Recently, I have seen a lot of people gaining interest in anime due to the endless amount of time we have on our side; and I as an avid anime watcher and (light) manga reader, I have decided to help out new watchers with a short list of recommendations.

“Assassination Classroom” (2015-2016)
Now the title might sound a little intimidating, but this science fiction comedy follows the lives of Kunugigaoka Junior High’s Class 3-E as they come to meet an out of this world, octopus-like, homeroom teacher. Now, what is the objective of having a teacher like Koro-sensei? The students have to assassinate him before they graduate junior high to prevent him from destroying the world. This wholesome 24 episode anime has the perfect amount of charm, comedy, and chemistry between the students of Class 3-E and Koro-sensei to leave you feeling fulfilled. “Assassination Classroom” can be found on Hulu.

“Deathnote” (2006-2007)
One day, high school student Light Yagami finds a notebook titled death note on the floor and soon finds out that it has the ability to kill whoever’s name is written in it. The iconic show has been consistently popular since its release and people still talk about it and cosplay characters like Misa Amane and Ryuk the shinigami. The 37 episode drama thriller makes the viewer question what is justice and how it should be served. You can find “Deathnote” on Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll.

“My Hero Academia” (2016-present)
Born into the world without a quirk (superpower), Izuku Midoriya is determined to become the number 1 hero like his idol, All Might, and also wants to attend U.A. High School. This is currently one of the most popular shonen animes right now and for good reason. The worldbuilding, the class of 1-A, the heroes, the villains, and the fights are all cleanly executed and exciting. “My Hero Academia” is scheduled to release season 5 in the spring of 2021. I know a lot of people, myself included, can’t wait to see what the creators have in store for the new season. This anime is available on Hulu and Crunchyroll.

“The Promised Neverland” (2019-present)
This anime follows 11-year-olds Emma and Norman as they discover the horrible dark reality that is their orphanage one night as they leave the grounds. The unsettling truth makes them determined to take the other kids and run away. This 12 episode dark fantasy show will have you on your toes as each episode ends on a cliffhanger. I recommend this anime to anyone and everyone who asks what they would watch now. Thankfully, season 2 is scheduled to be released Jan. 2021 on platforms such as Crunchyroll and most likely later dates for Hulu and Netflix.

“Jujutsu Kaisen” (Currently airing)
Where do I even start on this one? Personally, I went into the anime blind and was pleasantly surprised by how amazing it is (and I recommend you do the same). But for the sake of a description, “Jujutsu Kaisen” follows high schooler Yuji Itadori as he gets caught up in a series of unfortunate events that leads him to discover that Cursed Spirits live among society. Currently, there are 7 episodes available on Crunchyroll and weekly episodes air at 10:45 am on Fridays.

Hopefully, this list cures your boredom and you enjoy the world that is anime!