(no subject)
So this is my new, revised level list. I suppose this is the 4th edition. I left the original descriptions for each level mostly intact. Of course this list is entirely subjective, furthermore the decision on whether to put some shows into L2 or L3 is rather difficult. For L1 I loosened up a bit and added some shows I'd normally stick in L2 because they seem to be specifically good at attracting non-fans or appealing to large audiences. I also moved classics to L2 mostly because it was pointed out to me that for the most part they aren't that great for introductions anymore. However I still felt older shows have merit, so I didn't want to remove them from the list even if they were more like L1 shows. Also Lupin III is only L3 because The Woman Called Fujiko Mine or Castle of Cagliostro make better introductions to that whole universe now.
Anyway to whoever reads this anymore, I hope you find this useful.
*Indicates a show I have watched, **completed.
L1: (This level has some shows of debatable quality, but I tried to include all the shows likely to draw people in. This has been updated to include some slightly more niche shows that would be good only for specific audiences/people)
Dragonball* (series)
Inuyasha
Bleach**
Naruto*
Death Note*
Cowboy Bebop**
Trigun*
Pokémon*
Digimon
One Piece
Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex*
Miyazaki Films* (any)
Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro**
D. Gray Man*
Soul Eater*
Card Captor Sakura*
Code Geass**
Samurai Champloo**
Detective Conan/Case Closed
Sword Art Online*
Azumanga Daioh!**
Working!!/Wagnaria!**
Ika Musume/Squid Girl**
Minami-ke**
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood*
Hellsing Ultimate
Summer Wars*
Vampire Knight
Chi's Sweet Home
Yu-Gi-Oh*
Fairy Tail*
Kuroko's Basketball
Prince of Tennis
Time of Eve**
Animatrix** (Selected films)
Durarara**
A Certain Magical Index**
Mushishi*
Full Metal Panic!*
Darker Than Black**
Eureka 7**
Afro Samurai
Claymore**
Eden of the East**
Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple
Sengoku Basara*
Seirei no Moribito/Guardian of the Sacred Spirit**
Elfen Lied** (I'm surprised how many people have this as an introduction, but it's true so I'll put it here- it should probably be L4 in most cases)
Persona 4: The Animation**
L2: (This level should be of more consistent quality, be more mature, and contain shows that may be a little weird, require some understanding of Japanese culture, or have references. A number of these shows blur the line either between 1 & 2 or 2 & 3 as they're hard to categorize. Most “classics” have been moved here as they're no longer the best shows for introducing someone to anime, but still worth watching.)
RahXephon**
Rebuild of Evangelion* (Neon Genesis Evangelion**) [Rebuild is the preferred introduction.]
L/R*
Fruits Basket**
KareKano*
Serial Experiments Lain**
FLCL**
Gundam* (there are too many of these to break down every series)
Read or Die (OAV** and TV*)
Tsubasa
Last Exile*
Gankutsuou**
Le Chevalier d'Eon*
Ghost In The Shell** (Movies)
Gurren Lagan*
Spice and Wolf**
Akira** (movie)
Ayashi no Ceres
Bubblegum Crisis*
Urusei Yatsura
Maison Ikkoku
Cutey Honey
Ouran High School Host Club
Fist of the North Star*
Escaflowne
Fushigi Yuugi
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Record of Lodoss War
Rurouni Kenshin*
Revolutionary Girl Utena*
Ninja Scroll** (this could be at L3 or 4, but its cult status gets it L2)
Hana Yori Dango
Kanon*
Irresponsible Captain Tylor
Planetes**
2x2=Shinobuden
Hikaru no Go
Yakitate Japan
A Certain Scientific Railgun**
Angel Beats**
Nichijou/My Ordinary Life**
Nadesico**
Love Hina**
Hidamari Sketch*
Angelic Layer**
Air**
Clannad**
Little Busters!
