan Senki
Black butler/kuroshitsuji
Grounded action without constant fan service:
Monster
Baccano
D. Gray-man
Cowboy bebop
Samurai champloo
Gangsta.
Jormungand (might be too ecchi, don't recall)
Long shot: code geass. If you reaaaally try, you could say it's a mecha anime retelling of Arthur and the sword in the stone.
Chihayafuru - A Sports anime josei about an obscure japanese card game but somehow ends up being one of the most intense sports show you'll ever watch with an unobtrusive love triangle dynamic
Legend of the Galactic Heroes - The War and Peace of anime. It's old but it's one of the best for a reason
Blue Giant - An anime film based on the manga about a Saxophonist who aims to be the greatest in the world and his rise to the top.
Mob Psycho 100 - Despite having action moments, is much more a character study/comedy about learning self acceptnce
Vinland Saga - Features lots of action, is a surprisingly well researched vikings show about revenge
Planetes - by the same author as vinland saga, is a hard sci-fi about removing waste from space
Barefoot Gen - a Historical Drama about the bombing of Hiroshima and its aftermath. Old school, and brutal.
Gintama - Long, light on fanservice, but one of the best gag series out there. Requires high level of investment and starts off rough. So don't start on this one.
Monster - Thriller/Drama by the same author as pluto about the cat and mouse game between a Neuroscientist who regrets preforming brain surgery on a child who grows up to be a mass murdering psychopath (very much in the vein of breaking bad)
Cowboy Bebop/Samurai Champloo - The essential western anime fan starter pack
Hajime No Ippo - Super inspirational Boxing anime. Warning: is very long
Most of Hayao Miyazaki's Work would probably do
Ping Pong the Animation: Incredible character study about two friends who are ping pong lovers and want to be the greatest. Very western vibe and unique animation style
Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad: Gritty anime about a boy who goes from learning to play ugitar to fronting a popular band.
Bocchi the Rock: Excellent Comedy about a loner who doesn't want to learn a trade so joins a band but has crippling social anxiety
The Rose of Versailles: A classic series focused on the french revolution
Gundam Wing: Prima facie a mecha anime, but under the surface an examination of the cost of war
Orb: ON the Movements of Earth: An extremely taut historical drama about people fighting for the study of heliocentrism under an oppressive theocracy that suppresses it as heresy
The Summer Hikaru Died: A horror anime about a boy whose best friend (and crush) dies and is replaced by an eldritch horror who threatens to kill him if he reveals his secret
Slam Dunk: A classic basketball anime by the guy who made Vagabond
Beastars: A murder mystery/social commentary piece baout a world where animals of all shapes live in a mixed society and the chaos that results
There are ton of others, but that should be a good starting point
A good commitment watch for couples lol
If he likes multicultural history Kingdom is pretty good but has a decent amount of action. Be aware the animation in season 1 is terrible but gets drastically better. It’s like old Chinese history but not accurate at all, just fiction lol
I agree with some of the other comments with Claymore and Vinland Saga (very good btw). I love berserk, start with the 96 version. It’s very political but also gets VERY dark at times and isn’t for everyone. Record of the Lodoss war is also very good, like LOTR but also DND.
Wistoria wand and sword (kinda Harry Potter esque)
86 Eighty Six doesn’t really fit his interests but is a very good watch
If he likes cars at all go with initial D
If you provide some insight on what kind of sports/history he likes I could probably throw out a few more recommendations
- Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
- Ergo Proxy
- Ghost in the Shell Films and Stand Alone Complex - we have a remake due to come out this year too, if you need something newer. SAC especially hits on more serious current days problems.
- Hajime no Ippo
- Major - it starts out focusing on little league ball however, the story does progress later into more pro baseball in S4-6, if he likes baseball.
- Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
- Princess Principal
- Baccano! - highly recommend the dub
- Second Legend of the Galactic Heroes - Watch the first two prequel films then skip to EP3 of the main OVA. There is also the Gaiden prequel that is worth watching. Probably the closest thing to the scale of GOT in anime.
