Fullmetal Alchemist

Fullmetal Alchemist is a great starter anime. It has excellent storywriting, character development, and iconic moments. It takes place in an alternate universe, where alchemy exists and holds great significance in everyday life. Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric are young alchemist prodegies, who learned their skills at a young age. When their mother dies, they attempt the taboo of human alchemy to bring her back. The transmutation fails, with drastic results. Edward loses an arm and a leg, and his brother loses his body. His soul is instead bonded to a nearby suit of armour, which will become his new body for the remainder of the series. Edward gets an automail arm and leg, graciously created by a friend of his family, Winry Rockbell.

Edward joins the Amestris army and becomes a state alchemist, with the belief hat his position will allow him to find a philosopher's stone, which he believes will help restore their bodies. Join the two on their adventure as they venture to new lands, and fight chimeras, corrupt alchemists, serial killers, and Homunculi. The series is full of action and emotion, without any of the forced romance that occurs within those genres.