10 Anime From the Last 5 Years to Recommend to Your Normie Friends

Anime has become incredibly popular around the world in recent years, drawing in many new fans. It’s moved beyond being a small, often misunderstood interest, and even people who used to feel embarrassed about enjoying it are now recognizing its incredible artistic quality and worth. But for newcomers, getting started with anime can feel overwhelming.

With decades of anime available, it can be tough for longtime fans to decide what to recommend to people new to the medium. Luckily, the last five years have seen a surge of excellent anime perfect for beginners. These series are a great way to introduce your friends to the world of anime and might just turn them into fans for life.

Spy x Family’s Charm & Humor Could Win Anyone Over

To maintain world peace, a spy known as Twilight is tasked with a unique mission: creating a fake family. He never anticipated his wife, Yor, would secretly be a skilled assassin, or that his adopted daughter, Anya, would be a telepath. This unlikely family, the Forgers, must navigate everyday life and hilarious mishaps all while concealing their true identities from one another.

Spy x Family starts with a really interesting idea that will grab anyone’s attention, even if they don’t watch anime. The story is full of charm and funny moments that don’t fall into typical anime tropes. It cleverly mixes exciting spy action with heartwarming everyday life, making it enjoyable for all kinds of viewers.

Great Pretender Is an Excellent Anime Pick for Fans of Hollywood Heist Films

While heist stories are common in movies and TV, they’re not as frequent in anime. That makes Great Pretender a standout favorite for anime fans and a great show to start with if you’re new to the medium. The series follows Edamura, a small-time Japanese con artist, who teams up with Laurent, a master French swindler. Together, they pull off elaborate heists around the globe, targeting the wealthy, influential, and dishonest.

The show’s international settings make it appealing to a wide audience, and its style—reminiscent of classic Hollywood heist films—makes it easy to enjoy, even if you don’t typically watch anime. While not revolutionary, Great Pretender is incredibly entertaining, boasting beautiful animation and a charming group of characters.

Jujutsu Kaisen Is One of the Best Battle Shonen Anime for Beginners

I’ve always noticed how action-packed anime like Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Attack on Titan are great at drawing people into the world of anime. And lately, I think Jujutsu Kaisen is the perfect choice for anyone new to the genre who wants to experience that same exciting, battle-focused style.

Jujutsu Kaisen is a dark and exciting fantasy series about Yuji Itadori, who unexpectedly becomes host to a powerful, ancient curse named Sukuna. This throws him into a dangerous world of sorcerers. While it’s more intense than many classic shonen anime, it’s also easier to get into than newer, more complex battle series like Chainsaw Man or Dandadan. With a clear storyline, captivating plot, and stunning animation – especially its fight scenes – Jujutsu Kaisen perfectly showcases what makes shonen anime so enjoyable for both newcomers and long-time fans.

Solo Leveling Provides Perfect Turn-Your-Brain-Off Entertainment for Casual Fans

Since its debut in 2024, Solo Leveling has quickly become a hugely popular anime, even surpassing the buzz around Jujutsu Kaisen. Its appeal is easy to see: the story is set in a world where Hunters with special abilities defend humanity from monsters. It focuses on Sung Jinwoo, a Hunter who starts off incredibly weak, but gains a special ability that allows him to grow stronger and overcome the odds.

The story of Solo Leveling is a classic power fantasy, focusing on the incredible strength of its main character, Jinwoo, as he battles different enemies. However, its simplicity is actually its strength. The show is incredibly engaging thanks to its exciting animation, thrilling fight scenes, and a fast-moving plot that’s easy to follow without requiring deep thought or strong emotional connection.

Pluto Will Hook Fans of Slow Burn Mystery Thrillers

Unlike the popular anime Solo Leveling, Pluto is a 2023 series with roots in the classic Astro Boy. It’s based on a manga by Naoki Urasawa, a well-known creator of suspenseful stories. Even if you’ve never seen Astro Boy, Pluto is easy to get into. The story follows Gesicht, a robot detective, as he tries to solve a complex series of murders targeting both advanced robots and humans advocating for their rights.

