First Impressions Count! What Anime Had the Best First Episodes?

We’ve all watched an anime that totally grabbed us right from the beginning, refusing to let us go. Before we knew it, we knew who all the characters were and were 100% invested in their stories. In this blog post, let’s explore the best anime first episodes that started off strong, right from the beginning!

Happy New Year from your Friend in Japan, J-List! We hope 2026 is a year of happiness and peace for you. To get things off right, we’re having a huge site-wide New Year’s Sale through Jan. 6, giving you $15 off all in-stock products. Start browsing now!

What Are Anime With The Best First Episodes Meme

First Impressions Count! What Makes A Good First Anime Episode?

Anime has become an extremely competitive industry. With more than 50 new series being pitched at anime fans each season, it’s extremely important to start off strong to catch the attention of viewers right off the bat. Anime studios that want to create buzz for their new show know they need to make a good first impression right out of the gate. Some elements that go into a good anime first episode include:

Good pacing with character introductions. We need to meet the characters and become invested in their stories, as well as learn the main thrust to the story.
Plot teaser. If some dramatic event is going to happen at the end of the episode, it’s often a good idea to show that at the beginning to draw fans in.
Shock value. If the show can blow viewers’ minds with dramatic death or violence in the first episode, it can create enough buzz to attract more fans.
Emotional fan service. While sexy visuals are one way to make a show stand out, it’s even better if the anime can put characters in a highly emotional situation that draws fans into the story.

One show that started off strong was Kimetsu no Yaiba. The killing of Tanjirou’s family and the transformation of his sister Nezuko into a half-demon was immediately compelling to us.

Another amazing anime first episode was Attack on Titan. Soon after being introduced to the unique world the characters inhabit, everything goes to hell with the attack of the Colossal Titan. Seeing Eren’s mother die on screen shocked the entire anime community, bringing in many new fans.

It’s great when an anime provides a “normie filter” to get rid of all the casual fans who shouldn’t be watching right in the first episode. One show that did this was A Sister’s All You Need, which shocked viewers with the main character’s perfect “younger sister” fantasy…then gave us a surprisingly wholesome comedy after that. Then there was Goblin Slayer, filled with sexual violence and gore right from the beginning, to let fans know this was nor just another fantasy anime.

I loved Elfin Lied’s opening. We meet a clumsy girl, Kisaragi, who we’re sure is going to annoy us for the rest of the show. Then she gets decapitated a few minutes later, showing that no one is safe in this world.

Then there’s Gakkou Gurashi, a show that (spoilers) pretends to be a cute-girls-doing-cute-things show about girls sleeping in their school, but it’s a deliciously dark zombie anime.

Finally, the blood-chilling first episode of The Promised Neverland. The horror we feel as Emma and Normal learn the truth about what happened to Conny and that they’re all being raised to provide food for monsters was amazing to experience. It’s a shame this series never got a second season!

J-List Customers Give Their Top Anime Premier Episodes!

For this season, Frieren, easily.

Facts About Rezero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

In my case, I would say that Re: Zero.

Definitely Steins;Gate.

What are the best 2.5D anime products to get during our sale? Here’s a blog post with our recommendations!

There were a lot of strong first anime episodes. Call of The Night, Mashle, One Punch Man, MOB Psycho. They basically forced me to read the manga.

I know it’s cheesy… but One Punch Man.

SAO. The first episode is something I never really rewatch because it’s mostly exposition, but it’s GOOD exposition. It drew me in immediately, and I’m still a massive fan of the show.

Thanks for reading this blog post about the best anime first episodes. Which shows really caught you and didn’t let you go right from the beginning? Tell us in the comments below!

Let’s Chat

You made it to the end of this post! Thank you! As a token of our appreciation, enjoy an extra 5% off your next order when you use the code BLOG at checkout. Also, don’t forget to follow J-List on all our platforms!