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Find your first show, understand the terminology, and make sense of ratings and viewing order.
Begin with a show that matches something you already enjoy. Use the terminology and viewing-order guides when a label or a sequel makes the choice harder.
8 guides
Anime Episode Counts: A 3,539-Entry Catalogue Study
In a dated snapshot of 3,539 finished TV entries, the median is 13 episodes. What that shows about how anime is released, and what it misses about stories.
5 min read
Fullmetal Alchemist vs Brotherhood: Which Should You Watch?
Start with Brotherhood (64 episodes), which follows the manga to its ending. The 2003 series (51 episodes plus a film) is a darker, separate story.
5 min read
How Fantera Recommends Anime and What a Match Score Means
Tag overlap plus community votes, scored at sync time. How a pick is chosen, who writes the why line, and why no match can show below 40 percent.
6 min read
Where to Start With Anime: Pick a First Show You'll Finish
Nine first shows matched to what you already like, each with the episode commitment and the one thing that might put you off before you start.
6 min read How Long Is an Anime? Seasons, Cours and Episode Counts
Most TV seasons run 12 or 13 episodes, or 24 to 26; films run 90 to 130 minutes. A complete story often spans several season entries, so add them up.
6 min read How to Read a MyAnimeList Score Before You Trust It
It is a weighted average from people who chose to watch. Read it beside the voter count, the season number and whether the show is still airing.
6 min read
Beginner's Guide to Anime Genres, Demographics and Labels
Shonen is not a genre and slice of life is not a promise that nothing happens. What each label can and cannot tell you, with a show that proves it.
5 min read
Sub or Dub: How to Choose the Version You'll Enjoy
Choose per show: the dub when the picture moves fast, subtitles when the jokes live in the Japanese. A ten-minute test settles it.
6 min read