- Second Ping Pong the Animation
- Also second Kingdom however it is very much a * recommendation due to it's horrible full CGI S1 adaption. It gets better however, I usually recommend reading the manga for the first 173 chapters then switching over to S2.
ancient magus bride - it's basically anime harry potter lol
hanebado - badminton sports drama
Would Umamusume work considering it is both?
For context, Umamusume is an anime about horse girls who race and are based on actual real life racehorses and historical races and happenings.
S1-3 is more SOL but there's good sports drama there too (especially in S2 and S3 with different themes of sports in general)
Cinderella Gray, the spinoff just released last year, is more of a seinen sports drama with SoL toned down a bit and more of the drama.
All the good racing action is also accompanied by the fact that all the characters, their backstory and races are based off of actual racehorse history and you can watch the races they are based on after you watch the anime's version of the race (even the commentary is sometimes 1 to 1)
Minimum fan service, no romance, almost no violent actions (since this is horse girls running)
A bit of a weird suggestion but it weirdly fits the requirements
Monster (by Pluto author)
Haikyuu
Re:Zero
(Sadly can’t sit down and gives full list, as I’m just on a quick break, but…)
Based on what you’d told us, I’d strongly recommend
‘Sentenced to be a Hero’ - which is a new series for this current season.
Unlike most typical fantasy anime, it’s taken a more cinematic approach to story-telling, and similar to LOTRs in that respect.
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
Planetes
Samurai Champloo
I know it's *technically* romance/slice of life, but if he doesn't mind crying in front of you you could try Your Lie in April. I'd argue they treat the music performances very sports-like.
A newer one could be Takopi's original sin. Not history or sports but could be weird and surprisingly dark enough to catch his interest.
Blue Lock. If sports is his thing, I am not sure there is much better Kuroko’s Basketball is there,
Surprised he watched AoT, did he like it?
What about Space and Sci-Fi? If he was a fan of Transformers maybe Gundam? Although there is action but it has a decent story and plot. Iron Blooded Orphans is my personal favorite but I am sure I’m the minority. I’m sure someone here has said FMA: Brotherhood, DO NOT WATCH THE 2003 VERSION!!! It will just confuse. While it does have brief fan service, history wise there is Record of Ragnarok.
If he likes sports then Haikyuu or Kuroko.
Seems perfect for the provided profile.
As for action, if he likes Attack on Titan, is it more that he doesn't want action to be the focus, but he likes action as a means to tell the story? If so, you might look into things like Demon Hunter.
What was it he didn't like about Frieren? Assuming because it's slow? It does take a few episodes to really draw you in, but it is also pretty slow throughout, because it's supposed to be about the journey, and the fact that Frieren herself is slow to do things.
I also second Vinland Saga, just be aware that it’s a slow start. I had to power through it for a bit till it got real good.
Fate series involves historical figure fighting in a holy grail war.
My personal favourite would be girls und panzer. Cute girls doing cute things with WW2 tanks.
Youko senki is like isekai with ww1 stuff and magic.
Campfire cooking is fun. See if he can get into OP sidekicks or battle junkies.
Pick some random themes and see if something else amuses him.
Try some slice of life that still have some magic and feel good for a change of pace. I like by the grace of gods.
Or darker like made in Abyss.
Follows the story of a former child soldier after the end of the war and her struggle to find purpose in a peaceful world she knows nothing about.
- Helck
Follows the story of the human Hero Helck who competes for the title of Demon King with the ambition of retaliation against the human armies.
- Hell's Paradise (gore warning)
A bunch of death row criminals are sent on a suicide mission to retrieve a fabled elixir of immortality.
- Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Follows the story of an elven mage Frieren who helped the Hero's party take down the demon king. The story takes place after nearly all of the rest of the party had died of old age and tackles the meaning of existence and the importance of bonds.
- One Piece
There once was a pirate by the name of Gold Rogier who became so wealthy and infamous that he became known as the Pirate King. On the day of his execution, he announces that he left all of his treasures in one place for anyone who finds it to claim. This proclamation begins what became to be known as "the great pirate era" where countless men and women set sail across the sea to claim the treasure known as the One Piece.