Shakugan no Shana*
Gintama*
Accel World*
Kamisama no Memochou/Heaven's Memo Pad**
Dance in the Vampire Bund**
Chihayfuru**
Hanasaku Iroha*
Ano Natsu de Matteiru**
Ano Hana Has a Name That I Can't Remember**
Danshi Koukousei No Nichijou
Guilty Crown**
K-ON!*
My Little Monster*
Toradora**
Kimi ni Todoke*
Ah! My Goddess*
Ranma ½*
Tenchi Muyo!*
Captain Tsubasa
5 Centimeters Per Second**
Natsume Yuujinchou/Natsume and the Book of Friends**
Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine
Keroro Gunsou/Sgt. Frog
Tokyo Godfathers**
Bartender
.hack//* (series)
Say "I Love You"
Gosick*
Tari Tari*
Kids on the Slope*
Bodacious Space Pirates**
Captain Harlock
Banner/Crest of the Stars*
Dusk Maiden of Amnesia**
Familiar of Zero*
Humanity Has Declined*
Robotics;Notes*
Omamori Himari**
Occult Academy**
Jormungand*
Mysterious Girlfriend X**
Sailor Moon* (series)
Slayers* (series)
Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!
Genesis of Aquarion
Is This a Zombie?*
Nurarihyon no Mago
Rosario+Vampire*
Michiko & Hatchin**
Chobits**
Noir*
Okami-san and Her Seven Companions*
Shangri-La**
Tales Series*
Yozakura Quartet**
The Legend of Legendary Heroes
Tower of Druaga**
X*
Yu Yu Hakusho
Persona 3: Trinity Soul
L3: (This level has shows with more parody and references, some obscure stuff, quirky stuff, but still remains approachable. Some of these shows could be in L2 just as easily. Some are listed here based on violence, sex or niche appeal.)
Fate/Zero** (New)
Hare+Guu**
Haibane Renmei**
Great Teacher Onizuka**
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi*
Excel Saga*
Rumbling Hearts**
xxxHolic
Moyashimon**
Baccano!**
Bakuretsu Tenshi
Ai Yori Aoshi*
Battle Angel Alita
Bokurano
Lovely Complex
Negima!?
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Berserk
Fate/Stay Night**
NANA
D4 Princess
Midori No Hibi*
Kashimashi**
Maria-sama Ga Miteiru*
Witch Hunter Robin*
Shounen Onmyouji*
School Rumble*
Cromartie High School**
Please! Teacher**
Please! Twins**
Saikano*
Vandread*
Kamen no Maid Guy*
Bakemonogatari**
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya**
Lucky Star**
Genshiken*
Otogizoushi**
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou*
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai/Haganai**
Ore no Imouto wa Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai/Oreimo**
Baka and Test: Summon the Beast*
Steins;Gate*
Puella Magi Madoka Magica**
Asobi ni Iku yo!/Cat Planet Cuties**
Combat Butler Hayate*
Rozen Maiden**
Shikabane Himei*
Nyar(u)ko-san: Another Crawling Chaos**
Kokoro Connect**
The World God Only Knows**
Inu x Boku SS**
Binbougami ga!**
Lupin III (series)
Hetalia Axis Powers
Kamichu**
Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere*
Black Butler*
Paprika**
Sekirei**
Kamisama Hajimemashita/Kamisama Kiss*
Gunslinger Girl*
Amagami SS*
Dog Days!*
CANAAN**
Kara no Kyoukai: The Garden of Sinners**
Seto no Hanayome/My Bride is a Mermaid**
Precure
Shugo Chara*
Sankarea*
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
Detroit Metal City**
L4: (Wasn't that much to put in here, but I think these shows speak for themselves as to why they are here)
When They Cry: Higurashi**
Welcome To The NHK**
School Days**
Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan**
Itazura Na Kiss
Monster
Hell Girl*
Gravitation*
Mirai Nikki/The Future Diary*
Deadman Wonderland**
Another*
Akagi**
Kaiji*
Strike Witches**
Carnival Phantasm*
Shiki
Nisemonogatari**
L5: (Very heavy parody/reference heavy stuff, could put things here based on other criteria as well)
PaniPoni Dash**
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei**
Simoun
Panty & Stocking with Garter Belt*
Mitsudomoe*
Anyway to whoever reads this anymore, I hope you find this useful.
