Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is a slow-burn psychological masterpiece. It lacks traditional anime tropes, opting instead for a gritty, realistic, and deeply unsettling cat-and-mouse chase across a post-Cold War Europe. Romance and Slice-of-Life (Comfort Picks)

High school student Yuji Itadori swallows a rotting, cursed finger to save his friends, becoming the host of Ryomen Sukuna, the undisputed "King of Curses." Yuji is thrust into a secret world of Jujutsu Sorcerers who exorcise malevolent spirits.

—they are universally cited as the best "gateway" series for their gripping plots and approachable pacing.