I think I’d prefer seeing characters consume cannabis over alcohol. I definitely get that it’s entirely cultural, but I can’t say I ever feel comfortable with the stereotypical drunk characters. I suppose, at the very least, most perpetually drunk characters in the anime I watch are seen as a nuisance, annoying, and obnoxious. I do understand why cannabis doesn’t have representation in anime and don’t really see that changing any time soon.

Ohhh I feel like that’s a genre I don’t watch much! I feel like the ones I remember leaving the biggest impression on me were Durarara!!, Promised Neverland (season one only), and Erased.

My least favorite is most definitely Boogiepop. I’m not sure if it was just the time in life I watched it, but omggg I couldn’t follow what was happening at all!

The Monogatari series is one I’d love to like. I was incredibly engaged with the concept and characters, but I felt like I had to be so zoned in or else I’d miss details (big and small) and get a little lost. It was also challenging, at the time, following the suggested watch order. I need to revisit it sometime!

It’s not in my top 5 or near it, but I genuinely feel that Erased is such an amazing series for a first time viewer. It’s darker and explores darker themes, but I think a lot of non-anime viewers have an opinion that most anime is childish or nonsensical. I think the seriousness of it can show a new viewer that anime is a medium and not a genre. I’m a romance and slice of life enjoyer, so I’m definitely putting aside my preferences with that recommendation.

There’s sooo many things in anime that I believe take a bit of time to get comfortable with for new viewers: fan service, weird relationships between adults and children, tropes and metas, just the kind of gross way women are often portrayed, different character archetypes, the loudness of certain characters etc. I think after enough time with the medium you kind of develop a better understanding of certain things and it becomes easier to recognize why characters and themes that seem insufferable are part of a story.

I feel like I watch a good amount that I’d think might be super kid friendly. It’s been a little bit since I’ve watched some of them, so I’d recommend double checking their age ratings. Here’s some ones that are bubbling into my head that now:

• Do It Yourself!
• YuriYuri
• My Clueless First Friend
• Laid-back Camp
• Non Non Biyori
• Ruri Rocks