New to anime in 2026

I haven't watched any anime yet, and seeing all the sequels announced for 2026, I don't know where to start. I don't mind long series, even if it's gonna take half a year but I don't know if, for example, starting with “One Piece,” I will understand all the references (if any) to some previous legendary series such as DG, Pokemon or Naruto. Thanks in advance for any advice

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gud_fellow2026-01-28 13:49

You can just start with catching up with seasonal animes that are currently airing. My advice would be go watch older anime and watch some mainstream ones before coming to seasonals.

Electronic_Beyond1682026-01-28 13:49

for example?

gud_fellow2026-01-28 14:03

Some older series which are on top of my head right now:
Neon Genesis Evangalion,
Steins;gate,
Death note,
Death Parade,
Akame ga kill ,
The future diary,
Initial D,
Bleach,

Some Mainstream anime:
Chainsaw Man ,
JJK ,
Hell's Paradise,
Gachiakuta,
Solo leveling ,
Mashle,
Fire Force,
Demon Slayer,
My hero academia

Electronic_Beyond1682026-01-28 14:06

so I can basically watch anything in the random order and it will not destroy any of the experience in references/inside jokes etc.?

gud_fellow2026-01-28 14:13

You can just start with whatever you wanna watch first it'll be fine.

dsawchuk2026-01-28 14:18

Some anime rely heavily on references but most don't. Some lean on genre specific tropes that are easier to follow with knowledge of the genre but aren't necessary. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Electronic_Beyond1682026-01-28 14:20

even something like jojo?

dsawchuk2026-01-28 14:21

Jojo is the exception and I would avoid it for now.

Durinthal2026-01-28 15:17

For something like Gintama there will be references to celebrities and politicians that will be unknown unless you were living in Japan in 2009, so you'll almost certainly miss out on *every* reference regardless of how many other anime you watch first.

That's an extreme case and otherwise there aren't that many anime where not watching a specific other anime will significantly hamper your experience outside of sequels and franchise relations.

A few '70s anime will get referenced regularly, particularly Ashita no Joe, The Rose of Versailles, and Mobile Suit Gundam, but those are on the level of pop culture institutions in Japan like knowing about certain aspects of Star Wars in the US. No one's expecting viewers to go back and watch those specifically for the references, but they're still worth watching in their own right.

Jojo started off in a similar vein as Fist of the North Star but ended up pushing the boundaries itself, again a lot of other anime reference it but it's certainly not required viewing.

And for a personal example, Death Note is one of the most popular anime in the west (a lot of other people have suggested it already) but I haven't seen it myself despite being active in this community and discussing anime for more than a decade. Now and then another anime will reference it but I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything because of it.

VariousAccess62412026-01-28 14:08

I already gave a list, but I just remembered---the first season of Blue Exorcist is super good.

dsawchuk2026-01-28 13:53

One piece doesn't rely on references, so it should be fine. It's not my cup of tea but it is immensely popular. I would probably watch some shorter series first though so you can try out a bunch of things.

What types of non- anime do you like?

Electronic_Beyond1682026-01-28 13:56

literally everything that other people mostly like (based on ratings) so I don't need to pick a genre or something. If watching any anime doesn't help when watching One Piece that's great

dsawchuk2026-01-28 14:10

I'll give a variety then. Shows first:

Gurren Laggan - a great over the top action anime.

Frieren - a slower paced emotional fantasy (currently the highest rated anime of all time)

Teasing master Takagi-san - a cutesy childhood romance/comedy

Erased - mystery/thriller

Psycho pass - scifi dystopian cop drama (season 1 is a self-contained story and outshines the other seasons, most people stop there)

Death note - psychological thriller

One punch man - action comedy (again season 1 outshines the rest and is self-contained)

Your lie in April - high school romance/drama

Full-metal alchemist brotherhood - battle shonen (the most common anime genre)

Spy x family - comedy

Movies:

Literally anything by studio Ghibli (howls moving castle, princess mononoke, spirited away and grave of the fireflies are more popular)

Maquia - a fantasy about parenting

Your name - body switching romance/thriller

A silent voice - drama

Cool__Face2026-01-28 14:14

Cowboy Bebop

gvisii2026-01-28 13:56

what genre do u like when it comes to movies/series??

it'll be easier for people to give u recommendations if we know what genres u like

pksato2026-01-28 14:00

For new, try [Sentenced to Be a Hero](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5qZX2kh-7w)

Rich_Scarcity_3012026-01-28 14:05

Watch Tokyo Ghoul S01 and S02

VariousAccess62412026-01-28 14:07

I definitely think if you've never watched anime, Naruto is a fantastic one to start with or Death Note (a much shorter one to start with). I've NEVER heard someone say they didn't like either of those if they've seen it. In fact, they all say it's top tier. And as someone who's seen both, I agree. Attack On Titan is another classic, but you gotta be okay with gore and heavy stuff. Here are some more good ones that are my personal favs.

