Why it’s popular: Fruits Basket is the gold standard for Shojo (targeted at young females). Tohru Honda is an orphan living in a tent in the woods until she is taken in by the mysterious Sohma family. She soon discovers they are cursed: 13 family members turn into animals of the Chinese Zodiac when hugged by the opposite sex.
What makes it stand out: On the surface, it is a cute comedy about a girl and a grumpy cat-boy (Kyo). Underneath, it is a devastating exploration of childhood trauma, abuse, and breaking generational curses. The 2019 anime finally adapted the complete manga with modern animation.
Recommendation: Watch the 2019 anime. It is a complete, faithful adaptation with a beautiful score. Keep tissues nearby for seasons 2 and 3. yarichin kateikyoushi hentai
The Viking Epic Young Thorfinn seeks revenge against the mercenary who killed his father. It starts as John Wick in the Viking age, but eventually becomes a philosophical meditation on pacifism and slavery.
| Title | Genre | Why Read It | |-------|-------|--------------| | Goodnight Punpun | Dark drama / coming-of-age | Deeply depressing but artistic masterpiece; not for everyone. | | 20th Century Boys | Mystery / thriller | Epic spanning decades; from author of Monster. | | Vagabond | Samurai / historical | Gorgeous art, philosophical; based on Musashi’s life. | | Oyasumi Punpun (again) | Seinen drama | Worth double-mentioning; truly unique. | | Dandadan | Action / supernatural / comedy | Wild, unpredictable, and hilarious; anime coming soon. | Why it’s popular: Fruits Basket is the gold
The Next Big Thing A girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and a boy who believes in aliens but not ghosts, bet each other to prove the other wrong. They both end up being right, and chaos ensues.
| Title | Anime? | Manga? | Why Start Here | |-------|--------|--------|----------------| | Attack on Titan | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | Epic action, mystery, and political drama with a finished story. | | Death Note | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | Intellectual cat-and-mouse thriller; perfect for non-anime fans. | | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | ✅ Complete | ✅ Complete | Gold standard for shonen: great plot, characters, and ending. | | Demon Slayer | ✅ Ongoing (final arc) | ✅ Complete | Stunning animation and simple but heartfelt story. | | Spy x Family | ✅ Ongoing | ✅ Ongoing | Action-comedy-spy-family fusion; wholesome and hilarious. | The Next Big Thing A girl who believes
| Series | Anime | Manga | Vibe | |--------|-------|-------|------| | Fruits Basket (2019) | Complete | Complete | Zodiac curse + healing romance; tearjerker. | | Horimiya | Complete | Complete | Realistic, sweet high school romance with comedy. | | Kaguya-sama: Love is War | Complete (for now) | Complete | Geniuses play mind games to avoid confessing; hilarious. | | Clannad: After Story | Complete | Complete | Prepare to cry. Essential tear-jerker romance. |
Not all popular anime is about fighting. Sometimes, you just want to smile, cry, or feel butterflies in your stomach. Romance anime and manga are the cure for a bad day.