*Indicates a show I have watched, **completed.
L1: (This level has some shows of debatable quality, but I tried to include all the shows likely to draw people in. This has been updated to include some slightly more niche shows that would be good only for specific audiences/people)
Dragonball* (series)
Inuyasha
Bleach**
Naruto*
Death Note*
Cowboy Bebop**
Trigun*
Pokémon*
Digimon
One Piece
Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex*
Miyazaki Films* (any)
Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro**
D. Gray Man*
Soul Eater*
Card Captor Sakura*
Code Geass**
Samurai Champloo**
Detective Conan/Case Closed
Sword Art Online*
Azumanga Daioh!**
Working!!/Wagnaria!**
Ika Musume/Squid Girl**
Minami-ke**
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood*
Hellsing Ultimate
Summer Wars*
Vampire Knight
Chi's Sweet Home
Yu-Gi-Oh*
Fairy Tail*
Kuroko's Basketball
Prince of Tennis
Time of Eve**
Animatrix** (Selected films)
Durarara**
A Certain Magical Index**
Mushishi*
Full Metal Panic!*
Darker Than Black**
Eureka 7**
Afro Samurai
Claymore**
Eden of the East**
Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple
Sengoku Basara*
Seirei no Moribito/Guardian of the Sacred Spirit**
Elfen Lied** (I'm surprised how many people have this as an introduction, but it's true so I'll put it here- it should probably be L4 in most cases)
Persona 4: The Animation**
L2: (This level should be of more consistent quality, be more mature, and contain shows that may be a little weird, require some understanding of Japanese culture, or have references. A number of these shows blur the line either between 1 & 2 or 2 & 3 as they're hard to categorize. Most “classics” have been moved here as they're no longer the best shows for introducing someone to anime, but still worth watching.)
RahXephon**
Rebuild of Evangelion* (Neon Genesis Evangelion**) [Rebuild is the preferred introduction.]
L/R*
Fruits Basket**
KareKano*
Serial Experiments Lain**
FLCL**
Gundam* (there are too many of these to break down every series)
Read or Die (OAV** and TV*)
Tsubasa
Last Exile*
Gankutsuou**
Le Chevalier d'Eon*
Ghost In The Shell** (Movies)
Gurren Lagan*
Spice and Wolf**
Akira** (movie)
Ayashi no Ceres
Bubblegum Crisis*
Urusei Yatsura
Maison Ikkoku
Cutey Honey
Ouran High School Host Club
Fist of the North Star*
Escaflowne
Fushigi Yuugi
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Record of Lodoss War
Rurouni Kenshin*
Revolutionary Girl Utena*
Ninja Scroll** (this could be at L3 or 4, but its cult status gets it L2)
Hana Yori Dango
Kanon*
Irresponsible Captain Tylor
Planetes**
2x2=Shinobuden
Hikaru no Go
Yakitate Japan
A Certain Scientific Railgun**
Angel Beats**
Nichijou/My Ordinary Life**
Nadesico**
Love Hina**
Hidamari Sketch*
Angelic Layer**
Air**
Clannad**
Little Busters!