•Kakegurui (psych thriller)
-2 seasons
-Netflix

•Danganronpa (psych thriller)
-1 season with spin-offs (though the OG is the best, imo)
-Crunchyroll, I believe

•Tomodachi no Game (psych thriller)
-1 season
-Crunchyroll

•Kill la Kill (don't know what genre you'd classify it as, but it's got fighting and hot girls)
-1 season
-it was on Netflix at one point, but idk if it is anymore

•Soul Eater (again---don't know the genre---it's got fighting, but I wouldn't say it's a shounen)
-Netflix
-1 season

•Monthly Nozaki-Kun (romance)
-1 season
-last I checked, Netflix
•Toradora (romance)
-1 season
-when I watched, I used a back woods website (my b), but it's prob on Crunchyroll

•Saiki K (comedy)
-2 seasons
-Netflix

•Kotaro Lives Alone (slice of life)
-1 season
-Netflix

As for One Piece, you'd truly have to be prepared to commit. I think its episode count is in the 1000's right now. I never got into, but my husband loves it and is currently up-to-date on it.

VariousAccess62412026-01-28 14:09

Let me know if you want me to give you quick summaries of them, and I'll dm you!

Over-Republic70482026-01-28 14:21

No, you don’t need prior anime knowledge.
Start with finished/short shows to find your taste. Try:
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Death Note
- Steins;Gate
- Attack on Titan

If you want modern action: Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer.
One Piece can wait — it’s a marathon, not required.

Least-Bother57092026-01-28 14:52

Try black clover, Jujutsu kaisen,solo leveling, hells paradise and my hero academia

russianoatmeal2026-01-28 15:39

My number one recommendation to people starting anime is Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Absolutely god-tier anime!

Some classic recommendations: Cowboy Bebop, Yuu Yuu Hakusho, Trigun

Some more recent reccomendations: Noragami, Black Clover, Dororo

If you are having trouble deciding what to start with you can look on myanimelist and see what’s most popular or find a genre you want to watch.

Dumey2026-01-28 18:20

There are some "meta" or parody shows that definitely rely on some knowledge of anime tropes and references that are probably good to avoid. Like I wouldn't watch Konosuba before seeing multiple other isekai shows first if you wanted to appreciate some of the referential parody humor. But really other than a select few shows that I would maybe recommend not being your first, you can start almost anywhere and just pick up things as you go.

For example, I have only ever seen the first season of Jojos Bizarre Adventure, but I recognize a lot of references to the art style and memes of later season Jojos just from proximity and seeing it referenced here or there.

I haven't watched DBZ since I was a kid, but it's not hard to recognize when some show is making a super saiyan joke or power level over 9000 reference.

You don't really need to know that stuff most of the time, and you just kind of pick it up over time.

milo3252026-01-28 19:30

I recommend watching any anime starting at the beginning. Many of them will be hard to follow if you jump in with episode one of a later season. There’s no harm in watching Season 1 of Frieren, for instance, because the new season is only releasing one episode a week, so you can easily finish the first season before the 2nd season ends.

I do recommend Frieren; it’s an excellent anime. Jujutsu Kaisen is great as well, but the current season is three or four, so that would take some time to catch up.

One Piece is over 1000 episodes and going strong. I wouldn’t recommend that as your first introduction to anime.

Electronic_Beyond1682026-01-28 19:32

yep but I don't understand that advice about avoiding One Piece as a first anime only because it's long. I prefer to stay with one universe even if it's long, so is it only that or it's just bad for a newbie for different reasons too?

milo3252026-01-28 19:45

I’m not saying anything bad about One Piece; it’s very popular and an excellent anime. I was just suggesting that, as your very first anime, it might be a lot to tackle as your introduction. There are also lots of excellent shorter anime you could try to decide if you like it.

onzichtbaard2026-01-28 21:21

I started with one piece and i think it works fine as a first anime

Its very long tho so you have to be into that or watch a cut down version

What anime id recommend would also depend on what you like and what you are looking for

But if you want to watch some shows that are more approachable in their length id recommend maybe death note or attack on titan for a starter anime

Alt22212026-01-28 23:42

Full Metal Panic (2002) sci fi

Campfire cooking in another world (2023) adventure

Cardcaptor Sakura (1998) drama

Noragami (2014) action

Charlotte (2015) drama

The Witch From Mercury (2022) mecha

not sure if you are looking for a list of anime from 2026 or just in general.

new stuff if you wanna watch more current shows:

hells paradise

sentenced to be a hero

jujutsu kaisen

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End