15 Good Anime: Recommendations for the Busy Otaku
Getting Back Into Anime
You may not realize this, but a lot of people tend to stray from anime at one point in their lives. Maybe it’s because they’re “growing up” or maybe it’s because they’re just too busy. For me, it was the latter. I was a hardcore anime fan who switched to manga in high school and then forgot all about both before I entered college and started working. I had lost out on almost a decade of watching anime! That includes the years that I spent reading manga. At this juncture, getting back into anime was no walk in the park. You have to wade through all the rubbish to find that small nugget of gold that is a good anime. If you’re currently dealing with this dilemma, let me save you some time with a few spectacular series that will help get you back into watching anime!
Shingeki no Kyojin
New Series
In the most recent years, there have been many great new series released that will have you pulled back into anime. The anime that first got me back into watching anime was Shingeki no Kyojin, or Attack on Titan. Shingeki no Kyojin is an epic tale of loss, determination, and a hope for a brighter future which will have you binge watching in no time. If you’re looking for a new Shounen Jump anime, look no further. Fairy Tail is a good anime to get started with. The protagonist is female! Fairy Tail centers on Lucy Heartfilia and her journey as a mage in the strongest guild in Magnolia, Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail can be quite comedic but it does have its fair share of heart wrenching moments. This is another Shounen Jump anime that is a good blend of action, romance, comedy, and ecchi to appeal to all ages.
Of course, not everyone wants to watch shounen or action anime. If you’re a fan of romance, Ore Monogatari!! (My Love Story!!) or Sukitte Ii Na Yo (Say I love You) may suit your romantic needs nicely with their cute love stories. Ore Monogatari!! is an especially big hit this year for its atypical shoujo protagonist, comedy, and the overall tone of the anime that just says to never judge a book by its cover.
For those more keen on watching mysteries or maybe horror stories, Shiki is a rather great blend of both elements. If you had stopped watching anime because you grew up, maybe you better think twice and question if you’re grown up enough to watch Shiki. This anime has plenty of gore, mystery, and supernatural events that will have you on your toes the whole anime.
Completed Series
Bleach
If you’re not sure about getting into something new, you may want to check out some anime you were following that were completed recently. Bleach was completed in 2012 and Naruto is well on its way to completion as the manga has already finished. If you followed these series for many years before dropping anime, then don’t you think you’ll want to finish them? Don’t you want to know what happens?
For those of you who are a fan of the shoujo manga series, Nana, you’ll probably want to catch the anime seeing as there have been recent rumors about the return of Ai Yazawa, who has been away due to illness for the better part of the past decade. The anime goes over the main points of the manga very well and will be a good refresher should Ai Yazawa gift fans with the manga continuation.
Series like these that are on the brink of completion or are completed have large fan bases who may have gotten tired of waiting to see what happens next, but with the news of their impending completion, I hope to see a large return of anime fans.
Sequels
Now, let’s look to the sequels! At the time when I stopped watching anime, they didn’t make sequels for anything. Beg or cry as much as you want, anime sequels were uncommon unless they were big name titles, but in today’s world, it seems that anime sequels are more common than they were before. They also don’t require fans to wait 5 years to see what happens next, which is a big bonus!
For shoujo fans out there, a sequel was released for the hit shoujo series, Kimi ni Todoke which goes deeper into the relationship between Sawako and Shota, as well as other characters. Some other shoujo series that have gotten sequels in the last few years would be La Corda D’Oro and Saiunkoku Monogatari.
Hunter x Hunter
For the shounen fans, you may want to check out the “sequel” or rather, reboot of the series Hunter x Hunter which has been a big hit amongst fans. The manga series itself may be on hiatus, but you can still enjoy watching how masterfully done the new reboot is. Another shounen series that seems to have many sequels to enjoy would be Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures. What started off as an OVA has now developed into several series that will have you coming back for more. This anime series is a fan favorite, although, since my return to anime, censorship has gotten more than just a bit ridiculous so you may want to choose wisely between censored and uncensored anime.
Another fan favorite that has gotten multiple sequels since it first aired is Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Yes, this famous anime has since spawned several sequels and spin offs that will keep you busy for hours. If this was an anime that you absolutely loved, then you may want to come back to the dark side and finish what you started.
Why yes, there’s almost a sequel for any anime lover out there. Maybe you’ll find one for your favorite series. Many sequels have come out in the last few years and many more are still coming out now!
Conclusion
Many of us have deterred from anime once in our lives, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get back into. Whether you want to start a new series, finish something you started, or continue on a series, you’ll find that there’s something for everyone so that you can get back into anime. All you have to do is pick up a series that’s right for you.
For many of you who are out there and have had this dilemma, are there any series that you would recommend for those struggling to find their inner otaku?
