Spy x Family Why it works: The ultimate crowd-pleaser. A spy, an assassin, and a telepathic child must pretend to be a perfect family to save the world. It is wholesome, hilarious, and thrilling in equal measure. Your non-anime friends will love it. Manga status: Ongoing. The manga is equally charming, with sharper art. The Deep Cuts (For the Cerebral Fan) You want plot twists, philosophy, and dread.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Why it works: It is the perfect distillation of modern shonen. The premise is simple: a boy fights demons to save his sister. The animation by Ufotable is so breathtakingly fluid that every fight feels like a blockbuster movie. It’s fast, emotional, and doesn't require a wiki to understand. Manga status: Finished. The manga is short (23 volumes) and sticks the landing. hentaiser
Monster (The Masterpiece) Why it works: A brilliant Japanese surgeon saves a young boy’s life instead of a politician. Years later, that boy becomes a serial killer. Set in post-Cold War Germany, this is a slow-burn psychological thriller about evil being born versus being made. Where to find it: Netflix (anime is complete, 74 eps). The manga is a dense, rewarding read. The Emotional Gut-Punches You want to cry, laugh, and feel alive. Spy x Family Why it works: The ultimate crowd-pleaser
Death Note (The Classic) Why it works: A genius high schooler gains the power to kill anyone by writing their name in a notebook. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between him and the world’s greatest detective. It is a tight, 37-episode masterpiece about god complexes and justice. Manga status: Finished. The manga is the definitive version, with an extra epilogue chapter not in the anime. Your non-anime friends will love it
Fruits Basket (2019 remake) Why it works: A girl living in a tent ends up living with a mysterious family cursed to turn into the animals of the Chinese zodiac. It starts as a goofy reverse-harem but slowly reveals itself to be a devastating story about trauma, abuse, and breaking generational curses. Manga status: Finished. The 2019 anime adapts the entire manga faithfully.
Dandadan The pitch: A believer in ghosts and a believer in aliens bet each other to prove their existence. They discover both are real, and the girl gets her powers stolen by a yokai, while the boy gets his penis stolen by a turbo-granny. It is insane, horny, hilarious, and has some of the best fight choreography in modern manga. Anime status: Coming October 2024 (trailers look incredible).
Here is a genre-busting guide to the most popular—and most worthwhile—series streaming and on shelves right now. If you think anime is just "weird cartoons," start here.