I'm overwhelmed - Where's a good place to start?

I've been thinking about getting into anime recently, but I'm having trouble on deciding what to watch first. I'm just overwhelmed by the sheer amount of it, and I wanna know what some decent series are. 

It depends on your tastes. What genres do you prefer? I would start with movies if you have never watched anime, just to get used to the animation. 

It depends on your tastes. What genres do you prefer? I would start with movies if you have never watched anime, just to get used to the animation. 

I'm looking for something fun and action-y. I'm not really feeling something heavy like Attack On Titan.

Anime is a medium, not a genre! Over in North America, animation is usually reserved for either children's shows or crude adult comedy, but in Japan animation is used for every type of show you can imagine. What are your favourite shows, movies, books? 

I like to recommend Death Note if you're into drama and crime. Fullmetal Alchemist is great if you like fantasy. Cowboy Bebop is a classic, and you'll probably like it if you watched and liked Firefly, I found they gave off a similar vibe. 

I'm looking for something fun and action-y. I'm not really feeling something heavy like Attack On Titan.

Maybe Fairy Tail?

Maybe Fairy Tail?

Ooh, I've heard good things about that one!

Anime is a medium, not a genre! 

I know, sorry for not being more specific. I kinda feel embarrassed now. I feel like I should've been more specific as to what I was looking for.

I was a late bloomer myself. I think I was 19 when I started in on anime. I went over to a buddy's house and he had a few series on DVD. Curious I asked where to start and he just borrowed me a bookcase full. Not knowing where to start I watched Ghost in the Shell. Hated it. Couldn't get into it, wasn't moved and couldn't keep my interest for long. That hasn't changed today. I almost wanted to stop there, but then tried another...

Tenchi Muyo! I fell in love with anime and watched everything on TM he had. Then discovered I liked Ranma 1/2 even more! Fairy Tail is fantastic too. Basically, don't be turned off by the first thing you watch. And more to the point, I'd start off with the classics and figure out what you like most. Funny, action, drama, Mech, fantasy, ecchi, etc. I like a little bit of everything.

If you like video games, and MMO's then I would start with Sword Art Online. 

My friend and I did a 13 hour marathon last year without knowing what it was. We liked it. Very much. 

If you like video games, and MMO's then I would start with Sword Art Online. 

 

My friend and I did a 13 hour marathon last year without knowing what it was. We liked it. Very much. 

I would agree with this. SAO is a pretty good anime from the few episodes I've seen.

try steins gate?

https://www.youtube....h?v=N8W7TmcSdSo

I recommend Gintama completely, One piece is a bit mainstream but you'll love it. I heavily recommend you watch old anime such as Saint seiya, and Daa daa daa, you'll appreciate the style they have and feel nostalgic about them at times. Listen carefully what I'm about to say is more important than anything mentioned so far. Anime comes from Manga first. Read the manga! There are soooo many things people miss out on when watching anime and not reading manga. Ex. Reborn's true form is shown in the manga for Katekyo Hitman Reborn, Eren gains the power to make Titans eat other titans in shingeki no kyojin, Akame Ga kiru doesn't end in a stupid way(in fact it's on-going), there are more examples but I forget them. Also watch anime in ENG sub, not dub! So many things are lost in translation just to fit the people there, it pisses me off. For example: The famous scene in the courthouse in Shingeki no Kyojin in which Eren screams "Don't touch her!" He actually said "Shut up and put your faith in me so I can protect you and this city!" Ya' see? And by being exposed to ENG sub you learn so much about japanese culture and their style of comedy. I'm able to laugh at some jokes that you won't be able to because you don't feel they're funny. And say the titles of Anime in Japanese, you'll feel like such a boss.

I recommend starting with something short. Try something like Death Note or Future Diary (Mirai Nikki in Japanese). Those are two anime that I often recommend to people who haven't watched a lot of anime because they encompass several genres of anime, especially Future Diary; Future Diary encompasses many genres like action, romance, comedy, psychological horror, a bit of ecchi and gore and few other genres, as well. 

I totally agree with what Megabyte said; you should also try Steins;Gate because it is absolutely wonderful.

You should also try watching something more light-hearted like Angel Beats, Toradora or D-Frag. 

So, I ultimately decided to start on Toriko, at least the Manga

Honestly I'm really enjoying it, but I feel impatient to get to a big arc, because so far the early chapters feel like standalone stories. Good standalone stories, but still. The pacing just feels off to me.  Also, I've narrowed down my list of things I want to check out:

Attack On Titan

Assassination Classroom

Fairy Tail

My Hero Academia

One Piece

Blue Exorcist

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

That Aladdin Anime (The name alludes me atm: Magi something)

Bleach

Gurren Lagann

Durarara!!! (Technically a Light Novel but also an anime IIRC)

Gintama

Kill La Kill 

Hellsing

Hunter X Hunter

Seven Deadly Sins

Akagame La Kill

One-Punch Man

Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt

Full Metal Alchemist

Tokyo Ghoul

D-Gray Man

Saint Seiya (I probably spelled that wrong)

Yu Yu Hakusho

Cowboy Bebop

Trying to decide which one to start first (Well, After Toriko that is)

Samurai Champloo made me fall in love with anime, it tends to get overshadowed by Cowboy Bebop but I think it shows all the creativity the medium is capable of.

Hi guys, I recommend you to watch One piece and Naruto. Naruto manga is already finished but i heard a rumor from publishers that they will continue the series. I am still waiting to see if this will happen in the future. Here in Panama, me and my friends are enjoying watching One Piece, some fans said it's already on the half of the full series. 

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Gustavo Woltmann will become a Nakama

I really liked Parasyte and its a short anime too. Highschool of the dead is good especially if you're into your zombies like the walking dead. So much anime and so little time, I feel I have only scratched the surface with it. One of the first animes I watched was Cardcaptors Sakura when I was little. Didnt realize it was an anime until I was way older. Could explain why none of the other kids knew about it XD

I love Parasyte and High School of the Dead. If you like those kind of gory animes I'd recommend Murder Princess and Claymore. Heck, even Deadman Wonderland is pretty cool too.

Blue Exorcist. It’s one of the best anime I've watched. It’s about a guy called Rin and his twin brother Yukio, when Rin finds out they are actually the sons of Satan, so he decides to become an exorcist to fight demons and eventually kill satan. It has a lot of good action, awesome characters and plenty of funny moments. And It’s only got 25 episodes too so it’s a pretty quick watch compared to some other animes!