There are few feelings greater than starting an anime and being absolutely hooked from the very first episode. With a few incredible anime series, it becomes immediately evident even from the first episode that the show will become a fan-favorite. Many first episodes feel slow, taking a while to get into the action, but a handful are truly remarkable.
The best anime first episodes feature stunning, vivid animation, beautiful musical scores and voice acting, and phenomenal character introductions. These standouts are truly unique and memorable, getting viewers excited to dive deep into the series and learn more about the intriguing characters and fascinating plot of the story. A series only has one chance to hook a new fan, so it is absolutely essential that the first episode captures the essence of the show perfectly and represents the story and characters well.
10 Blue Lock Raises The Stakes From the Start
Produced by Eight Bit, based on the original manga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro
Blue Lock’s first episode introduces the series’ interesting premise very well. Protagonist, Isagi Yoichi, is introduced as a phenomenal high school soccer player with the dream of becoming one of the greats in soccer. Right after feeling discouraged at losing an important game, he is invited to the exclusive Blue Lock facility, where he will have the opportunity to compete to become the world’s best striker.
This first episode is one of the best because it lays out the high stakes of the series immediately. The first elimination competition at the end of the episode is very critical and stressful for the contestants, setting the tone for the rest of the fast-paced show. Blue Lock is one of the best sports anime out there, with flawless animation and jaw-dropping action, and this first episode reveals this instantly.
Watch on Crunchyroll
9 Hell’s Paradise Begins On A Dark Note
Produced by MAPPA, based on the original manga by Yuji Kaku
Dark shonen anime Hell’s Paradise has a first episode that is full of action and builds the world of the series phenomenally. Gabimaru the Hollow, the laidback, reserved protagonist, is a prisoner sentenced to death who will not die because his powers are protecting him. Since he can’t be killed, he ventures out on a journey to search for the elixir of life on the mysterious and horribly dangerous island, Shinsenkyo, in the hopes of achieving freedom, so he can meet his beloved wife again.
One of the most noteworthy aspects of this first episode is how well it establishes Gabimaru’s character as an incredibly powerful fighter and loving husband. It also creates intrigue around the puzzling mystery of why so many warriors have never returned from Shinsenkyo, making fans watch more to uncover the truth. For these reasons, Hell’s Paradise has one of the best first episodes.
Watch on Crunchyroll
8 Fruits Basket’s First Episode Reveals An Awe-Inspiring Secret
Produced by TMS Entertainment, based on the original manga by Natsuki Takaya
Fruits Basket has become one of the most beloved romance anime series of all time. The first episode follows the protagonist, Tohru Honda, who recently became homeless and is discovered living in a tent by the Sohmas. When she accepts their offer of living with them, she quickly finds out the Sohmas possess a shocking ability: when the opposite gender hugs them, they will transform into animals.
This first episode is one of the best because it truly hooks viewers straight away, as the premise of humans turning into animals when hugged is such a surprising and unique one. The Sohma family intrigues fans with their dynamic personalities as they continue to keep their animal powers hidden from the world, inspiring viewers to continue watching the mystery unfold. Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki are also incredibly complex main characters who are lovable from the very start.
Watch on Crunchyroll
7 Chainsaw Man’s Gets Hardcore From the Beginning
Produced by MAPPA, based on the original manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Chainsaw Man is one of the most action-packed fantasy animes ever, and this action is present from the very beginning. In the first episode, protagonist Denji is in a depressed and discouraged state, as he is very poor, out of work, and owns almost nothing except for his trusty dog companion, Pochita. The most unbelievable moment of this episode that makes it truly memorable is when Denji and Pochita are in a dumpster and Pochita combines himself with Denji, turning the boy into a chainsaw-human hybrid.
The series is truly fantastical and contains many circumstances that are truly stunning to watch. The first episode is one of anime’s best because the extraordinarily unique premise sparks viewers’ interest immediately by introducing a weird word where the fantastical elements actually cause fear and misery, but the cruelest creatures are always the humans. Denji’s journey is sometimes painful to watch, and the first episode makes this very clear.