Megalo Box is also amazing, it's a boxing anime.
FMA Brotherhood
Death Note
Death Parade
Edit: adding Magi to the list too because no one ever recommends it enough
Just my 2c. Lots of ppl I know got into it like that.
Maybe try more Ghibli movies like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. The voice acting and mannerisms are more down to earth.
Some Satoshi Kon movies are good too.
Odd Taxi is another good one but maybe he might thinks it’s slow.
The anime cuts off at a weird point so I would recommend treating episode 39 as the finale.
Baby Steps, Big Wind Up, Hajime no ippo, Chihayafuru
I would start there
If he enjoyed Pluto and GOTF, he might like more complex and emotional anime like Psycho Pass, Monster, Parasyte and Cyberpunk. Takopi’s original sin also is very deep and emotional.
**Slayers**
**Legend of Galactic Heroes (classic version)**
The story is an isekai: abguy becomes an Otaku NEET hikikomori after he's assaulted at school. He spends 20 years like that and is booted out of the house for skipping his parents' funeral services. While trying to figure out what he'll do with his life, he sacrifices himself to save a group of teens from an out of control truck. He dies and is reincarnated as a baby. It takes him a while to realize it's on a different world, one that has magic and monsters.
The first season is a mixture of him growing up and his character development. Season two mixes monster hunting, world building, family responsibility, and building friendships. Season 1 covered his life from birth to age 13, Season 2 from 13 to age 17.
Now is a good time to get him interested as Season 3 releases this July.
Does it have fan service? [Yes,]>!but it's kept to a minimum. There is a slutty elf woman introduced in the first season, but it's not until the second season you discover it's a curse. She actually marries a youngster who tries to break the curse.!<
Rascal does not dream,
Your lie in April,
Solo camping for two,
7th time loop,
Cowboy bebop,
Darling in the franxx,
Faraway paladin,
Re:zero,
Secrets of the silent witch,
Knights of Sidonia,
I’d say give Frieren another try.
Maybe something like Rising Of The Shield Hero - though the first season is peak.
More or less a murder mystery with some supernatural elements. Mc has a power where he involuntarily goes back in time whenever a tragedy happens around him. And gets stuck in a time loop till he finds it and fixes it.
Lead to him being sent back to his middle school days when someone is murdered close to him leading him to try and solve a spree of child murders that he blocked out as a kid.
Other than that 91 days or drifter would be fun.
91 days is a prohibition era revenge story
And drifters is an “isekai” of sorts. 2 gods summon real historic figures from earth to another world to fight in a game of chess between the 2 gods
Historical fantasy with tons of court intrigue and secret conspiracies.
Another option if he likes low/soft magic settings is *The Ancient Magus' Bride*. It even has a magical school at some point. The title sounds like a romantasy title, but the romance (what there is of it) is pretty understated in my opinion.
Odd taxi
March comes in like a lion
91 days
Moonrise
Ranking of kings
Revenger
Run with the wind
Tsurune
Yatagarasu
Zenshuu
Historical characters duking it out for the sale of there wishes, it's the absolute best
*Throw away the entire man and find a new one.*
I'm not into anime that much, especially after I got busy with work and life, but I see myself enjoying similar animes, here are some other suggestions I enjoyed
Sword of the stranger, Fullmetal Alchemist, Demon Slayer, Erased, Dororo.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Monster
Bokurano
Orb
Vinland saga
It’s Harry Potter but funny
For game of thrones akame ga kill, everyone dies type of anime just like got
For sports there’s blue lock (football) kuroko no basket (basketball (en name kurokos basketball absolutely amazing and on Netflix)) and haikyuu (volleyball)
This show is very wholesome me and my wife binged the whole thing in one day.
Rising impact (golf sport anime)
Black clover (Mc cant use magic, uses brute strength)
Mashle (also mc cant use magic, jus brute strength)
If the Japanese language thing throws him off, Baccano! has a fantastic English dub.
Oh and Reign of Seven spellblades(very similar to Harry Potter)
Edit: you should first start with dragon ball then go to dragon ball z