If We Could Watch These 8 Anime Again For the First Time, Life Would Be Good

There’s a special kind of magic that comes with watching an anime for the first time. The unexpected plot twists, emotional arcs, and memorable characters make the first viewing experience unlike any other. They are so impactful that fans would trade just about anything to experience them for the first time all over again.

Whether it’s the suspense of not knowing who or how the characters will survive, the thrill of watching a protagonist rise against seemingly insurmountable odds, or the emotional rollercoaster that some shows put viewers on, leaving them with a lasting and impactful impression, these anime leave viewers wishing they could erase the series from their memory just to fall in love with it all over again and relive every moment as if it were the first.

8 Erased

Produced by A-1 Pictures, Based on the Manga by Kei Sanbe

Erased follows Satoru Fujinuma, who is a struggling manga artist with a strange ability known as Revival. This ability sends him back in time to moments before a life-threatening incident occurs. However, when a tragedy strikes close to home, he is framed as a murderer. Desperate to save the victim and clear his name, Satoru is sent eighteen years into the past on a new quest involving a string of child abductions in order to prevent the murder that completely altered his future.

What makes Erased so worthy of a first-time rewatch wish is how it balances emotional depth with powerful tension. The story slowly unravels and gathers pieces of an intricate puzzle, and knowing what comes next dulls the storyline and emotional current the story delivers. Watching Satoru navigate childhood with adult awareness hits hard, especially since he’s fighting to protect his friends. The emotional payoff of Erased is unforgettable and makes fans wish they could feel the tension and suspense all over again.

7 Death Note

Produced by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata

Death Note tells the story of Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student who stumbles upon a notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name is written inside. What begins as a self-righteous crusade to rid the world of criminals quickly spirals into a high-stakes psychological game of cat-and-mouse between Light and one of the world’s most renowned detectives, L. The series covers themes of morality, justice, and power with a mix of supernatural elements and mind games to keep audiences on the edge of their seat.

Death Note Live Action Light Turner And Anime Light Yagami and L

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There are few anime that manage to grip viewers from the very first episode like Death Note does. The tension is immediate, the stakes sky-high, and the intellectual duels between Light and L are nothing short of memorable and iconic. Watching the anime for the first time means being constantly caught off guard and questioning the morality of each decision Light makes. It’s one of those rare shows that truly makes you wish you could go back in time just to experience it for the first time again.

6 Nana

Produced by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Ai Yazawa

Nanafollows the lives of two young women who share the same name but are polar opposites. Nana Komatsu is a naïve, hopeless romantic who moves to Tokyo to pursue love and adventure. Nana Osaki is a fiercely independent punk rock singer who moves to pursue her dream of hitting it big in the city. Fate brings them together on the same train, heading to the same city and ultimately to the same apartment, where they become roommates.

Nana is an anime that pulls you into its characters’ worlds and will break your heart without warning. The emotional realism of the story hits hard, especially since it doesn’t need to rely on dramatic twists and instead focuses on slow-burning, relatable hardships. While rewatching Nana still offers the same emotional core, the first time watching it feels heartbreakingly magical and unforgettable.

5 Vinland Saga

Produced by Wit Studio and MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Makoto Yukimura

Vinland Saga is a historical epic that’s set in the brutal and war-torn world of the Viking age. The story centers on Thorfinn, a young warrior who is driven by revenge after witnessing the death of his father at the hands of Askeladd. As Thorfinn embarks on his journey, he quickly discovers the harsh realities of conquest and survival. The series gradually evolves into a story that reflects upon violence, purpose, and what it truly means to be free.

What makes Vinland Saga so powerful the first time around is how unexpectedly it shifts. What starts out as a tale of revenge turns out to be a prologue for an even greater journey with profound character depth and development. The emotional weight and philosophical undertones help make Vinland Saga stand out among anime. Pairing with its stunning first-season finale, Vinland Saga is a story that hits viewers hard.

4 Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

Produced by Sunrise, Anime Original Directed by Gorō Taniguchi and Written by Ichirō Ōkouchi

Code Geass takes us to an alternate future where the Holy Britannian Empire has conquered Japan and renamed it Area 11. The story follows Lelouch vi Britania, an exiled prince who gains the power of Geass, which grants him the ability to command anyone to obey his orders without question. Lelouch then disguises himself as the masked leader of the Black Knights, Zero, and sets out to dismantle the empire to create a world where his little sister, Nunnally, is safe and happy.

Image featuring Lelouch from Code Geass, Edward from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and Kaguya from Kaguya-Sama: Love is War

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Code Geass masters weaponizing plot twists. The first time experiencing the story is a wild rollercoaster of alliances turned upside down, victories that feel too good to be true, all topped off with an ending that is heartbreaking yet beyond perfection. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is cemented as one of the greatest anime finales and serves as an unforgettable experience for first-time viewers. Witnessing Lelouch’s genius at odds against an empire, without knowing how far he’s willing to go or who he’ll sacrifice, is an experience that doesn’t hit the same once all the cards are on the table.

3 Clannad & Clannad After Story

Produced by Kyoto Animation, Based on the Visual Novel by Jun Maeda

Clannad begins as a seemingly lighthearted high school drama that follows Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa. One is a young, disillusioned boy, and the other a sweet, fragile young girl with dreams of reviving their school’s drama club. As the story unfolds, especially during the second season in After Story, it takes a sharp, emotional turn, exploring themes of family, loss, and belonging.

Clannad and Clannad After Story don’t just pull at fans’ heartstrings. It tears them apart and recreates them into something entirely new and extraordinary. The first watch is a complete emotional ambush, especially after the second season, when the tone shifts to heartbreakingly real portrayals of family, life, and loss. Knowing what’s coming dulls some of that impact, making it impossible to recreate that original feeling of first finishing the series, but if it were possible, rewatching this one from a fresh perspective would be beautiful.

2 Attack on Titan

Produced by Wit Studio and MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Hajime Isayama

Attack on Titan

Created by: Hajime Isayama
First Film: Attack on Titan: The Crimson Bow and Arrow
Latest Film: Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters (2023)
Upcoming Films: Attack on Titan The Movie: The Last Attack (2024)

Attack on Titan immerses viewers in a world wherehumanity survives only within enormous walls to shield themselves from man-eating giants known as Titans. What begins as a struggle for survival swiftly evolves into a profound, politically charged conflict filled with betrayal, shifting loyalties, and shocking revelations. The narrative centers on Eren Yeager, a young man determined to protect his friends at any cost, and his awakening to the true costs of freedom.

The beauty of experiencing Attack on Titan for the first time is the fact that audiences never know exactly what will come next. Every new reveal changed everything about fans’ understanding of the story and kept viewers on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next big revelation. The first time watching Attack on Titan is a tense and shocking experience that can never be recreated.

1 Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Produced by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endbegins where most fantasy stories end: after the heroes have defeated the Demon King. The story is centered on Frieren, an elven mage who ages infinitely slower than humans and experiences time very differently. Her journey is a reflective one as she travels alongside Fern and Stark and slowly unravels her past memories and discovers the depth of human connections.

The anime presents a gentle, philosophical story with strong character and world-building, complemented by breathtakingly stunning animation. What makes Frieren so unforgettable on a first watch is its emotional resonance and unique pacing. Viewers witness Frieren evolve and uncover more about Himmel and human experiences alongside her. Rewatching Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is absolutely lovely, but experiencing it for the first time was a breath of fresh air, visually stunning, and emotionally magnificent.

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