Watch on Crunchyroll
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man is an adaptation of the popular manga written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, airing on Crunchyroll in the west. Denji, a young man working tirelessly for the Yakuza to pay off the debt, his late father saddled him with hunts devils with the assistance of his little friend Pochita, also known as the Chainsaw Devil. When the Yakuza kill him to gain a contract with another devil, Pochita saves Denji, and the two forge a contract, allowing Denji to gain revenge against the Yakuza. Now sought after by an agency known as the Public Safety Division, Denji joins a team led by the mysterious Makima. Denji now relentlessly hunts Devils in service of his newfound crush, Makima, slowly reaching their ultimate goal of facing the ultimate Devil.
- Release Date
- October 11, 2022
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
- Writers
- Tatsuki Fujimoto
6 My Hero Academia Unveils The Protagonist’s Struggle
Produced by Bones, based on the original manga by Kohei Horikoshi
My Hero Academia’s first episode sets up the backstory of beloved protagonist, Izuku Midoriya perfectly. Izuku, nicknamed Deku, aspires to be a powerful hero like his all-time favorite, All Might, but his lack of a Quirk is hindering him from achieving this goal. The episode flashes back to the moment in his childhood when he discovered he was unfortunately born without the powers so many around him possess, making his objective to become a successful hero and attend U.A. High School very difficult.
This first episode paints Deku as a sympathetic character, since people will relate to his desire to achieve a seemingly impossible dream. However, Izuku is not without hope, as he continues searching for a way to obtain a Quirk and achieve greatness like All Might. This episode is one of anime’s best because it gets viewers invested in Deku’s heroic and determined personality quickly, as well as showcasing the first step on his journey to becoming a hero despite all odds.
Watch on Crunchyroll
My Hero Academia
In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the “One-For-All” quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.
- Release Date
- April 3, 2016
- Franchise
- My Hero Academia
- Production Company
- Bones
5 Spy X Family’s First Episode Is Adorably Perfect
Produced by Wit Studio, based on the original manga by Tatsuya Endo
Amongst all the violent and dark series today, it is refreshing to see a wonderfully light-hearted and funny series like Spy X Family become popular. The first episode follows spy Twilight on his toughest mission yet. The talented agent adopts a little girl named Anya and takes on a new identity as father and psychiatrist, Loid Forger. He forms a fake family in order to learn more about his suspect Desmond by gaining access to Eden College through Anya who becomes a student.
The humorous and feel-good nature of the show is present even from the series’ beginning, making this one of the best anime first episodes. Loid is introduced as an incredibly gifted and serious agent, so it’s amusing to see him put into such a goofy scenario, with Anya’s silly personality stealing the show. The episode is full of hysterical moments, hinting at even more absurd shenanigans to come in future episodes of the series.
Watch on Crunchyroll
Spy X Family Code: White Receives Official English Release In Spring 2024
Spy x Family Code: White has had major success since its release in Japan back in December, and its official English release has finally been set.
Spy x Family
Created by Tatsuya Endo, Spy X Family is an action-adventure comedy anime that follows the misadventures of a found family with unique quirks. The story follows spy Twilight (known as Loid Forger), who, while on assignment, builds a fake family to get closer to his target. Unbeknownst to him, his new family carries their quirks. His wife, Yor, is a kind but deadly assassin, while his daughter, Anya, has telepathic powers – and is the only one who knows their secrets.
- Release Date
- April 9, 2022
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Franchise(s)
- Spy X Family
- Creator(s)
- Tatsuya Endo
4 Demon Slayer Starts With A Shocking Tragedy
Produced by Ufotable, based on the original manga by Koyoharu Gotouge
The great tragedy at the beginning of Demon Slayer is truly heartbreaking to watch. Young protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, discovers his entire family has been slaughtered by demons, except for his younger sister, Nezuko, who was turned into a demon. He boldly protects his sister from a demon slayer, begging for a chance to turn her back into a human by becoming a demon slayer himself.
Tanjiro and Nezuko’s solid sibling bond is established in this first episode, showing their dedication to shielding one another from danger no matter what. This first episode, although absolutely devastating, pushes viewers into the Demon Slayer world immediately, establishes the hatred between humans and demons, and gets them invested in Tanjiro’s goal of restoring his beloved sister’s humanity. For these reasons, this first episode is one of the best in anime.
