Summary
Often, finding ananime to watch with familycan be a difficult task due to the trouble of trying to avoid certain scenes and themes that may not be suitable for all viewers. Not only do some anime genres like gore or “ecchi” can be uncomfortable to watch in a homely environment, but there are also series with violence or heavy themes that may be inappropriate. Moreover, different types of humor and references can be disconcerting and fall flat to those less familiar with anime culture.
When thinking about family-friendly series, it will probably come to mind popularfranchises for kids likePokémon,Digimon, Doraemon, orYu-Gi-Oh!, but there is a big catalog of anime to choose from that features positive messages, encouraging life lessons, or just funny moments to laugh together after a family dinner.
10 Best Anime to Introduce Kids to the Medium
Anime is something that can best be experienced while someone is at a young age, and here are the 10 best anime for introducing kids to the medium.
10Poco’s Udon WorldShows a Heartwarming Story About Parenthood
Based on the Manga by Nodoka Shinomaru
Poco’s Udon Worldtells the story of Souta Tawara, a man who returns to his hometown after the death of his father when he finds a little boy hiding in his house, Poco, who is actually a tanuki, a shape-shifting racoon capable of assuming the appearance of a human being. As a result of this, Souta finds the perfect excuse to stay there a little longer while he deals with the difficulties that come with caring for said creature.
Poco’s Udon Worldis a slice-of-life anime with a fairly simple story, but full of longing, hope, and reconciliation with oneself and with life, since Souta feels nostalgia upon returning to his old home and must face his fears while grieving and reflecting on his dreams, his family, and his city.The series is full of endearing and funny characters like Poco, which makes it the perfect series to watch with the family after getting home from a long day. It also features a short comedic children’s segment named GaoGao-chan at the end of each episode.
9Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing TimeIs the Best Example of Creativity
Based on the Manga by Takuma Morishige
Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Timestarts from the simple premise of a student who gets bored in class. The anime proves there are thousands of ways to avoid boredom, and the creativity and inventiveness of the protagonist, Toshinari Seki, have no end, so he dedicates himself to creating an elaborate series of games with common things to not pay attention in class.
It’s a gag anime with a dynamic based on exploiting the absurd situations invented by Seki and Yokoi’s funny reactions to them. The series can be enjoyed by anyone due to its simplicity, and the duration of the episodes is only 8 minutes, making them short enough so they don’t become tedious.Tonari no Seki-kuninspires creativity and is an imaginative, fun, and easy-to-follow series with the only goal of making the viewers have a good time.
8KobatoIs a Sweet Story About Helping Others
Based on the Manga By CLAMP
Kobatois another work by CLAMP, the authors of the popular animeCardcaptor Sakura, and follows Hanato Kobato, a girl who has no memory of her past and little common sense, so she doesn’t know the basics of society. However, she has a clear goal, which is to fill a magic bottle and thus be able to fulfill her wish. This bottle will fill up little by little as she heals those who are experiencing worries or sadness, for which she seeks to help whoever needs it, accompanied by a fairly aggressive but cute stuffed dog.
Kobatois a delightful story about how to encourage othersand make a difference in their lives through kindness, which serves as a positive message for a younger audience. Despite being part of the CLAMP universe and having some cameos from characters of other series,Kobatois enjoyable on its own and has a conclusive story in its 24 episodes. Kobatois a fantasy anime at heart, but it’s also filled with comedy and tear-jerking moments, while also appealing to the fans of sweet romances and heartwarming series.
7Tamako MarketDisplays the Everyday Life on a Shopping Street
Original Anime Produced by Kyoto Animation and Written by Reiko Yoshida.
Tamako has a pretty normal routine, going to school and helping in her family store, until one day the arrival of a quirky talking bird disrupts her life, who claims to come as part of a mission for a prince of a tropical country. Despite this fantasy element, Tamako Market is a slice-of-life story following Tamako as she shares every day with her friends, family, and neighbors from the shopping district.
Tamako Market is a wholesome and relaxed anime, perfect for having a happy time, with a fairly moderate humor, colorful animation and cute character design to be expected by Kyoto Animation studio and the team in charge ofK-On!The anime had a movie sequel titledTamako Love Story, which focuses more on the growth of the characters.
6BarakamonIs the Perfect Slice-Of-Life for Artists
Based on the Manga by Satsuki Yoshino.
Barakamonis the story of Seshuu Handa, a calligrapher who, after having a problematic encounter with someone who disparaged his work, moves from the city to a small town on an island where he meets his new eccentric neighbors and the small and naughty Naru.
