Just as I doubt you would let your 5-year-old nephew watch Elfen Lied, I doubt you would watch Kill la Kill with your grandmother. But what about shows that really could work for the whole family? Or how about some anime shows you could introduce to your kids starting at a young age? That’s what this ranking is all about. Anime for just about anyone, of any age, and great for the whole family from little Junior to your great-great whomever.
20. Spirited Away
I’m going to start with Spirited Away. But in all honesty, any Ghibli movie (besides maybe Grave of the Fireflies) is a safe bet. I chose Spirited Away in particular because its universe never ceases to amaze. When I first watched it as a kid, I just fell in love with all those interesting characters. And I imagined living among them. Now, as a slightly larger child, I look at all the themes in the movie and how they can tie into real life events. To a lot of people, this movie is Ghibli’s magnum opus. And I highly recommend bringing it up at your next family movie night.
19. Haikyu!!
Sports anime is another safe bet, as people young and old know the thrill of winning the big game. Being that Haikyu is also a tad more tame and realistic when it comes to how the story’s presented (and how the games play out), even the older folks are guaranteed to appreciate the craftsmanship that went into it. Plus, there’s a very human story behind it all. So it’s not like you’re just watching the Monday game with your old man. It has a little something for everyone.
18. Natsume’s Book Of Friends
Let’s face it: kids pick up a lot of their characteristics and beliefs early on from the shows that they’re watching. Natsume’s Book of Friends should be like the anime Bible here, as I think it shares really important life lessons, while also being very fun to watch. While your nephew is learning about the concepts of liberty, you get to laugh at the tsundere cat as he has another jealous freak out. Everybody wins with this show.
17. K-On!
Although your grandparents still might raise their eyebrows if you’re watching this in your 30s, it’s a blast to watch with your younger sibling or nephew. It’s the patented formula of cute girls doing cute things with really likable and relatable characters, as well as a banger soundtrack. It never really gets risqué, either. Which is rare in high school anime for some reason. And the topics this show handles are never too serious or explicit for a younger audience. So all things considered, I would say it’s a very safe pick for the youngins!
16. My Hero Academia
MHA is in a weird spot. It still does have some pretty serious scenes, like the passing of a certain character, but I think it still is appropriate for a larger audience. As anyone who grew up with superhero cartoons can tell you, the occasional serious scene isn’t all that daunting if it’s not too explicit or consistent. And My Hero Academia is, for the most part, squeaky clean. It also packs some very important morals regarding hard work, friendship, and helping others. So I can give it a pass for the occasional battle injury. Just keep the kids away from Mineta, as he’s the last role-model anyone should have.
15. Little Witch Academia
I see Little Witch Academia as the modern Sailor Moon in certain ways. It has a primarily female cast of young girls that are all doing their best at Hogwarts-lite edition, all in order to become fine witches. The main character is rather new to magic, and struggles in her classes. But through some perseverance and a stroke of luck, she manages to catch up with the others in no time. Good morals, engaging visuals, a decent story, and a soothing soundtrack. What more can you ask for?
14. Barakamon
This series has two central characters, an adult and a child. So you can already see why I would recommend it to a wide-spread audience. While younger people might cheer on Naru and the other children as they goof around on the island, older viewers might truly understand Sai and his struggle to let go of norms and become truly compassionate and creative. It’s one of my favorite shows of all time. And I highly recommend watching it, either alone or in some company.
13. Sweetness and Lightning
Now this show goes even further than Barakamon, as it not only has a child and an adult, but even a teenage girl in the main cast. To give you the quick synopsis, it’s about a widowed father who works all day to support his daughter. A lack of time means a lot of store-bought meals, and very little family time over dinner. This is where the young girl comes into the picture, as the diverse trio starts eating together and truly enjoying their time at the dinner table. It’s very wholesome and sweet, so I would definitely give it a try across all ages.
12. Tamako Market
Tamako Market is just one more sweet and wholesome anime, specifically a slice of life about a young girl in her first year of high school. She works at her family’s restaurant and does her best to balance her school life, her friendships, and her work. Younger people are sure to fall in love with Tamako as she’s absolutely adorable. And I’m sure that any parents watching are foaming at the mouth for an opportunity to tell you to get a job as well. Or maybe that’s just the case with my parents. Either way, it’s fun for the whole family!
11. How to Keep a Mummy
I’m recommending this show strictly on the basis of it being too adorable to handle. It’s all about a guy named Sora who comes into possession of the tiniest, cutest little mummy creature you’ve ever seen. The mummy is basically a baby at heart, and constantly runs away from scary situations – or cries if he’s being neglected. I swear, this show is so wholesome and adorable that there isn’t a demographic on Earth that would not appreciate seeing this little ball of bandages waddling around.
