It's soo hard to find shows and movies to watch, I swear... I've been watching anime since 2021, like most have, so around 5 years, and I have barely come across ones I've liked, and usually they're popular So I'm gonna give you a list, and hopefully you can find recs that Ill like lol cuz I got nothing to do today and don't really want to work on my other hobbies rn..
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JJBA - Parts 1-3 I've watched as well as the SBR first episode, which I really liked. I mostly liked parts 1 and 2 of this and was interested in hamon and how creative it was. And for SBR, I just loved the artstyle and I want to see where it goes. I think I liked JJBA mostly because of the art style and creative liberties it took with some things? I liked the model and the statue type aesthetic and fashion. Though I felt like for part 3 it fell off a bit because of the pacing.
Hunter x Hunter - I think this was one of my all-time favorites because of how creative the world was and the worldbuilding - the hunters I would've never thought of, I liked how each arc played out, I loved Nen, and I thought the dark continent was pretty creative.
I liked all Studio Ghibli movies, mostly but especially Howl's Moving Castle and When Marnie was There I just really enjoy the vibe of them it feels like passion has been put into each and every movement of the characters and that it was made with care. (whether thats true or not I'm not sure but it's just the impression I got)
JJK S2-3 - I really liked s2 and s3 of JJK because it felt kind of fresh you know? It just felt like a different world and I liked how the characters were written as well as the animation and the culling games arc. It felt unique to me.
The Promised Neverland S1 - I liked this because it was engaging and I liked all the characters it was unique again and that's exactly what I was looking for.
Death Note - Obviously -- It was fun and engaging and I liked the plot line as well as the scheming going on. I also enjoyed the aesthetics and death angel type thing. It was just well written you know? at least at the start I dropped it at episode 28 but I have watched it 3 times so far soo..
Madoka magica - was just a fun cute little series that I enjoyed. I liked the "romance" between the two characters as well as their dynamics and it was just a fun watch. I even ended up watching the other movies as well.
Attack on Titan - Liked the plot twists never finished s4 though
Also a quick list of ones I liked as well - Suzume, your name, children of the sea, erased, akudama drive, neon genesis evangelion(was okay I liked it enough I guess), witch hat atelier(nice fun but didn't like the victim blaming in ep 3 so I dropped), Kamisama Kiss - was cute, Vinland Saga, Ouran Highschool Host club - Im not sure why I liked this it was creepy but I just did. - Maid Sama again creepy n I have no idea, Inuyasha - Cute never finished it though, A whisker away again creepy but pretty cool icl, weathering with you, a silent voice - super good.
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Now for some ones I didn't like (beware I'm super picky)
Naruto - I liked it but it was a little slow for me and I only watch an episode or two on occasion. I just feel like I never really have enough time to get into it right now but I might try again later.
Solo Leveling - the manhwa was nice when it was new but as things started getting reproduced, it just felt uncreative and boring as the anime came out.
One Piece - the pacing was ass, had good world-building, but I didn't really like any of the characters, sorry. It just wasn't engaging to me.
Saiki-K and Nichijou - Just not really into comedy, which is also part of the reason I didn't like One Piece, I feel.
Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood - It just felt like it had nothing to offer it wasn't bad I just got bored by it I think I stopped at s2 or s3? maybe I have no recollection of it
Berserk and Monster - Too dark for me sorry with depressing color palettes. I might try them again later because I barely got past the first episode for both and it was like 2 years ago so I may have changed my tastes
Fruitbasket - (I preferred Yuki, I'm sorry), Snow white with the red hair - good quality just dont like romance too much, Horimiya not really into romance or school settings sorry, Your Lie in April, and Violet Evergarden.
MHA - Didn't like the artstyle fanservice and the mc was crying too much for my tastes but it def had potential it was just mostly reduced to a school setting and characters related to it that I didnt really like.
Demon Slayer - I didn't like the artstyle for some reason and the side character that was always crying it just got annoying for me but the plot was fun. I only got to like after the exams tho.
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Anyways, hopefully you have recs I dont mind if u recommend popular animes as well I just need a reason to try them I guess. Obviously, I didn't say every single one I tried, just the ones that would give a general impression of what I liked. I also don't mind underrated series/movies as well.
I think I mostly prefer stories that feel unique in their own sense and have good worldbuilding/pacing, and basically check all the boxes for characters. I like well-rounded stories.