AzuraCub’s Must-Watch Anime List
I absolutely love anime! I’ve been watching it for years now and I have been able to watch some incredible stories because of it. Whenever I start talking about my favorite shows everyone always asks me for anime recommendations that would be good for them to watch, so I’ve decided to compile a list of a few anime I watched over the years that I think you should definitely watch :)
So let’s just dive straight into my top anime recommendations!
Demon Slayer
I hate to admit it but I like picking my own anime shows to watch so when anyone recommends something to me I’ll do my best to not watch because I didn’t choose it myself. So when Demon Slayer was recommended to me, I tried at first to huff and puff because it simply did not look like something I would usually watch.
However, I was very very wrong. You see, the story starts with a young boy trying to find a cure for his younger sibling who was attacked by a demon which in return turned her into a blood-hungry monster with no soul and only the need to kill… somehow Tanjiro Kamado showed so much inner strength and love for his sibling that she somehow recognized him.
Soon the two set on an adventure to look for a cure that might not even exist all while being thrown into a war between demons and demon slayers.
This show has some really fantastic animation and a really exciting story too. So if you’re completely new to anime and want something fast-paced and exciting to watch then this show is for you!
Vampire Knight
The story follows Yuki Cross, a young girl who has no memory of her early childhood. The only thing she can remember is “that” night where she nearly got devoured by a rogue vampire. At the last second, her life was saved by a Pureblood Vampire named Kaname Kuran.
As the adopted daughter of the headmaster of Cross Academy, Yuki is now the guardian of the vampire who saved her life. By day she attends school with her fellow classmates as if nothing is ever wrong. By her side is her childhood friend Zero Kiryu, however, Zero has a very dark past and hates all vampires. He has devoted his life to someday killing all those who walk with the night.
Not only is the anime and manga beautifully drawn, but the most noticeable aspect of the anime and manga is the character’s eyes. Most would say that it’s your typical ‘Twilight story’ just without all the sparkling glittery vampires or werewolves, but somehow it’s about finding yourself and discovering what limits you can push yourself to for the people you love… so now the only question remains… What will happen once Yuki finds out the truth?
A Silent Voice
This anime movie is not a happy story, no matter how I look at it. This is a story that is so powerful it will change how you see yourself and others. It is a movie that has to be experienced because there are no proper words to describe how it will make you feel.
The story follows Shoko Nishimiya, a new student that is deaf and Shoya Ishida, the boy who bullied her along with his classmates because she was ‘different’. At one stage the bullying reached the attention of the principle and Shoya was blamed for all of it. Soon he becomes the victim of being bullied at school by everyone, even his so-called friends. The movie explores what it is like to be bullied and how the characters try to recover from their experiences.
I’m afraid I won’t be telling you much more as I want you to go and watch this anime. This movie WILL 100% change your life. The anime style is one of the most beautiful arts you will ever see and it all ties in very well with the story. Just be prepared to have your feelings ripped out because this movie is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
Tenjho Tenge
It’s not often that I would watch a fight club kind of anime but this show was on Animax back when it still aired on DSTV in South Africa. I think what captivated me so much about the anime was that we got to see so many strong female leads kick some butt. Not only were they beautiful and smart, but they could stand on their own and get things done. I know that the anime was far from how the manga looked as the anime concealed a lot of nudity, which was good considering I was about 15 when I watched the show.
The story follows many different characters but starts off with Souichiro Nagi and his friend Bob Makihara who intend to rule their new school, even if they had to beat every single student to end up on top. Little did they know that the new school they entered is filled with students that study different kinds of fighting styles. The students are skilled in all kinds of combat, and some even have unthinkable supernatural abilities.
Although all is not how it seems and the two new students find themselves in the middle of a battle that needs to come to an end.
Whose side will they join, will they make it and become the rules of their new school?
