How I Got Into Watching Anime

Hello everyone! Today, I wanted to share a bit about myself and how I first stumbled into the captivating world of anime, including some of the very first series that drew me in.
The Spark: Discovering a New World

Growing up, I, like many, enjoyed catching shows like Dragon Ball, Beyblade, Pokémon, and Digimon on television. However, my deeper dive into anime truly began around 2015, when I was about 15 years old. While scrolling through a social media app, I came across an intriguing article discussing Dragon Ball Super, the then-airing sequel to the iconic Dragon Ball Z. My curiosity was piqued, and I decided to search for where I could watch anime, which led me to discover the entire Dragon Ball Super series.

Immersing myself in Goku’s latest adventures, I found myself increasingly drawn to this unique form of storytelling. Eager to explore more, I looked for similar shows and stumbled upon the name “Naruto.” Just a couple of episodes in, I was completely hooked by its compelling storyline and dynamic characters. Little did I know at the time that both Dragon Ball and Naruto belonged to a genre called “anime.” After completing all 220 episodes of the original Naruto, I was driven to learn more about this fascinating type of television show.

Interestingly, my initial experience with Naruto involved subtitles for the first four to five episodes. Afterward, I searched for an English dub and was thrilled to find that the show had one. Up until that point, my experience with the Dragon Ball series on TV had always been in dub, so the concept of a show having both subbed and dubbed versions was new to me. Discovering the English dub of Naruto further solidified my immersion, and I truly got lost in the world of anime from that point on.

Following Naruto, I naturally moved on to Naruto Shippuden, continuing the epic saga. My curiosity about the Naruto universe didn’t stop there. I soon learned that Naruto and Naruto Shippuden also had a significant number of movies, around seven to nine in total, which I then made sure to watch. And that’s truly how my personal journey into the vast and wonderful world of anime began.

I also vividly remember a time during my summer break from school. With no homework to worry about and no particular plans with friends, I often indulged in anime watching sessions that could last anywhere from ten to twelve hours each day (though not always continuously!). Each day was filled with the excitement of discovering new anime series, following the thrilling adventures of beloved characters, and getting completely lost in captivating storylines. From the early morning until late at night, anime became my constant companion, providing endless entertainment and a welcome escape during those carefree summer days.

Up until now, my passion has only grown. I’ve now watched over 400 to 500 different anime series and between 100 to 200 anime movies!

(Just a quick note: Our use of copyrighted images sourced from IMDb and Naruto Fandom is limited to non-commercial purposes and adheres to fair use principles. We always strive to provide proper attribution to the original sources whenever possible.)

What were some of the first anime that got you hooked? I’d love to hear your stories!