Do you need an anime to watch with the whole family, or are you simply looking to introduce your family to the world of anime? While the world of anime is indeed huge and diverse, having an anime watch night with the family might be something new to them.
Although there are thousands of anime out there, not everything is family-friendly. In fact, some can be downright weird and unsuitable for family viewing. However, these TV shows and films are family-friendly and will make for a great bonding experience.
Therefore these are two points that I would consider for an anime / film to be family friendly:
- No fan service anime
- PG Anime (At most a PG-13 rated anime)
Here is a list of the best family friendly anime to watch with the family. Also, this list is in no particular order.
The List Of Anime To Watch With Family
ODDTAXI
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Synopsis: In a city full of talking animals, Odakawa is a walrus taxi driver. He becomes involved in the case of a missing girl. People last saw her as a passenger in Odakawa’s taxi.
Mystery shows are fun to watch with other people. You can discuss them and share your own theories after each episode.
ODDTAXI is a great mystery to watch with the family. Even if it revolves around the disappearance of a girl, it does not get too dark. Each episode keeps you guessing as new information is revealed.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Synopsis: It follows Frieren, an elf mage who was part of a heroic party that defeated a great demon king. The story begins after the Demon King’s defeat. Wherein Frieren learns more about herself. She travels the world and thinks about how her actions affect others.
Frieren lives much longer than her human friends. She struggles with the passage of time and reflects on the importance of her past adventures.
A gentle and wholesome feeling anime, because of the character of Frieren. A slice of life about self reflection. Not too much else to say, it’s a great anime to watch with family.
Little Witch Academia
Genre: Fantasy. Comedy
Synopsis: Little Witch Academia tells the story of a girl named Akko. She dreams of become a great witch like her idol, Shiny Chariot. But she lacks magical talent.
At Luna Nova Magical Academy, Akko discovers what it means to be a witch. Additionally, she learns the importance of hard work and friendship.
A lot of anime fans say this is a more light hearted Harry Potter, which I think is a fair comparison. This anime series shows that working hard towards your dream can help them come true. Especially the theme of perseverance, which could inspire young viewers to work towards their own dreams. Out of all the anime on this list I would consider this to be the best anime for kids.
Haikyuu!!
Genre: Sports
Synopsis: This volleyball anime is about Shoyo Hinata. He is short but dreams of being a great player. He looks up to the famous “Little Giant”. Previously, Hinata’s middle school team loses to a strong team led by Kageyama Tobio.
After that, Hinata joined the Karasuno High School Volleyball Team. There Kageyama becomes his teammate.
Haikyuu!! is likely the best sports anime series of all time. If you’ve ever played high school sports, you’ll find many relatable moments in this anime. It’s the perfect choice for watching with middle and high schoolers who love sports, because they may feel inspired by Hinata’s journey to overcome hurdles and achieve his lofty dream.
Spy x Family
Genre: Comedy, Action
Synopsis: Spy x Family is an exciting and funny anime series. It follows “Twilight” a spy, with an important mission to keep peace between rival nations. To achieve his mission, he has to create a fake family as part of his undercover mission.
Spy x Family is like those cartoons you used to watch in the mornings. In the same way, it’s show you can put on the TV and anyone can enjoy it. All the characters are lovable, especially Anya. What’s more is the art style and story are amazing. Watching a fake family with your real family is something amusing.
Pokemon (1997)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Synopsis: Pokémon are unique creatures with diverse abilities, and trainers capture and train them for battles. On his 10th birthday, a young boy, dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master begins with Pikachu. This marks the start of a lifelong friendship and adventure between Ash and Pikachu.
The animation style may be out of date, but it doesn’t takeaway from it being a kid friendly anime. Similarly to Spy x Family, this is something you could put on the TV and anyone can enjoy it. Even outside television with the video games based on the series.
This series is more for elementary students and die hard fans. The series is long with more than 200 episodes in this pilot season, and more than 20 seasons in total. Most of the episodes will keep the family occupied for 20 minutes.
Any Ghibli Movie
Genre: Various
A little bit of a cop out, but all the Ghibli films are great to watch with family, especially with younger viewers. You can’t go wrong with any of the Ghibli films, they’re a favorite to many for a reason. We have a dedicated list just for Ghibli Movies.
A Silent Voice
Genre: Drama, Romance
Synopsis: Shoya Ishida, a high school student who, as a child, bullied a deaf girl named Shoko Nishimiya. As a result, his relentless torment caused Nishimiya to transfer schools and led Ishida to become isolated by his peers. Years later, wanting to seek forgiveness, Ishida sets out to make amends with Shoko.
This anime film is on the darker side. The story revolves around the impact of bullying on the victim and the bully.
The bullying that Nishimiya had to endure is heartbreaking. You wonder whether Ishida truly deserves forgiveness. But throughout the film, you see the pain Ishida has been through and the regret in his past actions.
This story is also about loving yourself, forgiveness and moving forward. Watching this film offers valuable lessons, such as empathy and understanding other people.
Your Name
Genre: Romance, Supernatural
Synopsis: The story is about Mitsuha, a high school girl from a small town, and Taki, a high school boy from Tokyo. Then the two teenagers find themselves mysteriously swapping bodies. They have never met in person. But as they try to live each other’s lives, they grow a strong emotional bond.
One of the greatest anime films of all time. Similar to Freaky Friday but anime. This is more romance and drama than comedy though. A great film to watch with the family, the plot twists will make for an interesting reaction for the family.
Some awkward scenes show early on in the film, but it doesn’t affect it being family-friendly.
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
Genre: Drama, Romance
Synopsis: Josee, who uses a wheelchair, lives as a recluse. She often indulges in her love for books and dreams of the world outside.
Her life changes when she meets Tsuneo, a university student working part-time. He then becomes a caregiver for Josee, and as he helps her explore the outside world, their relationship evolves.
Another light-hearted anime with a heavy focus on romance. The cliche trope of enemies / haters to lovers, this film will surely get you and your family giddy.
Wrapping Up: Great Anime to Watch with Your Family
These recommendations are a great starting point to introducing family members to the world of anime. Just like a regular movie night, finding the right anime to watch with the whole family can be a good way to bond. These anime will also show your family that there are good anime out there.
