Summary
One of the most beautiful things about anime is how widespread its appeal is. Due to it being such anaccessible medium, there is no sort of story that cannot be told through anime. The great advantage of this is that there is something for everyone.
So, when the family gathers together for some quality time and decides to watch anime, there are several options available. Therefore, it should be noted that this is simply a selection of excellent anime that the whole family can watch, and the following article is in no way an exhaustive list.
A Galaxy Next Doorstarts with a tragedy: Ichirou loses his parents and is left to take care of his two little siblings. But things don’t stay sad for long, as they are soon joined by the enigmatic and beautiful Shiori. Some anime shenanigans happen, and suddenly Shiori claims that she and Ichirou are engaged.
With such a premise, one could be forgiven for expecting some hijinks. However, there are none, as this is as even-paced as any show one could come across. Ichirou is a mangaka, Shirou works as his assistant, the kids are cute, and the two are in something of a relationship. It’s a good time for the whole family.
12
2019
Creator
Kenta Shinohara
Astra: Lost In Spaceis an underrated anime. From the creator ofSket Dance, it tells the story of a future where space travel is common. A high school class takes a trip out to space, but find themselves lost after encountering a mysterious entity.
Now the class must find a way to survive in a spaceship with limited resources. The show features a compelling mystery, and it wraps up its entire story in one season (which is always great). Sure, there is some violence, but nothing overbearing, and the science fiction and mystery elements more than make up for it.
When most people think ofMob Psycho, they think of the over-the-top action sequences and the displays of power. But in truth,Mob Psychois the story of a shy, naive boy who slowly starts to fit in with the world around him.
Mob Psychois chock-full of lovely characters likethe lovable Reigenand Musashi, and the animation is top-notch too. The themes of friendship, courage, and sacrifice are things that a family can appreciate while watching together. Also, whenMob Psychodecides to really get into the action, it is a thrilling watch.
Japan has perhaps the strongest football team in Asia, and believe it or not,Captain Tsubasahad a role to play in that. Captain Tsubasa’s story is pretty straightforward: the titular character wants to be the best in the world. This is a very relatable goal that most people understand.
Captain Tsubasadevelops its characters well and gives them international appeal. The idea of working hard with a team to achieve a goal is always admirabl. At the time in Japan, it made football (called soccerin the USA) more popular in Japan, and brought a new generation of fans to the sport. As with many sports anime, there’s nothing objectionable in the story, and it is suitable for everyone.
Kohei is a single father after the death of his wife, and he has to take care of his impossibly adorable daughter, Tsumugi. He also comes in contact with a student of his, Kotori, and the two decide to learn how to cook, mostly for the benefit of Tsumugi.
While the memories of Usagi Drop might make some worry,Sweetness And Lightningis a completely different show that is just wholesome from start to finish. Tsumugi is the star, and her design makes this abundantly clear. But Kohei and Kotori are also stellar characters. The idea that even though Tsumugi lost her mom, she can gain an even bigger family along with her dad, makes this a great show for the family to bond over.
There are a lot of shows nowadays that give a vibe of “It’s like Harry Potter, but…”. At least that’s howshows likeMashleandWistoria: Wand and Swordare sometimes described.Little Witch Academiawas that show but from the 2010s. That said, it is certainly its own thing.
Akko is a poor mage, but she is determined to follow in the footsteps of her idol, Shiny Chariot. Her friends, Lotte and Sucy, are a great support for her, and they get into all sorts of trouble while in school.Little Witch Academiais an excellent adventure with lots of heart and is suitable for all.
Barakamonfeatures a lot of things that make it such a great watch. The steady pace of rural life, the sense of community, the reality of being an artist, and so on, are all wholesome. Apart from a pretty nasty punch in the very first episode, there isn’t anything stopping anyone from givingBarakamona watch.
It also features a cute, rambunctious little girl in Naru, who is the heart of the show. That said, the entire community that Handa has to move into while in exile makea the show what it is. All in all, the show is an excellent showcase of the charm of rural Japan.
Run With The Windsees Haiji trick a former ace runner of Sendai Josei High School, Kakeru, into staying in an apartment that is actually the home of the KanseiUniversity Track Club. Haiki wants to run the Hakone Ekiden, one of the most prominent university marathon relay races in Japan. But the ‘team’ is made up of novices, most of whom are not interested in running at all.
Run With The Windis inspirational in a lot of ways, as the audience watches a group of ne’er-do-wells slowly learn something and become passionate about it. The emotional highs and lows make watching it feel like a rollercoaster. It is a great choice of show to share with the ones who matter most.
There’s a lot of anime that tackle the prohibitive nature of height in sports, as seen in shows likeAhiru No SoraandHinomaru Sumo, butHaikyu!! is perhaps the most popular. Hinata wants to become a professional volleyball player, but lacks the height. He enrolls in Karasuno High School and joins the volleyball team as they seek to regain their former glory.
Haikyu!!is full of action and hype moments, some of which can really get the blood pumping. It goes along at a brisk pace, which ensures that no one gets bored, and it has relatable characters that the whole family can fall in love with.
Spy X Familysometimes feels like a throwback to a time when family shows were a lot more common and tried to incorporate a lot of things that the whole family could enjoy. Loid Forger takes on the adorable Anya and Yor to create a family for the sake of his mission.
Spy X Familysomehow manages to make a pretty grim atmosphere (countries on the verge of war and assassin groups) and somehow make it funny and lighthearted. A wholesome family action-comedy show with a very memorable family unit, it’s an easy one to recommend for the whole household.
