No matter how much older people cling to it, the majority cartoonand animation in general is created for children. Occasionally there will be adult or graphic scenes, but most are made relatively harmless for younger viewers, which in turn makes it easy for people to get invested in anime from a young age.
At its core, anime is a medium that is very accessible to children, and there are some anime in particular that are the best medium to introduce them to. Some are great because they aren’t too violent, others are great because they have stories that are easy for younger audiences to understand, and it’s even better to have all those elements combined with animation and Great direction. Regardless, they all have a lot to offer in terms of content, and there are few more suitable for introducing kids to anime.
10 Hamtaro
Based on Manga & Story created by Ritsuko Kawai
Year of release
200
episode
296
Where to stream it
Currently not available on streaming
The first anime that is great for introducing children to the medium is Hamtaro. Hamtaro doesn’t have much of a story, each episode is just about the silly adventures of Hamtaro and his hamster friends, but each episode is always fun and engaging to watch, and with the episodic nature of the series, Kids can watch any episode they want without worrying too much about getting lost in any little story. What’s especially interesting is that the show has nearly 300 episodes so kids will always have plenty of Hamtaro to watch, making it a very easy entryway into anime.
9 Nichijou
Based on Manga by Keiichi Arawi
Year of release
2011
Episodes
26
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll, Funimation
Another anime that is great for introducing children to the medium is Nichijou. Like Hamtaro, Nichijou is silly and episodic, so kids can watch any episode without getting lost, automatically giving the series a lot of accessibility, and the anime’s absurd nature makes sense. is that it has a lot to offer people of all ages. Of course, another big selling point of Nichijou is its direction, as Nichijou always has excellent art and animation that makes each episode a visual spectacle. Such things will bring more experience and even children will definitely be able to learn many things from it.
8 Bocchi Rock!
Based on the Manga by Aki Hamaji
Year of release
2022
episode
12
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll
In terms of anime with great animation, another perfect entry for kids is Bocchi the Rock!. Every episode of Bocchi the Rock! featuring animation that not only looks great but also takes advantage of the infinite possibilities of animation, so there’s always something to draw attention to the series. Not only that, with the way the fight against social anxiety is depicted through Bocchi, it can also provide information to children with similar problems and even help them solve them. Bocchi Kick! it may be newer but it’s still one of the best anime series for kids to watch.
Family of 7 X spies
Based on the Manga created by Tatsuya Endo
Year of release
2022
episode
28
Where to stream it
Hulu, Crunchyroll
A newer anime that is perfect for kids is Spy x Family. Although the story has two main characters, a spy and an assassin, violence is kept to a minimum in favor of antics among the cast, most notably from the third main character, Anya. As a result, the anime has a consistent sense of fun despite the darker content of the story, and that fits perfectly with the film’s theme of found family. Add in some excellent animation for both the action scenes and the more realistic scenes, and Spy x Family is a perfect animated movie for kids to watch.
6 Little Witch Academy
Created by Yoh Yoshinari and Studio Trigger
Year of release
2017
episode
25
Where to stream it
Netflix
While the staff at Studio Trigger isn’t exactly known for creating anime suitable for children, that’s certainly not the case with Little Witch Academia. Little Witch Academia is a very light-hearted anime that, for most of its runtime, never takes itself too seriously and only wants to explore the misadventures Akko encounters as she tries to learn magic. Of course, that’s complimented by some of the best animation and music in any of Studio Trigger’s anime, all of which are crafted in a way that completely compliments the fantastical and surreal nature of the plot, and it all comes together to create an anime that any child will love.
5 Azumanga Daioh
Based on the Manga by Kiyohiko Azuma
Year of release
2002
episode
26
Where to stream it
HIDE
It has been established that slice-of-life anime is the perfect medium to introduce anime to children, and one of the best anime for that is Azumanga Daioh. Unlike other slice-of-life anime, which don’t have any connection to its premise, the show only focuses on the daily lives of the characters, but the humorous writing makes each episode enjoyable. fun to watch and the jokes are well structured. in a way that allows even children to learn a lot from them. Azumanga Daioh can be considered the series that defined the “cute girls doing cute things” anime genre, and that makes it one of the best to play for kids.
4 Spirited Away
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Year of release
2001
Running time
125 minutes
Where to stream it
Max
Studio Ghibli is often considered the perfect studio to attract people to anime, and one of the best for that is Spirited Away. Spirited Away does a great job of balancing dark storytelling with lighthearted silliness, and that results in a movie that’s completely accessible to kids without talking down to them too much. This animated film is also one of Studio Ghibli’s best, and by watching it, children and adults alike can see how far animation can go. Spirited Away is one of the most iconic of all animated films and would be better for children.
All Studio Ghibli movies can be streamed on Max. Other good Ghibli movies for kids are Ponyo and Castle in the Sky.
3 Pokémon
Based on the game franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri
Year of release
1997
episode
1.259
Where to stream it
Hulu, Netflix, Tube
Of all the anime to introduce to children, one of the most classic examples is of course Pokémon. The simplicity of Pokémon’s plot and the great writing surrounding its cast make it one of the easiest anime for kids to invest in, and now is an especially good time to introduce Pokémon to kids thanks to soft reboot, Pokémon Horizons, as new fans can watch without having to worry about continuity between Ash and Pikachu. Pokémon has long proven its accessibility to children, and nearly 30 years later, that hasn’t changed a bit.
Adventure of 2 Digimon
Based on the franchise created by Bandai
Year of release
1999
episode
54
Where to stream it
Hulu
Similar to Pokémon, Digimon is also a great place to introduce anime to children. Both shows have a lot of overlap with their pet monster elements and relative simplicity, but with Digimon having a relatively more serious story, it’s suitable for those looking for something something more mature but still suitable for children. There’s also the way each follows a new cast in a new setting, adding a lot of variety to the series and always providing a new viewing experience. Pokémon and Digimon were definitely two of the best anime for kids when they first came out, and that still holds up decades later.
Although every Digimon anime is aimed at children, the third season, Digimon Tamers has a slightly more mature story, dealing with darker themes.
1 Dragon Ball Z
Based on the Manga by Akira Toriyama
Year of release
1989
Episodes
291
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll, Funimation
The last great anime to introduce children to the genre and perhaps one of the most iconic is Dragon Ball Z. Dragon Ball Z’s great action and comedy helped make it a of the biggest anime of all time, and even more. A lot of time has passed since it first aired, but it still retains its amazing level. Dragon Ball Z isn’t a very complicated series, but it does what it does with surprising effectiveness, and with the overarching Dragon Ball franchise showing no signs of stopping anytime soon, there’s very little anime might be better to show to children.
While audience tastes will always be subjective regardless of age, the best anime to introduce children to the genre is suitable for all ages. No two cartoons listed here are exactly alike, but they all have plenty of humor, plot and animation, and in many cases, their ability to resonate with kids. has long proven its popularity over the decades. A person’s preferences can be subjective at any age, but no matter what, it’s hard not to notice. cartoon on this list is perfect for introducing children to the medium.
