Interest Stacks

A mystery series largely set in Prohibition era America with a timeline spanning centuries, a massive cast, and an atypical approach to storytelling; Baccano takes a while to establish its cast but once each character's plot threads intertwine at the end, it makes for an absolute treat.

Do watch if:
-You enjoy nonlinear storytelling
-You want a series set outside of Japan with a great English dub
-You enjoy historical settings
-You enjoy jazz

Don't watch if:
-You want a linear story without too many timeskips or flashbacks
-You can't handle keeping track of a large cast of characters

Despite its age, it's probably the closest thing to Die Hard that anime has to offer.

Do watch if:
-You enjoy over the top action
-You like guns
-You enjoy mature themes and settings (Crime, gang violence, etc.)
-You want a series largely set outside of Japan (with a fantastic dub to accompany it too)
-You want to watch Nazis get capped

Don't watch if:
-You can't stand nudity
-You can't stand excessive profanity
-You can't stand violence or gore

A lighthearted, atypical sports anime with a female protagonist that provides insight into the unexpectedly hype sport of Karuta. The foreign subject matter and the slow beginning makes it one of the most "trust me, it's good" recommendations I can possibly make (Topical ProZD video: https://youtu.be/zj7VMd8z8XA).

Do watch if:
-You want to learn about a completely foreign facet of Japanese culture
-You want something exciting but without violence
-You want a character driven series with a whole array of lovable side characters/enjoy power of friendship type vibes

Don't watch if:
-You can't stand sports anime
-You can't stand slow introductions or slice of life style series
-You want to watch a romance anime, as the romance subplot takes a backburner to the players' careers

A slower paced series about bounty hunters in space, you've probably already heard of this before. One of the most accessible entries on this list if you're turned off by how "anime" anime is.

Do watch if:
-You enjoy "it's about the journey, not the destination" type series
-You want a fantastic English dub
-You want something with a heavy Western influence
-You enjoy jazz
-You want something that straight up just FEELS cool

Don't watch if:
-You can't stand episodic series and want something more plot driven
-You can't stand older anime

A dark, completely standalone story set in the dystopian Cyberpunk universe.

Do watch if:
-You enjoy cyberpunk/sci-fi settings
-You want something that features mature themes (Crime, addiction, corruption, gang violence, etc.)

Don't watch if:
-You can't stand nudity
-You can't stand fast pacing and timeskips (a typical issue with Studio Trigger anime)
-You can't stand violence or gore

A lighthearted anime about making anime with an eccentric cast, it's a love letter to what makes animation fun in general rather than focusing on the industry side of things (if you're interested in an upbeat take on that, check out Shirobako).

Do watch if:
-You want an eccentric female cast that doesn't pander to the audience at all
-You want something silly and creative but not too absurd

Don't watch if:
-You want something plot focused

One of the most well known shonen adventure anime and for good reason.

Do watch if:
-You enjoy strong worldbuilding
-You enjoy larger casts
-You enjoy dark fantasy
-You're okay with a larger time investment

Don't watch if:
-You don't enjoy typical hero's journey stories

A classic sports anime about a plucky kid entering the world of boxing.

Do watch if:
-You enjoyed the Rocky movies
-You enjoy the sports series formula of rising to the top
-You love good fight scenes

Don't watch if:
-You can't stand a bit of dirty humor

A love letter to fighting games and arcade culture as a whole. Practically a romance period piece set in the 90's.

Do watch if:
-You love arcade/fighting games

Don't watch if:
-You have low tolerance for CGI
-You can't stand romance subplots

A cute comedy anime with over the top animation and an absurd but still mundane/familiar setting. If the humor really lands for you, it's one of the funniest anime out there.

Do watch if:
-You enjoy slapstick humor
-You enjoy over the top exaggeration
-You enjoy surreal/absurd humor

Don't watch if:
-You dislike any of the above

A mystery anime centering around the disappearance of a high school girl and featuring a story told from multiple perspectives, most notably a taxi driving walrus, yakuza members, and a burgeoning idol group. Similar to Baccano in the sense that in the end, each character's plotlines are brought together to create something special. Although not entirely a comedy anime, it's consistently funny through its character interactions and witty dialogue.

Do watch if:
-You want something aesthetically different from 99% of other anime
-You want a series featuring anthropomorphic animals (Please for the love of God, DO NOT write this show off as "some furry garbage" or what have you)
-You want a series that isn't an adaptation of an existing work

Do not watch if:
-You want a series with a smaller cast of characters

A cute, informational comedy series starring the cells of the human body, going into their roles and how they tackle the various predicaments we put our bodies through. Similar in concept to something like Osmosis Jones.

Do watch if:
-You want to watch something lighthearted and educational

Don't watch if:
-You can't stand episodic series
-You want an overarching plot
-You want deep characters

Hatsune Miku gets transported a hundred years into the past to prevent the AI uprising while struggling with the purpose of her own existence. No, seriously. Features quite a few well animated action sequences and explores whether an AI can have a heart.

Do watch if:
-You enjoy sci-fi settings
-You enjoy time travel stories
-You want a series with a main character that isn't human
-You want a series that isn't an adaptation of an existing work

Don't watch if:
-You absolutely dislike idol pop, this isn't an idol anime but there are a fair few singing scenes due to the main character's occupation