Anime fans: If someone new to anime were to ask you for a first-time recommendation, what movie or series would you recommend?

[smahala1991]

My first ones would be either Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, or Ponyo. All of the Studio Ghibli films would be good because they have excellent dubs and are pretty easy to follow.

[Sasahara]

I would not recomend dubs. Anime, like other movies and tv series, should be experienced in their original language. And I would inform them that anime, is the Japanese (and I belive French) word for animation. In English used for Japanese animation.

Ghibli stuff is of course classics. But try also checking out things they made before they started Ghibli, like Jarinko Chio, Future boy Conan, Heidi and Akage no Anne.

Also check out the World masterpiece theater series. I belive they are out on DVD in Japan. Should not be too hard to import. But you will need a region free DVD player.

Some other recomendations:

- Gunsmith cats OVA (out on BD in America)

- Riding Bean (Out on BD in America)

- Baccano (OOP BD in America, on BD in UK)

- Cyborg 009 (Out on BD in America)

- Gundam 79 (Out on BD in America)

- Galaxy express 999 (Most of it is out on BD in America)

- Tatami galaxy (hard to follow Ground hog style anime. Out on BD in UK)

[Mewzinc]

I agree with staying away from dubs. You seem to like all the old animes though.

[NathanDavis]

the first thing I would recommend to watch is... definitely a movie

and of course, it would be from Ghibli, which one in specific.. would depend on what I know about that person

first it would be a movie, because those are way shorter than series, and also because it will truly show all of the art work that animation is, overseas...

and then, maybe a recommendation of an animated series... which one to pick, would follow the same reasoning, what do I know about them as a person, then I would go for something they might get into... whether is story-telling, action or entertainment they're into... lol

Demon Slayer comes to mind, because that one is so visually striking and so incredibly well crafted in all and every way

[Effably]

Probably something that isn't packed with silly anime tropes but rather just a good story with an anime presentation.

I suppose people can grow a little blind to that but I think it is the best part. I was first recommended Death Note, which I admit, teenage me thought was pretty cool. Had I instead been directly exposed to the whole sis/bro-con, people who look like kids, extreme silly screaming and alike I probably would have never bothered with it again. So basically a shorter one that is good not because it is anime but because it tells a captivating story.

[Subglacial]

This. I would recommend staying away from "ANIME!" anime for an adult first-time viewer. Too goofy, too much of a (sub) culture shock.

[msmissydc]

Ask them what they generally like in movies and books and I am sure there is a top rated anime for that genre available. I agree with the studio Ghibli movies as they are just all great and wonderfull. On the other hand while they have a reason to be that succesful, l I wouldn't recomend to get into the big 3/4/5 like naruto, One piece, Bleach or Fairy tail, dragon ball or something else that long. Yes some are great and worth it but beeing stuck to one anime when you just begin takes away so much else.

[Phoenix98]

Um it’d depend on what kind of stuff they like to be honest. And I’d try to give a recommendation according to that.

just in general though?

Attack on titan

rising of the Shield hero

demon slayer

Spy x family

all 3 have good visuals gripping first episodes that get you hooked and invested and excellent writing and story telling and there’s nothing really weird or perverse in them that would turn people off like some anime do.

some other ones would be cowboy beep bop, gundam seed those are in my opinion fairly good choices but like I said it’d mainly depend on their choices.

of course studio gibli is always a good choice to.

[Sisters_Of_Time]

I think Spirited away is excellent, it's just a movie but it's a beautiful fantasy world. It's one movie and already shows you what japanese animation can do.

[normalice]

Fullmetal alchemist: Brotherhood has one of the best dubs, in my opinion.

[ChillaxingLove]

Dragon ball z it’s a very good beginner anime watch for all the action that takes place.

[sarahstar13]

My brother and I use to watch that when we were younger, awesome show.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Dragon ball Z, Dubbed, Bruce Faulconer music scoring.

[Minahh]

Spirited away and also Death Note because that's the anime they got me into it

[JesseJayNeak]

I’d advise them to start with the OGs such as Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, Fairy Tail and so on

[Gilgalad]

Akira is a classic.

[jorfan3]

Death Note