One of the most beautiful things about anime is how widespread its appeal is. Due to it being such an accessible 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.

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10

A Galaxy Next Door

A Wholesome Show About A Mangaka And A Space Princess

A Galaxy Next Door starts 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.

9

Astra: Lost In Space

Solid Science Fiction That Everyone Can Enjoy

Astra: Lost In Space is an underrated anime. From the creator of Sket 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.

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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.

8

Mob Psycho 100

A Coming-Of-Age Story At Heart

When most people think of Mob Psycho, they think of the over-the-top action sequences and the displays of power. But in truth, Mob Psycho is the story of a shy, naive boy who slowly starts to fit in with the world around him.

Mob Psycho is chock-full of lovely characters like the lovable Reigen and 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, when Mob Psycho decides to really get into the action, it is a thrilling watch.

7

Captain Tsubasa

Japan has perhaps the strongest football team in Asia, and believe it or not, Captain Tsubasa had 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 Tsubasa develops 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 soccer in 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.

6

Sweetness And Lightning

Tsumugi Is Sure To Charm The Whole Family

Sweetness & Lightning

Release Date

July 4, 2016

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.

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While the memories of Usagi Drop might make some worry, Sweetness And Lightning is 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.

5

Little Witch Academia

Akko’s Adventures Are A Great Time For All

There are a lot of shows nowadays that give a vibe of “It’s like Harry Potter, but…”. At least that’s how shows like Mashle and Wistoria: Wand and Sword are sometimes described. Little Witch Academia was 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 Academia is an excellent adventure with lots of heart and is suitable for all.

4

Barakamon

Naru Is A Scene-Stealer

Barakamon

Release Date

2014 – 2014

Directors

Masaki Tachibana

Writers

Pierre Sugiura

Barakamon features 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 giving Barakamon a 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.

3

Run With The Wind

Haiji’s Aspirational Goals Are Easy To Root For

Run With The Wind sees Haiji trick a former ace runner of Sendai Josei High School, Kakeru, into staying in an apartment that is actually the home of the Kansei University 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.

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Run With The Wind is 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.

2

Haikyu!!

Dreams Are Attainable Even In The Midst Of Adversity

Haikyu!!

Release Date

2014 – 2019

Network

TBS, MBS, CBC, BSN, tys

Directors

Susumu Mitsunaka, Masako Sato

• 

  Bryson Baugus

  Kazuma Numai (voice)

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  Scott Gibbs

  Tobio Kageyama (voice)

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  Leraldo Anzaldua

  Yoshiya Takachiho (voice)

• 

  Cameron Bautsch

  Shoyo Hinata (voice)

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There’s a lot of anime that tackle the prohibitive nature of height in sports, as seen in shows like Ahiru No Sora and Hinomaru Sumo, but Haikyu!! 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.

1

Spy X Family

All The Charm Of Older Family Shows

Spy x Family

Release Date

April 9, 2022

Spy X Family sometimes 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 Family somehow 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.

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