10 Anime TV Shows That Are Perfect For Beginners
6. Free!
Airing in Japan in 2013, Free! follows a group of students as they attempt to organise and run a swimming club for the Iwatobi High School. Competing with other schools and honing their skills, the four principle characters - Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa and Rei - spend their time attempting to recruit new members and improve the school's facilities.
The main drive of the show is the rivalry between Haruka and Rin, two former friends and competitors whose friendship has malformed into a bitter conflict due to their intense competitiveness and desire to be the very best. The series is set several years after a pivotal moment in elementary school in which Haruka defeated Rin in a race, destroying their brotherly love for one another in the process.
Now in high school, the show picks up after a two-year hiatus with Haruka and Rin encountering one another once again, and almost immediately reigniting their rivalry.
Why It's Perfect For Beginners: The central concerns of the show are competition and friendship, two easily relatable themes that most anyone can get on board with. Theres no overly complicated plot with hundreds of characters to keep track of, just a central premise and a handful of key names to remember.