THE ANIME STARTER PACK (NETFLIX EDITION)
It’s 2020 and this year we’re all about breaking the stigma and exploring new interests— especially those of us who make up the millennial, Gen Z, and younger populations.
Today’s ‘Zup piece will help you explore the wonderful world of Japanese Animation, or Anime for short.
Gone are the days where anime was only meant for geeks and losers. In today’s world, either the majority of the population is now made up of so-called “geeks and losers” or perhaps anime has just become—dare we even say it—cool. Studies don’t have to prove the rise of its popularity because even some of your favorite celebrities are talking about their love for anime.
To help get you started, here’s a list of some awesome anime to watch that can be streamed on Netflix (cause piracy is a crime), so get on these titles ASAP:
Haikyuu (Sports)
If you’re a sports lover, then this is the anime for you. Haikyuu is an action-packed, adrenaline-pumping sports anime that focuses on a high school volleyball team reclaiming its title as a contender among the top schools in the country.
The main character of the story is Shouyo Hinata, a high school student who is passionate about volleyball despite lacking the height that the game usually requires to be competitive. He also lacks any of the basic skills of volleyball, but all these obstacles don’t stop him from pursuing his passion!
If you’re into underdog stories, wait no further. You should dive right into this one!
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (Action/Fantasy)
Chances are that you’ve heard of Fullmetal Alchemist before, even if you don’t watch any anime. Fullmetal Alchemist has two adaptations, but we highly recommend watching “Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood,” as it stays faithful to the manga and has tons more action due to there being more episodes!
The story follows the Elric brothers, two state alchemists, as they travel the world seeking to regain the bodies they lost from alchemy. Alchemy is similar to magic, whereas skilled alchemists are able to use their surroundings to create special effects. (Ex. creating an explosion from a small spark.)
The entire 64-episode anime will definitely take you through a roller-coaster of emotions, but it’s a must-watch if you love a good story with tons of action.
Overlord (Gore/Fantasy)
“Isekai” is a rapidly growing genre in manga & anime. “Isekai” translates to “different world” and focuses on stories around main characters that get transported from Earth to a parallel fantasy universe.
Overlord is an Isekai centered around Momonga, this average Japanese salary man who spends most of his time and money outside work on his favorite MMORPG called YGDRASSIL. After finding out his favorite MMORPG is shutting down, he decides to stay online until the last possible second. Once the time passes and he realizes he hasn’t been ejected from the game, he goes out and sees that he’s in a completely new world as his in-game character, an extremely powerful magic-casting skeleton.
While it might seem like this anime can be for young teens, it actually features some dark themes and gore, so we recommend these for mature audiences only.
Your Lie in April (Drama)
If you’re looking for an anime that will really take you on an emotional trip, then you might be interested in watching this title. This anime will tug on your heartstrings, so be prepared with a box of tissues.
The story follows piano prodi y Arima Kosei who goes through a traumatic event in his life and becomes unable to play the piano. He goes through life unenthusiastically, just content on going through the day-to-day motions until he meets Miyazono Kaori, an energetic and free-spirited violinist.
This anime is definitely a tear-jerker, and might trigger a ton of different emotions, but it’s a great watch with great visuals.
Kiss Him, Not Me (Romance/ Comedy)
Last but not the least on this list, we’re finally including something for those that just want to laugh. Kiss Him, Not Me is an anime that is stupidly fun and requires no thinking whatsoever. This is a “Shojo” anime, meaning it is made for teenage girls but it’s so much fun that even our guys enjoyed the show!
The anime follows Serinuma Kae, a quiet high school girl who loved obsessing about “yaoi” or love between boys. She is your ordinary student who suddenly lost weight and then became the love interest of the four hottest guys in school. Hilariously, Serinuma Kae is more interested in the boys falling in love with each other than with her!
If you want to kick back, relax and just have a good laugh, then this anime is definitely for you!
These are our five top picks for getting started on anime this 2020, and it’s easy to stream through Netflix, so what are you waiting for? Get on this geek hype train!