Watch on Crunchyroll
Demon Slayer
- Release Date
- April 6, 2019
- Seasons
- 3
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Franchise(s)
- Demon Slayer
3 Death Note Introduces A Genius Villain As The Main Character
Produced by Madhouse, based on the original manga by Tsugumi Ohba
Death Note is one of the most popular and well-written psychological thriller series, even sparking the creation of a live-action movie based on the anime. The first episode introduces the main character, a high school student named Light Yagami, and his discovery of a mysterious black journal on the ground with “Death Note” written on the front. He quickly discovers if you write someone’s name in the book, they die, and he uses this knowledge to begin killing anyone he feels is evil.
Light Yagami is one of the most controversial main characters in anime history and quickly becomes the series’ villain. The first episode of Death Note is one of anime’s best because it establishes Light as an extremely intelligent and collected character, who begins to slowly spiral into a cruel murderer after he finds the Death Note. Light’s Shinigami spirit who follows him everywhere, named Ryuk, is also introduced in this episode, creating another level of intrigue around the mysterious new powers the teenager possesses.
Watch on Netflix
2 Jujutsu Kaisen’s First Episode Sparks Curiosity
Produced by MAPPA, based on the original manga by Gege Akutami
There are few current anime or manga series more popular than Jujutsu Kaisen is currently. The incredible first episode begins with fascinating action, as Yuji Itadori and his friends from the Occult Club remove the seal wrapped around one of Sukuna’s fingers and unleash cursed spirits. The most shocking moment occurs at the end of the episode, when Yuji consumes Sukuna’s finger and instead of dying, develops powers through the King of Curses using his body as a vessel.
This is one of anime’s best first episodes because it introduces a truly unique and interesting premise, sets the stage for more action-packed battles later, and showcases the personalities of a few important main characters. Sukuna’s sheer strength and dangerous nature is revealed early on, which becomes a key theme throughout the rest of the series. Yuji establishes his personality as a good person who helps others, and Megumi’s power and reserved demeanor are introduced as well when he comes to Yuji’s rescue.
Watch on Crunchyroll
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, Story, Characters, & Everything We Know So Far
Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 is officially in production, and here’s everything known about it so far from its story details to its release date.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is a supernatural action anime that follows high school student Yuuji Itadori as he battles against magical curses. After Yuji selflessly saves a classmate by taking a curse into his own body, he is discovered and trained by a powerful sorcerer named Satoru Gojo. Gojo, who also happens to be a faculty member at a high school, enrolls Yuji there to help him and other students prepare themselves against the supernatural forces that plague humanity.
- Release Date
- October 3, 2020
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Franchise(s)
- Jujutsu Kaisen
1 Attack on Titan Begins With Horrifying Disaster
Produced by Wit Studio, based on the original manga by Hajime Isayama
Attack on Titan is considered one of the greatest anime series of all time, and it has certainly managed to hook viewers from the very first shocking episode. The series begins by introducing the residents of Paradis Island and explaining how they must live inside sets of walls to stay safe from being eaten by horrific, man-eating Titans. During the episode, Titans manage to break down the walls and begin attacking humans, even eating Eren’s mother, Carla.
The beginning of Attack on Titan will leave fans flabbergasted by how surprisingly gory and terrifying it is, with many deaths occurring so early on in the series. This first episode is one of anime’s best because it establishes the environment of terror the Eldians are living in and paints the Titans as fear-inducing creatures, urging fans to continue watching to see if the Titans can be defeated. Furthermore, the tragic death of Eren’s mother in this episode strengthens his decision to sign up for the Survey Corps, setting up Eren’s determined personality and goal of achieving freedom from the Titans.
Watch on Crunchyroll
Attack On Titan
Based on the manga, Attack on Titan is a dark-action fantasy series set in a world where humanity has been corralled into walled cities from fear of monstrous human-eating Titans that exist outside of them. When protagonist Eren Yeager’s mother is killed in front of his eyes at a young age, his thirst for vengeance leads him to join an elite group of soldiers created to fight back against the Titan menace.
- Release Date
- April 7, 2013
- Franchise
- Attack on Titan
- Production Company
- Wit Studio, MAPPA