10. Your Name
Your Name is an amazing movie that deals with adolescent love, as well as the occasional bend of time and space. That sure sounds like a winning combination, doesn’t it? This anime absolutely made records when it first came out – and for good reason. The characters are all very likable, the animation is gorgeous, and the writing has something for everyone. While the adults can contemplate the red string of fate that brought everything into motion, the younger audience can laugh at the hilarious character dynamics. And everyone will be left in awe at the scenery.
9. Dr. Stone
Watching Dr. Stone is the same as watching Bill Nye the Science Guy, only with better visuals. Although it’s set in a rather apocalyptic world, the show is all about science and how everyday objects are made. Even something as mundane as a disk suddenly becomes a grand adventure. And I would be lying if I said that I didn’t learn anything from the show. Plus, the characters are very cartoonish and funny. So even if you think science will just bore you to death, you’ll quickly fall in love with the cast and their antics.
8. One Punch Man
The first season of One Punch Man is an absolute masterpiece, in my opinion. And it’s one that everyone is bound to enjoy in one way or the other. Unlike My Hero Academia, there are no real stakes in this show, nor does a good character ever die. The show just has fun with superhero tropes as the main character one-shots any enemy in his path, and then panics because he missed the big supermarket sale. The animation alone is so breathtaking that it’s bound to keep young and old viewers alike glued to the screen. And that’s without even mentioning the superb soundtrack and brilliant writing.
7. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
Since we’re already in the realm of comedy, I might as well bring Saiki into the mix. This show is extremely reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, as there’s very little serialization and the mood is always upbeat and positive. The show has a good mix of slapstick humor and very well thought-out jokes, so it pretty much covers the whole age spectrum when it comes to getting a giggle out of you. The episodes are very dense too. And there’s very little open air, making it perfect for both binging episodes or watching on occasion with your younger siblings.
6. Laid-Back Camp
And we’re right back into cute girls doing cute things territory here. Laid-Back Camp is exactly what it sounds like: a very laid-back, cozy show about some girls that decided to go camping. The main appeal of the show is how the girls interact with one another, as well as the serene landscapes. While adults might find an odd tranquility while watching this show, younger viewers might start bugging you to go camping. So let the kids watch at your own risk.
5. Pokémon
Saying that Pokémon is acceptable for all ages is an understatement. It is just universal. I mean, the second a presidential candidate can reference a show, you know you have achieved max coverage. After all, who doesn’t like watching three friends as they go on adventures and battle their Pokémon to become the very best, like no one ever was? If you (or your kids) have been living under a rock for the past few decades, you could absolutely go and watch some Pokémon. It’s always a safe bet, and there’s plenty to consume.
4. A Place Further Than The Universe
If you’re looking for a show that tells of grand adventures with extremely likable characters and beautiful sceneries, A Place Further Than The Universe is worth a try. It centers around four young girls that decide to travel to Antarctica to spend their youth together, and to find the missing mother of one of the girls. The show has some amazing writing. And I will be damned if you don’t feel like you’re part of this adventure by episode three. The story becomes a bit more complex in the latter part of the series. But I honestly think it’s still appropriate for any audience.
3. Those Snow White Notes
A lot of the shows I’ve listed so far are house-named staples in the anime world. So you might have already seen all of them. So I actually want to include a more recent series, namely Those Snow White Notes. It’s all about a young guy who rediscovers his love for music after drifting around for a while, and then being sent to school. The instrument in question is also the Shamisen, which is a really nice change of pace from the acoustic guitar or ukulele – especially if you really like Asian culture. So far it seems like a very calming show, with important morals scattered throughout.
2. Ascendance of a Bookworm
OK, this is probably the only isekai show I would recommend to a wider audience – for obvious reasons if you partake in the genre. And Ascendance is an absolute gem. Although it starts off with the main character dying, she’s quickly transported into a new world where she’s able to spread her love for books. Being that her new home is set in the medieval era, books are a commodity. And she’ll have to try her best if she wants her old passion to once again shine bright. It’s very wholesome, and might just encourage you to pick up a book too. Win-win.
1. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions
If there’s one thing that both children and adults need more of in their life, its imagination and creativity. And that’s what this show is all about. The cast is just comprised of people who do not want to face the full brunt of reality, opting instead to make everything a neat little adventure ripped straight out of a fantasy book. The characters are very goofy and likable, so I have no doubt that a younger audience will enjoy seeing their antics while the adults will get a nostalgia punch so hard that they’ll feel like a kid again. This is one anime that’s truly both kid-friendly and fun for the whole family!