Shakugan no Shana*
Gintama*
Accel World*
Kamisama no Memochou/Heaven's Memo Pad**
Dance in the Vampire Bund**
Chihayfuru**
Hanasaku Iroha*
Ano Natsu de Matteiru**
Ano Hana Has a Name That I Can't Remember**
Danshi Koukousei No Nichijou
Guilty Crown**
K-ON!*
My Little Monster*
Toradora**
Kimi ni Todoke*
Ah! My Goddess*
Ranma ½*
Tenchi Muyo!*
Captain Tsubasa
5 Centimeters Per Second**
Natsume Yuujinchou/Natsume and the Book of Friends**
Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine
Keroro Gunsou/Sgt. Frog
Tokyo Godfathers**
Bartender
.hack//* (series)
Say "I Love You"
Gosick*
Tari Tari*
Kids on the Slope*
Bodacious Space Pirates**
Captain Harlock
Banner/Crest of the Stars*
Dusk Maiden of Amnesia**
Familiar of Zero*
Humanity Has Declined*
Robotics;Notes*
Omamori Himari**
Occult Academy**
Jormungand*
Mysterious Girlfriend X**
Sailor Moon* (series)
Slayers* (series)
Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!
Genesis of Aquarion
Is This a Zombie?*
Nurarihyon no Mago
Rosario+Vampire*
Michiko & Hatchin**
Chobits**
Noir*
Okami-san and Her Seven Companions*
Shangri-La**
Tales Series*
Yozakura Quartet**
The Legend of Legendary Heroes
Tower of Druaga**
X*
Yu Yu Hakusho
Persona 3: Trinity Soul
L3: (This level has shows with more parody and references, some obscure stuff, quirky stuff, but still remains approachable. Some of these shows could be in L2 just as easily. Some are listed here based on violence, sex or niche appeal.)
Fate/Zero** (New)
Hare+Guu**
Haibane Renmei**
Great Teacher Onizuka**
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi*
Excel Saga*
Rumbling Hearts**
xxxHolic
Moyashimon**
Baccano!**
Bakuretsu Tenshi
Ai Yori Aoshi*
Battle Angel Alita
Bokurano
Lovely Complex
Negima!?
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Berserk
Fate/Stay Night**
NANA
D4 Princess
Midori No Hibi*
Kashimashi**
Maria-sama Ga Miteiru*
Witch Hunter Robin*
Shounen Onmyouji*
School Rumble*
Cromartie High School**
Please! Teacher**
Please! Twins**
Saikano*
Vandread*
Kamen no Maid Guy*
Bakemonogatari**
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya**
Lucky Star**
Genshiken*
Otogizoushi**
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou*
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai/Haganai**
Ore no Imouto wa Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai/Oreimo**
Baka and Test: Summon the Beast*
Steins;Gate*
Puella Magi Madoka Magica**
Asobi ni Iku yo!/Cat Planet Cuties**
Combat Butler Hayate*
Rozen Maiden**
Shikabane Himei*
Nyar(u)ko-san: Another Crawling Chaos**
Kokoro Connect**
The World God Only Knows**
Inu x Boku SS**
Binbougami ga!**
Lupin III (series)
Hetalia Axis Powers
Kamichu**
Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere*
Black Butler*
Paprika**
Sekirei**
Kamisama Hajimemashita/Kamisama Kiss*
Gunslinger Girl*
Amagami SS*
Dog Days!*
CANAAN**
Kara no Kyoukai: The Garden of Sinners**
Seto no Hanayome/My Bride is a Mermaid**
Precure
Shugo Chara*
Sankarea*
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
Detroit Metal City**
L4: (Wasn't that much to put in here, but I think these shows speak for themselves as to why they are here)
When They Cry: Higurashi**
Welcome To The NHK**
School Days**
Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan**
Itazura Na Kiss
Monster
Hell Girl*
Gravitation*
Mirai Nikki/The Future Diary*
Deadman Wonderland**
Another*
Akagi**
Kaiji*
Strike Witches**
Carnival Phantasm*
Shiki
Nisemonogatari**
L5: (Very heavy parody/reference heavy stuff, could put things here based on other criteria as well)
PaniPoni Dash**
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei**
Simoun
Panty & Stocking with Garter Belt*
Mitsudomoe*