When a non-anime watcher thinks of anime, they tend to think along the lines of Naruto and One Piece. Granted, these are brilliant pieces of work, but anime is a far more diverse field ranging across genres to cater to a variety of audience’s needs. I am not particularly a fan of super violent, gory anime, but am a fan of the lesser-known sibling of action anime, slice of life anime. These give you an insight into the characters’ lives, their daily challenges, and how they overcome them. The following are some of my favorite animes that I would recommend as an introduction to anime.
1. Your Lie in April
Also known as “Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso”, this anime is an avalanche of beauty and pain. It is a classic anime about a pianist who rekindles his passion for the instrument through another musician – his muse. However, as the past of this pianist is uncovered, the audience gets more hooked on the plotline and attached to each character. This 1-season long anime is worth every minute of the watch. While the art and music are undeniably beautiful, the plot takes a very painful turn that has the audience on their feet, desperate to know more. There is no other show that has made me smile so much and shed as many tears as this one, both while furiously scribbling down quotes and titles of musical pieces from it. It is a must-watch for any music lovers and artists who have lost touch with their art.
(Your Lie in April)
2. Violet Evergarden
This anime is set in the fictitious land of post-war Leidenschalftlich, which translates to ‘passionate’ in German. It is about Violet’s journey working for a letter-writing business post the war. The audience sees her tremendous growth as she falls back in touch with her emotions after being someone who operated as a war machine for all of her childhood. She learns to write letters revolving around enigmatic stories of people she encounters during her job. This anime isn’t just about the past and its darkness, but about closure and moving forward from it. It’s a great watch if you want to move away from the typical setting of Japan and delve into the stories of some interesting characters.
(Violet Evergarden)
3. Fruits Basket
This has been my all-time favorite anime. Moving from humor to romance, nothing says versatility the way Fruits Basket does. The story is built on the legendary zodiac tale consisting of the 13 animals and God coming to life, taking shape as the Sohma family. Over three seasons, the audience sees the trauma, growth, and changes each of the characters go through to finally find stability and joy in their lives. It emphasizes the power of love, the natures of different bonds, and the different courses that people’s lives take, even if they are bound by the same curses. Nothing will teach you about relationships and have your notes app filled with quotes the way Fruits Basket does.
(Fruits Basket)
4. Haikyuu!!
This is the classic anime that all anime watchers are aware of. Haikyuu!! lives up to its name as a funny, wholesome anime about volleyball. The audience gets an insight of the impact of volleyball in the lives of these characters and their attitude towards the sport and life itself. It shows a different, refreshing facet of high school sports and moves away from the convention of the toxic culture that permeates this aspect of school life. This anime is recommended for anyone looking for a break and an easy-going, lively show to get hooked to.
These animes are recommendations from the limited anime that I have watched. These are famous, fool-proof, animes that live up to their names. They give you an accurate insight into how wholesome the world of anime is and how multidimensional it is even within the realm of slice-of-life, as it explores complex trauma and hilarious instances alike with the same amount of enthusiasm.
(Haikyuu!!)
Authored by: Rachita Jain
Edited by: Aditi Kiran