Top 10 Anime for Beginners in 2025 [Overpowered]

Welcome to the world of anime! You’ve probably heard your friends talking about it, seen amazing clips online, or just wondered what all the fuss is about. Stepping into anime for the first time can feel like standing at the bottom of a mountain. There are thousands of shows, decades of history, and genres you’ve never even heard of. Where do you possibly begin? It’s a big question, but don’t worry. You’re in the right place. We’ve built this list for you, the beginner in 2025, to give you the perfect starting point.

So, what makes a great first anime? A great story, memorable characters, and beautiful animation are all important. But let’s be honest: one of the most fun and exciting reasons to watch anime is to see something truly epic. We’re talking about pure wish fulfillment. We’re talking about characters who are so strong, so smart, or so skilled that they break the rules. We’re talking about overpowered heroes. This list is your ultimate starter pack, filled with 10 amazing, beginner-friendly shows that all tap into that “overpowered” thrill in their own unique way.

The 10 Ultimate OP MC Anime List for Beginners

1. One-Punch Man

What if you were so strong you could defeat any enemy with just one punch?

This is the story of Saitama, a “hero for fun” who trained so hard he lost his hair and gained unbelievable strength. Now, he’s the most powerful being on the planet. He can end any fight, no matter how huge the monster, with a single, simple punch. The problem? He’s bored. This show isn’t about if he’ll win; it’s about his hilarious, everyday struggle to find an opponent who can actually survive a hit and maybe, just maybe, make him feel something again.

The “Overpowered” Factor: Saitama is the very definition of overpowered. He’s a walking punchline to the “power-scaling” debates you see online. The show’s fun comes from watching the world react to his absurd, anticlimactic power. A city-destroying monster appears, other heroes struggle, and then Saitama just shows up, punches it, and worries about missing a sale at the supermarket.

Why it’s Great for Beginners: It’s a brilliant parody of action anime that’s also a fantastic action anime itself. The animation is some of the best you will ever see, the jokes are hilarious, and the “monster-of-the-week” story is super easy to follow.

2. Jujutsu Kaisen

A secret world of Cursed Spirits feeds on humanity, and only Jujutsu Sorcerers can stop them.

High school student Yuji Itadori is a normal guy with amazing physical abilities. To save his friends, he eats a rotted finger—a Cursed Object—and becomes the new host for Sukuna, an ancient and purely evil Cursed Spirit. Yuji joins a secret school of Jujutsu Sorcerers to learn how to control this new power and hunt down the rest of Sukuna’s fingers.

The “Overpowered” Factor: This show gives you two overpowered characters for the price of one. First, there’s Sukuna, the villain inside Yuji, who is terrifyingly powerful and just waiting to take over. But the real OP hero is Yuji’s teacher, Gojo Satoru. Gojo is so overpowered that his special ability is literally “Infinity.” Watching him fight is a joy because he’s always 100 steps ahead of everyone, and he knows it.

Why it’s Great for Beginners: It’s fast-paced, has amazing fight scenes, and a “magic school” vibe that’s easy to get into (think Harry Potter with more monsters). It’s one of the biggest shows in the world right now and a perfect modern starting point.

3. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

A kind boy’s journey to avenge his family and save his sister, who has been turned into a demon.

Tanjiro Kamado’s life is destroyed when a demon slaughters his entire family, leaving only his sister, Nezuko, who is turned into a demon herself. Miraculously, Nezuko still shows signs of her human heart. Tanjiro begins a quest to become a Demon Slayer, find a cure for his sister, and hunt down the monster responsible.

The “Overpowered” Factor: The power in Demon Slayer is all about levels. The top-tier demons, the “Upper Moons,” are so strong they’ve lived for centuries. And the top-tier Demon Slayers, the “Hashira,” are the only ones who can fight them. These characters are truly overpowered, with god-like abilities. The show’s thrill comes from watching Tanjiro train and struggle to one day reach that same level.

Why it’s Great for Beginners: This show is, in a word, beautiful. The animation is a work of art, especially the “breathing style” fight scenes. The story is simple, emotional, and easy to connect with. It’s a global hit for a reason.

4. My Hero Academia

A high school for kids learning to be superheroes!

In this world, about 80% of the population is born with a superpower called a “Quirk.” Izuku “Deku” Midoriya is one of the unlucky 20% born with no Quirk at all. Still, he dreams of becoming a hero like his idol, All Might. In a twist of fate, All Might sees Deku’s heroic heart and decides to pass on his own Quirk: “One For All,” a secret, stockpiling power that is the most overpowered Quirk in history.

The “Overpowered” Factor: Deku goes from zero to hero. He’s given this god-tier ability, but his body can’t handle it. If he uses 100%, he breaks all his bones. His journey is a classic “chosen one” story about learning to control this incredible, overpowered gift. Plus, you have All Might, the perfect symbol of an OP, unbeatable hero.

Why it’s Great for Beginners: This is perhaps the perfect “first shonen” (action anime for young people). It combines the feel of Western superhero comics with Japanese storytelling. It’s positive, exciting, full of great characters, and has tons of hype moments.

5. Death Note

What if you had a notebook that could kill anyone just by writing their name in it?

Light Yagami is a brilliant, bored high school student who finds the “Death Note,” a notebook dropped by a god of death. He quickly learns the rules: write a name, picture their face, and they die. Light decides to use this power to “cleanse” the world of criminals and become the god of a new, perfect world. His crusade pits him in a tense, strategic battle against L, the mysterious and brilliant detective hired to stop him.

