Best for: The adrenaline junkie and the person who loves a classic "Hero’s Journey."

If you want to understand why anime is a global phenomenon, you start here. These are the titans—the shows that define the medium.

The Anime: Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) Imagine humanity living behind massive walls, living in fear of man-eating giants. It starts as a survival horror and evolves into a complex political thriller. It is dark, intense, and paced like a speeding train.

The Manga: One Piece Do not be intimidated by its length (over 100 volumes). One Piece is the king of adventure. It follows Monkey D. Luffy, a boy made of rubber, who wants to be the King of Pirates.

Best for: The person who wants a story about the human experience.

The Anime: Violet Evergarden A former child soldier tries to reintegrate into society by becoming a "Auto Memory Doll"—a ghostwriter for letters. She writes letters to understand the meaning of "I love you," the last words her commanding officer said to her. *

Sometimes, the original manga is far superior to the adaptation—or the adaptation doesn't exist yet. These are essential reads.