The beauty of anime and manga is its variety. Whether you want the existential dread of Neon Genesis Evangelion , the cozy cooking of Delicious in Dungeon , or the corporate satire of Kaiji , there is a story for you. Don’t be intimidated by the culture or the length of series. Pick one from this list that matches your current mood, watch three episodes, or read the first volume. If it doesn’t click, try another. The journey into this world is one of endless discovery, and these popular recommendations are the perfect first steps.