Wolf’s Rain
This is another series I followed on Animax and one I would like to rewatch. It’s a show that follows Kiba, a lone wolf who is searching for the Lunar Flower, the key that will lead them to paradise. The Lunar Flower takes its form in that of a young girl who is known as the flower maiden, who was created via alchemy from a Lunar Flower, and like a flower in order to survive she needs sunlight and water. Kept in captivity to be studied she later escapes and joins Kiba and his friends hoping to lead them to paradise.
Two hundred years ago it was led to believe that all wolves were wiped out, however, a few survived, and as time went on they started casting illusions over themselves to hide from humans, waiting for the arrival of the Flower Maiden.
The show follows a long battle between the wolves fighting for their freedom and those who wish to rid the world of these creatures and take paradise for themselves.
The anime is actually a lot darker than I remembered when I watched it about 10 years ago but it is definitely worth watching!
Witchblade
The story follows Masane Amaha, a young kindhearted woman who is rather childish and clumsy at times. She lost her memory a few years back during a Quake and when she awoke unharmed she had a baby in her arms. A few years later she returns to her home city with her daughter intending to live a happy and peaceful life.
Not everything is as it seems though as she gets involved in an ongoing war between a large corporation and a government agency. With the strange bracelet around her wrist, Masane is granted incredible speed, strength, and endurance making her the perfect weapon.
This show has everything I think you could possibly want! It has action, adventure, and a small hint of romance but the most important part is that it has a female lead who is a force to be reckoned with.
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
This is yet another very sad anime that will break everyone’s heart. But it somehow helps build you from the ground up.
It all starts when Jinta Yadomi starts seeing his childhood friend Meiko who passed away five years ago in a tragic accident. Meiko returns with a wish she needs granted and believes that it can only be granted by all of her friends. She cannot remember what the wish was but all she knew was that it can only be granted by all of her friends.
Jinta believes that he is hallucinating and that it is caused by his grief, guilt, and stress from losing his friend. He no longer goes to school or leaves the house after the accident as he feels responsible for what happened. When he is finally convinced that he needs to gather his friends to help him grant this wish he is confronted by his fears as they tell him it’s only his grief. Meiko decides to reveal herself to all of her friends in order to help them see and believe.
This anime is about more than just friendship, it’s about forgiving yourself and letting go. A lot of us have the fear of moving on and letting go of the ones we love but this anime shows us how important it is to rely on the people that are still here and supporting us.
It’s about loving ourselves the best possible way we can and about moving on.
Maid Sama!
There comes a time in every young girl’s life where she wants to dabble in the art of romance and when I google anime with romance in it Maid Sama was one of the first that popped up.
The show follows Misaki Ayuzawa, a hard-working girl who wants to turn the former all-boys school into a better place for its female students. She puts a lot of effort into her school work and grades, eventually winning over the hearts of her teachers and she later becomes the first female student council president. Around the school she is known to be one to always follow the rules, sometimes breaking them for her fellow female students. However, towards her male classmates, she is known as a man-hater as she comes down on them very hard, ensuring that they follow every rule the second they step onto school grounds, making their lives a living hell.
Not all is as it seems as Misaki has a job at a maid cafe where she has to dress as a maid to help support her mother and younger sibling. Although she enjoys her job she keeps it a secret from others at school as she believes it would destroy everything she has worked for. Her fear seems to become a reality when her secret is discovered by the school’s hottie Takumi Usui. Surprisingly Usui keeps her secret and instead becomes a regular at the cafe where she works. Even though she is terrified someone new will find out she keeps her head high and continues to show that she is an incredible fighter.
She is one of the female anime leads I look up to a lot as she shows great inner strength and determination. The show is a romantic comedy and is a must watch for anyone looking for something light hearted and easy going.
I hope that this list helps you find a new anime to watch or helps you scratch the itch of craving something new and exciting to try! While you work your way through this list of recommendations I will work hard to find the next few anime shows I can recommend for all of you.
Maybe you have something for me you would like me to watch and review? If so, comment below and I might just add it to my anime ‘must-get-around-to-watching’ list :)
Lots of Love
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