7 Anime Series You’ll Be Hooked On

Written by Charlie Johnson

Most of us remember waking up early before school or on the weekends to watch our favourite cartoons. Tearing the covers off your bed and making a nest on the couch so that you could watch Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, or Naruto in complete comfort. Anime as an entertainment medium has done a lot of growing up since the 90’s and is chock full of awesome action, laugh out loud moments, and stories that make you think about your place in the world. Maybe it’s worth giving it another chance?

Read on to discover seven anime series that you’ll quickly be hooked on and tell us in the comments below if you know of any others you would add!

1. Nichijou

Have you ever had an idea with your best friend that is so ridiculous that you can’t stop laughing? That is more or less what it feels like to watch this show. Nichijou is a slice of life comedy series that follows three girls through their “everyday lives”.  If you’ve ever fallen in love with a young nobleman who rides a goat, shot lasers out of your eyes because you had a fish land on your head, or bribed a policeman to not look at your personal diary, then this is the show for you.

2. One Punch Man

One Punch Man is the equivalent of Japanese Deadpool. The story follows an ordinary looking superhero called Saitama and after giving up his day job, he decides to become a hero for fun and gains god-like strength. His ability to destroy opponents with only a single punch is used to great comic effect as Saitama strives to find an equal sparring partner and his place in the world. Oh, and the show also has one of the best opening themes going around.

3. Sword Art Online

How do you cram sci-fi, fantasy, romance, action, and a decent story into 25 episodes? Simply set the story inside a virtual reality RPG that you can’t escape from. While the second half of the series polarised audiences, the first half is gripping, tightly written, and focuses on character development and relationships. The main character Kirito is likeable and Asuna is always up for adventure. The visuals are breathtaking and definitely worthy of owning on Blu-Ray. Be warned though, the story is an emotional rollercoaster. Keep a box of tissues handy!

4. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Gurren Lagann is one of my all time favourite shows, let alone anime. It starts with the main character Simon digging tunnels for a living in an underground village when he stumbles across an artefact that will take him from the murky depths of the village up to the surface world and as far as different galaxies and stars. Gurren Lagann is a story that hits you hard from the beginning and only lets you catch your breath when it says that it’s time to breathe. Its animation style is quirky, playing with lots of motion blurring, highly saturated colours, and forced perspectives. It typifies the Mech-Robot genre of anime with a gradual power build and lovably flawed characters.

5. Cowboy Bebop

This is the granddaddy of modern anime. First released in Japan in 1998, Cowboy Bebop is one of the most awarded animated television shows around. Channelling a funky futuristic art style, it combines a serious crime noir story with incredible voice acting in both Japanese and English. This is a great place to start your adventure into anime due to its self-contained story, dry wit, and memorable characters.

6. Death Note

Death Note was what got me into anime. It is a dark, serious psychological thriller that will leave you wanting more. Light Yagami is an incredibly bright student with his future laid out before him, but everything changes when he picks up a notebook dropped by a Shinigami (God of Death). As he gets caught up in the immense power gifted to him, the world’s greatest and most mysterious detective begins the hunt for him. What ensues is a pulse pounding tale of cat and mouse and more twists than an M. Night Shyamalan film. Brace yourself to have your morals questioned.

7. My Hero Academia

This has been the biggest show in anime since its release in April 2016. The protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, is one of the few people in the world who hasn’t developed a genetic power.  Despite this, he still chases his dream of becoming the world’s best hero like his idol, All Might. That is until fate intervenes granting him a power and entrance to the premiere UA High School. Like X-Men, this series deals with how heroes are viewed in society and the ideas of belonging. With a huge cast of characters, all with their own unique abilities and personality traits, My Hero Academia will have you discussing your own dream powers with friends for hours.

Any other anime series you would add? Tell us in the comments below!