Not only does the town’s atmosphere surprise Handa, but he discovers a world where people interact more with each other, helping one another, and where privacy is a myth.
Barakamonis a funny and laid-back anime, showcasingHanda’s everyday life as he struggles to overcome his creative block and finds, thanks to the people he meets, valuable lessonsthat make him reflect about himself and gain a new perspective to improve as a person and as an artist, all this through a structure based mostly on self-contained episodes with simple and fun plots.
5Silver SpoonFeatures the Beauty and Fun of the Agricultural Life
Based on the Manga by Hiromu Arakawa.
Silver Spoon, an anime written by the same author ofFullmetal Alchemist, tells the story of Hachiken, a teen who moves from the city to study in an agricultural high school without knowing anything about farming.Silver Spoonshows diverse themes, from family expectations to responsibility, the struggles to find a dream, and the life lessons learned from working with nature.
Silver Spoonis a pleasant slice-of-life that manages to capture the evolution of the characters through frustrating and fun moments.The anime is full of funny situations while displaying the daily life on a farmwith all the hard work that entails, like caring for the animals, cleaning, and milking, which makes it a suitable series to teach the younger audience about where food comes from and the work that farmers do, while also including more philosophical themes that will appeal even to those who are not familiar with the genre.
4Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd SkillIs the Best Isekai for Beginners
Based on the Light Novel Series Written by Ren Eguchi.
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skillis an endearing isekai about Tsuyoshi Mukouda, who is summoned to another world with the purpose of becoming a hero. However, his mission ends before it begins, as his ability is considered useless for battle, even if it is one that all viewers would like to have to facilitate their shopping list, since Mukouda can access a virtual store in his world and get the food and products he needs.
With the ingredients and products that he buys, Mukouda prepares delicious dishes that can also level up the stats of those who eat them. This premise makesCampfire Cookinga wholesome anime, perfect for venturing into the isekai genre, without extremely violent action and with lovely characters that can be enjoyed with family while also learning some new cooking recipes. The only warning in the series is that it shouldn’t be watched on an empty stomach.
3Little Witch AcademiaShows the Joy of Following Your Dreams
Original Anime Produced by Trigger and Created by Yoh Yoshinari
Little Witch Academiais about the daily life of Atsuko Kagari as a student at the prestigious Luna Nova Magical Academy, where her idol Shiny Chariot attended, who was Akko’s inspiration to become a witch. Akko will slowly adapt to this environment while she overcomes the challenges and learns to be a witch, thanks to the support of her new friends.
The highlights ofLittle Witch Academiaare undoubtedly its likable characters, animation, and hilarious humor. The series is also full of references to other iconic works that are pretty interesting to find.Little Witch Academiais a cute, cheerful, and entertaining series with a simple story but with a well-executed narrative structure and a premise that has created some comparisons with theHarry Potterfranchise but whose similarity does not go beyond its initial setting.
2Spy X Family Is a Revolutionary Story About Spies and Secrets
Based on the Manga by Tatsuya Endo
Spy x Familyis an anime that has stood out from other series that showcasethe “found family” tropefor its unusual and refreshing characters. The Forger isn’t the typical family, since each member has a secret: Loid is a spy, and Yor is a lethal professional assassin. Although they both use the family as a disguise to go unnoticed, what makes the series unique is the fact that little Anya is a telepath and is aware of their true identities, which creates hilarious and entertaining situations.
While they have their reasons for posing as family, their feelings and care for each other are real because deep down each of them has always longed for a home, and this generates some heartwarming scenes.Spy x Familyis a cheerful and uplifting anime with its fair share of action, but nothing overly violent, featuring exciting moments that shine even more with its stunning animation.
1Haikyu!! Is a Refreshing and Funny Sports Series
Based on the Manga by Haruichi Furudate.
While many sports anime are perfect to watch with family for their themes of teamwork, discipline, and dedication,Haikyu!!manages to break through the competition because of its incredibly charismatic characters. Hinata Shoyo is the embodiment of passion for a sport, and the rest of the Karasuno team members are so refreshing and entertaining that it makes the anime easy to watch.
Even those unaware of the rules can enjoy volleyball because of the different explanations and narrations of the characters, which make it easier to follow the dynamic pace of theepicHaikyu!!matches, while also featuring a high intensity that keeps viewers at the edge of their seats. After watching the first episodes and getting to know the different motivations of the characters, it will be impossible not to root for Karasuno’s team to win, which makesHaikyu!!the best family-friendly anime that everyone can enjoy.
