Want to start anime but every show seems to have 500+ episodes. Where do I begin?
Kabir Joshi11th Sample
10 Oct 2026 · 1 min read
Hi, so I'm the person who's been "about to start anime" for two years and never did, because every time I look up recommendations the first result is a show with some insane number of episodes and I immediately close the tab.
I like: sci-fi, puzzles, clever plots, anything with systems and rules (like game mechanics), a bit of dark humour. I don't like: super long filler arcs, shows where the main character screams for ten minutes before every fight, and anything that's all romance.
My constraints: I have maybe 30 minutes a day, definitely not a weekend binge. I'd prefer something finished and under ~50 episodes, or even a movie, so I can get a feel for it. Subtitles are fine, but I get distracted if there's too much reading, so tell me if the dub is decent for any of them.
Also: how do you handle the "filler" thing? I heard some shows have episodes that don't matter to the story. How do I know which ones to skip?
What did you watch first? Did you like it, or did you not get what the fuss was about?
11 answers & replies
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[+][–]Ishaan Bose11thSample· 9d ago
Death Note. Mind games, rules, cat and mouse, about 37 episodes, no filler. It's basically a game of chess played with a notebook. If you like systems, this is the one. Second: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, 64 episodes, the rules of alchemy are tight and the story is complete. No filler at all. Both have decent dubs.
[+][–]Kabir Joshi11thSample· 9d agoAuthor
thanks ishaan. death note is going on the list, i like the "rules" angle. is the dub actually good or should i do subtitles? i get lost reading and watching at the same time.
[+][–]Ishaan Bose11thSample· 9d ago
both are fine. the dubs for these two are solid, and the Death Note English dub is well regarded. start with the dub if reading subs slows you down, switch later if you want. nobody is checking.
[+][–]Kabir Joshi11thSample· 7d agoAuthor
update: watched the first 3 eps of Death Note. okay i get the fuss.
[+][–]Harsh Gupta12thSample· 9d ago
Death Note is like 100+ episodes, you'll want to set aside a month 😂 but yes it's great, the apple-eating guy is iconic
[+][–]Tushar PawarDropperSample· 9d ago
harsh, it's 37 episodes. i think you're thinking of the longer shows. kabir, ishaan's list is right. also try Steins;Gate (time travel with rules, 24 episodes in the first season). it's slow in the first few episodes, then very good.
[+][–]Harsh Gupta12thSample· 9d ago
37?? that's not even a month, that's a long weekend. okay i stand corrected. my brain had put 100 on it because it felt so long when i watched it at 2 am.
[+][–]Aarav Kulkarni11thSample· 9d ago
puzzle lover here. Death Note is the biggest one for that. my advice, since you hate the long ones: only look at finished shows for now. ongoing ones are a trap because you get attached and then wait weeks for the next episode. also you can usually check episode count on the show's page before you start.
[+][–]Sara Fernandes11thSample· 9d ago
Watch a movie first! Spirited Away is the usual pick for beginners, and it's one sitting, no commitment. Then you can see if the art style works for you before spending 37 episodes on it. I know it's not a "puzzle" thing but it's a good intro to the medium.
[+][–]Neel Chatterjee12thSample· 9d ago
On filler: most long shows have community-maintained "filler lists" online that mark which episodes skip the main story. Look one up before you start and skip those. Also, if a show has more than ~100 episodes, treat it as a separate decision for later. For now stick with completed, short, well-regarded ones. Your 30 minutes a day fits one 24-minute episode comfortably.
[+][–]Diya Menon11thSample· 9d ago
omg welcome to the club!! don't feel pressured to love it, it's okay if it's not your thing. but the system/puzzle ones are definitely right for you. after the heavy ones, try something cozy as a palate cleanser, just not a romance one since you said no 😂
