Anime for People Who “Hate Anime” : Part 1 of 3

There are many reasons why anime may not appeal to someone.

• “I don’t like books.”
• Or “I hate movies.”
• Or rarer still, “I don’t care about music.”

I do feel that most anime is worthless trash. I’m not gonna lie.

I’ve sat through countless anime works that wasted my time and left me grumbling about how much anime sucks. However, I really feel that I can make a case for anime. Like any book, movie, or song, I really feel that there is (almost certainly) an anime out there for everyone. The medium itself may not be what you sit down to binge. But, buried underneath the countless wastes of space are real gems that excite the imagination, move the soul, stir the emotions, and dazzle the eyes.

I’ve compiled this three-part list with the help of several friends, my ever-suffering wife that “hates anime”, and the 2,000+ episodes and 160+ series I have at least tried to watch. Series in this list that I have not personally watched, I state clearly, and have done the research to roll the dice and recommend them based on trusted peoples’ opinions.

I also avoided series that are over 60 episodes or so, or are too wacky to be immediately accessible to the non-anime fan. (I’m looking at you, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.) This list can also be a jumping off point for people who are new to anime but would like to have some sort of guideline to explore the genre.

The Soft Start – Anime Movies & Western “Anime”

Aside from the typical television series format, Japanese animation makes for some pretty amazing movies.  A lot of people are exposed to anime first by the works of Miyazaki (Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, etc.).

I’d actually say this is a pretty good method. Movies aren’t a huge time sink and can usually be finished in a single sitting, making them a good way to test the anime waters. They also tend to have developed, standalone plots that tie up neatly, which can’t even be said for most anime series.

As for Western “anime”, I’ve chosen a universally beloved title that a lot of people are probably familiar with, but it’s absolutely worth mentioning in this list.

Tokyo Godfathers

Image Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Let’s not mince words: Tokyo Godfathers is UPROARIOUSLY funny, and staggeringly amazing.  It constantly scores high on rating websites, boasting 8.3/10 on MyAnimeList, 7.9/10 on IMDB, and a whopping 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

It’s about three homeless people that find a baby in the garbage on Christmas Eve. That premise alone sets it apart from (nearly) all other media. And then, it manages to be engaging, heartwarming, hilarious, and hard-hittingly emotional all at once. Each of the three main characters has their own backstory that is masterfully explored without becoming too overbearing, all while they are trying to get the baby back to her rightful mother.

Easily one of the best movies, period, I can’t recommend this one enough. It tackles societal issues regarding homelessness and poverty, and weaves a beautiful narrative about strength of heart and learning to forgive yourself, no matter how checkered your past.

And friendship. Friendship is magic.

Spirited Away (and other Ghibli titles)

Image Source: Den of Geek

I’d imagine most people reading this have already had the experience of watching a Ghibli film – the entire Miyazaki catalogue of movies tends to be both critically and generally praised. I am choosing to highlight Spirited Away because I feel it’s one of, if not the, strongest Miyazaki film.

Without giving too much away, this movie is about a young girl that is moving away from her childhood home. Emotions already high, her dad gets them lost while driving to their new house, and they end up at what appears to be an abandoned theme park.

But, for some reason, there is freshly prepared food, all laid out at one of the stalls. Thinking the theme park must still be in business, her parents sit down to eat, despite her protests.

Slight (not so) spoiler: yeah. That food isn’t for them.

This movie places a lot of plot on the shoulders of a child, but that is pretty common for Ghibli works. This movie is a magical, fantastic treat, all about courage and determination (and a bit of smarts). This poor girl finds herself trapped in a land of dragons, spirits, witches, and magic, and not only does she have to escape, but her parents’ lives are at stake.

I got the same feeling of magic and danger in this movie that I did in works like Coraline. I really think this movie in particular is so successful because of how beautifully it is written and animated. You won’t be wasting your time with this one, at all.

Metropolis

Image Source: Nefarious Reviews

While not as widely known as the previous two entries, Metropolis is a unique gem of a movie that I love to share with people, deep down in the depths of my soul. For me, it is an immaculate feat of animation with zero faults.

At one time, it was one of, if not the most, expensive animated movies ever produced, clocking in at a $14.5 million budget back in 2002. And boy, did they maximize those dollars’ potential.

Based on the art of the comic by Osamu Tezuka (known mostly in the West for Astro Boy), Metropolis is a visual and auditory feast, with wildly amazing depictions of a highly futuristic city set alongside a swinging, jazzy soundtrack.

A Japanese investigator and his nephew venture to the vast, advanced, robot-laden city of Metropolis on a sleuth job. What they find, however, is a strange, beautiful girl amidst the rubble of a ruined laboratory, naked and unable to speak.

This movie’s plot and themes are so incredibly dense, it’d be impossible for me to really give you a good feel for it with words alone.

This is the single most powerful anime movie I’ve ever seen, and one of the most powerful movies of all time, across all genres.

Do yourself a favor, and give this one a chance. Please.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Image Source: GeekyNews

There will always be a heated debate among anime fans if this show counts as “anime”. But, you know what? I don’t care if it does. It is a fantastic show, and an excellent bridge between Eastern and Western themes and animation.

Spanning 3 seasons and 61 episodes, this series follows the story of a land where some people are born with the ability to master one of the four elements (water, air, earth, and fire). Just when the world thought that people that can control air (known as “airbenders”) are extinct, a girl and her brother (indicated to be of Inuit descent, although this takes place in a separate fantasy world) discover the last one, trapped in ice.

In the world of Avatar, there is only one person that can learn all four elements, called the Avatar. (Big reveal, I know).

The guy they found in the ice? Another big reveal: he’s the Avatar. For a Nickelodeon-produced kids’ show, you may not be expecting much, but hear me out.  You want funny? Check. You want a thick, twisting plot? Check, check. You want a diverse cast? Characters with disabilities that aren’t defined by them? More strong women than you can count? Adorable animal sidekicks?

Simply give Avatar a try. Its mature themes, amazing characters, and gorgeous world may be the media you’ve been searching for, but thought it was too “kiddy” to try. I actually didn’t watch this until years after its release. I could not believe how absolutely solid this show is. It also has plot lines and themes that are more based in Western storytelling, allowing it to appeal to a wide range of ages and nationalities.

Seriously. It’s one of the best cartoons to ever grace American television in the history of ever. I can’t say I’ve ever heard or read anything negative about it at all. Its first episode is so strong, it can easily hook new viewers right away. What have you got to lose?

So there you have it!

I really feel these titles are good starting points into getting rid of the “I hate anime” mentality.  This guide is split into three parts, however, so even if none of these appealed to you, don’t worry: I’m saving some of the best for last. :’)

In Part 2, I’ll dive into the anime classics that a lot of anime fans readily recommend to non-fans and frequently come up in recommendation lists. In Part 3, I’ll go into a list of modern, amazing series that have managed to impress me/other anime fans, and also likely to be appealing to non-fans.

What do you think? Have you seen any of these and have a different opinion? Have any questions? Comments? Suggestions? Guesses? I’m always happy to talk anime. See you in Part 2!

Ready to take the dive into any of these anime series? Shop our Amazon affiliate links here: Tokyo Godfathers, Spirited Away, Metropolis, and Avatar: The Last Airbender!

Want to read more from Lavender? Say no more!