Pluto is a thoughtful and deliberately paced mystery thriller that carefully develops its puzzles, characters, and ideas. While the story is complex, it consistently keeps you guessing, making it a great choice for people new to anime who might think it’s usually too simple or focused on action.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Does Wonders with the Popular Video Game IP It’s Based On

Inspired by the video game Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an anime set in the dangerous, futuristic city of Night City. It’s a good entry point into anime for both fans of the game and anyone drawn to the cyberpunk style. The story follows David Martinez, a student at the elite Arasaka Academy who comes from a struggling family and suffers a devastating loss when his mother dies.

David teams up with a group of edgerunners to make a living, but this path could lead to his destruction. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a fast-paced and beautiful anime series that maintains its intensity across all ten episodes, taking viewers on a complete emotional journey without feeling hurried. It’s widely praised as a fantastic entry point for those new to anime and its more exciting side.

Takopi’s Original Sin Masterfully Uses Concise Storytelling

I have to say, Takopi’s Original Sin really took everyone by surprise this summer. It’s another great anime that you can jump right into without needing any prior knowledge, which is fantastic. But, I’d suggest going in with a bit of caution this time around. The story centers on Takopi, a really upbeat alien who travels from Planet Happy to Earth with the simple goal of making people smile.

Surprisingly, Takopi’s first act of kindness is directed towards Shizuka, a young girl suffering from bullying and abuse. However, his attempt to make her life better could have devastating consequences, far worse than he anticipated. Takopi’s Original Sin is a powerfully emotional anime. Despite only being six episodes long, it’s full of shocking twists and tackles difficult topics with surprising depth – often more so than much longer series.

Link Click Is Some of the Best Storytelling Chinese Animation Has to Offer

With anime gaining popularity, Chinese animation, known as donghua, is also becoming more well-known. One of the best examples is Link Click, a unique time travel story. It centers around two close friends, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, who can travel to the past using photographs and their combined abilities.

Instead of altering the past, the studio’s rules require them to preserve it, assisting clients with their regrets without disrupting the timeline. The first season of Link Click takes a deeply personal look at memories, telling touching stories of the Time Photo Studio’s customers while slowly building a larger, more suspenseful narrative. As the show’s story gets more complex, it would be ideal for new viewers to watch it from the beginning to fully appreciate its unfolding plot.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles Feels Like a Rip-Roaring Harry Potter Parody

If you’re looking for a funny anime to get into, Mashle: Magic and Muscles is a great choice. While the show gained popularity thanks to its catchy Season 2 opening theme by Creepy Nuts, it offers much more than just good music. Mashle is set in a world where everyone has magical abilities, except for the main character, Mash Burnedead, who can’t use magic at all.

Despite facing magical challenges, the main character overcomes them through intense physical training, literally punching his way through opponents at Easton Magic Academy. Mashle is a comedic anime that feels like a parody of Harry Potter, but its simple and genuinely funny humor makes it enjoyable even for people who don’t usually watch anime. It’s a rare comedy that’s broadly appealing thanks to its absurd and accessible style.

Delicious in Dungeon Offers a Unique Twist on a Classic Fantasy Setting

I’ve always noticed how popular fantasy stories are in general, but it’s easy to forget just how many great fantasy anime there are. When I started watching Delicious in Dungeon, I was immediately struck by its classic fantasy feel. It follows a group of adventurers—a bit of an odd bunch, honestly—as they venture into a really interesting, but dangerous, dungeon to rescue a friend.

Delicious in Dungeon stands out from other fantasy adventures because of its focus on the practicalities of survival, especially cooking. The main characters have to hunt monsters not just for experience, but to eat! Beyond this clever twist, the show is great at developing its characters naturally and writing realistic conversations, making you feel like one of the group by the end.

2025-11-06 05:43