Starting anime feels harder than it should be. The catalogue is enormous, the episode counts are intimidating, and any forum thread about entry points will still be arguing at 3am. Here's a shortcut: seven series on Crunchyroll UK that need no prior knowledge, reward casual viewers early, and won't leave you bewildered by episode three.

Each pick below comes with a "who it's for" so you can skip straight to something that fits your taste.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

The pick if you want one that gets everything right.

Two brothers try to use alchemy to bring their dead mother back to life. It goes catastrophically wrong. What follows is a 64-episode adventure that slowly reveals itself to be a tragedy wearing an action series as a disguise.

Brotherhood is the version that adapts the complete manga faithfully — don't confuse it with the 2003 adaptation, which diverges significantly midway through. The pacing is tight from episode one: there's none of the slow build-up that puts newcomers off long-form anime. The world has consistent internal logic, the characters behave like actual people, and the emotional payoff in the final third is earned rather than manufactured.

It tops most "best anime for people who don't watch anime" lists, and for good reason. The story is finished: no cliffhangers waiting on a future season that may never materialise.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to start with something universally respected. A reliable recommendation across every taste.

Browse the series on MovieRec: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

The pick if you want to be visually overwhelmed in the best possible way.

Tanjiro's sister is turned into a demon after a raid on their family. He trains to become a demon slayer — both to protect her and to find a cure.

The first hook is the animation. Ufotable's work on this series set a new standard for what TV anime can look like: sweeping swordfighting sequences, fire rendered with actual texture, lighting that shifts within a single fight. But the show earns the spectacle — the emotional core is direct and effective. You care about Tanjiro quickly because the series doesn't play games about who he is.

Season 1 runs to 26 episodes plus one extended finale. The series is ongoing and regularly simulcasted on Crunchyroll UK as new seasons air, including a feature film (Mugen Train) that bridges into Season 2.

Who it's for: Viewers who respond to style and spectacle. Also the most effective series to show someone who "doesn't get what's impressive about anime."

3. Spy x Family

The pick if you're nervous about anime tropes.

A spy is given a mission that requires him to instantly acquire a family. His fake daughter turns out to be a secret telepath. His fake wife turns out to be a secret assassin. None of them know about the others.

Spy x Family is the series that converts the most sceptics, and the reason is tonal. It's warm, funny, and surprisingly moving — without leaning on the tropes that put off Western viewers. There's no excessive fan service, no power-level obsession, no protagonist who wins by shouting. Anya, the telepathic daughter, is one of the most endearing characters in recent animation regardless of medium.

Light enough to watch with someone who'd usually refuse anime. And once they're hooked, there are plenty of heavier series to follow.

Who it's for: People who've bounced off anime before, couples looking for something they can both enjoy, fans of spy-comedy in any medium.

4. Death Note

The pick for thriller fans who think anime isn't for them.

A brilliant student finds a supernatural notebook: write a person's name in it and they die. He decides to use it to rid the world of criminals. A detective of equal brilliance decides to catch him.

Death Note is an unambiguous psychological thriller that happens to be animated. The first episode is a masterclass in establishing stakes without wasting a second. Light and L's cat-and-mouse across 37 episodes plays exactly like a high-end live-action crime series — except the central premise could only work in this medium.

One practical note: the series splits into two distinct halves around episode 26. The first half is tighter and more widely praised; the second introduces new antagonists and divides opinion. Worth watching through the first half before forming a view on the whole thing.

Who it's for: Thriller and crime drama fans — especially anyone who liked Sherlock, Hannibal, or Mindhunter. Frequently cited as the gateway series for people who previously had no interest in anime.

5. Attack on Titan

The pick for people who need an immediate, full-speed hook.

Humanity lives behind enormous walls. One day the walls aren't enough.

From that opening, the series becomes one of the most methodically constructed narratives in modern television — animated or otherwise. What makes it work for new viewers is the plotting: each season reveals information that recontextualises everything that came before. There are payoffs set up 50 episodes ahead of their resolution.

The first episode is exceptional by any standard. It establishes the world, creates genuine dread, and earns the cliffhanger.

That said: this is dark television. The series doesn't shield you from consequences, and the later seasons grapple seriously with themes of violence, nationalism, and moral compromise within a cycle of oppression. Brilliant, but go in knowing it earns its content warnings. All four seasons plus the final arc are available on Crunchyroll UK, and the complete story is told.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants the "I have to watch the next episode right now" pull that only the best television delivers. Not for viewers who want something comforting.

6. My Hero Academia

The pick for classic superhero storytelling.

In a world where 80% of people are born with superpowers, one boy is born with none. He inherits a legendary ability from the world's greatest hero and enrols in Japan's top hero school.

My Hero Academia is the most classically structured series on this list. It follows the logic of American superhero comics — legacy heroes, rival dynamics, a villain organisation with a coherent ideology — and is clearly designed to be accessible. The early arcs are genuinely all-ages entertainment, while the later seasons earn a harder tone as the stakes escalate.

Multiple seasons available on Crunchyroll UK, with the series still ongoing. Good for: anyone who liked X-Men or Spider-Man but wants to explore a different creative take on that genre.

Who it's for: Superhero fans, shonen newcomers, anyone who wants something structured around clear, trackable character progression.

7. Haikyuu!!

The pick for people convinced they won't like anime.

A short volleyball player joins a high school team. That's the entire premise — no supernatural abilities, no save-the-world stakes, no chosen one.

Haikyuu!! works by making you genuinely care about volleyball matches the way you'd care about a cup final. The games are constructed to build tension in exactly the same way a great sports film does, except the longer format lets relationships and rivalries develop over time in a way no two-hour film could manage. Viewers who went in sceptical frequently report watching entire seasons in a single evening.

Four TV seasons plus a coda film (The Dumpster Battle) complete the story cleanly.

Who it's for: Sports fans, people who are reluctant to try anime, and anyone who wants proof the genre extends well beyond fighting and explosions.

Where to Watch All of These on Crunchyroll UK

All seven series are in the Crunchyroll UK library. Crunchyroll's Premium plan comes with a 14-day free trial — long enough to work through the first 15–20 episodes of several picks above and form a proper view. If you already use Amazon Prime, you can add Crunchyroll as a Prime Video Channel, keeping your billing in one place.

Start your Crunchyroll free trial via Prime Video Channels →

FAQ

What's the single best anime to start with as a complete beginner?

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. It has a complete story, a clean entry point, and holds up across every genre preference. If it hooks you, you'll want to keep watching. If it doesn't, anime probably isn't for you — and that's a fair conclusion to reach.

Is Crunchyroll worth paying for in the UK?

Crunchyroll is the dominant anime streaming platform in the UK. It simulcasts new episodes from Japan within hours of airing and its back catalogue covers nearly every significant series from the past two decades. If you're planning to watch more than a couple of series, a subscription pays for itself quickly.

How long are these series?

Death Note is 37 episodes (roughly 15 hours). FMA: Brotherhood is 64 episodes. Attack on Titan runs to around 88 episodes across all seasons. Each Crunchyroll episode is typically 23 minutes.

Subtitles or dub — which is better for beginners?

Both are valid. Death Note and FMA: Brotherhood have English dubs that are widely regarded as excellent. Most series on this list have good-quality dubs if you prefer not to read while watching.

If You Want More Like This

• Seasonal picks: What's new on Crunchyroll UK this winter
• Anime movies for adults: Animated films that prove animation isn't just for kids
• Browse all anime on MovieRec: watch?provider=crunchyroll

Disclosure: MovieRec may earn a commission if you sign up to Crunchyroll through links on this page. Learn more.