5 Anime For People That Don’t Like Anime.
Anime is bigger than ever, but I know some of you still aren't convinced. Maybe it looks too childish, too goofy, or the thought of watching hundreds of episodes of something like Naruto sounds exhausting. And honestly, I get it.
That's exactly who I made this Watchlist for. I picked five series that show a more mature side of anime without asking you to completely dive into the deep end. Four of them are under 15 episodes, so there’s no massive commitment here. Pick one that catches your eye, give it a shot and see where it takes you. Who knows? By the time you reach the last one, you might finally understand what all the fuss is about.
0 OF 5 WATCHED
Erased
Satoru Fujinuma has a strange ability that sends him back in time moments before a life-threatening incident. When tragedy strikes close to home, he is sent much further into the past and given a chance to prevent events that shaped his life.
Erased, which originally premiered in 2016, follows Satoru Fujinuma, a man with a strange ability that sends his consciousness back in time moments before a life-threatening event. I chose this as the first series on the list because of just how much it manages to accomplish in only 12 episodes. What could have easily been a gimmicky time-travel story instead becomes something far more grounded, exploring the horrific effects of child abuse, regret and the desire for a second chance, with an intriguing murder mystery tying everything together. It's short, easy to get into and never feels like it's sacrificing the quality of its story to get you to the end.
Paranoia Agent
A mysterious attacker on golden skates begins targeting people across Tokyo. As detectives investigate the seemingly unrelated victims, the case grows stranger and the fear surrounding it begins to spread.
I'm not going to lie, I watched Paranoia Agent many years ago, but somehow Satoshi Kon's series has stuck with me ever since. I don't want to tell you too much because this is absolutely one of those shows that's better experienced knowing as little as possible. What I will say is that beneath its increasingly strange mystery is a story about escapism, mass hysteria, denial, responsibility and the pressures of everyday life. And trust me, some of that hits very differently when you revisit it as an adult. 😂 It's weird, unsettling, surprisingly thoughtful and only 13 episodes long, making it one of the easiest anime recommendations I can give to someone who doesn't usually watch anime.
Terror in Resonance
Two teenage boys known as Nine and Twelve carry out a series of attacks in Tokyo, leaving cryptic riddles behind for the police. Their motives remain unclear as a tense game of pursuit begins.
If you still picture over-the-top fights and screaming characters whenever someone mentions anime, Terror in Resonance might surprise you. It follows Nine and Twelve, two teenage boys carrying out attacks across Tokyo while leaving cryptic riddles for the police to solve. But there’s much more going on beneath the surface, and over just 11 episodes, you slowly begin to understand who these boys are and why they’re doing any of this. It’s tense, emotional, beautifully directed and has an incredible soundtrack. More than anything, it feels like a really good thriller that just happens to be anime, which is exactly why I think it belongs on this list.
Death Parade
After death, certain people arrive at a mysterious bar where an enigmatic bartender asks them to compete in games. As they play, memories and hidden parts of their lives begin to surface.
Have you ever wondered what happens after you die? Death Parade has a pretty interesting answer. Imagine arriving in a mysterious bar and being forced to compete in a game with your soul on the line. That’s the basic premise, with each episode introducing new characters whose lives, secrets and regrets slowly come to the surface as they play. It leads to some genuinely uncomfortable questions about judgement, morality and whether any of us can really be defined by our worst moments. It’s dark, emotional and incredibly easy to get invested in, especially at only 12 episodes. I love how such a simple premise manages to give you something new to think about with almost every story.
Monster
Brilliant neurosurgeon Kenzo Tenma chooses to save a young boy instead of an influential patient, a decision that changes the course of his life. Years later, the consequences of that choice pull him into a dark mystery stretching far beyond the operating room.
I know I built this Watchlist around short, easy-to-digest anime, and at 74 episodes, Monster completely breaks that rule. 😂 I did promise you something special if you made it through the first four though, and this is it. Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is genuinely one of the best series I’ve ever watched.
The story follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a brilliant surgeon whose life is completely upended after he chooses to follow his conscience and save the life of a young boy. That single decision sends him down a path he could never have imagined, and I really don’t want to tell you much more than that. Monster is the kind of story that deserves to unfold in front of you.
What I can tell you is that it has an incredible cast of characters, a gripping mystery and one of my favourite villains in all of fiction, not just anime. It takes its time, following people and stories that might initially seem disconnected before gradually revealing how everything fits together. Yes, 74 episodes is a much bigger ask than anything else on this list, but by this point, I’m hoping the first four have convinced you to give anime a real chance. If they have, Monster is where I want to leave you. And once those 74 episodes are over, I have a feeling you’ll wish there were more.
You made it.
Five very different series, one journey into anime. If you made it all the way through Monster, I think it’s safe to say we got you.