This isn’t about punching. The Death Note itself is the most overpowered weapon in any anime. It gives a human the power of life and death with no risk… or so Light thinks. The “fights” in this show are battles of wits between two overpowered geniuses. It’s a high-stakes chess game where the world is the prize.

Why it’s Great for Beginners: It’s a gripping crime thriller. It’s all plot, suspense, and strategy. There are no complicated magic systems (beyond the notebook’s simple rules) and no long training arcs. It’s the kind of show that will have you saying “just one more episode” at 2 AM.

6. Mob Psycho 100

An awkward middle school boy is secretly the most powerful psychic on Earth, and he’s trying not to use his powers.

Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama just wants to be normal. He wants to have friends, get in shape, and impress the girl he likes. He also happens to be an insanely powerful psychic. He tries to keep his emotions bottled up, because if his emotional counter hits 100%, his psychic powers explode in an uncontrollable, reality-bending wave. He works for a (fake) exorcist, trying to learn how to control his abilities.

Mob is so overpowered it scares him. He could level a city if he lost control. Unlike most heroes, Mob sees his power as a burden, not a gift. This show is a brilliant twist on the OP trope, asking what’s more important: being strong or being a good person?

Why it’s Great for Beginners: From the same creator as One-Punch Man, this show has a unique and beautiful art style, incredible animation, and a ton of heart. It’s a wonderful coming-of-age story that just happens to have some of the most creative psychic battles ever animated.

7. Attack on Titan

The last of humanity lives inside three giant walls, hiding from giant, mysterious, man-eating monsters called Titans.

For 100 years, the walls have kept humanity safe. But that all changes when a colossal Titan, bigger than any seen before, kicks a hole in the outer wall. Eren Yeager, a young boy, watches in horror as a Titan eats his mother. He vows that day to kill every single Titan and reclaim the world. But the truth about the Titans, the walls, and even his own past is darker and more complicated than he could ever imagine.

At first, the threat is what’s overpowered. The Titans are a terrifying, seemingly unstoppable force. But as the story unfolds, Eren gains an ability that changes everything. He becomes humanity’s secret weapon, a force that is just as overpowered and terrifying as the monsters he fights.

Why it’s Great for Beginners: This is a bit darker than the others, but it’s a true global phenomenon. It’s an intense mystery-horror-action show. The story is one of the most well-regarded in modern fiction. If you want a show that will shock you and keep you guessing, start here.

8. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

A 37-year-old man is suddenly killed and wakes up in a fantasy world… as a weak, blind, blue ball of jelly.

Satoru Mikami dies and is reborn as a lowly slime, the weakest monster in any fantasy game. But he has two secret weapons: a “Great Sage” skill that answers any question, and an overpowered skill called “Predator.” Predator lets him absorb anything—monsters, plants, magic—and copy their abilities. He quickly goes from the weakest creature to the most powerful being in the land, gathering allies and building his own nation of monsters.

The “Overpowered” Factor: This is a pure “overpowered” power fantasy. The main character, Rimuru, becomes a god-like figure. But what makes it great is that he’s a genuinely good and kind person. He uses his overpowered abilities not to conquer, but to build, protect, and create a peaceful new society.

Why it’s Great for Beginners: It’s a perfect, fun, and “comfy” introduction to the very popular “Isekai” (another world) genre. It’s low-stress, has great world-building, and is just a blast to watch.

9. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Two brothers, a failed magical experiment, and a quest to get their bodies back.

In this world, alchemy (a form of science/magic) is real. Two young brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, try to use a forbidden alchemical ritual to bring their dead mother back to life. It backfires horribly. Ed loses a leg and an arm, and Al loses his entire body, his soul bonded to a suit of armor. To get their bodies back, they join the military to search for the legendary Philosopher’s Stone.

The Elric brothers are certified geniuses. Ed is the youngest State Alchemist in history. While not “overpowered” in the same way as Saitama, their skill and intellect are so far beyond everyone else’s that they feel like forces of nature. The villains they face are also truly overpowered and seemingly unkillable, making for fantastic, high-stakes fights.

Why it’s Great for Beginners: Brotherhood (which follows the original manga perfectly) is often called the best anime of all time. It has a 64-episode story with a perfect beginning, middle, and end. No filler, no wasted time. It has action, mystery, comedy, and moments that will make you cry. It’s a 10/10 masterpiece.

10. Sword Art Online

Ten thousand players get trapped in a new virtual reality MMORPG. If you die in the game, you die in real life.

On launch day, the creator of “Sword Art Online” traps all the players inside. The only way out is to beat all 100 floors of the game’s floating castle. The story follows Kirito, a solo player who was a beta tester. Using his extra knowledge, he becomes one of the strongest players in the game, fighting to survive and free everyone.

Kirito is the classic “overpowered” main character. He’s got more knowledge, better skills, and a unique “Dual Wielding” ability that no one else has. He’s the dark-haired hero who shows up at the last second to save the day. It’s pure, unadulterated wish fulfillment.

Why it’s Great for Beginners: This show was the gateway for millions of anime fans. The “trapped in a video game” plot is incredibly easy to understand and has super high stakes. It has great action, a bit of romance, and perfectly captures that “overpowered” fantasy.

Your Journey Starts Here

There you have it: 10 amazing shows that are perfect for any beginner in 2025. You’ve got comedy, thrillers, fantasy, and tons of action, all tied together with that fun “overpowered” theme.

Our advice? Don’t overthink it. Don’t feel pressured to watch the “best” one first. Just look at this list, read the descriptions, and pick the one that sounds the most fun to you. They’re all popular for a reason.

So pick one, sit back, and get ready. You’re about to start an awesome journey.