Anime for people that have never watched anime

[Infernai]

Watch Elfen Lied...Yes....*shifty eyes*

 

[Rabarberskurk]

Hellsing OVA
Golden Boy
Samurai Champloo
Code Geass
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Redline (when it gets released)
Batman: Gotham Knight
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is currently on youtube, it's the official channel so nothing illegal about it from what I can tell. it'll probably get taken down once the show has stopped airing http://www.youtube.com/user/fmabrotherhood?blend=1&ob=4

These are animes that I believe someone with little to no knowledge about anime can get into and enjoy.

 

[Ocelano]

FLCL 1000 times over.

Love fooly coooly but aren't you afraid the slightly hectic pace may scare of a first timer? you should suggest siomething slightly more sane such as excel saga or punipunipoemy

 

[Jonatron]

I was advised to watch Death Note first, and I agree. It will teach you that anime is SRS BSNS.

 

[Ocelano]

Eva is most certainly NOT an anime to start on, nor would I recommend Death Note as a first. Both these series are very dark and heavy. Full Metal Panic as Sunrider84 has said is a good Mecha anime to start on, along with others such as Gundam 0080 or Gundam 08th MS team (Personally Gundam Wing is just too effin angsty). So in terms of top 3 i'd have to go with the following (In no particular order):

1- Full Metal Panic
2- Cowboy Bebop
3- Gundam 08th MS Team

For later anime viewing throw in some Outlaw Star, Wolf's Rain a bunch of others other people have mentioned. I'm currently watching Darker than Black which is quite well done.

Cowboy Bebop and FMA...The ORIGINAL; Brotherhood is too over-animated and crazy.

Brotherhood is the essential "Revamp" that FMA needed. It's sticking closer to the actual manga then the original series ever did. Same thing with Dragonball Z: Kai.

Oh, I forgot. Baccano! must be one of the most outrageous shows ever, it really is a must-see. It has everything. Humour, suspense, action/violence, a bit of romance. It's just close to perfection.

What's the big deal about Baccano anyway? I watch the first couple episode and was extremely unimpressed. I just found it to be very slow and the characters quite uninteresting for what I had watched.

Ahhh there is your problem it accelerates and by the end is going full speed I was "lucky" in a way I started close to the end when the pace was already set (grabbed vol 3 as an impulse grab in the local store I do that a lot rather eclectic collection) At least finish the first dvd . and how dare you say there are no interesting characters what about miria and Isaac they freaking crack me up.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Cowboy Bebop is probably the easiest to digest for beginners. You could also try out some Studio Ghibli movies aswell.

 

[mkg]

Cowboy Bebop, Paranoia Agent, Evangelion, Samurai Champloo, and I enjoyed the first thirty or so episodes of Death Note, although there is a part where the plot just gets to ridiculous for me to bear (The last episode is good though).

I gave up on anime a long time ago, but these are the ones that I remember fondly.

EDIT: Heh, almost everyone put Cowboy Bebop first.

EDIT #2: Damn you, now I have to go watch Cowboy Bebop again! Thank the lord it's on youtube.

I agree, Death Note should have ended after the "duel" between Light and L, that's what made the show.

 

[Legend of J]

Ninja scroll first one i watched and probs one of the best ive seen.

 

[Randamo]

Here's a list of some of my favourites:
Neon Genesis Evangelion - for someone new to anime like you, watch the remake 'you are not alone'. The animation won't grate on you so much (although I like the look of old anime) and the story's a bit lighter and easy to digest.
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei - for dark comedy, but if you don't know anything about Japan or Anime, a lot will go over your head.
Code Geass - Great story and art. Really. The first episode was awesome.

For something a bit stereotypical anime:

Teppen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Pure awesomeness
Revolutionary Girl Utena: Made by the same guy who did sailor moon. Weird plot, admittedly, but enjoyable.
Princess Tutu: pay no mind to the title, it's great. A magical girl anime with fairytale themes.

 

[Trivun]

I am interested in watching an anime, series or otherwise. What animes do you know of that are good for a first timer? If you can, make sure it's on Netflix because I'm not really willing to buy any DVDs.

Thanks =)

Elfen Lied. That's what I started with, and it got me hooked .

Otherwise, try some kid-friendly stuff, like Yu-Gi-Oh. I'm rewatching the whole series (all 224 episodes) from the start, been about three days and I'm almost at the end of the Duelist Kingdom arc already...

 

[Fraught]

My first anime that I watched from start to beginning (excluding having watched Pokémon and Digimon when I was a wee lad), was Death Note, and it gave me a very, very good impression of anime. It's interesting, it's dark and gritty, and it's filled with memorable characters. Also, the premise, and the story thereof are kick-ass.

 

[EBHughsThe1st]

A Lupin the III movie.
Like Castle of Cagliostro.
Or maybe a Miyazaki flick.

 

[Jonluw]

So long as you can embrace the supernatural aspect of the series (I have a friend whom I am trying to get started on anime, but I'm afraid those elements will turn him of it.) my vote goes to Death note.

Edit: This thread might be helpful http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.196589-Absolute-worst-first-anime?page=1

 

[Kud]

Lucky Star.

That show is the greatness.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Gundam 08th MS team.

somewhat realistic and without alot of the vomit-inducing anime stereotypes that take time to get used to.

And Hellsing. Hellsing is the shit. Its about a vampire hunting vampires, it reminds me vaguely of a certain castlevania game...

I love o8th best of the series, Macross zero is not bad from a mecha standpoint but god story/pacing is fckered.

I can reccmend

Wolf and spice 1-2 for drama/romance

The Third - Aoi Hitomi no Shōjo action/drama/lite romance

Bleach and naruto(watch the frist 10 eps and then decide if you can stand it) and beet the vandel buster is a bit better no filler!.

Mahō Senshi Riui is pretty good its like slayers, speaking of witch SLAYERS!

Gintama is a parody anime that is just messed up, its also pretty good.

The Law Of Ueki is ok

Hatsukoi_Limited is the sharpest romantic comedy this side of lovely complex!

Fruits_Basket is a odd/fnn comedy/dramatic romantic comedy .

Shikabane Hime action/drama was better than I thought it would be!

Tetsuwan_Birdy is fun and neat for drama/action/lite romance.

I could go on for days.......so I will shut up now

 

[Terramax]

Spirited Away
Porko Rosso


Two great movies for any age, sex, or culture.

 

[captainaweshum]

Cowboy Bebop is where I started, and to be honest although I watched a lot of anime since, it's still in my top three favorite.

The great thing about Bebop is that the series is more realistic in it's drawing style, it's comedy, and it's action. Sure it goes over the top sometimes, but in the realm of anime it's pretty grounded.

I would suggest watching the series first as the movie takes place somewhere around the final episodes of the show, not that it will give anything away, it's just that it gives you a better connection to the characters.

Actually giving you a connection to the characters is something that the show does really well. I would suggest you watch it in English if you have a choice cause it is one of the rare animes that's better in English in my opinion.

If you are looking for something a little more outlandish I could suggest Tri-Gun, while it deals with more sci-fi then Bebop, it's funny as hell for the first half and kick ass as hell for the second.

And as a plus it doesn't involve card duels.

 

[rayne117]

I highly, HIGHLY recommend starting with Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I actually liked that show when it first came out. Added it to my instant queue.